Grace is Like a River

I truly love the Word of God. God’s Word is beautiful, insightful, challenging, encouraging, and comforting. The best and most exciting thing about God’s Word is that it is God’s Word. It is not the word of imperfect, fallible human beings. It is the very word of a perfect, infallible, eternal God.



I also love the fact that God’s Word has unity and actually contains in it the proof of the truth it teaches. What God says in one part of the Bible is illustrated in another area.



Romans 5:15-19

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man’s trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brought condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brought justification. For if, because of one man’s trespass, death reigned through the one man, much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and the free gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus Christ. Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men. For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many were made righteous.



Grace is a free gift. Five times the term free gift is used in this passage. Paul wanted to emphasize that grace is not something we can deserve or earn. It is free and all we have to do is receive.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is believing and living like grace really is free.



Grace is never extended in small doses but always in abundance. God is not stingy, but He is a generous God.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is receiving God’s grace in abundance.



God’s grace brings forgiveness, justification, eternal life, and righteousness. God’s grace brings forgiveness of sin and rightness with God.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is believing and living based on the truth that it is only by God’s grace that we are forgiven, saved, and made righteous.



The truth that grace is a free gift and brings salvation and righteousness is shown by a vision that God gives Ezekiel.



Ezekiel 47:1-12

Then he brought me back to the door of the temple, and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east). The water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. The he brought me out by way of the north gate and led me around on the outside to the outer gate that faces toward the east, and behold, the water was trickling out on the south side. Going on eastward with a measuring line in his hand and the man measured a thousand cubits, and then led me through the water, and it was ankle-deep. Again, he measured a thousand and led me through water, and it was knee-deep. Again, he measured a thousand, and led me through the water, and it was waist-deep. Again, he measured a thousand, and it was a river that I could not pass through, for the water had risen. It was deep enough to swim in, a river that could not be passed through. And he said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he led me back to the bank of the river. As I went back, I saw on the bank of the river very many trees on the one side and on the other. And he said to me, “This water flows toward the eastern region and goes into the Arabah, and enters the sea, when the water flows into the sea, the water will become fresh. And wherever the river goes, every living creature that swarms will live, and there will be very many fish. For this water goes there, that the waters of the sea may become fresh; so everything will live where the river goes. Fisherman will stand beside the sea. From the Engedi to Eneglaim it will be a place for the spreading of nets. Its fish will be of very many kinds, like the fish of the Great Sea. But its swamps and marshes will become fresh; they are to be left for salt. And on the banks, on both sides of the river, there will grow all kinds of trees for food. Their leaves will not wither, nor their fruit fall, but they will bear fresh fruit every month, because the water for them flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for healing.”



Picture this as an illustration of what grace should be and what it should be doing through us. The temple is us as followers of Jesus. We are the temple of God. The water is the grace that should be flowing forth from our lives. It starts as a trickle, moves to being ankle-deep, then knee-deep, then waist-deep and finally a river that cannot be passed through. Everything the river touches, it brings life to. It removes the salt that leads to death and brings life. The grace of God brings life to us and should flow through us to bring life to others.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing the grace of God and letting that grace fill our lives and overflow to others.



In God’s Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                                Joe

Grace is for the Unworthy

Grace is, by its nature, for the unworthy. If you think you are worthy in yourself, then you will see no need for grace. If you know that you are not worthy, you will seek out grace and be very willing to receive it when it is offered.



Some of the most unworthy people as judged by the culture in the New Testament are lepers.



Lepers were total outcasts in the culture. They had to live separated from the rest of the population. They had to cry out “unclean” when they came close to nonlepers. Leprosy represents sin. So, from a spiritual view point, lepers would symbolize sinners. 



So, when Jesus told stories about lepers it tended to catch people’s attention.



Luke 17:11-19

On the way to Jerusalem He was passing along between Samaria and Galilee. And as He entered a village, He was met by ten lepers, who stood at a distance and lifted their voices, saying, “Jesus, Master have mercy on us.” When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. Then one of them when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you well.”



The first thing is that they called out to Jesus and recognized Him as Master.



They knew that grace and mercy are found in Jesus.

They knew that Jesus was Master and had the power to fulfill their request.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is recognizing that Jesus has the desire and the power to fulfill our needs.



The second thing is that they asked for mercy.



