His Rest Shall be Glorious!

His Rest Shall Be Glorious

Isaiah 11:10 "And in that day there shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign [banner] for the people; to it [lit. 'to him'} shall the gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious."

This verse is part of a detailed prophecy concerning Joshua, the Son Of David, Messiah to the people of Israel, and Savior of the world. Jesus is the banner we should all be gathering to. He is our spiritual point of reference, he is our Rock and our Refuge!

   We are to gather to the person of Jesus Christ himself, not to doctrines, belief systems, methodologies, creeds, or cliques! There is no rest to be found by embracing a belief system that was handed down to you from someone else. When you are primarily identified with a denomination, a tradition, or a particular system of theology, you will feel compelled to defend it, and much of your identity will be invested into that system.

Jesus is the believers' truth! He needs no defense and no apologies. We are to proclaim Jesus and gather ourselves to Him ! 

 

Jesus said:

John 5:39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

John 5:40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

When we read the scriptures, we should be looking for Jesus there! Don't read the bible

only in order to reinforce your pet doctrines, or to find proof that will back up your side of 

an argument. Let the word of God feed your spirit and strengthen your faith in the Living God.

The word of God is alive, and it is given to equip you for everyday life and it's conflicts. The

good news of our salvation, and the revelation of our Savior is contained in there. Our fight 

is not against people, it is against spiritual wickedness, and unbelief. 

  The Old testament looks forward to the coming of Messiah, and the new testament

reveals Him to us. he is our Risen Savior and our heavenly intercessor. He is the Living

God who wants to be active and involved in our lives.

Jesus is our Good Shepherd; He is our way, our truth, and our life! He is our resting place and , "His rest is glorious' !

Joh 10:4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice.

Joh 10:5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers.

For a great picture of the rest that we can enjoy in Jesus, read the 23rd Psalm. Our Shepherd personally leads us and gives us rest, restoration, and righteous paths to walk in.He has prepared us a table in the presence of our enemies, and we can partake confidently of the eternal life that can only come from him.

Jesus is the Branch that makes the water sweet, he makes his living water to spring up inside us and quench our thirst for God.

Jesus came to save the whole world! In our text, Isaiah specifically says that the Gentiles will seek his rest! Everybody is included! Jews and non-Jews alike are called to enjoy fellowship and forgiveness in Christ. Whosoever will, can receive eternal life from our wonderful savior.

Isa 55:1 "Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

We are saved by grace! anyone can freely enjoy the benefits of eternal life through faith in Jesus. gather yourselves to Him! Let him be your banner and your glorious resting place. there is rest in no other. Jesus is Emmanuel -'God with us'! He came to bring us grace and truth! He is present to heal us. He is here to dwell in us and fill us with his life and power!

No matter how bad things around you look, you can find rest in Jesus. You can rest in the eye of the storm, confident that he will keep you in his favor. You will emerge from your trials victorious and more than a conqueror, because your Heavenly Father loves you, and his love never fails. You can lose everything, and yet still find rest in Jesus! When you make 'The root Of Jesse' your banner and rallying flag, the rest you will find will be glorious! By focusing on Him, rather than your problems, you will find a new peace of mind, and grace to overcome all obstacles.

Eternal life is right now, not in some hazy and uncertain future! build your life around Jesus, and enjoy fellowship with him right now, don't wait for heaven, to begin enjoying eternity. Christ in you, is your hope of glory, not the 'sweet bye-in-bye'! Let Him flood you with his life, and receive his gift of grace today, and rest your future in His hands.

Don't rely on your feelings; trust in His word to tell you who you are in Jesus, and who you can be in this kingdom life. Don't be limited in your thinking, let the word of God expand your faith and renew your mind to accept all the goodness that he wants for you!

There remains a rest for the people of God, and his rest is glorious!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Jesus Is Our Tree Of Life

Jesus Is Our Tree Of Life

Gen 2:9 And out of the ground made the LORD God to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight, and good for food; the tree of life also in the midst of the garden, and the tree of knowledge of good and evil.

Rev 2:7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.

