Tag Archive: faith


Abounding Grace: The Established Heart 3: Things not to be established in;

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July 11, 2012

Thank you for joining me once again at “Abounding Grace”. To-day we will continue in this series of “The Established Heart”, there are a number of things that we ought not to be established in so let’s go to the Word and find out what they are. Unfortunately a large number of God’s people are labouring under these things and it is time for them to break loose of these shackles and walk in the freedom Christ purchased for us.

We are not to be established in sickness and infirmities:

James.5:13-15. (Amp) Is anyone among you afflicted (ill-treated, suffering evil)? He should pray. Is anyone glad at heart? He should sing praise [to God]. Is anyone among you sick? He should call in the church elders (the spiritual guides). And they should pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Lord’s name. And the prayer [that is] of faith will save him who is sick, and the Lord will restore him; and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

James is writing to an infantile church here, they did not have the New Testament like we have, it was still being written, he says any among you afflicted then he should pray, so first thing a child of God does when an affliction comes he prays, he exercises his faith for healing. I want to point something out to you from:

Mark.16:15-18. (KJV) And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; in my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; they shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.

What I want you to note is that Jesus, in commissioning the disciples says go into all the world, at the end of the commission He says they are to lay hand’s on the sick and the sick shall recover, the subject of this discourse remains “go into all the world” not into all the church. The church is the healing centre for the world, yet there are so many of God’s people having to go to the pastor for prayer for their afflictions, we as the church of Jesus Christ should be living in divine health as He did, the Word declares that:

Rom.8:11. (KJV) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

I believe that it is time for the body of Christ to manifest itself as what it really is, the full-grown son’s of God.

Gal.4:5. (Bruce) But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth His Son, made of a woman, made under the law, to redeem them that were under the law, so that we might receive our status as full-grown sons of God.

We can’t do this if we are established in sin consciousness, sickness, poverty and so forth.

We are not to be established in fear, in the sense of sin, the sense of lack and inability.

Ish.41:10. (Amp) Fear not [there is nothing to fear], for I am with you; do not look around you in terror and be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen and harden you to difficulties, yes, I will help you; yes, I will hold you up and retain you with My [victorious] right hand of rightness and justice.

Did you know that there are 365 fear not’s in the bible, that is one for each day of the year.

2Pet.1:12. (KJV) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

We are to be established in the Word; in the present truth which has been given you.

We will now look at a portrait of an established heart.

Rom.8:31-38. (Amp) What then shall we say to [all] this? If God is for us, who [can be] against us? [Who can be our foe, if God is on our side?] He who did not withhold or spare [even] His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely and graciously give us all [other] things? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect [when it is] God Who justifies [that is, Who puts us in right relation to Himself? Who shall come forward and accuse or impeach those whom God has chosen? Will God, Who acquits us?] Who is there to condemn [us]? Will Christ Jesus (the Messiah), Who died, or rather Who was raised from the dead, Who is at the right hand of God actually pleading as He intercedes for us? Who shall ever separate us from Christ’s love? Shall suffering and affliction and tribulation? Or calamity and distress? Or persecution or hunger or destitution or peril or sword? Even as it is written, for Thy sake we are put to death all the daylong; we are regarded and counted as sheep for the slaughter. Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Dear child of God be established in this truth; God is for us and not against us; He will also give us all things; God justifies us, and does not condemn us. No one can hinder you now. Make Romans 8:31-38 your very own constitution.

Time for me to say “till next time” and in the meantime have a blessed day and may the love, joy and peace of the Holy Ghost enfold you, don’t forget to share the Word and spread the fragrance of His presence everywhere you go.

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life then I want to tell you that to-day is your greatest day of blessing because to-day is the day of salvation for you, all you have to do is pray the following prayer from your heart and receive the abundant life God has for you in Christ Jesus:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further studies in the Word of God go to: https://aboundingracedotcom.wordpress.com

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Abounding Grace: The Father Fact 3: The singleness of purpose is one of the keys that unlocked the miracle power of God;

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June 23, 2012

Hi and welcome back to “Abounding Grace” as we continue our study of “The Father Fact”. We have discussed some startling facts about Jesus and we discussed the fact that His entire ministry is interwoven with the Father fact. Jesus came into this world to introduce the Father. We have also seen that in spite of all opposition He continued with His bold confession of being the Son of God come to do the Fathers will. Let us now continue:

John.6:38. (Amp) For I have come down from heaven not to do My own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of Him Who sent Me.

We can now understand the power and authority of the man Jesus, singleness of purpose is one of the keys that unlocked the miracle power of Jesus, He had nothing to seek. A question was put to Jesus, “what shall we do, that we may work the works of God?” Part of the answer to that question lies in the fact that He came down from heaven not to do His own will and purpose but to do the will and purpose of the Father who sent Him.

Listen to this confession from the mouth of Jesus:

John.8:42. (Amp) Jesus said to them, If God were your Father, you would love Me and respect Me and welcome Me gladly, for I proceeded (came forth) from God [out of His very presence]. I did not even come on My own authority or of My own accord (as self-appointed); but He sent Me.

