GRACE! SO NEEDED. SO MISUNDERSTOOD.
The Bible speaks often of grace. It is God bestowing favor on us without us doing anything to earn it. Grace cannot be bought, bargained for or earned. Neither should it be taken for granted or abused. "Shall we 'abide' in sin that grace may abound? God forbid..."---Apostle Paul. Nevertheless a man cannot serve God and fellowship with him without a steadily receiving his grace.
For mankind the true opposite of grace is pride. He reasons in his own estimation that some how his morals have earned God's favor. It has not!
God's favor is given to us only because of the sacrificial death on the cross of Jesus Christ. Any morality or righteousness we may accomplish is not a means of earning God's grace but a result of swimming in God's grace. Grace is so abundant and yet so elusive to mankind because his pride warps his perception of it.
God has angels who worship him without ever personally experiencing grace. Many men think they are here to be as righteous as the angels in their works. They cannot because on this side of heaven the sin nature is ever present. Others live in willful sin with an ungrateful attitude toward God's gift of grace even as HE continues to extend grace to them in their rebellion. The one trying so nobly to walk in fellowship looks upon the carnal Christian with the mistaken idea that they themselves are more deserving of God's grace, In the process they judge God who makes his rain the fall on the just and unjust. Unwittingly this judgmental fellow trying so hard is receiving the very grace he despises in others as he is sinning by judging the goodness of God!
Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.---Apostle Paul
Paul got it right. Why are we created? Why did God allow us to inherit the sin of Adam. The angels and men will forever more be in awe not at our self imposed righteousness or even for our great reward for genuine faithfulness. OH NO!! The great attribute demonstrated in man that will ever amaze the heavens is GOD'S GRACE TO MAN!
Ephesians 6:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;
AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND!
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Monday, December 9, 2013
HEALING IN THE MIDST OF BROKEN RELATIONSHIPS
(One Pastor's confession) By Pastor Rodney Houston
Relationships can be very trying. I run into all kinds of broken relationships as a Christian and a Pastor. Sometimes with family or church members a rift develops for one reason or another. I may doing a funeral or a wedding or trying to minister to one person and suddenly find myself caught in an u...ncomfortable triad with a third person who hates me. In many ways it is impossible for me or any of us for that matter to totally avoid these situations. It's this triad that is so awkward. This happens to everybody and it is important come to some righteous conclusion on this matter as Christians.
As in all things, I try to put my life in the framework of my Christianity and Biblical principles and my walk with Jesus Christ. I believe in loving my enemies but I don't think I am required by God to always fraternize with them. When put in a situation of having to be in contact with them I have no other biblical mandate than Charity! Love my enemies. Do good to them that use me and are spiteful. Christianity requires great love and courage. Where do I get this? I cannot give what I have not received. I must first consider how Jesus Christ handled such situations. When I look at him I am overwhelmed at his example of love and courage.
Consider Judas Iscariot. Three and 1/2 years he traveled with Jesus on a daily basis. Jesus knew all the time that Judas would betray him to death. Judas was also was stealing money from the whole group; Mind you money that had been given to Jesus for their ministry! What does Jesus do? The night of his betrayal he gives Judas bread to eat and washes his feet! Now I gotta tell ya, I gotta be honest, I would have a hard time washing the feet of some people! And it makes me realize I am not yet where Christ wants me to be. For me this is the hardest of things to admit. So I must rely on God's grace in my life while I act like what I consider myself to be--A spiritual ass! Hee Hawing like a stubborn donkey. This is honest and pure confession for me! Confess your faults one to another. So I have at least now obeyed that portion of scripture.
How is it we get caught in these difficult situations? Sin is the problem as always. Either mine or someone else's or both. James addresses the problem we have:
James 3:
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
So. What do we do? I don't think there is a mathematical formula to this relationship problem. Every person is unique and therefore every relationship is unique. It should come as no surprise that the number one response in the "about" section of Face Book social networking to the question "relationship status?" is "It's complicated!".
We live in a sin cursed world. Our own sin and other's sins is the source the emotional and painful relationships. If I were as mature spiritually as Jesus I could always walk in love with my enemies like he did with Judas. But am not there completely there yet and every broken relationship in my life gauges and test my spiritual growth and actually lends itself to helping me in said growth. Here is what I do know. I can't always run and and hide from these situations. I am amazed as much as I try to avoid some people how God continues to box me into situations with them that truly shows me if I made a D or an A on the "Loving My Enemies Test".
