The Reign of Grace

"God's grace is given freely and undeservedly, but not without intent and implications.  We dare not try to privatize or domesticate the significance of God's grace.  We have been called into a dynamic love affair--one that gives more than we could have ever hoped, and demands more than we would freely give.  

To receive God's grace in Christ is to be brought into a revolutionary reign, not ushered into a quiet rest home!   God's love is as disruptive as it is delightful, as demanding as it is delicious!   God loves us exactly as we are today, but He loves us too much to leave us as we are and where we are."

Scotty Smith, The Reign of Grace

source: www.gracedagain.com

Christ-Centered Personal Ministry

The Local church has been commissioned by her Head, the Lord Jesus, to
go and make disciples of all nations (Matt. 28:18-20). This requires
local evangelism as well as world missions. Discipleship includes
reaching the lost and then training them in the Christian life. Christ
modeled the best method of discipleship by choosing a small group and
training them for ministry (Mark 3:14). The local church today needs
to follow His example by using small group Bible studies for nurture
and outreach.

The pastor is placed in the Body of Christ to equip God's people for
ministry (Eph. 4:11-13). All believers have been given abilities by
the Holy Spirit to enable the church to do God's will. These gifts
need to be identified and used for the Body to b��ˇe edified and
serve effectively (1 Peter 4:10,11). Instead of emphasizing a
clergy / laity distinction, the church should affirm the priesthood of
all believers (1 Pet. 2:9).

The process of discipleship can often be assisted through biblical
counseling. This remedial discipleship helps believers who are
hindered by personal problems. By gaining freedom in Christ, believers
are able to make further progress toward spiritual maturity. Biblical
counseling is not secular psychology in Christian terms. Healing from
spiritual / emotional / mental problems requires a Christ-centered,
cross-centered focus. Exchanged Life Counseling is a remedial
discipleship strategy which promotes abiding in Christ (John 15:1-8)
and the importance of the believer's identity in Christ : "I have been
crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in
me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20).

- John Woodward
Grace Fellowship International

Fully Accepted

"As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us" (Psa. 103.12).  They cannot be removed and be here still.  Then if thou believest in Christ, thou art no more in the sight of God a sinner; thou art accepted as though thou wert perfect, as though thou hadst kept the law, —for Christ has kept it, and His righteousness is thine.  You have broken it, but your sin is His and He has been punished for it.  

Mistake not yourselves any longer; you are no more what you were; when you believe, you stand in Christ''s stead, even as Christ of old stood in your stead.  The transformation is complete, the exchange is positive and eternal.  

They who believe in Jesus are as much accepted of God the Father as even His Eternal Son is accepted; and they that believe not, let them do what they will, they shall but go about to work out their own righteousness; but they abide under the law, and still shall they be under the curse [Gal. 3:10-13]. 

 Now, ye believe in Jesus, walk up and down the earth in the glory of this great truth!"

- C.H. Spurgeon

Quoted by Dr. Tom Wood in Graced Again  http://www.gracedagain.com

Free from the Law

"For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love." Gal. 5:5,6; cf. Rom. ch 7

"ILLUSTRATION:  A woman had a very unloving husband.  Every day before he went to work, he would make a long list of tasks she was to complete before he returned home.  No matter how hard she tried to complete the tasks, she never was successful.  So, every night he would scold her for what he considered a very poor performance.  Her life with this husband was very hard. After a time, the husband died and a few years later she married another man who was kind and loving.  They had a wonderful relationship and she was very happy. 

"One day as she was cleaning their home, she came across one of the lists of tasks that her former husband had written for her to do.  As she looked at the list, she was amazed to discover that while she could not complete the list for the former husband no matter how hard she tried, she was now accomplishing all those things for her new husband. 

"The key application of this illustration is that before salvation, it was impossible to keep the Lord's commands consistently.  When you are saved, you have a loving relationship espoused (engaged) to the Lord.  Following Him is not a matter of merely following a set of rules.  Following His commands is not an exercise in legalistic do's and don'ts.  It is not a way to earn our salvation or to gain favor with God to balance out our sin.  It is a loving response to what God has so amazingly and marvelously done for us.  It is now a matter of loving obedience in the empowering of the Holy Spirit." 

