Sharing from my heart

I love the Lord with all my mind, soul and body; he is my all and all. In him I live and move and possess my being, I have found him to be a very present help in all of my troubles. He has brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay; he has put a new song in my mouth, of praise and adoration for my God.




Years I spent wandering around in many of sins empty pursuits, without caring where they were leading me, ignorant of the bondage I was in. Until one day in the early 1970’s, when the Good Shepard, which left his other sheep safely in his fold, came and found me bleeding and dying on the broad road of sin.



There were many that saw me in that state, but just passed me by, others walked far around me none offered any help. The Good Shepard, when he saw me, had compassion on me; he bound up my wounds, poured in his oil and wine, and set me in his breast and cared for me. No other eyes had pity on me when I was cast out into the open field of sin; all others just felt a loathing of my person.



When he passed upon me, and he saw me polluted in my sin, he said to me, Live; yes, he said unto me when he saw me in my sin, Live. Then he caused me to multiply as the buds of the field, and increased me.



When I was naked, he washed me with water; yes, he thoroughly washed away my sin, and anointed me with his Spirit. Clothed me also with fine linen, and covered me with silk, decked me with gold and silver; and made me prosper in his kingdom. When he passed me by, and looked upon me it was a time of love. And he spread his coat over me and covered my nakedness: Yes, and he entered a covenant with me, and said unto me you are mine.

Do you know him today?



Do you need a friend that will be closer to you than a brother?



I recommend him.

PRSENTING YOUR BODIES A LIVING SACRIFICE, HOLY,

Let first start by reading Romans 12: 1,2  1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.   2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  

This passage starts with “I beseech you therefore, Brethren” so this is how I want to start this series by beseeching you, brethren. For if you are in Christ then we are brethren, fellow servants, and as the apostle Paul did not command the believers, as Moses in the Law but chose to entreat them, employing the appeal of love to enforce the precepts of duty so I choose to adopt a tone of gentle and affectionate persuasion. Because I believe any believer that is truly striving to be pleasing to God, will of their own accord respond to the mercies of God in Christ, which this series will set before you?

There is an important word in this beechen of the brethren, it is the word therefore. Whenever you see the word therefore in scripture you need to ask yourself what is it there for? It has a twofold purpose, it is used to introduce a logical conclusion to something previously stated; and then the result or consequence that follows, with this twofold purpose in mind let us continue. In the previous chapters of this epistle Paul has been telling the believers about many of the blessing that is ours in Christ.  Let me list some of these blessing so we can reach this logical conclusion so it can accomplish the desired consequence.    

1)     Justification by faith.

2)     Peace with God.

3)     Access and a standing before God. 

4)     Hope of the glory of God

5)     Ability to glory in tribulation.

6)     Saved from the wrath to come.

7)     Dead to sin and raised to new life.

8)     Free not to walk by the flesh but after the Spirit

9)     We through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the flesh    

10)We are grafted in the olive tree and now are part of God’s people.

These are just some of the blessings previously stated which Paul sums up in three words “mercies of God” to bring about a logical conclusion and the result or consequence that should follow. Therefore, Brethren, by the mercies of God, you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. What is more logical and a more proper result then that!

Present your bodies a living Sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. In the Old Testament the sacrifice was one of blood and death.  Taken place daily, weekly, monthly and yearly, the alters of the temple ran with blood from the dead bodies of slain animals and birds. But there was a total change from Judaism to Christianity, for there was one sacrifice offered for sin for ever, the son of God, the Lamb of God and God’s mercy was presented for acceptance or rejection.

I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God.  To present means: “to put at one’s disposal” Let us consider the word disposal for a moment it means subject to one’s orders or decisions. Is your body subject to God’s orders or decisions? 

Let us consider the body? It is the vehicle of information and action, the instrument used to perform all activities of life and the only medium to which one can live for God amongst men. So conduct, words, imaginations, must be undefiled and all activities of bodily members must be governed by one great controlling purpose to please God and do his will.

Consider the member of the body which must be yielded:

1)     The eyes. If your eye offends you pluck it out (Matt 18: 9), the lust of the eyes must be mortified. 

2)     The Hands:  Wherefore if your hand offend you cut it off (Matt 18: 8),  Let him that stole stead no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that is in need (Eph. 4: 28).

3)     The feet. “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the father is this, to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction” (James 2:27). “I was sick, and you visited me; I was in prison, and you came unto me” (Matt 25: 36).

4)     The mouth. “ Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Eph. 4: 29). “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt” (Col. 4: 6).

