The following words flew from my pen while attending a worship session about a month ago in Nelspruit, South Africa. I want to begin by saying these are words from the Lord. He is the One who gives wisdom; therefore, it is He who deserves all praise and glory for He is worthy. I also want to ask that when you read this, you read slow and let it all digest. Much of what is written here has more depth then we can initially comprehend, so ask the Holy Spirit to teach the Truth.
There is no Good News apart from grace. We need a greater understanding of what Christ did on the cross; we must ask the Lord to teach us. We must refocus our eyes on Him. It is only His grace that saves. Only grace brings abundant life full of true joy, peace, and love. We must stop trying; we must stop with our worthless religion and legalism. Jesus died for relationship with us; He died for freedom from religion. By grace through faith, we are free. Can we please walk in that freedom. We must be aware that legalism and religion are deep in each of us. It wants to sabatage our freedom. It masks itself in self-discipline, works, self-righteousness, our own morality, and anything that attempts to minimize the power of God’s grace. Satan uses these things to chain us to religious practices that do not save. We must ask the Holy Spirit to shine His light in these dark areas of our hearts. We will have to fight for freedom. We may suffer even death, but to truly live, to truly be free, to walk in the abundant life, we will have to fight. Lord Jesus, we cannot do anything on our own. We give up, we stop trying. We finally see our desparation. On our knees we fall in complete surrender.
We must stop comparing and judging one another. We are riping each other apart. We need to be dispensers of God’s grace. The grace that covers us, that He so lavishly pours on us anew each day. Lord, give us a greater understanding of your blood. O how it cleanses us; it makes us righteous in the sight of God no matter what we do. No matter the sin of thought nor action. His grace abounds even more. Should we abuse this grace? Certainly not, but I do believe we need to come to rely on grace and nothing else. O Jesus if we truly lived in full awareness of these things. Jesus open our eyes to the rotten legalism that still festers within our hearts. How often do we, the church body, look just like the Pharisees of Jesus’ day. Show us Lord. Bring it into the light, so we can repent. The attitudes of judging, criticizing, and self-righteousness which all come back to our disgusting pride must be put death. We cannot carry this dying corpse any longer. Jesus in place of this garbage fill us with amazing, sincere humllity, and pure joy. O Jesus to see us live in the freedom that you have for us; the freedom you died a horrendous death for. We need, no, we must grow in your grace. I believe the depth at which “I” understand grace is the depth at which “I” will be capable to truly be used by God. WIthout this understanding, I cannot love, serve, or purily walk as a follower of Christ. Without grace, I am just playing religion. And as I said earlier, Religion cannot save anyone. The more we understand grace; the more we love Him; and the more we love Him; the more we love our neighbor. Grace allow us to accept God’s love. Apart from grace, we cannot accept His love because it cannot be earned. All of us can a test to falling short time and again. In desparation and in complete awareness of our depravity, grace shines so bright and beautiful. Grace is the only answer to our greatest problem. Grace is at the core of the Gospel. Lord, I ask you make us all aware. This is foundational. It must be understood or all growth in Christ will surely become stagnent. O Father give us the strength to change. Give us the understanding to walk in your grace. Strengthen our faith so we may walk in confidence and freedom.
Heb. 13:9 says, “…Your strength comes from God’s grace.”
Titus 3:3-7 says, “Once we, too, were foolish and disobedient. We were misled and became slaves to many lusts and pleasures. Our lives were full of evil and envy, and we hated each other. But – when God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, He saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace He declared us righteous and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.”
Heb. 4:16 says, “Let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”
Heb. 12:1-4 says, “…Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up (ex. control, fear, judgment, pride, lust of flesh. lust of the eyes) And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility He endured from sinful people, then you won’t become weary and give up. After all you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin.”
Heb. 12:5 says, “My child don’t make light of the Lord’s discipline, and don’t give up when He corrects you. For the Lord discipline’s those He loves, and He punishes each one He accepts as His child.”
May we stop judging, condeming, discouraging, and criticizing one another, but instead may we love, encourage, support, serve, and pray for one another. May we trust in the perfect and loving discipline of our Father. May we live in joy and peace with one another. Being patient and gracious with everyone. Teach us to trust you Lord, because if we don’t trust you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength then how can we say love you.
More of you, and less of me!
