Sin robbed of power

WORDs of Saving Grace - sin robbed of power

Romans 6:14-15

14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.

15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.

The grace of God is given to us with a great price! To continue and practice sinful lives and claim we are God's child is self deception.

The blood of Jesus Christ has delivered our minds from dead sinful works and empowered us to live free from the dominance of the devilish power in this world.

Hebrews 9:14

How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?

Think about it:

When we steal we are saying - God you cannot provide for me in your ways of teaching me hard work and earning an honest living...

When we lie we are saying - God your truth will not make me free, so i must do what the father of lies does...

When we worry and are fearful we are saying - God your not in control and the evil will hurt my family, friends or myself.

None of this is faith in what Jesus did on the cross which  pleases God!

Psalms 84:11

For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.

John 8:31-32

31 Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

Matthew 6:28-30

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

Committing fraud

WORDs of Saving Grace - committing fraud

Leviticus 19:13  Thou shalt not defraud thy neighbour, neither rob him: the wages of him that is hired shall not abide with thee all night until the morning.

Fraud is ANYTIME that a person would portray or infer something to be true, when in fact they know it to be false for their own profit.

Jesus asked the question of - how much do you think a soul is worth?

Not only our soul, but what about our neighbors soul? The one that was defrauded for worldly profit. Was the cost of their soul considered?

Matthew 16:26  For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?

Jesus knows the price of a soul and He was the only one who could pay it.

Psalms 49:8

(For the redemption of their soul is precious, and it ceaseth for ever:)

1 Peter 1:18-19

18 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;

19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

A new name

WORDs of Saving Grace - your new name

Revelation 2:17

He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

There are many ways that we establish our name with those who know us for the short span of our lives here. But think about it, how well do you know your great grandparents? 

You may know a few things about them, but you never really knew them.

Our lives are but a vapor that soon vanishes away. The same can be said for all those who were written for our example in the Bible.

There is however a scarlet thread which follows those who loved the Lord and were determined to worship and love Him. And like them although there are many triumphs and tragedies, what matters most is who you are to God.

God is not so much concerned with What you are, as He is Whose you are. You are His prized possession, the jewel of His creation. More desireable to Him than all the planets and stars.

When He found us we were orphaned and uncomely in every way. But He redeemed us with His precious blood and our life is no longer about what we are, what we can do, or what we can give. But is all about who we belong to.

You have been given a new name...Christian - and "your life is hid with Christ in God."

Ezekiel 16:8-14

8 Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time was the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine.

9 Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil.

10 I clothed thee also with broidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk.

11 I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck.

12 And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head.

13 Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment was of fine linen, and silk, and broidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom.

14 And thy renown went forth among the heathen for thy beauty: for it was perfect through my comeliness, which I had put upon thee, saith the Lord GOD.

A willing heart

WORDs of Saving Grace - a willing heart

Exodus 25:2

Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring me an offering: of every man that giveth it willingly with his heart ye shall take my offering.

Willing love is a paradox of creation. Because God created us to love Him, yet we have the free will to choose to love Him.

As much as a preacher or a parent would like to see their entire family or congregation have true love and salvation, if we could force and control someone to love the Lord it would not be authentic.

The free will of love is precious, it cannot be bought, forced, guilted or even earned. Love is a miracle from God Himself. This is the only gift of the Spirit the devil cannot emulate. The devils and demons can preach, sing, speak in tongues, even give money and possessions to the poor. But without love its sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal.

2 Corinthians 8:12

For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

Philemon 1:14

But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

1 Peter 5:2  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;

Instead of trying to force others to think like we do, why not live and love like Jesus, and trust that the Holy Spirit will do His work to lead hearts to Him.

John 6:44  No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.

Delight in the LORD

WORDs of Saving Grace - delight in the LORD

Psalms 37:4  Delight thyself also in the LORD; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.

Delight is a description of joy and happiness. Not duty, requirement, or commandment.