5)     The thoughts and imaginations. “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought into the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10: 5).

There is in every sacrifice a death, and in the presenting your body a death unto sin, out of which there starts a new life of righteousness unto God, though the natural life is not lost, a new life is gained. The body shares equally in the death unto sin and the new life unto righteousness and holiness. The body is consecrated to him who has redeemed the body as well as the soul; and its members are employed as instruments of righteousness and weapons against sin. God requires the body, soul and spirit to be consecrated to him. For the body will express and manifest the character, the existence or non existence of spiritual life and reveal the true man.

The body can only become a sacrifice and offering when it is dead unto sin and given as an agent of righteousness and holiness.

The Apostle Paul said that bodily exercise profits nothing, which circumcision availed nothing, but the new creation is the true profit and value ((1 Ti. 4:8 & Gal. 5:6).

Jesus taught that worship to be acceptable, must be in spirit and in truth (Jn. 4:23, 24

When you use your bodily member in service unto righteousness your sacrifices is acceptable unto God, something which is well approved, eminently satisfactory, and extra ordinarily pleasing.

God’s requirement for holiness is reasonable in light of his mercies. “According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertains unto life and godliness” (2 Pet. 1: 3). He has given to the believers everything that is needed to live a righteous and holy life. But above all that the chief thing that make it reasonable is the fact that Jesus Christ in life and in death has dedicated his body to our interests and salvation, so the dedication of our body to righteousness and holiness is surely a reasonable service.

Birth or Christ Part 3

 We now turn from the great forerunner who prophecy said should come; "Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple", to one that is even greater; "Whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting".


Our story unfolds with two weary travelers entering the city of Bethlehem, Joseph and his wife Mary, who was great with child. The journey was long and hard, if it was not for the need for Mary to come to register according to her family linage for the purpose of taxation, Joseph would have left his wife at home. Joseph could not remember where and when the birth pain began, but they had been coming for sometime. He was never so happy to a city, because he felt a sense of urgency to find refuge, for his wife was about to give birth. He stop at the first inn that he saw, but there is no room, they also informed him that all the inns were filled. Joseph pleads with the inn keeper to give some place to his wife, but to no avail.

Mary's birth pains were now coming so very close together,some place any place must be found at once. Frenetically, Joseph looks around, as he hasten his pace through the village, his eyes fasten upon some limestone rocks, to a cave that is used as a stable for horses and cattle, he quickly take refuge there and not a moment to soon. And so it was that Mary brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

At the same time there were three wise men coming from the east inquiring,

" Where is he that is born king of the Jews"?

When Herod the king heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. When the king had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he demanded of them where Christ should be born.

And they said unto him,

In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written by the prophet, And thou Bethlehem, in the land of Juda, art not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel.

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, enquired of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search diligently for the young child; and when you have found him, bring me word, that I may come and worship him also. But the king's "true desire was hidden behind a pretense to worship the child, his real desire was to kill the child. So when Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he became very enraged, and sent and slew all the male children who were in Bethlehem and all its vicinity, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. A king gives a written authorization for a search, arrest, and execution of a baby.



What could this newly born innocent baby have done that would justify such a response?

Why did Herod the king and all Jerusalem with him become troubled?

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Why do the kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed?

We once again at this annual holiday peroid see were many want to take Christ out of christmas, nativity scene out of city, state, and federal places, along with how we should greet another. What we are witnessing is the fleshy mind at enmity with God because it is not subjest to him. King Herod and every fleshly minded person vain imagination is that if they make an assault upon Christ, or Christian symbols they will fade away, disapprear, and die out.



Still after all these years, the kings of the earth still set themselves, against the LORD, and against his anointed, the heathen still rage, and the people still imagine a vain thing. They have not learned from history, from the first futile attemp to kill the Christ child and the wholesale massacre of a multiutude of Christian martyr down through the ages, that their attemps to eradicate Christianity from the world was and still is an exercise in futility.

Now the question is: Do you set your self against the Lord and against his anointed?

Do you rage and imagine the same vain thing?

Birth of Christ Series Part 2

 Zacharias Leave the temple, beginning his journey home, his mind is racing a thousand miles a minute, so many thought pressing in on him at one time. Like what am I going to do now that I am struck with dunbness?


How will I preform my priestly duties?

More over how will the people feel about this?

Well he thinks to himself I must not make a bad situation worst by not continuing my preistly function, I will continue, but his mind is still in turmoil.

What do I tell my wife?

How do I tell my wife?

