Post by Zac Loh on Sept 11, 2005 1:53:29 GMT -5
Recently God spoke to me to go after Jesus and not after popularity. It is God's desire that people are ministered to, and that they are blessed. Nevertheless, the foremost objective in my ministry is to please Jesus.
Part of the original reason for my writing this piece was because I wanted to know as to `how to be in the grace of God and stay there.' Hence, I humbly sought God for the knowledge of this truth.
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. [Luke 2:40]
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. [Luke 2:52]
Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. Evidently, His own country men questioned His ministry. He could not do much for them because of their unbelief [Matt 13:53-58]. The point I try to make is that even though God's favor was upon Jesus, He was rejected by some. The Jews virtually put Him to death at the cross. So, how could the scripture state that He was in favor with God and men? The only valid explanation for this is that those who favor Him were God-centered men. If a person has found favor with God, then those who are in-line with God... will together with God... favor him!
We do not have to strive to be popular if we know that not all will favor us. We are not in politics whereby we need to have the majority vote! A person who found favor with God does not have to try to be pleasing to everybody. He does not have to be politically correct, so to speak.
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith [Heb 12:2]
Do not look to any man. Do not look to the left, nor to the right. Jesus Himself will deliver His favor to you, as you faithfully and consistently look to Him.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [Rom 8:31]
When the grace of God is upon us... some will see and recognize it and accept us... whereas some others will not. But we fear nobody because we know that God is for us. We will have the wisdom of God. We will be wise as serpents and harmless as doves [Matt 10:16]. Like Paul said, we will not be unnecessarily bothered about the judgment by others upon us because we know that the only true and righteous judge is Christ [1 Corinthians 4:3-4]. All we ever need is God's grace. We do not need the favor of man per se. We need the favor of God.
This is certainly a bold, and radical, truth. But when our whole attention is focused on pleasing God, we will have the favor of God. We do not have to balance it up with trying to please men. Our favor is from God. This is what we seek for. And this is how we enter into the grace of God.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. [Matthew 7:1-2]
When God judges us, it means that He is angry. The more He is angry with us, the less favor we will have from Him. Therefore, to stay in the favor of God, we must refrain from judging others.
Think of it this way: the more God judges us, the less favor He has for us.
But it could be a delicate matter. How can we exercise discernment over the motive and character of people without falling into the trap of being judgmental?
It is not easy. Nevertheless, there are three plain-and-simple steps, which we can take to free ourselves after we are caught. The very fact that we usually judge the person who hurt, discouraged, frustrated or angered us is precisely why we need to practice them.
1. BLESS HIM THE VERY OPPOSITE
I do not know why this works, but it works. When we are judgmental, we tend to think the worst for that person. As such, we need to bless him towards the very opposite. In such a case, we usually desire a negative thing to happen to prove within ourselves that we are right. It goes against our mind to bless him the very opposite thing. If we think that he deserves a bad consequence, we must start to bless him the very opposite.
2. PRAY HARD FOR HIM
As you have discerned what is wrong, pray hard for him. God will put within you the right desire for this person... even as you pray hard for him.
3. RELEASE HIM
Release this person to God. Learn to forgive and forget. Move on. You will feel a load lifted-off from you. You will be happy. You will have peace. You will be free.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. [1 Corinthians 10:13]
Jesus was filled with wisdom even as the grace of God was upon Him. He increased in wisdom. God's grace will guide you as you handle a particular situation. He will give you wisdom as to the way and manner to talk. Above all, He will give you a way out.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us [Romans 8:37].
You will be cool and steady because you are looking to the heavenly One. The grace of God will give a smile to your face come what may. The grace of God is powerful. You can overcome every circumstance and situation. You do not have to be afraid of anything. Nothing is more secure than God's grace.
Are you a person who is always looking for a solution? Are you constantly asking God what-to-do? There is a time to stop. We sometimes think that if we do what Gods wants us to do, we will be safe. The truth is, we are looking for our own safety, and not for God Himself. Let us be conscious of His grace. Start enjoying it. Stay in it. And not move away from it.
Grace is given by God. There is no way we can overcome any obstacle to obtain God's grace. There is no way we can circumvent anything in order to enter into His grace. We cannot manipulate the things of God. We cannot hack our way in. Therefore, stop trying to figure it all out. And begin to embrace His grace.
