Message of Grace
PUBLISHED BY GRACE CHAPEL MINISTRIES OF O'BRIEN, FLORIDA

“FOR BY GRACE ARE YE SAVED THROUGH FAITH; AND THAT NOT OF YOURSELVES: IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD: NOT OF WORKS, LEST ANY MAN SHOULD BOAST” EPHESIANS 2:8

VOLUME 4
ISSUE 4
JUNE - JULY 2003

A SON RETURNS

"FOR THIS MY SON WAS DEAD, AND IS ALIVE AGAIN, HE WAS LOST, AND IS FOUND AND THEY BEGAN TO BE MERRY." LUKE 15:24

A certain man had two sons. One of them demanded what he felt was rightly his portion of his father's possessions and he departed from his father and went out on his own to live the good life, or so he thought. He sought out all the world's pleasures and had as many of them as he could afford but soon his fortune was spent and he found to his surprise that the world could offer him no comfort and that those who were his friends in his quest for pleasure would not and could not help him when his earthly resources were gone. He sunk so low that he lived and ate with hogs. It was here in the most degraded state of his life that he was made to remember the blessings of his father’s house.

The LORD will bring those that belong to him to a state of despair in order that they might call on His name!

The world looks on anything that disrupts one's happiness as being a curse. Yet the LORD often brings setbacks and tragedies into our lives to get our attention and to show us that what we really need cannot be supplied by the things which this world has to offer. The LORD is faithful to convict his children of sin, and to give them no place of comfort except to cry out unto HIM for mercy. "And when HE (the Holy Spirit) is come, HE will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgement. (John 16:8) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us." (I John 1:8)

The LORD will convince HIS people of their unworthiness to be called HIS children and HE will cause them to confess their sin before HIM.

The prodigal son said "Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, and am no more worthy to be called thy son." (Luke 15:18,19) When the LORD does a work of grace in a sinners heart that man can find no place of glory in anything connected with himself but must identify with the publican as he prayed "And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, GOD be merciful to me a sinner" (Luke 18:13)

When a repentant sinner decides to return to the FATHER, he finds that his FATHER was already prepared to receive him!

"And he arose and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck, and kissed him." (Luke 18:20) The glorious truth about redemption is that the LORD has purposed the salvation of HIS people. Before there was ever a sinner there was already a Savior "the LAMB slain from the foundation of the world." (Revelation 13:8) We love HIM because HE first loved us. Before we ever sought HIM, HE sought us. Before we chose HIM, HE chose us. (see I John 4:9, Luke 19:10, Ephesians 1:4)

When the LORD brings a sinner home he prepares the best of blessings for him and rejoices at his return.

"But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it, and let us eat, and be merry." (Luke 15:22,23) The LORD has seated us in heavenly places, HE has given us the mind of CHRIST, and HE has given us HIS HOLY SPIRIT to be our TEACHER to lead us into all truth, to be our COMFORTER and our helper. HE has given us eternal life and we shall never perish neither can any man pluck us out of HIS hand. HE causes a well of lifegiving water to spring up within our hearts. We have no needs that HE cannot and will not supply. "Salvation belongeth unto the LORD; THY blessing is upon THY people. (Psalm 3:8)

My friend, as you read this message you may find yourself facing some great struggle or some tragedy may have befallen you. Do not despair: the LORD may be working to turn your attention away from earthly solutions to your problems. That which you regard as meant for your harm may in reality be intended for your good. (Romans 8:28) Would you even now cry out to HIM for mercy in JESUS name. Or maybe you are convinced that your sin is so great that you cannot be helped. Maybe you are a slave to alcohol or drugs or pornography; or perhaps you are with a woman or man who is another's spouse. It may be that you have committed murder or some other crime which condemns you. Or maybe you are a religious person, yet you have no peace in your heart. I tell you JESUS CHRIST died for sinners just like you. HE has promised to receive all such who call on HIS name and I believe HE will receive you this very day if you cry out to HIM for mercy.

mam

COME YE SINNERS; POOR AND NEEDY, WEAK AND WOUNDED SICK AND SORE
JESUS READY STANDS TO SAVE YOU: FULL OF PITY JOINED WITH POWER
HE IS ABLE, HE IS ABLE, HE IS WILLING! DOUBT NO MORE!
LET NOT CONSCIENCE MAKE YOU LINGER, NOR OF FITNESS FONDLY DREAM
ALL THE FITNESS HE REQUIRETH IS TO FEEL YOUR NEED OF HIM

THIS HE GIVES YOU, THIS HE GIVES YOU, 'TIS THE SPIRIT'S RISING BEAM
COME YE WEARY, HEAVY LADEN, LOST AND RUINED BY THE FALL
IF YOU TARRY TILL YOUR BETTER YOU WILL NEVER COME AT ALL
NOT THE RIGHTEOUS, NOT THE RIGHTEOUS, SINNERS JESUS CAME TO CALL!

JOSEPH HART (1712-1768)

Let the self-conceited Pharisee boast that he was born free--- we see on our wrists the red marks of the iron; let him glory that he was never blind---our eyes can yet remember the darkness of Egypt, in which we discerned not the morning star. Others may desire the honor of a merited salvation---we know that our highest ambition can only hope for pardon and acceptance by grace alone; and well we remember the hour when the only channel of that grace was despised or neglected by us.

...taken from the book "THE SAINT AND HIS SAVIOR"