- Living Victoriously, (pg 14) Biblical Counseling Foundation  www.bcfministries.org

Yoke is Easy, Burden is Light

"So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of
which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give
you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of
all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did
not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not
plant" (Deuteronomy 6:10-12). Moses spoke these words to the
Israelites before they entered the Promised Land.

Many years later, almost these same words were uttered in a prayer for
those who had returned from captivity in Babylon. That portion of the
prayer was: "They captured fortified cities and fertile land; they
took possession of houses filled with all kinds of good things, wells
already dug, vineyards, olive groves and fruit trees in abundance.
They ate to the full and were well-nourished; they reveled in your
great goodness" (Nehemiah 9:25).

These two passages present a beautiful picture of the freedoms
believers have when we walk in the Spirit. When we walk in the Spirit,
we are freed from the burden of making decisions because we are living
a life of response to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.

The life of the church following the day of Pentecost reveals to
Christian leaders that they could be free of the burden of
"motivation." That is the work of the Holy Spirit. We easily and
joyfully lead people to salvation when the Holy Spirit has prepared
them for the experience.

These are a few of the freedoms we have when we walk in the Spirit.
Our "yoke is easy and our burden light."

-David Kuykendall Ministries 10/31/11
Visit their web site at www.livingbygrace.org.

An Eternal Perspective

["He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put
eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work
that God does from beginning to end." Eccl. 3:11]

"We have abandoned a self-conscious allegiance to the reality of
eternity that structures the way we think about and approach the here
and now. The functional philosophy of the modern person is simply
devoid of eternity. Forever isn't a topic written about much in our
newspapers and magazines. It isn't a topic of interest in our popular
entertainment media. It isn't a serious topic of interest in the
university or in the halls of government. The thought of forever
simply isn't a thought many of us carry around anymore, at least not
in a way that makes much differenc people who have lost sight of
forever."

["For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not
worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
Rom. 8:18]

- Paul David Tripp , Forever (Zondervan, 2011). p. 20

Perfect Love Casts Out Fear

"'There is no fear in love', writes the apostle John, 'but perfect
love drives out fear."[ 1 John 4:18]

'He goes on to point to the source of that perfect love: 'We love
because He first loved us". In other words, the cure to fear is not a
change in circumstances, rather a deep grounding in the love of God.
I ask God to reveal His love to me directly, or through my
relationships with those who also know Him--a prayer I think God takes
great delight in answering. When I get depressed about my present
failures, I ask God to remind me of my true identity: one who will be
made perfect and has already been forgiven. '

"You''ve got to go deeper'," ... my burned out pastor [was
counseled]. "'Sink the well into a water table that never runs dry'."

Thomas Merton conceded that everything in modern city life conspires
against such surrender. We worry (fear) about money, about what we
need to have and to know, about whom to compete with and what is
slipping out of our control. (He) found the secret to true freedom:
If we live to please God alone (the One who loves us), we set
ourselves free from the cares and worries that press in on us."

-Phillip Yancey

Quoted by Dr. Tom Wood, Church Multiplication Ministries

Facing Pain Together

Pain is not something most people like.  That is why we run from it as fast as we can.  That is also why we aren''t free.  Jesus hardly ever goes to those places where we run.  When pain comes (or when we fear that it will come), don''t run away.  Run to it, and you will find you have run into the arms of Jesus.  In other words, buck up, face it, embrace it, and know that you and Jesus can deal with it.  Then you will laugh and dance in the freedom and the reality of God''s sufficiency and the power that becomes awesome in your weakness."

Steve Brown, A Scandalous Freedom

- http://www.gracedagain.com

DO THE FIRST WORKS

"Repent and do the first works." Revelation 2:5

This is a command of Jesus to the church in Ephesus. In that same
message, Jesus tells the church at Ephesus that they have lost their
first love and are in danger of Jesus forsaking the church.

The first works of the Ephesians were works of their first love.
Following the salvation experience, God gives new believers a
sovereign period of grace in which they are filled with love because
they are filled with the Holy Spirit.

Interpreting the experience in Ephesus in light of other Scriptures in
the New Testament, we know that in time the sovereign experience came
to an end and the Ephesian believers began serving God in the flesh.
All believers who begin to serve God in the flesh lose that first
love. More than one child of God has said, "I would give anything if I
could have the love in my heart for others that I had following my
conversion experience."

