Outpouring of The Grace of God

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“When an outpouring of God comes, it is a demonstration of His grace. It just comes in His timing, His way and to those whom He chooses. It comes to bring growth and renewal to the believer. It comes to wash clean the sins of the lawless and forgive the hard-hearted.”

People randomly falling on their face before God in prayer and worship. Church services being interrupted and extended due to an unusual experience of the presence of the Lord. Lives being saved from their sins in mass without much resistance.

On occasion in history, there have been unique movements of God like this, that bring souls unto Him in supernatural and almost unexplainable ways. What is happening in seasons of a time like this? God’s grace is being poured out in abundance. The Bible says of mankind’s Savior, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” (Romans 10:20)

None of us were born with a natural inclination to pursue God. Nor has anyone ever had an instinctive desire from birth to be morally upright, and automatically tell the truth, forgive those who have offended them or put the needs of others above themselves. This is not who we inherently are. Rather, it is normal for us to be people who get angry, envy others, or not even think of God at all. Left to ourselves, we are disobedient to God, unholy and evil-hearted people, doing whatever is right in our own eyes.

So how do we get to a place where people are seeking God and lives are being eternally changed? Let me repeat the Scripture, “I have been found by those who did not seek me; I have shown myself to those who did not ask for me.” Men and women, who have no inherit desire for the Almighty, are transformed by God’s passionate pursuit of them.

When they were busy living for themselves, He came to them. When they were in the midst of their religious routines, He came to them. When they were pursuing their own unholy desires, God came to them.

There was once a man named Zacchaeus who lived in the city of Jericho. He was a wealthy tax collector. One day Jesus came passing through. As He did, word spread quickly and crowds were formed. Zacchaeus, a small guy, searched for a tree to climb, so He could see Jesus. And as the story goes, “…when Jesus came to the place, he looked up and said to him, ‘Zacchaeus, hurry and come down, for I must stay at your house today.” (Luke 19:5) As a result of his time with Jesus, Zacchaeus’ life, along with his whole household, was changed. How did this outpouring of the salvation of God happen? By His grace.

Grace refers to a gift from God, that is not earned or deserved. While Zacchaeus was busy working and building his corrupt wealth, Jesus was already on His way. Before Zacchaeus knew he had a need, Jesus came to the tree he was watching from, and called him by name. Zacchaeus was not worthy of anything from God, yet Jesus came for him.

When an outpouring of God comes, it is a demonstration of His grace. It is something we have not earned or deserved. It just comes in His timing, His way and to those whom He chooses. It comes to bring growth and renewal to the believer. It comes to wash clean the sins of the lawless and forgive the hard-hearted.

What are we to do when the grace of God comes? Recognize it and respond, just like Zacchaeus. That can be both simple and hard. Avoid being like the critics in Zacchaeus’ story though. They were dismissive, and spoke evil of what was happening.

Is God drawing you right now? Is He calling you by name? Open your spiritual eyes. Do you see Him at work in your life this minute? Is He speaking to you through someone? Respond to His grace! Stop resisting. Yield fully to Him.

A prayer for you. “Lord God, open our spiritual eyes to see you at work. Help us to stop resisting and start responding. Come to those who have not asked for you. Come to all of us who are not worthy of you. Show yourself O, God. Pour out your grace upon us this hour. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

 

St. Patrick: One Man Fully Committed

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“Ireland, in Patrick’s day, was an evil and dangerous place. Patrick recounted in his writings, The Confession, saying "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved -- whatever may come my way." Why? For the cause of Christ.”

Have you ever really committed yourself to something? It seems to be a rare find in people. Most of us want what is easy. Some are comfortable the way life is. Others cannot stay focused on a goal, because the fun stuff keeps getting in the way.

Are you familiar with Patrick, otherwise known as St. Patrick? He is an inspiration to the committed, and a challenge to those who are not.

Patrick was born British and lived 385-461 A.D. His parents were very religious, but he wanted nothing to do with their faith. As a teenager, his life dramatically changed when an Irish mob abducted and sold him into slave labor in Ireland. For six years he served as a shepherd watching over his master’s sheep. During that season of quiet suffering, he came to know the God of his parents. Eventually, he was led by the Lord to escape slavery in miraculous fashion, and made his way back home. There Patrick prepared for a career in ministry. In time, he was convicted by God that he must return to the land of his slavery and spread the good news of Christ. He boarded a boat that took him to the shores of Ireland; this time of his own choosing. The day he stepped onto Irish shores began 29 years of a legendary mission.

Ireland in Patrick’s day was an evil and dangerous place. Knowing this in advance, Patrick recounted in his writings, The Confession, saying "I am ready to be murdered, betrayed, enslaved -- whatever may come my way." It was an epic battle of light versus darkness which made for mythical type stories that followed Patrick’s work. Upon his death in 461 A.D., light had won the battle setting a new course for the Irish. God used Patrick to see over 120,000 people baptized and 300 churches planted.

