Sharing God's Grace
"For
I long to visit you that I can impart to you the
faith that will help your church grow strong in
the Lord. Then, too, I need your help,
for I want not only to share my faith with you but
to be encouraged by yours: Each of us will
be a blessing to the other." Romans 1:
12. Life Application
When we pray continually about many requests, it
should not really surprise us when God answers our
petitions and blesses us. The ways he
answers may surprise us at times as God's grace is
still so amazing. His ways are not our
ways nor his thoughts our thoughts. Although
we may be down at times, God is always up to
something good in our behalf. He likes to
abundantly bless us above all we think or can even
imagine. Expect God to answer and work
life's problems out in His ways.
The Apostle Paul was writing to the Romans in
these Scriptures telling them he desired to visit
them that he might teach the Christians
there. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by
the Word of God. Paul's prayer for a safe
journey was answered. He arrived safely in
spite of getting arrested, being persecuted,
shipwrecked, and even bitten by a poisonous viper
along the way. Would all these things have
stopped us in our work and service for God?
They did not stop Paul, because he was a man of
God with a renewed mind; going forward by faith on
a mission for God by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God's ways of answering prayers are often not what
we expect, but he always answers. Paul
prayed for the opportunity to visit them so he
could encourage them and also be
encouraged. As a missionary of God, he
could help them understand the meaning of the
'Good News' about Jesus. He knew as God's
people, they would also offer him fellowship and
comfort. This shows us when Christians
gather in fellowship everyone should give and
receive.
Whatever you may be praying about today, be
assured that the Lord has heard your
requests. He will answer in his way and
time. God's delays are never his
denials. We know that those who wait upon
the Lord will renew their strength. They will
receive a new strength as God himself will carry
them through each day as they lean to Him.
As we offer our petitions and wait upon God may we
expect Him to answer. While waiting, we can
stand strong in the power of his might and bless
others also. As we do unto others as we
desire God to do unto us, we will find our Lord is
pleased. He will also impart unto us his
blessings and give us that extra faith that we may
share with others the hope which is within
us. He is our "hope" and our
reason for living, He is our
"All-in-All", He truly is our
"Everything".
His grace truly is sufficient for our every need
and prayer.
Be blessed and be a blessing to others.
Blessings in Christ,
Jo Ann
J. P's Inspirations (c) 2002
HE
IS
His
grace is sufficient for every life,
His blood saves a sinner from their sin and strife
His love is the greatest this world could ever
know,
He alone took our sins away, and grace He did
bestow.
He is our hope and reason for living,
He keeps on giving as we keep on believing.
His mercies endure forever and kindness never
fades away,
His presence is with us each and every day.
All honor and glory is due to the Son,
He is worthy of all praise....there is no other
One,
One day He will return to catch his bride away,
Present his Church to the Father.....on that great
Wedding Day.
Until the day of his appearing, He will be true,
As we look unto Him who made all things new.
Stand fast in the Lord and he will provide,
As He leads, loves and cares.....As our Savior,
Lord and Guide.
He is our everything...."He is Life, He is
Love, He is Liberty".
by Jo Ann
J. P.'s Inspirations (c) 2002.
SHARING JESUS
How then shall they call on him in whom they have
not believed? and how shall they believe in him of
whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear
without a preacher?
Romans 10:14
Telling others about the Lord is our
responsibility as followers of Christ.
All Christian are not preachers or leaders but all
are called to be witnesses. How can
the lost believe in salvation if they have not
heard about the Lord? They cannot understand
without the Word and Holy Spirit working
personally in their lives.
May we each purpose to share Jesus with others by
our witness to them and by sharing his Word.
Soul winning is to be our number one priority in
our Christian walk while on this earth.
Salvation is by faith alone in the Saviour and
faith comes only by hearing. Hearing comes
by the 'Word of God' and sharing God's plan can be
as easy as.....A.B.C. with the leading of God's
spirit.
God's Word changes lives. As we
"hear" we increase in faith and can
rightfully give God the praise and honor due Him.
It is not so much about what we do, but it is
about what we let Him do in, through, and for
lives. God's Word brings change and moves us
into his will for our lives as we build on a
"sure" & solid
foundation. We must receive his plan
of salvation and instructions to continue on and
be disciples indeed. We will want to be
"doers" once we receive and
constantly be changed by the "washing of the
water of the Word". "He sent his
Word and healed them, and delivered them from
their destructions."
Ps. 107: 20.
Our words, prayers, ministry, or deeds toward
others may help them feel better and are good but
can never truly change a life. Only
God's power and spirit is able to touch, bless,
and change a heart to receive what is needed to
endure until the end. True devotion will
bring us blessings and gifts of God that will
stand the test of time. Dedication will
bring us eternal rewards and a desire to stand
even in
the furnace of affliction or opposition. It
is by his strength only that we can endure until
the end and have victory.
