Jeremiah Ogedegbe
Grace and peace are two important things we need in order for us to be genuinely happy in life. Where there is Sin; there is bondage. Guilt. Anger. Evil desires. Hatred and Lust. Frustration. Troubles etc. That was where Sin had put man. When God said to Adam "the day you eat of the fruit you shall die", God meant it (Man died a death of spiritual imprisonment, held bound by the Devil). That tree that God instructed man not eat which is the tree of knowledge of good and evil which represents the Devil.
God planted two trees in the garden of Eden:
1. Tree of Good and Evil
2. Tree of Life
Eve met the devil on the tree. He is old serpent. He is subtle (he hides himself in another form). Satan will never tell you that he is Satan, he always goes about deceiving the nation (Revelation 12:9). So he told Eve that you shall not surely die when you eat of the tree, but you shall become wise instead. Eve thought about the wisdom she wanted to get from the tree, and in a short while she was persuaded to eat the fruit, with pleasure gave her husband too, and they both felt a different type of death- shame, fear and punishment for man and for woman.
That tree was termed 'good' which means generally accepted. And was also evil which is something that can to destroy your life. Some may ask: Why did God planted this kind of tree in the garden if He knew man would be tempted to eat from it? Or, What is the need of God planting such a tree? Any of these question is worth getting a true answer or interpretation. In Matthew chapter 6 Jesus said in the Lord's prayer, "Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil." Take note of this, A Life without Temptation Is not Life. Take for example we have different seasons during the year, it doesn't just be one season. We have cold season, we have warm season and we have hot season. So we have different temperatures throughout the year (even on a daily bases). God put that tree there not for man to fall into temptation but for man to draw near to Him. James 4: 5-8 says:
"Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
"Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded."
The Tree of Life represents Jesus. This tree was available for Adam as well, and God never stopped them for having it from beginning, but the tree eof knowledge of good and evil is really the lack of knowledge. God always visited at the cool of the day to teach and to fellowship with man as His children and a friend. All those effort to educate man ended up in dissappointment, not just because of man's curiosity but the rebellion man has fall into. Even Adam began blaming God for giving him the woman, instead of appealing. Man lost his soul to the devil and became a living thing instead of a living soul.
Note, living things are different from a living soul. Living things are plants and animals, while a living soul is someone who is connected to the source of life- God Almighty. So Adam died, he was cut off from God. He and Eve moved from living souls to become just a living thing.
What is Grace?
Grace from my definition is the power of that brings man from death (living thing) to life (living soul). So many of us have been preached to many a times, but if that power is not there then it is hard to come out of death ( living thing) to life (living soul). It is hard to believe and say that Jesus is the Lord of your life. It is hard for us to pray (because you are dead). It is hard to believe in the word of God, or in His prophets (because you are lost!). Everything about knowing God will be hard, and you conclude you're an atheist.
How Can We Find Grace?
1. Seek for Repentance: Hebrew 4:12 says : "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." The first things you must do is to come with the heart of repentance to God in prayer, because no man can be perfect while calling on Him for help. Jesus told us about two men that went up to the temple to pray in Luke 18, one a Pharisee, the other one a Publican (a sinner).
"Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted." (Luke 18:10-14).
Also Paul the Apostle said in Romans 9:16- "So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy." Lastly, in Acts 2:37-38 Peter told the people who wanted to experience the grace of God that they should repent first before God will release the power upon them.
2. You need the Ministry of Prophets and Apostles to Guide You: You need those who know the way (i mean the sent one) to help you get connected. It is obvious today that there are many fraudsters wearing the coat of Prophet and Apostle, nevertheless there many genuine ones who can minister the grace into you through prayers, the Word and the laying on of hand which is a form of baptism. Acts 9:11-12 says "And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight."
Also, in same book of Acts chapter 8 verse 14 to 17. the scripture says: "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)
"Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost."
So this grace is in the HolySpirit which will come upon you (Acts 1:8).
3. Prayers. Luke 18:1 says: "men are to pray always and not to faint". Acts 2 from verse 1 showed us how the 120 disciples gathered together for prayers. Also in Acts 4 it showed us how the place where they held prayer was shaken due to the power of God present with them. Note, A Prayerless Christian is a powerless Christian. When you have grace you will definitely have peace.
God bless you.
This article was written by Jeremiah Ogedegbe, twitter
The Law vs Grace
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