DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS 0n BELIEVING GRACE

Our Text is taken from Roman 15:13-15 -“Now may the God of hope (Grace) fill you with all joy and peace in believing 
That you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Then vs. 15 says “Brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God.  Again Paul says “in believing it produces abundant blessing by the power of the Spirit”.

The Power and Believing in grace gives you a Living and Experimental grace. Your grace is not a “talk” grace only.  It is not a “talking grace” but a “Living grace” and “Manifested grace”. It’s also a “Prophetic Grace”  If you want power then power will manifest, if you want miracles then miracles will manifest, that includes healing, glory, character, fruits  and all blessings from God.  This is the grace we are living in the year 2012 and beyond.

Paul says, God is able to make “all grace” abound towards you. – 2 Cor. 9:8.  And in vs. 10, 11 he says “when God supplies grace, He multiplies and increases the fruit of your righteousness (manifestations of Christ righteousness) that you can thank God for it many times”.
 
In 2 Cor. 9:12 says,“For the administration of this service.. (not talking about church administration) Paul is talking about grace ministry.  God is able by His grace to fill you all in all for His glory.  And the following v.13 “talks about the ministry and the obedience of the gospel (NKJV) says “obedience of your confession of the gospel”.  

And finally in v.14 he says “because of the exceeding grace of God in you.  (not someone)  That is His indescribable gift.  The gift of grace and righteousness in you is unspeakable”.
 
God’s grace is so real and God gave you the gift to live in it and manifest it as you believe.  Grace is not something in the air you breathe in.  Grace is breathing out of you from your inner man that is getting stronger and stronger each day and perfecting in Christ.  Grace is not for debate.  Grace is real and Jesus is real and it must live and breathe through you and me.

The bible says “in Him we live and move” – Acts

We must know this grace, believe this grace, live in it and manifest it – Why, it is for the Glory of God. And that is what we are saved for.  Amen!  Praise the Lord.

SELF – EVALUATION QUESTIONNAIRE

(EVALUATE  YOUR  OWN  QUALITIES AND  ABILITIES)

1.    FAITH
•    All  things  are  possible to  him that  believeth.
•    Many  things  are  possible to him  that  believeth.
•    Few  things  are  possible  to him that  believeth.
•    No  one  can  be sure of  anything.
•    What  is  faith ?

2.    COMPASSION
•    I am  tender  hearted.
•    I  have  a  soft  corner  in  my  heart  for  everyone.
•    It  depends.
•    I am  not  easily  moved.
•    I  have  a  heart  of  stone.

3.    PEACE
•    Have  perfect  peace  and  nothing  can  disturb it.
•    Calm  and  relaxed  even  when  there  is  a  problem.
•    Generally  calm  and  relaxed.
•    There  is  something  to  worry  about  all  time.
•    Look  for  a  problem  to  worry.

4.    JOY
•    Rejoice  in  tribulation.
•    Can  smile  in  any  situation.
•    Can  smile  only  if  things  go  well.
•    Look sad when things do not go well
•    Look  sad  normally.
•    Always  look  sad  and  cannot  help  it.

5.    WISDOM
•    I  can  quickly  identify  and  solve  any  problem.
•    I  can  handle  most  of   the  problems.
•    I  am  pretty  good  in  problem  solving.
•    I  don’t  know  what  the  problem  is.
•    I  have  my  own  problems  to  deal  with.

6.    SACRIFICE
•    I am  willing  to  lay  down  my  life  for  my  sheep.
•    I  would  not  risk  my  life, but  would  do  my  best  to  protect  my  sheep.
•    My  responsibility  is  only  to  feed  my  sheep.
•    I  would  like  to  ride on  my  sheep  if  I  can.
•    I  wish  I  could  eat  my  sheep.

7.    BEING  A  LIVING  EXAMPLE
•    Follow  me  as  I  follow  Christ.
•    I am  not  the  perfect  example.
•    I am  better  than  many.
•    Follow  me  at  your  own  risk.
•    Follow  me if  you  want  to  fall  into  the ditch  with  me.

8.    SPEAKING  WITH  AUTHORITY  AND  POWER
•    When  I  open  my  mouth  to  speak, people  are  astonished  at  my  wisdom.
•    I am  a  powerful  speaker.
•    I am  trying  hard  to be forceful  and  persuasive  in  communication.
•    No  one  likes  to  listen  to  me.
•    My  problem  is  to  force myself  to  speak.

9.    ABILITY  TO  TRANSFORM  LIVES
•    If  any  one  would  meet  me  once, they  would  never  be  the  same  again.
•    My  life  has  had  a  great  impact  on  the  lives  of  many  people.
•    I  can  influence  others  to  some  extent.
•    I  am  easily  influence  by  others.
•    My  problem  is  to  change  my  own  life.

10.    GENUINE  CONCERN  FOR  THE  NEEDS  OF  OTHERS 
•    I  cannot  eat  when  others  are  hungry.
•    I am  willing  to  share  some  of  my  food  with  others.
•    After  I  finish  eating  if  there  any  food  left,  I  will  give it  to  others.
•    I  feel  sorry  for  those  who  have  no  food  to  eat.
•    It  is  not  my  responsibility  to  feed  everybody.

