Showing posts with label God's Gift Of Grace. Show all posts
Showing posts with label God's Gift Of Grace. Show all posts
Saturday, November 19, 2011
By Grace Alone
Is salvation God's work, or is it man's work, or is it both God's work and man's work? Another way to put it: Is faith in Jesus Christ alone enough to save us? Is grace enough?
In Acts 15, a group came forward in Jerusalem and told the brethren that they needed to be circumcised in order to be saved. These legalists were known as the Judaizers, and they were influential because they were very schooled in the Law; they were Pharisees. The books of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews hadn't been written yet, so the question of law versus grace hadn't been hammered out yet. It was because of the council in this chapter that this was done.
These men said it was "necessary" to obey the Law of Moses. Not that it would be nice for fellowship, but that you couldn't be saved without it. Imagine if these men had prevailed. We might be singing, "What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the Law of Moses," or perhaps "A mighty fortress is the Law..."
But remember this: Whenever any leader stands up and says, "You can't be saved unless you believe in Christ AND keep our rules, or obey our ceremonies, or whatever," they are denying the gospel.
Adding anything to the Gospel--be it circumcision, baptism, confirmation, extreme unction, any additional work--is saying "Jesus Christ is not a complete savior. He didn't do a good enough job." It's telling Him, "It was a good start, Jesus; now we'll finish the work."
But salvation is, according to the scripture, totally by God's grace through faith. As it says in Ephesians 2:8-9, "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Now, you might say, "That's a pretty dangerous doctrine. You have to keep young Christians tethered with some rules, or they'll run wild." That's where you're wrong. There is no stronger tether than relationship. Not rules, not rituals--relationship. Rules without relationship leads to rebellion. Love that leads to relationship that leads to obedience...there's no stronger tether than that.
We don't obey God in order to earn His favor. We obey Him because we love Him. And "We love Him because He first loved us" (1 John 4:19).
Jesus Christ IS a complete savior. Jesus Christ DID do a complete work on the cross to secure our salvation. Faith in Jesus Christ IS enough.
Scripture Of The Day: "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast." - Ephesians 2:8-9 (NKJ)
Friday, November 18, 2011
Grace In Disguise
I recently found myself in need of purchasing another vehicle. After discovering what I thought was the one I wanted, I placed a $500 deposit on it one Friday night about 8 p.m. to hold the car until the next day when we could work out the financial deal. However, due to information I found out about the car, I changed my mind the very next day and consequently needed my deposit refunded.
I proceeded to purchase another car that same Saturday and went back to the initial dealer on Sunday to get the $500 refund. On the following Tuesday, I discovered that instead of crediting my card $500, the dealership mistakenly charged it again for $500! Over the next several days, they managed to charge a total of $2,000 to my account but only refund $1,000. Now this was a problem.
Back to the dealer I went to get the missing $1,000. The very next day was Friday, November 11, Veteren’s Day—a bank holiday! So no credit for my account. By this time the cash in my wallet was getting low. I politely stated to the dealership that at the very least they needed to fill my car up with gas. When I went to get the gas, the salesman insisted I speak to a manager. I didn’t think there was anything he could do because I knew the credit to my account was held up due to the holiday. Nonetheless, I sat and waited to see him.
The top guy was not available, but the original manager who made all the charge mistakes was. I asked him to please call their merchant credit card services company and see if there was any way the processing could be expedited so that my funds would show in my account that day. He tried to no avail.
As I got up to leave, he said, “I think God is testing me.” With raised eyebrows, I responded, “That He will do.” He then told me that he never made that mistake before and confided that this was the worst two weeks of his life. He proceeded to pour out his heart about some serious personal problems. He was near tears, distraught. I said, “Do you mind if I close the door and pray for you?” With tears flowing, he gratefully agreed. We prayed for restoration, strength and wisdom for his situation. We both realized that God had set the entire thing up so we could sit together in this moment and go before His throne in prayer. He could not believe I had remained as calm as I did throughout the entire ordeal. I told him, like the song by Mary Mary says, “It’s the God in me.”
