GRACE BLOGS COLLECTION
I often hear people talking about a Grace Revolution taking place in the church today. I think it is more of a “Grace Reformation” that has the potential to sweep throughout the whole world!
Jesus said, ”And this good news of the kingdom (the Gospel) will be preached throughout the whole world as a testimony to all the nations, and then will come the end.” —Matthew 24:14 (AMP)
Jesus did not say that the Gospel should, could or might be preached. He said this Gospel of the kingdom WILL be preached! Never in all of history has it been more possible for this scripture to be fulfilled than in the time we are living in today. The question we need to ask ourselves today is this:
“Will we be the ones to preach it?”
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations?
The religious world is suspicious of the Gospel of Grace because they feel that they are losing control. That’s why Paul wrote to the believers at Galatia saying,
In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off]. — Galatians 5:1 (AMP)
Most of us are not easily hampered or ensnared by the scare tactics of condemnation, guilt, judgment and shame any longer. There are, however, other methods of hampering being used to try and restrict people today: the threat and accusations of heresy, false doctrines and error. Many men and women of God have become afraid to preach the Gospel of Grace and Peace because of the potential accusations that could be leveled against them!
The Word of God assures us that if we stay focused on Jesus and God’s love for people, there is no fear of deception, delusion or error!
Are we ready to take this challenge to boldly go into all the world and preach this gospel as a witness to all nations? Just like in the days of Paul and many other men of God throughout history who have preached this gospel in times of reformation, there is mounting pressure to compromise
this message. It’s a pressure warranting “so-called” balance, referring to the message of the gospel as hyper-grace, sloppy agape and greasy grace!
In Jesus is all Truth!
Paul, writing to the Church at Ephesus, said;
“But you did not so learn Christ! Assuming that you have really heard Him and been taught by Him, as all Truth is in Jesus [embodied and personified in Him]” — Ephesians 4:20-21 (AMP)
Even in the book of John, Jesus taught extensively on the Truth and the Truth being in Him! (John 14:6)
If we keep our focus on Jesus as the Christ, as the one and only reason and solution for our redemption and salvation, we are abiding in the truth, and the truth is in us!
The Guarantee of God
In the book of First Corinthians, Paul assures us of God’s ability to hold, keep and maintain us to the end!
“And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah)”. 1 Corinthians 1:8 (AMP)
The Holy Spirit of God
When we live in the awareness of the presence of the Holy Spirit in us and on us, it becomes impossible to go into error.
“But the Comforter, the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall everything I have told you. Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you… Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.]”— John 14:26 (AMP)
I’m not making light of heresy or error in any way. What I’m saying is that a fear of error will hinder us from the freedom of peaching the Gospel fully. God assures us that He will keep us from falling into error through the leading of His Holy Spirit that dwells in us!
Keep the Message Alive
Jesus said, “Staying with it – that’s what God requires. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry, and you’ll be saved.” — Matthew 24:13 (MSG)
If we are going to be the generation who is going to preach the Gospel as a testimony and witness to the whole world, we are going to have to keep this message alive!
So my charge and encouragement to us all today is this:
Stay with it to the end. Keep this Gospel alive! Do not give in. Do not give up. Do not go back. Do not recant!
There are so many things that I want to tell young people. That time in life when you are searching for meaning, looking for your place, trying to fit in. If you will give me your ear, I promise I will not judge. Here are a few suggestions that may make the journey a little less painful.
1. Pain is normal. Everyone feels it. Don’t run from pain, lean into it and allow yourself to take shape. Life is a series of ups and downs, without the downs you wouldn’t appreciate the ups and it’s the ride that will color your life and make you strong. This idea that you are the only one feeling what your feeling is common. Those feelings are very real and in some cases frightening, it’s ok. You are not in this fight alone. It is in these times that you reach beyond yourself, beyond your reasoning and your age to something higher. It’s now that you begin to lean on and trust your creator. God equipped you with everything you need and even when you can’t see it or feel it, trust Him. He has got you, just trust Him. Tell Him you trust Him, give the pain to Him, give the confusion, the heartache, the fear to Him and trust that He has you.
2. You will make mistakes, it’s a part of the growing process. No one on the planet can do it all right. Be willing to acknowledge your need for help. There is nothing shameful or weak in needing help with things. Anyone that tells you that you shouldn’t ask questions and get help is doing damage, don’t listen, don’t be a part of the lie. It is this very willingness to admit your weakness that brings you your greatest strength. When you are weak He is strong. God isn’t afraid of your weakness, He knows you are imperfect, He is cool with that. He made you so you will trust Him, not so you will do it all yourself. Trust Him and at the same time allow others to be used by Him to help you.
