As I was studying Hosea 11:1-3, then 7, God spoke this Word to me. “I am always trying to get favor and grace to my people, but Here’s what happened. As the ministers of Truth sent forth the Word or called the people with the truth, the people didn’t like it and went to the “itching ears church.”
It’s no different today. People just cannot accept that they do not have to perform for God. The performance requirements were settled at the cross. Jesus FINISHED all that was needed when He shed His blood at Calvary.
Then God reminded me of a Word he gave me in 1999. He said – “I am beginning to separate the religious, legalistic, rule-keeping church from My grace filled, righteous, powerful church”
I asked Him why are non-spirit filled, religious, rule-keeping, program oriented churches so full, and the powerful Spirit and Truth filled churches partially full. Then God reminded me again that He always has a remnant, not a multitude. Romans 11:5 says – “So too at the present time there is a remnant, chosen by grace”. Do you see that. Chosen by grace. God can win with any hand and you plus God equals a majority.
Remember Gideon? Study that story in Judges 7. He started out with 32,000 people and God whittled it down to 300. Why? Gideon could have easily defeated the Midianites with an army of 32,000 people. They would have then taken all the credit for the victory and forgotten about God. The battle is the Lord’s and He has won it for us. We simply get to join in the victory.
Look what the story says after He finally got the army at 300 people. In verse 9 He says “Get up and go down into the Midianite camp, for I HAVE GIVEN you victory over them”. It is for God to do and for us to receive. Remember, only those who walk in Truth are good for the battle.
What is that truth? It’s the grace of God. You cannot and will not win the victories in this life by trying to keep the law. Doing your very best to abide by the rules that have been established by religion and legalism. All you will do is Frustrate the Grace of God.
Here’s a powerful set of scriptures. I really like the way the Message Bible says it. Galatians 2:19-21.
“What actually took place is this: I tried keeping rules and working my head off to please God, and it didn’t work. So I quit being a “law man” so that I could be God’s man. Christ‘s life showed me how, and enabled me to do it. I identified myself completely with him.
Indeed, I have been crucified with Christ. My ego is no longer central. It is no longer important that I appear righteous before you or have your good opinion (we need to get set free from the tyranny of others), AND I AM NO LONGER DRIVEN TO IMPRESS GOD. Christ lives in me. The life you see me living is not “mine,” but it is lived by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I am not going to go back on that.
Is it not clear to you that to go back to that old rule-keeping, peer-pleasing religion would be an abandonment of everything personal and free in my relationship with God? I refuse to do that, to repudiate God’s grace. If a living relationship with God could come by rule-keeping, then Christ died unnecessarily.
This is such a powerful truth. Again, only those who can receive it and walk in it are good for the battle. I believe understanding the GRACE OF GOD is the revelation God has given to the Church so we might move to the next level of power.
Get this truth. God has already done His part. When Jesus cried “It is finished” (John 19:30) He meant just that. He provided everything we could ever need.
For instance, 1 Peter 2:24. That says we have already been healed……….RIGHT?? So then, if God’s Word is true, and it is, it would actually be incorrect to pray for HEALING. There is a difference between fighting to get healed, and fighting because we have been healed. The difference? Failure verses Success.
Now, you’ve got to get out of your old religious comfort zone. Stretch yourself to get this revelation of Grace. Once you know it, you’ll be set free.
Here’s my situation, I have no choice, because I’m dominated by truth. We can never let what people don’t see get in the way of what we do see. Also, we must never let our experience rise above, trump, or dominate over the truth of God’s word. “If the knowledge of the truth makes you free, then it’s error that binds you”. So it’s God’s truth we will seek out.
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
16 But whenever someone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 For the Lord is the Spirit, and wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 So all of us who have had that veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord—who is the Spirit—makes us more and more like him as we are changed into his glorious image.
Verse 16 has a huge key in it. It’s the statement “turns to the Lord”. Believe on Him whom He has sent. Behold the Lamb. Believe God. Just get rid of self and walk in grace.
Walking in grace is the only way that you can be free. This gospel of grace sets you free from you. It’s not “deny the devil, pick up your cross and follow”. It’s “deny yourself, pick up your cross and follow”. If you’re free from you you’ll be free from others.
Verse 17 says that wherever the Spirit of the Lord is, there is FREEDOM. So it stands to reason there is no freedom in the spirit of the law or the letter. That’s just useless works and self-righteous behavior.
Who is doing all the work? Look and see. It’s in verse 18. The Lord who is the Spirit “MAKES” us more and more like Him. It is not us doing it. We cannot MAKE ourselves more and more like Him. He’s doing it for us. We just rest in that and receive it. There's more truth coming in Part 2. Don't miss it. Grace and Peace.
