Grace Fellowship

Looking for additional thoughts from Pastor Phillip? You’re in the right place!

Galatians 3: (Amplified), ¹²But the Law does not rest on faith [does not require faith, has nothing to do with faith]… 

The message of grace is not really new to me.  It is exciting to see many people catching onto it as it is being brought to the forefront!  I attended Rhema Bible Training Center in 1978 – 1980!  I heard Andrew Wommack teach on grace and faith during that time!  Brother Kenneth E. Hagin was always a very grace oriented teacher.  I don’t mean the message of grace necessarily but his demeanor when speaking about God and His goodness were always filled with grace!  On many occasions, I wondered if some graduates were hearing the same messages I had heard!                            

How can two people hear the same messages and draw such drastically different conclusions?  One Rhema graduate challenged me when I made the statement, “The flesh profits nothing when it comes to God’s correction.”  “Oh, but that isn’t what Papa Hagin says”, they stated.  Sometimes God corrects the flesh to get our attention and you said the flesh profits nothing.  I said, “No, I didn’t say that, Jesus did!” When I turned to the exact page in Brother Hagin’s book and read what he said, the discussion came to a civil end!

I have concluded that legalism is an attitude birthed from the lack of having grace written upon one’s heart!  Without a revelation of grace, any subject can become legalistic!  This seems to be the tendency of human nature.  When the message of faith is preached in a law-like fashion, it becomes a burden no one can bear!  Confession becomes an attempt to move the hand of God rather than removing the doubt in their heart!

We who enjoy the message of grace can fall prey to the same religious legalism, if we aren’t cautious!  An attitude of elitism, intolerance and control are evidence of legalism creeping in.  They are usually “right fighters” and of course their way is the right one!  Can this happen with the message of grace?

When mentioning that I am not so persuaded that 1 John 1:9 was written to unbelievers as one wonderful grace teacher purports, you can sense the fangs of disapproval showing!  Having come out of a youth cult for a season where no one questioned the teacher’s biblical interpretation, I know how this feels!  No doubt, we are forgiven. Done deal.  But, I am not sure 1 John 1:9 was written to unbelievers. Does this make me a legalist? 

No, in fact, I thoroughly enjoy his teachings.  But, an attitude of intolerance, un-teachableness and control might be the first sign of legalism even for grace folks!

Another subject where this happens is the area of tithing.  “We are not under the law of the tithe,” they demand!  This is nothing new!  In 1978, this was a subject of debate among many Charismatic groups! We are not under the law, but many fail to recognize that the tithe was before the law, incorporated into the law and found after the law!  A belief that one ought to tithe to regulate their habitual giving does not make them a legalist!  In fact, it makes good Bible sense and shows personal discipline.  It has nothing to do with the love of God, righteousness or our approval in Christ!  But, a superior, elitist, attitude demanding that someone who tithes is a legalist and doesn’t understand the message of grace is just wrong and borders on the worst kind of controller in the name of grace!

So, what is my point?  It is a call for tolerance, teachableness and acceptance in the areas of peripheral doctrines and the grace of God!  Jesus doesn’t save us because our doctrine is perfect!  It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  The only yardstick for truth is the Word of God!  When one loses sight of this, they can become victims of legalism before realizing it!

In front of our house, across the street, there was a big dirt field we loved to play in. The games were endless, with everything from baseball to digging massive forts in the sand. My dad told us to bury some old peach peelings in the field. So, we dug a hole making it look like a grave. When we were                 finished, my friend, Ray, asked what is this? I told him we buried something there and it was a grave. He didn’t believe me so, I told him to dig it up! Just as Ray hit the peach peelings, I yelled, “It’s a dog.” Dropping the shovel and letting out a yell, you can imagine what Ray thought! We loved playing there!Dad’s voice was clear and distinctive. Hearing him was not hard. If we didn’t hear, it was because we had become too preoccupied playing. He came to us saying, “Come on boys let’s go.” He wasn’t angry and we simply obeyed.  