3. Your identity is not found in labels. No matter what label you have been given, whether good or bad, whether positive or negative. You may be gifted and talented, you may have ADHD, you may be athletic, you may be musical, and you may have no idea at all what you are. These things do not identify you. What identifies you comes from where you get your life. As a believer your life is not music, athletics, sexuality, diagnosis, these are not your life. These are things your life deals with, but who you are is who Christ is. Who you are is loved, forgiven, new and right, just to name a few. In fact, Christ is your life. Recognize that, acknowledge that and the labels and the diagnosis are just a part of your journey. Enjoy the journey, but don’t mistake those things for your life. Someday the athletics will end, the talent will fade, the diagnosis will not be such a burden, but Christ will always be your life, allow Him to live through you.
4. If you are in a situation and something doesn’t feel right, listen to that and act on it. Trust your heart. Listen to the still small voice in your heart and allow it to guide you. It will save you from mistakes, hurt and disappointment. Listen to those who have had this journey already, people like your grandparents. Respect their knowledge and their years. They may have different views than you, but try and see the world through their eyes. You don’t have to agree, but listen, respect and give them your time. Theirs is limited.
5. Finally, when you are laying in your bed at night with the lights out and your eyes closed, think about Christ life moving through your hormones and your veins. See His light transforming you, see yourself swimming around in it. Drink it in. Try and imagine the depth of the love that He has for you, with no regard for faults, or labels. Accept that love, see yourself running in a wide-open field of it. Then wake up knowing that His life is your life, His strength is your strength, His peace is your peace, His mind is your mind and go conquer the day!
Wynema I Clark – 4/24/2017
Success in life is all about wholesome, positive relationships.
But here are some eye-opening facts:
An insecure person doesn’t know their true value, so they feel rejected, unaccepted and abandoned. Unresolved insecurities control and influence our decision-making processes, which ultimately determine our future and hinder our success!
Nothing kills relationships quicker than unresolved insecurities. They destroy relationships, driving more people out of business and ministry than anything else.
Most people just hide their insecurities, living behind masks and denying their true selves—and believers are sometimes the best at it!
But in hiding our insecurities, we slowly lose who we were created to be.
Hiding your insecurities is like treating cancer with an aspirin—it might make you feel better for a couple of hours, but it won’t fix the problem.
Doing My Part
Getting along with others actually has more to do with us than with them.
1. I Must Deal with My Own Insecurities
Knowing God and His love will positively affect our relationships, but we still need to work on our people skills. The true mark of a mature Christian isflexibility and tolerance.
May our dependably steady and warmly personal God develop MATURITY in you so that you can GET ALONG with each other as well as Christ gets along with us. —Romans 15:6-7 (MSG)
And Christ gets along with us based on who HE is—not on us.
2. Find Something Good in Others.
Those who are not like us may seemstrange or weird. We find reasons not tolike, accept or get along with them.
Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody… —Romans 12:17 (MSG)
Nothing kills relationships quicker than unresolved insecurities. They destroy relationships, driving more people out of business and ministry than anything else.
Confronting others to “straighten them out” will always create strife, even if we are right!
3. Stop Taking The Easy Way Out.
Sometimes it’s easier to simply avoid other people. But this should be a last resort. Don’t get me wrong—some you just have to love from a distance!
Those of us who are strong and able in the faith… lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us…. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, “How can I help?” —Romans 15:1-2 (MSG)
4. Settle in Your Heart That It’s Okay to Disagree.
Usually this is a big problem for insecure people.
Welcome with open arms fellow believers who don’t see things the way you do. And don’t jump all over them every time they do or say something you don’t agree with…Treat them gently.—Romans 14:1-3 (MSG)
5. Remember, People Will Always Be People.
It’s impossible to have relationships and not have offenses!
Then said he unto the disciples, “It is impossible but that offenses will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!”—Luke 17:1 (KJV)
This is one of the greatest things I’ve learned over the years. It’s not what happens to me, but what happens in me that really matters!
6. Learn to Listen to Others.
We must be willing to listen to other people!
Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.—Proverbs 17:28 (KJV)
Clearly, flexibility and tolerance are the true marks of a mature Christian.
Growing up in the late 80’s, one of my favorite singers was Steve Camp. One of his songs from that era has been on my mind lately. One line in that song simply says, “Don’t tell them Jesus loves them ‘til you’re ready to love them too.” One problem that I have with the American, [...]
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