One Grace

There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But to each one of us Grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.(Eph 4:4-7)

Because of one Grace given to us in Christ Jesus, in Him we have been enriched in every way-in all our speaking and in knowledge. Therefore we do not lack any spiritual gift as we eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep us strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called us into fellowship with His Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. (1Co 1:4-9) Hear Him!

I stand at the door and knock

You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Rev 3:17-18)

He who comes to God must believe that He is the Christ, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Heb 11:6) As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent. Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev 3:19-20) Lest we forget for without Him we can do nothing (John 15:5). Hear Him!

Mature in Christ

Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into Him who is the Head, that is, Christ. (Eph 4:13-15)

Behold onto Jesus and submit all to Him and we shall be transformed into the same image from glory to glory as the Lord by the Spirit. Hear Him!

The Spirit of God

When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." (Mat 3:16-17)

We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words. The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1Co 2:12-14) Are your spirit of God or of man? Hear Him!

The wisdom of God

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." (Isa 55:8-9)

We speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. However, as it is written: "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"—but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. (1Co 2:7-10) Is your wisdom of God or of the world? Hear Him!

Where is the wise man?

Where is the wise man? Where is the scholar? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. (1Co 1:20-21)

But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; He chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the things of this world that are common and looked down on. He chose what is not considered to be important to do away with what is considered to be important. So that no one may boast before Him. (1Co 1:27-29) Do not deceive yourselves. If any one of you thinks he is wise by the standards of this age, he should become a "fool" so that he may become wise. (1Co 3:18) Humble yourself, lest Christ becomes a stumbling block to you. Hear Him!

The wise and the fool

For all can see that wise men die; the foolish and the senseless alike perish and leave their wealth to others. Their tombs will remain their houses forever, their dwellings for endless generations, though they had named lands after themselves. But man, despite his riches, does not endure; he is like the beasts that perish. This is the fate of those who trust in themselves, and of their followers, who approve their sayings. (Psa 49:10-13)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. (1Co 1:18) For the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1Co 1:25) Wise or fool, which are you? And to man or to God? Hear Him!

The mystery revealed

Apostle Paul: "Now to Him who is able to establish you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept secret since the world began but now made manifest, and by the prophetic Scriptures made known to all nations, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, for obedience to the faith—to God, alone wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. (Rom 16:25-27)

Having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure, which He purposed in Christ, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth—in Him. (Eph 1:9-10) In Christ is the mystery revealed. Hear Him!

Every knee should bow

"... Have not I, the LORD? And there is no other God besides Me, A just God and a Savior; There is none besides Me. "Look to Me, and be saved, All you ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. I have sworn by Myself; The word has gone out of My mouth in righteousness, And shall not return, That to Me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall take an oath." (Isa 45:21-23)

It is written: 'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.' (Rom 14:11) Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Php 2:9-11) Hear Him!

The divine exchange

"Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed Him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." (Isa 53:4-5)

Christ's divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness. Through these He has given us His very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. (2Pe 1:3-4) He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His stripes you were healed. (1Pe 2:24) Hear Him!

One sacrifice forever

"I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." (Rom 12:1-2)

This is the holy, pleasing and perfect will of God... By one sacrifice He has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Heb 10:14) For Christ has fulfilled the requirements of the laws and became that one sacrifice for us. Through Him we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Therefore let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess His name. (Heb 13:15) Hear Him!

Natural and wild branches

Jesus said: "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. If anyone does not remain in Me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. If you remain in Me and My words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you." (John 15:5-7)

If some of the branches (Israelites) have been broken off, and you (Gentiles), though a wild olive shoot, have been grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing sap from the olive root, do not boast over those branches. If you do, consider this: You do not support the root, but the root supports you. You will say then, "Branches were broken off so that I could be grafted in." Granted. But they were broken off because of unbelief, and you stand by faith. Do not be arrogant, but be grateful. (Rom 11:17-20) Remain in Him! Hear Him!

By grace or by works

Moses summoned all the Israelites and said to them: Your eyes have seen all that the LORD did in Egypt to Pharaoh, to all his officials and to all his land. With your own eyes you saw those great trials, those miraculous signs and great wonders. But to this day the LORD has not given you a mind that understands or eyes that see or ears that hear. (Deut 29:2-4)

Has God cast away His people? Certainly not! Some are also faithful today being chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. As it is written: "God gave them a spirit of stupor, eyes so that they could not see and ears so that they could not hear, to this very day." (Rom 11:1-8) Are you by the Grace of Christ or by the works of the law? Hear Him!

