Grace

[Albert Finch]

Proverbs 25:2 - "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter."

In reality the Bible is a closed book.. Anything I can get from the Word without God will not change my life. It is closed to insure that I remain dependent on the Holy Spirit.

When I treat the Bible as a road map I live as though I can find my way through my own understanding of His Book.

Under grace I don't get a road map....I get a tour guide -- The Holy Spirit. He directs, reveals and empowers me to be and do what the Word says.

Albert Finch

www.thekey2kingdom.com

Edited May 23, 2009 by Albert Finch

[Albert Finch]

Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need.

The Holy Spirit was sent to convict us of sin, and He will point out our sin.

The remedy is to repent. Repentance is not just turning away from the sin, but it is turning to the Lord. If we only take a half step of turning from the sin, we will fall again.

We must turn to the Lord, fleeing to the power of His cross, beholding His glory and nature. Then we will be changed.

He increases in us as we behold His glory, not our own shortcomings.

Albert Finch

http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com

Edited May 29, 2009 by Albert Finch

[Openly Curious]

Ephesians 2:8-10 (New International Version)

New International Version (NIV)

Copyright

[Albert Finch]

Luke 1:28 - And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favored, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.

Ephesians 1:6 - To the praise of the glory of His grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.

The word "freely given" or "accepted" in Ephesians 1:6 (The Greek word - charitoo) is the same word used for "Highly favored" in Luke 1:28.

Mary was the one person on earth who was chosen to "bring forth the Son of God"; and she was called highly favored and beloved of the Lord.

Ephesians 1:6 is talking about every born again believer being accepted in the beloved.

Just as Mary was used to bring forth the Son of God, so also, we will be used to bring forth the Son of God in all His Glory

Albert Finch

http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com

[Albert Finch]

John 1:16 - And of his fulness have all we received and grace for grace.

Most Christians believe God can do anything but experience very little. They believe that God can release His power in answer to prayer, but whether something comes to pass or not depends on their performance (ie. being holy, speaking right, studying the word. tithing, avoiding strife, etc).

This view short-circuits God's power because their focus is on what they need to do instead of what Christ has already done. They think God's power is out there somewhere, and they must do things in order to obtain it!

The truth is, when we were born again, God put His power, anointing, victory, joy, peace -- everything -- in us in abundance. The only reason they weren't manifest in our soul and body is our unrenewed mind.

Affirmation

I refuse to look to the physical realm.....instead I look at and affirm the words of Christ until they dwell richly in my soul.

Albert Finch

http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com

[Albert Finch]

Matthew 5:8 - Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous - possessing the happiness produced by the experience of god's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!

When we see ourselves for whom we truly are meant to be in God, we can begin to call others out of their limited ways into seeing the limitless reality that is available to them in Christ.

Ephesians 1:3 - Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spirptual blessings in heavenly places in Christ.

Albert Finch

http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com

Edited June 26, 2009 by Albert Finch

[Ellie08]

This got me thinking of something really helpful that I learned recently, the difference between grace and mercy.

Grace is GETTING something you DON'T deserve, mercy is NOT GETTING something you DO deserve.

I thought about it, and was in awe when I realized that salvation is both of those things.

[Guest]

Amen!

[Albert Finch]

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

In the world "self-made" men and women are esteemed, but not so in Christ.

Our goal is to be fashioned and established by the grace of God, not our own efforts. In this way we are his workmanship, devoted to becoming what he wants us to be.

We are not working in order to gain approval, but because we love the one who loved us, saved us, and works through us.

Albert Finch

http://www.thekeys2kingdom.com

[desi2007]

amen