For in him we live, and move and have our being…
(Acts 17:28)

THIS IS MAN!

Look at how God has created us. We have the capacity to think, and to reason, and make decisions that affect us and those around us! We have only to look around and see the inventions that were initially conceived in the minds and thoughts of mankind. We have created cars for transportation, medicines to improve health, and governing bodies to maintain order and safety. People have made many of these types of contributions that reach into our lives and have made positive impacts to benefit all. You need not look far and you will realize that God has given you and me abilities, as well. We are barbers and cooks, inventors and gardeners, steel workers and truck drivers. In America, we can independently pursue our dreams and have the freedom to walk down our own paths! It is these very paths of freedom that can lead to dangers of becoming independent of the God who created us for His glory and wants us to consistently acknowledge Him as we use those gifts.

THE DANGER OF BEING INDEPENDENT!

God has given us this world to enjoy and to make godly and positive contributions in, and yet many WILLINGLY have sought paths that lead away from Him (Rom. 1:25). It’s becoming apparent that just simply being preoccupied with our own independence (and without great dependence on God) can cause us to drift from God’s will for our lives! There are so many things we can pursue independently of God. It is true that independent people are driven, but not always Spirit driven!

“This only have I found: God created mankind upright,
but they have gone in search of many schemes.”
(Ecc. 7:29)

We see a confident man by the name of Saul as he travelled on a road to Damascus. He also travelled to different places to persecute Christians. He was a man that was independent of God. He later was given the name Paul, and through many trials, came to know Jesus and realize that he was a servant of Jesus Christ. He took time — by the Spirit — to write these words:

For in him we live, and move and have our being…
(Acts 17:28)

We, like Paul, must come to a place that we realize every ability we have, God gave us! The gifts we have are to be used to be of assistance to others. Being both independent and having gifts is a thing of the past. God is wanting the body of Christ to be dependent on Him and on one another.

THE APOSTLE PAUL’S EXPERIENCE

The apostle Paul went from an independent man to a man who totally yearned for God’s will for his life. Here are the words he wrote:

I have suffered the loss of all things, and do
count them but dung, that I may win Christ.
(Phil. 3:8)

His dependency on God reach a new high, as he wrote these words to comfort the church at Corinth:

But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should
not trust in ourselves, but in God which raiseth the dead.
(II Cor. 1:9)

What dependence Paul had, and yet, he used his skills and abilities to minister to the churches. What’s your contribution to the body? It seems, during wartime, all soldiers fight, that we might please Him who has called us to be soldiers (II Tim. 2:4)!

The apostle Paul’s salutation in II Cor. 2:2 reads: “Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” God’s grace is amazing! The word “grace” carries with it a number of meanings. It certainly is God’s unmerited favor. It is also His supernatural ability to come along side us and in times of weakness we can draw strength from the almighty! It seems a paradox — when we are weak then we are strong — the grace of God can be with us in that moment to give strength.  Paul spoke to those in Rome with authority, because of this grace that was given to him by God (Rom. 15:15). He wrote to the church in Corinth about how he labored more than any other minister. He also told them his ability to relentlessly labor was not anything he personally was capable of doing by his own strength (I Cor. 15:10). He made a comparison in the same verse, and used the words “Not I, but the grace of God was with me.”

So, the definition of grace we are focusing on in this article is mainly the ability that God gives us that goes beyond what ability or strength we may have. Grace was something the apostle Paul had experienced over and over again while reaching out past his own limitations, both physically and mentally. He talked about being stoned and left for dead, and being in perils of waters and with false brothers. He even confessed his fears (II Cor. 7:5). He was, what the Bible called, pressed beyond measure. In addition, he had the care of the churches in his heart and yet, was not able to see to their needs. Paul spoke about sorrow that was continual, but God supplied him with joy, as well! No one in ministry can carry the weighty sorrows that accompany ministry unless the grace and consoling power of God is right there helping to carry those burdens. The great apostle looked back on his experiences and wrote: “Thanks be to God, who always causes us to triumph in Christ.” We fail in our own efforts. Thank God, that like the apostle Paul, we have, over and over again, experienced the consolation that God gives! Many of us are well acquainted with our abilities and limitations, even our distresses. Yet, God is faithful, He doesn’t allow a test to consume our minds and overwhelm our hearts. We are not sufficient of ourselves, but God teaches us well that He alone causes us to triumph in Christ!

