Diminishing The Darkness By Lifting up The marvelous Light Of Jesus Christ
February 2010
From The Editor . . . by Tim Greenwood
I was taking a walk one day minding my own business, looking at the sky and trees and not even praying, when God spoke to me in an agitated voice. "Tim, people make my Word too complicated!" I thought to myself, "Oh boy, what have I done this time?" and asked, "What, what?" He said, "Take 'grace' for example. There are Bible schools and seminaries that have multiple semester courses on GRACE! When my 'grace' is nothing more nor less than – the favor that comes from being a child of God."
He continued, "Do you see those two children on the swings in the park?" "Assume that those two are your children." "Now, of ALL the children in the park, which ones have favor in YOUR eyes?" "Which ones will YOU be willing to take responsibility for, to feed, clothe, shelter, care and provide for until they are old enough to go off on their own?" I answered, "the ones that belong to me!" He said, "Exactly!"
"And another thing", He said, "Continually reminding My children that My favor is not merited or deserved is - just as rude as the other children continually reminding your children that they were adopted!" Then there was silence, and I got home as soon as I could to write it all down and study it out.
From then until today whenever I hear or read the word "grace" in relation to God, I automatically translate it to "the favor that comes from being a child of God."
Ephesians 2:8 (TGV) It was by the favor that comes from being a child of God (grace) that you are saved, healed, delivered, protected, preserved and made whole through good faith offers of God; because you could not do it yourself.
Romans 1:5 (TGV) Through Him we received both the favor that comes from being a child of God (grace) and the urgent task of passing it on to others who receive it by entering into and conforming to good faith contracts in the name of Jesus.
Romans 5:2 (TGV) To whom (Jesus) we have access by good faith contracts/promises/agreements made available by the favor that comes from being a child of God (grace) in which we stand, and rejoice in exuberant expectation with God.
It is that "grace," that
favor, that comes from being a child of God that makes those thousands
of contracts, agreements, promises and offers available to you. TGM
Window On The Word
God Seeks More Credit
By Tim Greenwood
Worship and every day fellowship is really just establishing, maintaining and developing positive relationships. The word "fellowship" simply denotes being with and spending quality time with someone. We discuss this in more detail in the Relationship vs. Fellowship chapter of my book "Good Faith and Biblical Contracts." When God and I fellowship, we just talk, because Father God is my Daddy and Jesus is my big brother. But Father God is also my God and Jesus is additionally my King and High Priest, therefore I honor and respect their offices as well.
The word "worship" refers primarily to this showing of respect and giving honor and credit to whom honor and credit is due. When I say credit, I'm using it in a broad sense. But the fact is that Jesus wants you to give Him more credit. In a dream, I witnessed Mark 4:37-41.
When His own staff so rudely awoke Jesus in the midst of the storm, screaming "Don't you even CARE that we are all about to drown?" His angry response was to point at the sky and with the words "SHUT UP" - blasted away the entire low pressure zone and every cloud in the sky, BLAM! Then He pointed at the sea and with the words "BE STILL" - instantaneously froze the surface of the lake in every direction, WOOSH! Then He pointed at Peter and the rest of His now cowering staff with the words, "WHY ARE YOU SO INCREDULOUS?!" Let's break this word down. "In" means no or not; "ous" denotes the act of something; and "cred" refers to, yes you guessed it, credit. Jesus, yelled, "HEY! How about a little CREDIT here?" "How about giving Me at least enough CREDIT to keep you from drowning?"
Jesus wants you to give Him credit. How would you feel if you wanted to purchase a home and the lender told you, "We normally ask for the borrower to pay 20% up front. But since we don't trust you to keep your word, we are going to require you to pay 80% before we give you credit for the other 20%. Not only would that make it difficult to purchase the home, but its also insulting! The lender just questioned your integrity. Not only that, but he is also casting doubt on your ability to keep your word or actually do anything you say.
Well, this is exactly what most of mankind does to God (Father God, Jesus and or the Holy Spirit). We refuse to give Him any credit. We require Him to pay up front - not 20%, not 30%, not 50, 75 or even 80%, but most of mankind requires Him to put up 100% in advance before we will give Him any credit. But then that's not giving Him any credit at all!
For example, The Bible plainly says, "By HIS (Jesus') stripes (bruises, whelps and torn flesh), YOU are healed. This is a promise and a legally binding, good faith offer made by God to you. One that becomes a legally binding, good faith contract, covenant or agreement upon you becoming party to it by signing the contract. One which forms a new good faith relationship between God and you, which needs to be developed and maintained.
Now, if you simply take God, (Father God, Jesus and or the Holy Spirit), at His word, that based upon this contract healing already belongs to you, then you have given Him and His Word full credit. But if you have disbelief or even doubts concerning this offer, and require Jesus to completely heal you, up front, before you will trust His Word, then you are not giving Him or His Word any credit.
The relationship that God seeks with man is one in which both parties can freely give each other and each other's word full credit. TGM
PASTORS
Open Your Doors
to Tim & Marcia Greenwood
As Guest Speakers
At Your Church in 2010
Open Your Doors
to Tim & Marcia Greenwood
As Guest Speakers
At Your Church in 2010
Pastor:
All we really need to fulfill our calling as teachers in the Body of
Christ is PERMISSION to speak and ACCESS to your congregation. All the
other details can be worked out. The Word will be preached and the Lord
will move in salvation, healing and deliverance. We connect with you to
help fulfill your vision. All we need is for you to OPEN YOUR DOORS to
us.
To contact Tim Greenwood Ministries, please use the contact information below.
