I, Craig Rogers, lay bare my soul as a sinner saved by God's indescribable Grace, Mercy, Wisdom, Favor, and LOVE. Grace is God’s power in me, given as a gift to do the things that are impossible for me but possible through Him.

"THE Revelation of Jesus Christ, WHICH GOD GAVE HIM TO SHOW HIS BOND-SERVANTS (you and me), THE THINGS WHICH MUST SOON TAKE PLACE; and He sent and communicated it by His angel to His bond-servant John, WHO TESTIFIED TO THE WORD OF GOD and TO THE TESTIMONY OF JESUS CHRIST, EVERYTHING THAT HE SAW. BLESSED IS THE ONE WHO READS, AND THOSE WHO HEAR THE WORDS OF THE PROPHECY AND KEEP THE THINGS WHICH ARE IN IT; FOR THE TIME IS NEAR." Revelation 1:1-3

Everything I have is a GIFT OF HIS Grace. ANY and ALL TRUTH I HAVE, I RECEIVED BY GRACE.

"Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, being diligent to KEEP THE UNITY OF THE SPIRIT IN THE BOND OF PEACE. THERE IS ONE BODY AND ONE SPIRIT, JUST AS YOU WERE CALL IN ONE HOPE OF YOUR CALLING; ONE LORD, ONE FAITH, ONE BAPTISM, ONE GOD AND FATHER WHO IS OVER ALL AND THROUGH ALL AND IN ALL. BUT TO EACH ONE OF US GRACE WAS GIVEN ACCORDING TO THE MEASURE OF CHRIST’S GIFT… until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. " Ephesians 4:1-7, 13

I CONFESS that Jesus is THE TRUTH, and HE HAS AWAKENED ME and EMPOWERED ME through His beautiful Grace. Awakened, I am ALIVE! He has awakened me to the Kingdom of Heaven and the MINISTRY OF THE TRIUNE GOD.

"to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, THE MYSTERY THAT IS CHRIST IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY. We proclaim Him, admonishing every person and teaching every person with all wisdom SO THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY PERSON COMPLETE IN CHRIST. For this purpose, I also labor, striving ACCORDING TO HIS POWER WHICH WORKS MIGHTILY WITHIN ME." Colossians 1:27-29

THE TRINITY ministers Grace to me, YOU, and everyone who BELIEVES. Jesus loves to minister Grace because it Glorifies the Father. He does all for the Father’s great name! Thank you, Jesus! PRAISE GOD!

"John to the seven churches that are in Asia: GRACE TO YOU AND PEACE FROM HIM WHO IS, AND WHO WAS, AND WHO IS TO COME, AND FROM the seven spirits who are before His throne, AND FROM JESUS CHRIST, the faithful witness, the firstborn of the dead, AND THE RULER OF THE KINGS OF THE EARTH. To Him who loves us and released us from our sins by His blood— and HE MADE US INTO A KINGDOM, PRIESTS TO HIS GOD AND FATHER—to Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and EVERY EYE WILL SEE HIM, even those who pierced Him; and all the tribes of the earth will mourn over Him. SO IT IS TO BE. AMEN “I AM THE ALPHA AND THE OMEGA,” SAYS THE LORD GOD, “WHO IS AND WHO WAS AND WHO IS TO COME, THE ALMIGHTY.” Revelation 1:4-8

I am a sinner SAVED BY GOD’S GRACE. I wrestle with sin daily, yet by His Grace, I stand firm in the truth that my life is now wholly lived IN CHRIST, and HE DID IT ALL. Plus, He’s transforming me into His image, the image of God–who is LOVE. I have had, and I continue to have, THE Grace Awakening.

"When I saw Him, I fell at His feet like a dead man. And He placed His right hand on me, saying, “DO NOT BE AFRIAD; I AM THE FIRST AND THE LAST, AND THE LIVING ONE; I WAS DEAD, and BEHOLD, I AM ALIVE FOREVERMORE, and I have the keys of death and of Hades. Therefore write the things which you have seen, and the things which are, and the things WHICH WILL TAKE PLACE AFTER THESE THINGS." Revelation 1:17-19

In 2004, I visited Turkey (the Country). My goal was to visit and pray over the SEVEN CHURCHES presented in “The Revelation of Jesus Christ,” written by the Apostle John 2,000 years ago. Since the RUINS of these Biblical cities only exist for FIVE of the SEVEN churches, I was unable to visit ALL SEVEN CHURCHES, which was sobering and sad. Two were entirely missing.

