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Will or Grace
Is there an answer?
Will and Grace
Can these two be partners?
How do will and grace sit side by side in the Sprit-Lead life? Do they have a place as partners or are they bitter enemies? Is it one or the other, or is it both?
Self-will has been viewed as such a negative thing, and yes, a will that is not submitted to God is a dangerous tool, a foe not to be trusted or depended upon. Nevertheless, God gave us our wills; our freewill is one of the main tools God relates too and works through us with. He desires our righteousness, our obedience, our fellowship, our love, our commitment, our adherence to His Will and Ways; but only if it is our choice by way of our freewill to give it to Him.
He has His angels and heavenly beings created to worship and magnify Him at all times. Their desires do not exist; they were created for this purpose. It is not optional or negotiable. That is just how it is, plain and simple. However, He wanted beings also that would choose Him, therefore, He created human beings. So how does this endless war between the will of man and the grace of God; to do, act, be, say… become a peace treaty?
Steps toward a treaty -
1. It starts with a heart that truly wants what God wants. His will, His ways, His purpose, His character, the Fruit of His Spirit, sanctification, holiness, … Only if the heart truly wants what God wants can it be trusted. Ones heart must be checked and committed to God on a continual basis to be reliable.
This is being submitted to God. James 4:7
2. Everyday in all things seek God to guide and direct your actions and choices. Look to Him in every decision you make. In this manner you know that you are not following your will and desires without at least attempting to know God’s direction. When we ask He will lead if we will allow Him and trust Him.
This is praying without ceasing. I Thessalonians 5:17
3. In each situation, make a choice with your freewill to handle that situation in the manner that is in line with God’s desire.
Based upon -
His Word (the Bible)
His word (what He is speaking to your heart) for you personally in that situation
His Character, which is determined by the overall representation of God in His Written Word
The character He has requested of His children. Which a good guide for can be gleaned from the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22,23).
Consciously make that choice. This is choosing life not death. Because to sin is death, to obey God’s ways is life. Deuteronomy 30:19, Romans 6:16, 21-23, 7:11, 8:2
4. At this point, you excrete your freewill and having made the choice that honors God, you discipline your carnal desires and act upon the choice you made. You do what you believe God has instructed you to do, in line and agreement with His character and Word (the Bible). Based upon what He expects you to do, as laid out within the Bible’s contents.
This is obeying the Word of the Lord and buffering yourself for His glory. Romans 15:18, I Peter 1:13-16, Exodus 24:7, Deuteronomy 4:30, 8:20, Isaiah 1:19
5. Once you have acted in obedience and faith to God, His grace will come to meet you enabling you to fulfill, complete, and perform the work you have started. (Always keep in mind without God’s prompting, prompting not controlling; you would not even desire or have interest in either beginning righteous or doing righteous acts and works.)
Once you have made the choice of your own freewill and exhibited the obedience to God to discipline your actions, showing your obedience, then God’s grace takes over your actions and He does it in or through you. You cease to be the one doing the action and the Spirit of God within you becomes the one performing the action. You become the vessel through which God is working.
Yes, we can take some credit for the choice, yes some (the key is some), credit for the willingness to obey and discipline ourselves; but we do not take credit for the ability to carry the act out through to the end, for that is God. If God’s grace is not present, the ability to perform the act will cease to exist. You will begin to struggle terribly with trying not to do, or do… and will cease to be able to perform or not perform the act in a very short time. Once we choose, or we act by disciplining and governing our actions, we stop and rest there. The remainder is up to God.
The length of time we are able to discipline or govern ourselves is under the control of God’s grace upon our life at that time. God’s grace differs according to only His Will and Knowledge. There does however seem to be a tendency toward the amount of God’s grace for God/self-governing to increase over time, as we walk with Him and allow Him to mature us in our faith, trust, and reliance upon Him. We see the changes in ourselves. Things that were once hard are easy; things that were once unbearable are tolerable. God will only work through willing vessels. It is always God’s desire to match and exceed our willingness to obey with His grace, power, and ability to do so.
This is the grace of God working within you to change you and to perform for His glory. Isaiah 26:12, Acts of the Apostles 20:32, 2 Corinthians 1:12, 8:5-7, 9:8, 12:9, Ephesians 4:7, 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12, Titus 2: 11-13
This is where will and grace reside in peace! This is when righteousness and peace have kissed each other. Psalms 85:10
Written by Queendrh
Queendrh
Author - Bible Teacher - Speaker
Palm Tree Ministries
PalmTreeMnstrs@aol.com
http://hometown.aol.com/palmtreemnstrs
Spiritual Matters
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Resource for Christian Women to grow spiritually in God.