“THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GO I”

This quote is from John Bradford, the fifteenth century martyr who, upon seeing evil-doers taken to their place of execution would exclaim, "There but for the grace of God goes John Bradford.” Mr. Bradford understood “he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.” He knew beyond any doubt it was God’s grace and only God’s grace that enabled him to sow to the Spirit.

 Some saints apply this quote to suffering in general, to the adversity of life. It is good to recognize it is only God’s grace that spares us from the suffering around us, not super faith, not passionate holiness, not any works of righteousness we may have done. But this “sparing” is not a lifestyle, rather an interlude, as scripture repeatedly declares: “And if we are His children, then we are His heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, sharing His inheritance with Him; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory.” “We must share His suffering if we are to share His glory”! We will all spend time in the valley of suffering, as well as the mountain top of rejoicing.  Every saint will have the opportunity to demonstrate their grace under the pressure of suffering, for suffering is no respecter of persons. We are appointed to suffering... adversity, the speed bumps on the narrow gated difficult road into transformation...  into Christlikeness...

Endnote; “In the day of prosperity be joyful, But in the day of adversity consider: Surely God has appointed the one as well as the other … Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity … I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ … No one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.”

THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD GOES (insert name)

(Gal. 6:12; Rom. 8:17 Amp.Bible; Ecc. 7:14; Job 2:10; Col 1:24; 1 Thess. 3:3)

BEHOLDING: THE ACT FROM WHICH THE PROCESS OF CHANGE PROCEEDS

“But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image … by the Spirit of the Lord.” The Greek word katoptrizo, translated “beholding”, is used only this one place in scripture and literally means to look or behold in a mirror, to cause to be reflected. Beholding expresses the act from which the process of change into God’s image -- transformation into Christlikeness – proceeds, When Moses beheld God’s glory his own face reflected that glory. Scripture calls the Gospel “the gospel of the glory of Christ” When we behold the glory of God in His word, God’s mirror, we will be changed and reflect that change.

Beholding is how we are “conformed into the image of His Son”, Christ, and is, therefore, the gateway to all we will ever be in the Kingdom of God. For example love: “We love Him because He first loved us.”  The conjunction “because” assigns the cause, the motive for and basis of, our love for God: We love Him for this reason, He first loved us. The more we behold in His word God’s love for us, the more His agape love will flow into our hearts and be reflected outwardly to others. 

As we continued to behold in the Word of God as in a mirror the glory of the Lord -- His character -- His virtues -- His values -- His attitudes -- we are constantly being transfigured into His very own nature in ever increasing splendor and from one degree of glory to another. The very same Spirit that hovered over creation in the beginning is hovering over every blood bought saint, enveloping us, and conforming us into the nature of Christ. We must continue to behold the word made flesh if we want His nature to be reflected through us as a beacon to a lost and dying world. As we behold... We become!

BECOMING WHAT WE BEHOLD

(2 Cor. 3:18, 4:4 1 Jn. 4:19)

TOUCHING THE HEART OF GOD

The twenty-first century church has spawn three basic categories of Christians:

*People who have no hope that the world can be redeemed. Assuming Christ's return is imminent, they retreat into a shelter of apathy concerning the non-Christian world around them. They love the Lord and concern themselves with their immediate family and closest friends, but they don't know how or what to do to change society or impact their workplace or neighborhood.

*People who confront the world’s darkness, the depravity of the ungodly and the audacity of the wicked. They are both vocal and visible, pounding the pulpit and the pavement. But their ability to transform culture is, for the most part, neutralized by their harshness, negativity, and rage… and their lack of perceived love. They are dismissed as judgmental extremists.

Both of these groups sincerely desire to see culture transformed. But they are troubled that the world is unchristian, without being troubled that their own hearts are un-Christlike. They do not understand their own need to be transformed into the nature of Christ – the number one priority of God's heart – which is the singular prerequisite to all ministries, callings, giftings and righteous works of any sort. (Rom. 8:28-29)

*People who are passionate about being conformed into the very nature of Christ, partaking of His character, virtues, and attitudes, sharing the desires of His heart, moving in His agape love, and controlled by His Spirit. These are people who have understood the priority of God; they know that the Father's highest passion is to behold His Son revealed in a believer's soul. Their primary quest is not just to touch their neighbors' hearts, but first to touch the heart of God. For it is in the awakening of the Father's pleasure that the power of His Spirit flows forth as a river of living water… changing the hearts of those around them.

WORLD CHANGERS NEEDED

 (Modified excerpts from Francis Frangipane, To Touch the Heart of God)

ENTERING THE KINGDOM

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. Jesus makes a clear distinction between people who call Him Lord – lip service – a mere verbal profession of Lordship -- and people who demonstrate He is Lord by obedience to the Father’s will.

“Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name”? Many will proclaim their Self-works as the works of God: They may have a spectacular ministry, proclaiming scripture, exercising spiritual authority, and using the name of Jesus, without genuine heart surrendered submission to the Lordship of Christ. The twenty-first century church is covered by a deep impenetrable thicket of thorns, people who are Self-possessed and consumed by their own will.

“And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness”! There is no mincing of words here. Those who chose Self-ship over Lordship are guilty of practicing “lawlessness” revolting against the will of God. The Apostle Paul directly referred to this passage in his letter to Timothy:  ^“Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity (lawlessness).”

The Lord’s Prayer, “Not My will but Your will be done”, was modeled for us in the Garden of Gethsemane. This prayer should be on the lips of every saint as submission to the Lordship of Jesus brings the “Knowing” of God: “I know you. You call me Lord and do the Father’s will. Enter My Kingdom.”

Endnote: There is no egotism in Christ’s sense of His position as “Lord”: He is simply the Son and servant of the Father who is the source of all wisdom and power, whose will Jesus and all who follow Him must obey. And doing God’s will is the condition of approval and admittance into God’s Kingdom – the price of admission.

“YOUR KINGDOM COME 
YOUR WILL BE DONE”

(Matt.7:21-23; 2 Tim. 2:19; Lk. 22:42; Matt5. 6:10)