Feb 08

Grace and Offenses

It is easy to receive the “Grace Message” and become so focused on God’s love for us and grace toward us that we forget that there is a whole lot more to living in this world. For example, how are our relationships with others? Are there unresolved issues? Are there offenses?

Jesus was all about people and we should be, too.

Jesus was very practical in addressing these issues during his ministry on earth. He said in Matthew 5 and Matthew 18 that we need to “Go to our brother and try to make things right.” No problem.

Actually it is a big problem for some who are either trapped in the bitterness of an unresolved offense or who are hurting others and

need to be approached in love about being thoughtful. Jesus was our ultimate example of putting others first.

As is the case with most everything about our walk with the Lord our answers are found by looking to Him. Listen to this brief podcast to discover how to handle offenses in grace.

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Nov 15

Christian, Come Out of Darkness

Like the sun breaking through the darkness over the waters, we can come out of the darkness and live in the kingdom of light

Christian, come out of darkness. The Apostle Paul wrote in Colossians 1:13,14 that we have been conveyed – moved, transferred, translated – from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of His Son. “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and [c]conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption [d]through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.” NKJV

It’s awesome! We can live in the kingdom of God right now, not just in the sweet by and by. Sadly, a lot of born-again believers are still living in the kingdom of darkness, struggling with their flesh and trying to live the Christian life in their own strength. This is not what Jesus died to give us.

We can experience His kingdom today. It requires a change of mind, a change of focus. Instead of a mind focused on the flesh – a carnal mind – we can “fix our minds on Jesus!” We can believe what the Scriptures say about who we are as God’s beloved children and the reality that we do have redemption through His blood. We have the forgiveness of sins and can walk in that reality!

Listen to the podcast to find out how to come out of the darkness, and live every day in the light of the kingdom of God’s dear Son.  Please share with a friend or family member so that the can experience the reality of God’s amazing love, too.

Thank you, I pray your life will be changed!

Mark

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Oct 23

Five of the Most Powerful Words in Christianity

Some of the most powerful words in Christianity turn our focus away from ourselves and onto the perfect Lamb of God. Realizing that in the Old Testament the priests examined the sacrifice and  not the one who brought the sacrifice will change our lives.

God is not examining you or me today, but He has examined His son Jesus as a Lamb without blemish (1 Peter 1:18.19) and accepted His sacrifice for our sins!

Looking to Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith will get our eyes off of our flesh, off of trying to fix our old man to make it right with God. We are made righteous through the perfect sacrifice of Jesus!

What are These Five Most Powerful Words?

Listen to the podcast now to discover five simple words that are some of the most powerful in Christianity.

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Sep 13

Are Your Cords Cut?

  • Filed under Sin

  • September 13, 2018

Are your cords cut? Isiah 33:23 says, “Your cords hang loose;
    they cannot hold the mast firm in its place
    or keep the sail spread out.”

Cords secure a sail to a mast and allow the wind to fill the sail. The sight is majestic as the boat cuts through

Cords that are cut will not secure the n=mast of your life’s ship

the water with ease. But, cords – rigging – that is frayed or cut cannot secure the sail.

In Isaiah 44 God says He is doing a new thing. He says “their lawless deeds I will remember no more.” In Hebrews 10:17 says, “I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more.” This is the Gospel, the good news!

This reality is the cord that will secure the mast of the ship that is our life and allow our sails to be full. Knowing that God loves us and is not counting our sin against us will allow us to sail through the waters of life, the calm waters and the rough waters.

Cords that are cut are focused on the deeds of the flesh and trying to somehow get right with God. But, 2 Corinthians 5:17-19 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling[c] the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.”

Cords that are not cut allow the ship to sail with the wind

It’s awesome to know the freedom of living with a full sail, with cords that have secured the mast and allowed the sail to billow with the wind. The cords are simply knowing that we are new creations if we are in Christ, and that God is not focused on our sin!

Some worry that this excuses a life lived in sin, but that is not correct. Knowing that God is not focused on our sin allows us to focus on the new creation that we are, and gives us victory over things that we have battled in our own strength.

Enjoy Episode Six of the Fueled by Grace Podcast, “Are Your Cords Cut?” and share it with a friend or family member.

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Aug 16

You are God’s Masterpiece

Masterpiece is a great word.  It comes to mid in Ephesians 2:10 when the Apostle Paul says, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” The word “workmanship” can best be thought of as “masterpiece.”

In Philippians 3:12, Paul said wanted to “take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. In Episode Five of the Fueled by Grace Podcast, we ask the question, “Why was it so important to God that He gave His only son to take the judgement that should have been rightfully ours?”

On the heels of Episode 4, “Are you a Miserable Question,” in this episode of the Fueled by Grace Podcast, we look at why God sees us as important enough to save.

A masterpiece by Michelangelo

Hands of God and Adam is a Michelangelo masterpiece

Is it possible that we need a revelation as to how God sees us? This podcast is for you or someone you know that may need  encouragement in how God see us. In the manner that Michelangelo likely stood back and gazed with wonder and pleasure at his masterpiece in the Sistine Chapel, so God gazes upon us with wonder and approval.

We are His workmanship, His masterpiece!

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Jul 13

Are You a Miserable Christian?

Are you a miserable Christian? Do you feel like you are disappointing God because you can’t seem to live up to the expectations of those in leadership at your local church?

In Philippians 3 the Apostle Paul said, “I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” If you are miserable as a Christian, perhaps you need to look at what is influencing you or what is being expected of you by others and make sure it is not interfering with the simplicity of knowing Jesus.

your local church should not make you a miserable christian

The local church is vital, but sometimes can put its needs ahead of the surpassing worth of knowing Jesus, making some Christians miserable.

