A Clean Heart
When you have confessed your sins and wrongdoing, you have nothing to hide, defend, or to be ashamed of. That is the power of the Blood of Christ. It is completely restoring. It is not what people say about you but what Jesus says about you that matters. God's peace is yours through a clean heart in relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Those who operate under the spirit of the law will never help others, rather they continually point the finger of accusation. They have no peace, rather a spirit of judgment. Jesus had every reason to put Peter on the back burner – he denied the Lord three times. But what does Jesus do? Forty days later Peter is the leader of the greatest revival the world has ever known or experienced. On the day of Pentecost it was Peter who preached, and immediately 3,000 people came into the Kingdom of God in just one day.
Acts 2:40-41 And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying, "Be saved from this perverse generation." Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.
The Faithful Life
It was no mistake that God used Peter. God was displaying the extreme power of His grace and restoration as an example for all of us to follow. Was Peter perfect after that? No. He blew it again putting Gentiles under the law. Paul had to rebuke Peter. What does that tell us? Did Peter lose his apostleship? No. It was just another lesson in life, being part of the journey that every one of us has to travel.
God's grace is amazing. It is by the grace of God that we are restored and live an overcoming life. God is not looking for perfect people. Abraham was not perfect. He committed adultery. David did the same. Both of these are some of the most highly esteemed men of God in the Bible. Abraham is referred to as the "father of faith." The "City of David," Jerusalem, was named after David.
These are just a few examples of the imperfect people that God uses. Although they blew it, God saw the grand view of faithfulness in their lives. They were willing to take responsibility for their mistakes, taking the hard knocks. They were not in denial, but saw their wrongdoings. We are not talking about sloppy grace here. God saw that in the overall perspective of their lives that they leaned upon Him. This is what God looks for. We cannot take on a "better than you" mindset. We get nowhere if we are finger pointers, accusers and don't know the love of God. God's love covers a multitude of sins. If we are to walk in His ways we must walk in His love.
The Perfect One
Those who walk in love magnify the grace of God, the perfect work of Jesus, and the power of His Blood, both for cleansing and overcoming. They allow God to be the Judge. Those who walk in self-righteousness are always pointing the finger, for they are under the law. The law is all about performance. It is a big show. The show is over when you begin to understand God's grace through communion with His Holy Spirit. If you want God's grace in your life, you will have to give it.
The truth is we are all imperfect. Christ in us is the hope of glory. He is the Perfect One who dwells in those who open their hearts to His love. When you discover your desperate need for Him, then His grace flows to you and every other direction through you.
Stay connected,
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com
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