Fearlessly CourageousDesk of Dennis Piller4 12 2023
Click for Audio VersionHis Amazingly Abundant Overflowing Grace
At our men’s group last night, we studied Romans 5:15 — (GW) "There is no comparison between ⸤God’s⸥ gift and ⸤Adam’s⸥ failure. If humanity died as the result of one person’s failure, it is certainly true that God’s kindness and the gift given through the kindness of one person, Jesus Christ, have been showered on humanity. Vs 15 talks about the gift.
The original sin was due to one man, Adam, who disobeyed and brought the curse to all mankind. The second Adam, Jesus, climbed up on the cursed tree, to save us. Father God sent his son to the cross and Jesus obeyed without a whimper, like a sheep to the slaughter. Is 53:7 He is the gift that covered all our trespasses and brought justification and redemption to all humankind. There is no greater view of His overflowing Grace.
Can I tell you a couple of stories this morning about God’s overflowing and Amazing Grace in the last week?
The Sunday before Easter – Palm Sunday. The day that Jesus entered Jerusalem, on a donkey, and a huge crowd greeted him with palm branches, waving and singing hail to the King. Matt 21:1As part of the prayer team, I went forward on Palm Sunday and one of our young leaders., Kevin came forward with his wife. She has been classified as a high-risk pregnancy and had been in pain and ordered to almost complete bed rest. The baby seemed lodged in a painful and dangerous position. They had come for prayer. I placed Kevin‘s hand on his wife’s tummy, and placed my hand on his, waited for direction, and began to pray.
I don’t really remember the words, nor are they particularly important, because God‘s presence was there. It is never through the power of my words that someone will receive God‘s overflowing grace, it is only by His spirit. But I did tell them this; I see a light inside of your baby glowing – throbbing brightly, and this baby he’s going to be OK. I could feel my emotions well up in me as I uttered those words. I said, God has his hand on this child and they are in His hands. The baby will be fine and so will his mother. I told them, you will remember all the days of your life this Sunday morning and this declaration.I didn’t realize at the time that I have spoken prophetically to them.
If I can move ahead a few days to Good Friday. I felt compelled to go to Friday night service. Sometimes you just get this irresistible urge to be with God’s people, and to be in God‘s presence. When the service was over. I came down near the far end of the altar. I am normally always in the middle. A young lad of about 14 came up and handed me his card for Salvation, and then almost immediately, three young girls around 12 or 13 came. And then, yet another young lady. Their parents gathered behind them, and I had them join hands and began to pray for them. The prayer leaders on my left and right, came up to join me, Jamie, and Lori. And I had them repeat after me a simple sinners prayer and had them invite Jesus into their hearts.
It was God's amazing grace, giving them redemption and forgiveness for their sins, and a new life by the spirit.
It is always such a gift to be able to lead someone to the Lord. For me, it is even more of a gift to lead a young person, with all of their life in front of them, to serve God. But for five of them to come forward, it was overwhelming. Their tears and mine and those of their parents were flowing. I know that it had nothing to do with me, but to be present and see God‘s amazing, overflowing grace is something that one will never forget. It’s like seeing a wonder greater than the Grand Canyon, or the Rocky Mountains, as these teenagers stepped into an everlasting life Friday night. They got to experience
Easter…Resurrection Sunday before the Lordin a way they will never forget.
The day after Easter our men’s group met. My dear friend Jamie came up and said I need to give you a praise report and he told me about Kevin and his wife that had come up for prayer on Good Friday. He said the very next day her pain was gone. And they reveled in the glory and the gift that God had given them. He said that this very morning, Monday morning, they had gone to the doctor. The baby had been behind her placenta, which was causing her pain and putting her at high risk, but the baby had dropped and was in a perfect position. Mom was in no more pain and she was no longer in a high-risk situation. I wept with tears of joy when I heard the news, and I shared the stories with our men as we closed out our evening. Gods never ending overflowing gift of grace poured out. Jesus the second Adam was obedient unto death. He was the gift to all mankind. And I thought about how his gift changed me. He called me to church… in obedience, I came and was able to pray for Kevin and his wife. He called me to be obedient again on Good Friday service, and I was afforded the honor of leading 5 youngsters to the Lord.
Just as the Lord calls each of you to be obedient.
Have you ever asked or wondered what it would be like to see His glory? Here is it! New Life…Young Life…
Ever wondered why the fruit of the Spirit is Love? Because God is love. He delights in talking and communicating with his children. God's very nature is to pour out his overflowing grace! In everything He does, He communicates life.
Look around, you see it everywhere but we don't see it. The birds of the air, the fish in the sea, that embryo in that momma's body. He communicates life in everything he does. When he calms you in the storm. When he heals your broken heart…or your body…and your marriage and illuminates the light before you so you know the right way to go through the valley of shadows. It is all the glory of God! He holds nothing back.
If we begin to start looking with the spiritual eyes that go with being born again in spirit… we WILL see His Glory. You will see Him communicating life. It begins with the example of his obedience…with submission and humility Whatever you ask of me Lord, I will do.
Show me the way to go…AND I WILL FOLLOW YOU.
Oceans Where Feet may Fallhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga3DmPRPAQQ
