(Galatians 5:6 KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. I have been trying to move on from this verse, but the Father wants me to keep sharing from it and I want to be obedient. We have to get this down in our heart: God loves us and our faith will be stronger when we settle the issue of His love in our hearts and minds.
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s see:
1. God’s plans are so big that we often feel unworthy of them. God is limitless, but we (in our flesh) are limited. This is why it is sometimes difficult for us to receive what God wants to do in our lives. In yesterday’s message I said, “If you come with it, it will be too small for God!” But “When God comes up with it, it will be too big for you!” Many times, God’s plans exceed your bank account, education and social-status. This is where the love of God comes in. If you are not convinced that God loves you, and that He wants to do what He said He would do in your life because He loves you, you will feel unworthy of the task and disqualify yourself from it in your own mind. However, God did not give you the assignment because you are so good. He gave it to you because He is so good. So when you get convinced that He loves you and that He wants to bless you by Grace, and not because you are worthy, you will then be in position to do the only thing He requires you to do… and that is BELIEVE!
2. God’s love keeps you in the space between the promise and the performance. Every once in a while God promises you something and it shows up immediately. Those times are great. But for the most part, there is a space between the promise and the performance and in that space the devil attempts to stir up problems. There is a space between the confession and the completion and in that space the devil tries to stir up confusion. Anyone can get excited when you are in a church service and you believe God spoke to you. It’s easy to get fired up when you are in a church conference, and the atmosphere is high, and you hear from God. But the challenge comes in the days, weeks, months and sometimes years after that “Word.” It is in this space that you must continue to believe God. And it is in this space that you will inevitably do something wrong. Once you do, the devil will tell you that you have disqualified yourself. The devil will tell you that you “almost” had it, but you messed up and blew it. This is where the love of God comes in. When you are convinced that God loves you, and that He will do what He said He will do because He loves you (and not because you are perfect), then you will be able to resist the devil’s condemnation and continue to believe God for the manifestation of His promise.
3. God’s love takes the focus off of you. I keep saying this, because the Lord wants you to get this down in your heart. God wants to bless you because He loves you; not because you are perfect, not because you have earned it, and not because you deserve it. When you settle the issue of God’s love in your heart you will be able to take the focus off of you, your ability and your performance, and put it on God, His ability and His performance. Once the burden is off of you, then you are able to freely receive everything God wants to do in your life, because you know He loves you and He wants to bless you richly by Grace. At that point your faith will work. You will have the faith to access the Grace, because you will know that you don’t have to be perfect to be blessed!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your love and Grace. You are a great God and the more I learn of You, the more thankful I am to be a child of the one true God. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world, and the more You reveal those plans to me, the more I realize how big they are. Your plans are far too big for me to accomplish without You. Your plans for my life cause me to be reliant upon You and Your supernatural power. Without You I cannot, and without my cooperation You will not. Therefore I declare by faith that I am fully submitted to Your Kingdom plans and purposes for my life. You give me Your plans by Grace and I pursue them by faith. No matter how long it takes, no matter how big the space is between the promise and the performance, I will never give up, cave in or quit. I keep believing because my confidence is not in me. Even when I mess up and the devil tells me that I have disqualified myself, I tell the devil that I cannot be disqualified from what Jesus qualified me for. My faith works because I am convinced You love me. My faith works because it is rooted and grounded in Your love. My faith works because the emphasis is not on me, but rather on You and Your tireless dedication to me, and to the plans You made for me before the foundations of the world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
