Grace.

    The grace of God is truly liberating. We are undeserving of His grace, cannot earn His grace, and that is what makes grace, grace. It is by God's grace that we are saved (Ephesians 2:5,8). While in our sinful state, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). There is nothing we can do to stand justified before God. It is because of God's love for us that He offers us salvation.
     There is another side of grace that is often overlooked. Salvation deals with freedom from sin as well as pardon. God offers us grace to overcome sin and to live a life that glorifies Him. Consider Paul's answer to those who would claim grace was a license to continue in a life of sin (Romans 6:1-2) and again (Romans 6:15). His answer is an emphatic no! Grace is not an excuse or license for sin!
     Consider Ephesians 2:8-9. Salvation is the gift of God received by faith. Now read Ephesians 2:10. We have been created to walk in good works. Apart from God's grace we would still be dead in sin!
     Finally we have the words of Paul to Titus. God's grace has appeared to all bringing salvation, but it also instructs us deny a sinful life and instead to live a life pleasing to God ( Titus 2:11-12).
     Grace is liberating! It liberates us from the bondage of guilt and struggle, but it also liberates us from the power of sin and sets us free to live the life that god has called us to.

Here in Your Presence with Lyrics New life Worship

I Will Cleanse You (+playlist)

God's Property.

     Christian, you are not your own. You no longer belong to yourself. You have been purchased by God, the price being the shed blood of the Lord Jesus Christ (1Cor 6:19-20). You have given up the right to yourself in surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.
     As bond slaves of Christ (1Cor 7:22) your life is no longer yours to do with as you please. As Temples of the Holy Spirit we must have pure hearts and clean hands (Psalm 24:3-4; 1 Cor 6:19). He will not dwell in an unclean vessel, a heart that is bent on sinful behavior.
     We have an obligation to live for Christ alone. Our lives are to be lived as a sacrifice, poured out on the altar of service to Christ our Redeemer and King (Romans 12:1). We have no right to do anything for ourselves, but ALL must be done for His glory (1Cor 10:31) and in His name (Col 3:17). This is our only reasonable response in view of what Christ has done for us. This is where we find our true freedom, our God ordained purpose, as we are swallowed up into the sweet will of God in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Raising Your Children in the Faith.

    We live in an age where there are no absolutes. Truth can be whatever you want it to be. Cults abound, preying on young naive individuals seeking acceptance by someone. God has been largely replaced by humanism. The Christian faith is seen as restrictive, and even mean spirited, and our kids are being taught to reject it.
     It is of the utmost importance that we diligently seek to raise our children in the fear and admonition of the Lord. If we don't do it who will? I see so many kids who have grown up in christian homes rebel as teens, and walk away from the faith.
     Moses commanded the nation of Israel to love God with all their heart, soul, mind and strength (Deut 6:4,5). In the verses following he emphasizes the importance of teaching our children (Deut 6:7-9). We are to talk about God and His ways at all times. We need to explain His laws, what they are, what they mean, and how to fulfill them. We as Christians need to see that they are firmly grounded in the faith. We must see that they understand the basic doctrines of the faith. We must teach them about sin and its consequences, about Christ and His death and resurrection. They need to understand that God has absolute standards. He hates sin, and has made a way to overcome it. They need to see that discipleship is costly, but also rewarding. They need to become praying individuals with unshakeable trust in Christ to meet every need. They need to learn of the Holy Spirit and the power He brings into their lives. the list goes on as it takes a lifetime of growing in the grace of God.
     The world will throw everything it has to offer in the path of our children. We cannot afford to lose them.

In the Power of the Spirit.

     And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.
                                         1 Corinthians 2:4-5 NASB


     For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction...
                                           1 Thessalonians 1:5a NASB

     In this day of technology and unlimited resources we have much at our fingertips with which to reach the world for Christ. Sadly, in spite of all of our programs and efforts, we see so few individuals truly born again. The majority of those who make "decisions" for Christ, go on with their lives with no change.
     Compare this with the early church. They had no computers, no power points, no sound systems, no programs, little money or possessions, yet they set the world on fire for Christ. People got saved and were radically changed. Addictions were broken. demons cast out, idols were abandoned, and sin was put away for good.
     We have so much, and accomplish so little. They had so little and accomplished so much. Could it be that we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit as they were? I believe the answer is yes. God has not changed, we have. The method is the same: reliance on the power of God. It is the Holy Spirit who convicts with power. The new birth is accomplished through the power of the Spirit. The new life of holiness is worked out in the power of the Holy Spirit.
     We need to get back to the basics. We need to get back to doing things God's way. We need to be baptized, filled to overflowing, in and with the Holy Spirit.

Partakers of the divine nature.

     Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.
     For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

     2 Peter 1:3-4 NASB

     We read this scripture portion and give mental assent to it. We believe in our minds that God can give us everything we need to live godly lives. We know He has promised us many wonderful things. Many of us would agree that through Christ, we become partakers of His divine nature.
     What if we actually took this to heart, and actually lived as though we believed it? What a difference we would see in our lives! We would see victory over temptation, we would see habitual sins broken, we would see power in our witness, we would see a Church that is no longer worldly, but Christ like!
     Our faith is only as good as we are willing to step out in it! Take God at His word and live it.