11.    BOLDNESS
•    I  am  as  bold  as  a  lion.
•    I  am  bold  when  the  lion  is  in  a  cage.
•    I  am  scared  of  lions  no  matter  where  they  are.
•    I  am  chicken,  to  be  honest.
•    I  am  afraid  of  chicken.

CHANGE TO A NEW MAN

2 Cor. 5:17

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new."

WHAT  KIND  OF  CHANGES  SHOULD  TAKE   PLACE  ?

Born – Again                               Blood  - Washed                GRACEFUL

Bible – Believing                         Water – Baptized

Spirit – Filled                              Church – Going

Tongues – Talking                      Devil – Chasing

Sick – Healing                             Gift – Operating

Fruit  - Bearing                           Witnessing

Soul – Winning                           Word – Meditating

Praying                                        Holy – Living

Loving                                          Joy – Full

Peaceful                                       Patient


                              YOUR  CHRISTIAN   LIFE
BEFORE   THE   CHANGE                  AFTER   THE  CHANGE

 Sinner                                                  Saint
 Son  Of   Man                                     Son  Of   God
 Unbeliever                                           Believe
 Child   Of   Darkness                           Child   Of   Light
 Spiritually  Dead                                  Spiritually   Alive
 Hell  Bound                                         Heaven  Bound
 Faithless                                              Faithful
 Filled  With  Hatred                              Fill  with  Love
 Fearful                                                 Bold
 Sorrowful                                             Joyful
 Worried                                                Peaceful
 Impatient                                              Patient
 Rude                                                     Gentle
 Evil                                                       Good
 Lack  of   Self  - Control                       Self  - Control
 Sinful                                                    Sinless
 Weak                                                    Strong
 Sickly                                                   Healthy
 Cursed                                                 Blessed
 Poor                                                     Rich
 Lack                                                    Abundance
 Below                                                  Above
 Tail                                                       Head
 Borrowing                                            Lending
GRACELESS                                       FULL OF GRACE

THIRSTING FOR GOD'S POWER AND GLORY

THIRSTING FOR THE POWER OF GOD

Our text taken from Psalms 63:1, 2 to 5

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You; My soul thirst for You; My flesh longs for You

In a dry and thirsty land where there is no water.  So I have looked for You in the sanctuary,

To see Your power and Your glory.”

The word in Psalms says to us our flesh longs, our soul thirsts and our spirit seeks after God.  Your spirit touches God and comes to the Holy of Holies,  a place when you do nothing but receive and see Him.  His  Glory and Power.  This is the place where you’re not longing , not thirsting but you are drinking. Be still and know God. You can’t talk. You’re not interested in what He can do for you – you’re interested in Knowing Him and want More of Him.

Psalms 16:2 -  David says “I have seen your power and beheld your glory” (My spirit seeks after thee)  When you are all out for God you will see His manifest power in your life and only thirsty people will see the power of God in their lives.  God wants you to see His power in the church today.  The Gospel is a gospel of Power.  The Book of Acts ‘says I have given you “Power” – ‘dunamis’.   Jesus gave power to us for His kingdom is the kingdom of power. His at the right hand of power is Jesus. And Jesus will come with power and rule with power.  Every knee shall bow and mouth confess that He is Lord. 

There are Waves of Glory coming to His Church. His Awesome Presence as in Genesis 28:16,17 – Jacob saw His Awesome Presence -  the House of God.  David also has seen His Power and Glory.  And there is power in His Name, there is power in His Blood and the Gospel. There is power to defeat the devil, power to provide and power to deliver even divide the Red Sea.   Only what have we done to the Gospel of Power? 

The Glory Provides  for His people in  Psalms 78:15, 16, 24 – The Israelites followed the Glory when they journey in the dry wilderness.  In their  Glory walk they experienced miraculous provisions of water and manna.  There’s provision and satisfaction with the glory food from above.  Your soul will be satisfied when you see and follow His Glory.

That Glory  also sustains Moses – Exodus 24:28-29 – Moses face shone with God’s glory while he talked with God in Mt. Sinai.  One of the most important aspect of ministry  is His glory will sustain us with longevity, productivity and success in serving Him.  Many have failed to persevere and press on, others failed to fulfill their calling and destiny.  But the glory of God will refresh you again and again.  Instead of a burden you will be touched with joy and delight in serving God. 

   

The Glory gives you pleasure in serving God.  You will minister from the innermost being that flows from your spirit and you will not struggle most of the time.  Moses was sustained  for 40 days and nights when he immersed in God's Glory. He ate nothing. He just talked with God. That is where you soul will be satisfied with the Word of God and that’s where pleasures forevermore are. That’s where you will enjoy being a Christian. 

The Glory will open your mouth to praise Him. Then you will praise and thank God.  Verses  3 & 4 - Then God will hear your singing lips.  You will sing with grace. Then the result of praising and thanksgiving is Victory.   David says “My soul will be satisfied with richest food.   You will never be satisfied with any other food or things other than Your Loving and Gracious God.  As Jesus says “My meat is to do the will of God that sent Me”

Come Out of Your Tent - Ps Judah Smith