Josephine Mary Schmidt

A Place of Refuge for the Soul

Archives for October 2021

Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 2

Transcript of a video message of Josephine teaching on Luke 13 in the Sequoia Redwood National Park.

Part 2 – Belief Starts with Repentance

Opening Song – “Stuck” by Josephine Mary Schmidt

“Right in the middle of my heart, You set Your love in me.
Right in the middle of my life, You let Your anchor down deep through me.
I hold onto the faith You gave me. You showed me You died on the cross, but You’ve risen victoriously.”

Hi, 

We’ve moved locations because you can see that this big tree has come to destruction. And that’s one of the points I wanted to make. Even though this tree behind, the one I was standing in front of before is probably over a thousand years old – and that’s a long time, that’s like ten times a person’s, actually more; eleven times someone’s lifespan. Unless some tragedy comes to you, which happens to many people. You know, we have an end. Jesus has come. God has made a way to come to Him and bear fruit that’s pleasing to Him. And if we don’t, Jesus is warning, we will be cut down. It’s something that we don’t think will happen. But this tree came to an end. 

So, I want to continue on in Luke Chapter 13, which was what I was in before, and remember the key verse; fourteen – “unless you repent, you too will perish.” And that’s the point, isn’t it – perishing? Everything’s good today, but people have Covid-19 and then, that’s it, they died, and it was unexpected. People have car accidents, plane accidents, evil happens to them; they are murdered. Things happen! This is not a perfect world. And God doesn’t want that to be a tragic end to us. He wants us to come to repentance. That’s the point – it doesn’t really matter in the end how you perish. The point is you perish. That’s what saddens God, that’s why He sent Jesus, His Son.

So, Jesus goes on after He gives those two parables about the tree and the yeast, He says, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” – Luke 13:24. These are Jesus’ words. They are not mine. I’m not passing judgement on people. This is what He is saying, and they are not able to because they are not bearing the fruit that God wants because He sent His Son to die for our sins and give us new life in Him. 

Jesus is pleading for us, remember. He says, “Give it a year. I’ll dig around it. I’ll fertilize it, and if not, if it doesn’t bear fruit, then cut it down.” (Paraphrased)

I’m really wanting to encourage you – know the Word of God, yourself. Have a very strong relationship with Jesus Christ. It’s what we need. Make every effort, be clean, to be found worthy. Belief starts by repenting. But then we have to do works worthy of that repentance – John the Baptist – that was his message. And then Jesus came and taught the lessons on how to be clean, how to be living with the blessings of God. Taking the Word of God to heart and applying them in our lives. But it does start with a new beginning – us deciding that God’s way is right and it’s going to bless. 

I remember when I realized; I had a terrible tragedy happen to me. And I actually became demon-possessed by a very wicked man who had come into my life, pretending to be my music-manager. Because I was desperate to understand life. I was so dissatisfied, and I cried out to know the meaning of life and this man entered my life to deceive me. And before that, I was caught in hypocritical religion, and I suffer for forty years, crippled by Satan in a false Christianity, a Lutheranism that told me that I was saved because I was baptized as an infant. I never heard that I needed to repent, and live the life that Jesus was teaching. Never was told that, never heard the gospel. And I was crippled and suffered for forty years. I couldn’t straighten up. I couldn’t get the beauty of life, the strength to overcome the Devil, and this evil man came into my life because he was sent by the Devil. He wanted to stop me receiving what I had wanted since a child. A came to church wanting to worship Jesus. I actually wanted to worship Jesus Christ as a little girl. But I was crippled. 

No one ever told me the gospel. That’s the point too; God wants us to learn and grow and then teach others, so they can find their shelter in our lives, in our words, in our messages. That’s what He wants. And Jesus was so angry at those hypocrites. They cared more about their possessions and assets. Do you care more about your life, and your house, and your well-being than someone’s eternal salvation? Surely, the answer is no.  Care about people’s souls, their eternity that they wouldn’t perish, and a tragedy is their end-measure. I remember so well thinking this is my lot, this is how end, and it was tragic, and it was so unfair, and unjust, and it was not what I asked for. I’d asked to understand the meaning of life. 