There are many who perceive the worship of God as a duty in order to maintain their religion and status with God. It is viewed as "you better do it, or else".

But fellowship and peace with the Lord is a continual presence and heartfelt gratitude continually. A continual prayer, and continuous worship rather than a prescribed duty of "thou shalt".

This same willing love and joy was even shown through Christ Himself and His willingness to die for our sin.

John 10:18  No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

Doctrines of devils

WORDs of Saving Grace - doctrines of devils

1 Timothy 4:1-3

1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;

2 Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

3 Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth.

Notice that the "doctrines of devils" is the primary focus in this passage. Warning us, not of something we would consider sinful like drinking, drugs or fornication; but instead, something that could be viewed as righteous and holy.

There are those who teach today if a husband and wife separate they cannot be remarried (forbidding to marry).

And there are those who teach that we should refrain from eating pork such as the jews (abstain from meats).

According to this scripture these have departed from "the faith" and are essentially trusting in their own meritted works and not faith in Christ.

A preacher once told me that a person should never leave a church because of false doctrine. But to the contrary false doctrines is one of the primary reasons we should leave a church.

Doctrine is the single most important reason for being committed to a congregation.

Lets look at a couple other scriptures about doctrine.

Matthew 7:28

And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:

John 7:15-18

15 And the Jews marvelled, saying, How knoweth this man letters, having never learned?

16 Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me.

17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.

18 He that speaketh of himself seeketh his own glory: but he that seeketh his glory that sent him, the same is true, and no unrighteousness is in him.

Deuteronomy 32:2-3

2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, my speech shall distil as the dew, as the small rain upon the tender herb, and as the showers upon the grass:

3 Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God.

Matthew 15:9

But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Matthew 16:12  Then understood they how that he bade them not beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

John 18:19-20

19 The high priest then asked Jesus of his disciples, and of his doctrine.

20 Jesus answered him, I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always resort; and in secret have I said nothing.

Acts 2:42

And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Acts 5:28

Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.

Acts 13:12

Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.

Romans 6:17

But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.

Romans 16:17

Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.

Ephesians 4:14

That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

Colossians 2:22

Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

1 Timothy 1:3

As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,

1 Timothy 1:10

For whoremongers, for them that defile themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine;

1 Timothy 4:6

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

1 Timothy 4:13

Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.

1 Timothy 4:16

Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

1 Timothy 5:17

Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

1 Timothy 6:1

Let as many servants as are under the yoke count their own masters worthy of all honour, that the name of God and his doctrine be not blasphemed.

1 Timothy 6:3

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;

2 Timothy 3:10

But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

2 Timothy 3:16

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2 Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

2 Timothy 4:3

For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;

Titus 1:9

Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught, that he may be able by sound doctrine both to exhort and to convince the gainsayers.

Titus 2:1

But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine:

Titus 2:7

In all things shewing thyself a pattern of good works: in doctrine shewing uncorruptness, gravity, sincerity,

Titus 2:10

Not purloining, but shewing all good fidelity; that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things.

Hebrews 13:9

Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.

2 John 1:9

Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.

2 John 1:10

If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

Revelation 2:14

But I have a few things against thee, because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, who taught Balac to cast a stumblingblock before the children of Israel, to eat things sacrificed unto idols, and to commit fornication.

Revelation 2:15

So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which thing I hate.

The doctrine of Christ is extremely important. We must know and recognize His true teachings.

What is "it" ?

WORDs of Saving Grace - what is "it" ?

Psalms 37:5  Commit thy way unto the LORD; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

"It" are the "desires of thine heart" from verse 4.

Notice that these desires are given when our delight is in the Lord.

The Lord places divine desires for good things in our hearts when we delight in Him.

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

The Lord even tells us we should covet His best gifts!

1 Corinthians 12:31  But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.

The most perfect gift to ever be given or attained is the gift of Jesus Christ and His perfect love.

2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.