HOWEVER, AS I LOOKED OVER AND WALKED AROUND AND PRAYED AT THE RUINS OF THESE FIVE CITIES/CHURCHES, I NOTICED SOMETHING HUGE. THE CHURCH WAS GONE. THERE WERE NO CHURCHES ANYWHERE. NONE. I realize that I was in Turkey, a Muslim Country, but Turkey is a part of the European Union, and it is FREE. Each day I heard the Muslim call to prayer three times, but I saw no Christian churches and no Christian ministry or activity of any kind.

My trip was surreal. I had no words. But God had a purpose, and He gave me the Grace to see past the loss. I never forgot that visit. Out of it, I believe God gave me a mission–to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples of the nations, TEACHING THEM EVERYTHING JESUS SAID AND DID.

"And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. GO, THEREFORE, AND MAKE DISCIPLES OF ALL THE NATIONS, BAPTIZING THEM IN THE NAME OF THE FATHER AND THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT, TEACHING THEM TO FOLLOW ALL THAT I COMMANDED YOU; and BEHOLD, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE END OF THE AGE.” Matthew 28:18-20

I CONFESS I have failed miserably. Like everything else, the visit to Turkey was something that blessed me, but I didn’t grow from it. I experienced it for my SELF. I CONFESS, SELFISH AMBITION ruled in my life for way too long. I get off track constantly, distracted from building my kingdom. By His endless Mercy, I am still fighting SELF and SELFISHNESS every day, but now I turn it over to Jesus and REST IN HIS GRACE. Remember, Grace is the POWER OF GOD to do the impossible. There is no limit to His Grace, Grace always supplies in over abundance and cannot run out.

By the Grace of God, I REPENT!

As a consumer Christian, I am a part of the problem. I CONFESS, there are many problems all around us, they are every where. Many are overwhelming and seem to be getting worse, like homelessness, poverty, and addiction. We are the problem, we are fully responsibility for the state of society and the world around us. WE HAVE FAILED, and I REPENT FOR MY SELF AND THE BODY OF CHRIST.

Jesus is the only answer. Hear what THE SPIRIT is saying to you and to THE CHURCHES.

‘I know where you dwell, where Satan’s throne is; and YOU HOLD FIRMLY TO MY NAME, AND DID NOT DENY MY FAITH EVEN IN THE DAYS OF ANTIPAS, My witness, My faithful one, who was killed among you, where Satan dwells. BUT I HAVE A FEW THINGS AGAINST YOU, because you have some there WHO HOLD THE TEACHING OF BALAAM, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit sexual immorality. SO YOU TOO, HAVE SOME WHO IN THE SAME WAY HOLD TO THE TEACHING OF THE NICOLAITANS. THEREFORE REPENT; OR ELSE I AM COMING TO YOU QUICKLY, AND I WILL WAGE WAR AGAINST THEM WITH THE SWORD OF MY MOUTH. The one who has an ear, let him hear WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES (plural). To the one who overcomes, I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows except the one who receives it.’ Revelation 2:13-17

The Holy Spirit, THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH, unceasingly reveals Jesus Christ IN US by His Grace working through His LOVE. I am humbled. Thank you, Jesus. My will, my want, and my desire is to surrender all of me to YOU. All means all. And I CONFESS, I need your Grace. I can’t do any of it without you.

"For as in Adam all die, so also IN CHRIST ALL WILL BE MADE ALIVE." 1 Corinthians 15:22

I CONFESS I am a weak, fearful man who needed a SAVIOR, but the story does not end there. No, there’s more TRUTH to the story. Because of my weaknesses, Jesus can claim me, and He has. By Grace, Jesus has gotten me, and now He possesses me. Jesus has conquered my whole heart; I am His, and He is mine because of my fear and weaknesses. By His will and His doing, I am His. We all have been redeemed, and He is OUR REDEEMER. That means He has purchased me, and I am no longer mine, I belong to another, I belong to CHRIST JESUS. Thankfully, I will always need JESUS, my SAVIOR.

