WALKING IN GRACE CONSCIOUSNESS

Paul testifies, “By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (I Corinthians 15:10).

BE GRACE CONSCIOUS DAILY

We have a ministry build by grace and not a graceless ministry. We do not want to be grace killers but be conscious of God’s grace daily so that our work will not be in vain. Ministry that is not build by grace will be in vain. That is why Paul was very concern about this ministry in the churches today. He said in his own words "I labored more abundantly than they all". He put daily emphasis on it.

God’s grace that is freely given to us is our generous giving to others, for “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8; see also 2 Corinthians 8:1–19; 9:8–15.

GRACE FOR MINISTERING TO OTHERS

God’s grace to believers involves spiritual gifts that are to be used in edifying all the members of the Body of Christ.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10).

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6–8) KJV.

GRACE TO BRING OTHERS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

God’s grace works in us to bring us to spiritual completeness and maturity. “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).

The grace of God is multiplied to us, and we grow in grace through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18).

In this definition of grace, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates commented, “Grace is like God’s power generator, and we are like the conduits which carry His power to its intended purposes by the Holy Spirit.” 

SIN IN EXCHANGE FOR GOD'S GRACE

In the Romans 5:20-21 New International Version (NIV) it reads:

In verse 20, “The law was brought in so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, verse 21  so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”. 

We see grace was mentioned five times from verses 15 to 21 of Romans Chapter 5.  The climax of this passage is the concentration of the word grace.  Grace was the key to all spiritual experiences of failure and sin. Paul also refer himself as the “chief of sinners”

We also notice that the word “increase” was mentioned several times here and was used three times in verse 20 – twice for sin and once for grace. Grace increased here is mentioned “to abound” or “to overflow” or having more than enough.  It gives the word super abundance.  Grace increased super abundance more than enough to cover all.

Where sin reached a high water mark, grace completely flooded the world.”  D. Martin Lloyd Jones used the word “engulfed”, calling grace a flood that sweeps everything before it.

1) God is not withholding Grace when sin increases.  If we offended by someone, we tend to withdraw from the person and withdraw our favor and blessings.  But God is not like that, instead where sin increases or failure increases, more grace or grace superabounds.  For God will not let us down to be at the bottom.  God's super gracious grace will encourage us greatly now and then. 

The first man Adam and Eve sinned? They were afraid thinking that grace would be withdrawn.  God had been good to them. Even they rebelled and eaten the forbidden fruit that God said they could not eat. God says, “if you eat of it, you will surely die.”  Instead, they found grace. God did not withhold grace from Adam and Eve who have sinned.  He made great promises of grace, announcing that the Messiah would come to destroy the work of the devil and bring mankind back to heaven.

Adam and Eve tried to cover their shame with fig leaves, but God’s gracious grace clothed them with the skin of animals, which represented Christ’s shed blood and righteousness.  Grace was not withheld from Adam and Eve; grace was given spite of sin.

That was old covenant picture of God’s gracious love for them.  What about the New Covenant now? How will it be different?  Jesus blood was shed not animals blood.  If God could gave Jesus to die for us how much more will He not give us all things pertaining to this life and godliness. This will include HIS GRACIOUS ABUNDANCE GRACE.

2) We also see that Grace is not something that makes up for our failures or sins.  Grace is not measured out in proportion to our disobedience. When a person sins he will think that God will take away his blessings one by one.  That means he have been given 100 percent of God’s grace in the beginning but now because he sins, he is slowly wasting away this 100 percent grace by his sins.  Do we find ourselves thinking that kind of thought?  He was a first-class Christian when he accepted Christ but now having failed God many times he consider himself a second class or third class Christian?  The more he sins he consider himself a lower class Christian.   In the end he is condemned as a believer in Christ. That is wrong thinking as believers.  We can fall into some great sin like Moses or David.  Our sin did not keep God’s grace from flowing to us in full measure when we first came to Jesus. It will not keep grace from reducing us now.  We know that God and everyone hate sin but sin did not keep God’s grace from flowing to us more. The point is that God will never diminish his grace toward you because of some sin.  The enemy wants us to think the opposite.  The bible says because of sin (in desperation), you will most find grace to be more abundant and fresh than before.

Paul knew that grace is so powerful and fresh to all believers. Fresh Grace!  Paul says that “sin reigned in death but grace reign through righteousness to bring us life and life abundantly through Jesus Christ”.  

