ALL UNCONDITIONAL

GROW IN GRACE

From Sam-Best Ewruje, an able minister of the New Testament, not of man nor by man, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but by the will of God through the Grace and Mercy of Christ given unto me. Abundance of Grace and Gift of righteousness by Grace be unto you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As human beings we like to complicate what the Lord has done by imposing conditions on His blessings bestowed on us freely. Freely we have received freely give. Humans like to say, I did this and that and that is why I am successful today. It is an ego game just to create more unnecessary hierarchy eg big man, medium man or small man etc. All the things we do as Christians are our normal new life in Christ. Children of God pray, they fast, they give, they forgive not as a means to an end but as a lifestyle in Christ Jesus. Now as we study the word let us know the truth and the truth is what sets free. The letter killeth. No man can be justified in the sight of God except by Christ’s blood. You may say that there are some blessings with conditions, far from it. With Christ, it is all Grace with ALL THINGS through Christ Jesus, not our efforts or even our will to do something. It is not of him that wills or runs but of God that shows mercy and compassion. In Him we live, move and have our being and all our efforts. When you read any epistle or even the word, I don’t know about you but the more I study the word, the more I see a Holy God and the more I fall short so that I fall flat on my face before His great mercies which helps me to receive His righteousness and partake in His Holiness that rubs on me as I hang out with Him. You will notice that each time Paul starts a letter, he first of all impact Grace, Mercy and Peace before telling you of all the things we need to be or do. He is saying that “what I am going to tell you may blow your socks off and ruffle you because you will look at yourself and say to yourself how can I attain to this”. He uses those greetings to let you know and be at rest that it is not by might nor by power but by My Spirit saith the Lord. Indeed, there was a place when Paul wrote by the Spirit in Thessalonians that may your WHOLE spirit, soul and body be preserved blameless….. Say what? If he had stopped there, I would have said “Lord why not just let the ground open and swallow me because you already know there is no way I can ever get my WHOLE being BLAMELESS!!! However Paul quickly adds, “Faithful is He who has called who will do it”. Now I have confidence that at some point, as I continue in the word and truth, the Lord by His own strength will do the work so that my entire being will be BLAMELESS! I look forward to that. Wow, to be blameless, without any blemish on this earth, that is unbelievable that is why it has to be the Lord’s doing so that He can get all the glory and we receive it by faith, not by psyching ourselves or rearranging ourselves or even willing it. What complicates the true gospel is that some people the Lord has worked on to get to that point now preach it and hammer it “you have to be this and that and God will use you” making it look like it is their own efforts in fasting, praying, giving, sacrifice etc that got them where they are. Sometimes you may hear “it cost me everything” No! It cost the Lord everything to remove the junk, pride, selfishness, covetousness  and much more in you to humble you so He can work with you to affect lives. Like a popular song says, “don’t push it don’t force it, let it happen supernaturally (original song says naturally). I already sense it in my spirit and you too can sense that as you completely accept all that Jesus has done on the cross. By virtue of our salvation we are blameless before the Lord in Christ in His love but to reach a stage where you begin to actually experience it in the flesh is awesome and I believe it. God is at work in us daily and we are His workmanship. It is not of works lest ANY MAN should boast. Why don’t you accept the free gift of salvation today!!

Isaiah 63:7:

⁷I will mention the lovingkindnesses of the LORD, and the praises of the LORD, according to all that the LORD hath bestowed on us, and the great goodness toward the house of Israel, which he hath bestowed on them according to his mercies, and according to the multitude of his lovingkindnesses.

1 Thessalonians 5

²³And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

²⁴Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.

Ephesians 1:4:

⁴According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Check this link to help you know Jesus and give your life to him

http://www.gracecovenantministries.org.uk/2010/10/08/salvation-a-simple-mystery/

Pls when it blesses you pass it on for others to subscribe. Freely we have received, freely give.

Comments, questions, love motivated corrections.

We will preach to the world free of charge but we welcome generous donations.

For Counselling and prayer, call the minister

Sam-Best Ewruje – 07957708126. Invitations are welcome apart from Sundays except local around the North East of England

THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD

From Sam-Best Ewruje, an able minister of the New Testament, not of man nor by man, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but by the will of God through the Grace and Mercy of Christ given unto me. Abundance of Grace and Gift of righteousness by Grace be unto you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The Lord is my Shepherd. He works in me to will and to do. Psalm 23 is one of the Psalms that we were made to recite every day at the school assembly in primary school. I was not a Christian then and I did not know what a Bible was then but we were made to recite this daily. I am not sure what effect it had then but I can say that most of those I knew in my class then are Christians today. The Lord has kept us. I knew the Psalm by heart, didn’t even know where it came from. After I received Christ, I came to know how powerful that Psalm is. Indeed, it is a Scripture that gives us rest in the Lord and allow the Lord to do His work through us and in us. The key part of this Psalm is THE LORD. Psalm 23 brings into perspective the concept of a personal Lord and Saviour. Once we are conscious that it is the Lord, we can rest in His Sovereignty and His faithfulness and trust in Him that He is in control and knows what He is doing especially at bleak hours. Vs 1 says because THE LORD, the sovereign and mighty God is MY shepherd everything is alright and well. I am not sure how David came to that conclusion but it must have been when he was a shepherd boy in the wilderness. Just as he led the sheep and protected them from harm, he reckoned that is exactly how God takes care of us especially in Christ. He is delighted that he can rest, in the Master’s hand saying “I shall not want for guidance, protection, provision, sustenance and much more”. There are many things I can be assured of:

• He leads me even in rough and tough times
• He helps me do things – lie down in good places
• He leads me to the quiet waters to drink and refresh. He leads me in the path of righteousness for Himself
• He restores me
• He is with me even in dark alleys, so even in those places I will not fear.
• The Shepherd has a rod and a staff but it is not for beating or punishment like men do. He is the only one that has a rod and staff that brings comfort and counsel.
• Even when I stray into the enemies camp, even there He will look after me and anoint me the more until it flows over to others.

