Barabbas Ministries

07/27/2026

This morning I want to invite you to read this passage and then pray this prayer. But don't just speak the words, cry them to God.

KJV: Philippians 4:10-13
[10]But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.
[11]Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
[12]I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
[13]I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Father, thank You that my deepest source of peace is not found in comfortable circumstances but in Your Son. Forgive me for believing that contentment is always one changed situation away. Teach me what You taught Paul—to find my sufficiency in Christ. Whether I experience abundance or need, success or disappointment, help me remain anchored in Your unchanging presence. Strengthen me through Christ to faithfully walk through whatever You place before me today. In His name, Amen.

05/22/2026

"What, my true servant?" says Satan. "My old servant, will you forsake me now? Having so often sold yourself to me to work wickedness, will you forsake me now? You horrible wretch, do you not know that you have sinned beyond the reach of grace, amd do you think that you can find mercy now? Are you not a murderer, a thief, a harlot, a witch, a sinner of the greatest size, and do you look for mercy now? Do you think that Christ will defile His fingers with you? It is enough to make angels blush," Satan says, "to see so repulsive a one knock at heaven's gate for mercy, and will you be so abominably bold to do it?"

This is a quote from John Bunyan in his book 'Jerusalem Sinner Saved' which later would be named 'Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners. Within this writing we see something raw and relatable. I see the same thoughts I have had about myself. The same tactics Satan uses today.
Satan will keep reminding us of the failures and vile things of our past. He will keep telling us that we are unworthy because of the things we have done. Sometimes our eyes will be fooled, and every time we look at ourselves in a mirror we see a monster. The ugliness. The wrongness. We see the sinner.

We fail to recognize who God is because we cant look past our shortcomings. I say we, but I mean me. My past is riddled with wrong decision after wrong decision. Whenever I try to start down the right path and follow what God is leading me towards, all I can think of is that no one will want to listen to me. What weight does a convicted felon have in matters of church? I tell myself I should just shut up and hide myself away. That the less the church sees of me the better.

But that is not God's design or desire for any of us. Jesus speaks of this in Matthew 5:14-16 NIV [14] “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. [15] Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. [16] In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Each of us was designed for our own unique purposes. But none of us were designed to stay hidden. But why is that? Why can I not just sit in my corner of church and praise and worship without anyone seeing me or knowing who I am? Because we are Christians. We are to be Christ like in our actions amd deeds. And who is Christ? He is the light of the world. John 8:12 NIV
[12] When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Satan will attack. He will belittle. He will cover your eyes with self imagery of who you were. We will see ourselves, I see myself as a sinner. But when God looks upon me all He sees is a son.

So I urge you, stop listening to the doubt and negativity your mind is telling you. Stop judging yourself by your past self and start looking at the future self. The self God knows you can be. The self God is building you up to be. The son or daughter that God loves with agape love. That unconditional and ultimate love. And if you ever wonder just how much love that is, just stretch your arms as wide as they can go to your sides.
But that still is nowhere close to the love God has for us. But its the best earthly representation we have. Because that's what Jesus looked like when He paid the price for our sins as He hung on that cross.

John 3:16 NIV says, "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." It's says whoever. Not the worthy. Not the ones that have their life together. But WHOEVER. That word in Greek means: every the whole: - all (manner of means). Not one is excluded.

John 3:17 continues with, "For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." Jesus was sent as the physical embodiment of mercy. He was the grace for our punishment. Justice is getting the punishment we deserve. Mercy is not receiving the punishment we deserve. Grace is receiving blessings we could never deserve.

Paul talks about this best in Romans 5:8 NIV. It says, "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." And Romans 5:6 says that while we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.

So, when the devil is throwing everything he can at you. When he brings up what happened 5 years ago. When he reminds you how you treated that person. When he doesn't let you forget those thoughts you had. Remember that those things are in the past. That if you have repented on those things, they no longer matter. That while you were still yet a sinner, Christ died for you. That you have received the grace that was offered by Jesus Christ. And because of that none of those things matter anymore. That grace is receiving blessings we could never deserve. Remember that Satan only wants to distract you long enough to take you away from your calling and to dim your light. So that you will hopefully not be an impact in someone's life. But let your light shine. Shine bright because it is Jesus Christ shining through you. Shine bright so that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father.

