I am about covering the spiritual side of man which GOD in Jesus, Who is the Christ. Restored to man through His vicarious death after His return in the person of GODS Holy Spirit. When as the Holy Spirit He indwells those who believe and will receive Him. By faith's receptivity of all things restored to man. Of what had been hidden when lost them in mans rebellion. Which brought unbelief and hardness of heart through mans separation from his Creator and true Father of spirits. Now for more on GODS Grace and the works of this Grace from the pen of Pastor Hoekstra. And as has become my normal practice I will continue to use the ESV translation for the treatment of the subject mater.
"Even More on Grace and Good Works"
"And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work." (2Corinthians 9:8)
"When considering the connection between grace and good works, GOD's Ability is the Priority issue. "And GOD is able to make all Grace abound toward you." The LORD GOD intends for us to be the objects of His ever flowing Grace. Our GOD is fully capable of accomplishing such an outpouring of His Grace. As the invisible river of His Life restored within mans soul receives His Life of Grace and His Glory unknown to man but received and active within him none the less.
The LORD GOD desires to "make all Grace Abound toward you." He wants to impact our lives with every aspect of His Grace ("All Grace"). He has Grace available in every category that we will ever need. He is ready to flood our lives with such Grace ("Abound toward you"). This term ("Abound") could be illustrated by compelling waves consistently rolling up on the seashore, leaving their inevitable imprint.
GOD's Grace impacts humble, trusting hearts in such a manner, imparting all that is needed for effective service. "That you, always having all sufficiency in all things." Whenever we place our dependency in the LORD, He supplies everything that is necessary ("All Sufficiency") for everything He would have us to do ("in all things).
The immediate context relates this Truth to financial provision; yet, the language goes far beyond any circumstantial limitation: "having all sufficiency in all things." This speaks of any need in any situation. If we need Grace for biblical family life, it is included here. If we need Grace for running a godly business, it is offered here. If we need Grace for witnessing, it is included here. If we need Grace for church ministry, it is extended here. "That you, always having All Sufficiency in all things."
Our GOD is a bountiful Master, Who Loves to lavish His resources upon His children servants. "That you . . . may have an abundance." However, this bounty is not for personal whim or carnal indulgence. It is for "every good work." GOD's Abundance is for the furthering of His Will here on earth. So, we can be encouraged. If our desire is to serve our LORD GOD, immeasurable spiritual treasures are available for our service.
This does not mean we are exempt from seasons of apparent lack. We have lessons to learn that must be taught during times of adversity and affliction as well as Abundance. "I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:12-13)."
More on Our Spiritual Heritage:
Psalm 61:5-8 "For You, O GOD, have heard my vows; You have given me the heritage of those who fear (severance and revere) Your name. Prolong the life of the king; may his years endure to all generations! May he be enthroned forever before GOD; appoint steadfast love and faithfulness to watch over him! So will I ever sing praises to Your name, as I perform my vows day after day."
Nun.
Psalm 119:105-112 and Isaiah 54:17 "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep Your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me Life, O LORD, according to Your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me Your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget Your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from Your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform Your statutes forever, to the end."
Isaiah 54:11-17 "O afflicted one, storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I Will set your stones in antimony, and lay your foundations with sapphires. I Will make your pinnacles of agate, your gates of carbuncles, and all your wall of precious stones. All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you. If anyone stirs up strife, it is not from Me; whoever stirs up strife with you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith who blows the fire of coals and produces a weapon for its purpose. I have also created the ravager to destroy; no weapon that is fashioned against you shall succeed, and you shall refute every tongue that rises against you in judgment. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD and their vindication from Me, declares the LORD."
Acts 20:25-35 "Now, behold, I know that none of you among whom I have gone about proclaiming the kingdom will see my face again. Therefore I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of GOD. Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the Church (the assembly of the Family) of GOD, which HE obtained with HIS own blood. I know that after my departure fierce wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves will arise men speaking twisted things, to draw away the disciples after them. Therefore be alert, remembering that for three years I did not cease night or day to admonish every one with tears. And now I commend you to GOD and to the word of HIS Grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel. You yourselves know that these hands ministered to my necessities and to those who were with me. In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"
Acts 26:12-18 and Ephesians 1:11 "In this connection I journeyed to Damascus with the authority and commission of the chief priests. At midday, O king, I saw on the way a Bright Light from heaven, brighter than the noonday sun, that shone around me and those who journeyed with me. And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew language, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick (resist) against the goads (heart stings).' And I said, 'Who are You, LORD?' And the LORD said, 'I am Jesus Whom you are persecuting. But rise and stand upon your feet, for I have appeared to you for this purpose, to appoint you as a servant and witness to the things in which you have seen Me and to those in which I Will appear to you, delivering you from your people (the religious Jewish zealots) and from the Gentiles—to whom I am sending you to open their eyes, so that they may turn from darkness to Light and from the power of Satan to GOD, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.'"
Ephesians 1:3-14 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every Spiritual Blessing (His Promise of restoration) in the heavenly places, even as HE chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before HIM. In Love HE predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of HIS Will, to the praise of HIS glorious Grace (the secret things of Deuteronomy 29:29), with which HE has blessed us in the Beloved. For it is In Him we have Redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of HIS Grace, which HE lavishes upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of HIS Will, according to HIS purpose, which HE set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite ALL things in Him, things in heaven and things on earth. For it is In Him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of Him Who works all things according to the counsel of His Will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of HIS Glory. In Him you also, when you heard the word of Truth, the Gospel of your salvation, and believed Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of HIS Glory.""
Colossians 1:9-14, 3:24 and 1Peter 1:4 "So, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the Knowledge of HIS Will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the LORD, fully pleasing to HIM, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the Knowledge of GOD. May you be strengthened with all power, according to HIS glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of HIS beloved Son, in Whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."
Colossians 3:22-25 "Bond-servants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing (reverencing) the LORD. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the LORD and not for men, knowing that from the LORD you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the LORD Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality (no favoritism with the LORD)."
1Peter 1:3-9 "Blessed be the GOD and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to HIS great mercy, HE has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen Him, you love Him. Though you do not now see Him, you believe Him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls."
A day or two ago I said that I would look at the richness of Grace, I will being holding that one off until we look at it in our study of Christ.
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