David then concludes that in whatever state I expect goodness and mercy to follow me all my days because of the Lord that is with me whether I am in the green pastures or near calm waters or valleys dark and deep or even in the enemies camp from my stupidity or stubbornness. Every day there is goodness and mercy after me because of the Lord. The Lord is the one that attracts goodness and mercy to me. So I seek Him first, yearn for Him daily and let things work on themselves in line with His plan for me. It saves me from rat race of chasing after things that will enhance my ego, or status or position. Those things will follow me as I seek His face. Even the darkness becomes light in His presence. Note that the Shepherd does not always have to be in front of the sheep like men do especially when He herds them out in the morning because He would wait to see that all the flock are out of the pen so none is left behind. He may sometimes be in front or by the side or at the back to ensure they are safe. When they get to the gracing ground, He will allow them to grace freely. The Shepherd is sheep focussed, not selfish. When a sheep strays, He goes after it with all his strength and power until He finds it. It is a win and win situation with the good Shepherd – Jesus Christ. HALLELUYA!!! Why don’t you give your life to the good Shepherd if you are not born again or received Christ as Lord and saviour?

Psalm 23

¹The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

²He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.

³He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

⁴Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

⁵Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

⁶Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Check this link to help you know Jesus and give your life to him

http://www.gracecovenantministries.org.uk/2010/10/08/salvation-a-simple-mystery/

Pls when it blesses you pass it on for others to subscribe. Freely we have received, freely give.

Comments, questions, love motivated corrections.

We will preach to the world free of charge but we welcome generous donations.

For Counselling and prayer, call the minister

Sam-Best Ewruje – 07957708126. Invitations are welcome apart from Sundays except local around the North East of England

GROW IN GRACE

LOVE IS NOT DIPLOMACY

From Sam-Best Ewruje, an able minister of the New Testament, not of man nor by man, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but by the will of God through the Grace and Mercy of Christ given unto me. Abundance of Grace and Gift of righteousness by Grace be unto you in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There are many things in Scripture that we have mixed up with our earthly knowledge, upbringing and societal value. Love is not diplomacy and it is greater than mere fleeting emotions. There is so much, talked, sung and shouted about love. The God kind of Love is a decision and it is about relinquishing and laying down your life, rights and all you have to see others progress with the Lord or to see others achieve their full potential. Love goes the extra mile. The God kind of love is completely opposite to what humanity define as love. When humans want to get their own back, God’s love says pray for those who are bad to you. When love has the opportunity or advantage to avenge, God’s Love says forgive. The Lord says, vengeance is mine, I will repay. Whenever we look at this repayment, human mind automatically thinks evil will happen to the one that wronged them. However, God is Love and in Him no evil at all. Love does not think evil against his neighbour no matter how “bad” that person has wronged you. Rather the Lord will deal with a person who wronged you to bring that person to repentance and most importantly to be hooked to Christ. Love is the embodiment of a being called God expressed in the person of Christ. It is difficult to grasp or fathom, or analyse, or reason just like you cannot understand the whole of God as long as we are on the earth. When we treat love like the world does we can really struggle. Love is received and accepted. When you accept Christ you automatically accept the love of God. It is not about pleasing people or yielding to every whim, moan and whine of people. God loves everyone but He will have them accept this love. If they do not and they die in that state of not accepting Jesus and His sacrifice, then they will unfortunately end in hell. Love is by faith. It is not diplomacy. You may sort a matter by diplomacy but anyone can do that, rhetoric can even persuade a whole nation by flamboyant words but it is only what is done in faith that pleases God. Love is a decision to commit to someone or something no matter what. God commits to us through Christ and He never changes that but we have to accept and receive it. Love just like faith and everything starts with God. He helps us to love by shedding his love abroad in our hearts. It is difficult to express love by your own power. This is why we need Christ as long as we are on earth. Love is not just being nice, or kind or helping the poor. Anyone without Christ is poor even if he has all the world’s goods. You can be a philanthropist without Christ. What God cherishes is what is done by faith. Faith is in Christ, He is the author and finisher of faith. This faith begins with the love that He has for us. This love is a gift by Grace freely lavished on us according to His mercy. Why don’t you give your life to Christ today and receive the free gift of love.

John 3:16:

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 13

³And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.

⁴Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

⁵Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

⁶Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

⁷Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

⁸Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.

Ephesians 3

¹⁴For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,

¹⁵Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,

¹⁶That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

¹⁷That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,

¹⁸May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;

¹⁹And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.

John 15:13:

¹³Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

John 3:16:

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Romans 5:5:

⁵And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

Check this link to help you know Jesus and give your life to him

http://www.gracecovenantministries.org.uk/2010/10/08/salvation-a-simple-mystery/

Pls when it blesses you pass it on for others to subscribe. Freely we have received, freely give.

Comments, questions, love motivated corrections.

We will preach to the world free of charge but we welcome generous donations.

For Counselling and prayer, call the minister

Sam-Best Ewruje – 07957708126. Invitations are welcome apart from Sundays except local around the North East of England