Grace is not a license to sin, but the power to overcome sin. Titus 2:11-12 NKJV says, “For THE GRACE OF GOD that brings salvation has appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live SOBERLY, RIGHTEOUSLY, and GODLY in the present age.” GRACE TEACHES US TO LIVE RIGHT.

According to Romans 6:1-23 believers in Christ YIELD TO SIN, they ARE NOT OVERPOWERED BY SIN, because:
1. They no longer have sin nature in them – Vs. 6.
2. Sin lost its power over their lives – Vs. 10&11.
3. They are “slaves” to faith obedience – Vs. 16,22.

Strong’s Concordance shows that the word “SIN” in Romans 6:1-23 is a NOUN, except for one place where it is a VERB. A noun is a word that refers to a person, place, thing, event, substance, or quality. A verb is a word or phrase that describes an action, condition, or experience. Reading this passage with this understanding gives it a different meaning to the traditional meaning.

In the following passage I have indicated where the word “sin” is a noun and where it is a verb. Let’s see what this passage really means when we apply this knowledge. Pay special attention to capitalized words, and those in brackets ( ).

Romans 6:1-23 NKJV

“1 What shall we say then? SHALL WE CONTINUE IN SIN [NOUN]; power of sin – Romans 5:20-21) that grace may abound? 2 CERTAINLY NOT! How shall we who DIED TO SIN [NOUN] live any longer in it? 3 Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized Into His death? 4 Therefore WE WERE BURIED WITH HIM through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in NEWNESS OF LIFE (under grace – Romans 5:20-21). 6 knowing this, that OUR OLD MAN was CRUCIFIED WITH HIM, THAT THE BODY OF SIN [NOUN] MIGHT BE DONE AWAY WITH, that we should no longer be slaves of sin [NOUN]. 7 For he who has died has been freed from sin [NOUN]. 8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, 9 knowing that Christ, having been raised from the dead, dies no more. Death no longer has dominion over Him. 10 For the death that He died, He died to sin [NOUN] ONCE FOR ALL; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. 11 Likewise you also, RECKON (or COUNT) yourselves to be DEAD INDEED TO SIN [NOUN], but ALIVE TO GOD in Christ Jesus our Lord. 12 Therefore DO NOT LET SIN [NOUN] reign in your mortal body, that you should obey it in its lusts. 13 And DO NOT PRESENT YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF UNRIGHTEOUSNESS to sin [NOUN], but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and YOUR MEMBERS AS INSTRUMENTS OF RIGHTEOUSNESS TO GOD. (Rom:12:1-2). SIN [NOUN – power of sin] SHALL NOT HAVE DOMINION OVER YOU, FOR YOU ARE NOT UNDER LAW (ministry of condemnation – 2 Corinthians 3:6-8) BUT UNDER GRACE. 15 What then? SHALL WE SIN [VERB] BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER LAW BUT UNDER GRACE? CERTAINLY NOT! 16 Do you not know that to whom you PRESENT YOURSELVES SLAVES TO OBEY, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin [NOUN] leading to death, or of obedience (Romans 1:5 – OBEDIENCE TO THE FAITH) leading to righteousness? 17 But God be thanked that though you were slaves of sin [NOUN], yet you obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine to which you were delivered. 18 And HAVING BEEN SET FREE FROM SIN [NOUN], YOU BECAME SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS. 19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as YOU PRESENTED YOUR MEMBERS AS SLAVES OF UNCLEANNESS, AND OF LAWLESSNESS leading to more lawlessness, so now PRESENT YOUR MEMBERS AS SLAVES OF RIGHTEOUSNESS FOR HOLINESS, you were free in regard to righteousness. 21 What fruit did you have then in the things of which you are now ashamed? For the end of those things is death. 22 But now having been SET FREE from sin [noun], and HAVING BECOME slaves of God, you have your FRUIT TO HOLINESS, and the end, everlasting life. 23 For the wages of sin [NOUN] is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

If we believe that Christ died in our place we are freed from the control of sin. When we sin, as believers, it is not because we are driven by the sin nature, it is because we yield to the desire that was left by sin nature in our PROGRAMED MINDS. Hence the Word tells us to change our lives by changing what we think (Romans 12:2, Philippians 4:8, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Colossians 3:1-3, and Galatians 5:16).

