Archive - March, 2010

The grace journey – intro

March 31, 2010 in The grace journey 3 Comments

The grace journey – a novel. By Mick Mooney

Joel was shocked; disturbed even. He was confused; utterly confused.  His whole life revolved around his walk with Jesus, and yet his whole mindset towards that walk was now being seriously challenged. It wasn’t someone else challenging him; he was simply reflecting on his own beliefs. He was being honest; being open.

He wasn’t questioning if God had been walking with him; he knew he had been. He had witnessed God move in his life over and over again. His belief in the God who walked with him was assured, but did he really see the fullness of the One who walked with him? That was the real question. That was the question he had spent the past year trying to avoid, yet here he was, in the quietness of his own room, embarking on a journey with his bible, his honesty and his God.

He was born a Christian; the son of Christians; trained from the earliest age in the doctrines and theology of his Christian parents. He had enough head knowledge to be considered a theologian in the Christian faith. He had devoted every Sunday of his life partaking, supporting and serving in a Christian religious service.

He had read all the mainstream books on Christian values and principles. He had zealously tried to convert his class mates, neighbours and work colleagues to the Christian faith in accordance with the evangelical teachings that had been drilled into him ever since his childhood.

He had always been zealous for the Christian faith, but now, in a silent moment of honesty, he asked himself if he was missing something. Did he really see the fullness of the God he was devoting his life to serve?

Over the previous few weeks, during his bible reading time, Joel had begun to notice just how misunderstood Jesus was throughout his earthly ministry. The true identity of Jesus, it seemed, was drastically misunderstood. According to popular opinion of the day, Jesus was a walking bag of contradictions.  He was labelled either a mad man or a good man; a prophet or a false prophet; a miracle worker or a con-man; a heretic, a drunk, a glutton, a wizard, a mere man or even a myth that never existed.

The world Jesus came to save seemed to be very confused. Joel never had a problem believing the world was confused about the identity of Jesus. He had spent most of his life looking down his nose upon the world. Now however, he found himself joining their number as man also confused at the true identity of the one he loved so much. It was this love that drove him to honesty.

Joel was stripping his religious protection off; he was coming back to God, naked and unashamed; he was admitting that after becoming an expert in the Christian faith, he had somehow missed the grace of God. It wasn’t that he didn’t understand the theology of grace; he could rattle off theology better than most, but this journey was not about theology, it was about honesty. He wanted to understand. He wanted to be like a child before God so he could truly understand the power of God’s grace.

He had mastered the way of the Christian religion, but it had broken him, and was sick of religion, even a religion that puts Jesus at the top of the hierarchy; he wanted the truth; the simple gospel truth. He wanted to see Jesus.

The standard weekly message

March 31, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 5 Comments

John thinks it’s very simple what should be preached every week. Pastor Moses agrees, but unfortunately he has a different perspective on what that standard weekly message should actually be.

The Entertainer

March 29, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 2 Comments

Pastor Moses just doesn’t get John; doesn’t John realise that Pastor Moses is the funniest, most entertaining preacher in the city? Luckly for him, the majority of his congregation are happy to sit down and enjoy his entertainment. Boy, he would really be in trouble if everyone wanted something more than a few laughs on a Sunday.

The Most Important Place

March 26, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 1 Comment

Pastor Moses has put such an emphasis on the importance of attending the Sunday service that he has somehow caused Eric to confuse Jesus with a program; oh dear.

Lucky God Is Your Father

March 24, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 2 Comments

John is happy he knows who his true Father is, and that his fatherly advice is to rest in the truth that his name has been written in the book of life. John knows he already someone great. He is a child of God.

John simply believes that God’s children are already famous in heaven, they don’t have to work to make a name for themselves in the world.

A Good Question

March 22, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 3 Comments

Bobby seems to be somewhat confused. He really liked hearing John talk about empowerment of Jesus and how he has been made radically awake in Him; but why then does Jesus not give Bobby enough power to keep his eyes open in the church service?

