What Is Grace?

Is grace really unmerited favor?

Let's look at what the scriptures tell us.

James 4:6 tells us:

"But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

So we learn that humility is a prerequisite to receiving the grace of God, and grace is something that God gives, so what is grace?

The Greek word for grace used in the New Testament scriptures is 'Charis' which means:

1. Grace

    A. That which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech

2. Good will, loving-kindness, favour

    A. Of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

3. What is due to grace

   A. The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace

   B. The token or proof of grace, benefit

         I. A gift of grace

        II. Benefit, bounty

4. Thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward

Strong’s Definitions

χάρις cháris, khar'-ece; from G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude):—acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).

Grace is more of God's essence, His presence in the soul and upon the spirit of those who obey Him, follow Jesus and walk closely with Him. It's like the more you're with God, the more you grow in Him, the more you meditate on His word, the more you grow in grace and knowledge. The more you become like Him and God rubs off on you!

1st Corinthians 15:33

"Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

The word tells us evil company corrupts good habits or good manners/character, so walking with God does the exact opposite. Being with Him and receiving His grace in our souls, changes our corrupt nature and bad characteristics into His divine nature and goodness, we become holy and righteous!

Jesus was full of grace and truth.

John 1:14

"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth."

So grace is something you can be full of, and your heart can be established or built up with grace.

Hebrews 13:9

Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them.

Grace is much more than unmerited favor, grace is the power, presence, essence, substance, and divine influence of God that fills the heart, permeates our being, fills the atmosphere and emanates from our soul and spirit, spreading outward through the flesh, it affects those around us, and it saves those in Christ every day.

Even the words that come forth out of your mouth as you speak can be full of grace and wisdom.

Colossians 4:5-6

"Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

The true meaning of grace gives us a much deeper understanding of Ephesians 2:8-9

"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."

In Jesus,

Tyrone

The Authority Of God's Ministers

Romans 13:1-4

"Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God. Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil. Do you want to be unafraid of the authority? Do what is good, and you will have praise from the same. For he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil."

Are the scriptures above the view we hold about ministers today? Are we afraid of God's ministers who have the authority to execute wrath and judgment upon those who practice evil?

Paul certainly exercised his authority and power as God's minister when he judged the sexually immoral brother who sinned by sleeping with his fathers wife.

1st Corinthians 5:1-5

It is actually reported that there is sexual immorality among you, and such sexual immorality as is not even named among the Gentiles—that a man has his father’s wife! And you are puffed up, and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. For I indeed, as absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged (as though I were present) him who has so done this deed. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when you are gathered together, along with my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.

Wow! Now that's a judgment, imagine being handed over to satan for the destruction of your flesh! I  imagine that could be something like what happened to Job, and including even death! That the spirit of the person may be saved on judgment day. Now that should cause those in the body of Christ to be afraid of sinning and being judged by a true minister of God.

God used Peter to bring judgment on Ananias and Sapphira.

Acts 5:1-11

"But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession. And he kept back part of the proceeds, his wife also being aware of it, and brought a certain part and laid it at the apostles’ feet. But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and keep back part of the price of the land for yourself?  While it remained, was it not your own? And after it was sold, was it not in your own control? Why have you conceived this thing in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.”

Then Ananias, hearing these words, fell down and breathed his last. So great fear came upon all those who heard these things. And the young men arose and wrapped him up, carried him out, and buried him. Now it was about three hours later when his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. And Peter answered her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for so much?” She said, “Yes, for so much.”

Then Peter said to her, “How is it that you have agreed together to test the Spirit of the Lord? Look, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out.” Then immediately she fell down at his feet and breathed her last. And the young men came in and found her dead, and carrying her out, buried her by her husband. So great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.

How could Peter know that satan had filled the heart of Ananias? The Holy Spirit told Him!! Now that's the power of God in the moment, in real time action!!

It's not a stretch for me to say that many believers do not have a true fear of God or His ministers in today's church!

Paul also gave two men name Hymenaeus and Alexander over to satan to teach them not to blaspheme!!!

1st Timothy 1:18-20

"This charge I commit to you, son Timothy, according to the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, having faith and a good conscience, which some having rejected, concerning the faith have suffered shipwreck, of whom are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I delivered to Satan that they may learn not to blaspheme.

Paul was not playing was he!!? When it was time to judge a spiritual matter in the body of Christ he did it with the authority and judgment he was given from Jesus Himself!!!

1st Corinthians 5:12-13

"For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.”

I wonder how many of those called brother and sister would remain in many churches today if Paul were to go in under the anointing and power of the Holy Spirit to judge and purge out the old leaven?