But Jesus is saying – “make every effort to enter through the narrow gate” because He will deny all evil. Anything not pleasing to the Father will not be allowed into heaven. People may have a form of Christianity. I did, for forty years, but it’s not correct, wasn’t producing the fruit. That only comes from Jesus digging around and cutting off, and then fertilizing and we, feeding on the Word of God. He said, “I am the Bread of Life.” 

As we were driving up, this is called, “King’s Canyon.” I don’t actually think we are in King’s Canyon at the moment. But we drove up here into King’s Canyon, and I thought, “Isn’t that funny King’s Canyon; Jesus is called King of Kings, Lord of Lords,” and I sing that at the end of one of my songs called, “Stuck” that we did a video message for, right here. And I looked up the word, “canyon,” it’s a gorge where usually a river is found. Jesus came to give Living Waters. The King of Kings. The Lord of Lords. That we would be free from Satan’s crippling in our lives. And he cripples people, and they bend over, and they are burdened. Many people want to worship Jesus. They want to worship God. But there’s hypocrites around them, telling them false, a false Christianity, and their lives are representing the picture of a mustard seed that’s been planted by God, and it’s grown, and there’s people getting relief from their lives. They are coming and perching themselves in their lives, and what they are doing.

In Luke Chapter 13, verse 24 when Jesus talks about – “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to.” He’s talking about those who are doing evil. They say, “Lord, Lord,” but He doesn’t know them. They haven’t fed on the Word of God. And He talks about a place where there is weeping of gnashing of teeth. This is where the people are going to go. And it’s a place made for the Devil, not for people. God wants no one to perish, but all to come to repentance. I remember the gnashing of teeth when I was demon-possessed. It was so horrendous. It was so painful in a way, I can’t explain. It’s not a physical pain, but a spiritual anguish; your soul, you can’t explain, but the gnashing of teeth gives a good description. It’s so painful; I just remember that.

And Jesus heard me cry. He came and met me; a woman bound by evil spirits. A woman bent over and crippled, unable to straighten herself up. Unable to find the words of life because of the hypocrites in the church I belonged to, unable. But Jesus, Himself taught me. And that’s our message today. He teaches us, He fertilizes us. We are to be the picture of the kingdom of God.

So, I was listening to a song on the way up by “The Neverclaim’s.” And I’m probably going to mess the lyrics up. But basically, he was saying that Jesus is able to bring new life. He’s certainly given me new life. I’m like, well actually, I’m greater than that tree, (Josephine points to the huge sequoia redwood that has fallen and is broken on the ground behind her). I’m not going to have destruction come to me. And I have a song called, “Stay Free” – “stay free, stay free, stay free in Jesus,” (Chorus Lyrics). We filed a video clip up here in the Sequoia Redwood National Park. “Your glory fills my heart, your truth has set me free, stay free, stay free in Jesus,” (Verse Lyrics).

Jesus wasn’t welcomed in the synagogues. He wasn’t welcomed, and He’s so not welcomed in many places. He has new life for us, and it’s very different from who we were. It is possible to have the love of God in you. It’s possible for to have a new life in Him. And I want to end my message today with 1 Peter 5:8, and I want you to think about who are you listening to? Who are the leaders that you are listening to in the church? Are they bearing the fruit that our Heavenly Father wants? That Jesus enabling them to bear? I’m not challenging anyone, but I think it’s important to point out that in the last days there are false prophets and there are false teachers – Jesus warned that, and you would know a tree by its fruit (Matthew 7:15-16). 

This isn’t a righteousness of our own, this is being fed by Jesus, and taking it up. It’s His work in us, but we make every effort to enter in. Not take for granted the food that God has for us. Learn the Word of God and this Scripture 1 Peter 5:8, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

And then it will continue, “Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings” (1 Peter 5:9).

