Category: grace to grow

adultery · disqualified preachers · grace to grow · no more witchhunts · plucking out a stick when you have a beam in your eye · revival · sin that went too far · the stick in your eye · Uncategorized · what is grace · witch hunts

Stuff we don’t want to talk about: Adultery of the Heart Matthew 5

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Matthew 5. Jesus says a startling thing. Have you ever read it ? 

First he says, if you looked at a woman with lust YOU ALREADY Committed Adultery. Then he starts talking about plucking your eye out of your head, to avoid hell! Wow. 

But nobody wants to preach this stuff, so they like to get on people’s cases for what they consider to be “real adultery,” instead. Shutting people out of ministry because they’ve been divorced. Hiring ministers, who have lust problems they don’t even know about (see no evil, hear no evil?). Can we really go by what we see? I don’t think so. 

This is the kind of stuff, people don’t want to talk about, or even consider. It stands to reason then, If you idolized something in your heart, (desired it more than God) You also committed idolatry. Do we jump now to the passage where they go to the lake of fire for Idolatry? Or Adultery? 

Apparently sin was so bad in one church, Paul said, “and you have your Father’s wife” so some relatives were sleeping with each other, out of wedlock, and they didn’t even have the sense to be sorry about it. So Paul was on their case, and saying the church had better do something. However, I know this from reading my bible, Jesus did not send his word for all of us to go on a witch hunt. In the early years of our nation, people in Salem used to do just that, and justified burning some innocent people. 

I don’t care if a million preachers preach something else, because I know what Jesus said. He said, if you lusted after a woman (ever) you committed adultery. For this reason, I cannot see, nor understand shutting people out of ministry because they got divorced. You don’t know what happened to them. I met a pastor (a man) who is one of the finest ministers I have ever met. Turns out, he was divorced. His wife cheated on him, he divorced her, but he had a really hard time getting a pastor job! Why? 

Because, People love to apply the word of God to everyone but themselves, that’s why. Did we forget the bible calls God’s word a mirror? It was designed for you to look into it and find your own blemishes, in the light, that you cannot seem to see in the darkness. 

Don’t talk me down when I’m preaching good. I know this is the truth. 

I’m growing in grace (still) How about you? And, if you’ve messed up (like Paul) and God calls you to preach, DO IT! Don’t let the fear of man stop you!

With love, –Laura Grace 

book of 1 John · grace · Grace books · grace to grow · graceofgod · Hosea · Jesus teachings · loving this world · Uncategorized · understanding God today

“Keep yourselves from Idols” 1 John 5, What does it mean? (To us, today?) Walk with Me……see what I see…….

Laura GraceLeave a comment

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“Little Children, Keep yourselves from Idols.” 1 John 5:21 

So what does it mean? Why is this in the New Testament? These are the types of questions I like to ask God (when I am studying with Him.) Oh Sure, I have looked up idol, and what it was in the Old Testament. I’ve also studied the sermons of others, and I know an idol can be “Whatever” you chase after, or deem to be more important than God. But beyond this, What does it mean, “Keep yourselves from Idols”, and why was that the writer’s last instruction, before the letter ended? 

Idolatry and harlotry, almost always seem to go together (in the Old Testament). Harlotry was chasing after “Other lovers” as God called it. It’s fascinating that Harlotry begins with a spiritual decision, and not an earthy one. This is why Rahab could be sanctified, because while her job had been “Harlot” She was right in her heart with God, the day she helped Joshua and his spies.

Her Heart Set redeemed her, and God forgot her earthly sins, right then and there. 

Verse 20 of this same chapter, says we were given understanding (From God) so we can know him. This letter was written to the church, and not to non-believers. John called them “Little Children.” Why was that? And how did he know he was a man (of God) and they were not? There were no seminaries in those days, so how did John know? 

So for those of you who want to know, Who will be drawn to this teaching by the Spirit of the Living God, I will tell you. John knew Idolatry would lead to harlotry. God knows your “other lovers” (of this world) will keep you from Him, and he will not be able to protect you, or help you to know Him.

The story of Hosea is a beautiful picture of God’s love for his people. He had Hosea divorce, then re marry, a woman who was a blatant harlot. The result of her harlotry was, she wound up in chains, sold to the highest bidder. 

The type of anger God has, is a loving anger (for, he is always love!).In our modern world, we have the Idol of worldly wisdom, or being sophisticated according to this world, or doing or saying what is popular, or what everyone else is chasing after.