In Hebrews 4:16 we are told that we can with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.



There is never a time in Scripture when a person asks God for mercy that God does not grant mercy to that person.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing that when we ask Jesus for mercy, He will give it to us.



The third thing is that when Jesus told them to go show themselves to the priest, they turned and went.



The priest would be the one person who could officially declare the lepers clean and allow them to return to their families and real life again. The lepers were healed as they were turning to go to the priest.



God’s grace is poured out on all people, but His grace is personally experienced when we obey Him. It is not that God’s grace is not there all the time. But grace can only be experienced by a person in the element of obedience.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is, through obedience to Jesus, experiencing His grace.



The fourth is that only one of the ten lepers when he realized he was healed returned to thank Jesus and praise God. Jesus does not undo the healing of the nine who did not return. Jesus simple comments that only a Samaritan came back to show thanks.



Grace is free.

Grace is for the unworthy.

Grace is given to the ungrateful.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus and who He is, not about us or even our response to Jesus.



The fifth thing is that Jesus points out to the healed leper that it was his faith in Jesus that made him well.



It is Jesus and our faith in Him that brings salvation and all the other blessings of God. And remember that the size of faith necessary is that of a mustard seed.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living based on the size of our Savior and not the size of our faith.



You and I are healed lepers, saved sinners, based on the grace of our Master and Savior Jesus.



In God’s Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                         Joe

Knowing Who We Are is Important!

Psalm 57:2 (CSB)

I call to God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose.



Jesus is seen by the world today in many different ways:

•Savior & Lord

•Loving

•Influential

•Irrelevant



Jesus’ life is a vivid illustration of the priority of identity.



•Luke 2:49 -Jesus saw God as His Father

And He said to them, “Why were you looking for Me? Did you not know that I must be in My Father’s house?”



•Matthew 3:17 – The Father saw Jesus as His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased.

And behold, a voice from heaven, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am welled pleased.”



The Father tells Jesus this before Jesus has preached a sermon, called a disciple, performed a miracle, or completed the Father’s will by dying for our sin.



That allowed Jesus to following the Father’s directions.

•John 8:28

So, Jesus said to them, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing on my on authority, but speak just as the Father taught.”



Notice what the Father did not say to Jesus:

•Go evangelize the world

•Do the right thing

•Fulfill My law

•When you die, fear not, I will bring you back



The Father confirmed who Jesus was, the Father’s beloved Son & how He felt about Jesus, well pleased. Identity took precedence over instruction.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing who we are in Jesus.



Jesus, right after His baptism, is led by the Holy Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted. The first two temptations that Jesus faced were aimed as His identity, “If You are the Son of God…”



Jesus based His entire earthly ministry on who He was and who He is.

He did not base it on:

The people He knew

His education

His miracles

It all flowed from His identity as God’s beloved Son in whom the Father was well pleased.



We can live & relate to others, ourselves, & God based on our identity in Jesus, who He says we are.



Jesus sets the example here:



●His identity directed His actions. – John 10:11: As the Good Shepherd He  

  laid down His life for the sheep (us).



●His identity allowed Him to give us access to the Father. – John 14:6: He is the way, the truth, the life, and the only access point to the Father.



●His identity gave Him authority. – John 11:25-26: He is the resurrection and the life and those who are dead live in Him.



Our lives are best lived when we know our God-given identity and when we let God reveal that identity to us.



What is an identity?



Identity is who a person is in totality. It is the real truth about the real you. We all have a God-given identity, but we may not know it or want it or understand it.



Relationships flow out of our identity. So, relationships are the interaction of our identities that enable us to know and understand one another. The depth of our relationships is greatest when who you are, and who they are, can freely open up, understand, and speak the truth in love.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is relating to others based on who we are in Jesus.



Anytime in Scripture God created something, He always marked it by naming it. – Genesis 2:19

Names in Scripture meant something that show the person’s real character, their identity. There are instances when God changed the character of a person, He also changed their name. Today when we hear a name, we associate it with a character trait based on some person with that name that we had known.



Who we really are matters to God. Discovering what God knows about us and how He views us should matter to us.



We are all on a journey of identity. We come into life not knowing who we are. We learn our identity as we live life. Some of our teachers are good and some are bad, some are trustworthy and some totally unreliable.



