Whenever we fail or stumble in our walk with God, Jesus doesn’t quit loving us or believing in us. He knows that His love has the power to overcome everything we are struggling with.
The Old Testament is filled with examples of God continuing to show His love and believe in people even after they ran from Him and compromised. For instance, God told the prophet Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and declare His words of warning, but Jonah ran the other direction. He had no intention of doing what the Lord had told him to do. It was only after Jonah called out to God in repentance from the belly of that great fish that everything started to turn around.
Then in Jonah 3:1-3, we read one of the truly great statements about God:
Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach to it the message that I tell you.’ So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord.
Jonah 3:1-3 NKJV)
Did you see it? God spoke to Jonah a second time. Just as God did with Jonah, He also continues to give us new opportunities to get it right.
God will always give us a second chance to obey Him and do it right. In fact, He will give us a third, a fourth, and a fifth chance — and He won’t stop there because He will not give up on us.
Romans 8:1-4 makes a clear case for staying free from the nagging voice of the accuser:
Therefore, now, there is not even one bit of condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, for the law of the Spirit, that of the life in Christ Jesus, freed you once for all from the law of the sinful nature and of death. For that which is an impossibility for the law, because it was weak through the sinful nature, God having sent His Son in likeness of flesh of sin, and concerning sin, condemned sin in the sinful nature, in order that the righteous requirement of the law may be brought to completion in us who, not as dominated by the sinful nature are ordering our behavior but as dominated by the Spirit. (Wuest)
I like the way the New Century Version of verse 1 reads: “So now, those who are in Christ Jesus are not judged guilty.” We have been judged, but not judged guilty! We are judged with Jesus’ righteous judgment. We are now in Christ, free of guilt and every last trace of condemnation. We have been made the righteousness of God. Old things have passed away, and we are a new creation in Him. Death and condemnation have given way to life, love, forgiveness, and rightstanding with God.
There is now no more condemnation. Our sins are under the eternal and unchanging blood sacrifice of Jesus! So we must confess our sins to the Father, and be done with them. As we receive the freedom that is ours in Jesus, we will close the door on condemnation and allow the depth of His love to restore us and make us whole.
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Vikki and Dennis began as youth pastors in 1973 in Southern California where they received tremendous insight into the work of the local church. In 1976, they moved to Ft. Worth, Texas, to work with Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Vikki worked with KCM for three years before entering full-time ministry with her husband. Since that time, their relationship and involvement with Kenneth Copeland Ministries has continued. Vikki and Dennis have had numerous articles published in the Believer's Voice of Victory magazine.
Vikki has spoken in several nations including Australia, Japan, and Canada. She has ministered on television, radio, in women's conferences and marriage seminars. Her desire is to see people raised to a higher level of living through the Word of God. By acting on Gods principles, Vikki has obtained a testimony of victory and imparts encouragement to others.
Throughout the years, Vikki and Dennis have pursued new avenues of reaching people. The Lord has continued to expand their vision. Their dedication has affected thousands as they are impacting God's people with the love of God.