The Grace of God.

Jesus said “you shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). It’s not truth that sets you free; it’s the truth you KNOW that sets you free. So here goes…

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. (John 1:16-17)

Grace is undeserved, unearned, unmerited favor. Jesus is the face of Grace. For he died sins he didn’t commit for a people who absolutely deserved death but didn’t get it- Grace was the end of the old and the beginning of the new covenant. The old covenant of “you do this, and I will do that” is gone, what we have now is God saying “I have done this and that- you just receive” This new way of living under Grace.

In this new covenant, the **law has changed, and so has the way we do things. We might still do the same things as we did before we believed, but the intentions and the attitude behind our acts has changed. E.g in Kenya the law of drinking alcohol was changed to only after 5pm- people still drink, but now only after 5. Likewise smoking in public was banned, people still smoke, but only from smoking zones. Also the law changed in that when you co-habit with your partner, you are deemed man and wife after 6 months- couples still date but probably would now not co-habit so readily or if they do it is till 5.5 months (lol)…point is, when the law changes, the acts might remain, but the way of doing them changes.

Back to the new covenant- it is no longer give 10%, but give as your heart leads, it is no more he who prays longer and louder gets heard, but we are told to pray in secret, it is no more that when you sin you should offer a lamb as a sacrifice, but receive the forgiveness already offered; God is no longer YHWH (a name that cannot be spoken) but we now call him “Abba Father” (Daddy)! And so much more.

In Grace, because it is undeserved, there is nothing we can do to make God love us more or hate us, because when Christ rose, God now sees Him instead of us. Our bad deeds are hid in Christ. Grace is all about receiving, by faith, what Christ has already given us. Grace is a guarantee “Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be BY GRACE and may be GUARANTEED to all Abraham’s offspring.

(Romans 4:16.) Things are easier for we do not have to do anything to get from God, we simply need to believe and receive. “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, BELIEVE that you HAVE RECEIVED it, and it will be yours” (Mk 11:24)
In summary, Grace is the essence of the Gospel, it is the Jesus in the flesh. For us to continue to understand and live the life Christ died to give us, knowing Grace (and faith) are of paramount importance.

** The old law is not just the 10 commandments, it is all the 613 rules and regulations in Leviticus that were given to the Israelites.

.not my, but let your will be done

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This was not Christ implying that he did not know the will of God, but was more of Christ submitting to the will of God. A will that, BECAUSE he knew was going to come to pass, was in agony over it in the flesh-hence the Angel needed to come to strengthen Him in the Spirit- (This is profound on its own).

God will comes to pass when we obey His word, and when we are weak in the flesh to do this, we like Jesus, can in faith receive strength from the Holy Spirit, to submit our flesh and believe in the promises of God.

Faith in Action

Faith is believing you have something as true/real before you see it. Technically, we walk by faith every day. E.g we believe that when we give the lady at the kiosk 1,500 shillings, she will give us a bottle of Coke. Let’s imagine that the lady did not give you the bottle of coke after giving her 1,500, what would we do? Logically we would find out if the price went up or if she run out of coke. Right? So as long as the kiosk is open, stocked and I have my 1,500 Shs, I know and believe that I will get my Coke.

Now, has God’s supply run out, or has he upped the price? Clearly no. Similarly, as long as God lives, and His promises still stand, and I have faith, I know and believe that I will get what I ask.

So let’s examine the principles used to get this Coke.

1- I will need to know that the kiosk sells Coke.
2- I will need to have 1,500 shs in my pocket.
3- I will need to walk to the kiosk.
4- I will need to ask for coke.
5- I will need to pay 1,500.
6- I will get my coke.

Translation:

1- I will need to know that God promises my healing (Read the Bible, find the promise)
2- I will need to know the cost of healing. (Christ)
3- I will need to go to God in prayer. (Pray)
4- I will need to ask for healing. (Ask in prayer, speak your faith, say it)
5- I will need to pay for my healing. (Christ)
6- I will be healed. (Yay!)

