Category: Stories of Grace

Grace Makes Room for the New PART 2 of All Things New Series

All Things New Series Part 2

GRACE MAKES ROOM FOR THE NEW

Jesus says in Mark 2:21-22…

21 No one sews a piece of un-shrunk cloth on an old garment. If he does, the patch tears away from it, the new from the old, and a worse tear is made. 22 And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins.”

What is was He saying? “Christ was bringing something new to the table and it wasn’t going to fit into their old religious system of self-righteousness. The beauty of grace is that it doesn’t patch us up. Grace doesn’t patch our guilt our shame, it doesn’t patch up our mistakes our failures. Grace renews us, it transforms us, grace replaces!

The old is dingy, the new is fresh and bright. The old is done changing. The new moves and stretches. When you put a new shirt in the dryer, the heat causes it to shift in size. Jesus says “this new covenant of grace I bring…it moves. And you can’t expect to wear your old nasty dirty garments and expect to use the grace of God as a patch over your broken places. “Jesus ‘ grace is fresh for today. It won’t match up with that old garment. And when the heat comes on, you’ll find out grace is active. It’ll only continue to expose the rips and tears. In fact, Grace will make them bigger. Grace is destructive. Grace isn’t in the remodeling or refurbishing. It’s in the replacement business.   

WE CAN’T BRING THE OLD INTO THE NEW

WE CAN’T BRING OUR OLD WAYS INTO THE NEW

WE CAN’T PUT SOMETHING OLD INTO SOMETHING NEW

WE CAN’T BRING THE PAST INTO THE NEW

GOD IS SAYING MAKE ROOM FOR THE NEW!

2 Timothy 2:21

21 Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.

Never will you empty out that God won’t pour in!

IF Jesus is anything, He must be everything.

“Faith in Jesus is more than a match for worldly trials, temptations, unbelief, and overcomes them all. The same absorbing principle shines in the faithful service of God; with an enthusiastic love for Jesus, difficulties are surmounted, sacrifices become pleasure, sufferings are honors.” – Charles Spurgeon

“There are Two”

Life is a journey that offers two roads. It is “either/or” rather than “both/and.” There are two perceptions of reality: the supernatural and the natural. There are two conflicting kingdoms: the kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. There are two entry points: the wide gate leading to destruction and the narrow gate leading to life.

While the World leads more to the “both/and,” scripture tells us that we must choose one. “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” – Matt. 6:24

We say the words He is our everything but is He?
GFJ

Will You Open?

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PART 1

In each of us figuratively speaking we all have the same number of apartments. Each room senses affection, sentiment and so forth. But there is an apartment in our soul house that many never open; remains locked up. Usually the best apartments are the ones neglected because of the price for the space, but Jesus already paid that price. The best apartments have a glorious outlook that takes your breath away, that stand up to sun and air, from whose windows one may look clear across Jordan and see the fields and hills of the Promised Land, into this room men seldom go into.

They choose rather to live in that part of the soul house that looks into the backyard, where nothing but rubbish is gathered and the fence that seems to high to jump over as troubles cascade down from the room that you choose to live in, many men live in this room, instead of visiting the best apartment of the house.

EVERYDAY IS AN INVITATION

To open. Like a plate from a buffet line we hold to much stuff, we fit everything and anything that looks good on it, we make space even when there is none. We walk to our table hoping that our over loaded plate doesn’t fall, we dodge to the left, then to the right as we perform this dance around others. Sometimes we get to the table without an incident but at times the overloaded plate falls to the ground as then others stop and stare as we hurry to pick the remaining pieces up off the floor and dispose of it. What looked so good is now waste.

That stuff is what is causing us to not open that door that He eagerly awaits for us to open. Are we pursuing what makes us feel complete or are we pursuing what has already made us complete?

 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 ESV)

Martha had the same problem, her plate was overloaded. It was heaping with distractions. While Mary just sat, her heart open as Jesus began to fill her with the Word of God, Martha who was more worried about needing help in the kitchen rather than her sit and listen to Jesus was upset because of the tasks that she had to complete. The important things that we think are important is not necessarily important.