The Master

March 19, 2010 in Comic strip, webcomic 1 Comment

For some strange reason, Eric is actually proud to be called a ‘law man’. It’s as if he thinks that makes him someone who is obedient to God, but as John pointed out to him, the bible says quite the opposite. It seems Eric also has some issues as to who  his true master is.

For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 1 Corinthians 15:56

Psalm 119 (Verse 1-88)

March 18, 2010 in The Grace Story, The Psalms 0 Comments

1 Blessed is the person who has faith in Christ, for they have become blameless in the sight of God, as they walk in the reality of their new nature, the heavenly reality of who they are in Christ.

2 They are blessed because they believe Christ is more than enough to ensure their right standing before God, and his unfailing love compels them with great joy to continue to seek God with all their heart.

3 In Christ they are without blemish, as they are led by the Spirit of His loving kindness.

4 Thank you Lord that you have given to me your Son Jesus, who asks me to ‘follow him’ into all truth, of which I delight to follow.

5 What I could not succeed in doing through my own efforts, you have done on my behalf!

6 Because of the perfect work of Christ whom I now belong to, I know that I will never be put to shame, I simply look to the glorious riches of Christ, and through beholding Jesus you transform me into His likeness by your Spirit.

7 Oh Lord, I must praise you for all you have done for me by the perfect work of Christ! Thank you for continuing to reveal to me the fullness of who I am in Christ, that I have become the holiness, righteousness and redemption of Jesus!

8 I will continue to believe that my new nature in Christ is my true reality, that in Him you are well pleased with me and will never forsake me!

9 How can a young man keep his ways pure? I realise it is impossible in his own strength, but in Christ you become our strength! Through Christ we gain the victory of life!

10 Oh Jesus, thank you! Thank you for all your loving kindness, that I only need to be willing to follow, and you are willing to always guide me, even if I was to stray, you love me so deeply you would search me out and rescue me!

11 I know that my life is hidden with Christ in heavenly places, and through your grace you make it easy for me to set my heart on the things above.

12Praise be to you O Lord! Teach me more about Jesus! My spirit rejoices to hear more of the glorious riches of the Son you love!

13 I continue to remember how your perfect sacrifice paid for my adoption as your child, that through your grace you have made me one with you.

14 I rejoice in the good news that I have been born again, no longer with my old identity, but my new identity that is found in Christ; my joy is greater than a man who wins a great fortune, because in Christ I have received all the treasures of wisdom, knowledge, rest and peace!

15 I love to think about your great love for me, how it knows no bounds! That you carried all my sin, so I may walk with all your righteousness!

16 My delight is found in your Son Jesus. O Lord, thank you that you will never neglect me, for I belong to your Son Jesus!

17 Thank you Father, that you always treat me with grace and favour, no longer a servant, but your child; an heir of heaven alongside Christ! In Christ I live! Hallelujah! You make it easy to follow you, because you love me so much!

18 As I walk with you Lord, open my eyes to see Jesus in the scriptures, open my eyes so I no longer look to the law as a written code, I ask you to reveal the message of Jesus within it! The message of your grace for my life through the perfect redeeming work of Christ!

19 My home is with Christ in heavenly places, thank you that you reveal this beautiful reality to me.

20 My Spirit rejoices always at the reality of who I have been made in Christ, I let the word of Christ dwell in me richly at all times.

21 Oh Lord, the kindness of your grace leads even the rebellious to repentance! How great is your love, that you desire non to perish, but all to come to a saving knowledge of the truth!

22 In Christ you have removed my sins, and have robed me in your righteousness.

23 Even when people in the world fail to see me for who I am in Christ, I remember my true identity is found in you, and you have named me, ‘holy to the Lord!’ Thank you for revealing to me that I am holy not by what I exclude myself from, but by whom I am included in!