In John 10:27 Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”  Jesus presented God as our heavenly Father.  He simply said, “My sheep hear My voice…”                                                  

I can still hear my father’s voice in my head.  He never made it intentionally hard or confusing. We decided to dig a hole to China in the field. My dad came over to see saying “What you boys doing?” We replied proudly, “Digging a hole to China.” Dad said calmly, “Well you boys have dug a deep one alright.” I was in the hole putting dirt into a bucket as my brother pulled it out over my head. The hole may have been six feet deep at this point!  He said, “Come on out of that hole, son. Don’t you know that thing could cave in on you?” I said to myself, “I never thought of that.” He said, “Go ahead and bury that thing before somebody gets hurt.” So, we did!  Hearing and obeying his voice probably saved us from great harm! What does it take to hear God’s voice?  It takes hearing God’s Word mixed with faith!                                                                                                  

Dad gave us an old pair of telephone operator’s head phones to play with. We were playing W.W.II bombardiers. I asked dad, “If I plug these into the wall can I call Russia?”  He was reading the newspaper in his Lazy Boy Rocker.  Barely looking up from his paper he said clearly, “Son don’t do that.”  Ignoring his words, I ran into the bedroom lying across the bed. I plugged the metal prongs into the outlet! I came off the bed about three times and all the lights in the house went on and off. Thank goodness one prong came unplugged. It didn’t take me long to realize that Father knows best!

Some believers get the idea that God sends hard times so they will hear His voice!  When they become depressed, discouraged, disappointed or offended they say, “I wonder what God is trying to teach me?  He must want me to do something different!” Their expectancy is that God must make them miserable to hear His voice!  NO, the Holy Spirit is a COMFORTER, not a tormentor! They have confused Satan with God!

Jesus said, “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me!”  Don’t make it hard, we are wired to hear His voice!

All progress in the Christian life is by faith!

In 1976, I played in the 283^rd Army Band.  We developed a very progressive Bible study that met weekly.  Many were led to Christ and filled with the Holy Spirit!  It was an awesome time with God so we decided to go street witnessing. In spite of our awkwardness, God blessed and many more were led to Christ.  One cannot steer a car while it is  sitting still.  There must be some  forward motion to give it direction.                                                                

In Joshua 3:14-17 the priests had to take a step of faith before God parted the waters. After their step, they walked over on dry ground. The Great Commission is not the Great  Suggestion!  Believers are called by God to share  the Good News with the world! While things are constantly changing, the Good News remains the same. Our method for ministering effectively must change to meet the culture we are in.                                                                   

I remember sitting in church, as a child, the windows were raised to cool us off while the preacher spoke!  An attic fan pulled a slight breeze through the windows and the local funeral home provided hand fans.  It was a happy day when they began to raise money to put in an air conditioner!  How would a service with no air conditioner go over in our society today?  Not very well, to say the least. If the church chooses not to navigate change, we will fail to do our part to proclaim The Great  Commission! 

This is the first generation that can share the gospel with a person down the street or with someone in a distant country just by a simple click of the mouse! Social media and the internet are not a fad!  We can seize the moment or get left  behind! Fifty percent of the world’s population is under the age of 30 years old!  Ninety-six percent of the people born from 1981 to 1995 in the USA are on social networks! It took thirty eight years for radio to reach 50,000,000 listeners.  It took thirteen years for TV to reach 50,000,000 viewers.  It took the internet four years to reach 50,000,000 online users. It took iPod three years to have 50,000,000  users.  It took Facebook less than one year to have 200,000,000 users! Facebook now has 500,000,000 users and if it were a country it would be the third largest in the world!                                                                 

John 4: ³⁵Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!

What will you do to reach your world for Jesus?  “Small Things Done With Great Love Will Change Our World!”                            

-Special thanks to Allen Speegle for statistics and notes.

In March, you were challenged to display the love of God in a simple way by buying someone a cup of coffee.

