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Current mood:  optimistic Category: Life
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Hello All,
I wanted to share a free excerpt (chapter) from the latest book "The Truth About Grace". I believe it is a significant chapter to start us off for the new year (2009), as many will have their portion of what thus saith the Lord God. Be blessed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!
GROWING IN GRACE
"But grow in grace (undeserved favor, spiritual strength)
and recognition and knowledge and understanding of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (the Messiah). To Him
[be] glory (honor, majesty, and splendor) both now and
to the day of eternity. Amen (so be it)!" – II Peter 3:18
One of the things that I love about the Lord is that in our daily
walk with Him, he allows us to grow. The true sign for a believer in
the Lord Jesus Christ is not singled out by the gifts that we have, or
the works that we accomplish, but the true evidence is recognized
when you see an individual who is maturing in their relationship
with God. Maturity in spiritual things pertaining to God really let
you know where a person is. Every day of my life, this is my silent
prayer: Lord, let me grow and mature, so that even in my youth,
people can see someone who has been with Jesus. This was the
testimony that the apostles of old bore when they walked this
earth. Acts 4:13 states:
"Now when they saw the boldness and unfettered
eloquence of Peter and John and perceived that they
were unlearned and untrained in the schools [common
men with no educational advantages], they marveled;
and they recognized that they had been with Jesus."
This is one of the greatest passages of scripture that I believe the
modern day church needs to meditate on. People were able to look
upon these men's lives and by that they knew that they had been
with Jesus. What a statement! The bible says that they saw the
boldness and eloquence of these disciples of Christ but at the same
time they were able to tell that they had not been formally
educated. That was something that grabbed my brain because it
almost sounds like a contradiction but it isn't because what the
people really were saying indirectly is that I know that this is God
speaking through you. This is an example of what it means to grow
in grace. Grace is the underserved favor and spiritual strength of
God and these apostles displayed this with their boldness and
eloquence. In the natural they may have been small men with the
appearance of being shy, but when the Holy Spirit matures a
person because of their relationship with God, it is as if you are
looking at a whole other human being. One of these men was Peter
and it is he who is trying to convey to us in this chapter that we are
to grow in grace and in the knowledge and understanding of Jesus.
Peter could say this because when it was recognized that he had
been with Jesus. It wasn't formal education that caught the people's
attention. It was that they had a knowledge of Jesus Christ.
The book of Genesis lets us know that in the beginning was God.
Then John's first book shares that in the beginning was the Word
(Jesus Christ). And so if God is the creator of all things and all
things were created by the Word, then it was the Word who created
words. Pause and think about that. It was the living Word who
created the written word. There is nothing wrong with formal
education because God created that too, but these men just
decided "I'm going to study under the Word and not just study
words." These disciples had a relationship with the living Word
who is Jesus Christ. It was that relationship that caused the world
to look upon them and know the kind of company that they kept. I
don't know about you but I want that to be said about me
wherever I go: That boy has been with Jesus. The awesome thing
about learning from the Master himself is that when you grow in
His grace and in His strength and ability, what may take years for
someone else to accomplish, for you it can be attained much
sooner. This is one of the greatest advantages that I believe the
body of Christ at large has not embarked upon, but will. When we
choose to go all the way in our spiritual walk with the Lord,
withholding nothing, God will pour knowledge and understanding
in us that is unmatched to anyone or anything in the world. We
just have to open up to Him and to His voice. Just say "Lord, I
really want to know you." The book of Psalm 25:14 says:
The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of
the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship)
Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal
to them its [deep, inner] meaning."
There is something special and set aside for those who fear God. If
you want to be the casual Christian who goes around with the
popular catchphrase of "God knows my heart", then go right
ahead. But if you are the person who is saying "There is got to be more to this, Lord"
then I am talking to you because there is a lot more that God wants to let you know than you even realize. Don't
limit your time with Him by those few minutes you spend everyday.
If you feel the tug of the Spirit of God telling you to stay and just worship,
then do it. There is something that He wants you to receive. God's
covenant is His promise. Many times the reason we do not obtain
the promises of God that we read about in scripture is not because
we are not perfect. It's not because you are a bad person. It not
even because you messed up the other night (whoever you are).
Sometimes we don't receive from the Lord all that He has for us
because we are not sensitive to His Spirit in our lives and we don't
respect Him. Worshipping God is about respecting Him and being
available to move with the wind of God. If He is blowing you in
one direction and you make a chosen decision to go another way,
then how can God bless your disobedience? The great thing about
growing in grace is that you are not killed for the mistakes you
make. In the Old Testament, when men were under a different
covenant, they were sometimes killed for the wrongs they did. So,
thank God for grace! It gives you time to grow. It doesn't have to
take a long time, but none the less it does take time. I hear people
say all the time "It's a process. You just don't change over night."
Tell that to the apostle Paul in whom God changed his life
dramatically. No, everyone is not going to have a Paul experience
but my point is that it is very possible for God to do a quick work.
The word process means a natural phenomenon marked by gradual
changes that lead to a particular result. There are changes that are
to take place every day in my walk with God that should lead to the
result of me reflecting Christ. 1 John 3:2-3 says:
"Beloved, we are [even here and] now God's children;
it is not yet disclosed (made clear) what we shall be
[hereafter], but we know that when He comes and is
manifested, we shall [as God's children] resemble and
be like Him, for we shall see Him just as He [really] is.
And everyone who has this hope [resting] on Him
cleanses (purifies) himself just as He is pure (chaste,
undefiled, guiltless)."
So, if you are twenty years in your salvation and nothing about you
has changed, I have to ask the question: Are you using 'the process'
thing as an excuse for not growing? God has given you His grace.
There is no way a person can sit up under the counsel of the
Almighty God, revealed in the person of Jesus Christ and not be
changed. Everyday of our lives when we embrace the word of God
and we seek the Lord, we are purifying ourselves as the scripture
has stated. Why? Because we have this hope made alive in us, that
we will be just like Him.
2:06 AM
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