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Different Chains of Grace
A Life of Leisure that Scatters or a Life that Gathers and Counts?
This is what the Sovereign Lord says,
“Listen I say, listen and take note. A lone woman burdened down with her past and the daily need for water came face to face
with Jesus. She arrived at Jacob’s well to draw water and was offered living water in cupped hands of unmerited grace. Later,
when Jesus’ disciples rejoined Him the woman slipped away unnoticed, leaving her burdensome water jar behind as she entered
into His rest (Matthew 11:28-30), and became a link in a chain of grace that embraced many from her home town. While Jesus was
pointing out to His disciples that the fields were ripe for harvest (John 4:1-42).
“Judas also received grace upon grace (unmerited favour), yet took it for granted, despising it in his heart and abused it.
He was given so much rope that he hanged himself (Matthew 27:3-5). For some, grace becomes a chain that links Jesus to others
and for others who take it for granted and abuse it, it can become a snare, a trap or a noose that the devil uses to deceive them.
Be warned, you will reap what you sow! Those who deliberately keep on sinning after they have received the knowledge of the truth
will discover to their loss, that there is no sacrifice for sins left. Be warned I say, be warned. There is a chain of verbal links
of deception of counterfeit grace that appeals to the sinful nature of man which if embraced leads to a fearful expectation of
judgement and raging fire that consumes the enemies of God (Hebrews 10:26-31).
“The early Church in Jerusalem when persecuted scattered far and wide, but they became a chain of grace to others they came into
contact with, as they shared the good news of the gospel wherever they went, with miraculous signs and wonders confirming the
preaching of the Word (Acts 8:1-8). Sadly today, there are those who have received My unmerited favour and claim to know Me, yet
never share with others the hope they claim to have received in their home town or any of the other places they have travelled to.
“Then there is the prayer chain, born out of self-interest, the local prayer chain that calls out in desperation for another,
who is in some form of relationship to each other. More often than not, they are self-centred and not Christ-centred. When prayer
and all other avenues fail, where do they turn? Some press on in and refuse to give up, and become a true branch in the Vine that
abides in Me and My Word (John 15:7), and become a true link with the Holy Spirit and become intercessors (Romans 8:26-27,
1 Corinthians 14:2 and Jude 20). Prayer chains no matter how long, are made up of links. But ask yourself linked to what? Your
will or Mine? Each link must examine itself to see if they are in faith or just hoping.
“True intercessors know that faith is substance (Hebrews 11:1). Trusting in God does not mean you will always get your own way
or will come to pass. The true intercessor who is abiding in faith in the Holy Spirit’s leading and in the Word of God, will have
entered into His rest trusting in God’s sovereign will, knowing that in all things, God works for the good of those who love Him
(John 14:15, Hebrews 4:1-11 and Romans 8:24-28).
“As this world and all its systems continues its preparations to slip, slide and sliver towards the coming of the lawless one
(2 Thessalonians 2), I am looking for overcomers who will abide in the Vine, not Christians who remain in church buildings. I look
for true disciples (Matthew 16:24-25, Luke 14:26-27, 33 and Acts 11:25-26), overcomers who will not count the cost, and stand with Me
and for Me in the power of the Holy Spirit, in the hidden life in the cleft of the rock to restrain the antichrist and overcome all the
power of the evil one. Are you willing to die to self, the world and all others and stand with Me as I stand in you?
“My Church, the body of Christ, should be a servant of the gospel by God’s grace, through the power of the Holy Spirit, who makes known
the manifold wisdom of God to principalities and powers in heavenly realms (Ephesians 3:7-10; binding the strong man, pulling down his
strongholds and robbing his house. My house should be a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned much of it into a house of
leisure, that produces lovers of self, lovers of pleasure, who travel the world on their leisure time never ever sharing with others
who are heading for a lost eternity. When in truth, I came that they might have life and have it more abundantly, while you continue
in your leisurely ways, the thief continues to steal, kill and destroy.
“Behold! I stand at the door and knock. When will My Church listen and open the door fully, that My Holy Spirit may abide. He who is
not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters (Matthew 12:13). To those who are born of water and the Spirit,
who will one day stand before Me and give an account for every careless word they have spoken, I say behold! I stand at your door and knock.
Whoever acknowledges Me before men, I will acknowledge him before My Father in heaven. But whoever disowns Me before men I will disown him
before My Father who is in heaven. So repent while there is still time.”
Michael Backholer, 23 August 2013 – www.ProphecyNow.co.uk
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