BoazNigel

The difference between ethical bahviour & grace: ethical behaviour doesn't do that we don't want others to do to/for us grace does do what we want others to do to/for us Rolling this teaching onto how we should 'love our enemies' is very radical - our enemies hate us & they only want the worst for us ... Jesus taught we should do good to our enemies & want the best for them - even as we would for ourselves Jesus illustrated it thus: turn the other cheek if they take your cloak give them your tunic go the extra mile! Creative Resistance

I know I am not what I should be but Praise God I'm not what I was! As I allow God, through the Holy Spirit, to mould & shape me I am being 'changed from one degree of glory to another' into the likeness of Christ As I allow God to use me to serve others & disperse His grace so that 'change process ' continues The Potter

1 Cor 14:12 says "... you a re SO eager to have the special abilities the Spirit gives seek those that will STRENGTHEN THE WHOLE CHURCH" (NLT) The whole purpose of the gifts is to STRENGTHEN the church - not just those whom God uses & therefore they are to be operated in community Isolating yourself impoverishes not only you but the whole church community. We were not created to be individuals but to be members of the Body of Christ. We should embrace our spiritual gifts & seek to bless the Body of Christ of which God has made us a part.

A steward/trustee is responsible for the protection, maintenance & usage of something that is not their own As stewards we are not to hoard but freely use what we have been entrusted with, by God, for the good of others We are responsible to God, & others, to use/operate the spirital gifts that God has given us for the benefit of others & for the progress of the Kingdom

The link between grace and gifts is hidden in their name in Greek grace=charis=favour & gifts=charis=favour bestowed. Spiritual gifts are form God & they are 'given in grace & 'used in/with grace'. The chief characteristics of a generous person is that they GIVE ... it is part of their nature to give to others automatically - as a natural reaction to seeing the need of others. Spiritual gifts work by grace & they operate by God's grace working through/and in us Freely, freely you have received

Simply put - when we are weak then our only resource is God & then God's power has room to flourish ... it is when we have nothing of ourselves that God's power has 'freedom' Grace's sufficiency is able to do anything that our faith allows The 'practical limits' on the sufficiency of grace are the limits we place on it by our faith & our trust GIVE ME FAITH

The blunt truth ... when we suffer sickness or affliction we can become 'self centred' or 'me-centred' & hence tempted to stop ministering to others as we draw into ourselves (a person wrapped up in themselves is a very small parcel indeed!) "I hope all is well with you & that you are healthy in body as you are strong in spirit" (3 Jn 2, NLT) ... there is a link between our physical health & our soul health (our mind, our will & our emotions) - as one goes so does the other! Personal comment I have heard, on a number of occasions, teachers/preachers refer to Paul's 'thorn in the flesh' as a physical ailment. May I suggest an alternative view in Num 33:55 it states "... if you fail to drive out the people who live in the land, those who remain will be like SPLINTERS IN YOUR EYES & THORNS IN YOUR SIDES. They will harass you ..." (NLT) In this context 'thorns in your sides' is a euphemism for opposition & harassment rather than physical ailments - just a thought!

For some approaching God's throne can be a fearful thing - they are afraid in approaching an all powerful, all knowing God ... they are fearful of judgment & punishment but the writer to the Hebrews encourages us "... let us come BOLDLY to the throne of our gracious God - there we will find His MERCY & we will find GRACE ..." (Heb 4:16, NLT) Our home a 'place of grace' ... personal response we pastor a 'house church' & host worship, Bible studies & prayer meetings -we preach grace to all who visit Throne of Grace

Life can be a struggle: we struggle with lifr, we struggle with situation, we even at times struggle with our selves etc We can't do it on our own - but scripture assures us that it is by faith not our own effort This gives me assurance & stability that it is all by faith God knowing how weak we are told us these things "... this is the WILL OF GOD that I should not lose even one of all those He has given Me" (Jn 6:39, NLT) - this gives me a strong assurance I WILL NOT BE LOST - IT IS GOD@S WILL! 😄 ONLY BY GRACE

It is by faith we walk in God's protection ... it is by faith we hold on to God's protection It is only by grace that protection is available & our faith is activated by our trusting in grace

It is impossible for people to turn to Christ in their own power - because "... EVERYONE has sinned, we ALL fall short of God's glorious standards" (Rom 3:23, NLT) & as the Apostle Paul wrote "... I know that NOTHING GOOD lives in me ..." (Rom 7:18a) There is NOTHING about us that would cause us to come to God - it is only by God's grace & His drawing us that we come to Him Scripture tells us "... God showed His great love for us WHILE WE WERE SINNERS" (Rom 5:8, NLT) This is grace God was at work even while we were sinners!

God's grace is that He 'does good' for/to us even though we don't deserve it ... " even before He made the world God LOVED US & CHOOSE US in Christ to be holy & without fault in His eyes" (Eph 1:4, NLT) This is why predestination is gracious ... before Creation - before we had done anything - (and knowing what we would do!) God LOVED & CHOOSE us! God's grace is glorious because all things about God are glorious ... imbued with His character

This is a complex issue - & a 'mystery'! If we could fully understand we would be equal to God ... WE ARE NOT!! Suffice to say we live in a finite world & God dwells in 'eternity living outside our 'space-time continuum' but reaching in & interacting with us How it all fits together is a 'mystery' & there are aspects & times we have to say with Abraham "Should not the Judge of all the earth do what is right?" (Gen 18:25b, NLT)

After we are saved/rescued the Holy Spirit works within us to 'do good works' (Eph 2:10) - also He "makes us more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image" (2 Cor 3:18, NLT) ... from 'one degree of glory to another' In 'working out our salvation' we are co-operating with God as He prompts & enables us to change... we 'work out' & God is also at work within us John Wimber phrased it this way 'we work OUT what God has already put IN' We should expect change because the Spirit is alive & at work to change - in the same way that we expect healthy seeds to produce healthy plants after their type If - after time - there is no change discernible then it is questionable whether new birth has taken place God of our Salvation