John.8:54. (Amp) Jesus answered, If I were to glorify Myself (magnify, praise, and honour Myself), I would have no real glory, for My glory would be nothing and worthless. [My honour must come to Me from My Father.] It is My Father Who glorifies Me [Who extols Me, magnifies, and praises Me], of Whom you say that He is your God.

See the difference? The Jews called Him God, Jesus called Him Father. In much the same way to-day the church calls Him God, if you ever listen carefully to people to-day when they are talking about God, most of the time that is how they refer to Him, as God, how few ever intelligently call Him Father, the Word says we are to call Him Abba, (a very intimate name, it means daddy or papa). Have you ever approached the Father in your prayer time and just said “Hey, daddy it is me, just want to tell you that I love and appreciate you. Most of the people I have prayed with usually start with “Oh God, in heaven”, if you were thirsty and wanted a drink of water would you approach your earthly father with this kind of attitude, “Oh father of the house hold can I please have a sip of your water to quench my thirst, or would it be hey dad, just going to grab a drink of water. I want to impress upon you that He is a Father God with a father’s heart, so why do His people call Him – Mr. God – as thought they are speaking of a neighbour. Let us learn the secret of His Fathers heart.

John.10:25-30   (Amp) Jesus answered them, I have told you so, yet you do not believe Me [you do not trust Me and rely on Me]. The very works that I do by the power of My Father and in My Father’s name bear witness concerning Me [they are My credentials and evidence in support of Me]. But you do not believe and trust and rely on Me because you do not belong to My fold [you are no sheep of Mine]. The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father’s hand. I and the Father are One.

Here we see Jesus has been magnifying the Father, He has been lifting the Father up before our hearts, now He reveals Himself and lets us see Him as He really is,  “I and My Father are one”. This is our relationship to the Father now, we are in the Father and the Father is in us, He has imparted His life to us, His very nature has been given to us, we are as much sons of the Father as Jesus is.

John.17:20-23. (Amp) Neither for these alone do I pray [it is not for their sake only that I make this request], but also for all those who will ever come to believe in (trust in, cling to, rely on) Me through their word and teaching, that they all may be one, [just] as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be one in Us, so that the world may believe and be convinced that You have sent Me. I have given to them the glory and honour which You have given Me, that they may be one [even] as We are one: I in them and You in Me, in order that they may become one and perfectly united, that the world may know and [definitely] recognize that You sent Me and that You have loved them [even] as You have loved Me.

Col.2:10. (Amp) And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead-Father, Son and Holy Spirit-and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

When our hearts can take this in, He will become more to us and we will realize something of what we are “In Him”.

That is all I have for now and it is time to say “till next time”, and in the meantime have a blessed week-end and share the Word and spread the fragrance of His love all around.

If you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Saviour then all you have to do is pray the following prayer from your heart and receive the free gift of salvation by faith:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further “Words of Cheer” go to: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 19: Marks of maturity;

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June 14, 2012

Hi and welcome once again to “Abounding Grace”, To-day we will be discussing the marks of maturity in the lives of grace orientated children of God. I trust by this time our minds are somewhat renewed to the grace message, as individuals we must realize that there are going to be disagreements with others, the question is how do we conduct ourselves in the midst of a disagreement, I know from my own experience that if ever I was involved in an argument and it look like I was going to lose, my next reaction was to choke the life out of the opposition, but I’m glad to say that the Word has made a bit of a difference in me over the years of studying grace and I don’t act so unbecoming so often now days. Let us take time to look into the lives of two men that were called by the Holy Spirit to a certain work, and yet these two men had a disagreement on an issue that split the partnership and cause a rift in their relationship for a period of time.

Acts.15:36-41. (Amp) And after some time Paul said to Barnabas, Come, let us go back and again visit and help and minister to the brethren in every town where we made known the message of the Lord, and see how they are getting along. Now Barnabas wanted to take with them John called Mark [his near relative]. But Paul did not think it best to have along with them the one who had quit and deserted them in Pamphylia and had not gone on with them to the work. And there followed a sharp disagreement between them, so that they separated from each other, and Barnabas took Mark with him and sailed away to Cyprus. But Paul selected Silas and set out, being commended by the brethren to the grace (the favour and mercy) of the Lord. And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, establishing and strengthening the churches.

In the King James verse 39 says: “And the contention was so sharp between them, that they departed asunder one from the other”

This was no little disagreement, this was a very serious tiff, and it actually split a partnership that the Holy Ghost had ordained. One of the marks of maturity is the ability to disagree without becoming disagreeable, the household of God ought to be at a place where a person can find tolerance, tact, open mindedness and plenty of room for disagreement, we are not to close the doors on differing points of view, but usually when Christians disagree it is done in a blunt and tactless way.

Eph.4:29. (Amp) Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favour) to those who hear it.

The word unwholesome means, harmful, poisonous, degrading, demoralizing, immoral, perverting and corrupting, these sorts of words should not precede from our mouths, instead only speech that is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, words that are a blessing and give grace (God’s favour) to the hearers. What a goal.

No matter what we do, disagreements will arise and we must understand that disagreements are inevitable and no matter what the subject is there will be differing points of view. This is what freedom is all about, respecting other people’s points of view, and we must allow for differences. Even Godly people will sometimes disagree, and it can be hard to understand how two people that love Jesus and His Word can stand opposed on certain issues, but they can and in every disagreement we will find the same two ingredients:

  • There will be various issues.
  • There will be various viewpoints.

