Re: POWER of PRAYER- No Matter Which Faith You Follow=GOD is With You
The Gate of Grace
Isaiah prophesied, "They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations" (Isaiah 61:4, ESV).
Isaiah's listeners could not fathom the freedom and exploits he described here. For generations, God's people had been crushed under the law, devastated by its burden.
The same was true for the people of Jesus's day. They were hard on themselves, accepting the legalistic burdens placed on them by religious leaders. That is why Christ's words were so revolutionary when he quoted directly from Isaiah to announce his ministry: "The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound" (Isaiah 61:1).
Jesus knew that the gift of grace would set us free completely. His message was not just for the unsaved. When he spoke of setting captives free, he was speaking to believers too. "If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36).
Today, we are just as hard on ourselves. We think of grace as being soft or getting a pass, yet grace is the mightiest power we will ever see at work in our lives. It is also the only power that brings real fruit to our walk with God. Only as we enter fully into God's grace will his church be stirred and empowered to walk in the glorious works he has set before us.
After reading this, are you still striving to be perfect? There is only one entrance to the path of perfection: the gate of grace. You are already perfect in God's eyes through the righteousness of his Son, Jesus Christ. Now, here is your responsibility: Stop striving!
Your efforts only send you backward, not forward, causing you to miss God's grace completely. A grace that brings freedom, joy and power to do all that God has called you to do. As you go forward with Jesus, you will need grace upon grace. So now is not the time to redouble your own efforts. It is time to trust that Christ has provided all the grace you need at every step to walk in his unique calling for you.
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I urge, then, first of all, that petitions, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people -- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 1 Timothy 2:1-4
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