Who does the preaching you are listening to glorify?

Believers, Romans 8:32 says "He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?"

True Grace preaching always points to our Lord Jesus Christ as our Saviour, Redeemer and Provider. Never human effort. Never with a jot of "the part we played" inclusive. He gives us all things (including grace to do good works) FREELY so we cannot boast of doing anything in our strength at all. All glory goes to Him. Only by grace through faith are we saved (including salvation from oppression, sinful habits, sickness, death and hell). We don't deserve it. We cannot earn it.

If you're trying to determine if a preacher is preaching Grace and Truth, by God's grace, check out who his message glorifies. Is it the church "Daddy" who healed the sick or cast out devils because he spent 40 days on some mountain without which the sick would not be healed? Human effort is glorified. 

Is it you who received your breakthrough because you fasted and sowed seed without which you would still be in bondage? Human effort is glorified.

After we have done all these things, what is left for our Saviour to do? If we could save ourselves with our various efforts, Jesus would not have needed to come and save us.

What many of us believers don't realise is that like Ruth who gathered much more than what she should have as she gleaned on Boaz's field, our Saviour makes provision for us, even without our knowledge. Even before we know Him intimately. Boaz, a picture of our Lord Jesus Christ, was the one who made sure that his men dropped more than enough grain for Ruth (a picture of His church - we in Christ)  to glean and also ensured her safety. Imagine Ruth thinking that the reason she gathered so much and the reason why no one harassed her was because she got there early or because she was a smart and fast gleaner! The Lord arranged it all. Without Him, we can do nothing.

Trust in the Lord to provide your need according to His riches in glory. He gives us all things freely. In Him, we are His sheep. He is our Shepherd. Imagine a sheep trying to shear itself!

The Lord gives grace to understand His word. Uneducated fishermen could understand. Tax collectors could understand. They even wrote parts of the bible! The Lord gives grace to understand. Ask, and it shall be given unto you. The Holy Spirit will teach you all things.

Believe Right and you will Live Right.

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