3) Grace is more than an attitude, for grace is THE POWER of God to Salvation.  God has thrown his weight into His GRACE (Jesus full of GRACE) and grace will definitely triumph. Grace is more than an offer for help.  Grace is Life – a Life Transformation to all of us. Sin shall not master over us, you are not under law (influence of sin) but under the influence of GRACE (JESUS Himself) Being united with Jesus by God’s grace we take His life into our life. 

The gravity of sin will not suck you in – you are out in the outer space of GRACE in God’s presence. Sin dominion is out when Grace is in! In the outer space you are floating from GRACE to GRACE. GOD'S GRACE WILL SUCK YOU INTO MORE AND MORE OF HIS BLESSINGS AND HIS PRESENCE. YOU ARE NEAR TO THE THIRD HEAVENS!

If sin is overwhelmed by grace then sin is NOT the big thing.  Grace is the greatest thing NOW. Your faith now is not yourself and your sin but God’s grace and His powerful grace that will change your life.  Most religion will teach you make every effort to stop sinning and you will make it to heaven.   If you stop sinning and do it well enough and long enough you will be saved. Here sin is the focus. 

 

SIN IS THE BIG THING.  BUT GOD SAYS GRACE IS THE BIGGEST OF ALL.  SIN IS JUST THE DEAD LAKE OF A NATION BUT GRACE IS THE OCEAN OF THE WORLD.  You cannot compare sin and grace.  Sin cannot even come close to Grace in comparison. DO NOT MAGNIFY SIN BUT MAGNIFY GRACE! THE KING OF GRACE CAME AND TAKE IT ALL.  HE CAME TO OUR LIVES AND RULE IT ALL AND HIS GRACE WILL REIGN VICTORIOUSLY IN OUR LIVES.  AMEN AND AMEN!  THIS CHRISTMAS SEASON:

 

BELIEVE ON THE LORD JESUS CHRIST AND (HIS GRACE) YOU SHALL BE SAVED!  (DELIVERED, HEALED, BLESSED, OVERCOMER) HAVE A BLESSED HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Grace Williams "Open Up the Gates" (with Rick Pino)

OPEN UP THE GATES!

  “GATES”  OF   HELL 

 

Jesus said, “upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”   Let’s take an in-depth look at the word

“gates” in Scripture.  Gates in ancient times were focal points of power.

l.  Business was conducted at the city gates.  Boaz took off his shoe and gave it to the city officials at the gate, officially indicating that he was redeeming Ruth’s possession. - Ruth 4:1-11

2.   Military strategy was planned at the gates.  It was said that a city

     would be open and vulnerable if the gates could be taken.-  Obadiah l:11

3.   Judgments and punishment were delivered at the gates. - Deuteronomy 17:5

4.  The husband of a virtuous woman was known in the gates.    - Proverbs 31:23

5.   Abraham’s nephew, Lot, sat at the gates of Sodom as an elder. -  Genesis 19;1

6.   The safety of a city was determined by the strength of its gates.

7.   When the gates came down, the city was conquered. Nehemiah 1:3

   So the gates of hell in the spirit realm, there are evil magistrates, rulers, and elders “sitting at the gates” all over the world plotting, scheming, strategising, and planning to prevent our churches and our homes from achieving any kind of breakthrough.

  Gates of hell contaminate businesses and social structures to destruction.  They contaminate society, social, education, political and economic of a nation.

  Jesus says “the gates of hell” would not prevail against His church.

They will not prevent, overpower, block, overwhelm, outlast or win against His Church.

What Is a Gate?  A gate is “an opening in a wall or fence; a city or castle entrance often with defensive structures, an area for departure or arrival, a door or controlling passage.”

What Are Hell’s Gates?

The Scriptures describe hell in at least three contexts:

   l. Hell is a literal place or region in the underworld where God will ultimately cast satan, the fallen angels and the souls of humans who chose to reject God’s Son as Saviour and Lord.

2.   Hell can describe a condition. - James 3:6   This  picture of a tongue that is ignited by the fire of hell also gives us a vivid picture of hell itself.

3.   Hell’s gates refers to satan’s earthly seat of power as manifested in the brassy heavens he creates over the heads of men who consistently disobey God willfully live in sin.  Satan is not in hell yet.

