God’s Grace Is Free
And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.2 Corinthians 12:7-10Grace is God willingly applying His ability and power to do through us the thing we need to do (or stop doing) but we can’t do it on our own. Grace is God’s empowering that helps us accomplish the things in life that we cannot seem to accomplish under our own power. Grace is the power God places in us that enables us to defeat sin.
With our own strength and abilities we can sometimes do the possible, but God’s grace empowers the Christian to do the impossible. Truly, it seems God always calls us to do the impossible — but with His grace working in our lives, the impossible becomes reality. Even though we don’t deserve His great and awesome power called grace, He gives us His grace as a free gift. In order for us to be able to accomplish the will of God, we must tap into His grace. There is no limit to God’s grace. His grace is boundless. There is no limit to His power. He can do anything. Dr. Larry Ollison Grace Is So Much More Than Unmerited Favor
Every object in a state of uniform motion tends to remain in that state of motion unless an external force is applied to it. Newton's First Law of Motion
Newton's first law of motion basically says that an object will stay at rest or continue at a constant velocity unless acted upon by an external unbalanced force. An object which is at rest cannot move unless it comes under the influence of an unbalanced force. However, once in motion, an object can (actually must) continue to move unless acted on by an external force. So to see change in anything in our lives or negative circumstance force must be applied?
And there is no force that is greater than God’s force or power and He can change and deal with anything! There is no limit to God’s grace. His grace is boundless. There is no limit to His power. He can do anything. So we can therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need (Hebrews 4:16) and see impossible things changed in our lives! God’s word is unchanging:
LORD, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, "There is no help for him in God." Selah But You, O LORD, are a shield for me, My glory and the One who lifts up my head. I cried to the LORD with my voice, And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people Who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD; Save me, O my God! For You have struck all my enemies on the cheekbone; You have broken the teeth of the ungodly. Salvation belongs to the LORD. Your blessing is upon Your people. Selah Psalm 3:1-8
The eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their cry. The face of the LORD is against those who do evil, To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. The righteous cry out, and the LORD hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles. The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit. Many are the afflictions of the righteous, But the LORD delivers him out of them all. Psalm 34:15-19
Then Jesus looked around and said to His disciples, "How hard it is for those who have riches to enter the kingdom of God!" And the disciples were astonished at His words. But Jesus answered again and said to them, "Children, how hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God! "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God." And they were greatly astonished, saying among themselves, "Who then can be saved?" But Jesus looked at them and said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible." Mark 10:23-27
Yes with God all things are possible. Those things that are impossible with men are possible with God and give Him an opportunity to display His love, mercy and grace to the children of men, especially the sons of God! However, God’s response to us is dependent on whether we humble and meek or proud or arrogant. God’s word is true:
Have you an arm like God? Or can you thunder with a voice like His? Then adorn yourself with majesty and splendor, and array yourself with glory and beauty. Disperse the rage of your wrath; Look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness. Then I will also confess to you That your own right hand can save you. Job 40:9-14
Whether men accept it or not as far as God is concerned their total being and prosperity is dependent on whether they are humble and meek or proud and arrogant. Everything that God freely gives to men because of His grace including salvation, healing and deliverance comes to those who humble themselves, and not to those who are proud. As a matter of fact God goes out of the way to look on everyone who is proud, and humble him. Look on everyone who is proud, and bring him low; Tread down the wicked in their place. Hide them in the dust together, Bind their faces in hidden darkness. Yes, "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." His word is unchanging:
"When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, "if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7:13-14
There are many of God’s people who not only miss heaven’s best in all things but die prematurely because they don’t understand the importance of humbling themselves, being submissive to one another and being clothed with humility even though they blame it all on God’s Divine Sovereignty. We see this in the life of King Hezekiah who was a good king but a proud man also. The bile records:
Now it came to pass in the third year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Hezekiah the son of Ahaz, king of Judah, began to reign. He was twenty-five years old when he became king, and he reigned twenty-nine years in Jerusalem. His mother's name was Abi the daughter of Zechariah. And he did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel, so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor who were before him. For he held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. The LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went. And he rebelled against the king of Assyria and did not serve him. 2 Kings 18:1-7
Thus Hezekiah did throughout all Judah, and he did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God. And in every work that he began in the service of the house of God, in the law and in the commandment, to seek his God, he did it with all his heart. So he prospered. 2 Chronicles 31:20
Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 2 Chronicles 32:27-29
King Hezekiah did what was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father David had done. He removed the high places and broke the sacred pillars, cut down the wooden image and broke in pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made; for until those days the children of Israel burned incense to it, and called it Nehushtan. He held fast to the LORD; he did not depart from following Him, but kept His commandments, which the LORD had commanded Moses. So the LORD was with him; he prospered wherever he went including give him victory over His enemies. As a result of his God given prosperity, King Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. He made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. It’s to be noted that true prosperity is not just our soul being prosperous but also our whole man body, soul and spirit? But even though king Hezekiah did what was good and right and true before the LORD his God, his enemies attacked him. The bible records:
Now it came to pass in the fourth year of King Hezekiah, which was the seventh year of Hoshea the son of Elah, king of Israel, that Shalmaneser king of Assyria came up against Samaria and besieged it. And at the end of three years they took it. In the sixth year of Hezekiah, that is, the ninth year of Hoshea king of Israel, Samaria was taken.
