Grace that Kills

Hello,
I found this piece a few days ago and thought I should share. God bless you
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If God loves us so much that he forgives all our sins then we might as well keep on sinning.”  A passing remark that I have heard a few different times but a very false one.  We, Christians, like to assume that our faith is our own.  Which our faith is very personal but our own faith directly affects others around us for the better or the worse.  The world privatizes not only pocketbooks and sex, but our faith as well.  This privatization can lead to making God into a vending machine. We put in a dollar, then choose our favorite refreshment. But our faith isn’t about our desires or what we get out of our faith.  Our faith is centered on Jesus Christ and denial of self.

“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?      
By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death?  We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life (Romans 6:1-4).”

Paul dealt with this lie many years ago and now we, Christians, face this lie.  We face this lie every morning when we wake up and roll out of the bed. Will you decide to believe the lie that God will continue to forgive you so you can…..well…..continue on sinning?  Yes, God’s grace covers all sin.  But don’t abuse his grace and say, “might as well keep on sinning.”  Allow God to take his grace and kill this side of us.  Allow God to bring you into a life you could never imagine.  I hope you feel inspired when you hear an amazing sermon, see God’s redemptive work in the world and experience God’s grace.  But we were baptized into this death with Christ so that we can have a new live with Christ.

This life is characterized by death to our self and acceptance into the kingdom of God.  A kingdom that is here on this earth working right now.  Paul, who wrote Romans, lived a life that was full of sin.  He killed Christians.  Can you image how personal that sin felt?  But God’s grace restored not only Paul’s sight but his heart of stone.  “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh (Ezekiel 36:26).”  Will you decide to continue on with a heart of stone? Or will you allow God to take your heart of stone and kill it.  Allowing God’s amazing grace to penetrate your whole being and replacing your heart of stone with one of flesh.  Paul realized his sin and turned toward God.  Will we, Christians, realize our sin and turn towards Christ?  Prayerful consider how God is moving in your heart and reread Romans 6:1-4 again.  Let the word of God penetrate your heart of stone.  Let God’s grace kill this lie in our life.  A grace that kills is a grace that redeems and leads to a new life.

Getting Set for a Miracle

Now  it came to pass on the third day, that Esther PUT ON her royal apparel, and STOOD in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the entrance of the house.  Esther 5:1 (ASV)

There are several things we learn from the scriptures by the help of the Holy Spirit and getting set for a miracle (heavenly intervention) is one of them. Every believer desire miracles or at least should.

A miracle (according to Webster) is an unusual or wonderful event/ occurrence that is believed to be caused by the power of God.  But it is much more than that, it is God intervening in the affairs of His people. Getting a job you least qualify for, medically unexplainable healing, unusual financial increase, raising the dead, supernatural rescue from destruction etc are all examples of Miracles.

 Miracles require FAITH and persistence in prayer but you also need to be prepared. I have at one point or the other believed God for a miracle but didn’t get it. I learnt something important from Queen Esther and it is getting ready for a miracle.

  Step 1

Put off the old self and put on the new self: Esther PUT ON her royal apparel......

Your royal robe as a believer is righteousness. You must appear in this royal robe if you must stand in the presence of God and demand for a miracle. The enemy has confused many that grace abound so there is no need for repentance or better still, putting off completely, your old self.
Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. Ephesians 4: 24

Step 2
You must position yourself spiritually..... She STOOD in the inner court of the king's house.

You position yourself by being in the spirit at all times. Most miracles recorded in the scriptures came via an instruction.

Lift up your rod and stretch your hand over the sea (Exodus 14:16)

March round the city once, for six days (Joshua 6:3)

Cast the net on the right side (John 21:6)

When we are spiritually alert, we receive specific instructions from God and by heeding to it, bring down our miracle.

Nothing is ever too hard for God. NOTHING!

If we believe, ask and wait upon Him.....our miracle will be inevitable.

God bless you.

If this YEAR would be awesome.....

If this year would be awesome for you and I the certain factors must be considered. You need the following;

Plans

A man’s heart plans his ways......Proverbs 16:7

Sit down and set goals for the year. What dreams and hopes do you have for the New Year? What lifestyle changes would you like to make? List goals in each of these areas: Spiritual, Health, Relationship, Career etc. Set reasonable deadlines to them and commit to working it out.

 Character

....You should be an example to the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12 (HCSB)

 Make positive, progressive changes in the area of character. You need character to attract and sustain the blessings and relationships that God has prepared for you. Your strength as a believer has a lot to do with your character. Learn to be patient, listen more, talk less, be honest, forgive quickly, be prudent, give generously... the list goes on.

Labour

......but each shall receive his own reward according to his own labour 1Corinthians 3:8.

 Plans will remain plans and amount to nothing without the required labour. God has His part to play, you have yours. He rewards labour and despises idleness (laziness). Grace, Giving, Faith does not rule out the need for work. Your works more than your words is a proof of your faith (James 2:18). Work out your plans diligently and you won’t have to watch and wish when the time for harvest comes.

People
You need people. Not just anyone but wise, kind, strong, supportive and Purpose driven people. People who would reprove you (when you go wrong), support you (to pursue those great plans of yours), encourage you (when you need it), cheer you on (when you seem tired and about to give up), push you forward without apology (when you become slack), pray for / with you and celebrate you (when you succeed).   

The one who walks with the wise will become wise, but a companion of fools will suffer harm. Proverbs 13: 20  

 

 GOD
Remain in Me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in Me.   John 15:4                                        
  You need God, you should know that already. He is the single, MOST IMPORTANT person you need this year and indeed all the days of your life. Just as the tree cannot survive if uprooted from the earth so neither you nor I can survive if disconnected from God. You need His presence, His word, His grace, His help, His EVERYTHING. By all means stay connected to God. Study His word, worship and sing His praise at all times, Pray about everything and go to church (yes o!) .             
For in Him we live and move and have our being...Acts 17: 28

So this year.... Plan, Develop, Work, Love and Pray!  Make the best of the year...LIVE!!! Happy New Year

GRACE!

Matthew 26:74-75 (MSG)
Then he got really nervous and swore. "I don't know the man!"
Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times." He went out and cried and cried and cried.

  Peter couldn't believe that he (of all the disciples) could deny the Master Jesus and am sure there are so many like him today. His weakness wasn't lack of love for his master rather it was his trust in his own ability.( Matthew 26:33) . He thought he has stayed long enough with Jesus,walked on water with Him,dined with Him and he loved Him dearly so he was sure that he couldn't deny Christ. But he was wrong, for by Strength shall no man Prevail(1 Sam 2:9) and though the spirit is willing,the flesh is weak.

 Our strength,money,talent...everything we are /have is nothing without grace. In this race,it is grace that makes Great (1 Cor 15:10). If we will make heaven,fulfill our destiny here on earth,live according to God's word and triumph in spite of circumstances then we must crave for The abundance of the Grace of God in our lives.

....And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
( 2 Corinthians 9:8)

Have a great week!