LUKE 7:20-23, 29-30 NLT [20] John's two disciples found Jesus and said to him, "John the Baptist sent us to ask, 'Are you the Messiah we've been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?'" [21] At that very time, Jesus cured many people of their diseases, illnesses, and evil spirits, and he restored sight to many who were blind. [22] Then he told John's disciples, "Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard-the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor." [23] And he added, "God blesses those who do not fall away because of me."
We are blessed if we can maintain our faith in God regardless of how He answers our prayers. If we focus only on what is in front of us, we will probably not see God working around us. When we trust Jesus, regardless of the circumstances, we are blessed.
2 TIMOTHY 2:13 NLT If we are unfaithful, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny who He is.
PSALM 139:1-6 NLT [1] O LORD, you have examined my heart and know everything about me. [2] You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away. [3] You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do. [4] You know what I am going to say even before I say it, LORD. [5] You go before me and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head. [6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!
Let’s start living by God’s promises instead of waiting for his explanations. His promises are enough. We must not let the voices of so-called Christians be louder than the voice of Jesus.
THREE TRUTHS ABOUT GOD’S GRACE
ONE | THERE IS NO SIN TOO BIG FOR GOD’S GRACE.
ROMANS 8:38-39 NLT [38] And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. [39] No power in the sky above or in the earth below-indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
No matter what you have done or what has been done to you, come to Jesus. If your life is jacked up, broken, addicted, afraid, hiding, ashamed, or guilty, come to Jesus.
TWO | YOU ARE NOT WHAT YOU HAVE DONE. YOU ARE WHO GOD SAYS YOU ARE.
EPHESIANS 2:4-9 NLT
JOHN 1:12 NLT But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God.
1 PETER 2:9 NLT But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.
THREE | YOU CAN’T CHANGE YOUR PAST, BUT JESUS CAN GIVE YOU A FRESH START AND A FULFILLING FUTURE
If you’re always looking backward, it is hard to move ahead. Your past has no power over you. It’s only your belief that is keeping you down. Choose to move forward in the power of Christ.
PHILIPPIANS 3:12-14 NLT [12] I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. [13] No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, [14] I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
The devil brings up your past because he is running out of new material. Every time he brings up your past, you must remind him of his future.
Jesus is greater than our sins, mistakes, guilt, and shortcomings.