Yes and no

The apostle Peter declared that we become partakers of God’s divine nature through His promises and Paul wrote that in Christ all the promises of God are ‘yes’ and ‘Amen’. 2 Pet 1:3-4. 2 Cor 1:20. There are specific promises for every individual according to the ‘works’ that He has prepared for each one of us to do. Eph 2:10. Grace is the ‘yes’ of God which equips us to do those works.

If we are not experiencing God’s ‘yes’ and ‘Amen’ in our lives, we need to stop and think why He is saying ‘no’ to us. Is it because we are not aligned to the promises which will bring His divine nature to us? Paul told the Corinthians that God establishes us in Christ and anoints us. 2 Cor 1:21. Grace is like the anointing oil which ordained and empowered the priests to serve the Lord in the tabernacle. In the same way, grace gives us the authority and capacity to serve the Lord in a certain manner, but the ‘no’ of God will not allow us to proceed.

Cain is an interesting example. He came short of the ‘word of grace’ for his life, and therefore, his offering was not accepted by God. Gen 4:5-7. He did not do ‘well’ and it produced in him a root of bitterness. When people do not realign themselves to the grace of God in the season when He urges them to do so, a root of bitterness can develop. They may say ‘I’ve served the Lord and His people faithfully so why is this happening to me? I no longer have a part or portion here.’ We need to make the necessary shift so grace can come to equip us for the work of the coming season which may be long or short. Paul said to the Romans, ‘For this reason it is by faith in order that it might be in accordance with grace so that the promise will be guaranteed’. Rom 4:16. I’m sure we would all like a guaranteed promise that our ‘works’ will prosper.

Cameron Playsted

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Feature Articles
November 2009

The word of His grace

Where is wisdom?
-Part 2

Believe and be established

Poured out

Yes and no

The gates of righteousness

Sufficient grace

A living sacrifice

Where your
treasure is

Strong in the Lord