God's Amazing Grace

 The Amazing Grace of God

I. In the Old Testament. The rule of first mention in the Bible.
The very first time an important word is mentioned in the Bible, which is usually in Genesis, we find the most complete and accurate meaning for that concept and foundation for greater development in later parts of the Bible. 

The word “grace” is mentioned 159 times in the King James version. The understanding of the grace of God was highly important to New Testament Christianity, but is little understood in the church today. Most pastors, ministers and Christians can quote one very common definition of grace- the unmerited favor of God which leads us to experience salvation through Jesus Christ. Let us take a deep dive into the fuller meaning of the amazing grace of God.

Dr. Denver Cheddie wrote that “God's grace is one of the most fundamental doctrines of our Christian faith. Without God's grace, Christianity does not exist. Through God's grace we have salvation, forgiveness, a relationship with God, access to God's throne, the ability to endure trials and sustaining power for our Christian walk.” (Denver Cheddie, What is Grace? www.bibleissues.org).

A. Genesis 6:8, (KJV) 8. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. (NIV- favor).

Hebrew- 2834, root word “Hanan”- to show mercy, kindness, favor, grace. IE. To find favor in the eyes of God.

B. The priestly blessing is found in Numbers 6: 22-27.

22. The Lord said to Moses, 23. “Tell Aaron and his sons, 'This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them: 24. “The Lord bless you and keep you; 25. the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26. the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” 27. So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”

C. Hebrew for “gracious” is #2858 in the Kohlenberger's Hebrew-Greek Key Study Bible, NIV.

Hanan- to show favor, to be kind, to show mercy. Describes God's character and actions toward mankind. Yahweh is gracious toward His people.

Webster's Dictionary- Grace is the root word of gracious and is a noun. Gracious is an adjective used to describe someone who is merciful and compassionate. We serve a God who is full of mercy, compassion and kindness.

Isaiah 26:10. But when grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and do not regard the majesty of the Lord.

Zechariah 12:10. Prophesied about the days after Jesus was crucified on the Cross. “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication.

Hebrew- #2834.- to show mercy, kindness, favor. Could be written, the Spirit of grace referring to the time when Jesus would pour out the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Jerusalem.

II. Meaning and use of the word “grace” in the New Testament

Greek- #5921, charis which means: favor, gift, benefit, credit and blessing.

Charisma- a gracious gift. IE. A highly charismatic minister is abundantly blessed with God's favor and anointing. Additional meanings based on context of the scriptures: divine enablement, power and anointing.

Grace (charis) is used in the following ways:

A. As a greeting or closing in Apostle Paul's letters to the 8 chuches: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians.

Paul pronounced a blessing of God's favor and mercy on the churches in his epistles. It was not just a casual greeting. He must have thought it was an important thing for him to do as their apostle. When we bless people with grace and peace, God watches over his words to perform them. Many pastors, priests or other clergy pronounce blessings over their people today.

One can't help but wonder how different children would be if their fathers pronounced a blessing upon them each morning or when they put them to bed at night. The blessing of a father carries great weight and influence upon the future success and development of a child. 

Romans 1:7. To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be his holy people: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 13:14. May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

2 John 1:3. Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

Personal example. Say a blessing over myself. “I am blessed and highly favored.” or for others, “May you be blessed and highly favored.”

Luke 1:28, The angel went to her (Mary) and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

B. Spiritual Gifts given by the Holy Spirit- “grace gifts”.

1. Grace Gifts. Romans 12:6-8 (TPT) 6 God’s marvelous grace imparts to each one of us varying gifts. So if God has given you the grace-gift of prophecy, activate your gift by using the proportion of faith you have to prophesy. 7 If your grace-gift is serving, then thrive in serving others well. If you have the grace-gift of teaching, then be actively teaching and training others. 8 If you have the grace-gift of encouragement, then use it often to encourage others. If you have the grace-gift of giving to meet the needs of others, then may you prosper in your generosity without any fanfare. If you have the gift of leadership, be passionate about your leadership. And if you have the gift of showing compassion, then flourish in your cheerful display of compassion. 

2. Nine Gifts of the Holy Spirit- I Corinthians 12: 7-11, 7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a word of wisdom, to another a word of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues,[a] and to still another the interpretation of tongues.[b] 11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.

3. The fruit of the Spirit is a gift of grace also. We cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit by ourselves; it is impossible. It is only by the grace of the Lord Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit can we be transformed into the image of God and the likeness of Jesus Christ.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Remember-- we are not under the law, but we are blessed with the grace of God.

4. Tongues is a grace gift that came at Pentecost.

Acts 2:4, All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. A gift given to believers by the Holy Spirit.

Acts 19:6, When Paul placed his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they spoke in tongues and prophesied.

Ephesians 6:18, And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Intercessors need this power gift so the Holy Spirit can pray through them to bring about tremendous changes in the heavenlies and in the natural world.

Important Note. If someone is having trouble receiving their prayer language,

1. It may be because they have not completely surrendered their heart, soul and mind to the Lord Jesus. They are still trying to be in control of their life and make their own decisions. They do not want the Spirit of Holiness being in control of their character and life.

Matthew 22:37, Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’

2. They are being double-minded about receiving their prayer language. God will not give them His gift of tongues until they want it completely and without reservation. Having doubt, unbelief, fear, confusion over the question, will keep people from receiving their prayer language.