What will my wife think?

He can see the house it is just a little ways from were he is, his head feel like it is going to explode. Zacharias stops, put both hands on each side of his head, trying hopelessly to queit all of his thoughts. He sees Elisabeth through one of the windows, she walking back and forth, feeling his wife is worried he heads for the house.

As he enters the house his wife turns with a look of relief, and says, "I was worried it never takes you this long at the temple". Zacharias instinctively opens his mouth to speak, but nothing come out, he quickly turn to gather up paper and pin. He writes a short note to imform his wife the he can not speak, after which he writes out the whole story.

Elisabeth was filled with mixed emotions, but she could not stop the excitement that awaken a new hope within her for a son. She just knew that she would never be able to forget. how her heart burned with in her, when she read how that God was going to remove the reproach the man has put upon her. She knew for years how people looked at, treated her and talked behind her back, feeling that God was punishing her with barreness for some hidden sin. Elisabeth did not let this good news puff her up with pride, to go out and parade her pregnancy around prider than an old peacock to prove everyone wrong, for she had more pressing thing to do.Her child was not to be an ordinary one, he was destined to be a prophet an not just simple a prophet but a Nazarite and the forerunner of the Messiah.

So Elisabeth retired to their mountain side home to teach, train and keep her son from any pollutions that would violate his rites of becoming a Nazarite. For a Nazarite must be set apart to God from everything that is polluting, as a sign he shall drink neither wine nor strong drink, he was to learn to live a life of self denial, wear a hairy garment and leather girdle and live apart from the world. The child will be great in the sight of the Lord, he would be filled with the Holy Ghost from his mothers womb. Elisabeth knew that her child needed to be fit and qualified for the great service he would be called to preform, he was going to preach repentance to correct degenerate people, he would be instrumental to turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord thier God.

How would you respond to such a plan of God for your life?

Would you be lifted up with pride like so many that claim some kind of special favour with God?

It seemed good to me

What seems good to us is not always what is good for us.  For example:  We were going to a doctors appointment, down the road from our house there is a fork in the road, as we neared that fork, a truck hauling an animal trailer was also coming, and he wasn’t about to give us the right away, we thought we deserved. We got angry, and even though the truck driver could not hear us, we were yelling at him, he waved as he went by, he probably thought we were being friendly, he no doubt, thought we were doing good by letting him pass even though, we did not have a choice in the matter for we knew he was going to fast for us to cross over in front of him, it wasn’t to long after that, that we realized we were on the wrong side of the fork he was on the same road we were on, so he had the right of way we were headed towards another road a different direction, both of us thought we were right, but only one of us were, and it wasn’t us. A good word makes the heart glad Ps 25:8 what were we thinking?    

 There is one thing I dislike, when I think I am right, and a little child proves me wrong, I feel really stupid at those times.  It is not always easy for us to except that what we thought was good was not good at all. Pr 14:12 There is a way that seems right unto man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.  The way King Saul took seemed right to him, but the end was his death.

 Sometimes we think money would be a good think to have, but many rich men would tell you different. It didn’t do Solomon a lot of good.  An observation of Solomon was: Pr 27:24 Riches are not for ever, Pr 28:11 a rich man is wise in his own conceit.

So the question is how do we know if what seems right to us is right for us?

RO. 3:10 says there is none righteous, no not one, Ps14:1-3, 53:1 none doeth good no not one.  The more you study God’s word the closer you are of knowing what is good, but we cannot please God with just head knowledge, we have to give him our hearts.  Mi 6:8 He has showed thee, O man, what is good;  and what doeth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God.  We may not always do what is good, but if we realize that what we thought was good, was not good at all, it was the Holy Spirit that showed us the error of our way, and put us back on the right track. Always be thankful to the Lord for sending us his Holy Spirit to help us on our way, so that what seems good to us, will also be good for us  

Hope

Hope was promient in the Old Testament as it is in the New Testament, however there is a difference between these two periods. The Old Testament was a time of promise and prohecy. "God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets" (Hebrews 1: 1). Meaning that God did not declose his full plan to any one person, or all at one time, he did it over a long period of time, in many different ways, and disclose only bits and pieces at a time.


That is why Jesus said; "For verily I say unto you, that many prophets, and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them" (Matthew 13:17). Also the writer of Hebrews said; "These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off, and were persuaded of them, and embraced them, and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth" (Hebrews 11:13).

For some time in the history of the Old Tesament the saints did not have any idea of the resurrection. That is why there were statements like: "In death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?" (Psalms 6: 5), "Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest".(Ecclesiastes 9: 10).

