grace

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God’s Mysteries Revealed In Christ

16th October

“And this is God’s plan: Both Gentiles and Jews who believe the Good News share equally in the riches inherited by God’s children. Both are part of the same body, and enjoy the promise of blessings because they belong to Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 3:6

We are free. We are no longer bound by the chains of sin and the works of the enemy. We have been bought with the precious blood of Christ. So often, many people are afraid to accept Jesus in their lives out of fear of being bound to a ‘religion’ or a ‘set of rules!’ Yet nothing could be further from the truth. When we accept the Good News of Jesus’ death and resurrection, His love, forgiveness and acceptance, we are set free. Yes, there may be guidelines along the way to help us, but rather than them being rules, they are reminders of who we are in Christ and how privileged we are to be chosen by Him, not because of our works but because of His grace. We are set free to live in all of His blessings and ‘riches inherited by God’s children.’

This was God’s plan from the beginning of time; that all men may be joined equally in the worship of Him, all being united and part of the same body through Jesus. If we fast forward to the book of Revelation, we are reminded by John, that ‘every nation and tribe and people and language’ stood in front of the throne and worshiped the King of Kings together along with all of God’s angels. That picture may be a foresight in the future, but it is also achievable on this earth.

Let us put aside our cultural differences, our judgmental attitudes that divide instead of unite, and let humbly come before Jesus Christ, the Lord of Lord’s and Ruler of all in unity because of God riches and grace towards us. We who believe, are all part of the same body. God’s promise is available to all who believe… Everyone is accepted…It’s not to late to accept His free gift!

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Jesus’ Position In Us – Our Position In Him

14th October

“Now He is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else – not only in this world but in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and had made Him head over all things for the benefit of the church.”

Ephesians 1:21-22

We can be comforted by knowing that Jesus’ work of salvation in our hearts and in our lives is not due to our ‘good works’ but completely out of the grace and love of Jesus Christ; It’s His free gift towards mankind – lest we should boast in our own good deeds. There is nothing we can do to make God love us more and nothing we can do to make God love us less. He, unconditionally pours His grace and kindness over us all the time. The writer of Romans tells us that in fact it was ‘while we were still sinners that Christ died for us!’

Yet not only does God allow us into His kingdom, to enjoy the benefits of His redemption and the unlimited resources of love, kindness and grace, but He also lives in our hearts, helping us to work out our salvation, helping us know Him more and guiding us into all truth.

Moreover, Christ in us is the hope of glory. When Christ was raised from the dead, Father God exalted Him above all things, above all powers and gave Him all authority, in Heaven and on Earth. Therefore when we call upon the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ, many will be saved, set free, healed and delivered. Yes, that same Jesus, who was there at the beginning of time, who defeated sin and death, who has all power and all authority, lives in YOU because of the ‘incredible wealth of grace and kindness’ towards us. It is this reason that we have hope, because He lives, we live!

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Oh, The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus

12thOctober

 

“So we praise God for the glorious grace He has poured out on us who belong to His dear Son. He is so rich in kindness and grace that He purchased our freedom with the blood of His Son and forgave our sins. He has showered His kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding.”

Ephesians 1:6-8

It is always a timely reminder to remember that we are purchased with the blood of Jesus Christ, God’s only Son. It never gets old. It is always the right time to hear it. It is what gives us hope. Jesus Christ died for our freedom from sinful bondage and slavery. Period.

Yet it was not a burden for God. It was His joy. It is because He is ‘so rich in kindness and grace’ that He purchased us with His own blood. Moreover, there is nothing we did to deserve it. Just grace, love, and kindness and more grace, love and kindness. So much so, that Paul uses the analogy of a shower to paint the picture of God’s kindness towards us. A shower analogy highlights the continual pouring, drenching and cleansing work of God’s grace in our life. There is no end to it. It pours over us and through us, cleanses us from our sin and still keeps drenching us with more grace, love and kindness.

That is worth praising God for..right?

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Our Confident Hope

4th August

“Therefore, since we have been right in God’s sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. Because of our faith, Christ has bought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God’s glory.”

Romans 5:1-2

God’s love and grace is amazing. Once enemies, we are now children of God. Once sinners, we are now saved. We have been given the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ. And it is not because of what we have done, as if it was something that could be earned. It simply was and is a gift. A daily gift that you can have as much of as you want. Jesus’ love is limitless. We have been brought with such a high price that we now are seated in the very presence of God, in Heavenly places. Moreover, we are so blessed that God gives us the faith to receive and believe it. We are in Christ and He is in us. We stand in a place of undeserved privilege, yet can share in the blessings of His grace and glory as true children of God.

We now can confidently and joyfully look forward to Jesus’ return and to living eternally in future glory with the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Yet while we are on this earth, we bear the responsibility of being His representative, spreading the grace and love of God, our Heavenly Father.

Wherever you are at today, know that God has so much love for you . No matter where you are, what you have done, God’s grace is a real today as it was when we He bled on the cross for our sins. It is because we have been brought with such a high price that we can boldly and confidently share in His love, accept His grace and abide in His presence.

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The Power Of Salvation

28th May

“There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved….The apostles testified powerfully to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and God’s great blessing was upon them all. ”

Acts 4:12, 33

Today’s message is simple. There is no one else that can save us from our sin, apart from Jesus Christ. There is really nothing we can do that will lead us to salvation. Salvation is God’s work alone. There is no formula, no performance, no rituals you have to follow, because salvation is God’s free gift to us. The only way we are saved from living as God’s enemies is by accepting His gift, believing that Jesus is Lord and repenting of bad choices that lead us to live lifestyles in opposition to God! When we accept His gift to us we are adopted into His family and become sons and daughters of the most high God, no longer enemies or slaves to sin, but new creations. We become His family, His bride, and His friends.

As Peter and the other apostles declared, it is because Jesus powerfully rose from the dead, that He could defeat death and sin, and lead us into a life of blessings. However, Jesus does not save us so we can lock ourselves in our room basking in His forgiveness. We are saved to go out and share the good news with others. To proclaim the “powerful resurrection of our Lord Jesus”, and to declare that there is “no other name under by which we can be saved” other than the name of Jesus Christ.

This world needs hope, love and light and it is our job to declare it to a dry and thirsty people. Jesus is the hope of the nations.

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Nailing Sinful Passions To The Cross

28th Feb – 1st March

Weekend Edition

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.”

Galatians 5:24 

The cross forever stands as a reminder of the pain and suffering that our Lord Jesus went through when He took humanities sin on His shoulders and took our punishment for us. However, when looking at the cross, we should only see our place in God’s eyes. FORGIVEN!

If we are forgiven (continually forgiven) then our lifestyles should reflect the inward change and the regenerative work of salvation. So often we can slip up and go back to old habits, old lifestyles and even begin to think as you did before Christ lived in you. However, Paul’s encouragement for us today, is to nail our old habits, passions and desires to the cross. We no longer have to be slaves to sin. What Jesus did on the cross was eternal, for everyone and can never run out.

We can start again today. Grace, hope and love are no restricted to a once in a lifetime decision. You can have as much of Jesus’ grace, hope and love, as you want all the time. If we confess our sins (nailing them to the cross) then He will forgive us. It’s a promise. Today if you have wondered from God’s best for you, nail your sins to the cross, and have faith they are crucified with Christ and that because of His love for you, YOU ARE FORGIVEN…HOW AMAZING IS THAT!!

Go and Sin no more!!