God chose to give grace to a hurting young man and used me—the very person that same man had seriously inconvenienced—to bless him and pray for him. I believe with all my heart that I left him with renewed hope. It was indeed a test for me too. Had I not passed, or had any of the details gone differently, that moment of prayer might not have occurred; the hurting manager certainly wouldn’t have been so vulnerable with me had I not kept my cool. As it was happening, it seemed a nightmare; in reality, it was a beautiful weave of God’s grace.
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters (Colossians 3:23). You could very well be in the midst of a blessing—of grace—in disguise.
Scripture Of The Day: "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." - Colossians 3:23 (NIV)
Thursday, November 17, 2011
We Need Air
What are you facing today? Is it a dead-end at work that you’ve given your all on and it still seems you won’t be able to finish? Is it a spouse that you’ve prayed for, for such a long time and it just doesn’t seem he or she will ever come to God? Has a doctor given you a report that is not what you expected and you now feel like all hope is drained from your mind and body? Have you recently received a phone call from a family member that has told you someone in your family is involved in sin . . . again?
Have you been betrayed by someone you trusted that you never thought would ever deceive you? Have you been laid off from work or have you been looking for a job for a very long time? Has your child disconnected from you, walking away from God more and more with every passing day? Do you just need to know that you're not alone?
Then let God encourage you and remind you that He's working on your case! He says that when you’re in over your head, when the waters of life and people are throwing you and your feelings around, you will not drown! You will not lose your breath and suffocate in your situation! When your circumstances are screaming at you that they will not change, remember God, and you have the last Word! And when it appears that there’s only ONE WAY your situation is going to get better and that way out, or in, is not happening, God will open another door and make another way through!
If you are smothering by what seems to be a dark hole that you are deeply in, then know that God will take your condition of being in that tight, hard place and blast open a new tunnel, a new route and a new way for you! You are never too deep, too low or too far away for Him to grab you, rescue you, free you, or change you and your circumstances. His Grace is amazing. You are most definitely not too far for Him to save you, the ones around you and conditions facing you.
You are not alone. Give Jesus your life today. Give Him you -- and your situation -- and breathe again in Him. Receive The Breath of Life today, because in this life on planet Earth, we all need Him. We all need air!
Scripture Of The Day: “When you're in over your head, I'll be there with you. When you're in rough waters, you will not go down. When you're between a rock and a hard place, it won't be a dead end – because I am God, your personal God, The Holy of Israel, your Savior.” - Isaiah 43: 2-3 (MSG)
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Grace Checks
In many parts of American society, people participate in a process called ‘floating checks.’ That is, because they are forced to meet a deadline or pay for an item or service, they are asked to write a check to an individual and/or company even though the actual money is not in the bank account. This individual and/or company agrees to ‘hold’ the check until a post-dated date in the near future.
As a friend asked me a few weeks ago to ‘hold’ a check that he was writing to me, I couldn’t help but think about the principles that God wants to deposit into our life account -- checks of grace. Unfortunately, He can’t because we have not yet opened up the account with humility in it.
James 4: 6 clearly shows us how God gets grace to the believer. James writes, “God gives grace to the willing humble” (The Message). Who are the ‘willing humble’ that James refers to here? I think James is giving us the picture of the person who readily admits that without God’s grace, he is absent of anything, no hope of any progress and no boasting of any accomplishments. This picture even includes the person who is busy for God in an attempt to earn more brownie points with God in exchange for special permission to try to get a pass on life’s troubles, challenges and frustrations. Literally, Christ turns away from those who trust in themselves.