Also the Sadducees a group of the Jewish religion leadership said "there is no resurrection" (Matthew 22: 23). In the New Testament the mystery has been revealed, or fulfilled, for it is a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises. (Hebrews 8:6). "For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God" ( Hebrews 7: 19).

Hope is one of the three abiding graces, but it remains less studied than the other abiding graces, inspite of its abiding quality and the impact hope has on our spiritual growth. For 1 Corinthians 13: 13 is not the only place in the scripture that the three abiding graces are presented together. In 1 Thessalonians 1: 3 "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father". Galatians 5: 5-6 "For we, through the Spirit, wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. " Leading to the conclusion that hope along with the other abiding graces, is important to process in our new life in Christ, and it is for this very reason I have selected hope as our next study.

Here is a series of question concerning hope for your homework assignment

1) What are some of the sure seals of our hope?

2) What are true objects of hope?

3) What are false objects of hope?

4) What does hope produce in our live?

5) What are the two gifts that God has given to every believer that causes them to hope and will make them become strong in hope?

Birth of Christ Series Part 1

This is the reason for the season," but when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son" (Galatians 4:4). So I am going to start a series concerning the birth of Christ. This first installment will be taken from the gospel of Luke chapter one,with the use of pen and ink, Luke, skethes out a brief outline of the ending of the dispensation of the law and the inauguration of the dispensation of grace. The picture he paints is on a very small canvas, but none the less it is a very beautiful written production of insightful and inspired design. The sketch is that of an aged priest which involves his domestic life, priestly function and what happened at the alter of incense. This certain priest was name Zacharias, his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisabeth. They had no children, because Elisabeth was unable to bear any, and they both were now well passed the age when couple had chidlren.


Zacharias and Elisabeth lived in a hillside home outside the city, they continued year after year in prayer for God to bless them with a son. One thing that was clearly seen in this couple, they both possessed a bright and real faith in the living God; and they walked in all his commandments and ordinances blameless. That is to say, thier relationship to God was not ceremonial or in word only, but thier conduct was regulated by the revealed moral commandments of the Lord. Their walking day by day in unrightness, and integrity, allowed them to enjoy both favor with God and man. In those days there a custom concerning the priestly office, lots were drawn amongst the priest, to see who would get the right to enter the holy place to burn incense. and this time the lot fell on Zacharias. While preparation was in progress for his entrance into the holy place, a large group of people began praying at the time of incense. As the priest entered the holy place, standing at the right side of the alter of incense was an angel.

When Zacharias saw the angel, he was troubled, and fear came upon him. And the angel said to him, "Fear not, Zacharias: for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elisabeth shall bear you a son, and you are to call him John. And you will have joy and gladness; an many will rejoice at his birth. for he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and he will drink neither wine nor strong drink; and he shall be filled with the Holy Ghost, even from his mother's womb. And many of the children of Israel shall he turn to the Lord their God. And he shall go before him in the spirit and power of Elias, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just; to make ready a people prepared for the Lord"

. Zacharias said, How can this take place, both my wife and I are now to old. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to tell you this good news. Now that you have not believed my message, you will be dumb and not able to speak, until the day that all these thing come to pass. While this toke place the people waited for the priest to come out, so they could receive the benediction. Zacharias was in there a very long time, this puzzled and disturbed the worshippers, when he did come out he could not speak.

How could this have taken place? Zacharias was a righteous priest before God. Well let us consider what Hebrews 12:1 says: "Wherefore seeing, we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily besets us, and let us run with patience the race that is marked for us".

Life is a amphitheater, where contests take place, and none of us are excluded, it is a scene of conflict; a shere of action, a stage with an audience all around it. The athlete today that is at center stage is a well seasoned runner named Zacharias, he has had many years of training, been in numerous competitions, has a hugh collection of trophies, and without any doubt is expected to give an outstanding preformance here today. Well the race is about to start, he getting ready,he on his mark, he set, he off and running. Well of all the races I have ever witnessed, I have never seen anyone come out of the starting blocks as fast as Zacharias, he is just tearing up the track! He out there all my himself there is no one that is even close to him, he look strong, there is no sign of fatigue, no slowing of the steps, if he keeps up this pace, and there is no sign that he won't, he will not only break the world record,but he will shatter it, he is coming around the far turn, he into the home stretch, I can not believe what I am witnessing here today, Zacharias, has just stopped running, he's walking off the field, there is a large group of report around him, their asking him questions, he is beckoning with his hands but he remains speechless.

