TOPIC : FRUSTRATING THE GRACE OF GOD
Scripture: Galatians 2: 21. I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
Beloved, I welcome you to another Moment of Daily Encounter. The grace of God can be frustrated! The big question often asked is, “can God be frustrated?” No! Why then do we talk about frustrating the grace of God? This is exactly what we seek to provide an answer to in our meditation today.
What does it mean to “frustrate” the grace of God?
The matter of grace frustrations can be looked into in two dimensions: Grace for salvation and Grace for christian service.
A. Grace for salvation: Salvation is a free gift of God that comes by faith in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2: 8. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God :
It can therefore be frustrated when:
1. You take faith out of the equation.(Gal 2:21). Many believers are struggling to live the Christian life because they take faith out of the equation of salvation. You are saved by faith, kept by faith, walk by faith, receive answers to prayers by faith, live by faith etc. There is basically nothing you can achieve as a Christian when faith is out of the equation. Living by faith is the only authentic way to continue to enjoy grace.
What does it mean to live by faith?
_Galatians 2: 20. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me._
To live by faith means:
a. accepting that Christ was crucified
b. accepting that when Christ was crucified you too were crucified with him
c. Living your daily life now in total dependence on Christ finished work on the cross of Calvary.
d. Consider your flesh dead when Christ died (Rom6:6)
e. Refusal to surrender your flesh to sin anymore
Based on the above points, if you are living by your personal view to overcome sin, it becomes difficult because no man can overcome by will power. Infact, will power will always fall flat but faith remains! This is the secret of great men and women.
If you are still struggling with secret sin, then you are frustrating the grace of salvation. This could be largely due to refusal to accept the finished work on the cross. Until you come to accept the fact that you are dead to sin and continue to die to sin daily, then your struggle continues! And as long as you are struggling with sin, you are frustrating the grace of God.
2. When you feel, you have to do something in addition to what Christ has done. Jesus paid the penalty for our sin. All we need to do is to accept the finished work.
3. When you don’t appreciate God for your salvation. There are believers who never thank God for their salvation. They always see the unbelievers better than themselves. Beloved if you are not grateful for the salvation of your soul, you are frustrating the grace of God.
4. When you refuse to grow up spiritually. God has an expected time lag for every one of His children to grow up. But when time passes by and they remain little children, they are frustrating the grace of God:(1 Cor. 3: 1-3)
Growth in Christ perspective is viewed from the angle of how much of Christ has been formed in you. But when carnality is still the other of the day in your life, you are frustrating the grace of God.
Check your life today, are you growing in terms of Christ like character or is it carnality all the way?
What is the consequence of frustrating grace?
It is continual struggle with sin that may eventually result in damnation in hell if you couldn’t make your way right before leaving this world.
The second dimension is service (to be continued tomorrow)
Remember This : Hell is real and Heaven is real, your choice on earth determines where you will spend eternity.
Prayer Points :
– Father thank you for your word to me today,
– Lord, I promise never to frustrate your grace upon my life any more in Jesus name.
Prophetic Declaration :
– I prophesy the desire never to frustrate grace be released upon you now in the name of Jesus.
From your brother Alex
God bless you.
--Advertisements--