James 1:6-8. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

5. Five-fold Ministries- Ephesians 4:7 and 11-12. 7. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it. … 11 So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, 12 to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.

These ministers are God's gift to the body of Christ to provide leadership, teaching and training. God has graced them with divine enablement to answer the call on their lives.

C. To show the favor and blessings of God on Jesus and his disciples.

Luke 2:40. And the child (Jesus) grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him. #5921- charis means favor or blessings that comes through obedience to God's commandments and love for the Lord. It does not mean “unmerited favor” was given to the son of God. Jesus was perfect and without sin. Jesus was God's only son whom He loved.

John 1:14. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

*John 1:16-18. 16. From the fullness of his grace (Jesus), we have received one blessing after another. 7 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known.

D. To show the power of God displayed in Jesus' ministry and that of the disciples and apostles. Because of the grace upon them, they were able to do signs, wonders and miracles.

Acts 4:33. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

Acts 6:8. Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

Acts 14:3 So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

E. God predestined us before our birth to pour out His grace on us.

Galatians 1:15. But when God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased

2 Timothy 1:9. He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

F. God gives us above and beyond what we need.

1 Timothy 1:14. (Paul said)The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:7. in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.

G. To extend grace to others. Just as God has poured out abundant grace on us, we need to extend grace to others when they disappoint us, offend us, or don't measure up to our expectations. We give others grace by manifesting the fruit of the Spirit toward them.

Galatians 5:22-23, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. 

III. What does the number 5 Mean in the Bible?

God’s grace, mercy, and favor

Number 5 is mentioned in the Bible a total of 318 times. This number is directly linked to God’s grace, mercy, and favor. The grace of God is described as an unmerited favor that comes as a result of God’s love. The New Testament is seen as the perfect tale of God’s grace. (internet source not copied).

Transformation of Man

In the Bible, number 5 is used to symbolize divine transformation. This is the number that takes men from nobody to somebody according to God’s will.

Miracle

Another show of God’s favor was in the miracle of the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes. With the power in symbolic 5, Jesus only had to give thanks to God and suddenly, 5 loaves of bread were enough to feed 5,000 people.

IV. Quotes by other Christian ministers.

A. What is Grace? The definition and meaning of God's grace (www.bibleissues.org)
Written by Dr. Denver Cheddie. An ordained minister and Bible teacher with the Church of God in Cleveland, TN.

"God’s grace is one of the most fundamental doctrines of Christianity. Without God’s grace, Christianity does not even exist. Through God’s grace, we have: salvation, forgiveness of sins, a relationship with God, access to God’s throne, the ability to endure trials, and sustaining power in our Christian walk."

6 Points we need to understand about the grace of God.

1. Saved by grace (Only a few scriptures were chosen to illustrate each point.)

Ephesians 2:8-9. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.

Hebrews 4:16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace (#5921) with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

2. Grace vs law

John 1:17, For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Romans 6:14. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

3. Frustrating the grace of God (IE. Living according to the law, insulting the Holy Spirit, holding on to a bitter root of judgment, being proud, religious spirit)

Galatians 2:21, I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Hebrews 10:29. How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified them, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?

Hebrews 12:15. See to it that no one falls short of the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many. Bitter root judgments causes us to reap what we have sowed toward others.

James 4:6. But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” Other examples of sinful behavior includes: liars, thieves, being hypocritical, judgmental, evil thoughts and intentions, occult activities, witchcraft or giving place to religious spirits.

Biblical illustration from Acts 5:4. The story of Peter dealing with Ananias and Sapphira on how much money they sold their property for to give to the church. Satan filled his heart and they lied to the Holy Spirit. We frustrate the grace of God when we lie and try to cheat others.

God does not withdraw His grace from us, but we take ourselves out from under His grace which leaves us vulnerable to temptation, attack from the enemy and without God's divine enablement.

4. Grace for trials

2 Corinthians 12:9. But he (the Lord) said to me (Paul), “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power (#1539) is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power (#1539) may rest on me.

Greek #1539- dynamis- dynamite. supernatural power, ability, miracle working power.
When did Jesus Christ get filled with this dynamite power? At the River Jordan when he was baptized by the Holy Spirit after-- he was baptized by John the Baptist.
Through God's grace, we are given strength to endure trials. When we are weak, Jesus, anointing and power will flow through us.

1 Peter 5:10. And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

5. Grace calls to ministry

Romans 1:5. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

Ephesians 3:7. Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.

God’s Grace does not just call us to salvation, but our call to ministry is also by the grace of God. His gifts are distributed according to his grace. We are saved solely on the basis of Christ’s atonement on the cross and through no merit of our own.

6. Grow in Grace As we come to understand more about God's grace and repent of those things that frustrate his grace, we will be given more grace to help in time of need.

2 Peter 3:18. But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen. Increase, mature in Christ, greater power, greater wisdom, knowledge and understanding.

How do we grow in Grace?
1. Staying humble before the Lord and with people.
2. Not frustrating the grace we have been given.
3. Repenting to God and asking forgiveness of people we have offended.
4. Praying for more grace to be manifested in our life.
5. Extending grace to others even when they don't deserve it.

