Are you being a good witness for God? Are you providing a good and accurate account of God’s Grace and Mercy? Looking at the scripture, John 1: 6 – 8; 19 – 51; the focus is on John the Baptist, as he testifies and witnesses of the coming of The Messiah. In verses 6 – 8; he states; “There was a man sent by God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light. He came only as a witness to the light.” This gives us insight into the mission of John the Baptist, concerning the coming of the Messiah. Through his testimony and witnessing; a road map has been provided as to how to be a good witness for God and to insure that your testimony is edifying God’s Grace and Mercy. The next time that you are reading this chapter of John; think about some things that you can input, improve, and express when you are witnessing and providing your testimony of God’s Grace and Mercy, in your life.
God’s Grace
ETERNITY WITH GOD!
Being with God for all eternity would be like a totally complete state of peace and satisfaction. Such a state is not attainable by mankind alone, since as we know, man is a creature who is never satisfied—-we always want more.
The best method for me to describe this is by example. Some time ago, my primary care physician referred me to a hematologist because of abnormal laboratory results. On the day of my appointment, when I was almost at the office, I looked at the referral form and realized that I was almost an hour early. I telephoned to check and see if I could come on in anyway and I heard this message…. “office of hematology and oncology”. I thought, “this is a cancer doctor”. Of course I had heard this same salutation when I initially made the appointment. This time, however, my heart suddenly began to race and I felt this overwhelmingly sense of anxiety and fear. As I entered the office, I noticed the waiting room was practically full. My perception was that not a single person was at ease, not a smile was visible. As I sat down, I said to myself, “I will not submit to any feelings of anxiety, fear, or worry; fear is not of God; I am a child of God; I trust Him; and I am covered by His grace”.
Even more quickly than the negative feelings had come, I felt an instant sense of calm and peace. It could be likened to a sudden feeling of warmth on an extremely cold winter day. I would imagine that being with God for all eternity would be like having that feeling of warmth all the time. It could also be likened to the feelings of a child who is totally secure and happy being in the arms of a loving parent.
“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7
“When a Christian Freaks Out!” Romans 6:11-14
Romans 6:11-14
“In the same way count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus.
Therefore do no let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires.
Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness.
For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”
Have you seen Christians who freak out (v. lose or cause to lose emotional control from extreme excitement, shock, fear, joy, despair, etc.) regularly? I mean someone who is prone to lose all self-control. If you stood next to a professing non-believer when they’re in the middle of their tirade; you’d be unable to distinguish who was the unbeliever.
Have you talked to a Christian friend who was able to openly admit to “freaking out” due to a major unexpected life-event? It may have been losing a job, a home foreclosure, adult children issues, older-parent issues, or maybe even the unexpected death of a loved-one.
What can we do when a Christian is “freaking-out?” That’s the time to encourage them to fervently pray to God. (Psalm 32:5-6) Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord”—and you forgave the guilt of my sin.
Therefore let everyone who is godly pray to you while you may be found; surely when the mighty waters rise, they will not reach him.”
I had an occasion just last week when I was “freaking-out”. It was just a little thing. My work schedule changed, unexpectedly and I allowed it to cause a domino-effect, because there were things I needed to get done before leaving home for work. My well-ordered morning schedule of the past weeks was in disarray, and I needed to either move faster, slow the clock down, or just leave some things undone. Instead of choosing, I “freaked out” , the old sin-nature took over faster than you can imagine and it scared me to the point that I stopped, got a pen and completed a Behavioral Observation on myself. I spoke to God, “Lord, you are too good to me, for me to act like this!”
When I finished the exercise, God had taken control of the situation, and put me back together again in an amazing way! God’s grace (Unmerited favor) is sufficient. I’m hoping that admitting to “freaking-out” though embarrasing, may help someone during a “crisis of belief” to trust God instead of “freaking-out.”
Prayer: “Lord, please help us to confidently put our trust in you to keep us and life’s situations under control before we over-react, during our crisis of belief. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Article Originally in Homewords News, July 2011
God’s love for us never gives out!
To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations, there was given to me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, power is made perfect in weakness” I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. (2 Corinthians 12:7-9)
In all circumstance, victorious or adverse, remember that God’s Grace is all we need. God’s ultimate purpose will always win out, but God’s love for us never gives out.
Homewords Ministry 