The issue’s will involve principles and are usually objective whereas the viewpoints involve personalities and are usually subjective or relating to the subject. Herein lays the source of every clash, a disagreement on an issue because of an opposing viewpoint. Understanding these two simple ingredients will help us keep calm in conflicts with others. In most disagreements each side would have a valid argument and differing viewpoints are not so much an “I am right and you are wrong’’ issue as they are an “I see it from this perspective, and you see it from that perspective”. In any disagreement either side would have strengths and weakness, nevertheless they lead to division and any conflict can create a rift in a relationship.

That’s all for now folks’, we will continue next time by analyzing the disagreement that took place between Paul and Barnabas, in the meantime I’ll say “till next time”. Have a happy day and be a blessing to someone to-day that you know doesn’t deserve your favour, allow the grace of God to flow from you to them.

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life then I want to give you an opportunity to receive the grace that God is offering you to-day, by praying the following prayer and receiving your salvation by faith you can enter into covenant with God the Father through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 18: Guidelines that magnify grace, concluded;

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June 12, 2012

Hi and welcome back to “Abounding Grace”. We will conclude our study on the guidelines that magnify grace to-day. I trust you have been blessed by what has been shared and that you are becoming established in grace, the Christian life is a life founded and grounded in the grace of God, I trust you have come to realize that you actually are in need of God’s grace every day, each new day brings a day where we are to exercise faith in the receiving of God’s grace, not only do we exercise faith to receive, but we exercise our faith daily in the extending of grace to others. One thing I have come to realize in my own life is that faith is always now, present tense, you can’t exercise faith for yesterday and you can’t exercise faith for tomorrow, tomorrow is always future tense, you can have and expectation (hope) for tomorrow but faith is always now.

Hebr.11:1. (Amp) NOW FAITH is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].

  • The third guideline is found in:

Rms.14:9-12. (Mess) That’s why Jesus lived and died and then lived again: so that he could be our Master across the entire range of life and death, and free us from the petty tyrannies of each other. So where does that leave you when you criticize a brother? And where does that leave you when you condescend to a sister? I’d say it leaves you looking pretty silly, or worse. Eventually, we’re all going to end up kneeling side by side in the place of judgment, facing God. Your critical and condescending ways aren’t going to improve your position there one bit. Read it for yourself in Scripture: “As I live and breathe,” God says, “every knee will bow before me; Every tongue will tell the honest truth that I and only I am God.” So tend to your knitting. You’ve got your hands full just taking care of your own life before God.

Freeing others means we never assume a position we are not qualified to fill. There are a number of things that disqualify us from being able to judge, such as, we are not omniscient, we do not know all the facts, we are finite beings and we lack the whole picture. Being human ourselves we are imperfect, inconsistent and subjective; we have preconceptions and are prejudgemental therefore we cannot fill the position of judge. We must understand that we won’t always agree, but we can agree to disagree, we are to be civil in our conflict.

  • The fourth of our guidelines is found in:

Rms.14:13-18. (Amp) Then let us no more criticize and blame and pass judgment on one another, but rather decide and endeavour never to put a stumbling block or an obstacle or a hindrance in the way of a brother. I know and am convinced (persuaded) as one in the Lord Jesus, that nothing is [forbidden as] essentially unclean (defiled and unholy in itself). But [none the less] it is unclean (defiled and unholy) to anyone who thinks it is unclean. But if your brother is being pained or his feelings hurt or if he is being injured by what you eat, [then] you are no longer walking in love. [You have ceased to be living and conducting yourself by the standard of love toward him.] Do not let what you eat hurt or cause the ruin of one for whom Christ died! Do not therefore let what seems good to you be considered an evil thing [by someone else]. [In other words, do not give occasion for others to criticize that which is justifiable for you.] [After all] the kingdom of God is not a matter of [getting the] food and drink [one likes], but instead it is righteousness (that state which makes a person acceptable to God) and [heart] peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. He who serves Christ in this way is acceptable and pleasing to God and is approved by men.

Loving others requires us to express our liberty wisely and we must allow love to rule, our goal is not to please others or ourselves but to be pleasing to the Lord.

2Cor.5:9, 15. (Amp) Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious and strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. And He died for all, so that all those who live might live no longer to and for themselves, but to and for Him Who died and was raised again for their sake.

2Cor.5:10. (KJV) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.

We shouldn’t act out our lives according to what others say, but rather on the basis of our love for others, because we answer to Jesus. The way to show our love is to enjoy our liberty wisely, quietly and privately with those of like mind.

  • There are certain actions that signify grace.

Rms.14:19. (Amp) So let us then definitely aim for and eagerly pursue what makes for harmony and for mutual upbuilding (edification and development) of one another.

  • Concentrate on things that encourage peace and things that help others to grow.
  • Always ask yourself, is this going to encourage peace, will it help and strengthen others or is it going to hurt, and offend?
  • Always remember that sabotaging the saints hurts the work of God.
  • Enjoy your liberty only with those who can enjoy it with you.
  • Determine where you stand and refuse to play God in anyone else’s life.

By letting others be, you free yourself to give full attention to what God is trying to do in you and when you are totally absorbed with that, you won’t have the time or energy to hold on to anyone else’s life.