O Jerusalem, Jerusalem

"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing! Look, your house is left to you desolate. I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord.'" (Luk 13:34-35)

Jesus came to His own and His own received Him not. (Joh 1:11) Did they not hear? Of course they did: "Their voice has gone out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world." Again: Did Israel not understand? First, Moses says, "I will make you envious by those who are not a nation; I will make you angry by a nation that has no understanding." And Isaiah boldly says, "I was found by those who did not seek me; I revealed myself to those who did not ask for me." (Rom 10:18-20) Because of their transgression, salvation has come to the Gentiles to make Israel envious. (Rom 11:11) People will come from east and west and north and south, and will take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God. Indeed there are those who are last who will be first, and first who will be last."(Luk 13:29-30) Are you the last or the first or none? Hear Him!

Stumble over the stone

Isaiah cries out concerning Israel. He says, "The number of people from Israel may be like the sand by the sea. But only a few of them will be saved. The Lord will carry out his sentence. He will be quick to carry it out on earth, once and for all." (Rom 9:27-28, Isaiah 10:22-23)

If not for the seed that the Lord had left us, we would have become like Sodom, we would have been like Gomorrah. But by the seed, the Gentiles, who did not pursue righteousness, have obtained it, a righteousness that is by faith; but Israel, who pursued a law of righteousness, has not attained it. Why not? Because they pursued it not by faith but as if it were by works. They stumbled over the "stumbling stone." (Rom 9:29-32) You can only be saved by faith (Christ), not by works (the law). Do not harden your heart toward God, lest you shall stumble over the stone. Hear Him!

Spirit vs Flesh

Apostle Paul: I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. (Rom 7:15-20)

The word Christian means "little christ". A Christian life is an exchanged life with Christ in us, not we trying to change ourselves to match up the expectation. If we do that, we'll be like what Paul said because there is no good thing dwell in our flesh which is our sin nature. And since we are dead to sin and alive in Christ, (Rom 6:11) therefore we live by renewing our mind in the Spirit and we shall be transformed. Hear Him!

No more condemnation

Therefore, as through one man's sin judgment came to all men, resulting in condemnation, even so through one Man's righteousness, Grace came to all men, resulting in justification of life. (Rom 5:18)

"He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (Joh 3:18) Christ died for us while we were still sinners. (Rom 5:8) We who believed in Him, died and raised with Him (Rom 6:4) and now regard not according to the flesh but to the Spirit. (2Co 5:16) Therefore sin has no dominion over us for we are not of the flesh but of the Spirit. (Rom 6:14) Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. (Rom 8:1) Hear Him!

Life and death, blessing and cursing

"I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live" (Deut 30:19)

If the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones (the law), was glorious, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily at the face of Moses because of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, how will the ministry of the Spirit (Christ) not be more glorious? For if the ministry of condemnation (the law) had glory, the ministry of righteousness (Christ) exceeds much more in glory. (2Co 3:7-9) Life or death, blessing or cursing? The choice is your but God suggested "choose life". Only by His seed, which is Christ, (Gal 3:16) is life. Hear Him!

See what God sees

God said to Abraham, "Take now your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you." (Gen 22:2)

For it is written that Abraham had two sons: the one by a bondwoman, the other by a freewoman. But he who was of the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and he of the freewoman through promise. (Gal 4:22-23) These things are symbolic. For these are the two covenants: the one from bondwoman gives birth to bondage, which is Hagar, Mount Sinai, Old Covenant, the law. But the one from freewoman is free, which is Sarah, Mount Zion, New Covenant, Jesus Christ. If Abraham had two sons then why God said "your only son Isaac"? Because God does not consider the flesh but only the promise. If God only look at the promise which is Jesus Christ, why are we still looking at the other one? Hear Him!

Are you Law's or Grace's?

Jesus said: "I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot. So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth. (Rev 3:15-16)

Since the fall of Adam, man is bound by the law. But now if we are in Christ, we are dead to the law through the body of Christ, that we may be married to another-to Christ who was raised from the dead, that we should bear fruit to God. (Rom 7:4) Now that we are married to Grace, we don't go back to the law. If we do, we become an adulteress. Are you Mr. Law's or Mr. Grace's? Are you of the old covenant or the new covenant? Are you cold or hot? You can only choose one but not both. Hear Him!

Are you slave or son?

To Adam He said, "Because you listened to your wife and ate from the tree about which I commanded you, 'You must not eat of it,' "Cursed is the ground because of you; through painful toil you will eat of it all the days of your life." (Gen 3:17)

But God has fulfilled for us, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: 'You are my Son; today I have become your Father.' (Act 13:33) He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit. (Gal 3:14) Before the cross, we were all slaves under the law. But after the cross we have become the sons of God in Christ. Hear Him!

