The Two Fold Nature of Grace
Rom 3:5-8 But if our unrighteousness commends the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who lays on wrath? (I speak as a man.) (6) Let it not be! For then how shall God judge the world? (7) For if in my lie the truth has more abounded to His glory why am I still judged as a sinner? (8) And not rather, (as we are wrongly accused, and as some affirm that we say), Let us do bad things that good may come? Their condemnation is just.
Rom 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may abound? (2) Let it not be! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
The grace that Paul preached was not a so called “balanced” view of grace but a totally extreme view!
Why did Paul preach an “extreme” form of grace? Because an extreme form of grace will produce an extreme form of believers. When we preached grace radically, we produce radical disciples.
How would we categorise ourselves, and the church in general? Are we producing radical disciples? Are people on fire for God? Why? Could it be because we are preaching “mild” or so called “balanced” grace?
Today we want to look at the life of Paul and see what radical grace produces.
Grace is both to be received and grace is also empowering. Believing and LIVING!
1Co 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace which was toward me has not been without fruit, but I labored more abundantly than all of them; yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Act 20:24 ; Tit 2:11-12
Witness Lee..Grace is giving the Holy spirit free rein to operate in and through our lives.
Grace has a twofold characteristic; it is to be received and it is to be expressed. The fruit of grace is an attitude of gratitude and graciousness. Parable of the unforgiving servant; parable of the sheep and the goats (Matt 25:31-46)
The Apostle Paul was the most successful missionary apostle in the Bible and we see that it was radical grace that propelled him to a radical ministry and lifestyle.
Let us fully embrace the double fold nature of grace which is to bless us with favour and empower us with RIGHT LIVING. Let us embrace radical grace, like Paul, and see radically explosive sons and daughters of God produced!
Samuel Hari @ GROW BM
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Tuesday, October 05, 2010
Sunday Re Cap (3rd Oct 2010)
POWER TO FACE YOUR GIANTS Pt 2
Text: 1 Sam 17:40,45
The 5 smooth stones:
5 speak of the grace of God. David was an untrained youth with no titles, reputation.He defeated the mighty Goliath a trained warrior from youth (v33). We can't defeat our Goliath with our own strength, position, reputation, creativity, ideas. The only way is through the unmerited favour and enablement of God! When we are connected, we are anointed and enabled with power!
We are like the smooth stones:
1Pet 2:5
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
They were fashioned by the elements of nature. We are fashioned by the elements of circumstances, the hardships, the challenges that we face over time. Not easy to make stones smooth. Probably took a long time to become smooth being battered all around. As we receive the comfort of the Father, we are able to minister to others around us who are in similar circumstances. 2 Cor 1:3-4.
They were 5 stones and not one stone. This speaks about community. We cannot do it alone but we need one another. There are times we will rub against one another but it is for the good as it will shape us. 1 John 1:7; Heb 10:24-25; Eph 4:3
They were in the brook. The waters speak of the Holy Spirit. In spite of all the hardships and battering, they remained in the Holy Spirit. The stones happened to be in that particular brook; LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. We sometimes wonder what we are doing here or how we got here (in front of Goliath). We can question, murmur, and grumble about our position here and about the Goliath before us. However, if the stones were somewhere else, they would have remained just stones (STONED). Praise GOD they were there and when the time was right, they could be used!
We are living stones in the hand of the Father. It is the Father who gives us the strength, accuracy and direction to defeat the taunting of every "Giant" we face in our lives.
Samuel Hari @ GROW BM
Text: 1 Sam 17:40,45
The 5 smooth stones:
5 speak of the grace of God. David was an untrained youth with no titles, reputation.He defeated the mighty Goliath a trained warrior from youth (v33). We can't defeat our Goliath with our own strength, position, reputation, creativity, ideas. The only way is through the unmerited favour and enablement of God! When we are connected, we are anointed and enabled with power!
We are like the smooth stones:
1Pet 2:5
you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
They were fashioned by the elements of nature. We are fashioned by the elements of circumstances, the hardships, the challenges that we face over time. Not easy to make stones smooth. Probably took a long time to become smooth being battered all around. As we receive the comfort of the Father, we are able to minister to others around us who are in similar circumstances. 2 Cor 1:3-4.
