Frustrating the grace of God.

For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it. James 2:10

I do not nullify the grace of God, for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose. Galatians 2:21

Are you stuck thinking you can make yourself ‘good enough’ for God?  Do you think you are more righteous than others because you go to the ‘best’ “Church” in town and read your Bible? How many sermons must one listen to before you are worthy of heaven? Why is it we accept His grace at first and then try to follow all of the rules of whatever religious system we’ve joined?

Paul answered this type of behavior…

Oh foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified. Let me ask you only this: Did you receive the Spirit by works of the law or by hearing with faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Did you suffer so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain? Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith— just as Abraham “believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”? Galatians 3:1-6

How do we frustrate the grace of God? By going back to trying to justify ourselves by religious ways, rules, and systems. Do we live by faith or do we live by our efforts? And how is it that our faith comes to us?

So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ. Romans 10:17

In this verse the Greek word used for ‘word’ is rhema which is the spoken Word of Christ, which comes directly from the Holy Spirit to our hearts. It isn’t an intellect matter, it’s about our heart reception. Our faith comes from close intimate words spoken directly to us from Jesus through the Holy Spirit to our souls. So are we in the mode of receiving words from the Holy Spirit? Can we hear Him within us? Can you differentiate His voice in your mind from yours and that of the enemy? Can you tell when He is speaking to you? Can you see how all of this relationship versus religion hangs on this issue of intimacy with the Holy Spirit and being able to hear Him?

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. John 10:27

So why do we continually slip back into the religious ways? The battle against our flesh nature rages within us. It is a daily battle. Have we lost the discipline that strengthens our will over our fleshly bodies? Do we fast to hone our will and strengthen our abilities to decide over what our flesh is demanding us to give it? Are we taking measures within ourselves so that we can hear Him more clearly? How do we pray with greater clarity and power? By nurturing the most important relationship you have with the Holy Spirit. Learn to pray with Him.

But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified. 1 Corinthians 9:27

He must increase, but I must decrease. John 3:30