John 1:16-17 (Amplified) says, "For out of His fullness (abundance), we have all received, all had a share and were all supplied with, one Grace after another and Spiritual Blessing upon Spiritual Blessing and even favor upon favor and Gift heaped upon Gift. For while the Law was given through Moses, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor) and Spiritual Blessing and Truth, came through Jesus Christ."
Hebrews 4:16 (Amplified) says, "Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the Throne of Grace (the Throne of God's unmerited favor) that we may receive mercy for our failures and find Grace to help in good time for every need (appropriate help and well-timed help coming just when we need it)."
Faith in Jesus activates Grace for our needs, as well as the needs of others. Grace has made it possible by faith, to actually be in the Presence of our Heavenly Father. We don't appropriate the Grace that came through Jesus, like we should. God's Grace will allow us to actually know our Father, on a one on One basis. I can talk to Him, learn from Him, be directed by Him and learn to love Him, as the One Who Love me enough to die for me.
Many feel that learning to walk with Him, by His Word and His Spirit, is "bondage." Many believe it's "bondage," for us to watch what we say, read His Word and fellowship with Him, pray and listen to His Spirit. If you're doing all these things because "you have too," then it is bondage and only religious ritual. These aren't things we have to do, but things we're privileged to do. It's a privilege to come into God's Throne Room by Grace and learn in His Presence. It's a privilege to pray and work together with Him, concerning the things of my own life and the lives of others, including our nation and world. It's a privilege to understand the Father's heart and carry out His Plan for mankind. This is Grace.
We've forgotten the privilege we have through Grace and have lost our own identity to religious rituals and teachings. When someone is told to do certain things, in order to be right with God, then it becomes bondage, because it's not done from a right heart and motive. Prayer is the greatest privilege mankind has ever received. The ability to stand in His Presence, by the Blood bought privilege of being righteous in His Presence and conversing with Him Face-to-face, is the greatest thing salvation has provided us. When you were born-again, you became His family and He became your Father. This isn't something we believe when reciting "The Lord's Prayer," but it's a Truth that only those who know Him can be privileged with. I can come to God at any time and all the time and He will always take the time to hear me, talk with me, instruct me, and fellowship with me. Prayer isn't always done in time of need, but in the privilege of knowing Him.
You already have favor with Him, without having to earn it, BECAUSE OF JESUS. How much time do you spend in His Word, learning from and getting to know Him? Is it something you "have to do?" The Law was established, because it was the only way God could keep the people in a place of being able to Bless them. Under Grace, we shouldn't need any laws, in order to make us spend time with Him. It should be a privilege for us to do so.
Many believe it's bondage to learn how to walk with the Father. Many believe any sermon or teaching that goes beyond fifteen minutes, is bondage. The Law was placed on the old covenant people, to make them walk in a place where God can Bless them, because very few of them would simply trust Him and lean on Him. We've viewed the Spirit Realm as being "Casper the Ghost's world." The Realm of the Spirit, God's Kingdom, is the most orderly Realm known to anyone, here or there. There are Spiritual Laws that govern God's Kingdom, are much more sure than the laws governing earth. When we seek God and His Kingdom, we learn the Spiritual Laws that govern and faith is no longer like playing the Lottery, hoping we can win.
By faith, accept Grace. By Grace, accept your place in God's Kingdom and by being in the family, accept your inheritance. By accepting your inheritance, accept the Truth that you have been favored and are God's Own child and walk with Him on this earth. We didn't become righteous, because we were good. We were made righteous, because He is good. We didn't earn favor, but we were granted favor, because of Grace that we didn't deserve. We've been trying to achieve these things after we're born-again, but they're already ours to enjoy, when they're received by faith in Jesus.
How can we not want to learn how to please and love a Father, Who has done so much for us? How can it be a bondage, to have to want to learn how to return His Love? Most of us don't even know Him. Jesus said in John 4:24 (Amplified), "God is a Spirit (a Spiritual Being), and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and Truth (reality)." Is God real to you? Does He talk with you, guide you, live not only in you, but with you? Is He Lord in your home, at your job, in your school and your daily life? Do you love to spend time with Him, in your daily life? Or, do you just spend Sundays with Him?
Many have told me, "It's hard to walk with God and be a Christian" and to those who only know religion instead of reality, that might be. Walking with God has been the easiest thing I've ever done, in my entire life. If I don't know something, then I ask Him and He tells me the answer. If I need Wisdom, then He guides me. He keeps me from all harm, by His Word and His Spirit. I was driving to Watertown, when I approached the single traffic light in Limerick. The light was green, but God told me to "Stop." Jesus asked His followers, "Why do you call Me Lord and not do what I say?" So, because He is my Lord and I try to do what He says, I stopped. A vehicle didn't stop, when approaching the light, from the perpendicular side of the highway. I recognized God's Voice and listened to His commands, which saved my life and perhaps the life/lives of those in the other car.