Thank you for joining me in this study of grace, I believe that to-day will be the best day of the rest of your life, you have received so much Word on the grace of God so please take the Word of His grace and share with others who are struggling to find their footing in the God life, spread His love around, freely you have receive, so freely give.

If you are not a born again child of God then you must know this, that it is the will of God for you to come to know the divine truth of His Word and that He loves you so much He sent Jesus just for you, imagine that, if you were the only person in the whole world that would make a decision then God thought if worthwhile to send Jesus to die just for you. Your part in salvation is to receive what has already been purchase for you at the cross of Calvary, you can do that right now by praying the following prayer:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 17: Guidelines that magnify grace;

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June 11, 2012

Welcome once again to “Abounding Grace”. We ought to realize by this time that grace is not something we use for our benefit only, but grace is something that we extend to others, it is good for us to accept the grace of God that is extended towards us, but to stop there would be selfishness, God did not extend grace towards mankind for His own benefit, it was solely for our benefit, as I stated at the beginning of this series, Grace Is God’s Love in action, it is not something we talk about, it is something we do, not only for our benefit but for the benefit of all men around us. Let us now have a look at some of the biblical guidelines that magnify grace.

  • The first of these guidelines we find in:

Rms.14:1-4. (Mess) Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with, even when it seems that they are strong on opinions but weak in the faith department. Remember, they have their own history to deal with. Treat them gently. For instance, a person who has been around for a while might well be convinced that he can eat anything on the table, while another, with a different background, might assume all Christians should be vegetarians and eat accordingly. But since both are guests at Christ’s table, wouldn’t it be terribly rude if they fell to criticizing what the other ate or didn’t eat? God, after all, invited them both to the table. Do you have any business crossing people off the guest list or interfering with God’s welcome? If there are corrections to be made or manners to be learned, God can handle that without your help.

Accepting others is basic to letting them be. This was not a food problem but a love problem, we restrict our love by making it conditional, and how often do we make the acceptance of others conditional to our expectations? When we don’t accept one another conflicts arise.

Rms.14:3. (Amp) Let not him who eats look down on or despise him who abstains, and let not him who abstains criticize and pass judgment on him who eats; for God has accepted and welcomed him.

To despise means: To regard with contempt; to regard as nothing, to utterly despise, neglect, undervalue and to discount entirely.

To judge means to criticise, to view negatively, and to make assumptions that are exaggerated, erroneous and even damaging to character. It means to form an opinion in one’s mind.

No matter what your convictions are about certain things, judging others who disagree is wrong.

Rms.14:4. (Amp) Who are you to pass judgment on and censure another’s household servant? It is before his own master that he stands or falls. And he shall stand and be upheld, for the Master (the Lord) is mighty to support him and make him stand.

The convictions of others are none of our business, it is Gods job to direct them, and we are to accept them.

Acceptance will see you valuable just as you are, it will allow you to be the real you, and it takes your ideas seriously as they reflect you, it means you can talk about how you feel, someone cares, you can try out your ideas, without being shot down, and that no one pronounces judgement on you.

  • The second guideline is found in:

Rms.14:5-8. (Mess) Or, say, one person thinks that some days should be set aside as holy and another thinks that each day is pretty much like any other. There are good reasons either way. So, each person is free to follow the convictions of conscience. What’s important in all this is that if you keep a holy day, keep it for God’s sake; if you eat meat, eat it to the glory of God and thank God for prime rib; if you’re a vegetarian, eat vegetables to the glory of God and thank God for broccoli. None of us are permitted to insist on our own way in these matters. It’s God we are answerable to, all the way from life to death and everything in between, not each other.

By refusing to dictate to others we allow the Lord freedom to direct their lives, so to really help people grow to maturity we are to let them grow up differently, let them grow at their own pace and in their own way, let them decide for themselves and allow them freedom to fail, let them learn from their mistakes. We are to realise that each one of us belongs to the Lord and we are to trust Him to direct our lives.

That is all for now my friends, I pray that God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ will grant unto each one of us the spirit of wisdom and understanding in the knowledge of Him, that we can grow to be all that He has ordained us to be, that by His grace we will extend grace to one another so that we as His body can be built up in love. Don’t forget to share His Word of grace and spread the fragrance of His love everywhere you go, you were created to be a blessing.

If you have never accepted Jesus as your personal Lord and saviour then I would like to extend that opportunity to you this very moment, there is nothing you can do to enter into eternal life except, bow your head and accept the grace of God by praying the following prayer from your heart and receiving the grace by faith in His promise, all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 16: Two aspects of grace;

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June 8, 2012

Welcome once again to “Abounding Grace”. We are busy studying what it means to be established in grace, and we have covered a lot of ground concerning this subject. I trust you have been blessed and helped in some way through the teachings we have already completed. To cover the subject of grace we need to look at two aspects of grace:

  • Amazing grace, which is vertical and it holds out hope to sinners. God’s grace towards us.
  • Charming grace, which is horizontal and gives people room to breathe? Grace that flows towards one another.

