GROWING IN GRACE PART II

One of my favorite passages of scripture is located in Ephesians the 3rd chapter beginning in the 14th verse through the end of the chapter. Brother Kenneth Hagin Sr made the statement that he made this prayer a regiment of daily study and confession and stated that after 6 months of doing this he had more revelation of God's word during this time than in the previous 13 years of ministry.



Ephesians 3: 14-21
14 For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,
16 That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
17 That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
18 May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
19 And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
21 Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Proverbs 20:5
5 Counsel in the heart of man is like deep water; but a man of understanding will draw it out.


Pray, fellowship with the Father and meditate in His word. Draw it out. God said His word is a more sure word of prophecy and that He magnified His word above His name.


IN CLOSING


1 Corinthians 1:9
9 God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.


2 Corinthians 13:14
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.


God has a blueprint for your life and ministry. He is not withholding it from you. He wants you to succeed. God is a God of order, you have to embrace the season of life and ministry you are in in order to get what God intends for you to do in each particular season you are in at the time. Do not ever let opinions and doctrines of men and cunning craftiness and doctrines of devils get you off your mark.


Genesis 8:22
22 While the earth remaineth, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.


Embrace the season you are in!

Stay with what God has instructed you to do. Don't make a change until the Holy Ghost gives you new instruction. We are responsible and accountable to God for what we do or not do with our heavenly calling, and with every calling there is a "grace" to see it through. Faithfulness and Obedience are the keys to success.


Paul wanted us to know God is faithful, and that the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost was with us.


We have to always be aware of the anointing that is on our life. The anointing is "God on flesh doing those things that flesh cannot do." This is God's grace in action extended toward us proving to us the ability to do that which we could not do on our own. Where would we be with out God's grace extended to us. Be faithful to fellowship with our Lord Jesus Christ. Commune with Him and "GROW IN GRACE."



Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!

GROWING IN GRACE PART I

We will open in the second book of Peter.

2 Peter 1:1-8
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
5 And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;
6 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness;
7 And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity.
8 For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.


2 Peter 3:18
18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.


GROW - enlarge, to cause to grow, augment, to increase, become greater


Peter said grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord and to "grow in grace."


GRACE - the extended good will, loving-kindness, favour of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in faith, knowledge, affection, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the lifestyle of the individual and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues


Grace is evident in the spiritual condition of the one governed by the power of God's divine grace. There is "divine assistance" and power given to man in the spiritual rebirth and sanctification which allows him to walk in the favour of God.

PEACE - security, safety, prosperity, a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content


KNOWLEDGE - knowledge signifies in general intelligence and understanding, the general knowledge of the Christian walk; moral wisdom, such as is seen in right living


I would take a portion of the definitions above and make this statement:

"To enlarge and increase in the extended good will and loving-kindness of God. Understanding and knowing there is security, safety and prosperity in the salvation purchased through Jesus Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content." This is what it means to walk in the grace of God.


WALKING IN TRUTH


3 John 1:2-4
2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul
prospereth.
3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.
4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.


WALK - to walk, to make one’s way, progress; to make due use of opportunities, to live, to regulate one’s life, to conduct one’s self, to pass one’s life


John said I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth. If we are going to walk in the truth of God's word we have to study and meditate in His word thereby gaining an understanding of the christian walk. We have to place ourself in a place for our soul to prosper. This can only be done one way. It will take self effort on our part.

2 Timothy 2-15
15 Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.


TO BE CONTINUED.


Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD PART II

Part of our responsibility after we are born again is to learn to be led by the Spirit of God in our life and to learn and know He has anointed us to fulfill our call.


Rom 8:14
14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.


We are also to be aware of the anointing that is on our life. It should be very sobering to know that we are responsible to fulfill our call on this earth.


Anointing, as described in the Bible, can be defined as "God on flesh doing those things that flesh cannot do." It is God doing those things only He can do, and doing them through a flesh-and-blood, earthly vessel.


2 Corinthians 4:7
7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us.


The basic meaning of the Bible word "anoint" is "to pour on, smear all over or rub into." In the Old Testament, someone who was anointed by God for special service to God had oil poured or smeared on him. For instance, Saul, and later David, was anointed with oil by the prophet Samuel when God revealed He had chosen him to be king of Israel.


The anointing is God's presence by the Holy Spirit. The anointing is God's Spirit and power for service in this earth. Jesus has provided the same presence of the Holy Spirit for us in our earthly ministries that He had in His earthly ministry.


1 John 2:27
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.


If you're "in Christ," there's an anointing for everything you're called to do, no matter how small or how great the task. As I stated above, God has placed a call on each individual for a specific purpose here on the earth.

If we "trust on", "delight in" and "commit" our ways unto God, He will see to it that we have everything we need to complete the task that was set before us. It is up to us to accept the calling and fulfill what we are called to do. We will not come short in any good thing when we trust on, delight in and commit our lives unto Him.



Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!

WE ARE THE TEMPLE OF GOD PART I

Let us open with a scripture from the gospel of John the 14th chapter.


John 14:
16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.


Jesus made the supreme sacrifice. He told His disciples that He needed to go away so He could send the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of Truth back to us. We need to give Him thanks for what He did for us.


We should live our lives in total surrender to God and always remember that He has our best interest in mind. We were purchased at great price. God has placed a call on each individual for a specific purpose here on the earth. If we trust on, delight in and commit our ways unto God, He will see to it that we have everything we need to complete the task that was set before us. It is up to us to accept the calling and fulfill what we are called to do. We will not come short in any good thing when we trust on, delight in and commit our lives unto Him. God chose to dwell in a vessel not made with hands.


Listed below are a few scriptures that confirm the Spirit of God dwells within us.

Romans 8:
11 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.

1 Corinthians 3:
16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

Galatians 4:.
6 And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.


In the passage below Jesus is talking with Nicodemus about the new birth. Jesus was explaining to him the path to eternal life. First you have to be born of a woman. This is the gateway into the earth. Secondly you have to be born of the Spirit of God which is the new birth when you accept Jesus as your personal saviour and make Him the Lord of your life.

John 3: 1-8
1 There was a man of the Pharisees, named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews:
2 The same came to Jesus by night, and said unto him, Rabbi, we know that thou art a teacher come from God: for no man can do these miracles that thou doest, except God be with him.
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the
second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.
8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.


TO BE CONTINUED.


Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!

OUR LIFE AND LIFESTYLE, LIVING HOLY BEFORE GOD PART II

OUR LIFE AND LIFESTYLE, LIVING HOLY BEFORE GOD PART II

Jesus taught on the prodigal son in Luke 15. He described the love of the Father if one had strayed in one's "lifestyle" and came back to his Father.


Luke 15:18-24
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.


This shows the love of the Father. We should always do our best to walk in unbroken fellowship with God.


I heard a minister say one time that if you sin you should run to Jesus not wallow in your mistakes. John stated in 1st John 2 that we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. Go to Him and confess your sin and be cleansed of all unrighteousness. Come back into fellowship with your Father.


1 John 1:9
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.


1 John 2:1-2
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.


We should walk upright before God and maintain fellowship with Him. We depend on the leadership of the Holy Ghost to walk on the right path in our call. By maintaining this fellowship with Him we will always be sensitive to His leadership. By staying in the center of His will we can walk in unbroken fellowship with our Father God and live holy before our God.



Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!

OUR LIFE AND LIFESTYLE, LIVING HOLY BEFORE GOD PART I

We should live our lives and walk in such a way as not to offend the Holy Ghost. He is our helper and the One that leads us and guides us into all truth. He is our high tower, the One that sees afar off. Our fellowship with Him is very valuable in the christian walk.


On October 1st, 1978 I made Jesus the Lord of my life and accepted the sacrifice He made for me on Calvary. Salvation is the free gift from God that was brought to us by the great price Jesus paid on the cross. In one sense it was free (for us) but very costly for God. He gave His only son as a sacrifice for all mankind.


GOD GAVE FIRST ! ! !


John 3:16-17
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.


THEN WE ACCEPTED WHAT HE HAD DONE FOR US THROUGH JESUS.


Romans 10:9-10
9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.


Without the love of God in operation we would all have been condemned to hell! Adam had given up his authority and when that happened he died spiritually. But because God the Father prepared the way for Jesus to come into the world we were then made able through Him (Jesus) to be brought back into right standing with God. We were born again of incorruptible seed. The word of God. We are God's workmanship created in Christ Jesus. Brought back into right standing with God. We are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus.


It is a decision that brings you into the kingdom of God and it is a decision that would put you into a place of not being reconciled unto God anymore. A place of no repentance. But for a person to be in a position to commit this sin would have to be like one listed in Hebrews 6, "once enlightened", "have tasted of the heavenly gift", "made partakers of the Holy Ghost", "have tasted the good word of God", and the "powers of the world to come."


Hebrews 6:4
4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,
5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come,
6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame.


This is a person that after he was once enlightened by the word of God and came into the kingdom and walked upright before God and then turned and walked away from God and made the decision that he did not want to serve Him any longer and rejected the sacrifice Jesus made, this person would be in a place where repentance would no longer be available to him.


When you accept Jesus as your personal saviour you then come into a relationship with the triune God. Father, Son and Holy Ghost. This brings you into a place where you can fellowship with Him. The vail of the temple was rent and God said He would no longer dwell in a place made with hands. Through the sacrifice of Jesus He could now dwell on the inside of us. We can now come boldly to the throne of God. Just because you have broken fellowship with God through an act of not walking in love or not walking in obedience in a certain area does not mean you have broken your relationship with Him. You are still His son.


TO BE CONTINUED.


Until next time, KEEP THE FAITH !!!!!!!