"‘I know your deeds and your labor and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil people, and you have put those who call themselves apostles to the test, and they are not, and you found them to be false; and you have perseverance and have endured on account of My name, and have not become weary. BUT I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU, THAT YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR FIRST LOVE. THEREFORE, REMEMBER FROM WHERE YOU HAVE FALLEN, AND REPENT, AND DO THE DEEDS YOU DID AT FIRST; OR ELSE I AM COMING TO YOU AND I WILL REMOVE YOUR LAMPSTAND FROM ITS PLACE–UNLESS YOU REPENT. But you have this, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. THE ONE WHO HAS AN EAR, LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES. To the one who overcomes, I will grant to eat from the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’" Revelation 2:2-7

I CONFESS I get tired and weary. I often complain and murmur about people. I am cruel when I judge other people, but I do it anyway, under my breath and to my SELF. I hate it when I do it. I tell my SELF all the time, “why are you so mean?” I often ask Jesus for more Grace.

I CONFESS I am highly competitive, and if I lose, I can get angry, mean-spirited, petty, and vengeful. I am a sore loser, even at Monopoly. I undermine people I don’t like and slander those I am threatened by. From the outside looking in, you would never know it. Without God’s Grace, I am a whitewashed tomb. There is no doubt I am POOR IN SPIRIT and PITIFULLY WEAK. Thank you, Jesus, for SAVING ME every minute of every day–YOU ARE MY ONLY SAVIOR.

" ‘I know your deeds, and your love and faith, and service and perseverance, and that your deeds of late are greater than at first. BUT I HAVE THIS AGAINST YOU, that YOU TOLERATE THE WOMAN JEZEBEL, WHO CALLS HERESELF A PROPHETESS, AND TEACHES AND LEADS MY BOND-SERVANTS ASTRY so that they commit sexual immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols. I GAVE HER TIME TO REPENT, AND SHE DOES NOT WANT TO REPENT OF HER SEXUAL IMMORALITY. Behold, I will throw her on a bed of sickness, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, UNLESS THEY REPENT OF HER DEEDS. And I will kill her children with plague, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds. BUT I SAY TO YOU, THE REST WHO ARE IN THYATIRA, WHO DO NOT HOLD THIS TEACHING, WHO HAVE NOT KNOWN THE DEEP THINGS OF SATAN, as they call them—I place no other burden on you. Nevertheless WHAT YOU HAVE, HOLD FIRMLY UNTIL I COME. The one who overcomes, and the one who keeps My deeds until the end, I will give him authority over the nations; and he shall rule them with a rod of iron, as the vessels of the potter are shattered, as I also have received authority from My Father; and I will give him the morning star. The one who has an ear, let him HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT SAYS TO THE CHURCHES.’" Revelation 2:19-29

I gossip and backbite, and at times, I am very jealous. My insecurities are vicious, and they don’t like people. I get easily irritated, and because of my SELF centeredness, I get pissy too. I curse my enemies and plot against them. Of course I never share any of this with anyone, instead I play the viction, which makes it much worse.

"To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, AND YET YOU ARE DEAD. BE CONSTANTLY ALERT, AND STRENGTHEN THE THINGS THAT REMAIN, WHICH ARE ABOUT TO DIE; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. SO REMEMBER WHAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED AND HEARD; AND KEEP IT, AND REPENT. Then if you are not alert, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you. But you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their garments; and they will walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. The one who overcomes will be clothed the same way, in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels. The one who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says TO THE CHURCHES.’ " Revelation 3:1-6

I am very insecure and SELF conscious. I compare my SELF to others all the time. As I elevate my own stature and accomplishments, I simultaneously lower theirs, picking them apart. Of course, I don’t admit to this, quite the contrary. It happens in the secret place of my mind. In fact, I often flatter the people I judge, and they have no idea of the harshness of my hidden secret criticisms. I really hate this about SELF. I am a perfect example of why we all are IN DESPERATE NEED OF GOD’S GRACE.

