What’s Your Response to the Voice of Accusation?

[TFDADD]

"In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." ~ Isaiah 54:14 -

It is important for you to be established in the righteousness of Christ, because it will determine how you respond to the voice of accusation when you are believing God for big things, and trusting Him for answered prayers.

“Who do you think you are?”

“Don’t you remember how you yelled at your spouse this morning? Why should God give you favor for your important presentation at the office today?"

“Look at how easily you lose your cool on the road. How can you have the cheek to expect good things to happen to you?”

'You call yourself a Christian? When was the last time you read your Bible? What have you done for God? Why should God heal your child?”

Do these accusations sound awfully familiar? Now, how you respond to this voice of accusation will expose what you really believe. This is the litmus test of what you believe. This is where the rubber meets the road!

A person could think, “Yeah, you are right. I don’t deserve this. How can I expect God’s favor to be on me for my presentation at the office when I was so harsh with my wife this morning?" Now, that's the response of someone who believes that he needs to earn his own righteousness and place of acceptance before God. This person believes that he can expect good from God only when his conduct is good and his own checklist of self-imposed requirements are met to the hilt.

He would probably storm into his office, still seething with anger at his wife. Worst of all, he feels cut off from the presence of Jesus because of his anger and thinks that he does not qualify to ask for God’s favor for his presentation. He steps into the boardroom disheveled and disorganized. He forgets his points and fumbles, causing his company to lose that major account. His bosses are disappointed with him and give him a huge tongue-lashing.

Frustrated and shamed, he drives home like a maniac, sounding his horn at every car that does not move the instant the traffic lights turn green. When he gets home, he is even more upset with his wife because he blames her for putting him in a foul mood in the morning, for his terrible presentation and for the loss of the major account! It’s all HER fault!

Now, see the difference if this person thinks, “Yeah, you are right. I don’t deserve to have God’s favor at all because I lost my temper with my wife this morning. But you know what? I am not looking at what I deserve. I am looking at what Jesus deserves. Even right now, Jesus, I thank You that You see me perfectly righteous. Because of the cross and Your perfect sacrifice, I can expect God's unmerited favor at my presentation. Every one of my shortcomings, even the tone I used this morning, is covered by Your righteousness. I can expect good not because I am good, but because You are good! Amen!”

See the amazing difference? This person is established upon Jesus’ righteousness and not his own right doing or good behavior. He goes to work depending on the unmerited favor of Jesus, and he aces the presentation and clinches a major account for his company. His bosses are impressed by his performance and mark him for the next round of promotion. He drives home with peace and joy, feeling the Father’s love and favor. Consequently, he is more patient with other drivers.

Now, does this mean that he sweeps all his failings under the carpet and pretends that they never happened? No way! This man, full of the consciousness that the Lord is with him, will find the strength in Christ to apologize to his wife for the tone he had used on her. You see, a heart that has been touched by unmerited favor cannot hold on to unforgiveness, anger, and bitterness.

Which of the above accounts demonstrate true holiness? Of course, it is the second account. Depending on God’s favor results in a life of practical holiness. Right believing always leads to right living!

[partner]

Dankies Weer Baie.

[Ds J]

Rom 7:24-26
Ek, ellendige mens! Wie sal my verlos van die liggaam van hierdie dood? Ek dank God deur Jesus Christus, onse Here!
So dien ek self dan wel met die gemoed die wet van God, maar met die vlees die wet van die sonde.

1 Joh 4:9-11
Hierin is die liefde van God tot ons geopenbaar, dat God sy eniggebore Seun in die wêreld gestuur het, sodat ons deur Hom kan lewe.
Hierin is die liefde: nie dat ons God liefgehad het nie, maar dat Hy ons liefgehad het en sy Seun gestuur het as 'n versoening vir ons sondes.
Geliefdes, as God ons so liefgehad het, behoort ons ook mekaar lief te hê.

[TFDADD]

Na my beskeie mening is die doel van hierdie dagstukkie om ons te lei na die slotsom van hierdie skrywe, naamlik:
"Depending on God’s favor results in a life of practical holiness. Right believing always leads to right living!"

Dít word gedoen aan die hand van die volgende belangrike uitgangspunt:

"It is important for you to be established in the righteousness of Christ, because it will determine how you respond to the voice of accusation when you are believing God for big things, and trusting Him for answered prayers."

Twee verskillende benaderings word vervolgens gebruik om vir ons te leer hoe om die verlangde slotsom te bereik -

Eerste benadering:

“Yeah, you are right. I don’t deserve this. How can I expect God’s favor to be on me for my presentation at the office when I was so harsh with my wife this morning?" Now, that's the response of someone who believes that he needs to earn his own righteousness and place of acceptance before God. This person believes that he can expect good from God only when his conduct is good and his own checklist of self-imposed requirements are met to the hilt."

Tweede benadering:

“Yeah, you are right. I don’t deserve to have God’s favor at all because I lost my temper with my wife this morning. But you know what? I am not looking at what I deserve. I am looking at what Jesus deserves. Even right now, Jesus, I thank You that You see me perfectly righteous."

Hier sien ons baie duidelik dit gaan nie oor onsself en ons vermoëns nie, nee, dit gaan oor ons geloof dat Jesus ons wat in Hom glo as geregverdigd beskou.

Dan pas die skrifgedeelte ook perfek by die hele uiteensetting van hierdie dagstukkie.

"In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you." ~ Isaiah 54:14.

[Ds J]

Baie dankie vir die antwoord - dit klink reg want om as verloste/geregverdigde te leef is n groot voorreg.

Ons is vasgevang tussen die "nou reeds" en die "nog nie" - ons weet van beter, maar kry dit nie reg nie; ons glo dat Hy bestaan, maar kan Hom nog nie sien nie ens. Dit maak dat ons van koers afdwaal; ons eie geneigdheid tot selfsug veroorsaak ook dat ons ons eie eer en belang najaag en nie fokus op ons roeping nie. En dit is waar die genade en die barmhartigheid inkom - seën op sake wat ons nie verdien nie, hulp wanneer ons dit nie verwag nie, bystand en uitkoms uit moeilike tye.