This means that a believer and a non-believer sin for different reasons BECAUSE SATAN DOES NOT HAVE THE SAME INFLUENCE OVER THEM (Romans 6:6,16-20). A believer yields to the HABITS OF THE FLESH (WAY OF THINKING) THAT FORMED WHILE HE WAS UNDER THE CONTROL OF SIN NATURE. A non-believer sins because of the sin nature that controls him. When a believer becomes aware of this truth he GETS EMPOWERED TO OVERCOME SIN THAT MAY HAVE A STRONGHOLD IN HIS MIND (2 Corinthians 10:4-5).

What the Law failed to do, Christ did (Galatians 3:21-25). CHRIST DELIVERED US FROM THE POWER AND CONTROL OF SIN. Romans 5:19-22 and Colossians 2:13-15. LET’S ALLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE US (2 Corinthians 3:18).

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST – HEBREWS 4:1-3!

God uses the law of Moses to reveal our sins – Romans 7:7-11. Therefore, under the New Covenant, the law of Moses is preached to:
1. People who have not received Christ as their Saviour,
2. SELF-RIGHTEOUS believers who think their acceptance before God is based on meeting the standard of the law of Moses.

The intention of preaching the law of Moses to these people is to show them how much they need Christ, the Saviour, to be accepted before God – Romans 3:23-24. The law makes them realise their need for God’s grace and the free gift of righteousness – Romans 5:17.

So, the law of Moses IS NOT TO BE PREACHED TO people who have received forgiveness because their condemnation for failing to keep the law fell on the body of Jesus Christ – Romans 8:3.

The Bible shows us that when Christ was on earth He PREACHED THE LAW OF MOSES TO THOSE WHO DID NOT RECEIVE HIM AS CHRIST (Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, self-righteous individuals and groups, etc.), and He PREACHED THE KINGDOM OF GOD, that is accessed through grace (unearned favor of God), TO THOSE THAT RECEIVED HIM AS “One sent by God”.

Jesus, in Luke 16:16 NLT, said “UNTIL JOHN THE BAPTIST, the law of Moses and the messages of the prophets WERE YOUR GUIDES. BUT NOW THE GOOD NEWS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS PREACHED, and everyone is eager to get in.”

John 1:14‭, ‬16‭-‬17 NKJV says, “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. 16 And of His fullness we have all received, and GRACE FOR GRACE. 17 For THE LAW was given through Moses, but GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

WE NOW PREACH CHRIST; NOT MOSES.

In John 13:34 NKJV Jesus said, “A NEW COMMANDMENT I GIVE TO YOU, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

First John 3:23 NKJV says, “And THIS IS HIS COMMANDMENT: that we should BELIEVE ON THE NAME OF HIS SON Jesus Christ and LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AS HE GAVE US COMMANDMENT.”

This commandment is different to the one Jesus quoted to the rich young ruler and the lawyer – “Love God with all your heart, soul, and might” (Matthew 19:16-22 and Matthew 22:34-40).

In these two cases Jesus was showing the young rich ruler and the lawyer that IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO KEEP ALL 10 COMMANDMENTS. He implied the same thing as He gave the sermon on the mountain when He said sin is not only what we do but what we think as well – Matthew 5:27-28.

James 2:10 NLT says, “For the person who keeps all of the laws EXCEPT ONE is as guilty as a person who has broken ALL OF GOD’S LAWS.”

Galatians 3:10 NKJV says, “But THOSE WHO DEPEND ON THE LAW to make them right with God ARE UNDER HIS CURSE, for the Scriptures say, “cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey ALL THE COMMANDS that are written in God’s Book of the Law.”

Romans 7:6 AMPC says, “But now we are DISCHARGED FROM THE LAW and HAVE TERMINATED ALL INTERCOURSE WITH IT, having died to what once restrained and held us captive. So now we SERVE NOT UNDER [OBEDIENCE TO] THE OLD CODE OF WRITTEN REGULATIONS, BUT [UNDER OBEDIENCE TO THE PROMPTINGS] OF THE SPIRIT IN NEWNESS [OF LIFE].”