David Robinson testifies, “I handed out a connection card at Starbucks in the Aiken Kroger. As I walked up to the counter, I saw a lady in one of those scooters. I motioned her ahead of me and said, ’I want to buy you a cup of coffee.’ She was a great receiver and thanked me. She said, ‘I needed something nice to happen to me. I have to go in for surgery and I’m scared. I prayed to God to let me live long enough to see my first grandchild and He did. But, I  really don’t want to go yet. I said, ‘Well then don’t go, God said, ‘with long life will I satisfy you’. She said, ‘he did didn’t he?’ I said, ‘He is always good’ and she said ‘He is!’ She thanked me again and I walked away very blessed!”

Becca Hamilton went big! As she began to pay for the order of the car behind her, the cashier told her that the order was for an entire office and would total $25. Becca hesitated only for a second before accepting to pay the bill. She blessed many that day with coffee & a connection card also leaving feeling blessed herself.

Hebrews 9:22 (ESV) says, “…almost everything is purified with blood, and^(B) without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness of sins.”

The Shepeard Blood Center’s Blood Mobile is coming to Grace Fellowship! In the next few weeks, we will be providing treat bags for you to give away in order to invite people to give blood & stay for our Easter Celebration.

Help us build a culture for outreach! Look for outreach opportunities, not only at church, but on your own. “Small things done with great love can change the world!”

Valentine’s Day is an annual commemoration held on February 14^th.  It celebrates the love and affection between two intimate companions.  Numerous early Christian martyrs were named Valentine.  Despite having no historical basis one popular legend says on the evening before  St.Valentine was to be executed, he wrote the first “valentine” card.  It was addressed to a young girl identified as his beloved.  She was the jailer’s daughter whom he had befriended and healed.  The note read “From your valentine”. 

Do you remember the first time you went on a date with your spouse, got up the courage to hold hands or even dared to steal a kiss?  These seem like magical moments that, if allowed, time can steal away.  Many feel like the song from the Righteous Brothers, “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling.”

Try this and see if it rekindles an old flame that simmers just below the surface of your heart.  

Pause and say this slowly with all sincerity, “If I could be anything, I would want to be a tear drop because I would be born in your eyes, live on your cheeks, and die on your lips.” 

Hey, recently this got a nice laugh from Diana anyway as we ate dinner at Ryan’s restaurant and I gave it a test run. (LOL, good effort right?)  My recommendation is to pick a nicer restaurant than Ryan’s to ensure greater success! 

Psalms 145:8 defines the Lord as gracious and compassionate, rich in love and good to all.  The word “compassion” means, “to love tenderly, to pity, to show mercy, to be full of eager yearning.”

“It is not what God can do, but what we know He yearns to do, that inspires faith. It is not faith in God’s power that secures His blessings, but faith in His love and will.”  F.F. Bosworth. 

What moved Jesus?  He was moved with compassion, love, and tender mercy, eager yearning and He healed their sick. (Matt. 14:14).  Love directed His life and love will direct our lives too, if we allow it to! 

1 John 4: (TLB), ^{16 “}We know how much God loves us because we have felt his love and because we believe him when he tells us that he loves us dearly. God is love…” 

There is a confident assurance that comes with the words, “We know”.  Can you say “I know how much God loves me”?  It is one thing to receive God’s love by faith, but eventually our faith must impact our emotions so that we actually feel loved by God!    

How do I increase my capacity to love God? It comes with a revelation of how much He first loved me (1 John 4:16). God is love therefore, He is patient and kind.  He is not jealous, boastful, proud or rude. God is not irritable and He keeps no record of being wronged.  He does not rejoice about injustice but He rejoices whenever the truth wins out.  God never gives up on you. He never loses faith in you.  He is always hopeful and endures through every circumstance with you.  His love for you lasts forever and it never fails! (1 Cor.13:4-8)   

Unlike the song from the Righteous Brothers, God has never “lost that loving feeling” for us because He is love!