Life is a series of events that draws attentions from both a visible and invisible audience, amongst these obsevers are God, friends, family,and strangers. So what has brought such a seasoned man of God to the point of unbelief ? The circumstances, hardships, unseen obstacle, and the everyday grind these are weights that lay heavy on us. They consist of many unimportant to some very important matters of life, they are not the sin that so easily besets set us, but can lead to the besetting sin. Here is the point of this analogy and what we can learn from this figure. The runner must put off everything that would put him at a disadvantage or impede his course, no matter how innocent of allowable they may be.

Zacharias allowed himself to be weighed down to the point that it affected his soul in unbelief, and that was his besetting sin. Hebrews says, "the sin" not sins, which is the sin of unbelief. The unchecked weights of Zacharias life exerted pressure on him, impeded him, and resulted in his unbelief. It is apparent from this passage that this aged priest did not lay aside every weight, for the many years of praying for a son laid very heavy on him. This burden stuck to him, wrapped itself around him like a cloak, clung to him as a parasitical plant and cloked out his faith.

Zacharias had every reason to be strong in faith.

1) Being a priest he knew about Abrahan and Sarah, Isaac and Reecca, how God made theses barren couple to have a child.

2) He knew that the sceptre had departed from Judah and that would be the time for the Messiah to come.

3) He knew God was going to sent his messenger to perpare the way of the Lord, and the angel was telling him that his son would be that messenger.

4) He knew that the last four hundred years God had not spoken, but now he has sent a message.

These were some the great cloud of witnesses that Zacharias was a spectator of, these Old Testament saints all witnessed of the race they had once ran themselves, given evidence to the power of faith. What about you? What is your story? Are you forgetten to lay aside every weight? Do you have some longings, some expectations or deep hopes that has no come be? Lay aside those weights for they will only encumber you, encircle you, wrap themself around you like a cloak, clung to you as a parasitical plant and cloked out your faith.

A students paper on Grace.

Over a period of time I will be bring you a homework assignment given to the students of our church school on the object of grace this series will be titled "A students paper on Grace".

Grace wasn’t given to us to do what we want with it.  True stewards of the manifold grace of God should use what gifts God has given us to serve others not ourselves. Administering God’s grace as a good Stewards of God’s manifold grace.

We need to be very careful that we do not frustrate God’s gift of grace if we reject it or seek it by works or do as those who have gone before and are still doing today trying to obtain it by ceremonial purposes. Our righteousness as is filthy rags, our nature is sinful it is impossible for us to please God by works that we do. Our bodies are temples we must build them up according to scriptures which is given us by grace, through faith, and leads us to holiness and redemption.

Let us not trod under foot the Son of God He 10:29 let us not continue to sin by using the grace of God as if it was nothing, for Jesus is grace and without him we could do nothing. Not keeping the Sabbath is one way we trod under foot the Son of God, for if you break one commandment you broke them all, but there are many other ways we also trod underfoot the Son of God. How we talk and act around others is very important. remember from were we came and how God loved us so much He died for us He has given us His grace, trusted us with it. Let us use it wisely, and stop toddling under foot Jesus who has given us freely his wonderful grace let us be good ministers of grace.

  Ep. 4:29 “ Our words can and should impart grace to the hearers. “

 1 Pe says” Let your speech always be with grace.  Let no corrupting words come out of your mouth only that what is good for building up.”

 Jesus said “ You will give and account for every idle word in the Day of Judgment.” Mt 12:36

Colossians 3:8 “ Says you must get rid of such things as anger, malice, slander, and filthy talk.  We should be building each other up not tearing each other down especially to others. We should have an attitude of gratitude words that encourage and builds up” Ep 4:29

It’s important that our speech be in keeping with God’s commandments.

                                                                                     

1.      God does not want speaking words that are evil 1 Pe 3:10

2.     Lying words  Pr 6: 19

3.     Filthy words Ep 5:4

4.     Speaking evil of others 1 Cor 6: 9-10

5.     Speaking to often Jm 1:26

6.     Speaking to hastily Pr 29: 20  Jm 1:19

Let everything we say be good and helpful, words reveal our hearts. Gossip creates strife destroys friendships.

 “Out of the abundance of the heart the month speaks.” Mt 12: 34-35” 

We need to guard our hearts diligently.

“He who guards his mouth preservers his life, but he who opens wide, his life shall have destruction.” Pr 13:3

 My prayer for all of us is that God would set a guard over our mouth and keep watch over the door of our lips. That our speech will bless others and bring glory to God.  Amen

A students paper on Grace.