Second Corinthians 3:18 NKJV says, “But we all, with unveiled face, BEHOLDING AS IN A MIRROR THE GLORY OF THE LORD, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE from glory to glory, just as BY THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD.”

WE ARE NOW CHANGED BY BEHOLDING CHRIST, not keeping the Ten Commandments (2 Corinthians 3:18 compared to 2 Corinthians 3:7). Ten Commandments have their place, BUT NOT IN THE LIFE OF A BELIEVER IN CHRIST. Verses 7&9 of 2 Corinthians 3 call the law of Moses the “MINISTRY OF DEATH AND CONDEMNATION”.

Therefore, we do not attempt to change our lives by observing the law of Moses:
1. We observe what Christ has accomplished for us (2 Corinthians 3:17 and James 1:25 – not forgetting our completeness in Christ as Colossians 2:10 says is employing the LAW OF LIBERTY instead of the law of Moses which restrains as stated in Romans 7:6 and many other verses), and
2. Follow His commandment (John 13:34 and 1 John 3:23) as we are guided by the promptings of the Holy Spirit (Romans 7:6). THIS IS HOW A BELIEVER IN CHRIST LIVES.

Once we are born again, the grace of God teaches us to live soberly, godly, and righteously in this present age – Titus 2:11-12.

God told Israel that there was coming a day when He would change the way He was dealing with them – Jeremiah 31:31-34. Hebrews 8:7-13 tells us that God FOUND FAULT with the Old Covenant hence He changed it. In these passages of Scripture God clearly states that HE DOES NOT KEEP RECORD OF OUR SINS. We need to trust His way to get us to repent; HIS GOODNESS TOWARD US – not fear (Romans 2:4).

It takes faith to believe that we are accepted before God because of what Jesus did, without our effort. We can try to be self-righteous and add our part, but, if we do that we will “FALL FROM GRACE” – Galatians 5:4.

In conclusion, let’s live in the Grace of God, He will change and empower us to live victorious over life and sin – Romans 5:17, Titus 2:11-12, and John 1:14,16&17.

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST – Hebrews 4:1-3!

God gets a chance to change our lives when WE FOCUS OUR ATTENTION ON THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST. That change happens effortlessly – 2 Corinthians 3:18 & Galatians 5:16.

Chapters 7 and 8 of the book of Romans have been a challenge for many believers because they do not understand that WE DO NOT SERVE GOD IN THE FLESH (OUR STRENGTH) BUT IN THE SPIRIT – John 4:24. The last verse of chapter 7 tells us that the answer to the challenges that are faced by a carnal (led by the five senses) believer IS IN LIVING IN CHRIST; NOT BY PERSONAL STRENGTH.

According to the 8th chapter of the book of Romans we cannot completely overcome our carnality by our strength, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to rule us, then we will see the manifestation of our freedom from evil desires.

We are either ruled by the Holy Spirit or we are ruled by our desires. Romans 6:14 says SIN WILL NOT DOMINATE US BECAUSE WE ARE NOT UNDER THE LAW. The law serves to condemn and lead to death (2 Corinthians 3:7&9). The first step to overcoming sin is to accept that the law NO LONGER CONDEMNS YOU IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST JESUS BECAUSE THE DEMAND OF THE LAW WAS FULLY PAID IN THE BODY OF CHRIST – Romans 8:3.

The eight chapter of the book of Romans tells us that we need to take our eyes off our carnality (being controlled by our five senses) AND FOCUS ON WHO WE ARE IN THE SPIRIT (WHAT CHRIST ACCOMPLISHED FOR US). To be carnally minded brings death, being spiritually minded produces life and peace where there is death – Romans 8:6.

Living in the Spirit takes faith. FAITH BELIEVES AND CONFESSES. If you believe what the Lord says about you, you will confess it even though in the natural things may look differently to what you believe. 2 Corinthians 4:13 says – And since we have the same spirit of faith, according to what is written, “I believed and therefore I spoke,” WE ALSO BELIEVE AND THEREFORE SPEAK. So, CONFESS YOUR RIGHTEOUSNESS EVEN WHEN YOU DO NOT SEE IT IN THE NATURAL – 2 Corinthians 5:21 and Romans 5:17.