Just as the tree of Life is planted in the middle (midst) of the paradise of God, Jesus is central to the life of the Born-again believer, and to all of His creation. From the beginning, God has offered mankind the gift of life. He has made provision for all of our physical and spiritual needs and desires! "Christ is our life", through Him we are promised eternal life, and all that is included therein!.

  We have no record that Adam and Eve ever ate from the tree of life, we are only told that they ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Many people today prefer the tree of a religion that is obsessed with good and evil, rather than freely partaking of the life of Christ. People are suspicious of God's grace, which says "you are loved without any conditions, and are invited to dine at God's table for free". That's right folks. Jesus paid the bill with his blood, and you can eat for free! Dinner is on him, so quit trying to pay for everything! God wants to bless you and fellowship with you at the table that he has spread for you.

He sent his son who became a man, took away our sin nature, and now lives in us. The Life of the Body Of Christ is directly and literally provided by our Heavenly Father through Jesus our risen, indwelling Savior. Just as a vine provides nourishment to all of the branches, Jesus is the conduit for all the goodness that the Father willingly and happily wants to give to us. Any fruit that we may produce, is the direct result of the Eternal Life that courses through us, freely supplied by His grace, and appropriated by the faith which He provides! It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom of heaven. God so loved, that he gave His Son, and through His son, he gives us eternal life!

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved

What is everlasting life? Does that mean that when you die you might get to go to heaven, and play a harp, and praise God all day on golden streets? Everlasting means eternal, there is no beginning and no end; it lasts forever! This life that we are invited to partake of, is for now as well as later! Eternity is right now! The life of God himself is available to you even as you are reading this article.

When you eat fruit, you have to put it inside you, in order to enjoy the taste of it, and to receive nourishment from it; the same applies to the fruit of the Tree Of Life. Jesus used the metaphor of eating and drinking to invite us to his table where the life the Father is free to all who will receive it! He said " I am the bread of life ".

John 6:27 Labour not for the meat [food]which perisheth, but for that meat [food] which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed.

John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.

Jesus also compared his life-giving Spirit to water, that we are invited to drink freely.

John 4:14 But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Rev 21:5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And he said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

Rev 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.

The life [Gr. zoe} that God wants to give to us, includes every good thing that he is, and all that he wants to give us. Zoe is forgivness, redemption, wisdom, fellowship, power, grace, love, and self-control. All gifts and fruits of the Holy Spirit, the gift of imputed righteousness, the strength and desire to serve him, and the ability to change for the better, are all supplied through this zoe life from God!

I intend, By the leading of the Holy Spirit, to write some more articles on this wonderful Eternal Life that God has blessed us with.

1Jn 5:11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.

1Jn 5:12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.

1Jn 5:13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Welcome to Grace Power

  Welcome to Grace Power! My name is Chuck Loubert. I'm a born-again believer in Jesus, who is discovering the power of grace in everyday life. We are saved by grace through faith in the Son of God, and we are also kept in fellowship with him through the power of grace!. As this blog develops, I will be posting articles, observations, testimonies, and music intended to edify the body of Christ, shed light on the bible, and lead those who don't know Jesus yet, to a saving knowledge of him. I am a licensed Christian minister who also works a full time job as a painter and drywall repairman. Some day I hope to be in full-time ministry as God provides. I want to be led by him in all that I do, and I thank him for his grace as I begin this new ministry to his body.Thanks for stopping by, and feel free to share these articles with others.

I Will Open Rivers

I will open rivers. 2-3-08

Isa. 41:17,18 “When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

Vs.18 I will open rivers in the high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water.”

Vs. 17

“When the poor and needy seek water ,and there is none”

Do you feel like something is missing in your life? Do you feel empty, lonely, guilty, or unsatisfied? ‘Poor’ means a lack of resources, ‘needy’ implies unfulfilled desire; we have all been there at one time or another,(sometimes for an extended time, or a lifetime). Have you looked for relief and found none? We usually tend to seek in the wrong places until we become desperate and exhausted. The entertainments and distractions that this world has to offer, always have a downside, there is always a price to pay for any temporary relief we might find. We will chase the devil’s rainbow until our health is broken, our self respect has become tattered, and our conscience is seared and crippled.