The question we need to ask ourselves is how are we demonstrating Gods grace to others, are we giving them room to breathe; do we lessen their guilt or add to it; and do we promote liberty or do we restrain it? These questions have to do with attitude, depending on whether our attitude is gracious or rigid, liberty or legalism will be the result. We are moulded into the people we are by the inner decisions we take more than by outer influences and we need to uncover the attitudes that keep us from living out the promise of grace, we also need to discover the attitudes that help us extend the kind of grace that lets others be whoever and whatever God is leading them to be.

The Scripture below represents the essence of Christianity. Take hold of this Word from the Lord and meditate it and allow it to become a part of your life, I love the part that says “be aglow with the Spirit, serving the Lord”, what a contrast to a lifeless, dull and frustrating Christian life that is actually offered through legalism and religion. Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Rms.12:9-17. (Amp) [Let your] love be sincere (a real thing); hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in horror from wickedness], but hold fast to that which is good. Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honour to one another. Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavour; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer. Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the necessities of the saints]; pursue the practice of hospitality. Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their attitude toward you]; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice [sharing others' joy], and weep with those who weep [sharing others' grief]. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive), but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give yourselves to humble tasks. Never overestimate yourself or be wise in your own conceits. Repay no one evil for evil, but take thought for what is honest and proper and noble [aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.

There are two things that hinder us from living like this:

  • We compare ourselves with others and that leads us to criticize or compete with them, most people prefer sameness, predictability and common interests, the result is if anyone acts differently we get nervous. We tend to see things only on the surface, therefore we put too much weight on the externals, we judge by appearances and not by actualities. Comparison knocks our attitude out of alignment, it makes us prejudiced and it opposes the work of grace. Legalism requires things to be alike, uniformity, while grace finds pleasure in diversity, it encourages individuality and leaves room for differences of opinion, so, to be able to demonstrate grace to let others be who they are we will have to get rid of the legalistic tendency to compare.
  • We need to change the attitude of desiring to control others. This tendency is found among those who find security in religious rigidity, they manipulate by using fear tactics, threats and hints to get their own way. Controllers win by intimidation and whatever the method used, controlling like comparing nullifies grace.

That is all I have to share for now my dear friends, to-morrow we will continue with a look at some Biblical guidelines that magnify grace, so I’ll say “till next time”, in the meantime have a lovely day and don’t forget to share the Word of grace with someone and spread the fragrance of His love everywhere.

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life then rejoice my friend because to-day salvation has come knocking on your door and all you have to do is open the door of your heart and accept what God the Father is offering you at this moment in time. Wherever you are and no matter what you are doing just stop for a moment, bow your head and pray the following prayer from your heart, this will be the moment in time that you changed your eternal destination:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 15: Four strong defences;

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June 5, 2012

Hi and welcome back to “Abounding Grace”. In the last two postings we discussed the three adversaries to our freedom in Christ and they were: doctrinal heresy; ecclesiastical harassment and personal hypocrisy. To-day let us look at four strong defences we have to overcome come these subtle adversaries. Don’t ever forget that you are free. Don’t live your life behind a fence of false feelings and don’t let your relationship with Jesus be regulated by a rigid set of religious rules, become everything God created you to be, not poured into someone else’s mould.

  • Keep standing firm in your freedom. If the group your in is giving you grief because you don’t live up to their expectations, leave the group.
  • Stop seeking the favour of others, seek the favour of God alone, don’t look to other people for approval no matter how spiritual they may seem.
  • Refuse to submit to bondage, there is no system of slavery as devastating as legalism; it enslaves your attitude as well as your actions. It closes up your feelings for Jesus instead of freeing them.
  • Continue being straightforward about the truth, live honestly and when you fall admit it. No matter how big a slip you make people will usually forget it if you’re honest about it and don’t try to cover it up.

Always remember you are free.

Gal.5:1. (Amp) In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

(Mess) Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.

The letter to the Galatians is a proclamation of freedom. It is God’s official document that proclaims that we who are in Christ are free; anyone trying to live by the law will find that it impedes their relationship with Jesus. What we are free from is the Old Testament law.

Gal.2:16, 21. (Mess) We know very well that we are not set right with God by rule keeping but only through personal faith in Jesus Christ. How do we know? We tried it, and we had the best system of rules the world has ever seen! Convinced that no human being can please God by self-improvement, we believed in Jesus as the Messiah so that we might be set right before God by trusting in the Messiah, not by trying to be good. I am not going to go back on that. Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.