In honesty, I have been guilty of this at times. I’ve trusted myself to get myself out of certain jams. I have trusted myself for intelligent answers to common conversations. I have trusted myself for solutions to ministry challenges. I have trusted myself to be a good parent when God is asking for me to be a Godly parent. I have trusted myself to be a decent husband when God is calling me to be a divine representative of Him to my wife. And sadly, sometimes I have trusted myself in preparing a sermon to impress people, when God wasn’t interested in me impressing people, but really impacting people. For the record, I have had to repent. Not only that, I have had to admit that if I want to continue to receive God’s grace, that is His power to do His will in fullness, I must follow a pattern that He’s set for me:
A) Check myself – Have I emptied myself of myself? (Philippians 2: 17)
B) Consider Him – Have I considered Him in all of my ways? (Proverbs 3: 5-6)
C) Conform To His Ways – Have I evaluated my methods of thinking and living? (Romans 12: 1-3)
D) Create a habit of obedience – Have I created a pattern of obeying The Holy Spirit (Romans 8:14: Hebrews 5:8)
Additionally, James provides more clues on how to keep God’s grace flowing in our lives. He says In James 4: 8, “Draw nigh to God and He will draw nigh to us” (KJV). The Message Translation provides this, “Say a quiet yes to God and he'll be there in no time.” That powerful insight should motivate us to quickly move to stepping aside to allow God to pour Himself into us.
The full measure of God’s grace then is not dependant on God’s ability to provide it, but many times on my ability to empty myself of myself.
God has an unlimited supply of Grace Checks that He desires to deposit in our life accounts. The only requirement is humility – the clear understanding that without His grace we are nothing.
Join with me and let’s start a revolution of believers and representatives of God who really rely on Him for everything. He’d appreciate it and we’ll be better for it.
Scripture Of The Day: "God gives grace to the willing humble." - James 4:6 (MSG)
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
A Gift Undeserved
Can you ever recall a time where you received something from someone that you neither deserved nor earned? Have you ever been in a position where you looked back and marveled at how you made it through a major obstacle you faced? Maybe you’ve achieved or accomplished something that was bigger than you?
Like me, I’m sure you have a number of things that come to mind when you think about these questions. For this reason, I want to highlight the topic of GRACE. Not just the word itself, but also focusing in on the “gift” of God’s grace.
Sadly, the word grace has become somewhat of a cliché in most Christian circles. Synonymous to the usage of the word “blessed,” grace has become a term we casually use, which in essence diminishes its power. For a moment allow me to unpack one of the most powerful words ever.
Ephesians 2:5 reads, “By Grace you have been saved.” It is by grace that God exercises His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, and increases them in Christian faith, knowledge and awakens them to the practice of Godly values. Grace is the good will, favor, loving and merciful kindness of God that literally saves us from the pit of hell and the snare of the devil. So let’s not make light of this incredible gift. Grace is also like a two-sided coin, because just as much as it saves us from… it empowers us too!
So what exactly does grace empower us to do? Prosper. Yep, you got it. God’s grace enables us to prosper, win and succeed! Paul knew it firsthand and said it this way: “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (1Cor 15:10).” Although Paul got a late start and didn’t have the same discipleship training as did the other Apostles, he traveled further and wrote more scripture than all of them. Yet Paul attributed all of his success to the grace of God.
I’m not sure where you are in life, but I do know that if you are willing to receive the gift of God’s grace, then it will change you forever. He’s done it for me and if you’re willing, He’ll do the same for you.
Scripture Of The Day: "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." - 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NKJ)
Monday, November 14, 2011
Overwhelmed By Grace
The housing crash in 2008 afforded me a new level of understanding of God’s grace. My husband and I decided to let go of the things we acquired but could no longer afford. On the outside I tried to portray a pillar of strength. Inside I was in turmoil.
How had this happened? I consistently tithed and gave offering. When and however I could, I served in God’s house. Between caring for our 1-year-old daughter and dealing with all of the stresses that stemmed from our financial crisis, things moved so fast I didn’t have time to process it all. No fast, prayer, or scripture changed the way I felt. I was emotionally, spiritually and financially bankrupt!
I searched online for an extended stay hotel in as safe an area as possible. With each click of the keyboard, I fought back frustration and tears. Childhood feelings of neglect, abandonment and disappointment tried to overtake me. I’d seen God perform miracles. Deep down in my spirit I knew nothing was impossible for Him, but my heart couldn’t make sense of it or see a positive end to things.
A family friend called after my husband and I prayed about what to do and where we should go. He and his wife offered for us to live with them. God provided a temporary job assignment that allowed me to care for my daughter and a nearby daycare. God still made a way for my HIV awareness novel “It’s in My Blood” to be released December 2009.