Over a period of time I will be bring you a homework assignment given to the students of our church school on the object of grace this series will be titled "A students paper on Grace".

Stewarts of God’s Grace was one that I picked for further study.  I have learned from this study that we don’t know the heights nor depth, or breath or width of the wonderful grace of our God. It’s much bigger then you or I have ever thought possible. We have received so much from God’s Grace,  justification came by grace, it was grace that redeemed us, sanctification came through grace, and we are saved by grace, there is so much more that we have received from God’s grace to numerous to tell.  God give us something that was greater then you or I His grace, treat it with the honor it deserves and it will serve you well be thankful for it and treasure it, it’s a matter of life and death.

With this grace comes much responsibility, which I have learned that I fall short. God has made us Steward of his grace.  What does it mean to be a Steward?  It means we are not owners of it, but God has trusted us with it. We must always remember that all powers that God has given us are gifts and all gifts are trust.  We are not owners of this grace, but God has trusted us with it. It is a trust we have to give an account for. We must use grace wisely not like the unwise Steward  the in Mt 25:1- 30 who was inconsiderate and foolish, he knew his master and what was expected of him,  but was irresponsible.  We know our Lord and what is expected of us, what we don’t know is how much time we have before our master will return and we must be ready to give an account, the faithful and the unfaithful steward which one are we?   

Grace Part 2

The plan of grace lays at the root of the Old Testament and comes into full expression in the life and work of Christ. "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth, And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace" (Jn. 1:14, 16, 17). The grace of God is interwoven into the biblical history throughout the pages of scripture his grace is manifested in assorted and different manners, the gospel is intimately blended with grace therefore it is the gospel of grace (Acts 20: 24). Also the parables of Christ are seeded with grace and illustate grace in action both from the giver and the recipient stand point.


Like the parable of the sower; "Behold, a sower went forth to sow; And when he sowed, some seeds fell by the way side, and the fowls came and devoured them up: Some fell upon stony places, where they had not much earth: and forthwith they sprung up, because they had no deepness of earth: And when the sun was up, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away. And some fell among thorns; and the thorns sprung up, and choked them: But other fell into good ground, and brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, some thirtyfold" (Mt. 13: 3-8).

The giver sowed the gospel i.e. grace, the recipents responded in various forms, most ended negatively because of the inappropriate performance of grace which resulted in them being wounded, injured, impaired and condemned.Through their own personal acts of doing despite unto the Spirit of grace, frustating the grace Of God, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness or some other inappropriate preformances of grace they brought about thier destruction.On the other hand those that engaged in the proper preformance of grace estabished their hearts in grace, grew in grace, became strong in grace, as ministers of grace they in turn used grace as a source to bless others.

In another parable the inappropriate preformance of grace is illustated; "Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him" (Mt. 18: 23-34). Receiving grace himself it have no benevolent affect on his life and his subsequent action so completely illustates that he received the grace of God in vain which brought about his own condemnation.

Faith like a mustard of seed

Grace Part 1

What is grace? Most understand the meaning to be unmerited, undeserved favor, which is correct but the bible also tells of the manifold grace of God. If the grace of God is manifold then it would have many parts, forms and applications. The common meaning therefore would be best realized as the fundamental principle by which all the various parts, forms and applications of God's grace is imparted. It may even come as a shock that many Christians come face to face with many parts, forms and aplications of God's grace an never recognize them as such. This is not only a sad fact but results in bringing injury to the grace of God. For the same scriptures that discloses grace also says "receive not the grace of God in vain, or frustate the grace of God, nor do despite unto the Spirit of grace, neither fail of the grace of God, or turn the grace of God into lasciviousness", to name a few of the injuries one can do to the grace of God. (2 Co. 6:1, Gal. 2:21, Heb. 10:29 Jude 4, Heb.12:१५


Grace is one of the essential attributes of God, and as such, it would be impossible to fully comprehend the breadth, and length, and depth, and height of it. The doctrine of grace is of great significance, worthy of our thoughful study, for it is the essential feature of salvation and Christian life. Each passage of scripture concerning grace should be examined carefully to discover the root idea of grace, for each one will take a different form, and display a wide area of operation. This is the reason why grace is one of the perfections of God, because it is as boundless as he is. As a steward of the grace of God, it is the Christians duty to understand the full important of grace, and to elevate it to its proper function, so as not to due injury to it and bring reproach to his holy name.