Until the word of God, and his Spirit shine the light of truth on our sorry mess, we labor to justify ourselves and put on a good face for those around us. The human capacity for self deception is astonishing in it’s persistence and its ingenuity!

If you think that everything is going well and you don’t need God’s forgiveness or His help, than the idea of seeking God for anything will seem foolish and unnecessary. Jesus said “ I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” matt. 9:13

And “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.” Matt. 23:28

Water in God’s word represents refreshment, cleansing, abundant life, and the outpouring of God’s spirit. It is important that a person seek relief from the right source; The entertainments of the flesh, and the distractions that the world offers can gratify, but they cannot satisfy! God spoke through Isaiah and said “I will pour water upon him who is thirsty” Isa.44:3. Jesus said “Come unto me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matt. 11:28. And again “…Jesus said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this [literal, physical] water shall thirst again: But whosoever shall drink of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into ever lasting life.” Jn. 4:13,14

Sometimes we seek “but there is none” ; there is no apparent source of water, no relief, no solution in sight, but by faith we can find it in God. “Faith is the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews 11:1

God will pour out forgiveness where there was none, He will pour out love and favor where it never before existed. He makes all things new! He can take a discouraged, heartbroken, lukewarm Christian and transform him [or her] into a living example of God’s amazing grace. He makes the desert to blossom, and makes the ‘dry land’ of human misery into pools of water.

©2008 Rev.Charles J. Loubert

The Gift Of The Holy Spirit

The Gift of the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:38 'Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.'

Titus 3:5,6 ' Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our savior; that being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

The Holy Spirit is essential to the work of salvation. He washes, renews, and regenerates us at the time of our New Birth, and he continues to work in us forever. We are infused with new life when the Holy Spirit regenerates us at the time of our new birth. The Greek word that is translated as 'regeneration' in Titus 3:5, means 'new birth, re- production, re-creation.' By the agency of the Holy Spirit, we are restored to the likeness and image of God; re-created from the ashes of the old, corrupted life which we inherited from fallen Adam (our progenitor), And born into the family of Jesus (our re- generator), who is the 'New Adam'; the beginning of a new order of creation!

Notice also, that the Holy Spirit is called a 'gift'! It is given freely, not earned or necessarily deserved. The grace of God has made a way for us to enjoy His presence in all our circumstances, in spite of all our shortcomings and failures.

During our time in these physical bodies, in these earthly circumstances, and for the eternity that follows. He has said “ I will never leave you or forsake you. Lo I am with you until the end of the age.” “ I will not leave you orphans, I will send you a comforter.”

Eph. 1:13,14 'In whom ye also trusted after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.

The Holy Spirit seals us at our new birth, marking us forever as a child of God, redeemed by the Blood of the Lamb, and called into his service. According to 'Strong's Concordance', the Greek word that is translated 'sealed' (sphragizo) means “to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation.” This word is also found in old Greek manuscripts with reference to the tattoo or brand stamped upon slaves; they were marked with the signet or mark of the new owner at the time of purchase. The mark is permanent and it signifies ownership; we are the property of our redeemer who has purchased us with his precious blood and has given us a new heart and a new spirit.

Paul calls it “the spirit of promise, which is the earnest of our inheritance...” earnest means 'a down payment with a promise of full payment at a future time. In other words, The Holy Spirit is given at the time of the new birth, and guarantees that we will one day possess all the promises and benefits of salvation, including a resurrected body and a place in heaven, where there will be no more tears, and no memory of sorrow. (Rev. 21:4)

The Holy Spirit teaches us, comforts us, reveals Jesus to us, and shows us who we are in Christ. The love of God is poured into our hearts by the presence of the Holy Spirit (Rom. 5:5), and we are able, by His grace, to treat people the way we would want to be treated; with respect, compassion, and with forgiveness.