Some might think it sounds extreme, to actually walk in these things, but God thinks this is how His children walk with their Father. Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 (Amplified), "But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His Kingdom and His Righteousness (His way of doing and being right) and then all these things taken together will be given you besides." We don't change God's Word, to meet our lives. We change our lives, to meet His Word. We spend most of our Christian walk, trying to stay out of sin and doing right. I've found that when I spend time in His way of doing and being right, sin no longer has dominion over me and I can keep my mind and heart on Him.
Don't spend time fellow-shipping with the world, trying to win them over. They're not impressed with our being nice to them, they need to see God manifested in our lives. They're not impressed when we lower the standards of God's Word, that's not what they're looking for. Before being saved, I believed the only difference between Christians and me, was that they went to Church and I stayed home nursing a hangover. I didn't really see much difference between them and myself. When I was born-again, I saw God as He is and not how they portrayed Him to be.
I didn't find a hard and stern God, but a kind, patient, loving Father, Who was eager to teach me His ways, so I could walk closer with Him. Most men dream of having a son he can teach and watch grow into a man. I wanted a son, I could teach to ride horses, hunt, fish and camp out. I wanted a son who respected his elders and was a good man. I wanted to raise him right, so he could grow into a father, who was able to teach his children the right things. I didn't just dream of a son, but I wanted a son who was obedient and who would follow me out of love and respect, and not fear. Isaiah 54:9 (Amplified) says, "For this shall be like the days of Noah to Me; as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so have I sworn that I will not be angry with you or rebuke you. For though the mountains should depart and the hills be shaken or removed, yet My Love and Kindness shall not depart from you, nor shall My Covenant of Peace and Completeness be removed, says the Lord, Who has compassion on you."
The Lord spoke to me earlier this year, saying this was to be "The Year of Understanding." I was initially confused, but then He began showing me how He spoke to us many times, but we had no understanding of His Word. He was preventing hardship and calamity from befalling us, but many times He was stopped from doing so, because we believed, "That's how God is teaching me." The hardship and calamity came, when we wouldn't turn and obey, at His reproof. I then began understanding where we've invented excuses for the calamity and hardship in our lives.
Proverbs 17:10 (Amplified) says, "A reproof enters deeper into a man of understanding, than a hundred lashes into a self-confident fool." 2Timothy 3:16-17 (Amplified) explains, saying, "Every scripture is God-breathed (given by His Inspiration) and profitable for instruction, for reproof and conviction of sin, for correction of error and discipline in obedience, and training for righteousness, in holy living, in conformity to God's will in thought, purpose and action So that the man of God may be complete and proficient, well-fitted and thoroughly equipped for every good work."
We can only be what God calls us to be, by understanding His Word. God is Spirit, God's Word is Spirit, and we are spirit. The only way to teach and understand Spiritual things, is by Spiritual matters. Your body can't train your spirit, only the spirit trains the body. Abstaining from fleshly things and bringing our bodies into line, will not work when our spirits aren't strong and in charge, because of God's Word. When trials comes, our body will return to its old ways, if we don't strengthen our spirit by His Word. This is why so many Christians lose fire after awhile and become carnal again.
The Holy Ghost and Fire will keep us seeking God. If we don't understand His Word, then the Fire goes out, frustration sets in, and we go back to the carnal way of thinking. We say, "It must not be for everyone" or "This must be God's will for me." We're only educating our senses without Revelation, when we read God's Word without understanding. Jesus told us that, "The Words I speak unto you are Spirit and Life."
Your intellect (head) might be able to read the Word, but it cannot bring Revelation of the Spiritual reality it holds. God directed Joshua to, "Meditate on My Word day and night." He was transferring Spiritual understanding, beyond his intellect and building faith on what he was meditating on. God say that, "He would make his ways prosperous and he would have great success." All of them heard the Word, but only a few of those in the Wilderness understood. The Word guides our lives and gives success.
We must not rely on someone else to seek God for us. We have the privilege of entering into God's Presence for ourselves. We need teachers in our lives, but every good teacher will say, "Don't take my word for it, go to the original source for yourself." Teachers instructed me how to do something, and then left it to me to do. A teacher doesn't do the work for us, but shows us how to do it. Studying is left to every individual. Listen and seek for yourself, what God is saying to you.
Grace gives us the opportunity to come into His Presence for ourselves. Don't neglect God's Throne of Grace for understanding, but go as often as you need and stay there, if you must. The most important things on this planet for you, is God's Word. It's Life to you, it's health and healing to all your flesh, it is correction and obedience, and it's the Father speaking to you as His child. Don't deny Him the instruction of a Father, by doing it your way. Do it His way.
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