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The Proportion of Return
People want
God to do things for them, but they do not seem to want to do anything in order to get it.
When you speak to them about this they will generally come back with some scripture
stating that salvation is by grace through faith, and not by works! Yet, in the final
analysis, your work is an obvious expression of your faith, and a tangible demonstration
of God’s grace.
This message is an
exercise in finding the balance between works and grace.
The Measure
You Mete
This is a scriptural principle.
Matthew 5:38-39
This is
nearly always taken out of context.
Draw Near to
God
James 4:8
Grace
God’s
unmerited favor.
God’s willingness to use his ability on our behalf, even
though we do not deserve it.
- Deuteronomy 32:23
- Psalm 76:2-3
Inappropriate
Work/Grace Ratio
2 Kings
13:14-17
- V. 17 says this is the Lord’s deliverance!
This deliverance was limited to Aphek!
2 Kings
13:18-19
- He only smote the ground
with the arrows 3 times!
Perhaps he was concerned how he would
look beating those arrows into sawdust.
Possibly
he believed that one stroke was enough and added to more strokes for good measure.
This is
doubtful in view of the single arrow being shot for a single victory.
Most
likely, Joash believed that anything he did would be sufficient to achieve the desired
results.
- Elisha was furious about
Joash stopping after only 3 strokes!
God was only going to deliver them from
the Syrians 3 times, once for each stroke!
- Suppose Joash had beaten the arrows into splinters!
- Did Joash have more available to give God in this
situation?
Appropriate
Work/Grace Ratio
Matthew
14:15-21
- The boy gave all that he had toward the desired end.
When we come to Jesus, we come with our
whole heart!
If we want
God’s best, we must be willing to give him our best!
Do You Have
an Inverse Ration?
Something For
Nothing
Are you
trying to get something for nothing?
Are you
wanting another job?
- Are you getting additional training?
- Are you looking for a better job?
Are you wanting revelation knowledge?
- Are you spending as much time in the word as you can?
- Are you sharing what you have already learned?
- Are you praying that God reveal himself to you?
Are you looking for victory in your walk?
- Are you engaged in war against the powers of darkness?
- Are you fellowshipping with those of like precious faith?
- Are you keeping your walk clean before God?
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