In less than six months God blessed us with a place to live on our own. There were some misrepresentations and challenges by the leasing office but we trusted God. He enabled us to stay positive and thankful through them all. The conditions left us no choice but to move again. We prayed and God led us to a place that seemed prepared just for us.
God’s grace in my life overwhelmed and humbled me. Even when I questioned everything, God continued to love me, live inside of me, and use me. Instead of growing apart, our struggle drew my husband and me together. In spite of the hardships and struggles through the circumstances, I didn’t run away from my relationship with God. I never turned my back on my faith.
God opened doors, provided for every need, and gave favor in the middle of the storm. When I looked up and the storm was over, I knew I didn’t deserve any of it. I only made it through by His grace.
Scripture Of The Day: "And the grace (unmerited favor and blessing) of our Lord [actually] flowed out superabundantly and beyond measure for me, accompanied by faith and love that are [to be realized] in Christ Jesus." - 1 Timothy 1:14 (AMP)
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Spreading Grace
When was the last time you had the opportunity to do something great for God? Without a doubt, on a daily basis, and often without realization, humans miss golden moments for greatness. In pursuit of what the world sees as displaying greatness, we tend to mishandle God's gift of grace.
The grace of God is one of the gifts that God extends to His people that has many jewels as benefits. Grace brings salvation, health and provisions. Because God has placed us in the earth to carry forth His plans, He expects that we release to others what He releases unto us. The community of believers in Acts 4:33 understood the "great grace that was on them" as they experienced the first adventures of the newly empowered church.
Great grace produces generosity. When people recognize God’s gift of grace over their lives, it brings about a greater awareness that everything we are, everything that we have, and everything that we will become is the result of God's grace. One of the many usages of grace biblically pertains to God's favor and God’s will. Grace comes not because of one's own merit, but rather grace is a personal decision on the part of the one extending the act of grace. It is based on the giver's convictions and compulsions. Therefore, God's grace is really God's generosity toward us. We are here because of the generosity of God. Today, it is very easy to take for granted all the benefits in your life despite any challenges you may be experiencing. However, we are encouraged by the word in Psalm 103:2, "Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all of His benefits."
So, when we recognize the generosity of God's grace, we will understand that it should produce generosity in us. The people in Acts 4 understood the grace and outpouring on their lives so much so that it produced the same generosity in them. They sold property and land so that there would be none among them who lacked.
We may not be expected to sell what we have in the same manner as did these generous believers, but we would do well to expand the purposes of God by releasing grace on others in the form of personal generosity. One of my most rewarding experiences as a Christian occurs when I extend to strangers or others my favor and will, which in fact is generosity that is prompted by grace.
Today is your day for greatness! Rather than feeling sorry for what you may not have yet achieved, do something great on your journey by spreading the grace of God. As you go forth in your day, God will place before you the opportunity to be generous to someone.
It's your great day to be a champion of the Grace of God! Go for it! After all, God's grace is His gift to be given away.
Scripture Of The Day: "And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all." - Acts 4:33 (NKJ)
Saturday, September 4, 2010
What To Do in Times of Trouble
By Bishop Keith Butler
Do you know what time it is? It is time to give God thanks because He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for protection. Thank Him for provision. Thank Him for your food. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father whether or not it looks like things are working. When you do, you release His ability and power.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (KJV)
We have no need to faint and no need to fear. When we are in Christ, we don't gauge our future by what the stock market does. We don't gauge our future by what the news reporters say. We gauge our standing in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever.
So I'm telling you today, don't look at all the things you are reading in the newspaper. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. You know He makes a way for you. So begin to thank Him for doing it right now.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 says, "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 says, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand ."
So, know what time it is and don't be troubled. Don't be frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in our situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!
Scripture Of The Day: "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. For more information about Bishop Butler, visit http://www.woficc.com.
Do you know what time it is? It is time to give God thanks because He is your Deliverer! In the time of trouble, you have to abound in thanksgiving to God. Thank Him for protection. Thank Him for provision. Thank Him for your food. Thank Him for your job. Thank the Father whether or not it looks like things are working. When you do, you release His ability and power.