In a particular unavoidable personal relationship some years ago I said that I am not going to have anything to do with this person any more. And I didn't for almost a year. However, this bothered me so I sought counsel from a very wise Christian fellow Pastor. I ask him, "Am I making a mistake? Am I sinning by having no contact with this person?" My friend was straining to answer me. After much pause he "wisely" said to me "No". Slowly I began to get it. The dynamics of this situation were such that at this time the pain of the situation was more than I could reasonably handle with the spiritual tools and strength I possessed! I didn't like it but it was true. Further more no amount of bible study and intellectual exercise or anything "I could do" was going to deliver me. I was helpless! If I was ever going to be able to handle this differently God was going to have to do something in me that I could not do. I was stunted in my spiritual growth in this narrow band. Some of it was my fault. Most of it was not. Either way I had to admit my weakness and rely solely on God's grace. It hurt my pride to say, "I can't. God you must".
And then the strangest thing began to happen. Conceding that I was incapable of acting correctly from the heart and depending on God's grace healed me in ways never before possible. I have at least the best relationship I have ever had now with this person that I cannot remove from my life. It's still not easy and I still avoid this person at times but I am no longer paralyzed by the situation. I have a new appreciation because of this for God's grace.
Ephesians1:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.|
---Pastor Rodney HoustonSee More
(One Pastor's confession) By Pastor Rodney Houston
Relationships can be very trying. I run into all kinds of broken relationships as a Christian and a Pastor. Sometimes with family or church members a rift develops for one reason or another. I may doing a funeral or a wedding or trying to minister to one person and suddenly find myself caught in an u...ncomfortable triad with a third person who hates me. In many ways it is impossible for me or any of us for that matter to totally avoid these situations. It's this triad that is so awkward. This happens to everybody and it is important come to some righteous conclusion on this matter as Christians.
As in all things, I try to put my life in the framework of my Christianity and Biblical principles and my walk with Jesus Christ. I believe in loving my enemies but I don't think I am required by God to always fraternize with them. When put in a situation of having to be in contact with them I have no other biblical mandate than Charity! Love my enemies. Do good to them that use me and are spiteful. Christianity requires great love and courage. Where do I get this? I cannot give what I have not received. I must first consider how Jesus Christ handled such situations. When I look at him I am overwhelmed at his example of love and courage.
Consider Judas Iscariot. Three and 1/2 years he traveled with Jesus on a daily basis. Jesus knew all the time that Judas would betray him to death. Judas was also was stealing money from the whole group; Mind you money that had been given to Jesus for their ministry! What does Jesus do? The night of his betrayal he gives Judas bread to eat and washes his feet! Now I gotta tell ya, I gotta be honest, I would have a hard time washing the feet of some people! And it makes me realize I am not yet where Christ wants me to be. For me this is the hardest of things to admit. So I must rely on God's grace in my life while I act like what I consider myself to be--A spiritual ass! Hee Hawing like a stubborn donkey. This is honest and pure confession for me! Confess your faults one to another. So I have at least now obeyed that portion of scripture.
How is it we get caught in these difficult situations? Sin is the problem as always. Either mine or someone else's or both. James addresses the problem we have:
James 3:
13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.
14 But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth.
15 This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish.
16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.
18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
So. What do we do? I don't think there is a mathematical formula to this relationship problem. Every person is unique and therefore every relationship is unique. It should come as no surprise that the number one response in the "about" section of Face Book social networking to the question "relationship status?" is "It's complicated!".
We live in a sin cursed world. Our own sin and other's sins is the source the emotional and painful relationships. If I were as mature spiritually as Jesus I could always walk in love with my enemies like he did with Judas. But am not there completely there yet and every broken relationship in my life gauges and test my spiritual growth and actually lends itself to helping me in said growth. Here is what I do know. I can't always run and and hide from these situations. I am amazed as much as I try to avoid some people how God continues to box me into situations with them that truly shows me if I made a D or an A on the "Loving My Enemies Test".
In a particular unavoidable personal relationship some years ago I said that I am not going to have anything to do with this person any more. And I didn't for almost a year. However, this bothered me so I sought counsel from a very wise Christian fellow Pastor. I ask him, "Am I making a mistake? Am I sinning by having no contact with this person?" My friend was straining to answer me. After much pause he "wisely" said to me "No". Slowly I began to get it. The dynamics of this situation were such that at this time the pain of the situation was more than I could reasonably handle with the spiritual tools and strength I possessed! I didn't like it but it was true. Further more no amount of bible study and intellectual exercise or anything "I could do" was going to deliver me. I was helpless! If I was ever going to be able to handle this differently God was going to have to do something in me that I could not do. I was stunted in my spiritual growth in this narrow band. Some of it was my fault. Most of it was not. Either way I had to admit my weakness and rely solely on God's grace. It hurt my pride to say, "I can't. God you must".
