Draw near and run your race.
Sounds easy enough. Right?
Well, if you've been walking in faith and in the grace of God you know there can be a mix of challenges.
Along with a whole lot of beautiful God stuff, challenging things get thrown in .
REMEMBER
So, it's always good to be reminded of the basics.
"Now this is eternal life: that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." John 17:3
The goal of our faith is knowing and loving God.
Jesus made the new and living way.
That road leads us along with the power and love to know God like he does.
This the goal of our faith, knowing him.
The ultimate reality is his ways lead in knowing him.
Obedience charts a course of boundless grace.
"Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded." James 4:8
All the promises are Yes and AMEN in Jesus.
Keep moving toward God and you will find him.
A good friend reminded me Sunday, "say yes, and then say yes again."
We need to develop a yes toward the Father in the grace of Jesus through the power of the Spirit. Say yes. Right now. And then again and again.
This is the obedience road.
Three things will always stumble you in the way of God.
Three things that can mess up your Grace Race.
Comparing
It is unwise to compare ourselves with other disciples or ministries.
"We do not dare to classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. When they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are not wise. 13We, however, will not boast beyond proper limits, but will confine our boasting to the sphere of service God himself has assigned to us, a sphere that also includes you."
2 Cor 10:12-13
Everyone in the Kingdom is given a measure of grace from the Lord (Ephesians 4:7).
The focus of our salvation is grace. We walk in the Spirit moving with the Lord in the grace we've been given. This is done by faith. We all carry a unique anointing and blessing to participate in the Kingdom by faith through the grace imparted to us. Don't get side tracked. Use your grace in faith.
We show ourselves to be friends with Jesus when we keep his commands.
Take every talent and opportunity you have and let the grace of God shine through faith. Use your talents for the Kingdom and watch the unique grace you possess change lives around you. Everyone has been give grace from the Lord (Eph 4:7) When we mix it with faith the glory and Kingdom come forth. Get your grace in motion.
Matthew 25:
Competing
There is no such thing as competition in the Kingdom of God. If we desire competition then we should focus our worship and obedience onto Jesus and see how we compare? Expressing competition among churches or ministries or disciples is to stumble into James 3:14-18 and land in the earthly and un-spiritual.
The diversity of operations and actions that the Trinity is doing in the world is beyond imagination (Eph 3:14-21). Manifold wisdom and unity in Christ are the deep workings of the Kingdom of God (Eph 3:10; 1:9-10). All at once God is working in manifold ways for a perfected harmonious glorious unity in Jesus (John 17:20-21).
The grace we each have, when it's mixed with faith and action, gets dispersed in serving and loving like the Master. Serving and loving, encouraging and freely giving as we've been freely given. There is no practical end to the resources of the Kingdom in service and love.
Ephesian 1:9-10 clearly paints the direction of all the works of the Father in Jesus. Jesus' High Priestly prayer also calls for unity as a witness to the reality of his mission (John 17:20-21).
God is not working against himself in the millions of ministries, Saints, faith ventures and grace deposits he has around the globe.
Manifold wisdom understands this powerful perspective.
God is not working against himself in the millions of ministries, Saints, faith ventures and grace deposits he has around the globe.
Manifold wisdom understands this powerful perspective.
Coercing
Jesus was gentle. He doesn't break the broken reed or put out the smallest flame. He welcomes people to come to him. The heavy laden and burdened are invited to get free and released from the yoke of slavery.
Sometimes our spiritual fervor and insights from God lead us to brow beating and coercive tactics when we don't see the response we want. It is extremely difficult to build the kind of service, love and unity Jesus prays for when we look down on our brothers, sisters, churches, ministries that are not "like us". Grace carries life and encouragement in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we put in motion the grace of God through faith the forward point of the arrow is always love. Anything short of love is easily detected. And love is easy to spot and know when we've received it.
Coercing the family of God may get some short term results. Grace gets Kingdom results. Grace mixed with love gets eternal results. God is love. If we are moving in the NAME of Jesus love is going to be a primary reality. Being touched by love is clear, everyone knows when they got some.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Psalms 18:35 - Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,
- gentleness, rest, patience, Jesus altered reality in a world of chaos, coercion and power.
"Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul
delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to
the nations. 2"He will not cry out or raise His voice, Nor make His voice heard in the street. 3"A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.…
Isaiah 42:2
Sometimes our spiritual fervor and insights from God lead us to brow beating and coercive tactics when we don't see the response we want. It is extremely difficult to build the kind of service, love and unity Jesus prays for when we look down on our brothers, sisters, churches, ministries that are not "like us". Grace carries life and encouragement in the power of the Holy Spirit. When we put in motion the grace of God through faith the forward point of the arrow is always love. Anything short of love is easily detected. And love is easy to spot and know when we've received it.
Coercing the family of God may get some short term results. Grace gets Kingdom results. Grace mixed with love gets eternal results. God is love. If we are moving in the NAME of Jesus love is going to be a primary reality. Being touched by love is clear, everyone knows when they got some.
1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and [be] ready always to [give] an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Psalms 18:35 - Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great.
2 Timothy 2:24-26 - And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient,
- gentleness, rest, patience, Jesus altered reality in a world of chaos, coercion and power.
ASK, SEEK, KNOCK - Instead
Ask the Spirit if you are moving in any of the three above. Repent and turn from those and ask the Spirit to impart to you insight in the Mind of Christ through Scripture to build a new mindset of redemption and love.
Seek the opportunity to love and serve like Jesus. Surrendering yourself to him and looking for the divine appointments of your life will produce some remarkable encouragements. He will reveal himself. (John 14:23)
“Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.”
Knock on the doors in front of you. God does not respect persons. If we are hungry the grace and glory given to us can open wide hearts, minds, souls to the Kingdom of God. Each one of us will be required to knock in prayer to overcome whatever is in the way of the grace imparted and informing out path. Jesus the Master knocked with loud cries and tears. (Hebrews 5:7-9)
Feedback? Ideas?
I would love to dialogue with you.
Share your comments.
2016
 |
| Transfiguration! |
Look forward, eyes filled with Abundance, Boundless, Victorious vision in Jesus.
Get a copy of my Prophetic Review 2016 - Salvation's Mountain Erupting with Open Doors, Shifts and Invitation. Encouragement, focus, wisdom and insight into the prophetic seasons of the new year.www.jeffreynoldsministries.com
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You can do this thing! He's got you.
Jeff Reynolds ---
Brother Jeff
Jeff Reynolds Sr. Leader
Capstone Christian Fellowship
jeff@jeffreynoldsministries.com
jreynolds@mycapstone.org
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