Post by Zac Loh on Jan 6, 2006 11:35:18 GMT -5
Are you tired of going about Christianity dutifully? Are you just wanting to please people? Are you subjecting yourself to your own religious expectations? As well as the expectations of others?
Somebody asked, “If I shouldn’t do it dutifully... should I be doing it only-when-I-feel-like-it?” If such is the case that this person is doing it only-when-he-feels-like-it, the bottom-line is that he is still looking to himself. He is still depending on himself. He is looking and depending on his feelings.
We have to continually decide whether to struggle, or to let grace reign in our lives. Let us release, and let us let go. Then faith arises. This also is dying to self... to self-righteousness, self-accomplishment, and self-achievement.
How many times had you tried to die-to-self, and failed? Did you last only part of the day before something happens, and then, you blew it? Dying to self without the grace of God? You know the answer, it won’t happen.
God has never made it in such a way that we can die to self without His grace working within us. Without the grace, it’s still being the self that is doing the dying no matter how much we try to `die to self’.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. [Philippians 2:12-13]
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [Ephesians 1:7-9]
We are not in control of God’s grace. His grace controls us. Grace is God’s will manifest. God cannot be controlled by us. His grace comes from `His good pleasure.’
God is more interested, in contrast, in our inside than the things outside of us. His grace works within us, in our heart’s disposition, and our behavior. His will, His perspective, and His grace priority… is for our being, then our doing, and after that our going. Unless grace works in a person’s heart, the person cannot do it.
Someone said: “I am confused… if there’s a need, shouldn’t I extend my hand?” Of course God doesn’t want us to leave a person in dire straits, and make us Pharisees (on the contrary!).
My question: “What are you motivated by? Is it obligation? Is it out-of-guilt? Is it to demonstrate your goodness?
Or, on the other hand, are we motivated by the fruit of the Spirit manifesting out of us?” If it’s the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in us, and through us, then it’s God’s grace... it is His will!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23]
SENSING THE SPIRIT OF GRACE
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? [Hebrews 10:29]
To know the context of this strong warning, is to know that the purpose of the whole letter to the Hebrews was to warn them from going back to the Mosaic Law (Judaism).
Here again is the question: is it rigid legit or is it God’s grace? Do we want to insult the Spirit of grace with our do’s and don’ts? Jesus had already done so much for us...`having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.’ [Colossians 2:14]
Do we want to trample the Son of God underfoot, and counting the blood of the covenant by which we were sanctified a common thing?
The Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit, was typified by the vision of a descending dove. The dove epitomizes grace... a bird flying in gentleness as it wishes... God’s unmerited favor.
The Spirit of grace has on numerous occasions led me to the right person at the right time. The Spirit of grace, many times, fills my heart giving me divine strength and peace... a supernatural faith… to know that He will do something for me in the face of a difficult situation.
Can you sense the Spirit of grace? It’s impossible for words to stand-in for experience. The Spirit of grace Himself will show you. No human being on earth can be more faithful than Him. All that Christ had done for us is brought into reality by the Spirit of grace. Let the Spirit of grace take you, follow Him.
Even as the hymn goes...
“Sweep over my soul, sweep over my soul, sweep Spirit, sweep over my soul.
My rest is complete, as I rest at Your feet, sweep Spirit, sweep over my soul.”
“Come Holy Spirit, I need you, Come Holy Spirit, I pray,
Come in thy strength and thy power, come in thy old gentle way.”
Shouldn’t we open-up within us, to allow the Spirit of grace to respond to every situation that we are faced with?
1. Co-operate with the Spirit of grace.
We have to stop doing our own thing. The Holy Spirit is omniscience.
2. Trust Him.
This is new to many of us. Do you know that the Holy Spirit is more faithful than you and I?
3. Submit and surrrender to Him.
He is gentle as a dove. And He is God.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. [Colossians 4:6]
When grace fills our hearts, and controls us, He will control our speech.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [Matthew 12:34b]
Our tongue is overwhelmingly consequential to our life. [James 3:1-12]
How marvelous it is when our response to every situation is controlled by grace, when our tongue is controlled by grace. And most importantly, grace controls our prayer.