Gal.3:2, 10, 12 – 13, 15 – 19, 21 – 25. (Mess) Let me put this question to you: How did your new life begin? Was it by working your heads off to please God? Or was it by responding to God’s Message to you? And that means that anyone who tries to live by his own effort, independent of God, is doomed to failure. Scripture backs this up: “Utterly cursed is every person who fails to carry out every detail written in the Book of the law.” Rule-keeping does not naturally evolve into living by faith, but only perpetuates itself in more and more rule-keeping, a fact observed in Scripture: “The one who does these things [rule-keeping] continues to live by them.” Christ redeemed us from that self -defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the Cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. Friends, let me give you an example from everyday affairs of the free life I am talking about. Once a person’s will has been ratified, no one else can annul it or add to it. Now, the promises were made to Abraham and to his descendant. You will observe that Scripture, in the careful language of a legal document, does not say “to descendants,” referring to everybody in general, but “to your descendant” (the noun, note, is singular), referring to Christ. This is the way I interpret this: A will, earlier ratified by God, is not annulled by an addendum attached 430 years later, thereby negating the promise of the will. No, this addendum, with its instructions and regulations, has nothing to do with the promised inheritance in the will. What is the point, then, of the law, the attached addendum? It was a thoughtful addition to the original covenant promises made to Abraham. The purpose of the law was to keep a sinful people in the way of salvation until Christ (the descendant) came, inheriting the promises and distributing them to us. Obviously this law was not a firsthand encounter with God. It was arranged by angelic messengers through a middleman, Moses. If such is the case, is the law, then, an anti – promise, a negation of God’s will for us? Not at all, its purpose was to make obvious to everyone that we are, in ourselves, out of right relationship with God, and therefore to show us the futility of devising some religious system for getting by our own efforts what we can only get by waiting in faith for God to complete his promise. For if any kind of rule-keeping had power to create life in us, we would certainly have gotten it by this time. Until the time when we were mature enough to respond freely in faith to the living God, we were carefully surrounded and protected by the Mosaic law. The law was like those Greek tutors, with which you are familiar, who escort children to school and protect them from danger or distraction, making sure the children will really get to the place they set out for. But now you have arrived at your destination:

Gal.5:4, 18. (Amp) If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favour and unmerited blessing). But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.

(Mess) I suspect you would never intend this, but this is what happens. When you attempt to live by your own religious plans and projects, you are cut off from Christ, you fall out of grace. Why don’t you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence?

Thank you for joining me to-day and I trust that you have been blessed thus far, Paul’s question to the Galatians was “who are you trying to please, men of God?” and that question is still a valid one to-day, to please men you will have to squeeze yourself into their mould, but if your aim is to please God then you will have to give the Word of God first place in your life, it is that simple. Have a blessed day and don’t forget to share the Word and spread the love all around.

If you have never made Jesus the Lord of your life then to-day would be a good day to consider Jesus, and know this, Jesus came to seek that which was lost, the will of God for all men is that they would come to the knowledge of Christ and be saved, if you hear the Spirit beckoning do not harden your heart, just pray the following prayer by faith and receive the promise of eternal life that God is offering you to-day:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Abounding Grace: Established in Grace 12: The adversary of doctrinal heresy;

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May 29, 2012

Welcome once again to “Abounding Grace” as we continue our study of being established in grace. To-day we will continue with a study of a number of subtle adversaries that rear their heads in our lives and the lives of those that we fellowship with, we need to be aware of these things and we should know how to handle them.

First of all we are encouraged by the Word of God to be established in:

  • Faith:

Acts.16:5. (KJV) And so were the churches established in the faith, and increased in number daily.

  • In the better covenant that is established on better promises:

Hebr.8:6. (KJV) But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.

Jesus’ is ministry as our high priest is far superior to the ministry of Moses, our covenant is far superior to the Mosaic covenant, it is established on better promises, we are to be established in our covenant rights and are to partake of the better promises.

  • Our hearts are to established in grace:

Hebr.13:9. (KJV) Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

  • We are to be established in present truth or we could say we must be established in the Word.

2Pet.1:12. (KJV) Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know them, and be established in the present truth.

These are but a sprinkling of things that we are to grow in and become established in, remember to be established means to be, rooted, to be founded and grounded. It also means to demonstrate and to show. We are to be rooted, founded and grounded in the above areas of our Christian lives, and they are to be demonstrated and shown forth. People are through with hearing about Christianity what they want is a demonstration of what Jesus is all about. With that in mind let us now begin to-days study of identifying three subtle adversaries that creep into our lives.

In the first two chapters of Galatians three subtle adversaries rear their ugly heads:

  • Doctrinal heresy.
  • Ecclesiastical harassment.
  • Personal hypocrisy.

To-day we will have a look at doctrinal heresy.

Gal.1:6-10. (Amp) I am surprised and astonished that you are so quickly turning renegade and deserting Him Who invited and called you by the grace (unmerited favour) of Christ (the Messiah) [and that you are transferring your allegiance] to a different [even an opposition] gospel. Not that there is [or could be] any other [genuine Gospel], but there are [obviously] some who are troubling and disturbing and bewildering you [with a different kind of teaching which they offer as a gospel] and want to pervert and distort the Gospel of Christ (the Messiah) [into something which it absolutely is not]. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)! Now am I trying to win the favour of men, or of God? Do I seek to please men? If I were still seeking popularity with men, I should not be a bond servant of Christ (the Messiah).

The heretical message of the legalists was that the Galatians must let Moses finish what Christ had began and theirs was a theology rooted in the law rather than grace and it appealed to human works, not the finished work of Jesus on the cross. The good news of the cross is that salvation began with the gracious love of God; it was carried out by the death and resurrection of His son Jesus and is brought to pass by the Holy Spirit. The result is all the praise goes to God. Whenever human works is factored into this equation it distorts the truth because it steals some of the glory that rightfully belongs to God only.

That’s all I have for to-day, be blessed and don’t forget to share the Word and spread His love all around. Tomorrow we will have a look at ecclesiastical harassment.