The hinges of the door creak as its being opened. Fragrance that was present has now vanished as the tear stained floor is now covered with dust and the walls have become dull, days have passed and the memories that you once had in this room is all that is left. Only now Jesus awaits you on the other side of the door asking you to “come in and sit at my table”

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The Sin That Nailed Him There.

This is sin, to reject Jesus, to declare he is nothing but a delusional or deceitful man. And this was the condition of our heart, when filled with unbelief, we rejected God, his Son, and his sacrifice. We have screamed, “Crucify him!” with our unfaithfulness and disobedience. We have said with the crowd, “He is not our King!” “He is not our Messiah!” “Let his blood be on us!”
But God, being rich in mercy and being patient with us, his chosen people, “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of this crucified Christ” (2 Corinthians 4:6). And being alive by faith in him, we cling to the cross on which our Savior died. It is by his precious blood that we are forgiven and freed from sin and its consequences.
– Marshall Segal (desiringgod.com)

Fan or Follower? Part 3

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Part 3
“Diversify”

“Diversify your walk in Me”

An afternoon dinner party a few months back at my sisters house. Enjoying the time off and not trying to think about anything even ministry (which is hard to block out). Having a good time that I needed, relaxing, away from work, away from it all. I try sometimes my best; not to be an absent mind from God, but to leave the “deadlines” that I set for my blogsite and messages that I constantly critique. When all of a sudden, God spoke “Diversify your walk in Me”.

I immediately Googled the word “diversify”, I knew that it had came from the word divide. Here’s what I got.
Diversify – change, expand, transform, alter, spread out, branch out

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HHMM? What God? Have I messed up somewhere? I immediately asked God to turn the spot light on in my heart to see if there were anything that did not line up with His Word. I heard nothing back, nor did I feel conviction. On the drive home, I began to think about that more, “Diversify your walk in Me.”

Point 1. Be Set Apart

Was I being serious in my walk with Christ at the time? We all say that we could improve on this but our number one problem to this is the word complaceny. If we are to be set apart, one cannot be complacent, it would defeat the term of being set apart, that would be like someone saying that they are going to workout seven days a week a couple of hours but yet eating a Snicker’s as they do so, it’s got protein, right? That’s the problem we always have the excuse of what our complaceny problem is good for. The Snicker’s, the protein, helps build muscle? No, but how much muscle? Not enough grams to make any difference, it’s got more junk than good. Instead of drinking the right protein, such as whey protein, we always go for the stuff that taste better, resulting in less performance. Spiritually speaking, yielding no fruit. But we do what we want to do. It’s human nature, right? WRONG. We must die daily, shedding our identity by dying to the flesh.

Point 2. Standing Still

There will be obstacles and situations that come our way as we question God as if we don’t think He is doing it the right way. Three years ago I had looked at what God had done in my ministry and the church’s that I had preached at and thought to myself, what happened? Was it laziness, complacency? My pastor had told me that God was going to use me in the local churches, and he was right, a month later I was getting calls, held a Revival, and so forth.

It all changed when I had gotten a promotion at my job a few years back that I had been wanting for a long time, the call’s to preach slowly declined. The promotion, I looked at it as a blessing. On the other hand, it hurt me inside, I was constantly thinking that God was done with me, he had seen that I wasn’t cut out for it. Was that a lie that I had believed? Why yes, God doesn’t make mistakes nor does He call someone to do His will without the proper gifts that He has gaven that person. Nor, does He call the qualified, He qualifies the called. I had been putting myself in the driver seat by not allowing God to use me when He was calling out to me. See how easy it is? I was looking at another option, like going to college and getting a degree in marketing and advertising. I prayed that evening that God would show me, tell me what is next, I was at my breaking point.

An hour before service started I had prayed, I knew God would answer me somehow, someway. I was at the alter for a simple alter call that the congregation came up for, I was the last one to leave that alter. Hoping, waiting, speculating an answer. A dear friend of mine who is also in the ministry, had came up behind me as I was knelt down and God began to speak to me “I am not done with you, there are doors that I will open, but at this time I am preparing you before you walk through those doors.” What a relief, I needed conformation, and God delivered.

