“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9, 10)

Greetings!

Family worships at the Eden Way Outpost are truly a taste of Heaven on earth. Often we say amongst ourselves, “If only every one could hear these precious truths!” By God grace, we shall begin to give you a taste of this goodness herein. One of our studies was taken from 2 Corinthians 12: 9, 10. Generally, we will have a week to commit our theme text to memory, and have our family worships centered on it. For this entry, we shall start with the first day of the family worship series, “His Grace Is Sufficient”. If you are interested in the revelation of the rest of the study, please let us know in the comments below!

Before getting deep into our study, Father Davis will give us a list of questions in which we will answer throughout the week, based on our theme verse(s). Generally, there will be at least one question each day for homework. This gives us the opportunity to commune with God individually, about what we are studying as a family. It is such a delight to hear how God speaks to each person. Please join in and share what God is saying to you, as you enter into this gracious study!

Below are the questions we were given. As you look at them, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with them, write them down, and talk to God about them. Especially contemplate on the first question to start off. We are learning here at the Eden Way that not questioning God, but asking Him the right questions helps us to enter into a relationship with Him. Prayerfully may this be your experience too!

Questions:

1.) What does the Bible expression mean, “My grace is sufficient for thee”?

2.) What is grace used interchangeably with?

a. When is God’s strength made perfect? How is this? Please explain.

3.) What are infirmities?

a. How should I feel because of my infirmities? (If we enter into the experience of the text)

b. Why should I feel this way? Isn’t it a contradiction? Please explain.

4.) How should the experience of this text affect my relationship with Christ, the Person?

a. How can I enter into this experience today?

In conjunction with our Bible study, we also read a portion from, “The Wisdom of the Great Physician”.It is amazing how the reading from the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy go so nicely together. Anyhow, we started with the third paragraph on p. 155. Please if you have this precious book, turn to the page and read the sentence that starts with, “It is our own…”

What two things determine our influence upon others?

“It is our own character and experience that determine our influence upon others.” Our character and experience makes up who we are, and as Christians we should have a strong influence. “In order to convince others of the power of Christ’s grace (emphasis on graaaaace), we must know its power in our own hearts and lives.”

Therefore, in order to be amongst that army of youth, rightly trained, who carry the message of a crucified, risen, and soon coming Savior to the whole world, there is something we must understand first, in order to convince others. We must understand the power of Christ’s grace in our own lives.

Question: Is it enough to just have an intellectual knowledge of God’s grace?

Oh no, it must be “in our own hearts and lives.” Are you familiar with the story with the two demoniacs? The story can be found in Matthew 8. Imagine, Jesus and His disciples coming off a boat (after experiencing a terrible storm), and encountering two madman who rush towards them, as if ready to tear them apart.

“Hanging about these men were parts of chains which they had broken in escaping from confinement. Their flesh was torn and bleeding where they had cut themselves with sharp stones. Their eyes glared out from their long and matted hair, the very likeness of humanity seemed to have been blotted out by the demons that possessed them, and they looked more like wild beasts than like men.” {DA 337}

Can you imagine what would you do, if you were there? Well, the disciples ran away; they were terrified! However, Jesus didn’t leave, and thank God He didn’t! In the words of Mother Davis, “If He would have fled, woe to the rest of us!” By the grace of God, Jesus stayed and bade the unclean spirits to come out of the demoniacs, and a complete transformation occurred!

Isn’t it amazing that the men who were once the terror of the country became its missionaries? They were able to go and tell others about the power of Christ’s grace, because they experienced it in their own hearts and lives. What we need now is not a theory of grace, but an experience! “The gospel we present for the saving of souls must be the gospel by which our own souls are saved.” {The Wisdom of the Great Physician, pg. 155}

“Only through a living faith in Christ as a personal Savior is it possible to make our influence felt in a skeptical world. If we would draw sinners out of the swift-running current, our own feet must be firmly set upon the Rock, Christ Jesus. The badge of Christianity is not an outward sign, not the wearing of a cross or a crown, but it is that which reveals the union of man with God.

 

 

By the power of His grace manifested in the transformation of character the world is to be convinced that God has sent His Son as its Redeemer. No other influence that can surround the human soul has such power as the influence of an unselfish life. The strongest argument in favor of the gospel is a loving and loveable Christian.” {Ibid}

Dear readers, we need to understand “the power of His grace”. “God has grace that can be applied to our lives to change us from who we are into who He is. “God has made ample provision that we may stand perfect in His grace, wanting in nothing, waiting for the appearing of our Lord. Are you ready?” {5T 220}

“Some—yes, a large number-have a theoretical knowledge of religious truth, but have never felt the renewing power of divine grace upon their own hearts. These persons are ever slow to heed the testimonies of warning, reproof, and instruction indited by the Holy Spirit. They believe in the wrath of God, but put forth no earnest efforts to escape it. They believe in heaven, but make no sacrifice to obtain it…They may read the Bible, but its threatenings do not alarm or its promises win them. They approve things that are excellent, yet they follow the way in which God has forbidden them to go. They know a refuge, but do not avail themselves of it. They know a remedy for sin, but do not use it. They know the right, but have no relish for it. All their knowledge will but increase their condemnation. They have never tasted and learned by experience that the Lord is good.” {5T 222, 223}

Can you relate to one of those statements in the above paragraph? Is it your desire to feel the renewing power of divine grace upon your hearts today? Only then can we truly live an unselfish life, that will prepare us to stand, when judgment passes from the dead to the living, and also to give the loud cry!

 

By God’s grace, let us not be like that man in James, who looks in the mirror, sees his defects, and does nothing about it. May God give us strength and help us to submit! “While it is said, To day if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts” Hebrews 3:15. Jesus is here, just when we need Him most.Please, please -reach out to Him today…and stay tuned for the next study! May the grace of God be with you!