The fruits of the Holy Spirit, (Gal. 5:22) are those characteristics of God himself, which make it possible for us to be a blessing to those around us. Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control take root in our regenerated spirits, and begin to transform us, as we yield to Him.

Keep in mind that all these wonderful benefits, given to us through the Holy Spirit, are the result of God's grace! His undeserved and un-earned favor has made provision for us. He has given us all that we will need, in order to please Him, and to be a blessing to others. We can't earn the benefits of the Holy Spirit's indwelling presence, nor can we generate true, unselfish love, by our own efforts; we can only trust our heavenly father to continue and complete the wonderful work of transformation that He has begun in us. There is no risk in trusting someone who never lies, and has the power to keep his promises! He is faithful and true, and his word always comes to pass!

2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work:

Php. 1:6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform [complete] it until the day of Jesus Christ.

We are made “temples of the Holy spirit” when we are born again. (see 1Cor. 3:16 and 6:19) Christ himself lives in us through the agency of his abiding Spirit, and He gives us gifts and abilities well beyond our natural endowments. He will manifest himself in supernatural ways when we trust him and learn to yield to his Presence within us. There is a divine plan for each one of us, and God has sent his Spirit to fulfill his will in all our lives. His grace will see to it that we are transformed into the new creation we were meant to become in Him!

Praise God! The plan is his, and the power is His! We only need to lean on Him and trust in His faithfulness and the power of His grace. The Holy Spirit will lead us, keep us in his will, and give us the love and wisdom we need, to be a blessing to the lost and dying world around us!

©2010 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Who Needs The Cross?

Who Needs The Cross?

“For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us who are saved it is the power of God. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks [gentiles] seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of god, and the wisdom of god. Because the foolishness of god is wiser than men; and the weakness of god is stronger than men. I Cor. 1:18,22-25

Who needs the benefits of the cross? The short answer is 'All of us!' We all have sinned, and we were all born with a fallen nature that is prone to sin and selfishness. All of us; Jews, non-Jews, and those of every religious and cultural persuasion, wrestle with self-destructive and harmful desires, and moral failures.

Crucifixion was not unique in Roman times, but only one person was crucified who did nothing to deserve it! He died for our sins, not his! When Jesus cried out “it is finished" (literally, 'paid in full'); the earth trembled, graves were opened, and the heavy curtain that denied entrance to the inner temple was torn from top to bottom. How do we know this? We have eye witness accounts: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John! There are also non-biblical, historical, accounts of the events surrounding Jesus' death and resurrection such as the writings of Josephus.

Luke 9:22 '...The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and raised up the third day.'

Jesus told his disciples that he would be crucified and be raised from the dead, but they didn't want to believe that he could die and be taken away from them. Many believed that Jesus would deliver them from the Roman occupiers and lead the Jews to victory through some type of political or military means.

John the Baptist had it right, when he declared "Behold the Lamb Of God, who takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29 ESV

Col 2:13,14 ESV And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross.

Because our sin has been so completely removed as a result of the cross of Christ, we are able to have an eternal relationship with our just and holy God. The righteousness of Christ has been imputed to us, and our sin was imputed to Jesus, at the cross (IICor.5:19,21). The grace of our Lord Jesus, allowed us to be part of his literal family! Jesus is our older brother, and Jehovah is our Heavenly Father.

Through the cross, we have been restored to right standing with God. There is no more sin standing between us and our creator! Jesus willingly suffered the punishment that we deserved, and satisfied the demand for justice.

Jesus died for everybody in the whole world, but only those who choose to accept this great gift of forgiveness, will benefit from the sacrifice that He made on the cross. We are saved by grace (God's unmerited favor, benevolence) through faith. "Knock and the door will be opened"! God himself, will supply the faith that you need to believe his word and trust his promises.

Rom 10:12,13 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him.

For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Salvation is a word that is not often used by most religions, only Christians frequently speak of it. Many people refuse to believe that they need to be 'saved' from sin, but they would rather believe that they are innately 'good' and need no salvation, some think they only need ''enlightenment' or 'realization' of their 'divinity'. Jesus said "I didn't come to save the righteous, but to save sinners."