Here’s the fun part- the price for healing was already paid at the cross! So this is what we have now:
1- I will need to know that God promises my healing.
2- I will need to go to God in prayer.
3- I will need to ask for healing (knowing and believing it has already been paid for)
4- I will be healed

A combination of all these principles nurtures belief. For when we are sure that we will get whatever has been given unto us, we believe and cannot doubt. (Mark 11:24)

So can we believe we are righteous, forgiven, saved, healed, rich, and happy? Sure, as long as we can find a promise in the Bible that God said, we already got it!

Why do bad things happen?

One of life’s most famous questions.

Following the destructive Typhoon in the Philippines, the terrorist attack at Westgate, a lady gang raped for endless days in Uganda; just open a newspaper, we see bad things happening each day (1 of the reasons I do not read newspapers or watch/listen to news).

I believe we live in a fallen world (Adam and his chic did this) and because of it, there are some natural things that will happen, things that will be bad and/or done by bad people because of the evil in this fallen world. Earthquakes in Haiti were just the natural results of tectonic plates rubbing against each other; the Typhoon was caused by a storm that drew lots of heat from the ocean and reached peak intensity when reaching the island, the Westgate tragedy was done by bad bad people as were the rapists.

We honestly cannot say God did all these. “Those who are submitted to God have supernatural help to deal with life in a fallen world and those who don't have a relationship with the Lord find how limited their natural abilities really are.”

We cannot think that God did these things, for if that is the case then we should not try and help or pray against them coz then we will be going against God’s will. If God is doing all these, lets us get out of the way and let God do his thing. Sounds ridiculous, right?

Blaming God for tragedies has turned some people against God.

Adam’s sin not only affected mankind, but the animals “Cursed are you above all livestock and all wild animals” (Gen 3:14) – meaning, the livestock and wild animals were also cursed; the world as well “Cursed is the ground because of you”- (Gen 3:17). Things are now not perfect!

This is why we need to study the word to know what we have, to be able to live in this fallen world. Jesus was born in a fallen world. He lived in it for 33 years, and he too dealt with natural forces-storms and winds (Mark 4:39), hunger, sadness, fear etc. I believe the reason he rose from the dead was to defeat the curses and redeem for us the authority that Adam lost; and then God gave the apostles revelation to tell us how to live with this new authority that we now have in Christ.

But it takes knowledge and persistence to grow and develop our God given authority to the point of making a difference in our lives especially in times of disaster and suffering.

Sample Bible Study

We all know these verses from 2 Peter 1:2-4

2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
3 According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:
4 Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

…now this is how the Spirit has opened it up to me, after study…..

Unmerited abundant favour and complete, whole provision and serenity has been numerously increased to me IN the intimate perception and discernment of God and Jesus our Lord,

because His absolute exercisable authority has given to me everything that is related to physical existence on earth and in Heaven, and everything that pertains to being like God and having godly character through intimately perceiving and understanding God who called me because of His extensive importance and good moral character;

and it is THROUGH this intimate perception and discernment of God, and through this absolute exercisable authority that I have been given unlimited, countless and highly prized promises, that through these promises I have a share in the being, self, desire, nature, and very emotions of God, because I have escaped the exploitation, deceit and dishonesty of the world’s excessive and uncontrollable desire.

Now imagine how much more, will be revealed when I meditate on it!

There is power in mediation, for in it, the Spirit speaks to us

Why we Should not Sin.

SIN DOES NOT AFFECT GOD, BUT IT AFFECTS US. God said he will not remember our sin no more. Therefore, when we sin we are the ones who will REMEMBER it, we are the ones who will FEEL CONDEMNED and we are the ones who will live with the GUILT.

When we sin, we give the devil a foothold to condemn and fill us with guilt; and guilt causes doubt and unbelief which hinders our faith and relationship with God. The times you feel that God is mad at you- this is the devil using your sin to condemn you. So when we are tempted to sin, remember we are only going to HURT OURSELVES, NOT GOD.

For now that we are born again in Spirit, our CONSCIOUSNESS HAS CHANGED, and is now more sensitive to God and less sensitive to sin. This is why even before we sin, we know that what we are about to do is not right, but sadly, we do it anyway.

We ALREADY have Favour!

I thank my God at all times for you because of the grace (the favor and spiritual blessing) of God which was bestowed on you in Christ Jesus
“[So] that in Him in every respect you were enriched, in full power and readiness of speech [to speak of your faith] and complete knowledge and illumination [to give you full insight into its meaning].

