Answers Awaiting in the Presence of God by Creflo Dollar

Author:Creflo Dollar
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Religion, Christian Life, Christianity, Spirituality, Presence of God, General, Christian Theology, History
ISBN: 9780892747948
Publisher: Harrison House
Published: 1995-12-21T22:00:00+00:00

7

The Operation of Mercy in the Believer’s Life

It is one thing for you to know God is merciful. It is another thing for you to have an understanding of how that mercy will operate in your life on a practical, day-to-day basis. That is the focus of this chapter.

In Ephesians, chapter 2, we find a fascinating portion of Scripture that sheds some light on this issue. The first few verses paint a dark picture of where we all were before Jesus saved us.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience.

Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest.

Ephesians 2:1-3 NAS

Then the apostle Paul brings us the glorious news of how and why we are no longer in that horrible state:

But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).

Ephesians 2:4,5 NAS

Why did God make us alive together with Christ?

Because He is rich in mercy. In fact, the entire grand plan of salvation is a direct result of the love and mercy of God.

The love of God produced the Virgin Birth. God's love produced the plan for man's redemption from sin. God's love produced the baptism of the Holy Spirit. The love of God gave us our access to Him through prayer.

Everything we have a right to as believers (and that's more than you can imagine) is a direct product of the love and mercy of God. These things did not spring from a mind that was set on vengeance. They did not come from a God Who takes pleasure in destruction.

All of this, of course, is contrary to popular religious opinion.

You Be the Judge

At this point you may be asking yourself, Isn't God a Judge Who rewards or punishes based on our actions?

The answer to this question is twofold: yes and no. The truth is, God does not want to be put in the place of judging our lives; He wants us to do that. Look at First Corinthians 11:31:

For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.

This verse means it is God's best for each believer to judge himself. If you will be vigilant about comparing your behavior to the standard of the Word, you will never have a need for God or anyone else to judge you.

Of course, the flip side of that coin is this: If you refuse to judge yourself, you will be judged by an external source. Failure to judge yourself will hinder God's ability to bless you as He wants.

When you refuse to examine your life

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