Only Jesus offers a complete, and eternal salvation. There is no salvation in any other name! Buddha, Mohammed, Krishna; none other has the credentials of Jesus. None did the miracles he did; none taught as he did, no other has risen from a tomb three days after being brutally tortured and murdered. No one fulfilled specific and detailed prophecies that were written hundreds of years before his birth, as Jesus of Nazareth did. There are many gods and men who have been worshiped, but they are not Jehovah or his son Joshua [Jesus]. All roads do not lead to the same place!

The sin problem was been settled at the cross by Jesus, only your unbelief and stubbornness can prevent you from enjoying union with your creator. He has made the way for you, let Him save you from your self, and take away your guilt and self-righteousness! You can have all the benefits of salvation for your spirit, soul, and body by believing that the good news of the Gospel is true, and that God's grace is meant for you. If you are a sinner, you are eligible to receive this great salvation at no cost to you! Jesus paid the price at the cross, and you are the beneficiary!

The only sin that can disqualify you from receiving the benefits of the cross, is the sin of unbelief. Your Salvation and restoration has been paid for! You only have to sign for it , by Acknowledging that God's Promise is true, and accept the person of Jesus Christ for your personal savior. He saved the whole world, and that includes You!

You can't clean yourself up enough to deserve heaven, just accept this grace, and God himself will change you from the inside. He will give you a new heart, and your desire will be to please Him! Rest in his love, and He will take care of all that needs to be done. Jesus paid it all! You have nothing to offer, except your trust and gratitude!

We need everything that Jesus obtained for us on the cross, where He took our place and paid for our redemption with His blood.

Who needs the cross? We do! Let's take our old life to the cross, and receive a new life, born from above and born of God himself!

©2011Rev.Charles J. Loubert

Equipped By God

Equipped By God

Heb 13:20 Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant,

Heb 13:21 equip you with everything good that you may do his will,

working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to

whom be glory forever and ever. Amen. ESV

By the blood of the eternal covenant, our Heavenly Father (the God of peace)

has equipped us with everything that we need in order to serve and please him.

The same power that raised Jesus from the dead, is working in us to shape us

into His image, and to make us useful vessels for the Potter to use. We see our

God as 'The God Of Peace', because he has provided the means for peace

between God and man, and between people and each other.

The God of Peace, who has reconciled us to himself, by the New Covenant,

has provided a new and living way for us to enjoy the benefits of his kingdom,

and inherit his righteousness. When Jesus our Messiah was born, the Angelic

messengers announced “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace, good will toward men.” Luke 2:14 KJV God, by sending His son to

live and die for us, proved how committed he is to establishing an eternal rela-

relationship with us. God's good will toward us is expressed through the grace that

he has extended toward us, in forgiving our sins and giving us a new heart,

through the sacrifice at Calvary. The blood of Jesus has made it possible for us

to be the temples of the Holy Spirit, so that God himself can live in and through

us. The Love of God has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit

(Romans 5:5), thus equipping us to be a blessing to our brothers and

sisters in Christ, and to reach out in kindness to those who don't know Him.

   Condemnation and feelings of failure, will cripple the Christian and render him

or her ineffective as a witness to god's goodness; that's why it is essential that

the Christian truly believes in the effectiveness of the finished work of Christ on

his behalf. Only by faith in the cleansing blood of Jesus, will we be free of guilt and the consciousness of sin. Therefore it is the grace of God, through the Blood of Jesus that equips us for service, and not our self-righteous and self-willed programs and plans. The blood of Jesus cleanses us thoroughly, and makes us fit vessels for the Holy Spirit.

Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us

accepted in the beloved.

Eph 1:7 In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness

of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

Act 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is

come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jeru-

salem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost

part of the earth.

   Now with the knowledge that we have been cleansed of all sin, and accepted in the Beloved,

we are free to go about our Father's business. Lead by the Holy Spirit, we have the ability

and the understanding to face all difficulties, and to live as citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven

and children of The Living God. We are invited to enter into his rest, and participate in the

advancement of the Gospel of his grace! Our God has thoroughly furnished us for the good

work set before us!