Some things we learn about our identity are simple: I have brown eyes.

Some things we learn about our identity are complex: I never felt understood by my parents.



Over our lives we discover new things about our identity. Things like:

Our Strengths

Our Weaknesses

Our Successes

Our Failures

Our Shames

We learn how to adjust and adapt and deal with the positives and negatives.



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing God to reveal to us through His Word who we are.



We might believe we don’t think very much about our identity, but the truth

is our identity is actually a deep underlying part of our thinking most of the time every day. It is our identity that either clarifies or confuses the choices we make in life. In 2 Samuel 11, David makes several bad choices based on the false belief that as king he could do what he wanted. Our identity affects almost every area, including how you think and feel at any given time. It affects the way you approach daily opportunities and how you react to problems, and how you tend to view God and your present circumstances. Job is an example. He didn’t see his situation in the same way his friends saw it.



Shawn:

Is a sharp, intelligent employee, excellent at solving problems. He has a great attitude – that is, unless he fails or someone criticizes him. Then he panics, explodes in anger, lashes out at others, and withdraws into self-pity for days.



Luann:

Is an amazing mother to her three children. But when her youngest son left for college, she suddenly felt like her life as a mom was over, and she quickly sank into an unexpected depression, including suicidal thoughts.



Colby:

Grew up in church and decided to follow Jesus at a young age. But in his teen years, he developed a dark addiction to porn that has enslaved him for more than a decade. He desperately wants to be used by God, but he is haunted by shame, and he struggles with ongoing doubts about his own salvation.



Chelsea:

Is a beautiful girl with a bright future. After being sexually assaulted on a date in college, she’s been deeply broken emotionally and feels like worthless, damaged goods. Carrying loads of misplaced shame, she began drinking to medicate her pain and has battled alcoholism for years.



Jerome:

Has retired after twenty-five years as a pastor in his community and gladly passed leadership to a young man fresh out of seminary. Less than a year later, however, he’s frustrated with his empty calendar and has a hard time not being angry at how well the church has moved on without him. He feels jealousy over the new pastor’s success and has grown bitter toward God for taking his church away from him.



If you had a causal relationship with any of these people and listen to their stories you might come up with some assumptions about each of them.



Shawn just has anger issues.

Luann’s problem is her empty nest.

Colby needs an internet filter.

Chelsea needs to control her drinking.

Jerome is merely a grumpy old retiree.



But the truth is, in each case, their external behavior is actually flowing out of internal issues deeply rooted in their hearts. God sees into the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). They all need love and a listening ear, compassionate understanding, accountable relationships, and encouraging support. They also need to discover some key truths about their identity and value that could set them free. – John 8:32



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is looking at others with the eyes of Jesus.



Questions that We Need to Ask Ourselves:

●What do you think God thinks about you?

●Do you believe He really sees, cares, and knows you intimately?  

●Do you feel like He accepts you, just tolerates you, or rejects you?

●Do you genuinely believe He loves you?



To know and be known is a powerful thing.

To love and be loved is a beautiful thing.

To know your purpose and fulfil it is a priceless thing.



But to know God and be known and loved by Him is better than life itself. It is, in fact, eternal life. – John 17:3



Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is knowing that God knows and loves you.



We can then have the confidence to pray Psalm 139:23-24 and know that what God tells us will always be the truth and for our good.



In God’s Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                        Joe

Grace Provides Us With

God’s grace in our lives enables us to really trust Him. God’s grace gives us great confidence in Him. God’s grace enables us to then live knowing that no matter what we face in life, God’s got us.

David understood that truth and he writes Psalm 31:1-5.

He says:

In You, O Lord, do I take refuge; let me never be put to shame; in your righteousness deliver me! Incline Your ear to me; rescue me speedily! Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me! For You are my rock and fortress; and for Your name’s sake You lead me and guide me; You take me out of the net they have hidden for me, for You are my refuge. Into your hand I commit my spirit; you have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God.

Grace enables us to experience Jesus as our protector. He is our refuge, our rock, and our fortress.

We live in a world that can be dangerous. We need a God who is strong and powerful. We need a God who loves us and wants to care for us. We have a God who is both all-power and all-loving. He is able to protect and take care of us and He desires to protect and take care of us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is, through the grace of God, experiencing Jesus as our protector.

Grace will allow us to never be put to shame.