24 Jesus, you are my delight, and your Holy Spirit is my beloved councillor.

25 Even in challenging times, you have set my heart at peace.

26 I speak the truth of who I am in Christ ‘loved, accepted, remembered’ and you confirm your great truths to my spirit.

27 Led me into all truth, that you may fill me with the knowledge of your will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. In the full understanding of the gospel of your grace I rejoice in your many wonders.

28 When my soul is weary by the reality of this broken world, you strengthen me by reminding me of the reality of your perfect Kingdom of which I am a citizen.

29 You keep me from relying on the basic principles of this world that do not depend on Christ, and you are so gracious as to reveal the truth of Jesus within the scriptures.

30 I have chosen the way of Jesus, I have set my heart on His reality and His truth.

31 I stand confident to your word of grace, that through Christ I will never be put to shame.

32 I run joyfully along the path your Spirit leads me; you alone my God have set my heart free!

33 You always empower me O Lord, to follow your Spirit. You inspire me to follow you all the way to glory!

34 Help me understand more of the good news of your grace, which I can rest in your truth

35 Thank You that you always direct me, your promise remains true, you are always with me. In you I greatly delight.

36 Thank you Lord that when my eyes were focused on my selfish ambition, you turned my heart towards Christ, and I have now seen your truth.

37 I have seen the greatness of Jesus, and the result is I turn my eyes away from worthless things. You love me deeply, just as Jesus has told me.

38 I stand assured that all the promises over my life are ‘yes’ in Christ and I walk with anticipation of seeing them fulfilled in my life.

39 I never again will live in fear of disgrace, for I now live forever in the realm of your grace and favour.

40 How can I not rejoice? I must! You have given me not just eternal life in Christ, but you have robed me with His righteousness forever.

41 Your unfailing love is always with me, O Lord, I live in your salvation.

42 The enemy has been defeated by you, and he no longer has the right to bring charges against me, for you have justified me!

43 The truth of your grace is my reality, I have put all my hope in the perfect finished work of Jesus.

44 I will always live by your grace for my life, even to eternity.

45 I will walk in the freedom you have given me, for I belong to Jesus.

46 I will boast of your great love for me, and your abundant provision of grace, even to kings I would boast!

47 For I delight in what you have done for us all, that you have cancelled our debts and given us far greater riches in Christ.

48 I lift up my hands to Jesus, whom loves me so much and I remember his perfect love for me.

49 I always remember that Jesus was a gift to the world, and in accepting your perfect gift I now have lasting hope!

50 My comfort in suffering is this: Christ’s love for me.

51 What others can not see, you have opened my eyes to see: Christ’s love for me.

52 I look back and read from the law and the prophets, and I no longer see a written code, for you have revealed the mystery of Christ within the written code. It’s not a law of righteousness, but a message of your grace, and it the reality of Christ that gives me comfort.

53 Because I have received your grace, you transform me to also be able to have grace for others.

54 You grace is the theme of my heart and the melody of my life.

55 In the night I quietly rejoice in my spirit, you make it easy for me Lord, because I am a recipient of your grace.

56 This is the one thing that sets me free, and I always remind myself of: Christ’s love for me.

57 You are my portion, O Christ! I am honoured to follow you.

58 You have shown me the face of God through your perfect sacrifice upon the cross; you are so gracious to me! Not only have you saved me, but you have given me all the promises of God as my inheritance.

59 I have believed I am a new creation in you, and you have turned my steps to follow yours in all righteousness.

60 I keep my eyes on you Jesus, and in your love, I am able to love others.

61 Even when people in the world insult me, I remember your grace, and it empowers me to love them regardless.

62 Even when I lay my head down I can not forget your great love for me, you perfect grace.

63 You have placed me into you family, the body of Christ.

64 Jesus, you have filled the whole world with hope, you are our saviour!

65 You always do good to me Lord, for I belong to Christ.

66 Help me to grow in understanding of all the treasures that are found in Christ, for you love me so much!

67 Before I knew of your grace, I ran my own way, but now I have received your grace I walk your way.

68 You are so good Lord, and have given me good news in this life. Teach me more about this wonderful good news!

69 Though at times even people have mocked me, I hold on to your beautiful grace and it transforms me to love them regardless.

