The Greatest Gift for You

THE GRACE OF GOD

Grace is a perfection of the Divine character which is exercised only toward the elect. Neither in the Old Testament nor in the New is the grace of God ever mentioned in connection with mankind generally, still less with the lower orders of His creatures. In this it is distinguished from mercy, for the mercy of God is "over all His works" (Ps. 145-9). Grace is the alone source from which flows the goodwill, love, and salvation of God unto His chosen people. This attribute of the Divine character was defined by Abraham Booth in his helpful book, The Reign of Grace thus, "It is the eternal and absolute free favour of God, manifested in the vouchsafement of spiritual and eternal blessings to the guilty and the unworthy."
Divine grace is the sovereign and saving favour of God exercised in the bestowment of blessings upon those who have no merit in them and for which no compensation is demanded from them. Nay, more; it is the favour of God shown to those who not only have no positive deserts of their own, but who are thoroughly ill-deserving and hell-deserving. It is completely unmerited and unsought, and is altogether unattracted by anything in or from or by the objects upon which it is bestowed. Grace can neither be bought, earned, nor won by the creature. If it could be, it would cease to be grace. When a thing is said to be of grace we mean that the recipient has no claim upon it, that it was in nowise due him. It comes to him as pure charity, and, at first, unasked and undesired.
The fullest exposition of the amazing grace of God is to be found in the Epistles of the apostle Paul. In his writings "grace" stands in direct opposition to works and worthiness, all works and worthiness, of whatever kind or degree. This is abundantly clear from Romans 11:6, "And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. If it be of works, then is it no more grace, otherwise work is no more work." Grace and works will no more unite than an acid and an alkali. "By grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast" (Eph. 2:8,9). The absolute favour of God can no more consist with human merit than oil and water will fuse into one: see also Romans 4:4,5

A Gift for You

Amazing Grace Lyrics

John Newton (1725-1807)
Stanza 6 anon.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
T'was Grace that taught my heart to fear.
And Grace, my fears relieved.
How precious did that Grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come;
'Tis Grace that brought me safe thus far
and Grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me.
His word my hope secures.
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yea, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.

When we've been here ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We've no less days to sing God's praise
Than when we've first begun.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.

We Trust in God when Times are Hard

New International Version (©1984)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.

New Living Translation (©2007)
"Don't let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.

English Standard Version (©2001)
“Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.

New American Standard Bible (©1995)
"Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.

International Standard Version (©2008)
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.

GOD'S WORD® Translation (©1995)
"Don't be troubled. Believe in God, and believe in me.

King James Bible
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

American King James Version
Let not your heart be troubled: you believe in God, believe also in me.

American Standard Version
Let not your heart be troubled: believe in God, believe also in me.

Bible in Basic English
Let not your heart be troubled: have faith in God and have faith in me.

Douay-Rheims Bible
LET not your heart be troubled. You believe in God, believe also in me.

Darby Bible Translation
Let not your heart be troubled; ye believe on God, believe also on me.

English Revised Version
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Webster's Bible Translation
Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

Weymouth New Testament
"Let not your hearts be troubled. Trust in God: trust in me also.

World English Bible
"Don't let your heart be troubled. Believe in God. Believe also in me.

Young's Literal Translation
'Let not your heart be troubled, believe in God, also in me believe;
Geneva Study Bible

Let {1} not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

(1) He believes in God who believes in Christ, and there is no other way to strengthen and encourage our minds during the greatest distresses.

People's New Testament

14:1 Jesus Comforts His Disciples

SUMMARY OF JOHN 14:

Belief as a Solace of Troubled Hearts. The House of Many Mansions. Christ the Way. Christ the Manifestation of the Father. Asking in Christ's Name. How to Find the Father. The Test of Love. The Benediction of Peace.

Let not your heart be troubled. Just before him was Gethsemane, the denial, the mock trial, the scouring and the cross; but with these in full view, such are the wonders of his love that he does not think of himself. He does not ask comfort, but he gives it. His heart is full of the sorrow of his disciples over his departure.

Believe also in me. They had believed in him, but they were so confused over the prospect of his death and departure, they stumbled. He bids them to believe in him as they believed in God; to trust him even if they did not comprehend; to walk by faith rather than by sight through the darkness of that hour. To understand these words, the confusion, sorrow and despair of his disciples over his death must not be forgotten.

Wesley's Notes

14:1 Let not your heart be troubled - At my departure. Believe - This is the sum of all his discourse, which is urged till they did believe, Joh 16:30. And then our Lord prays and departs.

Prayer: Dear God in heaven, we trust in Thee and The Lord Jesus Christ. We Thank God for all blessings in Christ Jesus. We praise God of His Grace and Love. We pray for all people in need. Glory to God and Christ Jesus the Son and The Holy Spirit.
A-men

Give to The Joy of Jesus, in His name we pray.

The Key to Grace in The Joy of Jesus

Psalm 51
For the director of music. A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
2 Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

3 For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.

4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you are proved right when you speak
and justified when you judge.

5 Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

6 Surely you desire truth in the inner parts [a] ;
you teach [b] me wisdom in the inmost place.

7 Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

8 Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

9 Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

10 Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

11 Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.

12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

13 Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
and sinners will turn back to you.

