Without any Merit

Without any Merit

God is so good to all of us. Through every season, every difficulty, every joy that we experience, God is with us. Loving, leading, strengthening, and rejoicing.

Together we stand. Hearts and minds dedicated to reach our community, and as much of the world as we can.

Remember, how could you forget, the words you hear most every week. God is in this house, and in the mission we have embraced. We move forward always with His purpose, and in His strength.

Tear the walls of doubt and fear down, and believe with me that, ALL THINGS ARE POSSIBLE. #wewill #inHisname,

I want to read 8 scriptures. There is only one that is the focus of my message, but the others are so awesome I couldn’t carve them out.

Romans 11:25-32

25 For I do not want you, brethren, to be uninformed of this mystery—so that you will not be wise in your own estimation—that a partial hardening has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in;

26 and so all Israel will be saved; just as it is written,

The Deliverer will come from Zion, He will remove ungodliness from Jacob.”
27 “This is My covenant with them, When I take away their sins.”

28 From the standpoint of the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of God’s choice they are beloved for the sake of the fathers;

29 for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.

30 For just as you once were disobedient to God, but now have been shown mercy because of their disobedience,

31 so these also now have been disobedient, that because of the mercy shown to you they also may now be shown mercy.

32 For God has shut up all in disobedience so that He may show mercy to all. Preach God’s eternal plan!

My theme for today is found in verse 29. “for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.”

Romans11:29 Amplified

For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable [for He does not withdraw what He has given, nor does He change His mind about those to whom He gives His grace or to whom He sends His call].

Gifts is translated from the Greek word Charisma. It has a very thorough definition. “a favour with which one receives without any merit of his own.” “the gift of divine grace,- the gift of faith, knowledge, holiness, virtue,- the economy of divine grace, by which the pardon of sin and eternal salvation is appointed to sinners in consideration of the merits of Christ laid hold of by faith,- grace or gifts denoting extraordinary powers, distinguishing certain Christians and enabling them to serve the church of Christ, the reception of which is due to the power of divine grace operating on their souls by the Holy Spirit”

While putting this together a Biblical character came to mind. Someone who was born with a purpose. You might say He was a gift to his parents, and there was an anointing on him from God. A gift to save his people from an enemy. His name was Samson.

An angel of the Lord appeared to Samson’s mom with this message.

Judges 13:3-5

3 Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son.

4 Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing.

5 For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

This same message was confirmed to her husband.

When Samson was born and began to grow into adulthood it was evident that the anointing of God was on him.

Unfortunately Samson had some weaknesses. He often used his gift to tease or irritate the enemy. He also had a problem with the ladies. His gift was huge. With it he could deliver his people from the enemy that had afflicted them. You know the story.

He divulged the vow. The secret of his strength. They cut his hair, blinded him, bound him in bronze chains, and made him the grinder in prison.

“What happened to his gift?” Is This Us?

Here is one of the most remarkable passages in scripture.

Judges 16:22

However, the hair of his head began to grow again after it was shaved off.

How many would love to hear, however, right now?

So what is our individual gift. Individually, and corporately we have the same gift as Samson. “Share the freedom from sin in Christ. IE deliverance.”

1 Peter 4:8-10 Amplified

8 Above all, have fervent and unfailing love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins [it overlooks unkindness and unselfishly seeks the best for others].

9 Be hospitable to one another without complaint.

10 Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].

Sometimes we have to stir up the gift within us.

2 Timothy 1:6 KJV

Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands.

You have to look beyond what the eyes can see, and focus your faith on the gift of God. It is not about surroundings, culture, talent or ability. It is about what God says.

Ephesians 2:8-9 NASB and Amplified

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God-

8 For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God;

9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.

9 not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].

Gift in this passage from the Greek means, “a present, a gift offered as an expression of honor.”

Is there an however in your life? What you felt years ago may be stirring again in your heart.

Maybe you are ready today, to embrace the gift of eternal life. Free from condemnation, fear, and hopelessness.

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