If any one has been following this blog for very long they will notice that it flows with all things becoming spiritually new again, which increases our spiritual richness. Mans flesh of a fickle and emotional thing this causes man to be unstable in all of his ways. Whereas the Spirit is always firm and constant and it is from that perspective that GOD deals with and trains us to be unwavering once we have passed from death in sin into His Redemption. For it is in Redemption that we begin to see just what and how we really are as separated creatures separated from GOD. Prayer and the success we desire from our prayers is determined by the attitude of our hearts condition, more on this later. Now more on Grace and Good works from the pen of Pastor Hoekstra and of course the ESV translation found in my e-Sword program.
"Grace and Good Works"
"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me." (1Corinthians 15:10)
The Grace of GOD is not only His dynamic for producing Spiritual Fruit in our lives, but it is also His means of developing good works in us as well. The Apostle Paul had a powerful testimony to this Truth. Paul became an early church leader who was engaged in more good works than any other believer. "I labored more abundantly than they all."
No one worked harder in ministry than Paul did. He traveled the known world preaching the Gospel. He discipled those who put their trust in the Lord Jesus. He gathered those believers into churches, often functioning as their initial pastor. Then, he would appoint leaders and even visit them on occasion for further encouragement and training. Additionally, he wrote major portions of the New Testament, typically while locked up in prison.
Yes, Paul "labored . . . abundantly." In another letter he wrote: "To this end I also labor, striving" (Colossians 1:29). Elsewhere he stated: "For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day . . . we preached to you the Gospel of God" (1 Thessalonians 2:9). As he wrote the believers in Corinth he recalled: "Are they ministers of Christ . . . I am more: in labors more abundant . . . in journeys often . . . in weariness and toil" (2Corinthians 11:23, 26-27).
How startling to learn that Paul was not the cause behind this wondrous effect. This seen in his confession: "yet not I." Paul exerted himself for the sake of the Gospel of Christ. How can a man labor strenuously and yet not be the cause of it all? The answer is in the remainder of his testimony: "yet not I, but the Grace of GOD which was within me." GOD's Grace at work in Paul is seen through his life. And was the effective dynamic that brought forth such Godly labor here on earth. "But by the Grace of GOD I am what I am." If we put our hope in the LORD, His Grace Will prove effective in our lives as well, giving us a testimony similar to Paul's: "and His Grace toward me was not in vain."
Access to this Transforming Grace is once more linked to the two relational realities of humility and faith. Paul humbly admitted this fact: "yet not I." He also exercised faith in this corollary Truth: "but the for Grace of GOD which was within me."
SPIRITUAL RICHES:
Some general references to:
Enduring:
Proverbs 8:12-21 "I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion. The fear of the LORD is hatred of evil. Pride and arrogance and the way of evil and perverted speech I hate. I have counsel and sound wisdom; I have insight; I have strength. By me kings reign, and rulers decree what is just; by me princes rule, and nobles, all who govern justly. I love those who love Me, and those who seek Me diligently find Me. Riches and honor are with Me, enduring wealth and righteousness. My fruit is better than gold, even fine gold, and My yield than choice silver. I walk in the way of righteousness, in the path of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love Me, and filling their treasuries."
GOD's Blessing the Source of:
Proverbs 10:20-24 "The tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense. The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool, but wisdom is pleasure to a man of understanding. What the wicked dreads will come upon him, but the desire of the righteous will be granted."
A Paradox:
Proverbs 13:5-10 "The righteous hates falsehood, but the wicked brings shame and disgrace. Righteousness guards him whose way is blameless, but sin overthrows the wicked. One pretends to be rich, yet has nothing; another pretends to be poor, yet has great wealth. The ransom of a man's life is his wealth, but a poor man hears no threat. The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out. By insolence comes nothing but strife, but with those who take advice is wisdom."
Discovered by Spiritual Vision:
Ephesians 1:15-23 "For this reason, because I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers, that the GOD of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you the Spirit of Wisdom and of Revelation in the Knowledge of HIM, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which He has called you, what are the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of HIS Power toward us who believe, according to the working of HIS great might that HE worked in Christ when HE raised Him from the dead and seated Him at HIS right hand in the Heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And HE put all things under His feet and gave Him as Head over all things to the Church (singular), which is His Body, the Fullness of Him Who fills all in All."
More Precious than Earthly:
Hebrews 11:23-29 "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden for three months by his parents, because they saw that the child was beautiful, and they were not afraid of the king's edict. By faith Moses, when he was grown up, refused to be called the son of Pharaoh's daughter, choosing rather to be mistreated with the people of God than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He considered the reproach of Christ greater wealth than the treasures of Egypt, for he was looking to the reward. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing Him Who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and sprinkled the blood, so that the Destroyer of the firstborn might not touch them. By faith the people crossed the Red Sea as on dry land, but the Egyptians, when they attempted to do the same, were drowned."
The Inheritance of GOD's Elect:
James 2:1-7 "My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the LORD of Glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, "You sit here in a good place," while you say to the poor man, "You stand over there," or, "Sit down at my feet," have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my beloved brothers, has not GOD chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which HE has promised to those who love HIM? But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?"
Next we will take a look at Spiritual Heritage and then the Riches of Grace.
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