Blog In Audio:
Greetings,
As leaders, we set an example for those we lead in the testimony of the character and the power of Christ. Our example is one of revealing the power of God’s grace that works in the lives of those who believe. Grace is freely given to those who seek to find it, but we must seek God’s grace to find what is freely given. When we find God’s grace we are empowered and changed in some way.
Our access to God’s grace working in our lives is made possible by God’s free gift of mercy to us all. His first coming to our world with His death, burial, resurrection, and ascension, enabled His appearing in our lives as a life-giving Spirit from within our hearts. Holy Spirit has been sent to us in the name of Jesus. Holy Spirit working in our lives is the testimony of God’s grace. Grace is freely available to all, but we must come to the throne of Grace to find it.
I have been a believer for more than fifty-one years. God has bought about many changes in my life. Those changes have been the fruit of willingly yielding to God working in me. When I respond to, and yield to, Holy Spirit’s presence in my life I am changed. The fruit of God’s Spirit is the testimony of the fruit of God’s character made real in our lives.
Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
We must choose to walk in the Spirit every day. God is the source of our direction every day and in everything. The actions of our lives are a decision we make, but those actions must be actions inspired by the presence of Christ within us. This is the testimony of sons and daughters of God. The change that comes into our lives in the process of our responding to Christ are not works of our flesh. They are not disciplines of our flesh. They are empowerments of God’s Spirit. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control are all attitudes and characteristics of our lives that are granted to us by grace in Christ. In the process of grace we experience pressure and resistance, but the overcoming testimony of Christ in us transforms us from within. The tribulation in our lives proves the character of Christ within us made real by a transformation of grace from within.
Romans 5:1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 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. 3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; 4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Finding the grace of God working is us is the fruit of faith working by our cheerful endurance in the midst of our tribulations. It is partnership with, and responding to, Holy Spirit in us that empowers us to cheerfully endure in the midst of any resistance in our lives. When we embrace the work of Holy Spirit in us, we experience a character change. That character change is a testimony of the hope that we have in Christ in all things. God’s mercy enforces the judgment of God’s love given to us in the coming of Jesus as a man of flesh for our sake in our world. Because of God’s mercy, we can find God’s grace that helps us in every time of need and changes our lives for the glory of God (Heb. 4:16).
Food For Thought,
Ted J. Hanson
Donations can be made at the link on the home site of:
Checks can be made payable to House of Bread Ministry and sent to:
House of Bread Ministry, 3210 Meridian St., Bellingham, WA 98225
To avoid us paying a transaction fee from your donation, you can also set up a payment or an automatic payment from your bank to House of Bread Ministry. Just set it up as a ‘bill pay’ through your online bank account and your bank will mail a check to House of Bread Ministry. We will record your payment as a donation to House of Bread Ministry (E.I.N. 91-2009037) and we will send you a contribution receipt at the close of the year.
Our Ministry Information Is:
House of Bread Ministry
3210 Meridian St.
Bellingham, WA 98225-1728
