To Enjoy Heaven's Reality While On Earth
To Enjoy Heaven's Reality While On Earth
Eph 3:7 (NASB) of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
Grace or mercy must not be understood merely as a 'free gift' from God to man, or only as far as something related to our soul's salvation only.
When God interacts with man and bestows His grace upon man in His sovereignty, it's true that He started by giving the grace of salvation. However, He does not wish for us to stop at the grace of salvation only. The grace of salvation we received from God in the start of our spiritual journey will only send us to heaven after we physically died and leave this earth. In our spiritual journey, Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to train us in growing the portion of grace He has given. Someone's growth in the portion of grace will give them the opportunity to enjoy the reality of heaven while they are still on this earth.
1. Grace could be understood as a form of God's divine kindness and mercy, revealed by the Father in someone's life because of the response they show towards the work of the Holy Spirit in their life; by giving them abilities or potentials they need to finish whatever the Father desires in a certain spiritual season on earth.
Everyone started their spiritual journey when they received the grace of salvation. The salvation they receive is truly a form of the Father's kindness as His response to the person's spiritual longing. Responding the person's free will to seek the reality of God's presence, the Father pours the grace of salvation to them.
For certain people we see having a personal relationship with God of a higher quality compared to most Christians, that is due to the person's decision to keep chasing after God; responding accurately every urge from the spirit of hunger-and-thirst they felt.
Once again, the Father is giving Himself to be found by those seeking after Him. The same goes for ministry. We can found certain people who keep growing in their spiritual journey to the point they give themselves to serve God. This is due to the Father giving response to their decisions, by enabling and opening the way for them to enter the world of ministry. That's what happens over the life of mankind.
Father keeps on looking for those who set their hearts to seek godly things. Once He found one, He releases a portion of grace (grace of salvation). When the Father beholds that the person is making decisions to cooperate, activating the portion of grace they received to grow to the next level, the Father will then reveal His kindness by adding another level of grace to work in their life.
That?s what Paul experienced in his life. Paul testified how his existence as an apostle could not be separated from the working power of grace (1 Cor 15:10). In His search for God?s reality and truth, the Father revealed Himself to Saul (Acts 9:1-6). After experiencing new birth, Paul chased after God?s reality even more. He isolated himself by going to Arabia to experience the reality of the risen Christ (Gal 1:15-17). Paul himself started his ministry when he was invited by Barnabas to build a congregation in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). There, the apostolic grace keeps on growing in the life of Paul (Acts 13:1-3).
Every one of us who has experienced new birth could grow in the portion of grace. Paul himself revealed that every believer should grow from one portion of faith to a higher one; from one level of glory to a greater one (Rm 1:17). #iLoveGod (Ps. Steven Agustinus)
This message will be continued tomorrow.
Eph 3:7 (NASB) of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God's grace which was given to me according to the working of His power.
Grace or mercy must not be understood merely as a 'free gift' from God to man, or only as far as something related to our soul's salvation only.
When God interacts with man and bestows His grace upon man in His sovereignty, it's true that He started by giving the grace of salvation. However, He does not wish for us to stop at the grace of salvation only. The grace of salvation we received from God in the start of our spiritual journey will only send us to heaven after we physically died and leave this earth. In our spiritual journey, Holy Spirit is sent by the Father to train us in growing the portion of grace He has given. Someone's growth in the portion of grace will give them the opportunity to enjoy the reality of heaven while they are still on this earth.
1. Grace could be understood as a form of God's divine kindness and mercy, revealed by the Father in someone's life because of the response they show towards the work of the Holy Spirit in their life; by giving them abilities or potentials they need to finish whatever the Father desires in a certain spiritual season on earth.
Everyone started their spiritual journey when they received the grace of salvation. The salvation they receive is truly a form of the Father's kindness as His response to the person's spiritual longing. Responding the person's free will to seek the reality of God's presence, the Father pours the grace of salvation to them.
For certain people we see having a personal relationship with God of a higher quality compared to most Christians, that is due to the person's decision to keep chasing after God; responding accurately every urge from the spirit of hunger-and-thirst they felt.
Once again, the Father is giving Himself to be found by those seeking after Him. The same goes for ministry. We can found certain people who keep growing in their spiritual journey to the point they give themselves to serve God. This is due to the Father giving response to their decisions, by enabling and opening the way for them to enter the world of ministry. That's what happens over the life of mankind.
Father keeps on looking for those who set their hearts to seek godly things. Once He found one, He releases a portion of grace (grace of salvation). When the Father beholds that the person is making decisions to cooperate, activating the portion of grace they received to grow to the next level, the Father will then reveal His kindness by adding another level of grace to work in their life.
That?s what Paul experienced in his life. Paul testified how his existence as an apostle could not be separated from the working power of grace (1 Cor 15:10). In His search for God?s reality and truth, the Father revealed Himself to Saul (Acts 9:1-6). After experiencing new birth, Paul chased after God?s reality even more. He isolated himself by going to Arabia to experience the reality of the risen Christ (Gal 1:15-17). Paul himself started his ministry when he was invited by Barnabas to build a congregation in Antioch (Acts 11:25-26). There, the apostolic grace keeps on growing in the life of Paul (Acts 13:1-3).
Every one of us who has experienced new birth could grow in the portion of grace. Paul himself revealed that every believer should grow from one portion of faith to a higher one; from one level of glory to a greater one (Rm 1:17). #iLoveGod (Ps. Steven Agustinus)
This message will be continued tomorrow.
Komentar
Posting Komentar