We must believe and focus on how we are before God (righteous and holy IN CHRIST JESUS), that is what transforms our behavior. 2 Corinthians 3:18 says – But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, ARE BEING TRANSFORMED INTO THE SAME IMAGE FROM GLORY TO GLORY, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

The key knowledge for one to be able to live in the Spirit is that IF YOU ARE IN CHRIST YOU WILL NOT BE CONDEMNED BY GOD. Your conscience and people may condemn you, but God does not and will not condemn you BECAUSE JESUS WAS CONDEMNED IN YOUR PLACE. Romans 8:1 & 2 Corinthians 5:21.

As Christians we are called to live our lives as a blessing to others (John 13:34). We are able to do that when we first accept God’s unconditional love for us (1 John 4:19). How can we give love to others when we think God doesn’t love us? We can only give what we have.

Remember that SELF-CENTEREDNESS is the root of all sin, while CHRIST-CENTEREDNESS is the answer to the desire to sin – Romans 8.5. E.g. will it be easy to steal while confessing that God has supplied all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? We overcome the power of sin when we take our focus away from sin and confess our right-standing before God. THAT IS FAITH – 2 Corinthians 4:13.

We are not set free from sin and death by our performance, but by the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:2,9,11,13).

Life in the Spirit requires faith to call those things that you don’t see in the natural as though they exist – Romans 4:17. Confess who you are in Christ, you will see your life being transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit (not your strength) – Galatians 5:16.

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST – Hebrews 4:1-3!

God’s love for us is unconditional. It is not based on anything we do. God’s love toward us is consistent. It never fluctuate based on our performance. When we are better, God doesn’t love us more; when we are bad, God doesn’t love us less. God’s love, favour, and acceptance of us – is unconditional. It has nothing to do with who we are; it has everything to do with who He is. It is not because we are lovely; it is because HE IS LOVE.

1 John 4:9-10 “9 GOD SHOWED HOW MUCH HE LOVED us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 THIS IS REAL LOVE—NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD, BUT THAT HE LOVED US AND SENT HIS SON AS A SACRIFICE TO TAKE AWAY OUR SINS.”

How do we know that God loves us? It’s not based on a feeling, or whether or not we have some kind of an emotion. Our knowledge should be based on His Word. Feelings are fickle. God gave them to us, and in their proper place, they are ok. But when we let our feelings dominate us, we are acting like children. Children are dominated by their feelings, as adults we know that we have to do the right things even when we don’t feel like doing them.

So, even when we don’t feel the love of God we need to simply stick with 1 John 4:9-10. Because feelings follow what we think on the most, as we spend time thinking on how much God loves us unconditionally time will come when we will start feeling loved by God. In fact we don’t need to feel anything, we simply need to know that God loves us (John 8:32). We don’t need to be prayed for, to receive the feeling that God loves us.

Romans 5:8 “BUT GOD SHOWED HIS GREAT LOVE FOR US BY SENDING CHRIST TO DIE FOR US WHILE WE WERE STILL SINNERS.” God did not wait until we sorted ourselves out before loving us.

If we are still trying to maintain our own righteousness, thinking God accepts and loves us because of our good works, we will never truly understand the love of God. GOD GAVE THE OLD TESTAMENT LAW TO EXPOSE HOW UNGODLY WE ALL WERE – TO BRING US TO THE END OF OURSELVES. The Law condemns, it is harsh. We are not to gain our acceptance before God, and His love, by keeping the Law.

Romans 5:20 says, “GOD’S LAW WAS GIVEN SO THAT ALL PEOPLE COULD SEE HOW SINFUL THEY WERE. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.”

Romans 3:19-20 says “Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, FOR ITS PURPOSE IS TO KEEP PEOPLE FROM HAVING EXCUSES, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. FOR NO ONE CAN EVER BE MADE RIGHT WITH GOD BY DOING WHAT THE LAW COMMANDS. THE LAW SIMPLY SHOWS US HOW SINFUL WE ARE.”

So, we shouldn’t think that we have to keep the Law for God to accept and love us, THE LAW WAS NOT GIVEN TO PERFECT US (Romans 5:20, 3:19-20). We receive the love of God by faith; believing that God accepts and loves us because of what Jesus Christ did for us.

