Grace in the Hallway

3 years ago

The hallway is all about repentance, change.

Temple reconstruction project began well – Ezra 3:11a (NLT) – … the people gave a great shout, praising the Lord because the foundation of the Lord’s Temple had been laid.
And we are that Temple in the new covenant, both individually and collectively – 1 Corinthians 6:19 & 3:16.
But the enemy will try to stop it – Ezra 4:24a – So the work on the Temple of God in Jerusalem had stopped…

That is where grace comes in.

Zechariah 4:7-9 (NKJV) – ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ⁸Moreover the word of the Lord came to me, saying: ⁹“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; His hands shall also finish it. Then you will know that the Lord of hosts has sent Me to you.”
Romans 6:1-2a, 23 (NKJV) – What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin (to practice sin in the Amplified version) that grace may abound? ² Certainly not!²³ … free gift of God …
The word Greek charis– grace, favor, thanks, divine influence – The Greek word charisma – which means gift.

We need God’s grace to close old doors that the enemy keeps sneaking through.

We need God to close those old doorways to the sinful world – Genesis 6:10 (NLT) – A male and female of each kind entered, just as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord closed the door behind them.
And it’s God’s grace that gives us the tools to close those doors – 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.

Then grace must be applied to our walk.

First grace for others – Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT) – Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.
But it’s God’s goodness that leads to repentance – Romans 2:4.
Then applying grace for ourself – Galatians 2:20 (NLT) – My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Its faith that releases grace!

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NKJV) – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. ¹⁰ For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
This is the Lord’s way of saying you’re going to anyways – Haggai 2:21, 23 (NLT) – “Tell Zerubbabel, the governor of Judah, that I am about to shake the heavens and the earth…“But when this happens, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, I will honor you, Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, my servant. I will make you like a signet ring on my finger, says the Lord, for I have chosen you. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!”

* The message corresponding to this post is under “media” on this site – dhfirstag.org – and is available on Monday