A CAUSE can even become an idol, which leads to harlotry, and loving this world, (and the things of it)  more than God. Now, a wise person will ask for council (of the Holy Spirit) and ask for correction, from Him. Wisdom cries out (in the streets) and says, “Is anyone listening to Jesus, and the Spirit he sent, to teach us?”

The Very heart of God is found in Proverbs, and all through His Holy Word. His Heart is: That we should grow, learn of Him, Take his Yoke upon us, seek his Spirit for wisdom. WHY? Because he wants to restore us, heal us, make us whole. How can he do that when we won’t come to Him? Or Learn from Him? He cries when he lets people go, he suffered and died so he could save us………

So no, God is not a big child “MAD AT US” for daring to not listen…….

He just loves us (so much) and knows Idols and Harlotry keep us from receiving His best! (FOR US) Which he so desperately wants us to have.  God loves you! But, he does not like Idols. They lead to other lovers, that keep us from Him. And he knows the end of it will be disaster so. And that my friends is why he said: “Keep yourselves from Idols” Because it prevents us from receiving, from Him. With Love, 

Laura Grace, Author, Grace to grow the Study guide 

 

correction · covenant · deliver me from evil · encouragement · grace to grow · overcoming myself · take the land of me · Uncategorized

Getting the gunk out!

Laura Grace5 Comments

gunk

It’s funny how we all know we should get the Junk (or Gunk) out of our lungs when we are sick, or we need to clean the house (because we can’t see the treasure, for all the clutter) and it’s just so obvious to us, but not always so with our soul realm! 

It’s funny, how everyone thinks it’s awesome when we get physically healthy, but not so interested in becoming spiritually healthy. 

Anger, malice, grudges, un-forgiveness, Pride, smugness, and yes even the vanity of thinking ourselves “oh so wise” in our own opinions…….

All these (and more) rob us of finding our way in Jesus, to see what more he has to teach us today. We all want to graduate, (finally) to say we’ve arrived! With God we never do arrive. Not until we get to heaven. There is always more to learn from him!

And notice I said “from Him.” Come, Follow me, means Follow Him! (not every wind of doctrine that blows my way) 🙂 

OH Father, continually remove the leaven of sin from my life. Help me to share what i do know confidently, while learning still from you, forever and ever, Amen! Help me stay teachable always, even if you give the opportunity to share what is real in my heart. If I ever start becoming a pharisee or even like one, Spank me! Cut me off at the pass! Take me aside and deal with me Father! I pray for your discipline continuously in Jesus’ name. amen. And please Father, remove the gunk and junk from my soul! deliver me From THIS evil, the evil of old hurts, wounds, old grudges. all that JUNK! In Jesus’ name we pray. 

Amen!  -Laura Grace PS; Praying like this, is a great way to love yourself! 🙂 Amen! 

COL 2: 20 “Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations— 21 “Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle,” 22 which all concern things which perish with the using—according to the commandments and doctrines of men? 23 These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh.”

Acts 5 · bible studies · book of Acts · destined for greatness · God's Plan · grace to grow · grace to the rescue · greatness · Mordecai · Uncategorized

Destined for Greatness! He and We!

Laura GraceLeave a comment

Hi! Good Morning! (or afternoon!) This morning I was reading some passages on Greatness, and the Greatness of God. In My Study, I noted that Mordecai (Who helped Esther achieve greatness in the book of Esther) was also Honored and called “GREAT.” 

If you don’t know the story, Mordecai counseled her, and gave her wise words of wisdom (From the Lord) and although another sought to exalt himself, Mordecai was exalted instead. So, when Jesus said “He who humbles himself” Will be exalted, he wasn’t kidding around. I also noted the following passage of scripture: 

Isaiah 9:7
Of the greatness of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.
He Is speaking Of Jesus, ahead of time. (the Prophet Isaiah) 
“For to us a child is born,
    to us a son is given,
    and the government will be on his shoulders.”
Isaiah 9:6
Jesus was (and is) destined for Greatness. 
Because of Him, so are we! See? 
No plan can succeed against God’s Plan: EVER! 
Here is the best one: 
Acts 5:38
 And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; 39 but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it—lest you even be found to fight against God.
and so it was that a Pharisee named Gamaliel defended the early Apostles, speaking words that prevented them from being killed. This man, was destined for greatness as well.  So you see? Sometimes God even uses “a Pharisee” 🙂 Peace! 
“THANK YOU FATHER” That because of You (and Jesus) we are destined for Greatness. Whatever that means to you, We know that you will surely achieve this, and that no plan can ever succeed against your Plan, Father God! In Jesus’ name! amen 
Laura Grace, Author, Grace to the Rescue