Spiritual, physical, and emotional healing only
comes through Christ, the Living Word of God
. He ministers unto us each day and speaks
words of truth and life . He will teach,
lead, guide, and bless us daily if we open our
hearts and ask of Him. We must be obedient
and let Him speak to us as we lean on Him.
There is no certain time, place, or way to receive
help or blessings as God moves at all times when
hearts are presented to Him. We can never
limit Him or his power. His ways are not our ways
nor his thoughts our thoughts. Blessings and help
are received by simply being obedient as His Word
declares. Loving Him with all our hearts and
seeking Him opens the door to receiving as we
daily walk in the spirit of the Lord.
We do not have to rely on feelings but know his
presence is with us because we walk by
faith.........not by sight. "Believing is
seeing" and we can sense his presence by
faith in his finished works. He is the
"solid rock" which we must build
upon. If we build on our own works or
efforts, we will fail; but if we are building on
Christ Jesus we can stand secure by faith.
Only God can change and transform a life.
Only God can minister grace and healing as hearts
are opened to Him, His healing words and
Spirit. His gifts to us will always edify
and build up the Body of Christ as we unite as one
to win the lost to Christ.
The blood of Jesus will bring true
"devotion". It will break down the
rituals and routines of "profession without
possession , "emotion without true
devotion", as He gives spiritual life and
freedom." Search the Scriptures
for in them we have eternal life and
joy. The Scriptures testify of the
Lord and this is the greatest testimony of
all. He is the Living Word. God
's Word testifies of a God that can do more than
we could ever imagine or think. We cannot limit
Him to what we may expect Him to do. His testimony
always shares promises for good and not evil if we
are obedient .
Regardless of how bad things may look in the
natural, we should always see and think good in
the spiritual.
We see many in this age falling away who doubt God
and do not take time to sit at his table. Many sit
at the table of the enemy because they cannot
discern the truths of the Lord. He tells us he
"prepares a table before us in the presence
of our enemies". We must discern
"who is on the Lord's side" and
"who is the enemy of our souls".
May we diligently seek "godly
discernment" to know and recognize our Lord
and his people as we fellowship with others.
This is a day when the question is, "Who is
on the Lord's side"? Who will stand for
the right? May we hear the call of the
Master and choose this day whom we will
serve.
Sharing Jesus is sharing the gift of life. Is
there any better gift? May our hearts
always focus and be on "Jesus first, others
second, and last but not least; on our desires in
Christ. To put ourselves last is not to be
less. We will receive the blessings of the
Lord. "He that exalts himself shall be
abased, but he that humbleth himself shall be
exalted". Jesus has given us a
plan that is simple to follow.
The ABC's of salvation begin with Alpha, the Great
"I AM" and end with Omega, the
"Author and Finisher of our
Salvation". It is a circle of love that
never ends. Everything that we need we can find in
Him, the "Beginning and the End", the
"First and the Last". He is
Lord, He is Life, He is Liberty and He is Love. He
is all we need. May His name be exalted and
glorified forever.
John 3: 16 The blood of Jesus will never loose its
power.
He will give true rest and we can celebrate Jesus
in spirit and truth. To
"celebrate" in the Old Testament was of
utmost
importance and the Israelites were told to
"celebrate "on the Sabbath. The
word celebrate was "shabath" and meant
to desist from exertion, to repose, to 'make to
rest'. It also meant "to move in a
circle," (as one going forward),
to march in a sacred possession as in rejoicing,
to hold a solemn feast or holiday. We
sometimes forget to search the Scriptures and see
the meaning of a "Solemn Assembly as
resting, repentance, and rejoicing in
Jesus."
God still desires the sacrifices of a humble and
contrite spirit. (Ps. 51: 16) The burnt offerings
and sacrifices were not what he desired. Today, it
is also our hearts turned to Him that pleases Him
when we make him Lord and follow after holiness.
Celebration came from the word "to revolve or
fear" and means we are to have an
'awesome fear or reverence 'for God . They were to
inspect their hearts, and have a godly sorrow for
sin which would bring repentance.
They were also to praise the Lord their light, to
shine as they showed forth his mighty works and
glorified his name. We are also to do the same
today as we rejoice in Him.
Celebrate his love and the joy of salvation.
Rest in Him today as his rest is not just a
"day" but it is a "way."
We are to walk in this Gospel way all of our
days. There is always rest for the weary who
rely upon the Redeemer.
Blessings in Christ,
Jo Ann
J. P.'s Inspirations (c) 2002
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