Then the king of Assyria carried Israel away captive to Assyria, and put them in Halah and by the Habor, the River of Gozan, and in the cities of the Medes, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD their God, but transgressed His covenant and all that Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded; and they would neither hear nor do them. And in the fourteenth year of King Hezekiah, Sennacherib king of Assyria came up against all the fortified cities of Judah and took them. 2 Kings 18:9-13
Hezekiah was a righteous man of faith who trusted in the Lord, and walked in His ways and commandments. When the enemy encamped against Judah Hezekiah told the people, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." He made a confession of faith and the Lord who is God alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth and made heaven and earth, fought for him and gave him the victory. The bible records:
After these deeds of faithfulness, Sennacherib king of Assyria came and entered Judah; he encamped against the fortified cities, thinking to win them over to himself. And when Hezekiah saw that Sennacherib had come, and that his purpose was to make war against Jerusalem, he consulted with his leaders and commanders to stop the water from the springs which were outside the city; and they helped him. Thus many people gathered together who stopped all the springs and the brook that ran through the land, saying, "Why should the kings of Assyria come and find much water?" And he strengthened himself, built up all the wall that was broken, raised it up to the towers, and built another wall outside; also he repaired the Millo in the City of David, and made weapons and shields in abundance. Then he set military captains over the people, gathered them together to him in the open square of the city gate, and gave them encouragement, saying, "Be strong and courageous; do not be afraid nor dismayed before the king of Assyria, nor before all the multitude that is with him; for there are more with us than with him. "With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the LORD our God, to help us and to fight our battles." And the people were strengthened by the words of Hezekiah king of Judah. 2 Chronicles 32:1-8
Now because of this King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah, the son of Amoz, prayed and cried out to heaven. Then the LORD sent an angel who cut down every mighty man of valor, leader, and captain in the camp of the king of Assyria. So he returned shamefaced to his own land. And when he had gone into the temple of his god, some of his own offspring struck him down with the sword there. Thus the LORD saved Hezekiah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem from the hand of Sennacherib the king of Assyria, and from the hand of all others, and guided them on every side. 2 Chronicles 32:20-22
Yes, on a certain night that the angel of the LORD went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. As a result king Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, and returned home where his sons struck him down with the sword. So king Hezekaih prospered and lived in safety. Yet the Word of God tells us the king Hezekiah heart was lifted up and God’s wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. The bible records:
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death, and he prayed to the LORD; and He spoke to him and gave him a sign. But Hezekiah did not repay according to the favor shown him, for his heart was lifted up; therefore wrath was looming over him and over Judah and Jerusalem. Then Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the LORD did not come upon them in the days of Hezekiah. Hezekiah had very great riches and honor. And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks. Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property. 2 Chronicles 32:25-29
Yes, we are all sick, hurting, or lacking in one thing or another but God has not changed one bit and He is still a God of miracles. He has promised for those who are called by His name that if they will humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways then He will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. So when king Hezekiah become sick and was about to die the Lord He humbled himself and cried to God and the Lord heard his prayer and healed him:
In those days Hezekiah was sick and near death. And Isaiah the prophet, the son of Amoz, went to him and said to him, "Thus says the LORD: 'Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.' " Then Hezekiah turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the LORD, and said, "Remember now, O LORD, I pray, how I have walked before You in truth and with a loyal heart, and have done what is good in Your sight." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. And the word of the LORD came to Isaiah, saying, "Go and tell Hezekiah, 'Thus says the LORD, the God of David your father: "I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. "I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria, and I will defend this city." ' "And this is the sign to you from the LORD, that the LORD will do this thing which He has spoken: "Behold, I will bring the shadow on the sundial, which has gone down with the sun on the sundial of Ahaz, ten degrees backward." So the sun returned ten degrees on the dial by which it had gone down. This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness: Isaiah 38:1-9
Yes, God still gives grace to the humble and He contends with the proud. Healing is still part of the atonement but the method that God chooses to use as well as the timing for the healing is His business. Nevertheless God’s word is unchanging:
who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness-by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls. 1 Peter 2:24-25
Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble." Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 5:5-11
WALTER KAMBULOW
VICTORY MINISTRIES
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