"To the angel of the church in Laodicea, write: The Amen, the faithful and true Witness, THE ORIGIN OF THE CREATION OF GOD, SAYS THIS: I KNOW YOUR DEEDS, THAT YOU ARE NEITHER COLD NOR HOT; I WISH THAT YOU WERE COLD OR HOT. SO BECAUSE YOU ARE LUKEWARM, AND NEITHER HOT NOR COLD, I WILL VOMIT YOU OUT OF MY MOUTH. BECAUSE YOU SAY, “I AM RICH, AND HAVE BECOME WEALTHY, AND HAVE NO NEED OF ANYTHING, AND YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT YOU ARE WRETCHED, MISERABLE, POOR, BLIND, AND NAKED. I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself AND THE SHAME OF YOUR NAKEDNESS and the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to apply to your eyes so that you may see. THOSE WHOM I LOVE, I REBUKE AND DISCIPLINE; THEREFORE BE ZEALOUS AND REPENT. Behold, I stand at the door and knock; if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I WILL COME IN TO HIM AND WILL DINE WITH HIM, AND HE WITH ME. THE ONE who overcomes, I will grant to him to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat with My Father on His throne. THE ONE who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ ” Revelation 3:14-22

Acknowledging my profound weakness in the face of SELF/SIN, I recognize that apart from Christ, I am nothing more than THE CHIEF OF SINNERS, hopelessly lost. Yet, in this admission, I find HIS STRENGTH in boasting of my weaknesses. How strange! Because of His Grace, now I can hardly wait to give Him my shortcomings, insecurities, judgments, spitefulness, lies, manipulation, and my need to be right. By fully admitting my SINS, I allow THE POWER OF CHRIST TO DWELL RICHLY IN ME, and His work in me transforms me while I REST IN HIM.

"to whom God willed to make known what the wealth of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles is, the mystery that is CHRIST IN YOU, the hope of glory." Colossians 1:27

I openly CONFESS and embrace my sins and weaknesses, not with despair but with a heart full of gratitude for God's Grace. My Grace journey is a constant surrendering to Jesus, realizing I am utterly powerless without Him. IN HIM, IN CHRIST, however, I find the strength to overcome and do everything, especially the impossible.

"For of HIS FULLNESS we have ALL RECEIVED, and GRACE UPON GRACE. For the Law was given through Moses; GRACE and TRUTH were realized through Jesus Christ." John 1:16-17

My Grace journey is a testament to the fact that my righteousness and spiritual growth stem not from my efforts and deeds but from my complete reliance on the transformative Grace of Jesus Christ—PERIOD.

"IN HIM we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our wrongdoings, according to the RICHES OF HIS GRACE WHICH HE LAVISHED ON US. In all wisdom and insight He made known to us the mystery of HIS WILL, according to HIS GOOD PLEASURE which He set forth in Him, regarding His plan of the fullness of the times, to bring all things together IN CHRIST, things in the heavens and things on the earth. IN HIM we also have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things in accordance with the plan of HIS WILL, to the end that we who were the first to hope in the Christ would be to the praise of HIS GLORY. IN HIM, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed IN HIM with the Holy Spirit of the promise, who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of HIS GLORY." Ephesians 1:7-14

My story, marked by continuous surrender to Grace, is meant to remind everyone that we are shaped not by our efforts but by surrendering all IN OBEDIENCE to God's plan and purpose through His infinite Grace. TODAY, I REPENT FOR MY SINS AND THE SINS OF THE CHURCH. I take responsibility for the SIN IN THE CHURCH. There is a lot of work to do, but not by me, but by the Grace of God working through me, working through LOVE.

"And if it is with difficulty that the righteous is saved, what will become of the godless man and the sinner?" 1 Peter 4:18

I am a sinner saved by the Grace, Mercy, and Love of God IN Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Although I struggle with sin daily, I am confident of one thing…. The life I now live, I live IN CHRIST.

"LOOKING ONLY AT JESUS, the ORIGINATOR and PERFECTER of THE FAITH, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:2

I am weak IN SIN, the weakest of all, AND I AM NOT KIDDING! Apart from Christ, I am THE CHIEF SINNER–I am dead, lost in sin, and unable to enter the Kingdom of God–TOTALLY LOCKED OUT and WITHOUT HOPE!

"And He has said to me, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR POWER IS PERFECTED IN WEAKNESS.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather BOAST ABOUT MY WEAKNESSES SO THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY DWELL IN ME. Therefore I DELIGHT IN WEAKNESSES, in insults, in distresses, in persecutions, in difficulties, in behalf of Christ; FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Therefore, I CONFESS and BOAST about my WEAKNESSES–ALL OF THEM! There are so many, it's really bad, if you only knew. The good news is that the Spirit of God IN ME has cleansed me, and Jesus is transforming me into His Image.