B. What is “The Grace of God?” (Notes from a sermon by Bill Johnson pastor of Bethel Church, Bethel, CA on the internet. Posted on March 13, 2013 by cmardern).

1. The apostate church out of the Protestant Reformation through the teachings of Calvin and Luther subtly perverted the concept of “grace”, just as they perverted the Sovereignty of God. Why did they teach this heresy? So they could live in sin and still be counted righteous before God. Today it is referred to as “cheap grace.” Where people call them Christians, but they have never repented of their sins. They want to escape hell and go to heaven without turning away from their sinful lifestyle.

2. The biblical definition of “grace” is the power of God, not the unmerited favor of God. GRACE is HIS power that is imparted to us by the Holy Spirit. We are saved by grace (“the power of God”) through faith….meaning; We through faith have the “gift” of the power of God to live righteously.

John 1:14, And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ was not full of “unmerited favor.” He was full of power, peace and truth.

Bill Johnson says, “The false understanding of grace has put the congregations to sleep, as it produces the bad fruit of a passive faith.

Galatians 1:6. I marvel that ye are so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another gospel. According to Johnson, The false teaching of grace today as being UNMERITED FAVOUR is another gospel.

3. Derek Prince, Foundational Truths for Christian Living. 2005.

a. In order for a sinner to avail himself of God's grace, there must be a definite, personal transformation by faith-- between the sinner and God. (p. 175). He must be born-again and filled with the Holy Spirit.

b. Grace and living in sin are mutually exclusive: If we have counted ourselves dead to sin and alive to Christ, then we are living and walking in God's grace (favor, blessings, power). If we are not dead to sin (unrepentant), then we have not availed ourselves of God's grace. For it takes the grace of God, to live the life of holiness and purity God requires of us. When we have truly availed ourselves of the grace of God, sin no longer has any power over us. (This is what Bill Johnson was referring to. Thinking you can be saved without true, sincere repentance and asking for forgiveness for your sins).

c. Grace and works are mutually exclusive. A person either is operating by his own natural works trying to be saved and in relationship with God, or he is living by God's grace (favor and blessings). You can't have it both ways.

Romans 11:6. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were grace would no longer be grace.

4. According to Graham Cooke, grace is not merely God's unmerited or undeserved favor. “Grace is the empowering Presence of God that enables you to become the person that God sees every time He looks at you.” (p.150). God's grace opens us to the incredible future that belongs to us in Christ. For we have been predestined to walk in the riches of His grace, which He has lavished on us” (21^st Game Changers, Aglow International, 2013).

5. Pat James' definition- Grace is God's divine enablement abiding in us that helps us to accomplish His will and His purposes in His kingdom. By God's divine enablement, Jesus was able to lay down his life to be crucified for our sins so He could be raised to new life by the power of the Holy Spirit. This definition has been derived from years of experience in ministry, studying the ways of God and reading the works of countless other seasoned ministers. 

1 Corinthians 15:10. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Grace is used four times as divine enablement in the scripture below: 1. the grace of God given to the churches. 2. an act of grace by the people in Macedonian church. 3. financial generosity was the grace of giving. 4. the grace of our Lord Jesus.

This passage is clearly not talking about unmerited favor, but divine enablement on God's part toward the people of God.

2 Corinthians 8: 1-9. 8. "And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2. In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4. they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us. 6. So we urged Titus, just as he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7. But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you[a]—see that you also excel in this grace of giving. 8. I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. 9. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich."

Conclusion. To quote Dr. Denver Cheddie again, “Through God's grace we have salvation, forgiveness, a relationship with God, access to God's throne, the ability to endure trials and sustaining power for our Christian walk.” 

We can do all things, overcome all things and be transformed into His likeness from glory to glory-- through the amazing grace of God. Would you like to have more of God's abundant grace in your life? That's simple. Ask for it. We have not, because we ask not. It is our Heavenly Father's desire for us to walk in more favor, kindness, blessings, mercy, power and the gifts of the Spirit. 

Provoking God's Blessings

"There is a time for everything and a season for every 

activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1.

Provoking God's Blessings

by Pat James

Provoking God's Blessings: 9781098045616: Amazon.com: Books 

Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles: James, Pat: 

Press Release 1-22-21

Pat James’s newly released “Provoking God’s Blessings” is a contemporary account that will help the readers apprehend God’s decree and ideals. “Provoking God’s Blessings: Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles” from Christian Faith Publishing author Pat James is a didactic textbook that provides readers with an extensive approach to studying God’s laws and principles. This book provides twelve lessons and personal illustrations and testimonies from others that the readers can use for their Bible study. 

MEADVILLE, Pa. (PRWEB) January 22, 2021 -- “Provoking God’s Blessings: Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles”: a fundamental handbook that sets a standard that is necessary for each individual who yearns for the full favor of God. “Provoking God’s Blessings: Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles” is the creation of published author Pat James, an elementary school teacher for twenty years who also has thirty-five-years of experience providing Christian counseling ministry in the body of Christ. 

James writes, “Understanding how to cooperate with God’s spiritual laws and principles facilitates personal growth, advancement, and success in God’s kingdom. Neglecting or violating these truths results in curses, a lack of spiritual growth, and failing to fulfill your destiny.

