* You can now watch a video of this message at: https://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live.
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing with our new mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Yesterday I taught you about “Trusting in the Love of God.” The main text I used was from 1 John 4. While I gave you several scriptures, the key one for me was verse 16 where the Apostle John said, “So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.” I have already taught you that true success and prosperity is not found in things, but in finding, following and finishing your divine purpose. Giving up what you were already working on in life prior to coming to Christ, for the purpose God reveals to you, is not easy for most. But it is easier when you know God loves you and you trust His love. When you truly trust the love of God you will be more inclined to give up control, to make God’s purpose your #1 priority in life, and to find your true self by losing yourself in Him. This is a description of the grace-life we are supposed to live.
To enjoy the fullness of God’s grace we must access His grace with our faith. The Apostle Paul said something very interesting in his letter to the church in Galatia. After teaching the church that we can only live lives that are pleasing in God’s sight by His grace and not by fulfilling the Law of Moses, the Apostle Paul said, “For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love” (Gal 5:6). As New Testament believers our lives can no longer be focused on works (like circumcision). We must live our lives by faith and Paul tells us that faith works by love. For our faith to be strong we must know, believe and trust in the love of God.
So what does this mean to you today?
1. As New Testament, Born-Again, Spirit-filled believers, external ceremonial Laws or rules should no longer be our focus.
2. You cannot live a life pleasing in God’s sight by your works. God is looking for your faith and your faith must be focused on God’s grace and rooted in His love.
3. Your life should be simple now. You are to be led of the Holy Spirit, to do and say what He tells you to by faith, and to trust in the Love of God.
4. Trusting in the love and grace of God is the fuel for your faith. If you think your faith is only going to work when you are perfect (when you do everything right), then you are living performance-based and not grace-based. If you live performance-based your faith is going to suffer because you are going to make mistakes. But when you live grace-based, trusting in the love of God, you can keep believing even after you have made a mistake.
5. Receiving God’s love in your heart and trusting in that love will open the door to God’s grace and you will be able to walk by faith effectively.
6. Your faith will be strong when you are convinced God loves you and that He wants to use you by His Grace, not because you are so good.
7. Love is who God is and Grace is how He deals with you. When we settle the fact that God loves you and that He wants to bless you by His grace, you will be able to access that grace with your faith.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your love and Your grace, and my requirement to live by a faith that works by Your love. I am a New Testament, Born-Again, Spirit-filled believer, and I don’t live my life focused on ceremonial Laws. These Laws were external and could not bring about internal change. The focus of my life now is to be led of Your Holy Spirit daily. Your Spirit leads me, He speaks to me, and He reveals Your will to me. As I hear, I say. As I see, I do. As You lead me, I go. And I do all of this, because I am convinced that You love me. You love me. You love me. You love me and I know it. You love me and I trust Your love. Thank You Father for loving me in spite of my faults, flaws and failures. You love me with an unconditional and everlasting love. You love me, because love is not something You have, or something You do, Love is who you are! I receive and embrace Your love in my heart. I know You want to use me and bless me because You are so good, not because I am. I don’t attempt to live by faith based on my performance. I live by faith based on Your love. Your love, emanating from my heart, is what fuels my faith. Your love in my heart helps shield and protect me from the condemnation satan attempts to put me in when I make a mistake. Since I am able to resist condemnation, I am also able to maintain my confidence in You. So Father, I enter this day with fearless confidence, knowing that You love me, that You want to use me for Your glory, and that You want to bless me by grace. I pursue Godly success that is based on Your grace and Your love. Not my performance or earthly motivations. By faith I access Your grace and I perform Your will in the earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
