My Part in Divine Turnaround

Isaiah 54:1-5

               Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear;

Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child:

For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord.

²    Enlarge the place of thy tent,

And let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations:

Spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen ⁱthy stakes;

³    For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left;

And thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles,

And make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

⁴    Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed:

Neither be thou confounded; for thou shalt not be put to shame:

For thou shalt forget the shame of thy youth,

And shalt not remember the reproach of thy widowhood any more.

⁵    For thy Maker is thine husband;

The Lord of hosts is his name;

And thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel

I.                  LEVELS OF INTERNAL BREAKTHROUGH.

1.   I make myself – Sing O Barren

2.   Occasional Spontaneity   – Break Forth

3.   Cry Aloud – You have become the change you desire

II.               MY PART IN BREAKTHROUGH.

1.   Realize Truth is what God declares not what you see  - “more are the children of the desolate”

2.   Embrace the fact that your current status is no indicator of your future progress  - “barren, desolate”

3.   Increase your capacity to handle more – “Enlarge the place of your tent”

4.   Assemble and develop the right team “let them”

5.   Provide clarity to those assisting you – “stretch forth the curtains”

6.   Identify and increase your support systems “ ”cords  -  Stakes

7.   Become more flexible “right hand and the left”

8.   Embrace and overcome fear – Fear not

9.   Rise above shame – you shall not be ashamed  

10.        Remember who God is – Husband, Lord of Host, Redeemer

III.            5 AREAS OF FOCUS.

1.   Physical Preparation.

a.   Energy. (sleep, rest)

b.   Health. (exercise, eat right)

2.   Mental Preparation

a.   Not too much entertainment.

b.   Read.

c.     Meditate.

d.   Think days.

3.   Emotional Preparation.

a.   Pray for God to enlarge you.

b.   Forgive.

c.     Don’t hold grudges.

4.   Spiritual Preparation.

a.   Pray the Promises.

b.   Make daily Decrees.

c.     War for the promises.

5.   Relational Preparation.

a.   Practice loving confrontation.

b.   Trust again.

c.     Prioritize relationships.

True Grace Part II

Romans 11:11-22

¹¹ I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. ¹² Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! ^{… 17} And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, ¹⁸ do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. ¹⁹ You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” ²⁰ Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. ²¹ For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. ²² Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off.

INTRO

Boundaries: Truth overlaps. Focusing on one truth to the exclusion of others often results in error.

I will share with you the Boundaries of Grace or Parallel Truths that grace doesn’t negate.

I.                   THROUGH GRACE PROVISION HAS BEEN MADE FOR OUR FUTURE SINS TO BE FORGIVEN BUT THEY ARE NOT ALREADY FORGIVEN.

1.   Jesus died for sins only once for all.

2.   We were not forgiven when He died 2000 years ago we were forgiven when we believed and accepted Jesus.

3.   When we get saved we are only forgiven of past and Present Sins.

Colossians 2:13-14

¹³ And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; ^14 pBlotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

Luke 11:3-4

³ Give us day by day our daily bread. ⁴ And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us.

Mark 11:25

²⁵ And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. ²⁶ But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.

                   Hebrews 10:26-31

²⁶ For if we sin willfully after we have received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a certain fearful expectation of judgment, and fiery indignation which will devour the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. ²⁹ Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.

James 4:4,8

⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.

James 5:14

¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

II.            ALTHOUGH WE ARE TO BE RIGHTEOUSNESS CONSCIENCE WE ARE NOT TO IGNORE SIN.

Hebrews 12:1-3

Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, ² looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

III.              WE MUST CONFESS OUR SINS TO GOD.

1 John 1:7-9

⁷ But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. ⁸ If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. ⁹ If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

The Greek word for “cleanses” (or, “purifies”) in verse 7 is katharizo, and here it is in the present active indicative, speaking of continuous, ongoing activity. As one study guide explains, “The term ‘sin’ is SINGULAR with no ARTICLE. This implies every kind of sin. Notice this verse is not focusing on a one-time cleansing (salvation), but an ongoing cleansing (the Christian life).

Jesus’ Blood is paid in full for whenever we might need it.

Proverbs 28:13

¹³ He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.

IV.             THE HOLY SPIRIT DOES CONVICT US OF SIN.

Acts 2:36-38

³⁶ “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.” ³⁷ Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” ³⁸ Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

John 16:8

⁷ Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. ⁸ And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment.

The Holy Spirit convicts but never Condemns – See Clip

Revelations 3:18-20

¹⁸ I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. ¹⁹ As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten. Therefore be zealous and repent.

 James 4:7-10

⁷ Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. ⁸ Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. ⁹ Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. ¹⁰ Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

True Grace

John 1:14,17

¹⁴ And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth… ¹⁶ And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

I.                   GRACE OR RELIGION.

1.   The tree was the knowledge of good and evil – brings death.

Genesis 2:17

2.   They tried to fix it without God.

Genesis 3:7

3.   They avoided God.

Genesis 3:8

4.   God hooked them up without their help.

Genesis 3:21

²¹ Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them.

II.                 THE FLESH WAY.

1.   I’ll show them!

Romans 3:20

²⁰ Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

Romans 7:12

¹² Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good ¹³ Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

2.   All O.T. Sacrifices couldn’t get it.

Hebrews 10:9

¹¹ And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

3.   We Needed Something Different.

Galatians 3:24-25

²⁴ Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. ²⁵ But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster.

III.              GO JESUS; GO JESUS; GO!!!!

1.   Jesus is full of Grace and truth.

John 1:14

¹⁴ And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

2.   Grace is given freely (gratis) as a gift.

Romans 3:24

²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.

3.   Works designed to earn grace actually cancel out grace when performed to earn salvation.

Romans 4:4-5

⁴ Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. ⁵ But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. We must accept grace by faith not work for it

               Romans 11:5-6

⁵ Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. ⁶ And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work

4.   Access into grace is always by faith alone.

Romans 5:2

By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

IV.             THE WISDOM AND BEAUTY OF GRACE.

1.   It cancels out accusation.

Hebrews 10:19-23

¹⁹ Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, ²⁰ By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; ²¹ And having an high priest over the house of God; ²² Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. ²³ Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)

2.   It removes boasting.

Ephesians 2 :8-10

⁸ For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast. ¹⁰ For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

3.   It’s the best way for God to fix the mess Adam made while removing the possibility of it happening again all the while respecting free will.

i.              Justice satisfied.

Hebrews 10:14

¹⁴ For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

ii.            Guilty go free.

Romans 3:23-26

²³ For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; ²⁴ Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

iii.           Available to all.

Romans 3:22

²² Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

iv.           Still have to choose.

Romans 10:9-10

⁹ That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. ¹⁰ For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

V.               TRUE FAITH HAS WORKS/EVIDENCE OR IT’S NOT FAITH.

1.   Grace works by Faith.

Romans 4:16

¹⁶ Therefore it is of faith that it might be according to grace…

Romans 5:2

² through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

2.   Faith without works/evidence is dead.

James 2:14,17-20

¹⁴ What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?... ¹⁷ Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. ¹⁸ But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. ¹⁹ You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! ²⁰ But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?

3.   True Grace is not by works but if it doesn’t produce works as evidence it’s not true Grace.

Titus 2:11-12

¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.