Part of the original reason for my writing this piece was because I wanted to know as to `how to be in the grace of God and stay there.' Hence, I humbly sought God for the knowledge of this truth.
And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. [Luke 2:40]
And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men. [Luke 2:52]
Jesus said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house. Evidently, His own country men questioned His ministry. He could not do much for them because of their unbelief [Matt 13:53-58]. The point I try to make is that even though God's favor was upon Jesus, He was rejected by some. The Jews virtually put Him to death at the cross. So, how could the scripture state that He was in favor with God and men? The only valid explanation for this is that those who favor Him were God-centered men. If a person has found favor with God, then those who are in-line with God... will together with God... favor him!
We do not have to strive to be popular if we know that not all will favor us. We are not in politics whereby we need to have the majority vote! A person who found favor with God does not have to try to be pleasing to everybody. He does not have to be politically correct, so to speak.
looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith [Heb 12:2]
Every heart that has been subdued by sovereign grace takes Jesus Christ to be the chief object of its love.
Charles Spurgeon
Charles Spurgeon
Do not look to any man. Do not look to the left, nor to the right. Jesus Himself will deliver His favor to you, as you faithfully and consistently look to Him.
What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? [Rom 8:31]
When the grace of God is upon us... some will see and recognize it and accept us... whereas some others will not. But we fear nobody because we know that God is for us. We will have the wisdom of God. We will be wise as serpents and harmless as doves [Matt 10:16]. Like Paul said, we will not be unnecessarily bothered about the judgment by others upon us because we know that the only true and righteous judge is Christ [1 Corinthians 4:3-4]. All we ever need is God's grace. We do not need the favor of man per se. We need the favor of God.
This is certainly a bold, and radical, truth. But when our whole attention is focused on pleasing God, we will have the favor of God. We do not have to balance it up with trying to please men. Our favor is from God. This is what we seek for. And this is how we enter into the grace of God.
Judge not, that you be not judged. For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. [Matthew 7:1-2]
When God judges us, it means that He is angry. The more He is angry with us, the less favor we will have from Him. Therefore, to stay in the favor of God, we must refrain from judging others.
Think of it this way: the more God judges us, the less favor He has for us.
But it could be a delicate matter. How can we exercise discernment over the motive and character of people without falling into the trap of being judgmental?
It is not easy. Nevertheless, there are three plain-and-simple steps, which we can take to free ourselves after we are caught. The very fact that we usually judge the person who hurt, discouraged, frustrated or angered us is precisely why we need to practice them.
To get what you deserve is called fair. Not to get what you deserve is called justice. But to get what you do not deserve is called grace.
- unknown -
- unknown -
1. BLESS HIM THE VERY OPPOSITE
I do not know why this works, but it works. When we are judgmental, we tend to think the worst for that person. As such, we need to bless him towards the very opposite. In such a case, we usually desire a negative thing to happen to prove within ourselves that we are right. It goes against our mind to bless him the very opposite thing. If we think that he deserves a bad consequence, we must start to bless him the very opposite.
2. PRAY HARD FOR HIM
As you have discerned what is wrong, pray hard for him. God will put within you the right desire for this person... even as you pray hard for him.
3. RELEASE HIM
Release this person to God. Learn to forgive and forget. Move on. You will feel a load lifted-off from you. You will be happy. You will have peace. You will be free.
No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. [1 Corinthians 10:13]
Jesus was filled with wisdom even as the grace of God was upon Him. He increased in wisdom. God's grace will guide you as you handle a particular situation. He will give you wisdom as to the way and manner to talk. Above all, He will give you a way out.
Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us [Romans 8:37].
You will be cool and steady because you are looking to the heavenly One. The grace of God will give a smile to your face come what may. The grace of God is powerful. You can overcome every circumstance and situation. You do not have to be afraid of anything. Nothing is more secure than God's grace.
Are you a person who is always looking for a solution? Are you constantly asking God what-to-do? There is a time to stop. We sometimes think that if we do what Gods wants us to do, we will be safe. The truth is, we are looking for our own safety, and not for God Himself. Let us be conscious of His grace. Start enjoying it. Stay in it. And not move away from it.
¡°Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.¡±
- unknown -
- unknown -
Grace is given by God. There is no way we can overcome any obstacle to obtain God's grace. There is no way we can circumvent anything in order to enter into His grace. We cannot manipulate the things of God. We cannot hack our way in. Therefore, stop trying to figure it all out. And begin to embrace His grace.