God’s Throne of Grace

          When I teach a Bible study or Sunday school on God’s throne of grace I like to begin by giving everyone an opportunity to share how they view God’s Throne. I usually hear responses such as judgment and authority, wisdom or majesty and dominion, honesty and righteousness and then invariably I will finally hear someone say He is merciful, and on occasion the word grace will be used. The word throne symbolizes the place where a King sits and rules his kingdom. God, being the King of Kings, and creator of the universe obviously has the ability to rule with all power and to do as He pleases. For this reason I think it is all the more awesome that the writer of Hebrews 4:16 chooses to describe God’s throne as the throne of grace!

          How can we understand grace? The word grace is comparable to the word love in the sense that while it embraces a certain concept it can hold a different variation of meaning to each person. Text descriptions such as “unmerited favor” or a “virtue coming from God” begin to help us grasp the concept. Words like favor, gratitude, mercy, thanks and kindness are all found in descriptions of grace. The Greek word “charis” is where we get the word grace and it means a gift. This is where the word charismatic that we use to describe someone who is likeable and attractive or gifted comes from.

          The idea I get here is that there is a power, a virtue, a gift of divine assistance and even God’s favor and kindness that you and I can find flowing from God’s throne of grace. And the book of Hebrews says we can come “boldly” to His throne of grace and find grace and mercy whenever we need. Not contingent on whether or not we deserve it because it is a gift! God wants to empower each of to be able to live for Him and through Him. He wants to give forgiveness and freedom from shame or guilt. He came into this world not to condemn the world but that the world through Him might find LIFE and life more abundantly. All we need to do is come to His throne of Grace and mercy because He is our ever present help in time of need.

          Hebrews 4:14-16; 14 seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

          God is on the throne of Heaven and through Jesus Christ we have been given free access to His throne to find grace which is actually free strength to overcome whatever struggles we face in life. Perhaps you are a missionary in a foreign land that needs strength to fight the good fight one more day, or spouse of an addict/alcoholic that wants desperately to see them set free. You may be living with guilt or shame from things you did years ago and want to be forgiven and freed. Possibly, you could be facing financial woes during these uncertain times. Whatever your circumstances are you can come boldly to God’s throne of grace, you can touch God today and He will help you!

          

           

How to Beat Addiction and Alcoholism

          Alcoholism and addiction have created problems for those involved as long as there has been alcohol and addictive substances. Yet the worlds best and smartest of counselors, doctors, scientists and therapists cannot figure out how to cure this problem. I worked for over 4 years in an addiction clinic as a certified chemical dependency counselor and I came up with the conclusion that the ones who find freedom from drugs and or alcohol have two things in common. First, they come to a place where they realize that they have destroyed enough. Second, they attack the addiction on a spiritual level. In AA they call it hitting bottom, and realizing you need a higher power to conquer the addiction.

          Today I want to share with you from the book of Luke 4:18-19 and from the book of John 8:34-36.

          Luke 4: 18-19 “The spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent me to heal the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed; to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”

          John 8:34-36 Jesus answered them. Most assuredly I say to you that whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free you shall be free indeed”

          God wants each of us to be full of Him! In John chapter 4 Christ tells the woman that if she drinks from the well she will thirst again but whoever drinks of the water He has to give then they will never thirst again but out of their bellies shall flow rivers of living water! Addiction is a spiritual debt. The emptiness can only be filled with the love and spirit of God. The twelve steps can be taken from the Bible and originally were but Bill decided that if he were to take the direct message of salvation out and number the steps then more people would receive freedom.

          I can declare from my six years as a pastor and 4 years as a chemical dependency counselor that programs offered from the world can offer some relief from addiction and a few even maintain some long term sobriety. But true freedom does not come from anywhere other than finding your purpose from God and living it! Each of us is created with a plan and purpose from God our creator and true freedom (liberty) can only be found by letting Him into your life and following His purpose for you.

          Isaiah 26:2-4  2 Open the gates, that the righteous nation which keeps the truth may enter in. 3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You. 4 Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.

Perfect peace comes to those who keep their mind focused on God’s plan for their lives.