Let your grace flow, Lord... in our life.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. [Ephesians 4:29]
A prophet of God, speaking the words of grace, prophesied that I was going to experience the Holy Spirit closer than ever before. One morning, the Holy Spirit woke me up. At that moment when I opened my eyes, I sensed a divine being just above me. I was visited by the person of the Holy Spirit. He was above me. He surrounded me even as I yield to Him. This was something different from what I had ever experienced in my life. At those usual times, I merely sensed the Holy Spirit filling me inside, or His presence descending and filling the atmosphere of the church hall. But this was a form that followed me, after I left the house, rode an half-hour motorbike journey to my office! It could be the cloud of the Holy Spirit! In any case, it was absolutely unique to me! This experience lasted from about 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. During this brief period, whenever I expressed myself with thoughts, or words that pleases God, my inmost being would expand to like bursting, and tremendously energized.
GRACE FROM FELLOWSHIP
When Barnabas saw that the grace of God was with the disciples at Antioch, he went to look for Saul (Paul). And both of them spent a whole year with these disciples, who were the first to be called Christians. [Acts 11:23-26]
There are people of God, whom you will meet, or come to know of, who will impart grace to their hearers. Have you discerned the grace of God upon any person/group? Allow God to reveal to you whether this is the group/person that he has chosen for you to be associated with. Fellowshipping with these people will bring grace to your life.
HIS STRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS
How many of us have weaknesses? I have good news for you... God’s strength can be made perfect in your weakness if you yield to Him!
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10]
When your strength is low... Jesus says “My grace is sufficient for you.”
How could Paul say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to be abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me” [Philippians 4:11-13] ?
He knew that God’s grace was sufficient for him!
As Paul humbled himself, and began to look to God, God’s grace enabled him to continue his historic ministry that, you and I, are still being blessed with!
What is your weakness? And what is the strength that God is putting into you, that will last you into eternity?
In the final lap of Paul’s ministry, he exhorted Timothy to `be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’
As you look to God... allow His grace to increase in you until it is strong in you!
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [1 Peter 5:10-11]
We need to look at things from a divine point of view, which is, many a times, is contrary to how we normally assess a situation.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8-9]
God may be interested in the development of your character, and the furtherance of your ministry. But instead, you may be fixing your eyes looking on the plain, immediate needs and the short-term results. Paul’s sufferings worked for him. They made him very strong in both humility and faith.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- [2 Corinthians 4:7-9]
The Spirit of grace... the Spirit of truth... will give you a divine look at your situation!
THE LOVE STRING OF GOD
Suspension: this word is one of the words which have helped me more than most words I know. I fell in love with this word, because this word is one of the keys to grace.
Have you ever thought about it: how, that man is continually seeking for a platform to stand on? There is an idiom that advised us to `reach for the stars, but keep your two feet on the ground.' There is a Chinese saying that advised us to `stand with our feet firmly on the ground.' Man is used to holding-on to something i.e. a principle, a trick, a religion, a certain act, a ritual and etc.
Suspension, to me, means not seeking to stand on something. It is living my life hanging... because God's grace will keep me. It means never to look to a formula or someone... otherwise it won't be grace working anymore. Grace is an invincible force that protects me. An invisible force that you can't see.
When you look to grace, and depend on grace; you will excel and ascend to greater heights than you could possibly be in your own human effort and strength.
Do plunge yourself into His grace. Let the grace of God guide you. Let His grace take control of you, and trust Him. Surrender to His grace. Hide in His grace, and submit to it. Your faith will rise in clarity and strength. Let the grace of God lead you. Do not move in guilt, or fear. Do not be a victim of circumstance, situation. Do not be afraid, nor fetter, in your flesh. Wait for the wisdom that is from above. Depend on God. Live by Him.
It’s okay to trust in God’s grace. God holds you, and won’t let-you-go half-way through. To the `self’ part... it’s risky. But you have to depend totally on God’s grace. In fact, that’s the only way it works. Let’s not depend on anything else. Dive-in... submerge yourself in His grace.
There’s a chorus: “Take me deeper into Your grace ...my greatest love is You.” It’s true. The deeper we get into the grace of God, His love will be more magnified in our life.
I was enjoying breakfast one morning, when a friend shared about her difficult situation. At that moment, I noticed a string. It was the string, which, was used to pack the food. It was lying on the desk. It was lying there shaped like a heart. I reminded my friend that the love string of God is still attached.
When your situation is like you’re falling into a rocky pit... a long, dark bottom... the feeling is frightening, and very unpleasant. But God will not let you hit the ground. His string is still attached to you. If you’re in such a situation, turn and look at the love string of God.