If you have not made Jesus the Lord of your life then don’t put it off until tomorrow, to-day is the day of salvation the Word says, so right where you are at this moment in time just bow your head and pray the following prayer from your heart:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Established in Grace 2: The Foundation: The Gospel is the Gospel of grace;

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May 8, 2012

Hi and welcome to “Abounding Grace” to-day as we continue our discussion of being established in grace, each of us ought to be rooted, grounded and founded in grace, demonstrating the favour, kindness, pardon and the free gift of the  salvation of God to a dying world. If you and I are not established in grace we cannot fulfil the ministry given to each and every one of us and that is to be a dispenser of the gospel of grace. If you and I are tangled up in religion and legalism how on earth can we minister grace to our hearers? I often hear people say “I’m waiting on the Lord to show me what ministry I am called to”, well dear friend here is a ministry given by the Lord to all of us, now go to it and start to minister the grace of God all around you. But first you need to study the grace of God and become established in it.

  • The gospel is the gospel of grace.

Acts.20:24. (Amp) But none of these things move me; neither do I esteem my life dear to myself, if only I may finish my course with joy and the ministry which I have obtained from [which was entrusted to me by] the Lord Jesus, faithfully to attest to the good news (Gospel) of God’s grace (His unmerited favour, spiritual blessing, and mercy).

We like Paul, have been called as “stewards of the manifold grace of God”

1Peter.4:10. (Amp) As each of you has received a gift (a particular spiritual talent, a gracious divine endowment), employ it for one another as [befits] good trustees of God’s many-sided grace [faithful stewards of the extremely diverse powers and gifts granted to Christians by unmerited favor].

So, like Paul, each of us could say that “this dispensation of the gospel of grace is committed unto me”

1Cor.9:17. (Amp) For if I do this work of my own free will, then I have my pay (my reward); but if it is not of my own will, but is done reluctantly and under compulsion, I am [still] entrusted with a [sacred] trusteeship and commission.

“I am made a minister |or ‘servant’|, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me”

Col.1:25. (Amp) In it I became a minister in accordance with the divine stewardship which was entrusted to me for you [as its object and for your benefit], to make the Word of God fully known [among you]

Thus the dispensation of grace is a real stewardship responsibility committed to each believer.

  • We are in the dispensation of the grace of God.

God has always worked in dispensations with mankind, a particular mode of God’s dispensing mercies, we won’t have time to discuss this in this lesson but we cannot take the dispensation of law which was from the time of Moses to the time of Jesus resurrection and mix it with the dispensation of Grace, that is like trying to play water polo with the rules that govern tennis, it just won’t work, someone is going to drown. The dispensation of law has passed and the dispensation of God’s grace has been ushered in.

Eph.3:2. (KJV) If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward:

(Amp) Assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace (His unmerited favour) that was entrusted to me [to dispense to you] for your benefit.

The grace of God should be seen upon us, in our place of work and in our neighbourhoods. People ought to see God’s favour, joy, blessing; forgiveness and provision on us, and be attracted to the gospel by it. There is grace upon individuals as well as upon fellowships.

Acts.11:23, (Amp) When he arrived and saw what grace (favour) God was bestowing upon them, he was full of joy; and he continuously exhorted (warned, urged, and encouraged) them all to cleave unto and remain faithful to and devoted to the Lord with [resolute and steady] purpose of heart.

When people speak badly of us, and they will, we can just carry on speaking freely, fearlessly and boldly in the name of the Lord, He will bear testimony to the Word of His grace.

Acts.14:2-3. (Amp) But the unbelieving Jews [who rejected their message] aroused the Gentiles and embittered their minds against the brethren. So [Paul and Barnabas] stayed on there for a long time, speaking freely and fearlessly and boldly in the Lord, Who continued to bear testimony to the Word of His grace, granting signs and wonders to be performed by their hands.

There is no other gospel, the Word says that if an angel or anyone else comes preaching any other gospel let them be accursed.

Gal.1:8. (Amp) But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!

That is how serious God is about His gospel of grace my dear friends, if you are in any kind of fellowship that preaches sin and condemnation all the time then the wise thing to do would be to get out of that place as the true gospel is one of grace, of God’s favour, kindness, of His friendliness and His free gift of pardon and salvation, if you are hearing a gospel of works and punishment and fear, do the wise thing, run from it.

That’s all for to-day so I’ll say till next time, be blessed, be happy, may the grace and peace of the Lord Jesus rest richly upon you all.

If you have never accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Saviour then now is the time to do so, let to-day be the day of salvation for you by praying the following prayer from your heart and accepting the free gift that God is offering you:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

If you have prayed the above prayer then go and study the Eternal Life document for a greater understanding of what you have been given by God your Father.

For further words of Cheer click on the link: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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Comment

Established in Grace 1: The foundation;

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May 5, 2012

Hi and welcome once again to “Abound in Grace” as we begin a study of what it means to be “Established in Grace”. My hearts desire is that the children of God universally will come to the knowledge and understanding of the grace, that God through an exercise of His will, shows towards us. I would that all embrace what He has done for us and that we can get out from under the bondage of trying to please Him through our own efforts and dead works. Thank you for joining me and I am so grateful for the opportunity to share with you from my studies on this subject, I love sharing this with people and pray that we all come into the liberty wherein Christ has made us fee, and that we can walk in that liberty. 

