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October 9, 2005Hi again,I was reminded of something very important yesterday. It was about grace, more specifically the Age of Grace. I have told many in the past view years that I felt that we are at the end of the just mentioned time.But at the beginning of this year there was a big tsunami disaster which killed 155,000, more than 94,000of them in Indonesia alone. I realized then for the first time that the Age of Grace ends for those who diein such tragedies. They don’t have another opportunity to accept Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Then earlySaturday morning, over 30,000 died in an Asian 7.6 earthquake and 41,000 injured. It reminded meagain. I was grieving a lot and praying for the survivors and hopefully Christian helpers in Pakistan,Kashmir, India, and Afghanistan. Also, a mudslide in Guatemala has killed over 1400.On Saturday night, I was able to see the excellent movie “Tribulation”. My faith was challenged by it. If true Christians have to go through that final tribulation, would I and others I know be willing to risk dyingfor refusing to take the Mark of the Beast. Today in Asia and Africa, Christians are being tortured andkilled for their faith in Jesus Christ and the Gospel. Then this morning, www Crosswalk.com had anunexpected Sunday new feature article which is below the following Scripture passages. It is titled“Grace Gone Wild: Embrace the Gift”. And then the “Love Worth Finding” satellite TV church service program had Pastor Adrian Rogers preaching about the final Judgment. It was a harsh sermon. He even proclaimed that many in the large congregation would end up in the Lake of Fire.This was such a contrast to some of the preachers I have heard this weekend as I channel surfed. One allof sudden said prophecy was coming to him, made some noises and some thank you words (like “thank you Jesus”), and then he asked how many had huge hardships at that time, many of the people in the largeverbal audience raised their hands, and the preacher proclaimed that such hardships would end “tonight”and a stranger would enter into their lives “tonight” to bless them. If the Apostle Paul and Jeremiah andIsaiah came back today, they would have to rebuke so many preachers, especially the celebrity ones.Finally, I heard and read a lot of political arguing. The latter two negative examples are only a part of themany futile things daily happening at the same time as more and more people are dying. In other words,the Age of Grace ending for many daily and the Bible says there will increasingly be more disasters.I have not had such a related group of happenings as I just indicated. I hope that what I have just writtenand the following will encourage you to increase your consecration to Great Commission intercessory prayer and ministries.Revelation 20:6-15 “6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the First Resurrection: on such theSecond Death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with Him athousand years. 7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison, 8 andshall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth, Gog, and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea. 9 And they went up on the breadthof the Earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down fromGod out of heaven, and devoured them. 10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the Lake of Fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever. 11 And I saw a great white throne, and Him that sat on it, from whose face the Earth andthe Heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them. 12 And I saw the dead, small and great,stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the Book of Life:and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.13 And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and Hell delivered up the dead which were inthem: and they were judged every man according to their works. 14 And death and Hell were cast intothe Lake of Fire. This is the Second Death. 15 And whosoever was not found written in the Book of Lifewas cast into the Lake of Fire.”
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Ephesians 2:8-10 “8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesusunto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”1 Corinthians 3:9-19 to only true Christians-- “9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God'shusbandry, ye are God's building. 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wisemasterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed howhe buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12 Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; 13 everyman's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; andthe fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. 14 If any man's work abide which he hath builtthereupon, he shall receive a reward. 15 If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but hehimself shall be saved; yet so as by fire. 16 Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spiritof God dwelleth in you? 17 If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are. 18 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to bewise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world isfoolishness with God. …”Jude 14-22 14 “And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lordcometh with ten thousands of His saints, 15 to execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that areungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have unGodly committed, and of all their hardspeeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him. 16 These are murmurers, complainers,walking after their own lusts; and their mouth speaketh great swelling words, having men's persons inadmiration because of advantage. 17 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the Apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time,who should walk after their own unGodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual,having not the spirit. 20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in theHoly Ghost, 21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ untoeternal life. 22 And of some have compassion, making a difference: 23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.”