01/27/2026

Grace, Faith, and Good Works — getting the order right

One of the most common misunderstandings in Christianity is the role of good works. Many people treat them as the criteria for salvation, when Scripture consistently presents them as the effect of salvation.
Paul lays the foundation clearly in Ephesians 2:8–10:
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
The order matters.
Grace saves.
Faith receives.
Works follow.
Good works are not the reason we are saved—they are the result of being saved.
Think of it like a stone thrown into water. The ripples spread outward, touching everything around them. The ripples did not cause the stone to fall into the water. The stone caused the ripples. In the same way, salvation by grace is the stone. Good works are the ripples—inevitable, outward, and impactful—but never the cause.
Paul never presents obedience as a way to maintain salvation. He presents it as the natural outflow of a new identity. Later in the same letter, he says in Ephesians 4:20:
“But ye have not so learned Christ.”
Notice what he does not say.
He does not say, “You didn’t learn better rules.”
He says, “You learned Christ.”
That’s identity language. Salvation is not behavior modification—it is resurrection. Earlier Paul said we were “dead in trespasses and sins,” but God “made us alive together with Christ.” Dead people don’t improve themselves. They are made alive.
This also explains why Scripture can say we are adopted into God’s family. Adoption establishes identity, not probation. Fellowship can be broken. Growth can be slow. Discipline can be real. But sonship is not revoked.
Jesus illustrates this beautifully in the parable of the prodigal son (Luke 15:11–32). The son’s actions were sinful and destructive, but he never stopped being a son. When the father receives him, he says, “This my son was dead, and is alive again.” His behavior damaged fellowship—not identity.
This is why losing salvation through behavior makes no sense if salvation was never earned by behavior in the first place. If works didn’t save us, works can’t unsave us. Otherwise grace stops being grace.
Paul reinforces this elsewhere:
“If by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.”
(Romans 11:6)
Good works matter deeply—but they are fruit, not root. Evidence, not entrance. Ripples, not the stone.
Salvation is God’s finished work.
Faith receives it.
Good works reveal it to the world.
Grace remains grace—from start to finish.
“Let no man boast.”

10/08/2025

Meekness… Weakness or Strength?

My entire life I have heard the word meek describe someone. I have always understood it as meaning they were quiet and calm. Docile is another word I would have used to describe a meek person. I always saw it as weakness. That is why I never really understood what Jesus meant when He said, “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth (Matthew 5:5).” I always took meekness as someone being a doormat and not lashing out. But here we see that Jesus says that the meek will inherit the earth. I wanted to understand what Jesus was saying, so I dove into the scripture and the word “meek”.
In Matthew 5:5 Jesus was giving us scripture from Psalm 37:11. A Psalm of David. Verses 1-11 really spell out the definition of meek in the Hebrew context. According to the Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance, meek (or `anav {עָנָו}in Hebrew) is defined as “Or (by intermixture with aniy) Aanayv {aw-nawv'}; from anah; depressed (figuratively), in mind (gentle) or circumstances (needy, especially saintly) -- humble, lowly, meek, poor. Compare aniy.”
One verse in the Old Testament that speaks to meekness is Numbers 12:3. It says, “Now the man Moses was very meek (‘ānāv), more than all people on the face of the earth.” Within this chapter we see that Mose’s siblings are going against him. When they come to oppose him, all we see is verse 3. We don’t see him lashing out or fighting back. When I read this, I could almost see him lowering his head. Like he is feeling defeated. I mean, two of the closest people to him are going against him. Attacking his authority. Anyone would feel defeated. Let’s not forget that he is also facing opposition from the whole of Israel as well. Literally, his entire world is against him. That was my idea of someone who was meek. No fight back. No zeal. Just submission. If I had to put a face to the word meek, it would be Eeyore from Winnie the Pooh.
But my idea and understanding of meek is nowhere close to its true meaning. Moses was a meek man, yes. But he was also an extremely strong and brave individual. He faced Pharaoh with his brother Aaron. They went up against the largest world leader at the time by themselves. All they had to protect themselves was the faith that God would protect them. That is not something you think a meek person would do. That is very bold and death defying. Adjectives that don’t usually go with the word meek.
The Strong’s defines meek as “humble, lowly, poor”. And in this instance with Pharaoh, we see Moses humble himself before God. To humble yourself before God is to place yourself into submission under God’s authority. To become dependent upon God for protection from the unseen enemy. To be in repentance towards Him with a contrite heart. To hold God in reverence and understand that His will is greater than your own. I have heard it said that to be meek is to be bowed down by circumstances, yet still trusting God.
This is such a powerful example of meekness. The strength you gain by submitting your own will for the will of God. And just look at the things God was able to do by one man showing meekness. A nation was saved. That does not go with my previous understanding of “meek”.
This is why I feel Jesus was speaking on this in Matthew 5:5. He was showing that those who submit to God and follow the Lord’s will are the ones that will inherit the earth. It is not the ones ruled by anger and emotion and their own desires. David says in Psalm 37:9, “For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land.” And this is reiterated by Jesus in Matthew 19:28-30, “28 Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or wife or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.’”
My idea of meekness is forever changed. Where I once saw it as weakness, I now see it as strength. Even the Greeks understood this. Their word is praus (πραΰς) which is defined as gentle, mild, humble, or power under control. That “power under control” is absolute key in my mind. I see it as having a large work horse bridled and controlled in order to do the job at hand. Or a racehorse being guided and urged on to finish the race. Both creatures have the power and strength to buck against the one guiding them, but they submit to their master and obey. That is what meekness means to me.