In this way [our] witnessing concerning Christ (the Messiah) was so confirmed and established and made sure in you That you are not [consciously] falling behind or lacking in any special spiritual endowment or Christian grace [^[a]the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating in your souls by the Holy Spirit], while you wait and watch [constantly living in hope] for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and [His] being made visible to all.

And He will establish you to the end [keep you steadfast, give you strength, and guarantee your vindication; He will be your warrant against all accusation or indictment so that you will be] guiltless and irreproachable in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah). 

 God is faithful (reliable, trustworthy, and therefore ever true to His promise, and He can be depended on); by Him you were called into companionship and participation with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.- 1 Corinthians 1:4-9 (AMP)

The favor of God WAS bestowed on us when, through Christ, we believed. There is nothing we can do to get it, only receive it. How exciting is this! Contrary to popular belief, favor is not so much about wealth or material possessions, but more of being found delightful, pleasurable and receiving kindness from God. This should be the end of striving to please God. We should rest in the knowledge that through Christ we have now (freely) obtained favour from God.

Mary was called highly favoured – as the chosen Mother of Jesus; Rachel was beautiful and well favoured, Joseph was also well favoured, Esther obtained favour in the King’s sight. Now, from the verse above, we have this same favour, (This is the year of the Lord’s favour) and more for we are sons of God! Rachel, Joseph and Caleb are good examples of what the favour of God means, but we are more blessed than them for with favour we also are dead to sin and can enjoy this favour without condition.

Favor is “Charis” in the Greek, which means Grace.

WERE enriched!. “Banange!”, do you see what this means? This same favour has enriched us with FULL power and COMPLETE knowledge. Let me break it down: The favour of God has given us full range of knowledge and power in all things! The KJV says is better “That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge” What can defeat you, if you have it all knowledge? Nothing in creation!

Our reception of the favor of God in knowledge and power is a testimony that we have all the spiritual gifts we need. God says we are not lacking in any special endowment, who can say otherwise? Christ did not only come to save us from the wrath of God, but also to give us all the blessings and favor of God to live on this earth “while we wait” for Him to return. We do not need to wait to get to Heaven to live good lives, we have been given that life now, and we can choose to triumph or live in defeat.

How wonderful is our God. Not only has he given us favor, He has also guaranteed to protect us against the accuser or anything that comes against us and sealed us till Christ returns.

I will not water-down this last verse in anyway, for I know it speaks for itself.

So clearly we see from the above verses that God wants us to prosper and live a good life. Pain and suffering do not bring Him glory. We need to know what we have been given, receive it and  like the parable of the talents, with like enthusiasm invest to develop and grow all for the Kingdom of God.

Trees and Water

Today I was studying Isaiah 55 and I found my looking up the myrtle tree in verse 13. This  is an ever green tree that has deep roots but grows about 12 inches a year. In the context of this verse, God is telling the Israelites that they will come up as a myrtle tree.

The word of God is in many places said to clean us, as if water. Psalms 1:3 says we shall be like a tree planted by rivers of water; Jesus told the woman at the well that he has life giving water; John 1 calls Jesus the word, in John 15, Jesus says he is the vine. Naturally, we all know that water is essential for tress to grow. So I find it interesting that the tree and water symbols are used often to describe our dependence on Jesus.

Jesus (the word, the living water, the vine) sustains us (the tree, the branches) so we can produce fruit. Without him, all our works will count for nothing but with and in him, we will be strong ever fruit-producing branches that are ever green and even when in drought we shall not be afraid and shall always yield fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Isaiah 55:13-“Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name of renown, for an everlasting sign [of jubilant exaltation] and memorial [to His praise], which shall not be cut off.”

Psalm 1:3-“And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season, his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Jeremiah 17:7-8 [Amp]-“[Most] blessed is the man who believes in, trusts in, and relies on the Lord, and whose hope and confidence the Lord is. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters that spreads out its roots by the river; and it shall not see and fear when heat comes; but its leaf shall be green. It shall not be anxious and full of care in the year of drought, nor shall it cease yielding fruit.”