“Practical application of the lessons and prayers in this book will help readers function successfully in the kingdom of God. Through faith and obedience, they will be able to break free from being naturally minded into being spiritually-minded. They will become empowered by the Holy Spirit to overcome sin, the world, and Satan’s plans to detour their destiny.” 

Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Pat James’s new book raises the most important questions facing Christians and presents the answers with regard to the importance of keeping and obeying God’s spiritual laws and principles. 

View a synopsis of “Provoking God’s Blessings: Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles” on YouTube. Consumers can purchase “Provoking God’s Blessings: Understanding God's Spiritual Laws and Principles” at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble.

If you would like to purchase 10 or more books at a group rate for a Bible Study class, contact Pat at: pjames@tolr.org.  

Provoking the Blessings

Provoking the Blessings- Understanding God's Spiritual Laws & Principles-- is the title of a new book I recently finished writing. With much joy and excitement, I just found out it has been accepted for publication by Christian Faith Publishing.

Readers will learn about 18 Spiritual Laws along with their unique characteristics. For example, how the law of sowing and reaping effects your life. The book is divided into nine lessons for use by individuals or Bible study groups. Personal testimonies are included to provide further insight. Following the teaching, is a set of questions to encourage reflective interaction with the material. Finally, Scripture-based prayers have been crafted to help people apply these truths-- for living successfully in God's kingdom.

The second portion of the book provides readers with 21 “Pearls of Wisdom” about basic principles of the faith that will have a profound effect on the spiritual quality of the reader's life. Each pearl provides wisdom gained through years of experience learning to walk in the Spirit and serve the Lord in ministry. My prayer is that believer's lives will be transformed as they apply these principles for living a Spirit-filled life.

Jim Jackson, Founder and President Emeritus of Christian Believers United, commented in the Forward he wrote for the book. “Provoking the Blessings is truly an extremely important book for all Christians who are serious about living a successful life that is filled with the blessings of God. I think it is one of the best and clearest presentations I have ever read on the importance of honoring God’s Word in our daily lives.”

Tree of Life Ministries is trusting the Lord to help us raise the funds needed to publish Provoking the Blessings and see it distributed around the world. For $3,400 CFP will provide an aggressive publicity and marketing campaign with Apple ITunes, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and over 3000 media outlets and catalogs.

I sincerely hope you will ask the Lord if you could become one of my sponsors. Any amount would be greatly appreciated. For a $50.00 donation, I will send you a copy of the book, or for a $100.00 donation, I will send you two copies. If you would like to support this project with a monthly donation, I will be glad to take your pledge toward any amount you specify.

May our loving Heavenly Father bless you and your family with His mighty presence and power as you learn how… to provoke the Father's blessings upon your life.

Pat James

Tree of Life Ministries

828-475-1965

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Provoking the Blessings

Understanding God's Spiritual Laws & Principles

by Pat James

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is multiplied back to you, “a good measure, pressed down, shaken together and

running over, will be poured into your lap." Luke 6:38.

"The Lost Purse"

During the early morning hours of November 17, 2018, the Holy Spirit gave me a dream. In the dream I was at a large restaurant with our daughter and her family. My two grandsons were still little boys in the dream so I know it was prophetic and not based on our current life.

The food was served family style with large platters put on our table for all us to serve ourselves. There were platters of bacon, scrambled eggs and the most incredible kind of pastry called a braid. It was freshly baked bread dough with raisins, cinnamon, butter and pecans which was incredibly delicious. I remember the waitress came to clear off the table and I grabbed another piece to take with me. I wanted more and couldn't get enough.

When we finished our breakfast it was time to leave. We were on a trip traveling together and needed to get back on the road to our destination. When I looked down on the floor beside my chair, my purse was not there. Now when a woman discovers her purse is gone, she becomes very upset. All her important things are carried in that purse: car and house keys, driver's license, credit and debit cards, insurance cards. All those things that help her function in life; go places, make purchases and identity herself.

Trying not to panic, I began searching all over the restaurant for my lost purse. Was it stolen? Did another woman pick it up by mistake thinking it was her purse? How was I going to find her? Then I looked over at a display table and saw a purse which looked just like mine. It was a paisley print tote bag made by Vera Bradley. When I opened it, all I saw was a price tag and paper stuffed inside.

So I grabbed it and headed to find the restaurant manager and report my missing purse. My family was waiting on me all this time and we needed to get back on the road. There I was caught in a situation which was out of my control and I didn't know what to do. End of the dream.

That Saturday morning at breakfast, I shared my dream with my husband and recorded it in my dream journal. At the time I did not have the interpretation, so I left space in my journal to come back later and write it down. The next morning was Sunday and I got up to get ready to go to church. Tommy walked into the kitchen and told me he thought he had the interpretation.

The lost purse represented my old identity which I needed to lose before the Lord could give me a new one in Christ. The design and material of a purse represents our personality and character. The contents of a woman's purse represents her talents, gifts and how she functions in life.

Dreams are filled with symbolism and particular elements have symbolic meaning. My family represented the family of God coming together to worship Him and partake of His goodness at the Lord's banqueting table. The family style breakfast table reminds me of the wonderful gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit which He wants to give to us. Jesus is the bread of life which we need to partake of so we can be transformed into His image. He is our manna in the wilderness along life's journey. Like the delicious raisin cinnamon braid in my dream, once you've tasted of the goodness of the Lord, you want to go back for more. You can't get enough of His goodness, His love and His power. You want more of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, and are no longer satisfied with what the world has to offer you.

