13/08/09

Grace to overcome the old man

Hebrew 8:12 - For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.


The grace of God is not only for our bodily needs but also for our inner man and our spirit.

We may have tried many a time to overcome an area in our character, the same efforts Paul did to his thorn. To Paul the Lord said the same thing which He is reminding us today 'My grace is sufficient for thee'.

Paul learnt it the hard way over a long period of time and he wrote his testimony through his letters so that we learn and do not do the same mistake of not tapping the grace which the Lord has made available for us, through faith. We can delay the change in us by struggling with our old (inner) man (our soul) by trying and trying or we can let the grace of the Lord help us overcome it easily; the choice is ours.

It is by faith that we can use the grace to overcome our old selves. We do not need to physically die to our flesh, for by grace we become born-again by Jesus' death and resurrection.

So are we going to struggle or are we going to let grace do the job.


[ Prayer Starter ]

Father God, We thank You for the grace You have made available for us through your Son Lord Jesus Christ. Father, we want to be with You and Jesus has shown us the way to You. But the journey is hard and narrow. Father, we received all the grace we need to walk the way and remain on it. We become overcomer not by our efforts but only by your grace...

We make this prayer in Jesus' Name, Amen.


[ Reference Scriptures ]

2 Corinthians 12:7-9
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.
8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Luke 2:40
40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

John 1:13-16
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

Acts 4:33
33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.

Acts 20:16-24
16 For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost.
17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church.
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.


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