06/03/2025

Just wanted to share this quick message. It's something I struggle with. I feel defeated before the battle even begins. I feel defeated and think I am already defeated. But that is only lies. Through my own strength I am defeated, and that is the lie Satan tells us. All we have to do is remind him that we lean not on our own understanding. That we acknowledge Jesus and trust in Him. That we understand that when we do this our paths we be made straight.
I am weak. I am faulty. I make mistakes. Nothing I do will ever be enough. All these things are true about myself. But none of it is true about my Savior.
He is strength. He is faultless. He is without blemish or mistake. The one thing He did was enough so that the entire world, for all time, could be made whole (Colossians 2:10) and acceptable before God.
Don't rely upon your self and be let down. Rely upon the one that will never let you down, Jesus.

02/05/2025

01/30/2025

As I was doing my nightly reading tonight, I was given a revelation.
God calls us while we are in our brokenness to turn to him and change our ways. But, we are broken. What does this really look like? Look at the human body. Whenever the human body is broken or injured, how is it best healed? Besides medicine, rest and none movement is what really helps the healing process.
Sometimes, to heal, you must do nothing. Dwell in the moment. Endure the pain. Allow that which you can't see to heal you. After all, in Matthew 11:28 it says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
There we have our answer. Go to Jesus. Reside with Him. While we are in His presence, he will give us rest. He will provide that healing power. He doesn't require anything from us but to "come to me".

01/04/2025

So amazing. No one is too far gone to acceptthe forgiveness Christ has paid for and given us. No one

12/23/2024

Listen to what this man has to say.

12/22/2024

I want to take a moment and talk with you about Barabbas Ministries and why I feel that God has given me the heart for this ministry.

Barabbas Ministries is for those who are in dark places. For those who feel like they are at their ropes end and have nothing left to offer themselves or the world. You see, we are just like Barabbas in that sense. Barabbas was a criminal and was most likely going to be executed because of his crimes. But Jesus took his place.
We are like Barabbas because we have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). We all deserve the punishment that comes from our sins, which is death. But Jesus took our place and paid the price for each and every one of our sins. "And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:24).
Barabbas Ministries is named this for 3 specific reasons:
1- Jesus took the place of Barabbas just as He took the place for each and every one of us.
2- Jesus fulfilled the law of the scapegoat that is found in Leviticus 16. By Jesus taking the place of Barabbas and becoming the sacrificial offering for our sins, and Barabbas being set free, we see that Barabbas is the scapegoat and Jesus is the offering for the sins of everyone.
3- The name Barabbas has a deeper meaning as well. If we look at it in Aramaic we see that "Bar" is translated to mean "son of" and "abbas" or "abba" translates to father. By you and me being a type of Barabbas, we are by extension sons and daughters of the Father.

This is the basis as to why I have felt led to begin this ministry. This ministry is to be there for those who feel unworthy. I want it to be an inspiration for those who have had everything taken away from them in the worldly sense. Barabbas Ministries is here to show them that they still have worth in the eyes of God. That He loves you just the way you are and wants to be there with you through the hard times and the good times.
If you don't believe me that God can love and use those that have committed deep and dark crimes, go look at the life of Paul. Paul persecuted, imprisoned, and approved of the killing of Christians. Go look at the life of King David. He was a murderer and an adulterer. But God still used him. Go and look at the life of Samson. He was a drunkard and a womanizer, but God use him to defeat the Philistines. God can and will use whomever He desires. As I've heard it said before, "God does not call the qualified, He qualifies the called."

So, I invite you to be a part of what God is doing. I invite you to experience God with me and to fellowship with me as one body in Christ Jesus.
May God bless you and to God be all the glory.
Amen