Scriptures tell us that God's plan for creating mankind in His image, was so He would have sons and daughters that represent Him and His kingdom on the earth. Since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, God has been pursuing men and women who would accept His offer to become members of His family. When we accept His Son Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, then we are born again into His kingdom. You cannot enter the kingdom of God until you ARE born again by the Spirit of God.

After our spirit has been regenerated (quickened, made alive), then we need the power of the Holy Spirit at work from within us to be transformed into God's image and likeness. This process is what is called sanctification by the Spirit and takes a lifetime to complete. God has a plan and a destiny for each one of us for how we will serve him in this life and through out all eternity. But first, we must undergo a death of the old, natural man so our new, resurrected spirit man can be manifest in us.

Our old, carnal identity was formed by the influence of our ancestors, our parents and childhood experiences. We are a product of what we experienced in life, both good and bad. It is not so much what happened to us as children, but our perceptions of what happened that shapes our adult mindsets, emotions and behavior. Finally, both the Holy Spirit and the devil are constantly trying to influence what we believe about God, ourselves and others.

Back to my story. At church that Sunday morning, we experienced a wonderful time of worship. While we were enjoying the Presence of God, the Spirit showed me how several lyrics in one particular song were connected to the dream about the lost purse. Especially, the phrases: "I am a child of God" and then, we are called to be "sons and daughters of God." This inspiration by the Holy Spirit led me to share a word from the Lord to our congregation. *A link to our church website is provided below so you can hear a recording of that message.

According to the interpretation of the dream, we begin our relationship to our Father God as His child: immature, inexperienced and untrained in the knowledge of and ways of God. However, as we mature-- in Christ, we learn how to put on the robes of righteousness, think with the mind of Christ, are trained in holiness, how to represent Christ here on earth and how to exercise the gifts, authority and anointing of the Spirit of Christ to see God's kingdom manifest here on earth.

Sanctification by the Holy Spirit is sadly missing from most churches today. We hear the message preached over and over again about how we need to be saved from our sins and accept Christ as our Savior. We are taught to be born-again as a child of God and accept our new identify as a Christian. But the message ends there. Few pastors and churches know how to bring their people into the next phase of our spiritual development- transformation into the image of Christ and fulfilling our destiny in the kingdom of God. God's plan since the formation of the earth was to have a people who would love Him, serve him and be transformed into His image-- as mature sons and daughters of God.

The dream of the lost purse is God's way of communicating to us that we need to move on from our immature identity of being 'a child of God' to being mature 'sons and daughters of God' who are walking in our destiny and fulfilling God's purposes here on earth. God has a marvelous plan for our life here on earth-- and for our future life of serving Him through out all eternity.

Our lifetime now and the experiences we have serve to train us in righteousness and holiness unto the Lord. It is time for the body of Christ to understand and begin to walk in their eternal calling and purposes. We are being prepared to represent our heavenly Father to the unsaved nations and people here on earth during His millennial reign. Only the mature sons and daughters of God will be ruling and reigning with Jesus Christ. Only those who have chosen to be transformed into His image during this lifetime will be granted the privilege and honor of representing the Father. We will have learned how to be overcomers in this life. Through our intimate relationship with God by the Holy Spirit, we will have overcome sin, Satan and the world. We will have been transformed into warriors and champions for Jesus Christ. The old nature is gone and the new man in Christ is being formed in us.

By our obedience and faithfulness in this lifetime, we will have demonstrated to the Father that He can trust us to handle kingdom responsibilities and authority- in His Name. We will be given a royal robe of righteousness, a crown of righteousness and signet ring to wear on our finger signifying our trustworthiness to represent the Father's kingdom. We will hear the Father say, "Well done, thy good and faithful servant. To whom much is required, much will be given in My kingdom."

Questions to consider. Have you discovered your true identity in Christ and your calling in His kingdom? Have you chosen to be transformed by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit? Are you being trained in righteousness and holiness to represent the power and presence of God in the earth?

Here is the link to the word the Spirit had for our congregation, His Place Worship Center, Marion, NC. Scroll down to the message on Nov. 18, Paul Boyd, Reflections of Thankfulness. The word was delivered at the beginning of our pastor's message. Look under Pastor's Desk > Audio/Visual Downloads.

*  http://www.hisplaceoutreach.org/audiovisual-downloads/

A TIME TO PREPARE

"A TIME TO PREPARE" is a fascinating article written by a long-time friend of ours, Stephan Fox-Helser. It contains a summary of the dreams and visions the Lord has given him over many years. Tidal waves of revival are coming to America! Are you ready? Use the following link to read it on our website. Tree of Life Ministries

Prevailing in Prayer

(The following is an outline and notes from a recent Bible Study class I taught at His Place Worship Center, Marion, North Carolina.)

I. Introduction. A survey to see if we need to hear today's lesson. Raise your hand if...

• You always know what God's will is when praying about a situation?
• You always know what to pray for and how to pray for it?
• You always get results when you pray?
• The consummate scripture on prayer is ...
  