70 They are lost oh Lord, and they have not yet understood your grace, but I delight in your grace.

71 Even when I suffer, I rejoice, for the joy you have given me far outweighs any grievance the world gives.

72 The word of your grace is more precious to me than any treasure the world could offer!

73 By your Spirit I have been born again, you formed me as a new creation in the image of Christ, help me understand this profound mystery Lord.

74 May the bride of Christ rejoice with me, as we place all our hope in our beloved Jesus.

75 I know, O Lord that Christ is your righteousness, and in your faithfulness you have also made me righteous in Him.

76 May Jesus always be my comfort according to your promise to me as your child.

77 Your compassion has given me new hope and a new life, and in your grace I delight.

78 May the world understand your glory and be saved. Forgive them if they insult me, for they do not know what they are doing. I remember the mercy you had on me when I too was lost.

79 May the body of Christ be united in love, and may you help us to live under your grace.

80 You have made me blameless in Christ, thank you Lord that I have complete assurance that in you I will never be put to shame!

81 My soul rejoices for I have received my salvation, and all my hope is in Jesus.

82 My eyes are open as I live in the promise of Christ, and you have given me the Holy Spirit to comfort me.

83 I am like new wine, you have transformed me. I won’t forget it was not by my efforts but by your grace.

84 Thank you Jesus, that you give me patience, you comfort me in difficult times.

85 The world does not understand your grace, they live by their own self righteous laws

86 You are trustworthy Jesus, you always help me when I face unexpected trails.

87 Even when things seem completely out of my control, I trust that you are still in control of all things.

88 Thank you Lord, for you will never leave me or forsake me; your love for me is unfailing.

Psalm 119:paraphrased by Mick Mooney

Genesis 1

March 18, 2010 in Genesis, The Grace Story 0 Comments

In the beginning, God the eternal Father created the space in which the universe would be created. The space was formless and empty. And God said “Let my Son Jesus create!” and Jesus began to create. The Father saw that everything that was created through his Son was good.

The Father also had many nicknames for his Son, and one of those was ‘Day’. Every time Jesus completed a major part of the universe God testified that it was all created through His ‘Day’. The Fathers intention was to help all of mankind understand that no matter what has been made in creation, it was made through Jesus.

The Spirit of Jesus entered every part of the universe. He became the power to light the entire universe and became the energy source for everything within creation. Everything great and small was made by him and through him.

According to his Fathers desire, Jesus created the atmosphere in which it would be possible for mankind to live and prosper. No other part of the universe would have an atmosphere so perfectly balanced for the human race to live in throughout the entire universe. Jesus created gravity and all other necessary natural gases to ensure the sustainability of his creation.

Jesus created the entire earth. What began as a formless and empty shell would become a beautiful world that Jesus would soon fill with life! Jesus was the great architect who designed every continent and every nation. He organised for the waters to be gathered to one place to allow dry ground to appear.

Jesus began to create seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it. He began to produce vegetation all over the earth. The land began to produce vegetation: plants bearing seeds according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kind.

The reason Jesus created plant and vegetation with a seed inside it is because one day all of creation would be used as a mankind’s teacher, to help them understand life comes out of the seed. This was an important lesson to learn because just as every plant had a seed within it, so too would every man and woman would have a seed in them, and that seed would be where their life would come from, and that seed was Jesus himself. Although Jesus would be in everyone he created, not everyone would recognise him, but he took comfort in the promise of His Father that one day everyone would know his name.

Jesus created the sun and the moon to give light to the world, and he created the stars in the sky to give light to the entire universe. He created the stars in such a way as to also teach mankind about himself. They were made as lights for the world, but one day Jesus would himself enter creation in a human body and reveal himself as the true light of the world, and the true light of all men.