     He is the “prince of this world” and the “prince of the power

    of   the air,  the spirit that now worketh in the children of 

    disobedience.”

4.  Jesus was not talking about gates in the underworld.  He was speaking of devilish gates in the heavens over our heads, where satan the adversary actively works to obstruct the dealings of men with God.

 

5.   The gates of hell are where the architects and intelligent principalities of satan devise their schemes, plans, and strategies to stop Christians.  Their chief goals is to isolate our churches and homes, a task they accomplished by seducing us, tricking us, or persuading us to fall into various sins and acts of disobedience.  Wise principalities know the right moves that are needed to distract, discourage, and dishearten us.

6.   Promises of God the power to prevail - Isaiah 45:1-3

 God would break up the gates of brass and cut apart

 the bars

       of iron.

 God said that He would give Cyrus the treasures of darkness

       and the hidden riches of secret places.

Where Are All My Blessings?? Satan steal our blessings and

he doesn’t destroy them because he doesn’t have the power or authority to do so.  He locks away these “treasures in darkness, and hidden riches of secret places.”

What are these treasures and riches?

              James says: “every good gift and every perfect gift is from  

               above ….. James 1:17

God’s Plan concerning gates.

  Genesis 22:17 _”they seed shall possess the gate of his   

     enemies.”

            Isaiah 28:5,6 - “ for strength to them that turn the battle to

               the gate.”

 

Psalms 24:7-10

7 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory? The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD, invincible in battle. 9 Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors, and let the King of glory enter. 10 Who is the King of glory? The LORD Almighty -- he is the King of glory. Interlude

 “Lift up your heads, O gates!” who is the psalmist talking to here? Gates don’t have heads. Are we the gates? The gates of God, the gates for God. Are we the ‘ancient doors’? Do we need to lift ourselves up to God fully? Well, yes, of course we do.

           “If we will turn the battle to hell’s gate, He will supply the strength for the battle.  The devil is busy hindering Christians by getting to live in sin and disobedience.  Then he stole our most precious treasures and locks them away.   But the Seed of Jesus shall possess the gate of the enemies.  “Lift up O ancient gates” – these are gates of grace and gates of glory – that is where King Jesus will enter. 

When we allow the gates of glory to come into our life gates – all other gates of hell will be broken and God’s glory shall come and dwell.  Then treasure in darkness shall be expose and hidden riches of blessings in secret places will be manifest.  That is where the miracles and blessings of God is.  SO OPEN UP AND LET THE KING OF GLORY ENTER IN!  INVITE KING JESUS INTO OUR LIVES AND WE SHALL POSSESS THE GATES OF THE ENEMIES.

ANONYMOUS WRITER

THANKSGIVING CAN RAISE THE DEAD!

John 11:41–42
41… And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me. 42 And I know that You always hear Me…

After Jesus had said these words, He cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come forth!” And the man who had been dead for four days came out of his tomb!

This is one of the greatest miracles that Jesus performed. Lazarus had been dead for four days when Jesus raised him to life. Wouldn’t you agree that death is indeed an extreme problem? Having no money in the bank, being sick and losing your job, bad as they are, are not as bad as being dead!

But what I want you to see is this: If Jesus, in the most extreme of problems, shows us that the solution is still, “Father, I thank You,” then how much more we should thank God when we face problems that are less serious. If thanksgiving can raise the dead, then let’s give thanks in the midst of our problems and see victory.

Unfortunately, we tend to do the opposite — murmur and complain. And murmuring and complaining only magnify the problem. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, is the language of faith, which pleases God. Now, I am not saying that we give thanks for the problems we have. No, we thank God that He is our answer and that He has already given every blessing to us. (Ephesians 1:3)

“But Pastor Prince, what I have is so little.” 

My friend, thank God for the little that you have and it will multiply. Jesus thanked His Father for the five barley loaves and two small fish, a little boy’s lunch, and they were multiplied to feed more than 5,000 people with 12 baskets full of leftovers! (John 6:8–13) And notice that when the Holy Spirit talked about this event again, He specifically mentioned the Lord giving thanks — “... the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks…” (John 6:23) The Holy Spirit seemed to be more pleased with the act of giving thanks than the miracle of multiplication or the 12 baskets full of leftovers.

Beloved, the more you thank God, the more you please Him. What little you have will be multiplied, and whatever is dead in your life will be raised to life!

Shared by Pastor Joseph Prince