  Philippians 4:6-7. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

A. Topic: Conditions for Prayer- Back in September while reading through my Study Bible, I saw a note in the margin for two scriptures in I John. That note made it clear that there are certain conditions that have to be met to see God answer our prayers. That note inspired me to do some more research on “conditions of prayer” and discovering what kinds of things could hinder our prayers from being heard and answered by God. 

 

“Prevailing in Prayer” is the title of today's message.The definition of prevail is: to be superior in strength, power or influence; to succeed, to become dominant, win out; to use persuasion. Synonym- to overcome. Wouldn't you like your prayers to be powerfully influencial and help you be an overcomer in this life?

I John 3:21-22. Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God 22 and receive from him anything we ask, because we keep his commands and do what pleases him.   Condition: If our hearts do not condemn us, means there is no unconfessed sin in our hearts.

To quote Charles Finney-- in order to prevail in prayer, we must have “a conscience void of offense toward man and God.” We must let go of all grudges, unforgiveness, bitterness, envy and every other thing that would bring offense into our heart. These things will hinder our prayers and are an open door for the enemy to attack.

I John 5:14-15.  This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him. Condition: if we ask according to His will. And if we ask for something that is not according to His will, God won't even hear our prayer.

Right away these two scriptures came to my mind regarding prayer:

Psalm 20:4, May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.

Psalm 37:4, Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Taking delight in the Lord-- is a condition for receiving the desires of your heart. What does that mean? You delight in loving and obeying God's commandments. You delight in being in His Presence during worship and spending time in His Word and in prayer.

So then I began my search of more understanding on what other conditions might be hindering our prayers. Different scriptures came to my mind surrounding the topic of effective or prevailing prayer. The first point that came to me right off was that ...

B. Our hearts can be deceived.

Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”

God has to give us a new heart and a new spirit to be able to know the will of God. And that happens over a lifetime, as we obtain healing and deliverance, and become mature sons of God. This is the new covenant we have with our Father God through Jesus Christ. 

 

C. Inquire of the Lord & Follow His Instructions. Just think back on the numerous stories in the Bible where the Lord gave people specific instructions to carry out and when they obeyed the answer came. Getting help from the Lord was contingent upon them following His very specific instructions.

• Joshua and the battle of Jericho. Joshua 5
• David fighting the Philistines,told to wait until he heard “the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees”. 2 Samuel 5:24
• Hearing from God and obedience brings results!
  

D. Knowing God's will is extremely important to prevail in prayer.

Since God speaks in a still, small voice, it can be difficult for the untrained ear-- to hear and know His will. We have to spend quality time in prayer asking to know His will and waiting to hear His answer. After all, prayer is suppose to be two-way communication with God. How do we know what God's will is?

1. The revealed will of God can be found in the Bible which is the “logos” word (the written word). The Ten Commandments, instructions found in Leviticus for the civil and moral codes, relationships, tithes, offerings and even food. In the New Testament, we are told to love our enemies; men are told to love and respect their wives. Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. The greatest commandment is to love God and love our neighbor as ourself.

For other situations, we have to use common sense, wisdom and be guided by the “rhema word” of the Holy Spirit speaking to us. God expects us to use wisdom when making everyday decisions. However, some decisions require a “rhema word” before we take action, or we'll miss out on knowing God's will.

2. How does God speak to us outside of scripture?

He speaks to us in many ways. With a still small voice in our spirit, through nature, family, friends, pastors, spiritual leaders, pictures, analogies, dreams, visions, a word of prophesy, discernment, a word of knowledge and a word of wisdom. If the gifts of the Spirit are missing in a congregation, the people of God are left without the much needed edification, exhortation, encouragement and comfort.

II. Biblical Examples from Scriptures:

We can look at illustrations from Joshua's and David's life. They understood the importance of “inquiring of the Lord” on major decisions and then obeying His instructions to the letter. When Joshua failed to do that, he messed up really bad. Example: dealing with the Gibeonites. Chapter 9 tells us the story of the Gibeonite Deception.

1. Joshua 9: 14, The Israelites sampled their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord. 15 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
2. Samuel 23:4, Once again David inquired of the Lord, and the Lord answered him, Go down to Keilah, for I am going to give the Philistines into your hand.

When these men of God inquired of the Lord what to do, they were given specific instructions or a strategy for how to do it. When they followed God's instructions, they were successful in overcoming their enemies.

III. Derek Prince- Bible Study Course- questions from the chapter on “Worship & Prayer”. Please look up the scriptures referenced as they are not quoted below.

1. What kind of prayer produces great results?
   James 5:16. The effective, fervent (fiery, with power) prayer of a righteous man. Righteous means being in right standing with God. The quality of being right, because of the grace of God.
2. If we wish God to hear our prayers, what two things must we do? John 9:31. a. Worship God. b. Do God's will.
   
3. Upon what two conditions may we ask for what we will from God? 
   John 15:7 a. If we abide (live) in Jesus. b. His words abide (live) in us.
   
4. List four things that will hinder the answer to your prayers: 
   Ps. 66:18, James 1:6-7, James 4:3, I Peter 3:7.  
   a. If we regard iniquity in our hearts (cherish sin in our heart). b. If we doubt and do not ask in faith. c. If we ask amiss (with a wrong motive) for our own pleasures. d. A wrong relationship between husband and wife. The “right motive” in prayer is for God's glory, not to gratify our own lusts. The answer must bring glory to God; not ourselves.
   