Grace Gone Wild: Embrace the Gift(by Whitney Hopler,Contributing Writer)
God has given all Christians an amazing gift: Grace. But many Christians misunderstand and abuse thisgift. And, in the process, they rob themselves of the joy it's intended to bring them. Here's how you canavoid bad grace and embrace good grace in your life: 
Rescue the concept of grace from both legalists and libertarians.
Understand that, just as you can't earn your salvation, you can't earn grace. God gives it to you freely, outof love. However, grace doesn't exempt you from your responsibility to obey God. Obeying God is your gift to Him. Realize that your love for God and gratitude for all He does for you should motivate you toobey Him more - not less. Recognize that, although there's nothing you can do to earn God's love, there's plenty you can do to enjoy God's blessings that come with obedience. Know that God's standards of conduct exist for your benefit, not your detriment. Understand that faithfully living in obedience to God'scommands will give you a much better life than not doing so. Recognize that you should establish boundaries for other people's behavior toward you rather than allowing them to mistreat you. Seek to livein a way that honors God, remembering that He deserves nothing less. Realize that bad grace leads todeath, but good grace leads to life. 
Let grace give you a new awareness.
Ask God to make you aware of how desperate your situation was spiritually before you came to Christ.Value the magnitude of God's grace toward you. Understand that pain in your life is a signal that can alertyou to sin you need to deal with for good spiritual health.
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Let grace give you a new status.
Realize that God's grace has transformed you from being His enemy to being His friend. Now, instead of  being a slave, you are a child of God. 
Let grace give you a new heart.
Know that your new heart will help you obey God out of genuine desire, rather than fear. 
Let grace give you a new master.
Understand that grace frees you not to serve no master, but to serve a new master. Know that all peopleare slaves to something - whatever controls their lives. But Christians get to choose the only truly worthymaster - Jesus Christ. This new master liberates you from sin that will keep you in bondage. 
Let grace give you a new location.
Allow grace to lift you out of the graveyard of sin and into a healthy realm of living. Ask yourself, "Eventhough I can still choose to live in sin, why would I want to?" Understand that responding to God'sforgiveness with a decision to sin is like stepping into a grave while you're still alive. 
Follow a new law.
Understand that, while grace frees you from God's old law detailed in the Old Testament, it doesn't meanthat you're not under any law. Recognize that God's grace is not a license to do what you want, but theliberty to do what you should. Realize that grace provides you a powerful incentive for obedience.Rather than obeying God because you fear His condemnation, let your gratitude for His forgivenessmotivate you to obey Him. 
Understand the importance of repentance.
Know that, while sin doesn't alter your position in God's family, it does affect your day-to-dayrelationship with Him. Be willing to continually acknowledge your disobedience and ask for God'sforgiveness so sin won't distance you from God. Seek to constantly maintain a close relationship withHim. Have a healthy attitude about sin; don't argue, rationalize, or cover it up. Instead, agree with Godthat you are in sin when you are, and that you need to do something about it. Then make specific changesin your behavior, as God leads you to do so, so you can head in a healthier direction. 
Realize that God rewards those who obey Him.
Understand that heaven won't be the same for all Christians. While you can gain admittance for free bytrusting in Christ for your salvation, you won't receive rewards there if you've neglected God'scommands. Christians who were obedient on Earth will receive greater rewards than those who weren't. 
Let grace guide how you make decisions.
Realize that, in the many gray areas of life where discernment is necessary to make wise decisions, Godwants you to look for a higher perspective than just personal preferences. Elevate love above knowledge,the welfare of others above your personal freedom, and God's interests above your desires. When facinga decision, ask yourself: "Is this behavior lawful?", "Is this behavior profitable?" and "Is this behavior helpful?". 
Let grace help you forgive.
Know that good grace affirms the necessity of forgiveness, recognizes that forgiveness doesn't erase thenatural consequences of offenses, and understands that, although forgiveness can be granted,reconciliation must be earned. Choose to forgive people who have hurt you and work for reconciliation inyour relationships with them, but understand that reconciliation will only be possible if they respond toyour efforts. No matter what happens, choose to forgive anyway, remembering that God is always willingto forgive you and will help you through the process of forgiving others. 
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