O how I long for the day when the Lord will operate through His Spirit, through His ministers as He did in the days of old, bring the fire Lord, bring the rain, bring your judgment!

In Jesus Name!
Tyrone

Let It Rain!

Joel 2:23-27

"Be glad then, you children of Zion, And rejoice in the Lord your God; For He has given you the former rain faithfully, And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month. The threshing floors shall be full of wheat, And the vats shall overflow with new wine and oil. “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied, And praise the name of the Lord your God,Who has dealt wondrously with you; And My people shall never be put to shame. Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel: I am the Lord your God And there is no other. My people shall never be put to shame."

So many people are crying out across the nation and the world for God to pour out His Spirit one more time before Jesus returns. And that's exactly what He's going to do, but is everyone ready for it?

God does things suddenly, and many times He does something when you least expect it. But we can clearly see that the only thing that's going to wake up His people today is a great outpouring and refreshing of His Spirit.

It's been over a hundred years since the last outpouring of God's Spirit at 216 North Bonnie Brae Street in Los Angeles California. An outpouring that can only be compared to the day of Pentecost when the Lord poured out His Spirit on the one hundred and twenty disciples in the upper room.

Although many thousands of souls have been baptized in God's Holy Spirit since then, including myself! It hasn't been as wide spread and world reaching as it was with those two outpourings.

So how do revivals start? What's the catalyst that makes a great outpouring possible? Well when we look at scripture we find a few disciples, both men and women, who were faithful to the Lord, who believed in Him, and waited on Him and His word to be fulfilled. Those who were willing to go against the status quo and the religious traditions of the day.

The same is true almost two thousand years later when students of Charles F. Parham met together at Bethel Bible College in Topeka Kansas. Those brave souls studied the word of God and read the book of Acts and repeated what the first disciples did before the Spirit was poured out on them, they prayed, worshipped, and waited on the Lord.

"The students had several days of prayer and worship, and held a New Year's Eve "watch-night" service at Bethel (December 31, 1900). The next evening (January 1, 1901) they also held a worship service, and it was that evening that Agnes Ozman felt impressed to ask to be prayed for to receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Immediately after being prayed for, she began to speak in what they referred to as "in tongues", speaking in what was believed to be a known language." (Wikipedia-Charles Fox Parham)

"As the Azusa Street Revival was coming to an end in the 1900s, it is recorded that Charles Parham, and William Seymour, on the same day, at two separate locations, prophesied that there will be another stronger move of God´s Spirit on the earth, which will take place 100 years from then. They said that it will be an outpouring of God´s Spirit and His Shekinah glory that would be greater and more far-reaching than what was experienced at Azusa."

Maria Woodsworth Etter prophesied “We are not yet up to the fullness of the former rain and when the latter rain comes, it will far exceed anything we have seen.” Also that “there will be a greater move of God in the next 100 years, the glory of which has never been seen…”

 2nd Corinthians 13:1

“By the mouth of two or three witnesses every word shall be established.”

"And He will cause the rain to come down for you—The former rain, And the latter rain in the first month."

Isn't January the first month? Well it is for us! Perhaps this January 1st 2018 will be the first month that God pours out His Spirit once again on the souls, praying, worshipping, crying out, and waiting upon Him! We can believe and we can hope!

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Jesus Has ALL Authority!

Matthew 28:16-20

"Then the eleven disciples went away into Galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Do you really understand the magnitude of what Jesus said to His chosen apostles? He told them ALL authority has been given to Him in Heaven AND on earth. So let me break that down a little more.

All means - 1a: the whole amount, quantity, or extent of 1b: as much as possible

Authority means - 1a: power to influence or command thought, opinion, or behavior

Wow! Just to meditate on the truth of the authority and power that Jesus has is mind blowing!

Jesus has the whole amount, quantity, and extent of power to influence and command thought, opinion, and behavior of every spiritual and human being in Heaven and on earth! That means nothing and no one can resist His power and authority when He speaks or decides to do something!

Men and women can be resisted, apostles and prophets can be resisted, martyred and killed, but Jesus can't be killed! He died in the flesh once already and now He is alive and reigns forever more! And He is able to be everywhere at the same time and dwells inside those who believe in Him by His Spirit.

Here's a few examples of His authority when He walked this earth.

Mark 11:1-6

"Now when they drew near Jerusalem, to Bethphage and Bethany, at the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples; and He said to them, “Go into the village opposite you; and as soon as you have entered it you will find a colt tied, on which no one has sat. Loose it and bring it. And if anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord has need of it,’ and immediately he will send it here.” So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it. But some of those who stood there said to them, “What are you doing, loosing the colt?” And they spoke to them just as Jesus had commanded. So they let them go."