{We constantly should be on the move, all the time, letting Him perfect our faith as we walk by faith, not standing still but running with all that is within us} “Run with endurance the race that is set before us”. – Hebrews 12:1

I was standing still. Waiting on Him when all that He was doing was waiting on me. We walk by faith not stand by it, we are scared of what’s in front of us if we don’t visibly see it. That’s where faith overcomes this “fear” We must work out faith by taking action. Or like me in this situation, we begin to stand still on the sidelines becoming a fan instead of a follower.

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be ready stay

1 PETER 1:13-19

STUDY OF 1 PETER 1:13-19

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man’s work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 1 Peter 1:13-19

“Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind” meaning to prepare for work or action.

Everyday is another opportunity to give, share, and live out the Salvation that we have in Christ, Peter said it best in Acts 3:6 ” …Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give to you…” while the world is looking for worldly possessions to cure their problems, there is a promise that was made to each individual if they call out to Jesus (Romans 10:9) and carry their cross (Luke 14:27) they will be saved, not a doubt or maybe but will be saved from the damnation of the second death, which is Hell. To strive toward the prize ( “I press on toward the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 3:14) may we set our focus on Him & Him alone in all that we do to please Him and not man.

“…be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ”)

As the traveller, the racer, the warrior for Christ, we must be watchful against all spiritual dangers. ” be sober-minded; be watchful. The devil prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” – 1 Peter 5:8.

“As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be holy in all manner of conversation.

“…As obedient children’s not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.”

Why visit the same place that which you were called out of the instant you called on Christ when He delivered you out of the snare that was set before you? ” like a dog that returns to his vomit is a fool who repeats his folly.” – Proverbs 26:11 ” … No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:62. The past is the past, it no longer speaks because the blood speaks and says “its dead!” As God has given us a free will in life just as Eve took the bite of the apple, which determined their fate when Adam chose to give in as well, wanting to know the knowledge of God; the enemy who has many disguises slithered into the garden and spoke a lie. we too can determine our fate for what we indulge in that is not of God; everyday is a choice.

“… But as he which hath called you is holy, so be holy in all matter of conversation. Because it is written, be holy: for I am holy.

The incarnate God, who stepped down from His holy habitation to dwell with mankind, to live a sinless life so that He could be offered up as a sacrifice; a spotless lamb without blemish or wrinkle so that we may have life and life abundantly. Holiness is the desire and duty of every Christian. Without holiness there is no purity and where no purity there lyes a vessel that is corrupted in which cannot be used of God.

“…And if you call on the father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every mans work, pass the time sojourning here in fear  “

Since Salvation is not through good works of man, only by grace, through faith in Jesus, most religious organizations are working themselves to death. The Mormon’s who have followed one man’s lie of salvation attained through works ” beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matt. 7:15. salvation is both obtained and maintained by grace (sanctification). Not LAW! We are free from the law. We are to please God, not man.

The conversation between Jesus and the rich young ruler in Mt 19:16-26 should forevermore settle the question of salvation by works. The young ruler asked Jesus, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Jesus explained that salvation being awarded for our personal goodness would entail loving others to the same degree as we love ourselves. Can anyone truly claim to have met this condition? In the case of the rich man, satisfaction of the condition required that he sell all he had and give it to the poor. Even the disciples of Jesus found themselves under conviction after hearing of this rigorous standard of goodness, and they responded by asking, Who then can be saved? The Lord’s response unequivocally settles the issue of salvation by works for all eternity: With men this is impossible; but with God all things are possible. The works system is a self-destructive means of salvation when applied to depraved man.

“…forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers”

The high call for godly living makes sense in light of the price that was paid for our redemption. We weren’t saved by the precious blood of Jesus to then live as if we were garbage.  Peter describes a justification by law way of thinking as vain conversations. It seems to have an aim – gaining merit before God by works – but it is in fact vain because it cannot succeed.

 “…but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.” 

 Peter here speaks in reference to the completely sinless character of Jesus. If He was not without blemish and without spot, He would not have been qualified to be our Redeemer.

 

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