5. In order to receive the things that we desire, what must we do when we pray?
   

   Mark 11:24. Believe that we receive them at the time of prayer.

   How do you “believe to receive”? That's the tricky part! Do we just find a promise in the Word and stand on it? “Name it and claim it” used to be a popular saying. I've observed many times people were “pretending to believe” because that is what they thought they had to do. Yet, they had doubt in their heart. In Mark 9:24, the boy's father cried to Jesus, “help me overcome my unbelief!” To believe to receive, you have to hear a clear, rhema word from the Lord.
   
   How do we get rid of doubt/unbelief in our heart that is hindering our prayer in faith? The simple answer is to: confess it as sin, repent of it, renounce it and do self deliverance to remove the demonic stronghold. We also recommend asking a trusted minister to pray with you using the power of agreement and their spiritual authority to obtain your freedom.
6. If we pray according to the will of God, of what two things may we be confident?
   I John 5:14-15. a. That God hears us. b. That we have the petitions (requests) that we ask of God. According to His will- is a condition for receiving answers to prayer.
   
7. When we are weak and do not know how to pray rightly, who helps us to pray in God's will? 
   Rom. 8:26-27. The Holy Spirit. Meaning with the supernatural help of the Holy Spirit; not just our own will, strength or understanding.This scripture means we have to speak the words the Holy Spirit gives us to speak if we want to see results. Our human thoughts may be sincere and loving, but they lack the power or the anointing to accomplish anything. We have to speak the words the Spirit gives us to see results.
   
   

IV. Derek Prince's book, The Holy Spirit in You.

A. Derek teaches us that the indwelling Holy Spirit helps us in our prayers. Rom. 8:14, “For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.” Being continually led by the Spirit enables us to mature into sons and daughters of God.

Romans 8:26-27. … “the Spirit helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.”

According to Derek Prince, our weakness is ... we do not know what to pray for and we do not know how to pray. If we try to pray with our natural understanding of a situation, we can pray amiss and our prayers do not get answered. We can draw our own conclusions and form presumptions about a person or situation and not pray what needs to be prayed, or pray a prayer God will now answer.

The word 'weakness' in this passage literally means dullness of perceptions and inability to achieve results. We lack spiritual perception and discernment on how to pray. Therefore, we need the Spirit to pray through us as we yield our tongues to Him. Praying in tongues (prayer language) or praying in the Holy Spirit is a powerful weapon of spiritual warfare (Potts, p.123).

“The key to effective praying is learning how to be so intimately related to the Holy Spirit that we can submit to Him. Then we can let Him guide, direct, inspire, strengthen, and many times actually pray through us.” (Prince, p. 67).

B. Four ways the Holy Spirit helps us to pray:

1. Through His intercessory prayer for us. A sacred experience, spiritual travail that leads to spiritual birth or breakthrough. Not your casual, on the spot let me pray for you type of prayer. This kind of prayer takes place in the prayer closet. Romans 6: 26-27.
2. He illuminates our minds. He shows us what we need to pray for and how to pray by giving us a word of knowledge, discernment, prophetic pictures or a scripture. Our minds have to be renewed first before we can know the will of God in many situations. Romans 12: 1-2. Ephs. 4:23. “That you be renewed in the spirit of your mind.”
3. He puts the right words in our mouths often unexpectedly. When we are in prayer and seeking to know His will, His words come out of our mouths. Like prophecy, we don't know in advance what we need to pray, but He supernaturally speaks through us.
   
4. He gives us an unknown language, one the natural mind does not know, a prayer language. With this supernatural gift, we pray to God and utter mysteries with our spirit. I Cor. 14: 2, 4, 14-15.
   With our prayer language, we are: a. speaking to God, not to men. b. speaking mysteries. c. building ourselves up. d. praying with our spirit and with our mind. We receive the interpretation and pray in English what needs to be prayed.

 

V. Praying With Authority and Power written by Barbara Potts, chapter on “Prevailing in Prayer” (p.43).

James 5:16, “The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.”

The word avail means accomplishes much, to be of value or profit. Wouldn't you like your prayers to be of value in the kingdom of God?

 

A. Barbara points out that there are eight conditions of prevailing prayer or another way to say this is-- things that can hinder our prayers from being heard by God.

1. Preparing our heart. Ps. 66:18, “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Ps. 139:23-24, “Search me, O God, and know my heart...and see if there is any wicked way in me.”
2. The Attitude of Humility. I Peter 5:5-7, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. Humbles yourselves, therefore, under God's might hand that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”
3. Praying in Faith. James 1:6-7, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord.”
4. The Strength of Abiding. John 15: 7, “If you abide in Me and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire and it shall be done for you.” Abiding means having an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ, having His word hidden in our heart, being able to hear His voice when He speaks to us.
5. The Call to Obedience. I John 3: 21-22 (quoted already). Obedience to the Lord's commandments keeps our heart pure and without offense.
6. The Need to Persevere. I Thess. 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” Luke 18: 1-8, “men always ought to pray and not lose heart.” (don't give up). Called “praying through” until you see results. Necessary to achieve a breakthrough in the spiritual realm. There can be spiritual resistance, demonic forces hindering your prayer. May involve conducting spiritual warfare in the heavenlies to overcome the power of the enemy attacking you.
7. Having the Right Motives. James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.” The prayer for a silver BMW with leather interior will likely not get answered.
8. The Power of Praise. Phil. 4:6, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” Being anxious about whether God is going to answer our prayer-- the way we want Him to-- is sin. That's being afraid we want get our way in a situation. That's a manifestation of our old man, our self-will that needs to go to the cross and be crucified. 
    