In John 13:34 Jesus says, "A new commandment I give to you, that you
love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one
another." Then in John 15:12, Jesus says, "This is My commandment,
that you love one another as I have loved you. In Romans 13:8 Paul
writes, "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who
loves another has fulfilled the law."

It is sad when we see a professing Christian who seems to be filled
with bitterness rather than love; that seems to be filled with a
spirit of condemnation rather than compassion.

When a conscientious believer who has lost that first love is
confronted with the statements of Jesus about His commandment of love,
he grieves. In his grief, he may attempt to work up a spirit of love
in his heart. In time he knows that this approach to solving his
problem will not work.

The answer is in receiving the filling of the Holy Spirit by living
out our oneness with Christ. [John 15:5-8]

www.livingbygrace.org.
Copyright © 2000-2005 David Kuykendall Ministries.

Triumphant Peace

"Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world
gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it
be afraid." - John 14:27

"However, faith has its trials, as well as it's answers. It is not to
be imagined that the man of faith, having pushed out from the shore of
circumstances, finds it all smooth and easy sailing. By no means.
Again and again, he is called to encounter rough sea and stormy skies;
but it is all graciously designed to lead him into deeper and more
matured experience of what God is to the heart that confides in Him.
Were the sky always without a cloud and the ocean without a ripple,
the believer would not know so well that God with Whom he has to do;
for alas, we know how prone that heart is to mistake the peace of
circumstances for the peace of God. When everything is going on
smoothly and pleasantly—out property safe, our business prosperous,
our children carrying themselves agreeably, our residence comfortable,
our health excellent—everything in short, just to our mind, how apt we
are to mistake the peace which reposes upon such circumstances for
that peace which flows from the realized presence of Christ."" -C.H.
Mackintosh

(Compiled by Dr. Tom Wood, http://www.gracedagain.com)

The Secret of Guidance

F. B. Meyer (1847-1929) wrote from a Christ-centered, grace-oriented perspective. Pastors need guidance from the Lord personally and in their role in leading the "flock." CCEL.org has this classic online for free download: "Many Christians wonder whether or not God has a plan for their future. F.B. Meyer spent his life as a pastor and evangelist ministering to people all over the world about God's unfailing guidance. In his book, The Secret of Guidance, Meyer shares his thoughts on the subject for all Christians to read. In order to receive God's guidance, we must first surrender our wills and seek guidance with pure motives. Meyer tells Christians that prayer and patience are two of the most important habits that must be practiced as they wait for the gradual unfolding of God's plan. Several sections in this text help readers identify the places in their lives where they have gone astray, in hopes that they can improve upon these areas. Meyer reminds Christians that Christ is there to help them bear their sorrows and burdens. Finally, Meyer shares the importance of faith as Christians try to understand the fullness of the Spirit. The Secret of Guidance helps assure uncertain Christians that God is always faithful." http://www.ccel.org/ccel/meyer/guidance.html

Spiritual Antidote for Lust

""When we feel the pull toward the golden-haired woman, we must recognize that 'something deeper is at play' as Augustine said, 'Let my soul praise you for all these beauties, but let it not attach itself to them by the trap of love,'  the trap of addiction because we''ve taken our soul to her for validation.  

But there is an even deeper issue than our question.  What else is it we are seeking from the Woman with the Golden Hair?  What is that ache we are trying to assuage with her?  Mercy, comfort, beauty, ecstasy--—in a word, God.  I'm serious.  What we are looking for is God.

Notice that the struggle with pornography or masturbation is most difficult when you are lonely, or beat up, or longing for comfort in some way...but if this is the water you are truly thirsty for, then why do you remain thirsty after you''ve had a drink?  It's the wrong well.  We must reverse Adam''s choice; we must choose God over Eve.  We take our ache to Him.  For only in God will we find the healing for our wound."

"- John Eldredge

Quoted by Dr. Tom Wood in Graced Again (Church Multiplication Ministries)  http://www.gracedagain.com

Trusting Christ as Your Life

A pastor commented on the article, Trusting Christ as Your Life:

This realization hit me two months ago, that I was preaching and pastoring in my own efforts.It sounds so much better to say my own efforts but the Bible calls this "flesh" How true rings the phrase "Bewitched you" when Paul asks why the Christ followers are not obeying the truth (Jesus). Jeremiah 17:9 comes to mind when we realize that "The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it?" (NASB).

