Called 4 Jesus

By TA York

Here’s a Holy Spirit joke: “There are a lot of crocodiles in denial (the Nile). So be careful in foreign waters.”

Oswald Chambers, an early 20th century theologian, said, “The grace you had yesterday will not be sufficient for today” (My Utmost for His Highest).

**2 Corinthians 6:1-2**
“As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.”

There’s a teaching in some churches today that God’s grace is upon a person if you’re healed in spirit, soul, and body. God’s grace is upon you if you are financially unburdened. God’s grace is upon you if your friends are just as wealthy as you are.

Well, I guess 99 percent of us believers don’t have grace—including the Apostles.

Seriously though, that’s a lie.

Grace comes when we believers pray, seek God’s face, and wait for His hand to mercifully care for us.

“Let light shine out of darkness,” Paul writes (2 Corinthians 4:6).

## Example:

I have stage 4 chronic kidney disease and arthritis that is crippling and painful. I can’t take pain medicine due to my kidney issue.

Yet I serve God with all my heart. I go out and evangelize and serve the homeless. I have a prayer book in which I write down names and issues and pray over them daily. I help in churches, other ministries, and groups. If the Lord would open the door, I would go back to the foreign mission field.

Many people are amazed by what they experience through my example. They are encouraged!

For me it’s normal. “Today is the day of salvation.” Jesus gave me the light. I let it shine. My body is in darkness—it wants me to lay down and give up.

Yet if Jesus could suffer, be humiliated, and die for me, then I can suffer and die too.

Jesus gives us grace daily to carry on our portion of the burden that becomes easy and light. Even our struggles seem less with the knowledge that if Christ is before us, nothing can be against us.

## Onions of Denial:

Have you seen an onion going bad? There might be one or two layers of good onion, yet under the surface there are bad sections of onion. I peel the bad portion off, wash it off, or throw it away while I save the good portions of onion.

That’s just like a believer. There are portions in our subconscious or conscience that are untrue—maybe a concept of God that’s untrue.

Denial is another character flaw that prevents us from moving forward in Christ, whether we know it or not.

I’ve talked to many people who say, “I didn’t realize my stronghold until the Holy Spirit revealed it to me.” Some even tell me about childhood trauma that isn’t remembered until the Holy Spirit tells them about it.

It is important to pray with an open heart and mind. God will reveal what you need when you need it.

I’ve also talked to people who get mad at me for sharing or quoting scripture. They take it as a personal attack on them. This is a clear sign of denial. I suggest to that person to take some time and calm down, then pray about it.

Whether you know your strongholds or not, denial will dull your faith.

“Without faith it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6). Grace can’t flow where faith doesn’t live.

Cleanse your heart by prayer. Allow grace to flow into your life.

**2 Corinthians 4:15-16**
“All this is for your benefit, so that the grace that is reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to overflow to the glory of God. Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.”

God bless