"For through the Law I died to the Law, SO THAT I MIGHT LIVE TO GOD. I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST; AND IT IS NO LONGER I WHO LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME; AND THE LIFE WHICH I NOW LIVE IN THE FLESH I LOVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD< WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF UP FOR ME. I do not nullify THE GRACE OF GOD, for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly.” Galatians 2:19-21

Because of God’s immeasurable gift of GRACE, LOVE, and MERCY, I now gladly admit and CONFES sin.. My SIN and the SINS of the CHURCH. Not only that, I am glad to give all our weaknesses over to HIM, the KING of GLORY. As Jesus takes all OUR weaknesses and sin, the Father is Glorified. The Father is DELIGHTED. Why would I ever hold back confessing the truth about OUR sinful nature? He is Lord and Savior, and as SINNERS, we desperately NEED OUR SAVIOR!

"and hope does not disappoint, because THE LOVE OF GOD HAS BEEN POURED OUT WITHIN OUR HEARTS through the Holy Spirit WHO WAS GIVEN TO US." Romans 5:5

I am SAVED BY GRACE. We are ALL SAVED BY GRACE. Grace is BIG; sin is small.

"For we know that the Law is spiritual, but I am of flesh, sold into bondage to sin. FOR WHAT I AM DOING, I DO NOT UNDERSTAND; FOR I AM NOT PRACTICING WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO, BUT I AM DOING THE VERY THING I HATE. But if I do the very thing I do not want to do, I agree with the Law, CONFESSING that the Law is good. SO NOW, NO LONGER AM I THE ONE DOING IT, BUT SIN WHICH DWELLS IN ME." Romans 7:14-17

For way too long, my Spiritual Formation stopped after my “BORN AGAIN” conversion. For way too long, I was a “Carnal Christian” rejecting Jesus. Not that I have arrived, far from it. At least today, by Grace, I know the wretchedness of my heart, and now, by Grace, I can give it to Jesus who loves me. Jesus is eager to transform me into His image, and He does it from the Throne of Grace!

"But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:8

I CONFESS THE TRUTH ABOUT JESUS and my SELF

"For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. But if I am doing the very thing I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but sin which dwells in me." Romans 7:18-20

Jesus is the only ONE who is Faithful. Jesus IS THE FAITH, and He is the AUTHOR OF ALL FAITH. JESUS IS LORD OF ALL! JESUS IS THE LORD OF MY HEART, and JESUS IS THE KING OF MY SOUL.

"Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts," Romans 6:12

Jesus IS LORD, and I am not. I am not even worthy to declare ‘Jesus is Lord!’ Without God's extraordinary love and mercy displayed through Jesus, I COULD NOT EVEN DECLARE JESUS IS LORD, AT LEAST NOT ON MY OWN!

"Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit." 1 Corinthians 12:3

Without Jesus and the Grace of God, I WILL NOT BE SAVED. Apart from Jesus, I am nothing, I am dead in SIN, I am in darkness and I can do nothing. Apart from Jesus, I am SELF, LOST IN SIN. I cannot rescue my SELF or anyone else for that matter. Apart from CHRIST, we are ALL dead. But Jesus RESCUED ME FROM SELF.

"For HE RESCUED US FROM THE DOMAIN OF DARKNESS, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:13-14

I CONFESS that I Can Do ALL THINGS Through Christ–YOU CAN TOO!

"I am the vine, you are the branches; the one who remains in Me, and I in him bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5

Apart from Christ, I can do nothing. IN CHRIST, However, NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE. He did that for EVERYONE, not just me.

"I can do all things through Him who strengthens me." Philippians 4:14

God, OUR FATHER, LOVES to work through our weaknesses as we surrender them all. He loves to see JESUS AT WORK IN US through humility.

"for it is God who is at work in you, both to desire and to work for His good pleasure." Philippians 2:13

SELF is SELFISH. SELF is SIN. SELF-SIN is death. Only by the Blood of Jesus are we saved from the wrath coming because of disobedience and sin. HE DID IT ALL FOR US because we could do nothing about SELF. Sin has been condemned in the flesh, and WE ARE MADE ALIVE IN CHRIST–HE DID THAT!

"And when you were dead in your wrongdoings and the uncircumcision of your flesh, HE MADE YOU ALIVE TOGETHER WITH HIM, having forgiven us all our wrongdoings," Colossians 2:13

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