We see how Paul pulled back the curtains on the spiritual success of his life. He tells us in II Cor. 2:1-11 that God is the God of all comfort (vs. 3) and He comforts those who are involved in ministry for Jesus Christ (vs. 4). Paul’s success and the success of other ministers associated with him, was they had experienced God’s consoling grace in the face of extremely challenging times (vs. 4). That comfort they had experienced was the same comfort they were able to speak about to others who were suffering at the church in Corinth (vs. 4). He states that this is the comfort of God! This supernatural comfort is the grace of God he often wrote about at the beginning and ending of his letters — that grace needs to be extended, even multiplied to every believer. Grace is sufficient; consolation is sure. According to the apostle, as troubles increase and dangers surround us, so will God’s consolation increase and surround us (vs. 5)! These leaders were first partakers and examples of suffering and they wrote words in the good book to encourage us when we suffer. Jesus’ own words have carried many souls through their darkest times: “I will never leave you, nor forsake you.”

The remaining verses in Corinthians (vs. 6-11) give us great insight into facing challenging times. They speak of how times of tribulation are common to everybody and no one is exempt (vs. 6). The verse following assures us that those Christians who feel the real weight of suffering will not need to carry that heaviness alone (vs. 7). It is significant to note that Paul and these ministers speak to us today about being faced with death (vs. 8-10). They had become men who had no confidence in themselves to deliver themselves from pending death. We see a special grace, coupled with faith, when Paul made the statement that they have such confidence in God — while confronting death — that God was able to raise them from the dead (vs. 9-10)! Only God can meet with us and secure within us that type of faith! Finally, we find an obscure passage of scripture in the book of Psalms. It reads: “For this is God, Our God forever and ever; He will be our guide Even to death.” (Ps. 48:14 – NKJV).

Be well!

“We are living a life of faith, and not one of sight.”
(II Cor. 5:7 – World English Bible)

MAN’S LIMITATIONS

There are times when we are left with few options and all avenues have detour signs that seemingly lead to nowhere. Even our abilities and resources can become limited. What we have gained to sustained us yesterday and sustain us today may not be sufficient for tomorrow. So many are limited in their human ability as to what they have and can achieve. According to the scripture, in the day of prosperity we are to rejoice, but in the day of adversity we are to consider (Ecc. 7:13-14). Consider that God often exposes us to both days so that we will never have confidence solely in our health, resources, and abilities (vs. 14)! It would be our wisdom to realize that our sufficiency comes from God alone (II Cor. 3:5).

A LIFE OF FAITH AND THE UNLIMITED GOD!

Every hand raised in the photo above has needs and God knows about every need (Mt. 6:31-34). Whatever occupation, skill, or trade a person may have — God is the One who provides for every individual on earth (Ps. 145:16). He is the One sustaining us and, if we belong to Him, we clearly understand that our abilities to sustain our lifestyles are dependent upon our faith in God! He gives us income and resources. God is the One who seals the deals and put people in place to give us resources, income, and contracts. With these things in mind, let us not be anxious about tomorrow. Let’s believe God, because our faith can turn around unfavorable situations! We are not to worry about income and deals…because…”we are living a life of faith, and not one by sight” (II Cor. 5:7).

Instead, pursue his kingdom, and these
things will be given to you as well.
(Luke 12:22-32 – NET)

Please get the word out that
Saturday Night Sunday School
will NOT be held at our regularly
scheduled time at 7:00 p.m. EST.

The new time (for this Saturday only)
will be at 6:00 p.m. EST.

– Lesson –

“A Test of Faith”

Lesson: Gen. 22:1-14
___________________________

ICEA is Hosting Ongoing Saturday
(Sunday School) Classes and Teaching
by Online Phone Conference!

The call-in phone number is:

+1 605-475-4120

The following is the access code:

6902797

JOIN IN WITH CALLERS FROM AROUND
THE COUNTRY, U.K., AND NEW ZEALAND

Just call in and listen to qualified instructors
teach lessons on a weekly basis.

The lessons will be based on the quarterly
Union Gospel Sunday School curriculum.
Please set your clock to alarm every
Saturday at 6:50 p.m. (E.S.T.) Do it now!

Call in to hear a brief
introduction and a great lesson!

Every Saturday evening the class phone conference and informative teaching will take place for the following Sunday lesson. These classes are designed for the shut in, those overseas, and those who can’t make Sunday school, as well as students and teachers who would like more insight on upcoming lessons.

NOTE:

For the 7 p.m. call in; please check your local time zone with EST/EDT Detroit time. It’s best to Google: “Detroit time” to make sure of the current time difference in your area. When you call in your cell phone will be automatically muted.

Some cell phone providers require you pay an additional small monthly fee to access phone conference calls (i.e. – Metro PCS). Check with your local provider. You may access the class-conference calls by land-line phones, as well.

PHONE IN NOW TO SEE IF YOUR PHONE IS COMPATIBLE!