The same kind of suffering, all over the world, the Devil’s bringing that in people. But we stand strong, we stand firm in our faith. There’s no easy path to heaven’s door, but we have a great advocate. We have a great friend who’s feeding us, and we must listen and put His words into action. We don’t want to tree that’s in threat of being cut down. We don’t a tree that comes to destruction. These redwoods are amazing, and they have stories to tell, I’m sure. They’ve withstood massive fires, but they will come to an end. All of this will come to an end. So, unless you repent, Jesus said, you too will perish. Beliefs starts here, the new life starts here. So, I hope this is an encouragement to you today.

Ends with song, “Stuck,” playing – 

“Oh, You’re the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the great and mighty One.

You hold me tight.

I wrap my arms around Your love, and together, we shine so bright.

I’m stuck in the middle of this love.”

Transcript from Josephine Mary Schmidt’s teaching video message called, “Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 2.

©Josephine Mary Schmidt

Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 1
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Belief Starts with Repentance – Part 1

Transcript of a video message of Josephine teaching on Luke 13 in the Sequoia Redwood National Park.

Part 1 – Belief Starts with Repentance

Opening Song – “Stuck” by Josephine Mary Schmidt

“Right in the middle of my heart, You set Your love in me.
Right in the middle of my life, You let Your anchor down deep through me.
I hold onto the faith You gave me. You showed me You died on the cross, but You’ve risen victoriously.”

Hi, 

I’m Josephine Mary Schmidt, from Songs By Josephine. I’m here with my husband in the Sequoia Redwood National Park, and this is one of the huge sequoia redwoods that is probably over thousand years old. Just incredible. My husband and I came here a couple of years ago, and we are here again filming video clips. It was on my heart to do a message today about life, really. And it’s based on Luke Chapter 13, with the key verse in that chapter is right at the beginning, verse 4. And Jesus is answering people who are wondering in people were worse sinners because they had been murdered, and He responds by saying – 

“Or those eighteen who died when the tower in Siloam fell on them—do you think they were more guilty than all the others living in Jerusalem?”

And Jesus responds, “I tell you, no! But unless you repent, you too will all perish.” (Luke 13:5)

Belief starts here. So many tragedies are happening around the world, Covid-19, so many others, and it’s not people’s fault. But belief starts here, at repentance. When we realize the direction of our life isn’t going to reap eternal life. Jesus has come to bring the message of life, and belief starts at repentance. Some people might think that it starts somewhere else. Other Christians have other ideas about when Christianity begins. But God says that belief starts at repentance. When you realize that you are perishing. And this tree here is strong, but it has a life. It’s not indestructible. 

After this verse in Luke 13, Jesus goes on and He talks about, He speaks in a parable. And He talks about a fig tree. And it’s been planted in a man’s vineyard, which is a good picture for us. The man has come three years to that fig tree, and it hasn’t given him any fruit. And so, in the man’s anger, he says, “Cut it down!” 

But then someone is pleading for that tree, “Leave it alone for one year. Let me dig around it, and fertilize it, and if it bears fruit, fine. But if it doesn’t, cut it down.” 

Jesus has come, sent by the Father that we would be worthy trees in His vineyard. And Jesus is pleading on our behalf, “Don’t cut it down, don’t destroy it.” God wants no one to perish. He wants all to come to repentance, and to rely on His Son, Jesus. This is what Jesus is saying, “I will dig around, and I will fertilize it to enable it to bear your fruit.” And I know a little bit about horticulture. I know a little bit about trees and their feeder roots are all on the surface. This is where they get most of their nutrition on this lovely, rich, topsoil. The leaf litter will drop, and birds will manure, and plants will die and woods rots, and the tree gets so much nutrition from this. And this is what Jesus is saying, “I will dig around this tree that is not bearing fruit, and I will fertilize it.” In other words, He is cutting all the tree’s feeder roots. And that’s what He will do in us. He cut off what we are feeding from to enable us to take up His Word. The lessons that He’s teaching, like these parables. Jesus wants you to learn from them that you would become strong.