Somebody asked, “If I shouldn’t do it dutifully... should I be doing it only-when-I-feel-like-it?” If such is the case that this person is doing it only-when-he-feels-like-it, the bottom-line is that he is still looking to himself. He is still depending on himself. He is looking and depending on his feelings.
We have to continually decide whether to struggle, or to let grace reign in our lives. Let us release, and let us let go. Then faith arises. This also is dying to self... to self-righteousness, self-accomplishment, and self-achievement.
How many times had you tried to die-to-self, and failed? Did you last only part of the day before something happens, and then, you blew it? Dying to self without the grace of God? You know the answer, it won’t happen.
God has never made it in such a way that we can die to self without His grace working within us. Without the grace, it’s still being the self that is doing the dying no matter how much we try to `die to self’.
Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. [Philippians 2:12-13]
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, [Ephesians 1:7-9]
We are not in control of God’s grace. His grace controls us. Grace is God’s will manifest. God cannot be controlled by us. His grace comes from `His good pleasure.’
God is more interested, in contrast, in our inside than the things outside of us. His grace works within us, in our heart’s disposition, and our behavior. His will, His perspective, and His grace priority… is for our being, then our doing, and after that our going. Unless grace works in a person’s heart, the person cannot do it.
Someone said: “I am confused… if there’s a need, shouldn’t I extend my hand?” Of course God doesn’t want us to leave a person in dire straits, and make us Pharisees (on the contrary!).
My question: “What are you motivated by? Is it obligation? Is it out-of-guilt? Is it to demonstrate your goodness?
Or, on the other hand, are we motivated by the fruit of the Spirit manifesting out of us?” If it’s the fruit of the Spirit manifesting in us, and through us, then it’s God’s grace... it is His will!
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. [Galatians 5:22-23]
SENSING THE SPIRIT OF GRACE
Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? [Hebrews 10:29]
To know the context of this strong warning, is to know that the purpose of the whole letter to the Hebrews was to warn them from going back to the Mosaic Law (Judaism).
Here again is the question: is it rigid legit or is it God’s grace? Do we want to insult the Spirit of grace with our do’s and don’ts? Jesus had already done so much for us...`having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross.’ [Colossians 2:14]
Do we want to trample the Son of God underfoot, and counting the blood of the covenant by which we were sanctified a common thing?
The Spirit of grace, the Holy Spirit, was typified by the vision of a descending dove. The dove epitomizes grace... a bird flying in gentleness as it wishes... God’s unmerited favor.
The Spirit of grace has on numerous occasions led me to the right person at the right time. The Spirit of grace, many times, fills my heart giving me divine strength and peace... a supernatural faith… to know that He will do something for me in the face of a difficult situation.
Can you sense the Spirit of grace? It’s impossible for words to stand-in for experience. The Spirit of grace Himself will show you. No human being on earth can be more faithful than Him. All that Christ had done for us is brought into reality by the Spirit of grace. Let the Spirit of grace take you, follow Him.
Even as the hymn goes...
“Sweep over my soul, sweep over my soul, sweep Spirit, sweep over my soul.
My rest is complete, as I rest at Your feet, sweep Spirit, sweep over my soul.”
“Come Holy Spirit, I need you, Come Holy Spirit, I pray,
Come in thy strength and thy power, come in thy old gentle way.”
Shouldn’t we open-up within us, to allow the Spirit of grace to respond to every situation that we are faced with?
1. Co-operate with the Spirit of grace.
We have to stop doing our own thing. The Holy Spirit is omniscience.
2. Trust Him.
This is new to many of us. Do you know that the Holy Spirit is more faithful than you and I?
3. Submit and surrrender to Him.
He is gentle as a dove. And He is God.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. [Colossians 4:6]
When grace fills our hearts, and controls us, He will control our speech.
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. [Matthew 12:34b]
Our tongue is overwhelmingly consequential to our life. [James 3:1-12]
How marvelous it is when our response to every situation is controlled by grace, when our tongue is controlled by grace. And most importantly, grace controls our prayer.
