What God Requires From You

We live in a time when God's people are often very confused about what Christianity is and what a Christian is supposed to do. I've heard people ask; what does God require from me? What should I be doing? Many others wonder why Christianity has not brought prosperity to their lives despite the fantastic promises of God in the Holy Bible. Obviously, we must have heard so many reasons or answers to these questions, but this is what the Lord says:

"Heaven is my throne, and earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be? Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the Lord. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my Word. (Isaiah 66:1-2) NIV

The sequence of the given thought runs thus: God is the Maker of the universe, and He wants nothing that belongs to it. The most stately church is to Him as the infinitely little. What He does delight in is something generically different -- the spiritual life which answers to His own. He is more interested in the man that is humble, the spirit that is contrite and the soul that trembles at His Word. It is these three qualities that God requires from you; humility, a contrite spirit and a trembling soul.

- Humility:

Humility, in this sense, is an act of total dependence on God. A humble man is one who has no opinion, but depends on the opinion of God. An opinionated person is only braggadocio of his knowing. When one tries to act without waiting upon God and looking to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, his soul is plainly in full swing. This will deplete his spiritual life -- as man's fall was occasioned by seeking knowledge. According to Proverbs 15:13, "...a low opinion of oneself goes before honour (BBE). Many well-meaning Christians are stifled in their growth, because they have become full of knowledge and pride. But the result of humility is the fear of the Lord along with wealth, honour and life (Proverbs 22:4). Jesus Christ washed His disciples' feet to extort them to humility and charity. When we surrender in total trust to God with all our life circumstances and with a teachable spirit, He rescues us. Ask yourself; do I stop God from moving in my life by my pride?


- Contrite Spirit:

A contrite spirit is a broken spirit. And in Biblical terms, the human heart is essentially the same as our our spirit. A new heart and a new spirit are one and the same (Ezekiel 36:26). God is looking for a man whose heart is broken. He is very pleased with a heart broken in subjection to His will. David understood this, and when he had sinned, he reminded God of Himself saying: "...a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise" (Psalm 51:17). Let me share this open secret with you; God is closer to a brokenhearted Christian (Psalm 34:12). Check within yourself, be introspective. Allow your outer man to give way for the inner man to rule. This is true brokenness.

- Trembling Soul:

God looks favourably on the man who trembles at His Word. How He so loves that woman who screams at the entrance of His Word... The Prophet Habakkuk, in his prayer, trembles at God's word (Hab. 3:1-2). A heart that trembles at God's word enjoys peace with God. You may claim yes; but only the Lord knows if your heart truly trembles at His Word. If that is true, He looks to you. It is an advantage to your own soul if you entertain God's Word with a trembling frame of heart.

I don't have all the answers to your questions but God's Word has all the answers. And as you learn from the Word and submit to God's will, He will lift you up. When God said "this is the one I esteem", He was implying that the man with these three qualities is the one He admires and cherishes. Serve God honestly and you'd experience that turn-around you desire.

Citizens of Grace

On diverse occasions, I have had to write articles under the compulsive leadership of the Precious Holy Spirit. Articles meant for a chosen few - who God wants to impart. Here again, is the good-news of the Gospel.

Grace, in this sense, does not refer to its loose meaning of an unmerited favour - that is, God seldom extending His hand of Grace towards us to receive us. Grace, here, refers to a share in the divine life of God, a spiritual habitation and a place of dwelling.

HOW GRACE CAME... 

Grace came through Jesus Christ. A greater amount of those who existed in the old before Jesus' coming never experienced Grace. They paid for their sins and were bound by the force of the law - practically working out everything concerning their salvation.

The Son of Man brought Grace to the world. He eradicated the holds of the law and gave us a new means of salvation - an era of free regeneration and sanctification.

"For the law was given by Moses but Grace and Truth came by Jesus." (John 1:17) KJV
Jesus made Grace real - such that it became a place where we can stand and never have to leave.

GRACE AS A PLACE... 

In the book of Romans, Apostle Paul also tells us that the sacrifice of Christ made Grace a place where we can dwell.

"...Through Whom we have gained access by faith into this Grace in which we now stand..." (Romans 5:12) NIV

Paul also justified the habitation called Grace when he said:

"I marvel that you are so soon removed from Him that called you into the Grace of Christ..." (Galatians 1:6) KJV

This clearly explains that the Grace of God is a spiritual habitation wherein one is expected to dwell; it is not merely an unmerited favour.

However, a clearer definition of the palace of Grace was stated in the book of Hebrews:

"Let us come boldly unto the throne of Grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find Grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16) KJV 

Here, we are advised to fearlessly approach the Throne room - where the throne of Grace situated, in order to find Grace in our time of need. However, God's original intent and the best decision for us would be to remain in the Throne room for the rest of our lives. Never leaving its presence; and always leading our lives in the aura of Grace. This way, we become those who live in the headquarters of Grace; this way, we become citizens of Grace.

Citizens of Grace are the indwellers of the estate of Grace. They reflect the true picture of Grace. As the true picture of Grace, these citizens are the perfect replica of wealth - because Grace is able to provide anything. They do not work for prosperity, but inherit it. He who sits upon the Throne of Grace is their King. He is prosperity in itself.

Citizens of Grace are extraordinary citizens. They speak possibilities where there is a casting down. They are always careful to adding God's word to life issues and their conversation is filled with Grace. (Colossians 4:6) 

This specie of people work and succeed by Grace alone. Their successes are not products of struggles; rather, they are products of a free and benevolent influence of a Holy God which operates in their lives. Nevertheless, amid these riches, citizens of Grace don't waste resources, but multiply them. We take advantage of Grace, but we are never wasters.

HOW TO BECOME A CITIZEN OF GRACE... 

To become a citizen of Grace, you fully surrender and believe in Him who is the source of Grace; that is, our Lord Jesus Christ. Late Kenneth Hagin of the Blessed memory opined that you practice this kind of faith by believing in Jesus with all your heart and also with the words of your mouth.

And since we speak a message of wisdom amongst those that are matured - not the wisdom of this world, but God's secret wisdom, I pinpoint that a prospective citizen of Grace must understand he ought to remain with the source of Grace and in the Throne room if he must enjoy his rights.

Now that you are familiar with Grace - a place where we receive anything, you must make yourself matured enough to receive what Grace would give to you.

Live as citizens of Grace.

God Bless You!