It’s starts from repentance, when we know that we are not going to bear the kind of fruit that God is wanting. And what is that fruit? A good tree bears good fruit – love, patience, faithfulness, tenderheartedness, thinking of others better than ourselves. That doesn’t come naturally, does it? But it’s the selfless nature of Christ that God wants to bear in us. And Jesus wants to help us. You see, He’s pleading for us, and He’s come to help us. And He doesn’t want us to receive the wrath and anger of God. He wants us to reap everlasting life.

But we must turn our ways, and our life that doesn’t bear that good fruit, and it starts with repentance and belief. 

This Chapter goes on and tells the story about a woman who’s crippled, she’s bent over, it says. She’s been bent over by an evil spirit, it says. And she’s been unable to straighten up. She’s been like this for eighteen years. But this woman is coming into the Temple. She’s coming to worship God. She’s coming to church. Yet, she’s bound by an evil spirit. And as soon as Jesus sees her, He says, “Woman, you are set free from your infirmity.” But the church leaders were angry that Jesus had done this. Because they had this rule that you couldn’t do any work on the Sabbath, which had nothing to do with God. Jesus helped this woman immediately. And He says to these leaders, “You hypocrites! You held your own livestock, your animals. You look after your own assets, but you don’t help her.” And there are many hypocrites in churches. And they have no power over the Devil.

One of the messages, here, today – who are you listening to? Are you listening to a hypocrite? Or are you listening to someone who is bearing the fruit of Christ?

Then Jesus goes – He asks the questions, “What is the kingdom of God like?” And basically, He’s saying – what is the picture of the kingdom in someone? Because these church leaders are not the picture. They are not even caring about this woman. In fact, they are angry that she’s been healed, which is ridiculous! And Jesus gives this parable in Luke 13, verse 18 of a mustard seed – A man took a mustard seed, and he planted it in his garden, and it grew like a tree and the birds perched in its branches. That’s what God wants; He wants us to take up His food. His Word of God through His Son, Jesus Christ who came to teach the message of life and hope. He wants us to grow strong. Then, the birds can perch in our branches. In other words, we can be useful, we can help others like that crippled woman. 

In trees, that’s where the birds sleep at night. They need the trees, and God wants us to be trees helping others become free from Satan’s tactics and schemes. To know the way of salvation. But first we must be released. We must straighten up. We must be released. We have to be those trees that are growing.

Then Jesus gives another example after this one to prove His point even more about this. He asks again – “What else is the kingdom of heaven like,” He says. He gives another example, a woman with yeast, and she’s mixing it into 60 pounds of flour, which is a lot! She mixes it until it’s worked through the dough. And God wants His words and lessons penetrating every aspect of our life. Every, single, aspect of our lives, He wants that truth and the Word of God, His food. So that, we are growing strong and able to help others escape the wrath that is going to come, the anger that is going to come. Remember, the tree that didn’t bear fruit, He said, “Cut it down.” And we have an enemy, trying to keep us bound. 

This is our job – a tree has to take up the nutrients, doesn’t it? It just can’t stand here and expect to be spoon fed when it’s all here for them. Trees know, I got to take it up. God’s given us the Word, and if you a born-again believer, you have the Spirit and the ability to understand it. And if you are not a born-again, or if you’re not sure if you’re born-again, then it starts at repentance. That’s where belief starts. It can’t start anywhere else. It’s got to start with you realizing that you need Jesus Christ.

Closing Song – “Stuck” by Josephine Mary Schmidt

“You’re stuck in the middle of my heart, in the middle of my life. 
I’m rooted and grounded in your love Christ.”

Josephine’s APP
Download Josephine’s Free App from Stores today and be kept up to date on all the latest messages and music releases.

Download from Albums page, or from streaming stores, or listening and download from Josephine Mary Schmidt’s Free App.