2 Corinthians 4:16 says, "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal." (KJV)
We have no need to faint and no need to fear. When we are in Christ, we don't gauge our future by what the stock market does. We don't gauge our future by what the news reporters say. We gauge our standing in this life by the word of God which lives and abides forever.
So I'm telling you today, don't look at all the things you are reading in the newspaper. Instead look to God. You may not see God, but you know He's there. You know He makes a way for you. So begin to thank Him for doing it right now.
2 Thessalonians 1:6 says, "it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you." In other words, God is going to trouble your trouble. 2 Thessalonians 2:2 says, "That ye be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand ."
So, know what time it is and don't be troubled. Don't be frightened. Don't be full of fear. God is pleased by our thanksgiving, and He will move in our situation. It is time now to thank God for delivering us by His mighty power!
Scripture Of The Day: "For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God." - 2 Corinthians 4:15 (KJV)
Bishop Keith A. Butler is the founder and pastor of Word of Faith International Christian Center in Southfield, MI, and Word of Faith Christian Center in San Antonio, TX. For more information about Bishop Butler, visit http://www.woficc.com.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Amazing Grace or Random Grace
By Tim Challies
A while ago I received an email from a father, concerned about the task of sharing the gospel with his children. Here is what he sent to me:
I have such a hard time grasping the notion of election as a father. I struggle with why so much of Bible addresses us as decision making/choice making creatures, appealing to us to recognize something and depart from sin and accept Christ.
Yet if God is simply "zapping" us with irresistible Grace, it seems to me that our efforts for others to turn away sin and accept Christ is really not genuine. It seems rigged.
Is there anything that can assure me that I have an influence in whether my child's number is called?
I certainly understand the heart behind this question. I, too, am a father and one who is deeply concerned about the eternal welfare of my children. I love them so deeply and desire nothing greater than that they would turn to Christ in repentance and faith
Like this reader, I am sometimes tempted to express frustration with the way God has chosen to save a people for Himself. But through it all I know that his ways are not only good; his ways are best.
Here's the 3-part answer I gave this father:
First, I think we need to have much greater confidence in God's sovereignty than in the ability of our children to choose God without his foreordaining grace. Without God's grace, none of us could ever turn to him. So we need to take refuge in God's sovereignty and not make it an occasion of fear or dread.
Second, I think it is helpful to see predestination as something that is of far greater concern to God than to us. While we see from Scripture that God has predestined his elect to eternal life, I'm not sure that it is helpful for us to think too much about who is among the elect and who is not.
Third, we need to be careful in how we understand God's work of election. Scripture does not say that certain people "had their number called" and others did not. Instead, we read that God chose some because he had special love for them. There is nothing random about it.
Take adoption for example.
When a couple sets out to adopt a child, they have a large number of potential children available to them. But somewhere in the process of adoption they set their heart on a particular child. It is not that they have chosen this child randomly, but rather that they did so because their affections were set upon him.
Their selection of a particular child is not unfair to the other children. One child was graciously selected for the special blessing of adoption while many others were not. Giving a gift to one person does not make it unfair to withhold a gift from another.
While God has, indeed, ordained who will be saved, he has not told us who he will save. And so we are called to take the gospel message far and wide, preaching it to all men and allowing God to work the gift of faith into those whom he has chosen for life.
Our task in evangelism is not ultimately to win people to Christ but to faithfully preach the gospel message. If we preached that message, we have done what God calls us to.
As believers, we must learn to rejoice in His goodness as well as in His sovereign choice and grace. His grace is not random.
It is amazing.
Scripture Of The Day: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
Tim Challies is a web designer and author and editor of DiscernedReader.com, a site dedcated to provide books of interest to Christians. A husband and father of three, Tim lives on the outskirts of Toronto, Canada. Find him blogging at http://www.Challies.com.
A while ago I received an email from a father, concerned about the task of sharing the gospel with his children. Here is what he sent to me:
I have such a hard time grasping the notion of election as a father. I struggle with why so much of Bible addresses us as decision making/choice making creatures, appealing to us to recognize something and depart from sin and accept Christ.
Yet if God is simply "zapping" us with irresistible Grace, it seems to me that our efforts for others to turn away sin and accept Christ is really not genuine. It seems rigged.