Let your grace flow, Lord... in our life.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. [Ephesians 4:29]
A prophet of God, speaking the words of grace, prophesied that I was going to experience the Holy Spirit closer than ever before. One morning, the Holy Spirit woke me up. At that moment when I opened my eyes, I sensed a divine being just above me. I was visited by the person of the Holy Spirit. He was above me. He surrounded me even as I yield to Him. This was something different from what I had ever experienced in my life. At those usual times, I merely sensed the Holy Spirit filling me inside, or His presence descending and filling the atmosphere of the church hall. But this was a form that followed me, after I left the house, rode an half-hour motorbike journey to my office! It could be the cloud of the Holy Spirit! In any case, it was absolutely unique to me! This experience lasted from about 7.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. During this brief period, whenever I expressed myself with thoughts, or words that pleases God, my inmost being would expand to like bursting, and tremendously energized.
GRACE FROM FELLOWSHIP
When Barnabas saw that the grace of God was with the disciples at Antioch, he went to look for Saul (Paul). And both of them spent a whole year with these disciples, who were the first to be called Christians. [Acts 11:23-26]
There are people of God, whom you will meet, or come to know of, who will impart grace to their hearers. Have you discerned the grace of God upon any person/group? Allow God to reveal to you whether this is the group/person that he has chosen for you to be associated with. Fellowshipping with these people will bring grace to your life.
HIS STRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS
How many of us have weaknesses? I have good news for you... God’s strength can be made perfect in your weakness if you yield to Him!
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. [2 Corinthians 12:7-10]
When your strength is low... Jesus says “My grace is sufficient for you.”
How could Paul say, “I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to be abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthened me” [Philippians 4:11-13] ?
He knew that God’s grace was sufficient for him!
As Paul humbled himself, and began to look to God, God’s grace enabled him to continue his historic ministry that, you and I, are still being blessed with!
What is your weakness? And what is the strength that God is putting into you, that will last you into eternity?
In the final lap of Paul’s ministry, he exhorted Timothy to `be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.’
As you look to God... allow His grace to increase in you until it is strong in you!
But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. [1 Peter 5:10-11]
We need to look at things from a divine point of view, which is, many a times, is contrary to how we normally assess a situation.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” [Isaiah 55:8-9]
God may be interested in the development of your character, and the furtherance of your ministry. But instead, you may be fixing your eyes looking on the plain, immediate needs and the short-term results. Paul’s sufferings worked for him. They made him very strong in both humility and faith.
But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed- [2 Corinthians 4:7-9]
The Spirit of grace... the Spirit of truth... will give you a divine look at your situation!
THE LOVE STRING OF GOD
Suspension: this word is one of the words which have helped me more than most words I know. I fell in love with this word, because this word is one of the keys to grace.
Have you ever thought about it: how, that man is continually seeking for a platform to stand on? There is an idiom that advised us to `reach for the stars, but keep your two feet on the ground.' There is a Chinese saying that advised us to `stand with our feet firmly on the ground.' Man is used to holding-on to something i.e. a principle, a trick, a religion, a certain act, a ritual and etc.
Suspension, to me, means not seeking to stand on something. It is living my life hanging... because God's grace will keep me. It means never to look to a formula or someone... otherwise it won't be grace working anymore. Grace is an invincible force that protects me. An invisible force that you can't see.
When you look to grace, and depend on grace; you will excel and ascend to greater heights than you could possibly be in your own human effort and strength.
Do plunge yourself into His grace. Let the grace of God guide you. Let His grace take control of you, and trust Him. Surrender to His grace. Hide in His grace, and submit to it. Your faith will rise in clarity and strength. Let the grace of God lead you. Do not move in guilt, or fear. Do not be a victim of circumstance, situation. Do not be afraid, nor fetter, in your flesh. Wait for the wisdom that is from above. Depend on God. Live by Him.
It’s okay to trust in God’s grace. God holds you, and won’t let-you-go half-way through. To the `self’ part... it’s risky. But you have to depend totally on God’s grace. In fact, that’s the only way it works. Let’s not depend on anything else. Dive-in... submerge yourself in His grace.
There’s a chorus: “Take me deeper into Your grace ...my greatest love is You.” It’s true. The deeper we get into the grace of God, His love will be more magnified in our life.
I was enjoying breakfast one morning, when a friend shared about her difficult situation. At that moment, I noticed a string. It was the string, which, was used to pack the food. It was lying on the desk. It was lying there shaped like a heart. I reminded my friend that the love string of God is still attached.
When your situation is like you’re falling into a rocky pit... a long, dark bottom... the feeling is frightening, and very unpleasant. But God will not let you hit the ground. His string is still attached to you. If you’re in such a situation, turn and look at the love string of God.