Patrick was one man, wholly dedicated to Christ. Through his full commitment, God changed a nation.

Is the life of Patrick normal for anyone who follows Jesus? Yes and no. No, in the sense that God in His wisdom, chooses certain people for certain missions. Not everyone will travel to another country. Not everyone will change a nation. Not everyone has the same gifts, talents and experiences. We are all different, which should be celebrated rather than compared. But yes, in the sense of what the Bible lays out as a standard for all Christians.

Where did Patrick get his commitment from? Read what Jesus explained to His disciples about what was going to happen to Him, “And the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and scribes, and they will condemn him to death and deliver him over to the Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified, and he will be raised on the third day.” (Matthew 20:18-19) Jesus undertook His mission fully knowing the cost. It sounds like Patrick was influenced by Christ.

But you say, “I am not Jesus, nor am I Patrick. How does Jesus want me to live?” Read these words He spoke to His disciples as Jesus lovingly looked each one of them in the eyes, “Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.” (Matt. 10:37-39)

Jesus is clear. There is a cost to following Him. A person must be willing to humble themselves before Him as both Savior of their sins, and Lord of their life. This is the price of a Christian. Total devotion of his life under the Lordship of Jesus. This is the example He gave us through His cross. As Jesus lovingly yielded all for you, He calls you to yield all for Him. Will you, today?

A prayer for you. “Lord God, thank you for the life of Patrick. Through his life of faithfulness, teach us be fully committed to you. Nothing less. Point out anything that is hindering an unswerving dedication to you, that we might confess and turn from it. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

The Time is Now!

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“America has its feet dangling playfully over a dangerous moral abyss. Are we at our lowest point and ready to turn toward God? He stands all day with His arms open wide. One divine moment is waiting for us. Let us come. The time if now!”

"Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” (Acts 2:40)

When we look at our nation and around the world, we are observing alarming levels of perverseness, criminality and moral darkness. The severity is critical and becoming more so every day. And the effects of our rebellious culture are far reaching. Suicide. Drugs. Alcohol. Divorce. Abuse. Mental illness. Rising interest in the occult. These effects and more are resounding alarms telling us to halt the brakes, change course and immediately stop what we are doing. The time is now!

Words of divine wisdom state, “There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death. (Proverbs 14:12) We are selfishly feeding our depraved appetites, thinking all is good. We are giving no consideration to the deadly implications of our choices. We are walking morally blind, laughing all the way, as a dangerous precipice lay before us. The warning signs are there for all to see, but we are passing by them to our own peril, and that of future generations. Our own society’s blatant and unashamed warped behavior is destroying us. Unless there is an intervention, we will unknowingly walk right over into an abyss, and become the cause of our own national demise.

What is the answer? How can we reverse course? Is there hope? Often when people and nations come to their lowest point, and are forced to endure the consequences and face the truth of their debauched ways, they will begin questioning the status quo. It is during these societal moments, that the sovereign hand of Almighty God can begin stirring the hearts of a desperate nation. In times like these, a once-in-a-generation divine outpouring can happen. Is now, that time for America?

The Jewish people were at such a place when they killed the Son of God. It was the greatest evil ever perpetrated and became the darkest point in their storied history. Hopelessness laid across the land like a dense fog.

Then three days later, the Son of God overcame their evil plans and rose from the dead. Weeks afterward, the Author of Life poured out His Holy Spirit upon His followers. One of those, a man named Peter, stood as a leader. Under an anointing from God, he spoke words of life to a massive crowd that gathered to hear about this strange occurrence. In that moment, he declared the truth of his nation’s evils. He faced them with their wickedness, while lifting up the only One who could save them. Then, “…when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, ‘Brothers, what shall we do?’ And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” (Acts 2:37-39)

Thousands responded and were instantly changed! When the Jewish nation was at its lowest, God came and rescued a multitude of people from the evils of their own generation. It was a heavenly outpouring that altered the course of the future. It became a divine moment, that launched a movement from Israel, to the Roman Empire, then the whole, and continues to this day.

America has its feet dangling playfully over a dangerous moral abyss. Are we at our lowest point and ready to cry out, “What shall we do?” God is here. He has sent His precious Son to us. He stands all day with His arms open wide. Will we recognize our evil ways, turn from them, and to Christ with all our heart? One divine moment is waiting for us. Let us come. The time if now!

A prayer for you. “Lord God, save us from ourselves! We confess our evil ways. It is not the fault of others. We have done this. We call upon you to intervene. Only you can help us. Save us O, God! In Jesus’ name. Amen.”