Today we continue our series entitled, “Grace and Truth” by continuing to look at by continuing to look at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our main scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. Let’s look at them again.
(John 1:14 NIV)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 NIV)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
I trust you have enjoyed the last few messages from Galatians 5:6. Let’s go back to this verse on last time.
(Galatians 5:6 KJV)
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth anything, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
So what does this mean for you today? A few things:
1. God’s plans are so big that we often feel unworthy of them.
a) God is infinitely limitless. We, as humans, are finite and limited. If you come up with something, it will be too small for God. When God comes up with something, it will be too large for you.
b) God’s plans exceed your ability, power and strength. God does not CALL you to do something you can do. He calls you to a VISION that is bigger than you. When God tells you to do something you can do it is called “instructions”. All you have to do with instructions is OBEY them. But when God tells you to do something you clearly cannot do — when He tells you to fund something you don’t have the money for, or to lead a project in an area you have no experience in, or to release His power to heal the sick when doctors have run out of options — He is casting VISION, not giving instructions. VISION must be BELIEVED! Said another way, if God tells you to do something you can do, DO IT! Obedience is part of your assignment. But when God tells you to do something you clearly cannot do, He is looking for you to BELIEVE! You must attempt it BY FAITH!
c) Since God calls you to do things that far exceed your performance and your perceived merit, there will be times when you feel unworthy. You will feel like God is being too good to you. Trust me, HE IS! God’s blessing is not measured by your performance. His blessing is measured by His goodness and His goodness towards you is infinite. Get past the fact that you are not worthy and BELIEVE! Faith works by love. Your faith will be strong when you know that God wants to use you because He loves you, not because you earned it.
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 receive a Word from God. It’s easy to get fired up when you are in a church service or a conference, and the atmosphere is high, and you hear from God. But the challenge comes in the days, weeks, months and sometimes years after you received that PROMISE! 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), 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 earned it. 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 then shift your focus to God, His ability, and His performance. Once the burden is off of you, 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 His unearned grace. If you ever get to this point your faith will be strong. Faith works by love. You will have the faith to access God’s grace, because you are convinced that God loves you. And you know you don’t have to be perfect to be blessed!
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your love and grace. You are a great God! 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 world began. 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 every step of the way. 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! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word. Apply it and prosper!