Is there anything that can assure me that I have an influence in whether my child's number is called?
I certainly understand the heart behind this question. I, too, am a father and one who is deeply concerned about the eternal welfare of my children. I love them so deeply and desire nothing greater than that they would turn to Christ in repentance and faith
Like this reader, I am sometimes tempted to express frustration with the way God has chosen to save a people for Himself. But through it all I know that his ways are not only good; his ways are best.
Here's the 3-part answer I gave this father:
First, I think we need to have much greater confidence in God's sovereignty than in the ability of our children to choose God without his foreordaining grace. Without God's grace, none of us could ever turn to him. So we need to take refuge in God's sovereignty and not make it an occasion of fear or dread.
Second, I think it is helpful to see predestination as something that is of far greater concern to God than to us. While we see from Scripture that God has predestined his elect to eternal life, I'm not sure that it is helpful for us to think too much about who is among the elect and who is not.
Third, we need to be careful in how we understand God's work of election. Scripture does not say that certain people "had their number called" and others did not. Instead, we read that God chose some because he had special love for them. There is nothing random about it.
Take adoption for example.
When a couple sets out to adopt a child, they have a large number of potential children available to them. But somewhere in the process of adoption they set their heart on a particular child. It is not that they have chosen this child randomly, but rather that they did so because their affections were set upon him.
Their selection of a particular child is not unfair to the other children. One child was graciously selected for the special blessing of adoption while many others were not. Giving a gift to one person does not make it unfair to withhold a gift from another.
While God has, indeed, ordained who will be saved, he has not told us who he will save. And so we are called to take the gospel message far and wide, preaching it to all men and allowing God to work the gift of faith into those whom he has chosen for life.
Our task in evangelism is not ultimately to win people to Christ but to faithfully preach the gospel message. If we preached that message, we have done what God calls us to.
As believers, we must learn to rejoice in His goodness as well as in His sovereign choice and grace. His grace is not random.
It is amazing.
Scripture Of The Day: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:8-9
Tim Challies is a web designer and author and editor of DiscernedReader.com, a site dedcated to provide books of interest to Christians. A husband and father of three, Tim lives on the outskirts of Toronto, Canada. Find him blogging at http://www.Challies.com.
Monday, August 30, 2010
God’s Grace In Our Weakness
By Pastor Marvin Moss
There are some who have gone through so much that their prayers aren’t as eloquent as they used to be. There is no concern for subject verb agreement. The poetic prowess no longer captivates the listener as it once did. All that has happened has zapped the strength, the desire, the motivation. After all of this, it’s all that one can do to cry out the name of Jesus.
We’re supposed to be growing with each test, trial and/or tribulation that comes our way. God would desire that we “grow” through life and not just “go through life.” There are far too many Christians who are simply going through life and not growing through life. The situation is the same. The challenge is the same.
You’re still worried about the same things with the same people. There has been no growth; there has been no change; and this stage of weakness is not the stage of weakness that God can work with and work through.
We claim we’re children of God. We claim the anointing of God. We claim to operate with the power of the Holy Spirit. Then why, pray tell, is there no growth? Why are you still in the same state of weakness wherein you’re not able to lift any more weight today than you could when you started this faith walk?
In our text, the Apostle Paul asked Jesus three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. Jesus simply replied, My grace is sufficient for thee. In other words, you are where you are, it is what it is, now allow yourself to be broken to the point where it’s all about God and not about you. It’s not by your power nor might, but by the spirit of God.
God knows us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image; we’re brought to life because God breathed the breath of life and man became a living soul. God desires that we not live in a weakened state but have power to tread over scorpions and serpents. Power to overcome. Power to make it through. The word of God tells us that even in our weakness, that’s when his power works best.
So tell yourself-- I’m not giving up. I’m struggling but I’m not giving up. I’ve slowed down, but I’m not giving up. It’s taking me a little longer these days, but I’m not giving up. The vicissitudes of life have caused my vim and my vigor to wane, but I’m not giving up.