The word shame in verse 1 means to be ashamed or disconnected or disappointed. By God’s grace we will never be ashamed to be a follower of Jesus, we will never be disconnected from Jesus our vine, or never be disappointed in Jesus and Him not following through on His promises.

God through His grace not only provides forgiveness but also removes any shame brought about because of our sin.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing joy, not shame, because of God’s grace.

Grace enables God to hear our prayers. Prayer is not convincing God to do what we want. Prayer is God communicating His will to us and giving us the power to do it.

1 John 5:14-15 says that if we ask anything according to God’s will, He hears us and when He hears us, He will grant what we are requesting.

We don’t get it because we deserve it; we get it because of His name sake. It is always about Jesus, not us, in everything.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is about Jesus and His will, not about us or our will.

God’s grace empowers us to be led and guided by God’s Spirit and for God’s honor.         

God wants us to walk daily knowing and doing His will. He wants that because knowing and doing God’s will honors Him and benefits us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is be led by and guided by God’s Spirit in ways that honor Him and bless us.

God’s grace delivers us.

We will commit and have committed transgressions. To transgress means to step over a boundary line. The boundary line was set there by God for our good. God does not want us to wander and step over into an area in which we will be hurt or even destroyed. God sets boundaries to protect us, not to restrict us. God’s boundaries actually free us to live lives of abundance. So, God in His grace delivers us when we transgress.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living in the freedom of God’s boundaries.

God pouring His grace into our lives results in us being able to commit our spirit into His hands and experience His redemption. I cannot redeem or save myself but Jesus’ death and resurrection can and does. Grace, God’s unmerited love and care for us, is the only thing that redeems us.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing redemption through Jesus as I commit my spirit into His hands.

Grace Empowers!

Grace Blesses!

In God’s grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                      Joe

Grace is Greater

In my study of grace over the last year, one of the things God has revealed to me and is teaching me is that His grace is greater than all my fear, my inadequacies, and all my sins.

We all have heart problems. We all battle:

Selfishness (I want what I want)

Pride (Life revolves around me)

Lust (I know it’s wrong but I want it)

Greed (I deserve it more than anyone else)

Insecurity (I don’t feel worthy)

Anger (I hate you)

Fear (Help! I can’t survive this)

Loneliness (No one cares)

And Many Many More

1 John 4:4

Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Jesus, the one in us, is greater than the one who is in the world, Satan. None of our weaknesses or inadequacies or sins is greater than God’s grace. My weaknesses, my inadequacies, my sins can never overcome or overpower God’s grace.

Grace qualifies me when my inadequacies tell me I’m not good enough.

Grace forgives and cleanses me when I sin.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is living with the reality that God’s grace overcomes our weaknesses, our inadequacies, and our sins.

We will face being hurt by others, even those we admire and love. We will be betrayed by those who should have protected and cared for us.

The Bible talks about the Gospel. The word gospel means good news. The good news is that God loves us.

Romans 8:37-39

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The awesome truth about God’s love us is that:

Nothing can separate us from His love

Nothing can change His love for us

His love is not based on us or our performance but on His will to love us

Others may let me down or disappoint me or even betray me, but God will never do any of those to me.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing God’s love and knowing that nothing will change His love for us or separate us from His love.

The names of God show us how the grace of God has become more revealed to us over time.

In the Old Testament the primary names of God are:

Elohim meaning God

Adonai meaning Almighty God

Yahweh meaning, I Am that I Am

The last name, Yahweh, is God’s covenant name. It is a very personal name that God reveals to Moses.

Based on God’s name, we see more who we are. We are:

God’s creation

God’s subjects

God’s people

When we come to the New Testament, the primary name for God that Jesus gives us is Father. Then Jesus goes a little deeper in intimacy and gives us the name Abba. Abba means dad or daddy. It is the name that only you as his child you can call your father. Only my children and grandchildren call me Pops. I am no one else’s Pops but theirs.

God as our Father and our Abba means that we are His beloved children. Nothing will ever change that.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is experiencing God as our Abba and knowing we are His beloved children.

God’s grace overcomes my weaknesses and my inadequacies and sins.

God’s grace gives me total security in the knowledge of His love for me.

God’s grace establishes God as my Abba and me as His beloved child.

In God’s Grace Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls,

                                        Joe