I was honestly of the mind that I was a great preacher, bringing "The Word" to God's people! How wrong to think I could do this relying on my own education and oratory abilities. Many pastors and professors had warned about this pitfall through the years! And here I was a seasoned pastor, "bewitched"! How refreshing to confess this to Father and to thank Him for the forgiveness through the cross! How refreshing for God's people to now hear a pastor drawing on Jesus resurrection power and letting Jesus be seen instead! O Father you are so gracious!

Pastor D.S. Canada

Grace Note at http://www.gracenotebook.com/pub/113.html

The "Stake" of God's Word (1)

But the wider our work the stronger it must be at the centre. And therefore as the cords are lengthened the stakes must also be strengthened. What are these stakes? 

1. Surely God's Word is the first. The more widespread the work God gives us to do the more important is it that we be true to the great standard of truth, the Bible and the gospel of Jesus Christ. This is the day of new theologies and loose views of evangelical truth. More sacredly than ever does the Master require us to stand faithful to the cross of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of man's sin and ruin, the great atonement, the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures, the person and work of the Holy Ghost and the certainties of future retribution and reward. Thank God we do not have to resort to the novelties of rationalism to attract the multitudes. Give them the Living Bread, the atoning blood, the old and ever new story of Jesus and His love. 

A.B. Simpson, A Larger Christian Life

Walking On By

Recently two elders within YWAM came up to our church plant in Smithers, BC for a special service.  One of the men, Paul, shared the story of Jesus walking on the water and Peter stepping out to meet Him.  You can read that story in Matthew 14:22-33 and Mark 6:45-52.

Paul briefly mentioned the later part of Mark 6:48.  It was a little aside and not something he focused on but it started rolling around in my mind and I have been blessed by meditating a bit more on that Scripture.  

The verse says, "Then He saw them straining at rowing, for the wind was against them. Now about the fourth watch of the night He came to them, walking on the sea, and would have passed them by."

Why would Jesus pass them by?  

While thinking on that I, also realized how often I feel that way in my own life.  I feel as if Jesus is passing me by and doesn't see the storm I am in.  Work, family, life, pastor, friends, interests, it all seems to swirl around me in a bit of a "perfect storm."  

I feel as if I am rowing against the wind.   

Yet in that storm, Jesus walked close enough for the disciples to see Him.  They cried out for they couldn't see Him clearly.  As they did, He drew closer and revealed Himself more fully.  He got into the boat with them, calmed the storm and they worshiped Him!

It is a comfort to me to know that, though it may feel like Christ is passing me by in the midst of the storm, in reality He is closer than I think!

All I have to do is cry out to Him.

- Rick  Apperson

 www.apperson.blogspot.com

Noah's Ark

Noah's Ark : Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark . 

ONE: Don't miss the boat. 
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat! 
THREE: Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark. 
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big. 
FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done. 
SIX: The Ark never had a rudder; so God did the steering.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs. 
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile. 
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals. 
ELEVEN: No matter the storm, there's always a rainbow waiting. 
TWELVE: Even when we're 'all at sea', God has a perfect plan for us.

Shattered Dreams

""If I were a pastor, I would want to preach in the spirit of the New
Covenant, inviting everyone in the congregation to see the heart of
God revealed in the cross of Christ. I would encourage them to
interpret all of life''s hardships not as problems to fix or struggles
to relieve or pain to deaden, but as important elements in a larger
story that all God''s children long to tell. I would urge them to
accept wherever they are on the journey, whether happy or miserable,
as the place where God will meet them, where He loves them, where He
will continue to work in them. And I would offer my own life as a
growing, struggling, sometimes painfully unattractive example of what
doing that might mean. I would beg God to deliver me from Calvary-
denying sermons, which leave people feeling scolded and pressured.

I would ask God to never let me again preach an Eden-denying message
where psychological insights replace biblical wisdom in a misguided
effort to repair emotional damage when the real problem is a serpent-
inspired determination to experience life without God." " - Larry
Crabb "Shattered Dreams" (via Tom Wood, www.gracedagain.com)