In post 2 of 3 in this series, we ended with the powerful truth that: “When we see His grace, then He sees our faith. I shared Scriptural situations in which Jesus demonstrated this truth powerfully. We are looking at Biblical ways to strengthen our prayer.
Still, many of us pray for healing unsure if it is part of God’s covenant promises.
It is impossible to pray effectively for something we have the slightest doubt God wants for us. Sometimes we fear the reason our prayers seem to “bounce off the ceiling” is because we have “fallen from grace” because we’ve sinned. Look here at what the Apostle Paul says about “falling from grace”.
Fear of “falling from grace” is an enemy ploy. He is “the accuser of the brethren”.
Scriptural Insight: There is only one way to “fall from grace”:
Galatians 5:4 (AMP)
4 If you seek to be justified and declared righteous and to be given a right standing with God through the Law, you are brought to nothing and so separated (severed) from Christ. You have fallen away from grace (from God’s gracious favor and unmerited blessing).
The ONLY way to “fall from grace” or be separated from Christ after you receive Him as your Lord and Savior—that is REALLY receive Him with your whole heart—is to believe you can DO something right enough or good enough to gain righteousness and right standing with God.
Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished.” (see John 19:30) He did not say, “I’ve done my part now you get to work to earn access to my work.” It is a free gift because we could never earn it—for hundreds of years after Moses received the law, none could follow it. So God, Himself, in Jesus “fulfilled the law written in stone”. (see Luke 22:37) The law is now written on the hearts of true believers. (see Rom 2:15)
YES, folks who are truly saved have their motivation changed and do good because they want to not out of fear of hell. They DO good works because they ARE righteous and blessed and prayerfully walk in God’s amazing favor. The actions follow accepting the grace of the Lord’s love poured out on the cross, but actions or “works” do not purchase grace and favor.
God’s Grace is a free gift and none can earn it…Only believe.
Now let’s look at further Scriptural insight into God’s Grace and Promises that Jesus secured for us without exception if we simply receive:
Ephesians 2:8 (AMP)
8 For it is by free grace (God’s unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ’s salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God;
Romans 5:2 (AMP)
2 Through Him also we have [our] access (entrance, introduction) by faith into this grace (state of God’s favor) in which we [firmly and safely] stand. And let us rejoice and exult in our hope of experiencing and enjoying the glory of God (salvation).
Titus 3:4-7 (AMP)
4 But when the goodness and loving-kindness of God our Savior to man [as man] appeared,
5 He saved us, not because of any works of righteousness that we had done, but because of His own pity and mercy, by [the] cleansing [bath] of the new birth (regeneration) and renewing of the Holy Spirit,
6 Which He poured out [so] richly upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior.
7 [And He did it in order] that we might be justified by His grace (by His favor, wholly undeserved), [that we might be acknowledged and counted as conformed to the divine will in purpose, thought, and action], and that we might become heirs of eternal life according to [our] hope. (NOTE: i.e. that we might be “saved by grace through faith”)
There are many instances of “saved by grace through faith” in Scripture. In ALL cases, the original language for “saved” or “salvation” is #4982 “sozo” which means “wholeness of body, soul, and spirit” and not merely “saved from hell”.
SUMMARY:
We live in the “world” where favor is generally “merited” by hard work. Jesus finished the “work” for our favor. In that “work”, He
God wants to bless His children ALWAYS
gave us what He, a perfect human being walking the earth, deserved and He “finished” what we deserved. He gave us His own righteousness—God sees us only in that righteousness.
We do not earn our salvation (sozo that is) by works. We do good works because being saved compels us to do them. He gave His body for our physical health. His soul was poured out unto death for our mental/emotional health. He wore the crown of thorns to obliterate the curse of Eden. He gave us access to His spirit at Pentecost after His bodily resurrection when He told us God was “His Father and our Father”. (see John 20:17)
Jesus said we need “just a little faith” or “mustard seed sized faith” but never said: “But strive and workj to have more so Father God can keep His Word.” Jesus said, “Have faith as a little child”. If a good parent makes unconditional promises to a child out of love, does the child need to work on conjuring up ever more faith in the parent’s character?
A child won’t naturally do so. A child will completely focus on the parent’s loving promise. The child will “see” the parent’s granting of “unmerited favor” and a good parent will relish the opportunity to keep a promise—Gracefully keep it. God is a good parent
Never forget John 3:16 even when you encounter confusing preaching or come upon a Scripture that seems to say, “Work or go to hell.” Scripture must be studied in context and Scripture must interpret Scripture. John 3:16 is a foundational Scripture:
“For God so loved the world that He gave His Only Begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him will not perish but have everlasting life.” Jesus covered ALL the future sin of God’s children……..ALL of our sin was future at the time of the cross. Don’t back away from God’s promised healing.