Words for Life Articles

In the book of Genesis 1: 26-28 scripture says

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Man was created in the image and likeness of God, so we can relate, respond and have fellowship with Him. Man was created in the image of God so that man can reflect God’s attributes here on earth. Reflect His love, glory and holiness.

Over the years I have seen some Christians give up as they wait and believe God to break through for them in their circumstances.

I must confess I myself have been at the point of giving up on some important things that I had believed God.  With pressure from all sides, I have become discouraged and afraid, and almost given up or even given up in some areas.

I have come to realise that many give up long before the day they actually physically give up. They give up mentally long before they actually voice it out.

2 Corinthians 6:1,

We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain.

The word GRACE has probably become one of the most misused, misunderstood and misrepresented word in the bible.

Unfortunately, some have either fallen or have been deceived by their interpretation of the word GRACE.

On Wednesday 14th June 2017, the whole nation and the world at large woke up to the news of a tower block of public housing flats in North West London, on fire. This unfortunately finally resulted in a high number of casualties and fatalities. Not to mention the building itself.

As questions were being asked, possible reasons for the fire being discussed and analysed, radio and TV stations brought in experts to give analysis. Some politicians tried to score points, people were angry left and right, and accusing fingers pointed.

I have over the years observed many believers, who have been battered, abused, bound by fear, and demonic oppression. They have not been able to stand their ground and take authority over their situations. I have met believers who do not know that they were created to have dominion.

If you are a believer, you have been called to walk and operate in your God given authority. Paul in 2 Corinthians 10, tells us that even though we live on this earth we do not operate as citizens of this earth. The weapons God has given us, our armoury, is not of this earth. It is important to note that it is only a child of God who can have access to His heavenly armouries.

“Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know — Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.

The whole foundation of the Christian faith is hinged on the death and resurrection of Jesus. This truth can be found in Paul’s statement in 1st Corinthians 15:17

"And if Christ is not risen, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins!"

The empty tomb signifies the resurrection of Jesus, the fact that Jesus died and rose again. This means those of us who have repented and believed in Him, have been forgiven and our sins have been washed away.

I have over time been looking at the word GRACE in the Bible and discovered that the word GRACE has been mentioned almost 145 times in the Bible. 21 times in the Old Testament, and 124 times in the New Testament.

This word is first mentioned in Genesis 6:8 where we are told: “Noah finds favour in the eyes of the Lord." In some other translations, Genesis 6:8 says: “But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.”