"11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ." (Titus 2:11-13, NKJV).
The Grace of God has not been fully apprehended by our generation and this is the reason many believers live a defeated lives. But true grace empowers you to live as a king under the King of kings and reign in this earth for His glory (Rom 5:21).
1) GRACE brings salvation to all men who receive it. Salvation means different things to different people who go through various circumstances in their lives. To a sick person it means healing. To a person who is not saved, it means he is receiving the life of God which is "eternal life" in the recesses of his heart.To a person in bondage to a sinful habit, it means deliverance from the shackles of sinful bondage. To a person who feels condemned in himself, it means he is receiving freedom from all accusation of th enemy.
The grace of God is a multifaceted heavenly package of benefits for the godly fulfillment of all our earthly needs and wants.
2) GRACE teaches us to deny ungodliness and wordly lusts. To "deny" is to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world (Tit 2:12, AMP). As the Message Bible puts it, "We're being shown [by the power of God's empowering grace] how to turn our backs on a godless, indulgent life, and how to take on a God-filled, God-honoring life."
3) GRACE makes you look forward eagerly towards the day of our sweet Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, in which He will appear in the air to resurrect our sinful mortal body in to a supernatural sin-free immortal body and to give us a glorious life of freedom from sin, sickness and death for eternity ahead (1 Thess 4:16-17; 1 Cor 15:53-54).
4) GRACE makes you confess, "...Come, Lord Jesus" from the bottom of your heart (Rev 22:20). Grace received will move you in to intimacy with the One who gives it freely because of His love towards you. People who live by grace are the one who are very close to the heart of Jesus (Luke 7:40-50).
5) GRACE is a strong inner assurance which strengthens your spiritual man saying, "...the One who began a good work of salvation in you will carry it on until the whole process is completed on the day when Christ Jesus returns to give you a sin, sickness and death free supernatural body to enjoy for eternity." (Phil 1:6, Paraphrased).
The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you.
Lives rooted in God's unchanging grace can never be uprooted.
"Soar back through all your own experiences. Think of how the Lord has led you in the wilderness and has fed and clothed you every day. How God has borne with your ill manners, and put up with all your murmurings and all your longings after the 'sensual pleasures of Egypt!' Think of how the Lord's grace has been sufficient for you in all your troubles." - Charles Spurgeon
I dedicate this all time favourite song to Our Lord Jesus for the amazing grace made available to us through what He has acheived for us through His death and resurrection.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
- John Newton (1725-1807)
No comments:
Post a Comment