GOD LOVES US! And “WE LOVE HIM BECAUSE HE FIRST LOVED US.” I John 4:19

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!

I believe Satan gathered all the power he had to try to stop the resurrection of Jesus. Yet the power that raised Christ from the dead was much greater than all the power of the Enemy. IT IS AWESOME TO KNOW THAT BELIEVERS IN CHRIST HAVE THAT SAME POWER INSIDE THEM – Ephesians 1:19-21! If we are not seeing the power in our lives it is not God who is turning the switch on or off. THE GRACE OF GOD HAS SUPPLIED THE POWER, WE HAVE TO FLIP THE SWITCH ON!

Is it faith for us to pray “Oh God, would You please move in our lives”? Should we still pray “rend the heavens and come down”, even though He did that through Jesus? Should we ask Him to heal us even when He says by the stripes of Jesus Christ we were healed – 1 Peter 2:24? Are we going to ask Him to give us joy and peace and pour out His love in our lives, when the Word says that we already have the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace – Galatians 5:22? ARE WE NOT OPERATING IN UNBELIEF WHEN WE ASK FOR THESE THINGS? Do we expect God’s power to respond to unbelief? Perhaps, this is the answer to why some of the prayers we have prayed, with tears in our eyes, did not yield results?

If what we are doing is not yielding desired results we should change what we are doing or else we will be accused of being insane. Colossians 2:7 shows that FAITH ABOUNDS WITH THANKSGIVING. If we will start thanking God for what He has already done through grace our faith will start rising and we will start seeing results. It takes faith to thank God. If we are believing for healing but we haven’t seen or felt the manifestation yet, we should start thanking and praising God. THAT IS WALKING BY FAITH – 2 Corinthians 5:7.

When Peter dealt with the lame man that sat next to the entrance of the temple he gives us an example of how to heal the sick as they were commanded by Jesus in Matthew 10:8, “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely you have received, freely give”. Peter said to the man “WHAT I DO HAVE I GIVE YOU: IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OF NAZARETH, RISE UP AND WALK”.

In the Bible we do not see Jesus “praying” for the sick but we see Him “MINISTERING” healing. He then said the works that He did we will do also – John 14:12. There is a huge difference between saying “YOU ARE HEALED IN JESUS’ NAME. I RELEASE THE HEALING POWER OF GOD” and “Dear Father, if it be Your will, for Jesus’ sake, stretch forth Your hand and heal that person”. The Bible does not command us to pray for the sick, IT COMMANDS US TO HEAL THE SICK.

We must receive what the Word says we have. God has already provided everything by grace. Now we have to get into a position of faith and receive. Instead of trying to believe that it’s going to happen, LET’S BELIEVE THAT IT’S A DONE DEAL. LET’S QUIT TRYING TO GET IT, let’s operate in what God said He has already done.

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!

Is it correct for a New Testament Believer to pray “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from your presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit” (Psalm 51:10-12)?

What about praying “Rend the heavens and come down” (Isaiah 64:1)?

These prayers were prayed before Jesus came down from heaven and died to make us righteous before God. Therefore, it is unbelief for a Christian to pray this way today.

David and Isaiah were Old Testament men who weren’t born again – they didn’t have the promises we do, which say, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5), “I am with you always, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20), and “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in their midst” Matthew 18:20.

The Bible reveals that we are already blessed. Ephesians 1:3 says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who HAS BLESSED US with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ”. This verse says that in Christ we already have all natural and spiritual blessings. To bring the manifestation of these blessings we need to hear God’s Word and believe the truth.

First Peter 2:24 says, “By whose stripes you WERE HEALED”. If we were healed, THEN WE ARE HEALED. The pain we may feel in our bodies and doctor’s note are simply an indication that our physical bodies have not yet received the healing that GOD HAS ALREADY GIVEN. God has already placed supernatural healing power on the inside of us (Ephesians 1:19-23), WE SHOULD NOT ASK HIM FOR IT. We should release the healing power by faith.

