|
| Grace - Your Definition |
|
| |
Grace - Your Definition
Greetings brethren,
I am in the process of studying, and preparing a blog series on "The Manifold Grace of God". What a fascinating and amazing gift this grace of God is.
In my recent studies, I have printed and meditated on each of the 159 verses I find in the KJB which use the word grace. Additionally, I have listened to several messages from a couple of different teachers, and read, or am in the process of reading a couple of books on this topic to assist in furthering my own understanding.
My plan is that in a couple of weeks I will begin to compile a living-blog series on this topic. I say, "living-blog" because I hope to be able use this blog-to-come as a tool for future ministry and fully expect my views, opinions, and understanding to change and grow over time. Hence, a living-blog.
So today, as I was pondering on some various thoughts and ideas, it occurred to me that another great source of biblical knowledge, and a great way to gain a snapshot of how the body of Christ as a whole views and understands grace, is to simply ask.
There is a wealth of knowledge here amongst us in the MyChurch body and I have no doubt that many of you Holy Ghost filled believers have some very interesting things to share about this amazing gift.
Therefore, I present these questions to those of you who care to offer your insights and or definitions of grace:
What Does Grace Mean To You?
How Would You Define Grace In Ten Words Or Less?Please feel free to share whatever you feel led to share. More than likely this will be an unmanned post as I am more interested in hearing what you have to say rather than offering my own thoughts and impressions.
Eventually I will take a preponderance of the thoughts gathered here, and maybe even a few of the specific replies that impact me the most and use them in my follow-up series at a later date.
Thank you in advance for your cooperation and I look forward to hearing what the Lord has shown you in regards to this multifaceted and very powerful gift we have available to us, God's Amazing Grace.
In Love,
Michael
|
|
| To add a comment to "Grace - Your Definition" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
 |
|
|
| Grace is two fold: Unmerrited favor "Fo by grace are you saved through faith." also can be used as: God's strength and power. "My grace is sufficient" |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Bro Todd stoled mine! lol I was simply going to say "unmerited favor". We don't deserve it. We didn't earn it, yet we receive it. |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
Michael,
The Greek word for God's grace is CHARIS (KARE-eece). It's where we get the words "charisma" and "charismatic".
To me, the grace of God is the Holy Spirit. It is the supernatural ability to live the same quality of life God lives.
When talking about our car payment or our house payment, we use the term "Grace Period". The grace period is the period of time we are allowed by the lender to not do as we are supposed to. To the world, grace is a pass.
In the bible, the term grace includes "getting a pass from God" but that's only a part of what grace is. We are, by the grace of God, forgiven of our sins and imperfections. But Jesus went to the cross by the grace of God. 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. You can look at that verse two different ways and they are both correct. As a gift from God to us, He sent Jesus to the cross to taste death for us. But Jesus only had the supernatural ability to go to that cross because of the grace God gave Him.
Grace is God's ability working in us. The Holy Spirit can be described very similarly.
Rob |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
| GRACE - It is "kindness" from GOD that we do not deserve...... |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
I'm currently learning some things on Grace...here are some of them
Grace is Gods ability in us...it is why we don't have to strive anymore in our own strength...
Grace is not God overlooking sin (that is mercy) Grace is God working IN us giving us DELIVERANCE from sin
If your "putting down the flesh" Then your not operating under grace but out of your own strength
When you operate in Grace there is joy
When you operate in grace you REST...
Michael, I'm learning some new things here...I'm trying to renew my mind and grab ahold of a new concept to me I don't have, what I know is I only have an inkling of what Grace really is, I have been taught wrong in the past...I still operate out of "my works" a LOT and I am working on that, I'm working on resting...and laying back and letting God do the work, in my children, and friends, and family, and myself...and for the first day ever yesterday morning in my bathroom I felt the joy in doing that, today I felt it again, so I am gaining on this...and God is opening my eyes and heart to something different...Grace IS Christs redemption on display in our lives...Wow, I got it in 9 words what I couldn't write in a book right now...LOL |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
Loriinfj,
You... are... AWESOME!
If your "putting down the flesh" Then your not operating under grace but out of your own strength
When you operate in Grace there is joy
When you operate in grace you REST...
Well said!
Rob |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
Rob,
Thanks! I'm LEARNING...you know what God is teaching me to rest in Him and HIS ability more than ever...He is working mightly right now in some of my closest family and friends without me having to say a word! And you know...I have lots of words!...LOL....but I'm learning to shut up, and let go, and let God....I'm learning to really rest and that takes trusting in Him in a new way for me and without knowing it I was learning to operate grace in my life...and I'm telling you something for a Mama this is HARD, not only am I a Mama but I'm a nurse and it seem to just be in my nature to care, and fix, and nurture...but I'm learning God our Daddy does this all so much better than I can, He uses me somewhat but it is really allowing me to sit back and watch the magic only He can do...and for the first time yesterday I found actual JOY in it...and today I felt it again...MORE THAN ONCE....I tell you what...I love my Jesus...I really do....He is GOOD ALL THE TIME...makes me want to cry in all honesty....oops here come the tears of joy...:) |
|
|
| April 09, 2009 |
|
|
|
I have got to participate here in the fact that these are some awesome comments!
Yall are the shizell my nizell'!
I can;t wait to see the end result of compiling your thoughts and mine. There is a reason while it's called Amazing Grace!
Please, by all means, keep em' coming. |
|
|
| April 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
Hey you guys. Sorry I'm being off-topic here but you need to know about some pretty cool developments.
TinaCoen has a VERY cool blog going on about victory.
Linda (http://www.mychurch.org/lindylu_who) also has some good things to say.
These people are displaying a depth of knowledge and conviction that God reveals to those who love Him. They talk like they've been saved!