©2011 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

Does God Still Heal?

Does God Still heal?

Of course! Why wouldn't he? Anyone who believes that God wants people to be sick and condemned, doesn't understand the nature and will of God the Father, as it is revealed in the bible. The benevolence (good will) and ability of Jehovah has not diminished or changed. He said “I am the Lord I change not.”(Mal.3:6), and 'I am the LORD that healeth thee' (exod.15:26)

Jesus said “For I came down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.” (Jn. 6:38) In all the gospel accounts of the life and works of Jesus, was there ever an instance when Jesus put a sickness upon anyone? Of course not! See Matt. 14:14b, ' he had compassion on them and healed their sick.' Jesus said, “I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”(Jn.10:10b ESV)

Read Isaiah chapter 53, the amazing prophecy about the purpose and the mission of the Messiah who was to come. Note verse 5: 'But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed.' ESV This scripture is quoted by the apostle Peter in 1peter 2:24 .

Evidence of God's grace (his undeserved favor) is scattered all through the bible, Old and New Testaments. The favor of God includes physical healing! Consider Psalms 103 ;

Psa 103:2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,

Psa 103:3 who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, ESV

Salvation includes all the benefits that the grace of God has intended for us !

The word that is translated 'saved' in Rom. 10:9,10 is the Greek word 'sozo'.

'Sozo' , as defined in Strong's Greek dictionary , means 'save, deliver, protect, heal, preserve, and make whole'. Think about it!

Rom 10:9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Rom 10:10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth

one confesses and is saved. ESV

This great salvation that Jesus secured for us with his precious blood, is much more than a 'get-out-of-hell-free card! The 'abundant life' that Jesus came to bring us is our inheritance, and we are invited to enjoy it right now, in this life, as well as in the afterlife. Eternal life includes this earthly life right now. The sweet bye-and-bye will be sweet indeed, but the sweet here-and-now is drenched with the mercy and grace of God for 'whosoever will' receive it.

Don't limit the scope of God's grace by accepting the mistaken traditions of man or the doctrines of demons; let the compassion of Jesus our savior wash over you and fill you with his peace and health! Jesus has provided healing for the spirit, soul and body. He has redeemed us from the curse of the law, which included all manner of sicknesses and diseases! (See Galatians 3:13 and Deuteronomy chapt. 28:59-61) The New Covenant is ours now! The law has been done away with, and the ordinances and proclamations which condemned us were nailed to the cross of Calvary. When you accept Jesus as your Savior, you also accept him as your healer, your forgiver, your peace and your security!

Please dear Christian, don't let your religion prevent you from believing the promises of God and receiving all that He has for you ! The grace of God is for all who will receive it! It has nothing to do with how worthy you think you are. None of us deserves the blessings of Salvation; if we could earn our way, it would not be grace. Grace is undeserved and unearned favor, not given according to merit or privilege. God gives because He loves, it's that simple!

If you are sick or in pain, don't blame God, seek him for help, and thank him for his grace. Jesus loves you and has bought your salvation and healing with His blood and the bruises that he suffered in your place at Calvary. God isn't mad at you anymore! Jesus took your punishment! He came to save you, not to punish you and curse you with sickness, poverty, and guilt. This is good news! Your forgiveness, healing, and right standing with God has been already arranged!

Accept Jesus, and you receive a new heart and a new life, along with a totally clean record. Since your sins are forgiven, there is no reason not to receive 'all his benefits' !

Abundant life is the inheritance of all who put their trust in Jesus, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved: saved, as in, forgiven, healed, pardoned, prospered, and predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ!

P.S. (You'll go to heaven too!)

©2009 Rev. Charles J. Loubert

House Of Grace

The House Of Grace

Ezra 9:8,9NASB “ but now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in his holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage. For we are slaves; yet in our bondage, our God has not forsaken us, but has extended lovingkindness to us in the sight of the kings of Persia, to give us reviving to raise up the house of our God, to restore it's ruins, and to give us a wall in Judah and Jerusalem.”