He that found Grace

Moses asked, "For how then will it be known that Your people and I have found grace in Your sight, except You go with us? So we shall be separate, Your people and I, from all the people who are upon the face of the earth." So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name." (Exo 33:16-17)

Then He said, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not depend on man's desire or effort, but on God's mercy. (Rom 9:15-16) He that found Grace (Christ Jesus) found His mercy, and His compassion. His glory shall be revealed in His goodness to pass before him... (Exo 33:19) Only in Christ we shall see God's glory in us. Hear Him!

There is no other

"Has any god ever tried to take for himself one nation out of another nation, by testings, by miraculous signs and wonders, by war, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, or by great and awesome deeds, like all the things the LORD your God did for you in Egypt before your very eyes? You were shown these things so that you might know that the LORD is God; besides him there is no other." (Deut 4:34-45)

"Behold, this is our God; We have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the LORD; We have waited for Him; We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation." (Isa 25:9) God wants us to know and remember that He is the Lord, our God. God is faithful and we were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. (1Co 1:9) Hear Him!

Abba, Father!

"Therefore say to the children of Israel: 'I am the LORD; I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, I will rescue you from their bondage, and I will redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments. I will take you as My people, and I will be your God. Then you shall know that I am the LORD your God who brings you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians." (Exo 6:6-7)

When the fullness of the time had come, God sent forth His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, that we might receive the adoption as sons. And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out, "Abba, Father!"(Gal 4:4-6) He did not just delivery us out from the bondage of slavery, He made us His sons, the heirs of God through Christ! What more to ask? Hear Him!

We are almost there

And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily." Then Moses and Aaron said to all the children of Israel, "At evening you shall know that the LORD has brought you out of the land of Egypt. And in the morning you shall see the glory of the LORD..." (Exo 16:5-7)

Do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. (2Pe 3:8) Two thousand years passed from Adam to Abraham, two thousand from Abraham to the first coming of Christ and another two thousand from then till now. Now that we are in the sixth day... we shall gather twice as much and be ready to be brought out of the land of bondage (the real exodus) and we shall see the glory of the Lord (the second coming of Christ) by the morning on seventh day. God saw everything was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. (Gen 1:31) Be of good courage. It is a good news for God has reconcile all things to Himself through the blood of His cross. (Col 1:20) Hear Him!

Our living bread everyday

"Then the LORD said to Moses, "Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not." (Exo 16:4)

Jesus said: I am the living bread which came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever; and the bread that I shall give is My flesh, which I shall give for the life of the world." (Joh 6:51) Our Father loves us so much that He gave us the living bread from heaven that all our needs are met everyday. Trust Him and do not worry about tomorrow for He shall provide. Beholding Jesus - the living bread of heaven and Hear Him!

On this journey

"And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night. He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people." (Exo 13:21-22)

On this journey, we are surrounded by a great cloud (His presence) of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. (Heb 12:1) He is always with us, for He said "I will never leave you nor forsake you". (Heb 13:5) Let us looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. (Heb 12:2) Hear Him!

You shall be a blessing

"Now the LORD had said to Abram: "Get out of your country, From your family And from your father's house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing." (Gen 12:1-2)

May the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power. (Eph 1:18-19) You are called into a journey that He will show you, He will enrich you, He will bless you and make you name great for His glory; And you shall be a blessing. Hear Him!

Those are of faith are blessed

Just as Abraham "BELIEVED GOD, AND IT WAS ACCOUNTED TO HIM FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS." Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel to Abraham beforehand, saying, "In you all the nations shall be blessed." (Gal 3:6-8)

The law came 430 years after God's covenant and promise to Abraham. The covenant had already been made by God. So the law does not do away with the promise. (Gal 3:17) So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. (Gal 3:9) Hear Him!

Abraham's seed

"For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, "Abba, Father." (Rom 8:13-15)

If we are His children, then we are His heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. (Rom 8:17) And if we are Christ's, then we are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Gal 3:29) Let's continue to live by the Spirit and see the manifestation of the promise on earth. Hear Him!

The heir of the world

"For the promise that he would be the heir of the world was not to Abraham or to his seed through the law, but through the righteousness of faith." (Rom 4:13)

Do those who live by the law receive the promise? If they do, faith would have no value. God's promise would be worthless. The law brings God's anger. Where there is no law, there is no sin. The promise is based on God's grace. The promise comes by faith. All of Abraham's seed will certainly receive the promise... (Rom 4:14-16) Are you of faith or of the law? Are you the son of the promise or the son of the flesh? Are you Isaac or Ishmael? Are you living by the tree of life or by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? Do not harden your heart and the Lord will show you. Hear Him!