They were 5 stones and not one stone. This speaks about community. We cannot do it alone but we need one another. There are times we will rub against one another but it is for the good as it will shape us. 1 John 1:7; Heb 10:24-25; Eph 4:3
They were in the brook. The waters speak of the Holy Spirit. In spite of all the hardships and battering, they remained in the Holy Spirit. The stones happened to be in that particular brook; LED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. We sometimes wonder what we are doing here or how we got here (in front of Goliath). We can question, murmur, and grumble about our position here and about the Goliath before us. However, if the stones were somewhere else, they would have remained just stones (STONED). Praise GOD they were there and when the time was right, they could be used!
We are living stones in the hand of the Father. It is the Father who gives us the strength, accuracy and direction to defeat the taunting of every "Giant" we face in our lives.
Samuel Hari @ GROW BM
Friday, October 01, 2010
Sunday Re Cap (26th Sept 2010)
POWER TO FACE YOUR GIANTS
1Sa 17:1-4; 1Sa 17:32
WHAT ARE THE GIANTS THAT YOU ARE FACING TODAY?
DEBT, DESEASES, DEPRESSION, WEAKNESSES, REJECTION, BROKEN RELATIONSHIP, TEMPTATIONS, PAST FAILURES, DISCOURAGEMENT, ANGER
DO YOU HEAR YOUR GIANTS SHOUTING?
• You are not qualified for that job!
• You are not good enough!
• You can't pay your bills!
• You can't save your marriage!
Stand up now and face your giants by the same tactics that God has given to David!
David taught us how to face our own giants.
I. PLUG IN TO THE SOURCE OF POWER – v 37
1Sa 17:37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you.
THE EMPOWERING OF DAVID:1Sa 16:13 ; 1Sa 18:14
THE EMPOWERING OF CHRISTIANS:Act 1:8
Paul testified:
1Co 2:4-5
II. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEAPONS – vs 38-40
1. The Stone of The Past; 1Sa 17:37 ; 1Ch 16:12
2. The Stone of Prayer; 1Sa 30:6 ; Psa 57:1 ; Psa 59:16 ; Isaiah 26:3
3. The Stone of Priority; 1Sa 17:46 ; 1Sa 17:47
4. The Stone of PASSION; 1Sa 17:32 ; 1Sa 17:48
5. The Stone of Persistence; Gen 32:26
Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. You may get knocked down a time or two…but don't quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.
Samuel Hari (c) GROW BM
1Sa 17:1-4; 1Sa 17:32
WHAT ARE THE GIANTS THAT YOU ARE FACING TODAY?
DEBT, DESEASES, DEPRESSION, WEAKNESSES, REJECTION, BROKEN RELATIONSHIP, TEMPTATIONS, PAST FAILURES, DISCOURAGEMENT, ANGER
DO YOU HEAR YOUR GIANTS SHOUTING?
• You are not qualified for that job!
• You are not good enough!
• You can't pay your bills!
• You can't save your marriage!
Stand up now and face your giants by the same tactics that God has given to David!
David taught us how to face our own giants.
I. PLUG IN TO THE SOURCE OF POWER – v 37
1Sa 17:37 The LORD who delivered me from the paw of the lion and the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine. Saul said to David, Go, and the LORD be with you.
THE EMPOWERING OF DAVID:1Sa 16:13 ; 1Sa 18:14
THE EMPOWERING OF CHRISTIANS:Act 1:8
Paul testified:
1Co 2:4-5
II. CHOOSE THE RIGHT WEAPONS – vs 38-40
1. The Stone of The Past; 1Sa 17:37 ; 1Ch 16:12
2. The Stone of Prayer; 1Sa 30:6 ; Psa 57:1 ; Psa 59:16 ; Isaiah 26:3
3. The Stone of Priority; 1Sa 17:46 ; 1Sa 17:47
4. The Stone of PASSION; 1Sa 17:32 ; 1Sa 17:48
5. The Stone of Persistence; Gen 32:26
Never give up. One prayer might not be enough. One apology might not do it. You may get knocked down a time or two…but don't quit. Keep loading the rocks. Keep swinging the sling.
Samuel Hari (c) GROW BM
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