In this famous prayer of Ezra, he acknowledges that god's grace and lovingkindness was the reason that the temple was rebuilt, the sins of Israel were forgiven, and their eyes were opened, leading to a revival of the people and a return of a remnant of the captives to Jerusalem.

Even though they were slaves, as a result of their many sins, Ezra realized that their God had not forsaken them. According to his promise, (recorded in Jer. 25:11), the captivity was rescinded after 70 yrs., by the decree of King Cyrus.

This is a good picture of our condition today, where God has shown his grace to us in that he loved us 'while we were yet sinners'; He has redeemed us and shown grace and favor in his dealings with us. We were slaves to the power of sin, finding no relief in the law, which can only condemn and expose sin, but can never produce freedom from sin. “But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God”, and we are granted favor and forgiveness through the mercy of God in the person of his son Jesus. God has taken away our guilt and made us part of his family when we didn't deserve it.

Rom 8:1,2 NASB “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the spirit of life in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and death.”

God is reviving us by his grace, and building us together to be a house where his Spirit can dwell and be manifested.

Phil. 2:13 “For it is God that worketh in you , both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”

Eph. 2:19-21 “Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints, and of the household of God; And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief cornerstone; In whom the whole building fitly framed together groweth together unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.”

There are times when we may look around and we realize that the house of god is in need of repair. We see the ruins of a once glorious house, and feel a desire to rebuild and restore. God gives us a glimpse of his glory, and of the power that he wants to manifest, in and through, his church. Just as in Ezra's time, there must be a reviving, before there can be a rebuilding! It is the outpouring of god's grace and mercy that equips us for service; it is not clever marketing schemes, well planned programs and curriculums, or well known preachers that will revive us. The Spirit of God is the only 'change agent' that can get the job done. Many of us see the need for the restoration and revival of our churches, but personal revival and restoration is the first step that must take place in order for anything good to happen.

If we want to see the house of God rebuilt and revived, we will not accomplish it through the pointing of fingers, or by bullying and badgering our congregations. Neither will the whipping up of fervent emotions or earnest resolutions accomplish any thing of lasting benefit.

There is no condemnation in Christ! We are changed into his likeness as we behold his perfection and focus our attention on his goodness and his grace. We are changed from glory to glory as we look into his perfect law of liberty, revealed in his word and made alive to us by the Holy Spirit. Pointing out the sins and shortcomings of the saints is not the road to revival, it is the road to defeat! We must always remember that it is the goodness of god that leads us to repentance, not the accusations of the law. The law only gives strength to the power of sin, but can never give us victory over sin (see Rom. 3:20 and 1Cor. 15:56).

Victory comes as we realize what Jesus has done for us at Calvary and we accept that his presence is in us, through the the miracle of our new birth. Jesus is the firm foundation and the chief cornerstone of this eternal house; He is the true masterbuilder, we are working with him at his direction. Ps.127:1a “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: ...”

The word 'edify' in the new testament, speaks to us of building up. We build up our brothers and sisters when we speak the truth in love; not by pointing out their sins to them, but by pointing out the truth of God's forgiveness and the abundance of his grace toward us. Remind each other of how thoroughly the blood of Jesus has cleansed us, and how wonderful his eternal redemption is. He said “I will remember your sins no more”, and “as far as the east from the west , so far have I removed your sins from you”.

Every member of the body of Christ contributes to the building of this wonderful house, by virtue of the Spirit of Christ which dwells within us. We are members one of another! Do you want to build up the house of God? Build up your brothers and sisters in the Lord by speaking kindly to them and always lifting up Jesus and his accomplishments in your conversation and conduct.

1Thess. 5:9-11 “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as ye do.”

Allow the word of God to influence your thinking and to shape your outlook on life.

2 Tim. 2:15 “Study to show thyself to be approved unto God, a workman that needeth not be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

All born-again children of God are called to contribute to the building up of the house of god; hence, we are called 'workmen'.

Rom. 14:17-19 “For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to god, and approved of men. Let us therefore follow after the things that make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another.”

©2009 Charles J. Loubert