3 Benefits Of Grace

3 Benefits of Grace

Pastor Russell Henderson

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people.  It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

[Titus 2:11-12 NIV]

The grace of God is a powerful attribute of God that has often been misunderstood.  Grace is often defined as “unmerited favor” or an “undeserved gift”.  There is absolutely nothing that we can do to earn the grace of God.  He gives it freely to any who would ask and accept it.  In Titus 2:11-12 we see three things that the grace of God does.  Without these three things we would be lost and have no hope of salvation.  The three things that grace does are:  (1) it offers salvation to all people, (2) it teaches us to say “no” to sin, and (3) it teaches us to live for God.

Grace offers salvation to all people

This is probably the most important aspect of grace.  Ephesians 2:8 tells us that “it is by grace we have been saved, through faith…”  In other words, when a person prays to the Father in faith (believing that He hears and has the power to forgive) it is His grace that saves the individual.  Titus 3:4-5 tells us that we are not saved because of any righteous thing that we have done, but we are saved because Christ offers us his loving kindness (grace) and His mercy. 

What a blessing to know that God does not take our life history into account when we come to Him for salvation.  He is more than willing to save us and wash us clean because it is His will that none should perish, but all would have eternal life.

Grace teaches us to say “no” to ungodliness and worldly passions

Just because we are saved doesn’t mean life is going to be a cakewalk from here on out.  But another wonderful thing that grace does is that it opens our eyes to the freedom that we have now gained in salvation and it teaches us to turn from the ways of the world.  The person that truly encounters the grace of God should have a desire within him to turn from that old lifestyle—we call that repentance.  Repentance is something that should happen immediately following salvation.  As one begins to understand that he has been set free from sin, grace helps the new believer to turn from those old ways.

Romans 6:14 says,  “For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.”  When a person makes a move from sin to salvation he also takes on a new master.  Sin should longer control him, and with the help and teaching of God’s grace, the believer can walk and live in the third aspect of grace.

Grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives

Just as the grace of God teaches us to repent and say “no” to sin, it also teaches us how to live Godly lives.  One of the key fruits of a Godly life is self-control.  Self-control is part of the fruit of a Spirit-led life.  It is essential that every believer should make a daily habit of turning from sin and make every effort to live a self-controlled life.

The term “self-control” can be a bit misleading, however, because the believer was never intended to be good on his own.  As a matter of fact, he can’t be good on his own.  The only way to live this life of self-control is through the help and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  However, it is up to the individual to decide for himself to say “no” to sin and “yes” to righteousness.  I’ve heard it said that grace is like a waterfall.  The more you live under the waterfall of God’s grace, the more you will have a desire to live the life that God has called you to live.

Today, will you ask yourself these questions:  Have you encountered the saving grace of Jesus Christ?  If you can say “yes” to that question then the next question is this:  What is the master of your life – sin or righteousness?  Make the choice today to daily turn from sin and draw nearer to the face of God.

Passing Through The Valley

Passing Through The Valley

Pastor Russell Henderson

Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains also cover it with pools. They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.

[Psalm 84:5-7 NIV]

The first part of Psalm 84 has long been one of my favorite Psalms.  It starts out by saying “How lovely is Your dwelling place…”, “My soul longs for the courts of the Lord”… “Blessed are those who dwell in Your house”.  But today I want to look at the next few verses.

Verse 5 says, “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.”  Let’s examine that word pilgrimage.  A pilgrimage is a long journey to a shrine or other sacred place.  A pilgrim says, “I am dedicated to this journey, no matter what gets in my way.  However long it takes, I’m going to reach my destination.”  When we add the first four verses of chapter 84 with this verse we see that God blesses the person who sets his heart on dwelling with God.  That should be the ultimate goal of the believer—to get to the place where God dwells.

It gets really good in verse 6, “As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs…”  We know that in scripture a valley is always characteristic of a dark, cold, lonely place, and Baka means weeping.  As followers of Christ, we are not immune to hard times.  Somewhere along the way we are going to experience a Valley of Weeping.  The true test of our character is how we deal with the valley.  Remember the pilgrim?  The pilgrim is always passing through until he reaches his destination.  The pilgrim expects roadblocks and detours, but they will not defeat him.  Instead of getting stuck in the valley, the pilgrim passes through and makes it a place of springs.

This is a literal definition of making lemonade out of lemons.  A spring is a symbol or metaphor of joy and fullness.  It also symbolizes life and abundance.  Friends, you are going to find yourself at some point in a Valley of Weeping, but you must learn to do two things in the valley:  (1)learn to keep the perspective of passing through the valley and not dwelling there, and (2)learn to turn your valley into a place of springs (life, joy, contentment).  How you face your valley determines the blessing you will receive on the other side.

How is that possible?  How can we turn our valley into springs?  You must have your strength in the Lord.  That means that you constantly have to know and recognize that God alone is your source for everything you need, and He alone has all power over the attacks of the enemy.  Verse 7 says “They go from strength to strength…”   In other words, the pilgrim whose heart is set on drawing closer to God will go from one mountain top, through the valley, to the next mountain top, and he will be stronger than he was before.

Are you in a Valley of Weeping?  Maybe you’ve been mourning the loss of a loved one for far too long.  Maybe unrealized dreams and goals have kept you in a place of weeping and depression.  Whatever the circumstance, you were never intended to dwell in the valley.  If  you’ve set up camp there, pull up your tent pegs and get moving.

Today, whether you are currently on the mountain-top or in the valley, put your strength and hope solely in Christ.  Let Him give you a new perspective of your situation.  And above all, don’t choose to dwell in the valley.  Set your heart on pilgrimage, and determine that you will not quit until you get back to God’s presence.  If you are in a valley ask the Lord to open your eyes and show you the springs where you can find shelter, refreshing, restoration, and joy.

The Demise of Demas

The Demise of Demas

By Pastor Russell Henderson

…Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica….

(2 Timothy 4:10).

There is not much mention in scripture of this man, Demas, except for two other brief references.  In Colossians 4:14 Paul calls Demas a dear friend, and in Philemon 24 he calls Demas a fellow worker.  Now in 2 Timothy we see that Demas has abandoned Paul and the ministry because he “loved this world”.

You must understand that this was not a love for the world as God loves the world in John 3:16.  This was a love for the pleasures and the worldly values of the present age.  In other words Demas backslid.

What caused his fall?  We don’t know.  But there are certainly ways that we can guard against such a fall.  In Genesis Abraham’s nephew, Lot, pitched his tent toward Sodom.  In other words, he continued to move closer and closer to Sodom.  As you know Sodom was known for being a very wicked city, but the more Lot looked towards it, the closer he moved to the city, and the more enticing it became.  Finally Lot ended up living in Sodom.

I believe that this could have been part of Demas’ downfall.  As he travelled with Paul I’m sure there were times where he found himself in shady and wicked places.  Whereas Paul had the strength to withstand the temptation and carry on with his ministry, Demas did not.  The more he saw the wickedness, the more appealing it became to him.

This is an example of someone who followed and even assisted one of the greatest preachers and missionaries that ever lived, but still chose the ways of the world over the ways of God. 

Friends, it is imperative that we live every day clothed in the armor of God.  We have to be protected against the fiery darts of temptation that the enemy tries to send our way.  Jesus said that if anyone loves the world, then the love of the Father is not in him.  Unless Demas had a moment of repentance and turned back to God, he more than likely died outside of the saving grace of God.

Choose today whom you are going to serve for the rest of your days.  If it is God then keep your eyes and your thoughts fixed on God and protect them so that you will not become another victim of loving this world.