   I Thess. 5:16 and 18, “Be joyful always; pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”

“Thanksgiving refocuses our affections upon the Lord, resets our minds on His goodness, and prepares our hearts for what He wants to do in our lives. Giving thanks to God in all situations honors God, opens the door to answered prayer and releases the blessings of Heaven into our lives” (Potts, p. 50-51).

VI. Confirmation Before Action.

2 Corinthians 13:1, “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.” Actually, there are fourteen scriptures that say situations need to be confirmed by two or three persons before we take action. We don't condemn anyone to death without proper witnesses giving testimony. We don't receive accusations against another believer. And we don't make major decisions until the Lord has confirmed His will for us beforehand.

A. Why should there be two or three witnesses? To eliminate confusion, to avoid condemning someone with false accusation, or to confirm something the Lord wants us to do. Practicing the principle of “two or three witnesses” can save us from missing the Lord's will. When we are faced with an important decision, we should consult two or three objective believers who can hear from God. If one says “Go” and two says, “No”. Then you don't take action. You stay put until you get confirmation from the Lord.

B. “Witnesses” can be people: our spouse, our pastor, an elder, parents, someone with spiritual authority over us who can remain neutral, but also can be other sources like: a sign from God, a rhema scripture given by Holy Spirit to us, a prophetic word given by a trusted prophet, or a fleece like Gideon used to be sure He was hearing correctly from the Lord. Our God wants us to hear clearly and not have any confusion about his directions. So He will confirm His directions to us in two or three ways. 

This method of confirmation is reserved for really important or major issues. We will need to take some time waiting on the Lord to send the confirmations through various sources. Involves us putting our desires on the altar and leaving the results up to God. We have to remain neutral, trusting God for His will to be done. Use this method of praying when you've got several weeks or months to hear from God on a matter and you are not in a hurry.

C. Huge mistakes Christians make that I've observed in 30 years of ministry.

1. Operating in presumption. Presuming to know God's will in a matter when we don't know it. We just use natural logic and understanding.
2. Not taking the time to inquire in prayer so they hear from the Spirit in the first place. That's where faith coming from, hearing God speak to you personally.
3. Saying “God told me ...” when He didn't. They are mistaken and that handicaps others from being able to speak into their situation, because their mind is made up.
   

D. Personal Illustrations of God's divine direction while prevailing in prayer.

1. In 1980 we made the decision to go into ministry and needed to know whether to enroll in a seminary or a Bible school. So we asked four Spirit-filled friends who did not know each other to pray and ask the Lord to give them the name of a school where we should go. Three of the four came back to us with the same place: Liberty Bible College, Pensacola, Florida. We went down to visit the campus and asked the Lord to confirm if that was the place for us. We asked Him to confirm it by the “mouths of two or three witnesses.” We made a list of three things we were looking for at that school. In the weekend we were there, all three conditions were met. We had our confirmation! Also the Lord brought a buyer for our property back in Georgia the very same day we placed an ad in the newspaper! In only a month's time we were packed and on our way. 
   
   2. Later that year when Tommy could not find a good paying job, we started running out of money. I was six months pregnant with our second daughter so I could not look for a job teaching. We prayed, fasted and got the homegroup to pray-- and nothing opened up. Even the jobs Tommy tried to do on commission did not bring in any income. We signed up for food stamps so we had the basic necessities in the house. Needless to say, it was a very humbling season in our life. God was using our circumstances to teach us to trust in and build our character in Christ. 
   
   
   In prayer one day, Tommy asked the Lord why He was not answering our prayers? God responded that we were been tested by our circumstances-- to see if we would serve Him no matter what the hardship. He was using our circumstances to train us in righteousness and how to trust Him in difficult situations. I guess we passed the test, because eventually a fantastic job opened up and Tommy went to work with a lighting company. God will put us through tests in order to prove what is in our heart-- before He answers our prayer.
   
   VII. Review.
   
   
   Key Points to Remember:
   1. Knowing God's will is a key factor in seeing our prayers answered.
   2. Getting God to confirm to us what His will is by 2-3 witnesses before we take action.
   3. Being in right standing with God (no sin or impure motives in our heart).
   4. Being continually led by the Holy Spirit.
   5. Trusting God for the outcome; whether it is positive or negative.
   6. Always praying with thanksgiving and praise, grateful that God is working His purposes in our lives.
   7. God is not so much interested in making us happy, as He is in molding our character to be like Jesus and maturing us into His sons so He can trust us with His kingdom.
   
   
   Bibliography:
   1. Barbara L. Potts, Praying With Authority and Power (Hagerstown, MD: McDougal Publishing, 2004).
   2. Derek Prince, Self-Study Bible Course (New Keningston, PA: Whitaker House, 2005).
   3. Derek Prince, The Holy Spirit in You. (New Keningston, PA: Whitaker House, 1987).