14 Save me from bloodguilt, O God,
the God who saves me,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

15 O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth will declare your praise.

16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

17 The sacrifices of God are [c] a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart,
O God, you will not despise.

18 In your good pleasure make Zion prosper;
build up the walls of Jerusalem.

19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices,
whole burnt offerings to delight you;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.


Footnotes:
a.Psalm 51:6 The meaning of the Hebrew for this phrase is uncertain.
b.Psalm 51:6 Or you desired?; / you taught
c.Psalm 51:17 Or My sacrifice, O God, is

Sripture for Life: Rev. Dr. James A. Lee

THE PSALMS

Chapter 27

Psalms 27:1 "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; Of whom shall I be afraid?"
When the Lord is your light and salvation, you do not need to fear anyone. The Lord is the strength and power for my eternal life, so why would I be afraid of anyone or any thing. If YHVH Father is my assurance and the strength of my life, I have nothing to fear. We are speaking of your soul, for only God can end the life of your soul; for it is not man's to take or to give.

Psalms 27:2 "When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, They stumbled and fell."

God's truth and His Word can stand the test of time, and just as God's Word can past the test, so also can you, when your light and salvation is in the Lord. Again, it doesn't matter what foe is around you and the numbers against you are so overwhelming, God is your salvation, and He can protect you as you stand firm as a child of the Living God. God is giving you assurance that He loves you that much that He will protect you. You simply do not have to be afraid of anything, including the devil, as long as you use good judgment and common sense.

Psalms 27:3 "Though an host should encamp against me, My heart shall not fear: Though war should arise against me, In this will I be confident."

Though an entire army should surround you, I will not fear. When they come against you with all that they have, be confident that the strength of the Lord will put them down. No matter where you are or what your enemy is, God is there to protect you. Satan is sending his entire army of evil spirits against God's elect in this generation, Yet God will provide the protection we need, when we have armor of the Lord on and in place. That armor is give to us in Ephesians 6:10-20. When you open your mouth to take a stand and do the work of the Lord, then that army of Satan will arise against you. They will attack you, even through the mouths of the ones you love, but with this confidence you can stand because our God loves you.

Psalms 27:4 "One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, To behold the beauty of the Lord, and to enquire in His temple."

Praise God for this promise that he is giving directly to you and me when we seek after the ways of the Lord. We will see His beauty when we seek the Lord in His temple. Where is His temple? In Christ! Jesus said; "I am the way the truth and the Life, no man cometh to the Father but by Me".

Psalms 27:5 "For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion: In the secret of His tabernacle shall He hid me; He shall set me up upon a rock."

So when is this time of trouble? It comes in the end times, the final generation. That secret place where Father shall hide me, is upon a rock. That "pavilion" is a secret dwelling place; that place will be know to you because have eyes to see and ears to hear the truth, but to all others that are not in Christ and in the truths of His Word, they will not know where that place is. They are blinded to it. That Rock spoken of here is God our heavenly Father himself. He will give you all the protection that you need. In fact you are not to even premeditate how that protection will come, for in Mark 13:11 we are told that His Spirit will even give you the words that you are to speak in that hour. It will not be you that speaks, but the Holy Spirit speaking through you.

Psalms 27:6 "And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: Therefore will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord."

It just doesn't matter how many enemies there are, my head will be lifted up above all of them. When you look around you at all the things that are going on in the world today, don't be sad for everything you see is part of God's prophecy, He told you it would happen and now you see coming to pass. That is the time to sing His praises for Our God keeps his Word, and if you can see those things coming to pass, you know He has the power and will to protect you from all your enemies. Now don't forget to sing those praises to the Lord every day for He has given you the eyes to see and ears to hear those truths prophesied within His holy Word.

Psalms 27:7 "Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: Have mercy also upon me, and answer me."

Prayer: Eternal God of our salvation,We pray for Peace, Hope and Love all in Christ Jesus. We pray for all people. Thank You Jesus for Your Love and Grace in Your name, A-men.

What must we have to Live?

Faith, Hope, and Love
And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:13

Sermon: Our question today is one for now and the future. The past is already clear and done. We must move forward to our higher calling. The scripture shows us the way, and is a lamp unto our feet. Faith, hope and love abide in us as it is in Christ Jesus.

The greatest of faith , hope and love is love. The real question is why? We are faced with a world for all practical purposes;that has lost all relevance. As we bare witness, the Pope was tackled right before Christmas Mass? People are sick and suffering as no one speaks out nor cares. Yet, our scriptures does ring out, as a bright light in a very dark place. That Love is Great!

Do you ever wonder about Love? Have you ever asked yourself what is love, do I have love or to fall in love? Love makes the world go round. Love is the power beyound power. God is Love.

The love that God has and is clearly is found in Christ Jesus. He was born to save us from sin. Jesus gave His life on a bloody cross for our sins. God raised Jesus from the grave and gave Him All Power, Honor and Glory. Jesus is coming back for a New Zion.

Love my friend is God. His grace is found in Christ Jesus: The answer to all of our questions. Our faith, love and hope is in the Christ. Sure these are the darkest day ever seen by man. However the greatest gift is found in Jesus. He is our hope. His peace passes all understanding. His grace is simply amazing.

We will will be changed in a twinkling of an eye. God love us. We will see Him as He is in perfect Love. Jesus said if you have seen me, you have seen the Father. How shall we live. We shall live in Christ Jesus where peace,and love, and hope abide by faith in Him. Let us pray...Praise god in His Full Glory A-men.