There are many positives that are associated with being a part of a local church. In Hebrews 10:25 we are encouraged to “not forsake the assembling of ourselves together.” Encouragement, the corporate manifestation of the presence of God, and teaching that builds our faith are keenly important.

But, if the expectations of others are making your Christian life miserable, ask yourself if you have moved away from the “surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus your Lord.”  Nothing is more important in your life as a believer that knowing Jesus.

Sometimes being a miserable Christian  stems from not really knowing that we are forgiven. This too is something that spending time knowing Him will help. Seeing His eyes of love and grace and knowing that we are forgiven will definitely move us from misery to joy.

Jim Johnston, senior pastor of Tulsa Bible Church  wrote in 2015 that the most miserable Christians are “those who live with a foot in both worlds.” There is certainly a lack of joy that accompanies a believer’s doing things that are “of the world,” but this is primarily because it distracts from the great worth of knowing Christ.

In Episode 4 of Fueled by Grace we will be encouraged to make sure that knowing Him is priority number one. There is no intention to put down the importance of the local church, but rather to encourage us to keep knowing Christ Jesus at the forefront of our lives, and not allow the expectations of others to make us a miserable Christian.

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May 20

Are You Going to Open the Scroll?

Those who speak against God’s grace are rejecting His plan, His perfect work. They loudly proclaim objection to “the grace message,” holding it out as inferior, a message that is true on the surface, but really one to be cautious of in reality. They act as if they will march right into John’s vision in Revelation 5 and tell the angel, “I will open the scroll.”
It is easy to get others to give assent to this attack on grace. When we have gained a new measure of discipline it can feel like we’ve ascended to the top of a mountain, another challenge conquered in our strength.
We couch this great feeling about our spirituality it in religious jargon. “God helped me stop looking at porn,” is announced with puffed out chest at a men’s accountability group. The others in attendance rejoice in this victory, hanging their heads at their own weakness. We find that our strength gives us pause to look down at our brothers because of their struggle.

Look at Me

Again, often the objection to preaching the reality of God’s grace is based on a focus on sin. This focus is preached vigorously in many churches, tied with a bow that promises that fixing the “flesh” is attainable. It inflates the pride of those who rail against preaching grace, reveling in their having a measure of self-control and victory over certain areas of their lives.
It gives glory to their own flesh and strength.
This is totally contrary to what God accomplished in His Son on the cross.
The bottom line is that their objection to “the grace message” is rooted in pride and in a religious spirit.
Jesus Himself spoke harshly against these things to those with a similar mindset in His day.

Check Yourself

Ask yourself, “Do I glory in my victory over a certain sin? Do I judge others for their weakness in a similar area? 
Anything that shines the light on our strength or our personal self-control is taking glory away from the Father and His work accomplished in the death, burial, and resurrection of His Son, Jesus.
Stop rejecting the Gospel, for it is the truth. It is Jesus who said Himself, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” Judging ourselves as either good or bad puts the focus on us, when the focus should be on Him and what  He has done for us.

Are You Going to Open the Scroll?Lion of the tribe of Judah

In closing, read Rev 5:1-5 whenever you find yourself railing against those who preach the Gospel, who proclaim the goodness and grace of God. One thing is missing from those verses: your name and mine. “No one was worthy, is the reality that made John “weep with disappointment.”
The Lamb of God alone is worthy to take the scroll from the right hand of the one seated on the throne and to open it and read it. This is the absolute truth.  
When we find ourselves getting puffed up because we have “conquered a certain sin,” or looking negatively at those who may be struggling, a good reminder is Revelation 5. Remember, it’s all about the Lamb of God and His grace, which by the way, teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness.
Be careful not to rail against the very mystery of Christ that His Father set into motion before the foundation of the world. His grace is real and is one of the cornerstones of salvation, along with His love and His mercy. Instead of focusing on sin, focus on Him. It will change your life.

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May 14

By His Stripes We Are Healed

Isaiah 53:5 says, “But he was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by His wounds we are healed.. Many translations say, “By His stripes we are healed.” 

An apple a day is good for us, but we are healed by the stripes of Jesus

1 Peter 2:24 says, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”

Why did the lamb of God allow Himself to be beaten? His death appropriated our forgiveness. The Scripture clearly states that it was for our healing. No, I do not have all the answers as to why some are healed and some are not. But, I believe that believing in what Jesus allowed Himself to endure is a big step toward seeing healing become more frequent in the church today.

Will you take time ot believe…to ponder this amazing reality? By His stripes you are healed!

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Mar 29

Despised, Pierced and Bruised

Jesus was despised, pierced and bruised for our iniquities – our sins. Yet many teach that we can add to that in order to get right or stay right with God. That’s not correct. If we could get right with God we would not need a savior,

crown of thorns

Jesus was pierced for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities.

To teach that we can somehow do this or that to enhance what God has done is to do great dishonor to the finished work of Christ, to disrespect what Jesus went through before and during the cross. God is pleased when we believe what He did and turn our attention to His work. This is how real change is made in the life of a believer, not by focusing on sin. Focus on the new creation that God has made you and on how Jesus was despised, pierced and bruised for our sins. Focus on the cross where He was judged for our sins for all eternity.

And focus on His resurrection, through which He birthed a whole new creation! Look to Him, not to your sin and not to your strength, and God will do amazing things in your life. It’s awesome!

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Mar 08

Three Steps to Real Peace

Three Steps to Real Peace

Many Christians are riddled with fear and anxiety. Jesus has made a way for us to have real peace. Listen to this episode of Fueled by Grace to learn three steps to real peace.

 

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