We have been looking at the thought, “As Jesus Is”, for weeks now. I trust that this series has blessed you. Yesterday and this morning, I was praying about moving on to the next topic in our overall series of “Supernatural Manifestation.” However, the Father wants me to continue to flow in this vein. So, in the coming days, we will look at Philippians 2, John 14 and John 17. For today, we will go back to 1 John 14:16,17, with a message that will prepare us for what God is going to say next, in this series.
The Apostle John said:
And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
(1 John 4:16, 17 KJV)
So what does this mean to you today? Let’s see.
1. Religion vs. Grace.
a) Religion teaches you to strive to be good enough and that you will only be blessed if you are good. The gospel of grace teaches makes it clear that you could never be good enough and that God blesses you ONLY because He is good!
b) Religion puts the spotlight on you and it makes your life about what you can do for God. The gospel of grace puts the spotlight on God and it makes our lives about what God has already done, and what He is committed to do, in, with and through us!
c) Religion says, “You have to be worthy and live worthy of God!” Grace says, “Jesus was worthy for me and my heavenly Father sees me, just like Jesus, in this world.”
d) Religious people never tap into the supernatural power of God, because they attempt to do everything in their own power, ability and strength. The power of God does not flow through a human, when the human is the one attempting to perform the work. The power of God only flows through a human when the human dies to self and gets out of God’s way! Grace opens the door to the supernatural, because grace understands that we are merely the human conduits of the divine.
e) If you are religious, you will never see yourself “As Jesus is, in this world!” You must embrace God’s grace in order to see yourself equal with Jesus.
2. Grace keeps the emphasis on God and NOT on us.
a) The goal is to see yourself AS JESUS IS, in this world, and to then live your life with your emphasis on Him and NOT on you!
b) When you live your life with an emphasis on God, it releases you from the pressure to perform and you are then able to enter into God’s rest. This is the only way you will believe, receive, experience and enjoy His finished work in your life. When you live this way, you are not striving to obtain victory, you are living from the position of victory that Jesus already obtained for you. And you enter every day cognizant of the fact that you are IN Him, He is IN you, and the Father sees you just like He saw Jesus: ONE WITH HIM! (see John 17:20,21).
c) The gospel of grace takes the emphasis off of you, your performance and your ability. Your performance could never be flawless enough. Your ability could never be strong enough. But God’s grace is always enough.
d) God can use anyone because the power comes from God and not man. Paul said, “We have this treasure from God, but we are only like clay jars that hold the treasure. This is to show that the amazing power we have is from God, not from us” (2 Cor 4:7). We are the containers, but God is the content. We may house the glory, but we cannot take any credit for the glory God allows us to transport around. God put His “super” inside of our “natural”. This is the only way we can operate in the supernatural. It’s all about Him!
e) When you understand grace you enter into God’s rest. You know the assignment came from God, the giftings you will need come from God, the favor it will take to get it done will come from God, and the empowering presence to do what you can’t do on your own will also come from God. Even when you are facing extraordinary challenges, you can have peace, because you know it’s not about you!
f) Seeing yourself “As Jesus is, in this world”, reminds you that He can do, through you, what you could never do on your own!
Closing Confession: Father, this is a year of Great Victory for me, because I know my life is all about You! I provide the container, You provide the content. I am a carrier of God in the earth. I am a conduit of Your glory. The power comes from You. I willingly die, and You willingly LIVE in, with, and through me. I keep my emphasis on You. It is Your power, Your ability, Your strength, and Your favor that has made me a success. You give me all things richly to enjoy, by Your unearned and amazing grace. And You also reassure me that You see me the same way You saw Jesus in this world. You love me the same way You loved Your own Son. Therefore, I boldly declare, as Jesus is, so am I, in this world! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