The fact that we do not see the power of God operating in the supernatural doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. There are all kinds of things happening in the unseen realm all around us. When we turn on and tune in our television sets it is not when the station starts broadcasting; that’s just when we start receiving. God is always releasing (broadcasting) love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, and goodness. They are not coming from “out there” somewhere; God lives on the inside of us (John 14:20,23).

When things are not manifesting in the natural we should not call God and ask Him what is wrong with Him. He is not the one withholding His power to heal, save, bring revival, etc. He has been releasing His power since after the death of Jesus Christ (Romans 8:32). We just need to turn on and tune in our receiver; faith. Hosea 4:6 says, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”.

So, we should not pray “God, we need a move from you”. GOD MOVED TWO THOUSAND YEARS AGO WHEN HE GAVE US JESUS CHRIST. We need to apply our faith to appropriate what God has provided by grace. It is unbelief to ask God for what He has already given us. The devil takes advantage of our ignorance to steal, kill, and destroy – John 10:10. The Bible teaches us that the devil walks about SEEKING WHOM HE MAY DEVOUR; he doesn’t devour everybody – 1 Peter 5:8.

Like I said in part 6, we should be resisting the devil (1 Peter 5:9), not praying harder for God to answer us, “for all the promises of God in Christ are Yes” (2 Corinthians 1:20). God’s transmitter works well, let’s turn on and tune in our receiver.

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!

Christian Life is NOT about GOD GIVING, but about US LEARNING HOW TO RECEIVE.

We study the Bible so we can learn WHAT HE HAS ALREADY DONE, WHAT HE HAS PROVIDED. As we learn about our salvation, faith rises on the inside, and we start believing God. If we do not see some of the things that God has provided come to pass WE JUST HAVE TO KEEP RENEWING OUR MINDS TO THE WORD.

Contrary to popular belief, WE DO NOT HAVE TO BADGER GOD. Luke 18:1-8 clearly show this. Jesus tells a story of a widow that wanted an unjust judge to give her justice in a dispute with her enemy. In the story Jesus said the unjust judge did not fear God and did not care about people. The judge initially ignored the widow for a while, but finally was wearied by her constant request and granted it. (Many people have interpreted this to mean that we must badger God until He gives in to our request. That is not what Jesus was saying.)

In this story Jesus went on to say that we must learn a lesson from this story (verses 6-8), even the unjust judge rendered a just decision in end. But God is not like an unjust judge. SO, GOD WILL SURELY GIVE JUSTICE TO HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE WITHOUT PUTTING THEM OFF LIKE THE UNJUST JUDGE DID. Jesus said God will grant justice to them QUICKLY! IN THIS STORY JESUS WAS SHOWING A CONTRAST BETWEEN GOD AND UNJUST JUDGE! God responds quickly!

In Luke 11:5-8 we see another CONTRAST, NOT A COMPARISON. Jesus said if we cannot expect a physical person to treat us like the friend He describes in this story, how can we expect God to treat us like that? Why should we think God expects us to badger Him before He gives us what we want? This is another contrast, not a comparison!

Luke 11:9-13, “9 So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be open to you. 10 For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 11 If a son asks for bread from any father among you, will he give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent instead of a fish? 12 Or if he asks for an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? 13 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him?”

So, we can expect God to treat us better than a judge that upholds the law or our best friend can ever treat us. Luke 11:9-13 confirms this, Jesus said we can expect God to treat us better than an earthly father would treat his son.

Remember the following verses:
Romans 8:32 NKJV “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS?” Luke 12:32 NKJV “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s GOOD PLEASURE TO GIVE YOU THE KINGDOM.”

God, by grace, has anticipated the needs of the entire human race as well as every one of us individually. He has made the supply before we ever had the need. THERE IS NOTHING THAT WILL COME INTO OUR LIVES THAT WILL CATCH GOD BY SURPRISE. Everything is already provided, but that doesn’t mean we will experience that provision unless we have an appropriate response of faith. FAITH GIVES US ACCESS TO ALL THAT GOD HAS PROVIDED BY GRACE.

Jesus said, in Matthew 6:7, “When you pray, DON’T BABBLE ON AND ON as people of other religions do. THEY THINK THEIR PRAYERS ARE ANSWERED MERELY BY REPEATING THEIR WORDS AGAIN AND AGAIN.”

