LEVELS OF GRACE

We could see this in our world today and those things we see now have happened before in the time of old; that is in the Bible. We all know how GOD Loved the People of Israel, and when they committed sin of adultery and idolatry. These are the two dreadful sin GOD can not overlook and GOD did not say because He loved them to ignore them, but instead He punished them by releasing them into the hands of their enemies. May we not be released into the hands of our enemies in JESUS Mighty Name.

"And those that died in the plague were twenty and four thousand".

NUMBERS 25:9.

   The first set of People that enjoyed Grace even though it was not during the era of Grace was Lot and his Family; they lived among People of Sodom and Gomorrah who were known for the sin of sexual Immorality and idolatry, they found Grace by association and the relationship between GOD and Abraham, but despite the fact that Grace found them, still Lot's Wife still fell out, simply because of disobedience, they were instructed not to look back,

“And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad , that he said, escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thee on the plain ;escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed”. GENESIS 19:17.

“But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt”.  GENESIS 19:26.

And GOD made her a scriptural reference point and a generational ‘scapegoat’, For we have an assurance in the Word that proceeds out of the mouth of GOD and He who called us, is able to keep us from falling.

For instance, when we throw our Babies in the air, and they still smile while coming down, why, because they believed in us that we would not allow them fall to the ground, which is a higher level of trust.

But the Case of People of Nineveh was different, according to the Book of Jonah,  they committed the same sin and GOD sent Jonah to go and warn them, although Jonah tried everything possible to dodge the message, but he paid dearly for it in the Belle of the fish and when he repented, GOD commanded the fish to vomit him out, then when he delivered the message to them, they tore (rent) their clothes, put on sack clothes, declared a National fast, and when GOD saw the sincerity of their Hearts He withdrew his wrath from them and forgave their sins.

King Nebuchadnezzar, was very arrogant and Wicked, GOD sent him several warnings, but he refused to yield, then GOD turned him into an animal and sent him into the Bush, for seven years he was there, but a day came and he came back to his senses, even in that state he cried to GOD and pleaded for Mercy so, GOD forgave him.

Now, the most astonishing aspect of the story was that; for the seven years he was away, GOD still preserved his throne for him despite all the fight over the throne. Does that mean that he had a greater Grace? No, the bottom line was that he came back to his senses, admitted his wrongs and acknowledged the supremacy of GOD, pleaded for Mercy and GOD forgave him and He was found by Grace. This is what GOD expected of every one of us; to come back to our senses.

So also was the prodigal Son who after he had squandered his Father's wealth and his inheritance with strange Women in the far country, he also came back to his senses and said;

“I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father; I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants".  Luke 15:18, 19.

When he did this his Father forgot all about his past misdeeds forgave him and accepted him joyfully. The sum total of the concept of Grace is that; though Grace was made available to us through the Blood of JESUS which He sheds once and for all on the cross of Calvary.

 “In whom we have Redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace”. EPHESIANS 1:7.

     But Grace remains dormant if not activated by our earnest desire (That is a great for Grace), but if we do not embrace this Grace, there is no way it work for us;

"It doesn't matter how much water is available, if you're not thirsty you won't drink"

PASTOR E.A. ADEBOYE.

     We need to come back to our senses if this Grace must work for us, it doesn't matter how bad or hopeless the situation we are facing, there is still Hope for a Divine turn around, if only we will acknowledge our helplessness, confess of our sins, forsake them and then lean on GOD's Grace to help us live right and godliness would be our watch word. For if we say we have no sin, His word is not in us is not in us and we make GOD a liar. 1 JOHN 1:10, when He said;

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” Romans 3:23, 24.

         “But if we confess our sins   He is Faithful and just to forgive us      our sins, and to cleanse us of all our unrighteousness”. 1 JOHN 1:9. He is a just GOD and He will not deny Himself for any reason whatsoever.

        King Herod was another historical example of People who fell on the wrong side of Grace despite the fact he reigned and existed during the dispensation of Grace. May we never fall on the wrong side of Grace in JESUS Mighty Name. After he had made an end of his speech, for he arrogates the Glory of GOD to Himself, he wasn't the one who made the statement which he died for, but for the fact that he heard it and refused to return the Glory unto GOD, who is the Maker and giver of all. The issue was that he was not given the Grace for repentance, and he was even denied a royal burial; because of what? PRIDE

“And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them.  And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost”.

Acts 12:21-23.

WecanalsoenjoygreaterGracelikeOuroneandonlyApostlePaul who was found by Grace on his way to Damascus, and he did greaterGOD.rks than all the twelve Disciples that walked about with our LORD JESUS during his earthly Ministry, and and among the 19 Books in the New testament he wrote 14 of them, and still Prayed to know More of GOD.

"Philippians  3:10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;" and was never ashamed of the Gospel of our LORD JESUS Christ, that's why he could testify to the Grace of GOD on his life.

"1 Corinthians  15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me".

Dearly beloved, all Hope is not lost the Grace of GOD that found Apostle Paul,which found me, can still find everyone who will forget about themselves, let go of their ego and come humbly in into the outstretched arms of our Lovely Father, therefore, let's come into his embrace and he will not let go of any hand and Heart that would sincerely say;here I am mould me and use me for your Glory.

Remained Blessed.

Shallom!!!

AGBEJULE ABOSEDE OYEFOLUKE.JESUS BABY.