The apostle Paul was a man of great intellectual means, yet now a converted man of great spiritual means. There are many of us who could learn a lesson from Paul. He finally realized that it wasn’t about his intelligent quotient; it was about his spiritual quotient. He realized that his education didn’t matter, his economic status didn’t matter, his connections didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but his relationship with Jesus Christ.
In his moment of weakness Paul called on Jesus, who reminded Paul he must go through and must grow through. The message is the same for us today. Today, it’s an issue for you, but tomorrow new mercies you shall see. Today, in your weakness, you just want the pain to stop, but through that pain you’re growing. Today, in your weakness, you just want the problem solved, but through the problem you’re growing. Today, you just want peace, but through the turmoil you’re growing to understand that peace doesn’t mean the absence of conflict. Today, you just want the season of lack to end, but through the season of lack you’re growing to understand that the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
There’s a whole lot of stuff to make you weak in the physical, but there’s a whole lot more to make you strong in the spiritual. So my brother, my sister, remember God’s grace is sufficient. There is power in your weakness.
Scripture Of The Day: "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness!" - II Corinthians 12:8-9
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto http://www.cascadeumc.org.
There are some who have gone through so much that their prayers aren’t as eloquent as they used to be. There is no concern for subject verb agreement. The poetic prowess no longer captivates the listener as it once did. All that has happened has zapped the strength, the desire, the motivation. After all of this, it’s all that one can do to cry out the name of Jesus.
We’re supposed to be growing with each test, trial and/or tribulation that comes our way. God would desire that we “grow” through life and not just “go through life.” There are far too many Christians who are simply going through life and not growing through life. The situation is the same. The challenge is the same.
You’re still worried about the same things with the same people. There has been no growth; there has been no change; and this stage of weakness is not the stage of weakness that God can work with and work through.
We claim we’re children of God. We claim the anointing of God. We claim to operate with the power of the Holy Spirit. Then why, pray tell, is there no growth? Why are you still in the same state of weakness wherein you’re not able to lift any more weight today than you could when you started this faith walk?
In our text, the Apostle Paul asked Jesus three times to take away the thorn in his flesh. Jesus simply replied, My grace is sufficient for thee. In other words, you are where you are, it is what it is, now allow yourself to be broken to the point where it’s all about God and not about you. It’s not by your power nor might, but by the spirit of God.
God knows us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made in His image; we’re brought to life because God breathed the breath of life and man became a living soul. God desires that we not live in a weakened state but have power to tread over scorpions and serpents. Power to overcome. Power to make it through. The word of God tells us that even in our weakness, that’s when his power works best.
So tell yourself-- I’m not giving up. I’m struggling but I’m not giving up. I’ve slowed down, but I’m not giving up. It’s taking me a little longer these days, but I’m not giving up. The vicissitudes of life have caused my vim and my vigor to wane, but I’m not giving up.
The apostle Paul was a man of great intellectual means, yet now a converted man of great spiritual means. There are many of us who could learn a lesson from Paul. He finally realized that it wasn’t about his intelligent quotient; it was about his spiritual quotient. He realized that his education didn’t matter, his economic status didn’t matter, his connections didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but his relationship with Jesus Christ.
In his moment of weakness Paul called on Jesus, who reminded Paul he must go through and must grow through. The message is the same for us today. Today, it’s an issue for you, but tomorrow new mercies you shall see. Today, in your weakness, you just want the pain to stop, but through that pain you’re growing. Today, in your weakness, you just want the problem solved, but through the problem you’re growing. Today, you just want peace, but through the turmoil you’re growing to understand that peace doesn’t mean the absence of conflict. Today, you just want the season of lack to end, but through the season of lack you’re growing to understand that the Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.
There’s a whole lot of stuff to make you weak in the physical, but there’s a whole lot more to make you strong in the spiritual. So my brother, my sister, remember God’s grace is sufficient. There is power in your weakness.
Scripture Of The Day: "Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. Each time He said, My gracious favor is all you need. My power works best in your weakness!" - II Corinthians 12:8-9
Pastor Marvin Moss is senior pastor of Cascade United Methodist Church, located in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Moss is extremely active within the Atlanta community, and serves on the Board of Trustees at Gammon Theological Seminary. For more information about Pastor Moss, log onto http://www.cascadeumc.org.
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