Eph.4:23-24. (Amp) And be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind [having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude], and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true righteousness and holiness.

(Mess) A life renewed from the inside and working itself into your conduct as God accurately reproduces his character in you.

Rom.12:1-2. (Amp) I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].

“Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him”, every believer should make this statement part of  their lives as this is grace in a nutshell.

The word Established means: to be rooted; to be founded and grounded; it also means to demonstrate and to show.

We are to be: rooted, founded and grounded in grace so that we can demonstate and show God to the world.

Luke.2:40. (Amp) And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favour and spiritual blessing) of God was upon Him.

Jesus is and always will be an example of what we ought to be:

  • The child grew.

That is something we as the children of God should be doing on a daily basis, growing in the Word of His grace.

1Pet.2:2. (Amp) Like newborn babies you should crave (thirst for, earnestly desire) the pure (unadulterated) spiritual milk, that by it you may be nurtured and grow unto [completed] salvation.

It really doesn’t matter how long you have been a child of God you should always be like a new born baby thirsting for spiritual food, the reason, that you may grow to complete salvation. Jesus didn’t come to this planet with all knowledge and wisdom concerning the things of God, like you and I He had to find it in the Word. Jesus studied the Word of God!

  • He became strong in spirit.

It is only through constant consideration and meditation 0f the Word that we become strong in spirit. The Word also instructs us to pray in the Spirit (tongues) to build ourselves up.

Jude.20. (Amp) But you, beloved, build yourselves up [founded] on your most holy faith [make progress, rise like an edifice higher and higher], praying in the Holy Spirit.

  • Filled with wisdom.

We see Jesus was filled with wisdom. We too are to be filled with the wisdom of God.

Prov.2:1-8. (Amp) My son, if you will receive my words and treasure up my commandments within you, making your ear attentive to skillful and godly Wisdom and inclining and directing your heart and mind to understanding [applying all your powers to the quest for it]; Yes, if you cry out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek [Wisdom] as for silver and search for skillful and godly Wisdom as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of [our omniscient] God. For the Lord gives skillful and godly Wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He hides away sound and godly Wisdom and stores it for the righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him); He is a shield to those who walk uprightly and in integrity, that He may guard the paths of justice; yes, He preserves the way of His saints.

We should really meditate the scripture’s if we want to find the knowledge of God, the Word of God is the knowledge of God and the Wisdom of God is knowing how to apply the Word of God in our lives.

  • The grace of God was upon Him.

The grace of God was upon Jesus because He studied the Word, He was strong in spirit because of His meditation in the Word and because He prayed in the Spirit. He was filled with the wisdom of God because He applied Prov.2:1-8. That wasn’t just put there for you and I, you must realize that God has magnified His Word above His name, in other Words God is subject to His own Word. Because of all of the things mentioned above the grace of God was upon Him (Jesus). As He is, so are we in this world.

1John.4:17. (Amp) In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the Day of Judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

The word grace means: favour, to befriend, a friendly disposition, to regard with kindness, the free gift of God, to pardon, salvation, (deliverance, safety, preservation, healing, soundness, to be made whole, complete).

Jesus came from the Father full of grace and truth, He came to befriend man and show forth a friendly disposition, He regards man with kindness, He is God’s free gift to man, through Him we are pardoned and saved, made whole and complete,  and as He is, so are we in this world.

John.1:14. (Amp) And the Word (Christ) became flesh (human, incarnate) and tabernacled (fixed His tent of flesh, lived awhile) among us; and we [actually] saw His glory (His honour, His majesty), such glory as an only begotten son receives from his father, full of grace (favour, loving-kindness) and truth.

John.1:16. (Amp) For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift.

John.1:17. (Amp) For while the Law was given through Moses, grace (unearned, undeserved favour and spiritual blessing) and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Grace and blessing rests upon all of us richly as we give testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus.

Acts.4:33. (Amp) And with great strength and ability and power the apostles delivered their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace (loving – kindness and favour and goodwill) rested richly upon them all.

2Cor.6:1. (Amp) Labouring together [as God's fellow workers] with Him then, we beg of you not to receive the grace of God in vain [that merciful kindness by which God exerts His holy influence on souls and turns them to Christ, keeping and strengthening them, do not receive it to no purpose].

Grace should permeate the life of the believer; it is what makes us like Jesus. Think on these truths and allow them to control your every word, thought and deed.

It is time for me to say “till next time” in the meantime have a lovely weekend and don’t forget to share the Word of grace with someone else and spread the fragrance of His love all around.

Embracing what God does for you is the best thing that you can do for Him, embrace the salvation He is holding out to you this day by accepting Jesus as your personal Lord and saviour, your part in salvation is to believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for your sin, and confess His Lordship over your life by praying the following prayer:

“Father, it is written in Your Word that if I confess with my mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in my heart that You have raised Him from dead, I shall be saved. Therefore, Father, I confess that Jesus is my Lord. I make Him Lord of my life right now. I believe in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead. I renounce my past life with Satan. “I thank You for forgiving me of all my sin. Jesus is now my Lord, and I am a new creation. Old things have passed away. Now all things become new in Jesus’ name. Amen.”

For further “Words of Cheer” go to: http://theinvisablechurch.wordpress.com/

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