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It is of faith that it might be
by grace
Rm4:16 The word of God is God-breathed. It is there for instruction and correction that the man of God may be thoroughly furnished to perform every good work. It is living and powerful. By reading, receiving, and relying on the word we get faith. When I was born again the word became my meat and drink. I read it morning, noon, and night. It brought wonder and fascination, hunger and thirst. I had so many issues in my life that I needed the word more than anything else. Through this word, through faith in this word, I received the Holy Spirit. By yielding and submitting to the word, God began to deal with those issues in my life. The Holy Spirit began to reveal the truth of scripture and faith began to grow. Without the word I would not know the will of God or what to do. The word brought about faith that it might be by grace. Salvation, healing, deliverance, and prosperity are not a reward for works we perform. The word is a gift. Faith is a gift. Grace is a gift. As we surrender to the word and repent and receive Jesus into our heart, we receive the gift of faith and God indwells the believer. Grace is the presence and the action of God in the life of the believer. It is not the result of debt. Grace is God manifest. Because it is not of the law, not of works, grace is accessible to all people whether Jew or Gentile. God wants to get the glory. He wants to do the work and that work is accomplished by faith. By submitting to the word of God, by praying, reading and confessing the word, by allowing the Holy Spirit to unveil the Christ in our lives, the power of the flesh is destroyed. Pride and self-realization are dethroned and we live and walk in the Spirit. God wants us to live and walk in the Spirit, to be people of faith that grace may abound. Human nature, the carnal man must be dissolved so that it all may be of grace. It must be faith working by love rather than the works of the law bringing pride that motivates the child of God so that God gets the credit and not we ourselves. Sin is the barrier to grace. Unless we plead the blood of Christ and confess Jesus as Lord and Savior of our life, grace will not operate. God will not be the king and lord of our life. To rid ourselves from sin we must be born again and we must be sanctified. Then the grace of God can use us as he pleases for His glory. By renewing our minds, renovating by repetition the word, we are transformed, that we may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Let God be all in your life. Let it be by faith that it might be by grace. Die to self. Die to pride. Die to the world and live for God. Get into the word and allow God to transform your life. Let him transform your thinking and your motivation. Desire more to be a servant than to be served and God will get all the glory. Amen |