Posts with the tag “grace”

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you by His poverty might become rich.” - 2 Corinthians 8:9Are you sitting on an oil-filled ranch? Yesterday, we discussed a man who was living in poverty and was going to have to foreclose on his land. Just before he had to give it up, he had a team come to dig up the ground just to...  Read More

“He saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by His grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.” - Titus 3:5-7  John 15:13 reminds us that “Greater love has no one th...  Read More

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a Holy calling, not because of our works but because of His own purpose and grace, which gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began.” - 2 Timothy 1:8-9  If you are a child of God, you are highly favored. That is right, He ...  Read More

“In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.” - Ephesians 1:11  Did you know that when you give your life to Christ, you are a FAVORED child of God? That is right. He pours out His favor on you. This is why you receive endless grace and mercy and why He continues to bless you beyond what ...  Read More

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.” - 1 Peter 4:10 Long before you knew God, He knew you. He created you. But even before He created you, He knew what you would become. He also knew the gifts you would possess. Why did He know that? Because He gave them to you! God is the one who has gifted you with spiritual gifts that He wants you t...  Read More

“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for His own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.” - 1 Peter 2:9  God chases us. God loves us. And God pursues us. That’s right, He doesn’t just chase us before we give our lives to Him, but He continues to pursue us day after day. 1 Peter 2:9 says, “...  Read More

“But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’” - Genesis 3:9  Over the last few days, we have talked about why we should turn to God even when we are unclean. As I have mentioned, far too many believers and nonbelievers think they have to clean their lives up on their own before they turn to God. But that is just not true. God wants you just as you are. But sometimes, we do...  Read More

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9  Yesterday, we talked about being consistent in your relationship with the Lord every day. As believers or followers of Jesus Christ, it is our responsibility to show up every day for Christ. We should be growing in our personal...  Read More

“No weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall confute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord and their vindication from me, declares the Lord.” - Isaiah 54:17  Did you know that when you belong to God, you belong to the most powerful being in the world? Yesterday, we looked at the story of a normal guy who could not...  Read More

“My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” - 1 John 2:1  Did you know that when you give your life to Christ, you permanently have someone in your corner advocating for you? There are a lot of people who feel alone in this world. They just wish someone would care about them...  Read More

“For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” - Ephesians 2:8-9  Mercy and grace. The two limitless gifts God has for those who have trusted in Him and given their life to Him. You know what? God has more mercy and grace than you have sin. But what are mercy and grace? Mercy is when God withho...  Read More

“Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.” - John 10:9 Have you ever had a late-night craving for a specific meal at a specific fast food restaurant? Maybe it’s a burger or a sandwich, or maybe it’s a dessert, like a milkshake or an ice cream sundae. You just can’t get that image out of your head, and you can’t stop t...  Read More

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all His commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world. You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God.” - Deuteronomy 28:1-2  As believers, we should be different. God calls us to be different from those of the world. 1 Peter 2:9 tells us, “But you are not li...  Read More

“But He gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” - James 4:6   When you read the title, “You vs. God,” what do you think? You might be like, “Woah, Pastor, slow down! I’m not against God. We aren’t enemies!” Maybe not. Or maybe so. How do we know? God opposes the proud.   Is God telling you He’s going to bring you down? James 4:6 says, “But He giv...  Read More

“For all that is in the world— the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life— is not from the Father but is from the world.” - 1 John 2:16   Over the last couple days, we have talked about the temptations we face as human beings on earth. The same tricks Satan used to try and tempt Jesus are the same things He uses on us today. 1 John 2:16 gives us three different things, ...  Read More

 “As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, He saw heaven open up. The Holy Spirit came down on Him like a dove.” - Mark 1:10   As we continue to talk about the Holy Spirit, “the forgotten God,” as Francis Chan says, we want to understand the purpose. What are we trying to accomplish by better understanding the Holy Spirit? When you better understand the Spirit, you experience for yourself the pe...  Read More

“If we are children of God, we will receive everything He has promised us. We will share with Christ all the things God has given to Him. But we must share His suffering if we are to share His shining greatness.” - Romans 8:17   Yesterday, we learned that as children of God, we will share in the riches and blessings given to Jesus by God. This means we not only are blessed in regards to the mercy ...  Read More

“For if a man belongs to Christ, he is a new person. The old life is gone. New life has begun.” - 2 Corinthians 5:17   As we continue to look at baptism from a biblical standpoint, I want you to see there is a shift in its nature. There is a shift from the Old Testament ceremonial perspective of baptism to a New Testament version of baptism.   The Old Testament was a ceremonial external cleansing....  Read More

“During those days He went out to the mountain to pray and spent all night in prayer to God” (Luke 6:12).Jesus went away to pray. How many times in Scripture have we read that Jesus went away from the crowds, even went away from His friends to pray to the Father in solitude?Why does Jesus do this? He doesn’t do this to parade His holiness. He does this because He’s modeling a practice that we are ...  Read More

“Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven an- gels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the ...  Read More