Luke 19:33 even tells us that the owners of the colt were standing there and asked the disciples why they were loosing the colt, but when the disciples spoke exactly as the Lord told them, the owners let them go and their own colt too!

Mark 14:12-16

"Now on the first day of Unleavened Bread, when they killed the Passover lamb, His disciples said to Him, “Where do You want us to go and prepare, that You may eat the Passover?” And He sent out two of His disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him. Wherever he goes in, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, “Where is the guest room in which I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large upper room, furnished and prepared; there make ready for us.” So His disciples went out, and came into the city, and found it just as He had said to them; and they prepared the Passover."

Whenever the Lord speaks and commands something to be, it is!

The Lord even causes enemies of the righteous to be at peace with them!

Proverbs 16:7

"When a man’s ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."

Yes the Lord Jesus has ALL power and authority in Heaven and on earth, He has the preeminence, He is above all and over all, there is nothing that He cannot do. Is He on your side? Is He fighting for you? There is no greater ally, teacher, and friend than Jesus.

Abiding In Him,

Tyrone

Set The Captives Free!

Luke 4:31-37

"Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region."

Mark 1:25-26

"But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him."

The first thing to look at here is the man with the unclean demon was IN the synagogue with all the other Jews and religious leaders but none of them knew the man was demonized. It's very likely even the man himself didn't know! And if you think satan, or demons can't be inside you or in somebody sitting right next to you in a church building or anywhere else, you are absolutely wrong!

Remember Jesus chose Judas and he called him a devil! And wasn't Judas reclining with Jesus at the last supper when satan himself entered him and took over his body to go and betray Jesus? And how did Jesus handle that? He told Judas and satan, to go and do what he was going to do quickly, Jesus has ALL authority!

John 13:26-27

"Jesus answered, “It is he to whom I shall give a piece of bread when I have dipped it.” And having dipped the bread, He gave it to Judas Iscariot, the son of Simon. Now after the piece of bread, Satan entered him. Then Jesus said to him, “What you do, do quickly.”

I've learned that you don't really know what's in you until it manifests itself or it's revealed by the Spirit through dreams, fasting and prayers.

The Lord also uses His ministers to discern the spirits and those who have been given spiritual authority and power to cast out demons, like the apostles and evangelists. But if you don't have the authority and power to cast them out, you could end up like the seven sons of Sceva!

Acts 19:11-16

"Now God worked unusual miracles by the hands of Paul, so that even handkerchiefs or aprons were brought from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out of them. Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so. And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded."

Deliverance is the children's bread, if you are in the body of Christ and you are not completely holy like John the Baptist, or Jesus, (and it IS possible to walk in holiness!) then you have demons IN your flesh!

So many Christians don't understand the truth about demons, how they operate and how they get inside your flesh. Demons can enter you through many ways, the obvious ones are occult practices, i.e. witchcraft, Ouija boards, going to séances, having your palms read, worshipping satan, etc...

Demons can also enter you through traumatic experiences, like witnessing a death, being the victim of rape or molestation, and having a near death experience. Demons can enter through generational curses, through family members that practice witchcraft, or who are involved in secret societies, like freemasonry, skull and bones, etc...

The truth is that even after you become a Christian by being baptized in water and the Holy Spirit, all the evil, strongholds, infirmities, and yes demons are not completely dealt with the moment you enter the body of Christ. Yes your sins are forgiven, you are a new creation in Christ, the old has gone the new has come etc... but many of the things you did in the past still have to be dealt with through prayer and fasting, bible study, repentance, forgiveness of yourself and others.

That's why you can see so many believers who are hypocrites and spend years in church attendance and participate in all the church functions, but never experience the life changing deliverance that Jesus bought for us at the cross, because of lack of knowledge and fear!

I didn't think I had any demons in me until I listened to Derek Prince's sermon, "How To Be Delivered From Demons" I watched until the end and followed along as Derek explained in detail so many things I had no knowledge of, then I repeated what he said when he started the deliverance part of the sermon and immediately I felt within myself that evil spirits started to leave my flesh! It changed my life and opened me up to a whole new world of spiritual truths and realities that I had many preconceptions about!

If you really want to be free, the Son can and will set you free indeed!

In Jesus Name,

Tyrone

Cynthia Palmer Sings "Lord You're Holy"

Revelation 4:8

"The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

In Jesus,

Tyrone

Tragedy To Triumph - The William Seymour Story

1st Corinthians 1:26-31

"For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the Lord.”

In Jesus,

Tyrone