C.
S. Lewis was once passing through a room where they were discussing what was unique
about Christianity. He stopped and said that was easy; it is grace.
Grace
is what we as followers of Jesus have to share with the world. Jesus is grace.
He dispensed grace to many kinds of people. He dispensed it to hungry people,
sick people, hurting people, distraught people, prideful people, and clueless
people.
It
is by and through God’s grace we can know who are in Him and what He does in
our lives to make us that.
We
are confused. We see that in our culture today in how we are confused about
what is right or wrong, in knowing our own gender, and in knowing what is true
or fake.
In
Isaiah 9:6 we are told that Jesus is the Wonderful Counselor. Jesus by His grace
is our counselor and reveals to us what is right and what is truth.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is following Jesus’ counsel.
Many
people face life feeling totally alone. They are lonely. They feel that no one
is there for them and no one cares.
In
Matthew 1:23 we are told that Jesus is Immanuel. Immanuel means God with us.
When we have a relationship with Jesus, we are never alone. He is always with
us.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is experiencing the presence of Jesus in our lives continually.
We
come into the world lost and separate from God. We are born sinners.
In
John 10:11 Jesus says that He is the Good Shepherd. Jesus as the Good Shepherd
goes and gets the lost sheep and brings them back to the flock. He then as the
Good Shepherd provides and protects us.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is being part of a faith community with Jesus as our Good Shepherd caring for
us.
We
all face failure at some times in our lives. The truth is, the more you do in
life the more you face failure. Failure does not have to be fatal. Failure does
not have to define us.
In
Job 19:25 Job knows he has a redeemer. Jesus is our Redeemer. Jesus through His
death and resurrection has redeemed us, not just giving us eternal life but
also redeeming us from a life with no purpose or meaning.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is experiencing the fullness of life, eternal and in the here and now.
I
meet people weekly who are desperate. They are desperate for love or peace or
joy or hope. Some are desperate for essential material needs. We live in a time
when many people are desperate.
In
Genesis 22:14 Abraham names the place where God provided the ram to sacrifice
in place of His son Isaac “The Lord Will Provide”, Jehovah Jireh. Jesus is our
Provider. He provides what we need, when we need it.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is depending on God to provide what we need, when we need it.
In
Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is called the Prince of Peace. He brings peace between us and
God the Father through His death on the cross.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is experience peace with God because of what Jesus has done.
We
come into the world totally helpless. We need someone to do everything for us.
We grow to be more capable, but even having reached our full growth we are many
times weak. We need a power outside human power to survive and succeed.
In
Isaiah 9:6 Jesus is revealed as Mighty God. He is the all-powerful God who can
do the impossible.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is experiencing the power of God to do the impossible.
We
are all broken people. We have hurts, wounds, and brokenness that need to be
healed.
In
Exodus 15:26 we are told that God is our healer. He heals us physically,
emotionally, and spiritually. He heals the whole person.
Raise the Roof and
Remove the Walls
is experiencing the healing of God in every area of lives.
The
grace of God makes us:
Steadfast
in Faith
In
Relationship with God and Others
Found
Successful
Content
Peaceful
Strong
Healed
and Fixed
In
God’s Grace, Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,
Joe
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