This new year, live by grace – Part 2

As it took God’s grace to bring salvation to man, and reconcile him to the Almighty, so it will take no effort from us both to be saved and to walk with God. Knowledge of Christ through theology or religious studies is not enough to save anyone. We must personally receive Jesus Christ into our hearts and allow His word to guide us. Herein lies the secret of a fruitful and successful life this New Year, and every year for that matter. Preserving God’s word in our hearts will constantly remind us of Christ, our Saviour and enable us to follow the right path that leads to heaven. If we truly have the gospel of Christ in us, we must concentrate our attention on the Lord without allowing distractions.

The love and sacrifice of Christ on the Cross should also compel us to act by love, as we overlook offences and forgive every provocation. Whether at home, school or workplace, we are expected to express the love of Christ to others. As believers, our comportment, language, dressing and relationship should reflect God’s grace in our lives. We must live to please God in all things without being ashamed of the gospel of Christ. “And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”

Everyone who has been redeemed experiences total transformation that comes through a glorious resurrection. After Christ’s resurrection, He appeared to His disciples on several occasions in a supernatural way without obstruction. Believers who are “risen with Christ” operate in the realm of the supernatural, because the limitation of the old life gives way to the new. Christians who truly love Christ and the glories of heaven always “set [their] affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” They understand that what they think about every time has influence and power over them.

Unfortunately, today, many professing believers think and talk more about witches and wizards and their activities more than they do about Christ. They magnify the power of Satan more than that of Christ; and because of their confession, they experience defeat. Having “delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son”, the Lord wants us to realise that curses and spells, diseases and sicknesses from the enemy do not have power over us. Raised up together with Jesus and seated in heavenly places with Him, we remain untouchable. To experience God’s power and receive more of His revelation, our focus must be on heaven and its glories.

God answers believers’ prayer on the basis of grace. Because of Christ’s sacrifice on the Cross, He grants us freedom from oppression, healing from sicknesses and deliverance from attacks of the enemy, when we pray. Prayer is presenting our requests before God. If an earthly father cannot deny the legitimate requests of his children, God cannot deny the petition of believers, who pray according to His will.

God is too good that He cannot lie; His promise to every Christian is: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (Matthew 7:7). Salvation, healing, deliverance, fruitfulness, provision and promotion are available for everyone who asks in faith. If we “continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving,” we shall enjoy daily victory and divine protection.

Further Reading (King James Version): Colossians 1: 1, 2; 4:18; Colossians 1:14; Romans 3:23,24; Luke 1:68,77; Titus 2:11,12,14; Colossians 2:6; 3:16,13,14,15,17; Romans 1:16,17; Colossians 3:1,2; 1:13; Ephesians 2:6; Colossians 4:2.