Post by Les Brewer on May 22, 2015 20:29:14 GMT
GRACE TO GRACE OR GRACE TO DISGRACE?
There are many that contend that the Church is no longer effective, some use statistics by polls, others by what the headline news reports, and others because of the moral decay of societies around the globe. But the truth is that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church. Jesus assured us that at his coming that faith and the faithful would be alive and standing strong in the grace of God. However that doesn’t negate the fact that the body of Christ is in need of revival in many cities, and that the great commission is still the primary focus and call of the Church.
The Mission of every body of believers and individuals in particular is grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and to reach out to the lost sinners of this world. This means two distinct relational skills, spiritual mentoring within the body, and spiritual witnessing outside of the body. As we learn to mend our emotions, to better interact among ourselves it will develop our skills to witness effectively to the lost. Lets deal with the first of these issues.
God’s divine sovereignty does not exclude our human responsibility as some suppose or expound falsely. In fact divine sovereignty and human responsibility work in unison to bring about God’s purpose. Many who have genuinely repented of their sins and received Christ as Savior have not also received him as Lord of their lives; to their own detriment. In effect becoming irresponsible, unruly, and immature. These open themselves up to the influence of the demonic and fall away from their first love and bring no fruit to the Kingdom. In the book of Jude we are given examples of the faithful and the unfaithful and of the saint and the sinner and the final judgment.
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(22) And of some have compassion, making a difference:
(23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
(25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:21-25 KJV
“Keep yourselves in the love of God” The word for keep in the Greek means to “ set a watch “ in other words to guard your heart; not allowing it to harden. Compassion without agape love is just an empty action, true faith can only work through divine love. It is this love that is the bases for our interaction within the body of believers and our outreach to masses of sinners. A godly love provokes a godly fear for our brothers and sisters who are missing the mark, and a godly hatred for even the slightest trace of sin. We should be growing from faith to faith, glory to glory, and plateau to plateau spiritually. As we do; we adapt a spirit of care, concern, and compassion for the growth of our brethren.
(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Titus 2:11-15 KJV
We have the power of the grace of God “ the divine influence upon the heart “ to deny ungodliness and “worldly” lust, for the sake of living soberly “ of sound mind and equitable of character “ and pious in this present evil world. We have a blessed hope that should keep us steadfast and sure pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are purified “ sanctified “ to be a peculiar “ special “ people whom are noted and marked by our zeal to do good works that bring glory to God. Myself; I feel each of us should have a mentor and a protégé. Someone who invests their time and talents of knowledge and wisdom into us; as we do the same for someone else.
Brethren, keep the faith today by examining yourselves to see where you are spiritually, ask God to open your eyes to the places you need development and growth, then receive it gladly and begin the process of bring it to fruition. Receive exhortation and reproof with the same enthusiasm, then the grace, peace, and mercy of God will be multiplied in your life. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
There are many that contend that the Church is no longer effective, some use statistics by polls, others by what the headline news reports, and others because of the moral decay of societies around the globe. But the truth is that the gates of hell shall never prevail against the church. Jesus assured us that at his coming that faith and the faithful would be alive and standing strong in the grace of God. However that doesn’t negate the fact that the body of Christ is in need of revival in many cities, and that the great commission is still the primary focus and call of the Church.
The Mission of every body of believers and individuals in particular is grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ and to reach out to the lost sinners of this world. This means two distinct relational skills, spiritual mentoring within the body, and spiritual witnessing outside of the body. As we learn to mend our emotions, to better interact among ourselves it will develop our skills to witness effectively to the lost. Lets deal with the first of these issues.
God’s divine sovereignty does not exclude our human responsibility as some suppose or expound falsely. In fact divine sovereignty and human responsibility work in unison to bring about God’s purpose. Many who have genuinely repented of their sins and received Christ as Savior have not also received him as Lord of their lives; to their own detriment. In effect becoming irresponsible, unruly, and immature. These open themselves up to the influence of the demonic and fall away from their first love and bring no fruit to the Kingdom. In the book of Jude we are given examples of the faithful and the unfaithful and of the saint and the sinner and the final judgment.
(21) Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
(22) And of some have compassion, making a difference:
(23) And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
(24) Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
(25) To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:21-25 KJV
“Keep yourselves in the love of God” The word for keep in the Greek means to “ set a watch “ in other words to guard your heart; not allowing it to harden. Compassion without agape love is just an empty action, true faith can only work through divine love. It is this love that is the bases for our interaction within the body of believers and our outreach to masses of sinners. A godly love provokes a godly fear for our brothers and sisters who are missing the mark, and a godly hatred for even the slightest trace of sin. We should be growing from faith to faith, glory to glory, and plateau to plateau spiritually. As we do; we adapt a spirit of care, concern, and compassion for the growth of our brethren.
(11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
(12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
(13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
(14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
(15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee. Titus 2:11-15 KJV
We have the power of the grace of God “ the divine influence upon the heart “ to deny ungodliness and “worldly” lust, for the sake of living soberly “ of sound mind and equitable of character “ and pious in this present evil world. We have a blessed hope that should keep us steadfast and sure pressing toward the mark of the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. We are purified “ sanctified “ to be a peculiar “ special “ people whom are noted and marked by our zeal to do good works that bring glory to God. Myself; I feel each of us should have a mentor and a protégé. Someone who invests their time and talents of knowledge and wisdom into us; as we do the same for someone else.
Brethren, keep the faith today by examining yourselves to see where you are spiritually, ask God to open your eyes to the places you need development and growth, then receive it gladly and begin the process of bring it to fruition. Receive exhortation and reproof with the same enthusiasm, then the grace, peace, and mercy of God will be multiplied in your life. Selah!
Shalom, Agape, & Amen!
