Mlworship#12 Sarah's fall, God's grace is suffice(1Nov2003)

Sarah’s fall: God’s grace is sufficient(1 Nov 2003)

1) Yesterday, Sarah slipped and fell at home. According to Janet, the noise emanating from her head hitting the hard marble floor had the same loud resonance of a broken bowl.
By God’s grace, other than the inevitable ‘badge of honour’on her head, she seems none the worse.

2) As I share with you tonite this latest mishap(or spiritual challenge) in the family, I have come one full circle by ending the nite with a bad stomach. Just to recap:
- last week, I had a viral attack of the weak stomach type
- Andre had his two days later
- My sister in law who tends our house had hers 3 days back
- Janet was sick two days back
- Now, Sarah has rounded it off in an earth shattering manner

3) In the Alpha course(for the Merrill staff) this week, interestingly,

‘the topic was on “how can I resist evil?’

According to Nicky Gumble, once we have come to believe in a transcendant God, in some ways its is only logical to accept belief in the existence of the devil.

‘For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against rulers, against authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms’
Ephesians 6:10-12


4) We are called to pray. Satan trembles when it sees the weakest Christian on his knees.

‘Therefore put on the full armour of God,……….
………And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.’
Ephesians 6:13-20

‘for everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved’
Romans 10:13

5) When God lifted the blindness in our hearts, we repented and acknowledge Jesus as our Saviour.

‘You didn’t choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit – fruit that will last.’
John 15:16

6) For many of us, whenever we face problems in our life, we call out to Jesus for help. Jesus is just our saviour, useful in difficult times, not needed in easy times.

If this is all we know Christ as, we will be stuck in an eternal childhood mode.

Our sole expression of relationship to God will be the cry of a baby’s “I need. I want.”

This is not what God wants.

‘Therefore dear friends, since you already know this, be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless men and fall from your secure position’
2 Peter 3:17

7) We must move from just a salvation mode to an obedience based relationship with God

‘But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. Amen.’
2 Peter 3:18


8) It is often difficult and challenging(as Satan schemes to distract us) from listening and responding in obedience to God.

‘Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith….
Hebrews 12:2-12

I have come to learn that in walking closely with God, it does not mean that we will not go through the storms of life nor spiritual challenges. However, in being close to God, we will :
- recognize and take comfort in His ever presence
- turn to Him always in all times, both joy and pain
- received the fullness of His grace and peace of heart while He put all of us through the refinement process.

Do take the first step to always seek God first in all you do.
Do not let the Prince of the world subjugate you again when you have already been freed of its bondage.

Have a blessed week.