And then the strangest thing began to happen. Conceding that I was incapable of acting correctly from the heart and depending on God's grace healed me in ways never before possible. I have at least the best relationship I have ever had now with this person that I cannot remove from my life. It's still not easy and I still avoid this person at times but I am no longer paralyzed by the situation. I have a new appreciation because of this for God's grace.
Ephesians1:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
4 According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
5 Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will,
6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.|
---Pastor Rodney HoustonSee More
Friday, December 6, 2013
SEEK GOD BUT HOW?
God uses all kinds of things to guide our lives. He may or may not use the following as "HE" sees fit: Circumstances, the Church, people, Pastors, teachers, friends, enemies, dreams, visions, angels and many other ways. I do not limit God in these things. My whole point in this: that there is nothing like the Holy Spirit and inspired scripture. God ALWAYS uses the Holy Spirit an...d inspired scripture every time we read or hear it. When folks "bypass" this method of communicating with God and "seek" other ways they are missing God's will and blessing in their life. We are commanded to read the word, study it, preach it, teach it and live it. Prayer and scripture are the only two tools we are called upon in the New testament to SEEK AFTER GOD.
If God wants to use other things to guide us HE can and sometimes does; I have heard missionaries testify of places where there was no scripture about God doing some unusual things to people seeking him. BUT! We are commanded to pray and read the inspired scripture if we have it. We are told there are angels who watch over us and many have entertained angels unaware. We are not told to ask God to have them communicate with us. There is a reason we live by faith and not by sight in the Church and are not commanded to seek for dreams or visions or some supernatural event, miracle or sign according to the New Testament . In fact Jesus said an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. Furthermore the Scripture and Holy Spirit living in us leads, guides, convicts illuminates and reveals God's will in our life. It cost a great deal for us to have him live in us to be our guide and there is nothing more sure than him when he makes his will known according to scripture. We are commanded to pray and read the word, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obey him. We are commanded to teach and preach inspired scripture. We commanded to preach as "a word from God" nothing but the whole counsel of the word of God according to "inspired scripture" and nothing else!
There is now a whole generation of professing Christians who DO NOT KNOW, READ, STUDY OR SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF INSPIRED SCRIPTURE. As a result many are becoming spiritual mystics and being deceived because they are not grounded in sound doctrine. Jesus and the Apostles predicted this would happen producing scores of "false" prophets and teachers even working miracles. Instead of this great gift of the Bible that God has given us they deny it's authority and have tried go backwards to a time when the Holy Spirit and the Bible was not given to us. Pentecost and the Bible CHANGED EVEREYTHING concerning the way God prefers to fellowship with his people.----Pastor Rodney Houston.
God uses all kinds of things to guide our lives. He may or may not use the following as "HE" sees fit: Circumstances, the Church, people, Pastors, teachers, friends, enemies, dreams, visions, angels and many other ways. I do not limit God in these things. My whole point in this: that there is nothing like the Holy Spirit and inspired scripture. God ALWAYS uses the Holy Spirit an...d inspired scripture every time we read or hear it. When folks "bypass" this method of communicating with God and "seek" other ways they are missing God's will and blessing in their life. We are commanded to read the word, study it, preach it, teach it and live it. Prayer and scripture are the only two tools we are called upon in the New testament to SEEK AFTER GOD.
If God wants to use other things to guide us HE can and sometimes does; I have heard missionaries testify of places where there was no scripture about God doing some unusual things to people seeking him. BUT! We are commanded to pray and read the inspired scripture if we have it. We are told there are angels who watch over us and many have entertained angels unaware. We are not told to ask God to have them communicate with us. There is a reason we live by faith and not by sight in the Church and are not commanded to seek for dreams or visions or some supernatural event, miracle or sign according to the New Testament . In fact Jesus said an evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign. Furthermore the Scripture and Holy Spirit living in us leads, guides, convicts illuminates and reveals God's will in our life. It cost a great deal for us to have him live in us to be our guide and there is nothing more sure than him when he makes his will known according to scripture. We are commanded to pray and read the word, be sensitive to the Holy Spirit and obey him. We are commanded to teach and preach inspired scripture. We commanded to preach as "a word from God" nothing but the whole counsel of the word of God according to "inspired scripture" and nothing else!
There is now a whole generation of professing Christians who DO NOT KNOW, READ, STUDY OR SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF INSPIRED SCRIPTURE. As a result many are becoming spiritual mystics and being deceived because they are not grounded in sound doctrine. Jesus and the Apostles predicted this would happen producing scores of "false" prophets and teachers even working miracles. Instead of this great gift of the Bible that God has given us they deny it's authority and have tried go backwards to a time when the Holy Spirit and the Bible was not given to us. Pentecost and the Bible CHANGED EVEREYTHING concerning the way God prefers to fellowship with his people.----Pastor Rodney Houston.
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