For more information on this truth you can listen or download, for free, a message entitled “We Have Spiritual Reality – Part 3″ from our website (http://fountainofhisword.co.za).

REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!

The Bible reveals that in the last days people will call evil “good” and good “evil” – Isaiah 5:20. If we cannot discern between what God is doing and what the devil is doing, we won’t know what to resist and what to yield to.

What Jesus did was good. Acts 10:38 “GOD ANOINTED JESUS OF NAZARETH with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about DOING GOOD, AND HEALING all that were OPPRESSED OF THE DEVIL”. As the Bible teaches that Jesus is the perfect example of GOD’S WILL we can be assured that GOD DOES GOOD ONLY AND THE DEVIL DOES EVIL ONLY.

Some people have TWISTED AND MISUSED James 1:2-4 to teach that God controls everything in our lives. James 1:2-4 KJV “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

Romans 15:4 says, “For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the PATIENCE AND COMFORT OF THE SCRIPTURES might have hope.” ACCORDING TO THIS VERSE PATIENCE COMES THROUGH SCRIPTURES, NOT HARDSHIP AND TRIBULATION. When we got born again, God gave us patience. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is… longsuffering (patience).”

We need to use our patience for it to develop. Just like being a better soldier comes by participating in battle, patience gets developed by being used. BUT WE MUSTN’T SAY PROBLEMS COME FROM GOD AS MUCH AS THE ENEMY THAT ATTACKS SOLDIERS IS NEVER SENT BY THE COUNTRY THEY SERVE. The enemy comes with an intention to kill the soldiers. So do the problems that come our way, their intention is to kill us.

James 1:2-4 isn’t saying that God puts problems on us to make us better as much as the enemy that comes against a soldier does not come to make the soldier better but to kill the soldier – problems come to kill us. WE MUST NOT ATTRIBUTE EVIL TO GOD, SATAN WILL USE THAT TO KILL US WHILE WE THINK IT IS FROM GOD. James 4:7, says “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

If it is good, it is from God. If it is bad, it is from the devil. GOD IS A GOOD GOD. The devil is a bad devil – John 10:10. Don’t confuse God with the devil or the devil with God. The devil is out to destroy you, don’t be fooled by him thinking that God is working in your favour.

Many people are turning away from God because they think He is the source of their pain. Others are just hanging in there until they die because they are afraid of spending eternity in hell. This is not what Jesus died to give us.

We shouldn’t preach what is not true to clear ourselves from being blamed for not exercising our faith. We mustn’t live like one leader of the synagogue who had a sick woman coming to his synagogue for 18 years without being healed. When Jesus healed her this leader of the synagogue decided to tell his people that they should not come to be healed on a Sabbath day – Luke 13:10-17. Let’s trust God to confirm His Word with miracles signs and wonders – Mark 16:14-20.

James 1:13 NKJV says, “Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for GOD CANNOT BE TEMPTED BY EVIL, NOR DOES HE HIMSELF TEMPT ANYONE.”

“REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST.”

Does God control everything such that nothing can happen without His permission? Has He allowed all the wrong that is happening in the world to take place? Is God sovereign the way religion has taught sovereignty?

The Bible does not teach that God controls everything. IT DOES NOT say that God is the cause or He gives permission to everything that happens.

When a person dies people, NOT GOD, say “it must have been their time”. Why do we blame God when a person who is under the influence of alcohol gets in a car, crashes and dies? Why do we say that was God’s will?

The Bible clearly states that Jesus came to “DESTROY HIM THAT HAD POWER OF DEATH, THAT IS, THE DEVIL” – Hebrews 2:14. It even says satan goes about seeking whom he may devour – 1 Peter 5:8. And it also says satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy – John 10:10. Are we saying satan is God’s messenger boy?

God clearly gave instruction to Adam not to eat the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil because in the day they ate the tree they would surely die – Genesis 2:17. Death was introduced to this earth by Adam and Eve. Jesus brought life – 1 Corinthians 15:22. Jesus is called the Last Adam who became the life giving spirit – 1 Corinthians 15:45.

People blame God for making babies deformed, causing marriages to fail, and sending killer storms. In our insurance contracts we have what is called “acts of God”. By acts of God people mean earthquakes, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. This is misrepresentation of God.

The Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the express image of God – Hebrews 1:3. If we want to understand God’s attitude toward us we need to look at how Jesus dealt with people. The Bible says Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were OPPRESSED BY THE DEVIL – Acts 10:38.

The teaching that God controls everything sovereignly has made people passive. This has made people see no point in doing anything. Why seek God? Why attend church? Why not just sit at home and watch TV because God’s will is going to come to pass anyway? Why do anything because God’s will is going to happen whether you believe it or not? This is a terrible doctrine!

What do we say when somebody dies? Do we conveniently use this terrible doctrine and say, “Well it must be God’s will”? No, God is not the one causing death, satan is the author of death. God is not killing anybody today.

If we truly believe that God controls everything, then when we get sick we should not pray against the will of God, nor should we consult a doctor. If we believe God is teaching us through sickness and disease we shouldn’t take medication because we should allow the will of God to be done.

This is a terrible doctrine, only religious people believe it because they have been taught it, and they accept it on blind faith.

God has provided everything by grace. WE HAVE A CHOICE TO EITHER COOPERATE WITH HIS PERFECT WILL OR NOT. Ephesians 3:20 says, “Now unto Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, ACCORDING TO THE POWER THAT WORKS IN US.”

We need to understand that THE WILL OF GOD IS NOT AUTOMATIC, IT TAKES FAITH. Second Peter 3:9 says it is God’s will that every person gets saved, but that is not the case. Why? The reason is that we have a choice. God has provided everything by grace, but if we don’t receive we won’t have.

“REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST”

Jesus Christ has already died for the forgiveness of our sins, healing of our bodies, and our deliverance from bondage. Therefore we don’t have to beg or convince God to give us these things, we simply need to appropriate them by faith – 1 Peter 2:24 and Romans 8:32.

Faith receives what grace has provided – Ephesians 2:8-9. I cannot use faith to steal because Jesus didn’t provide for that in His death and resurrection. I cannot use faith to murder because Jesus didn’t provide for that in His death resurrection. I cannot use faith to name and claim anything that was not provided for through the death and resurrection of Jesus.

Faith operates through the realisation that God has already done everything:

Ephesians 1:3 “Praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who HAS BLESSED us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.”

2 Peter 1:3 “As His divine power HAS GIVEN to us ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.

It is easy to operate in faith when we remember that we already have the following in our spirits:

1. The power God used to raise Jesus from the dead. This power was given to us when we first believed in Jesus Christ – Ephesians 1:19-23. The amount of revelation we have of this truth determines the amount of God’s power we experience – Ephesians 1:15-19. The fullness of Godhead dwells in us – Colossians 1:27 and 2:9. We are complete in Christ – Colossians 2:10.

2. The fruit of th Holy Spirit. We already have love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance. We do not have to beg God for this virtue, grace has already deposited it into our spirits – Galatians 5:22-23. We can release this virtue into physical manifestation if we do not ask God to give it to us but acknowledge it – Philemon 6, Romans 12:2, and 2 Corinthians 3:18.

3. All things that pertain to life and godliness, we simply need to release them through faith – Colossians 1:27, 2 Peter 1:2-4, and Philemon 1:6.

What we need is a mindset shift from trying to convince God by our faith, to using our faith to appropriate what God has already given to us. We are defending what we already have rather than trying to get what we don’t have. We already have healing, provision, protection, victory, etc., we have all these things in our spirits.

2 Peter 1:3-4 says “3 By his divine power, God HAS GIVEN US EVERYTHING WE NEED FOR LIVING A GODLY LIFE. We HAVE RECEIVED ALL OF THIS by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. 4 And because of his glory and excellence, He HAS GIVEN us great and precious promises. These are the promises THAT ENABLE YOU TO SHARE HIS DIVINE NATURE and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires.

Because faith is the positive response to what God has provided by grace, Christian life isn’t about getting God to do anything, Christian life is about renewing our minds to the truth of God’s Word and receiving the physical manifestation of what He has already done – Romans 12:2 and 2 Corinthians 3:18.

“REST IN THE FINISHED WORK OF JESUS CHRIST”