Tina's been my "friend" on MyChurch for awhile but this Linda person has just invited me to be her friend. Check out both of these bloggers. Make them your friend. They've got some pretty good word these days :)
Glory to God!!!
Rob |
|
|
| April 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
| Wow...wonderful timing. The Grace of God - so powerful isn't it? Well this very statement was used by me yesterday in front of a group of college students about to graduate from a local University - the discussion was on grief and the after effects of a tramatic experience. I had a few students comment on my strength and wanted to know how I could be so strong, get up every day and simply just cope - My response was simply: The truth is that it isn't "my strength" it is the "Grace of God" that gets me up everyday, it's his strength and His love that keeps me on pace everyday. Praise God |
|
|
| April 10, 2009 |
|
|
|
Oh, that's good Teresa, that's real good!
Thanks. |
|
|
| April 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
I'm getting a bit farther into the Grace book now....and what I love is it ties in the heart and soul with grace. I know I don't have a full grasp as to how the heart and the soul are all tied in to our spirits and minds, what I do know is they are separate but cross over a bit into each other...
I'm just going to quote a paragraph on page 66..."Since grace works from the heart and is a product of faith, it will always be diametrically opposed to the natural mind. The natural mind does things in its own strength. The natural mind will always limit a person to the extent of his own capabilities. Therefore few people will ever fulfill the extent of their call or gift."
That is a powerful and true statement, it is like grace is the springboard into the power Christ has already put in us...it gives us the ability to live outside of ourselves/mind, the faith to continue on in the journey, and the ability to accomplish the big things we are called to IN THIS LIFE.
We have people who operated under the knowledge of Gods grace in the Word, David did although he was guilty of sin. Joseph did and is one of our best examples. Noah, we just know his actions not much of his story...but the inference is huge...Abraham...wow, what can I say about Abraham here... Moses was called as a leader to lead a bunch of people who really didn't get it, I can't imagine how frustrating it was for him to know of his Lord and lead a people who were so wayward. I got to thinking today of all the people on the earth...there were just a few that God could use as examples...this IS something that escapes most people and it is also something that very few understand...This is HARD to live out on the edge like this and I'm not saying I'm there, but I am trying...and when you go to this place you go with the understanding most your friends and family don't get it, this is something it seems most of us journey alone in...
Michael this book has a page on sozo that is almost verbatim what Andrew says...page 56, the new chapter 5 entitled the "Manifold Grace of God" Isn't that what your blog is going to be titled? I thought that was pretty cool....Your gonna love this book....it was first published in 1993...I think I found a new minister to follow, but none of his stuff online is free, you have to pay for all the MP3downloads....I'm so spoiled by Andrew, seriously....So there you have my "more", now I have to get going for Easter preparations...I hope you have a blessed Easter season/Passover (today is the 4th day of Passover) and FEEL Gods redemption in a palpable way. In Him, Lori |
|
|
| April 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
Thanks Lori for sharing your thoughts and revelations with us, that's awesome.
I am so looking forward to my own copy of that book. I was kinda hoping it would arrive today. Have a great weekend Lori. Thanks again my friend. |
|
|
| April 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
Lori and Michael,
Jim Richards doesn't distinguish all that much between heart, soul, spirit, mind, etc, like Andrew does. He is ate-up with the heart, though. 4:23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it [are] the issues of life. I have his "Developing the Heart" series and it's pretty good (16-CDs! Yikes!). He says that the mind is the gateway to the heart. Richards has a degree in psychotherapy or something like that. He knows how the mind works.
Lori hit on another Andrewism, "I may not have arrived but I've left the house". Well done!
Rob
P.S. Jim Richards has video taped his church services and they can be seen here: http://impact.rbm.tv/ |
|
|
| April 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
Rob,
Maybe it is just me...but I really have always wondered about the heart, soul, mind connection, Jim does say some really poignant things in the beginning of his book about the heart and soul and the renewing of our minds...that I have not gotten before, not saying I have not heard it (although I don't remember) just saying I have not "gotten it". Some how it is how the teacher teaches or my reception...who knows, but I find them really groundbreaking for me personally...I think Andrew address who we are in the spirit but I have not heard him speak much to how it works between our hearts and soul...not to the point I can grab it and squeeze...I'm missing some principals and would love to find a thorough teaching on it somewhere...
I went to Jim Richards web site after reading a couple chapters of his book...I was hoping to find some files to download to hear more....16 CD's man I'd be in heaven! LOL
To say our heart is affected by our mind is VERY different, esp for us women, than saying our hearts affect our minds...if you want to see a heart change in yourself you do have to tackle your thinking...and I know for me personally God does this with me frequently...I just never noted it was my mind he changed before my heart, I just kinda walked around thinking somehow I woke up with my heart different...AND I felt rather fickle, now I understand the process...and well it just makes me MORE open to some things I need to do like confessions...AND underastanding the process always helps me to be more obedient to what he is calling me to in the Spirit cause I confess he is having me do things that REALLY go against my nature right now...go ahead call me stupid but we each have our own blocks...that was definantly one of mine...It is STARTING to get through my pea brain but I have a ways to go...
Michael,
I'm so bumbed you did not get that book this weekend...I got mine in 2 days and I assumed you would too...but your getting it USPS for some reason...mine came fedex even though it was free shipping...I hate USPS, it doesn't even track on their site well....I'm sorry about that...would have paid for shipping if I thought it would have taken this long...:(
I hope your having a sweet weekend...Lori |
|
|
| April 11, 2009 |
|
|
|
Lori,
It's not your fault. EVERYTHING is slower in Georgia.
Rob
P.S. Okay, Michael, you can ban me now. |
|
|
Follow this blog
