| Author | Message | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2915 Registered: 7-2007 |
Last night I read the Sept 3,'12 newsletter from World Challenge called: "Jesus: Greater than the Works of the Law." It pointed out how many real Christians still have tendencies toward "works" and used the example of a young person who's plagued by a persistant and horrible sin and who has "works" tendencies trying to overcome his sin by reading the Bible and by joining a Bible study group and asking them to pray for him [and yes, the Bible says for us to study it and to pray for one another.] Anyway time passes and he still struggles and struggles without making any headway, and that (subtle) works mentality drives him to despair. Now this astounded me because I figured that would be a perfectly appropriate thing to do - I'm learning more and more about God's grace myself. The article goes on to say that if another young person with the same sin problem simply turned it over to God, saying something like: "You're my only hope Lord. I'm completely helpless without You! I come to You, trusting You to do Your work in me. Only Your grace can overcome this sin. Please let it fall over me now!" (The prayer in the article sounded better, but it's copyrighted so I had to change the words.) Anyway, the article went on to say the second young person would be met by God's empowering grace because that young person, by his prayer has knocked down EVERYTHING in the way that was keeping him from God's help! Instead of relying on his works, he's relying ONLY on God's grace! In the spiritual realm, the difference between between the two is everything! | ||
| Rocky Registered user Username: Rocky Post Number: 46 Registered: 3-2012 |
I subscribe to this newsletter and Love the ministries of David Wilkerson! His is a living breathing walking and talking active faith walk and he is kind enough to describe it in ways I can understand - I'm guessing this one is by his son Gary - they alternate since David passed away in April 2011 and the ministry publishes his posthumously. Coming to the end of yourself is the only open door to grace! Thank you for sharing this Asurprise! | ||
| Mjcmcook Registered user Username: Mjcmcook Post Number: 823 Registered: 2-2011  |
Asurprise~ Thank-you for sharing something from 'World Challenge'~ I, too, greatly respected David Wilkerson's ministry, and saddened when his voice was stilled by his death in 2011~ I am thankful that his son, Gary is carrying on, and publishing all articles that benefit the 'body of CHRIST'~ ~mj~ (Message edited by mjcmcook on January 04, 2013) | ||
| Punababe808 Registered user Username: Punababe808 Post Number: 269 Registered: 4-2012 |
How do i get that newsletter? | ||
| Rocky Registered user Username: Rocky Post Number: 47 Registered: 3-2012 |
Punababe- I get it in form of an email daily- go to the world challenge website by typing it in a search and you should find it... Back in the 70's I read Nicky Cruz "Run Baby Run" and went to a revival meeting in my city and have always loved these men and their Holy commitment to the foundational Gospel message. They were not afraid to take it to the most broken among us... This makes me see Jesus in their love for the wounded... Always gave me hope.... Rocky | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 14176 Registered: 12-2003  |
Thank you, Asurprise. This is such an important realization! We just can't overcome sin by fighting IT. We only receive victory when we give it up and surrender it to the Lord Jesus and lean on Him. I've been discovering that I can only deal with sin when I say at the moment, "Jesus, please show me how to honor You at this moment." If I focus on the temptation, I just can't avoid it. I have to surrender it. Colleen | ||
| 1john2v27nlt Registered user Username: 1john2v27nlt Post Number: 447 Registered: 5-2009 |
That's what I have learned too Colleen: our FOCUS is everything & it must be Jesus! I can't, He can, I choose to LET Him. | ||
| Asurprise Registered user Username: Asurprise Post Number: 2916 Registered: 7-2007 |
I still have a lot to learn about grace, so this article really blessed me and I was glad to share it!  | ||
| Alison1 Registered user Username: Alison1 Post Number: 131 Registered: 10-2010 |
WOW! I so enjoyed reading this newsletter. It definitely touched a cord in my heart. And its message is so true even in my life. I realize that I need more of God's grace in my life. I know at times I feel the pull of wanting to go back to a works-based salvation. I guess some habits die pretty hard and that seems to be the case with me. Yes, I was in the SDA church for over 20 years and really thought by keeping the sabbath and keeping the food laws (see I never fully accepted vegetarianism as my way of eating so instead,I followed the clean/unclean laws of the Old Testament)that it would draw me closer to Jesus Christ by walking in the religious pattern that he walked. Did that really help me? No not really. It just made me more restless for something more but I couldn't put my finger on exactly what I was looking for. I honestly thought I had to work on my salvation and didn't realize that it was a grace thing. It took me a long time to accept that Jesus already kept all those laws on my behalf and all that I had to do was accept it in faith. At times I still feel the pull to go back to that works-based faith and that is when I call out to Jesus to cover me with His blood. All I can do is surrender it to Him. I hope that this struggle diminishes with time. I feel that I need to do something to prove myself. How do I free myself from doing and just learn to accept His grace? I too have a lot to learn about grace and found the article was helpful to me. Just wish that there was more material available in dealing with this subject. I know that I could really use it in my life. Before I forget I wanted to share with the rest of you that I was asked to share my life story in my Sunday School class next Sunday. What an opportunity to share my experiences with others regarding my religious journey from my teenage years to adulthood. It will be the abridged version but someday would actually like to share the full version of all of this with others in order to help them through this pathway. |
