Wednesday, December 22, 2010

Saving Grace

Do you remember the moment you experienced Sanctifying Grace? (Sanctify-make pure or free from sin or guilt) (Grace- An excellence or power granted by God.)
Human Freedom:
Don't you just love giving or receiving a gift? Oh, what a warm and fuzzy feeling inside our souls.             Matthew 7:11 "know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" One of the gifts God has given to us is Human Freedom. This is a freedom to make a decision, and as you could figure out all decisions may have consequences. No matter the decision, weather good or bad, God will NEVER withdraw that gift of Human Freedom. God challenges us to make decisions. I think about two people right now- Moses and the Israelite s (Dt. 30:19) or Joshua and the people of Israel (Joshua 24:15). All the folks had to make a choice as to whom they would serve. (Galatians 5:1)


Human Sin:
Think of Adam and Eve- God gave them Human Freedom. God told them not to eat from the tree of life... what happened? (Gen. 3:6) As harmless as it seemed to them, there are deep consequences (seperation from God). However, after sin and disobedience we find our friend-- Grace! (Gen. 3:15) We have the promise of our Redeemer! Even in the midst of the worst tragedies happening everyday, we can see grace re emerging throughout our own lives and in this world we live in. (Romans 8:1-8) Have you experienced God's Transforming Grace?


Sanctifying Grace
God sees a potential in us that we often miss. It's not until God gets the nutcracker out (if you will) and breaks our shell. we all know there are better things inside a shell than on the outside area. His grace is directed towards the potential that He knows of and sees. 
God gave us the power to respond and relate to Him in fellowship. Yet, with sin this was broken and with Grace we are saved, transformed and forgiven. The Holy Spirit is set upon us- cleanses us and then shapes us into who God wants us to be. (Eph. 1:4, 5:1-2)


Three Elements of Sanctification 
1. Know who God really is, just as we know a friend. (Luke 10:27) This is possible by God's grace.
2. Reject sin- Reject what we want and stand on God's side- Pray. (Psalm 139:23-24)
3.Set our hearts to obey God's commandment- To love one another. (1 Peter 1:22) This is possible with God's help.


God calls us to be holy (1 Peter 1:15-16) while respecting our choice to say a yes or no. He wants our unconditional YES! saying Yes to God releases God's grace to flow freely into and through our lives.


This study with help from "Reflecting God" Study Bible NIV





Monday, December 20, 2010

Quotes!

on listening, thinking, and discerning God's will

"God never gives us discernment in order that we may criticize, but that we may intercede."
------ Oswald Chambers
"I never learned anything while I was talking."
------ Larry King
"Conflating modern-day intuition, etc. with the real Spirit is like confusing a gentle breeze with a tornado. If the real Spirit were really working in the post-apostolic church, it would be just as ambiguous as a cyclone."
------ online comment.
"Discerning and acting on God's will does not mean you'll never have difficult days or feel lousy sometimes. But choosing to live in alignment with God makes you more joyful, compassionate, and peaceful, even on bad days."
------ Debra K. Farrington, *Hearing with the Heart*
"The majority of historic heresy is based on an interpretation of the written not the living word. The 'living word' -- which is the Word in action through the gifts of the Spirit -- is all application and totally subjected in interpretation to the body of Christian truth, not an elevation of subjective over objective truth."
------ Ron Zess (online).