* 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)”. For the last couple of days we have been looking at the point that your faith will work when you put your trust in God’s love. The two main scriptures we have used are:
(1 John 4:16 ERV) So we know the love that God has for us, and we trust that love.
(Gal 5:16 KJV) For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Let’s look at these scriptures and this topic again.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. For years I thought this verse Galatians Gal 5:6 meant that my faith will work when my love walk, with both God and other people, was strong and intact. I also thought that if I was not operating in love towards God or others, then my faith was going to fail. However, the entire letter to the church in Galatia is about human effort (the Law) vs. God’s effort (Grace). In context, Paul is not putting a requirement on us – to make sure our upward love towards God and outward love towards man is perfect – before our faith will work. No, Paul’s emphasis is on God and not us. Paul meant that our faith would work, that it would be strong and effective, when we are convinced God loves us! This is vitally important because knowing God loves you is what enables you to trust Him to the point where you can give up control and follow Him.
2. God’s motivation to bless you is His love, not your faith. What caused God to make plans for you, to seek you out, to save you, and to then use you for His glory, is His LOVE and GRACE, not your faith or perfection. True success in life comes when you embrace His love, you accept His grace, and you pursue whatever He tells you to do — no matter how big it may be — by faith.
3. When you are convinced God loves you and you put your trust in His love, you are then in position to fully embrace His grace and the results will be supernatural.
4. When you are convinced God loves you and you put your trust in His love, you will expand your capacity to believe. Every artificial limit you have ever placed on your limitless God will disappear when you trust in His love and rely on His grace. Because at that point you will be believing in God and His strength, not you, your strength or your ability to live perfect.
5. When you are convinced God loves you and you put your trust in His love, you will be able to believe God with your confidence firmly rooted and grounded in His commitment towards you and not your performance towards Him. This way you know you don’t have to be perfect in order to receive God’s promises.
6. Living by faith based on God’s grace means that you expect to succeed in life because God loves you, not because your actions are perfect or your performance is flawless.
7. When you are convinced God loves you and you put your trust in His love, your faith will be energized because you will be free from the pressure to be perfect in your own strength. Your faith finds supernatural strength when you know God loves you and you trust in His love. Faith that is rooted in God’s love and grace is faith is focused on God’s tireless dedication to you and to the plans He made for you before the world began.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your love and Grace. The more I learn about Your love, the more I fall in love with You over and over again. You loved me while I was yet a sinner. You made plans for me before the foundations of the world. You planned to blessed me, even though You already knew all the mistakes I was going to make. You looked at my life in advance – faults, failures, flaws and all – and You destined me for Your purpose anyway. You looked beyond my faults, even before the foundations of the world, and You planned to use me for Your glory. You made plans for me by Your amazing grace, not because I would be perfect. You and I both know I am far from perfect. But I am forgiven. You have saved me, forgave me, washed me in the Blood of Your Son Jesus, filled me with Your Spirit, and called me according to Your plans and purpose for my life. You did this because You love me. You bless me by grace, not because I have earned it. Therefore, from this day forward, I declare that my faith will be rooted and grounded in Your Love towards me. The more convinced I get that You love me, and that You want to bless me by grace, the more I am able to trust You and the more strength my faith will have, because my faith will no longer be rooted or grounded in me. From this day forward my faith is rooted and grounded in You. I have FAITH IN GOD! Even when I am faithless, You have promised to be faithful to me. So I will not allow the devil to cause me to feel condemned anymore. The devil comes to condemn me because of my mistakes, but the Holy Spirit convicts me of the righteousness Christ Jesus died to give me, and He reminds me of the fact that You love me, that You are committed to me, and that You will never leave, nor forsake. I trust You Father and my trust in You gives me peace about my future. I know I will achieve success in life, because I will do it through my faith, accessing Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