Jesus began created living creatures to fill the waters. He created magnificent birds to fly above the earth. Every great and small creature of the sea and every great and small creature that flew across the expanse of the sky was created through Jesus. Every detail, every biological detail was thought out and created by Jesus.

Jesus also created every living creature that would roam the earth. He created creatures that would move along the ground, and wild animals. Every living creature that walks the earth was designed and created by Jesus.

After all these things were created and established by Jesus, Jesus then asked his Father “Let us make man in our image, in our likeness, and let him rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the earth, and over all the creatures that move along the ground.”

So Jesus created man in his own image. In the image of love, truth and life he created them! In the image of God he created both male and female.

The Father blessed them and said to them “I love you all very much. Start the adventure of having children and discovering your world! It’s all yours, please look after it!”

Then Jesus said, “I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food.” Jesus said this to help teach mankind without the seed there is no life, just as without Jesus there is no life. Without Jesus there is nothing, for he created everything. Mankind may not recognise him, but he still remains the reason that all things exist.

The Father looked over the whole of the universe and inspected everything that his Son had made for him. He found it all good, and when he watched over the creation of mankind he was especially happy. The Father wept. His dream of a family was beginning to take place.

Thus the Heavens and the earth were completed in their entire vast array in and through Jesus. Through Jesus all things were made; without him nothing was made, that has been made.

Ephesians 1

March 18, 2010 in Ephesians, The Grace Story 0 Comments

Paul, a fellow believer, set apart by Jesus himself for your benefit, that I may share with you the glorious truth about God.

To the saints in Ephesus, who by God’s grace and love hold firm to the truth we have in Jesus.

Give God praise! Allow the Holy Spirit to remind you of his love for you and give him praise! God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, has truly blessed us beyond measure. A man can earn money and buy things of luxury, but he cannot earn the peace of God, and what no man can earn, God has freely given us! What man could ever earn the joy of God? What man could ever earn the rest of God? No man can earn these heavenly blessings, and yet through our faith in Jesus, God has freely given us all of them as a gift!

Oh how he loves us. Just as the cross was planned by the Father and His Son Jesus before the creation of the world, so was his decision to love all those who accept his Son! Before time began our heavenly Father made a promise to himself, to see every person who accepted his Son as holy and without blame in his sight. This promise is not kept by God only in the moment we believed, but forever! Brothers and Sisters, praise God! How great is our saviour Jesus, that through him he has made us ‘new’ in the eyes of God, and we are never again seen in our faults, but forever seen in His grace!

What is more, in this wonderful grace he has also adopted us as his Children. If it is true that you were born once through the body of your earthly mother, how much more is it true that you were born again through the body of our Lord Jesus Christ! Not as a child of man, but as a child of God. Hallelujah.

All these blessings were not free of charge, they cost the Son of God his life, but through Jesus paying the price upon the cross, we now freely receive all the benefits that God gives to his children, and this is Gods will, outworked in accordance with the riches of his glorious grace that he gives freely to us, because Christ has already paid for everything on our behalf!

We receive everything, because we are now living in the One who paid for everything. Not because of our works, but by the working of his grace! We are forgiven, redeemed, and established in His love, through the blood of Jesus, spilt upon the cross for us. My fellow brothers and sisters, how great is Christ’s love for us! He did not withhold anything, but gave himself up freely for all of us, so that now God may take great pleasure in pouring out his Grace without restriction upon us who believe, and it is not an act God does hastily, but he gives us an abundance of his grace with all wisdom and understanding. It isn’t a risk to God; it is the power of God!

And now God has made known to us the mystery of his will. It gives God pleasure to reveal to us his will: That we would find rest in his Son. God is not giving us a burden to carry, but a place to rest! And that rest is in His Son whom you now belong to. The days are coming when heaven and earth together will understand this great truth.

My dear friends, we can rest assured God does not chose people based on their own accomplishments, but he chooses those who place their trust in the perfect accomplishments of Christ. This is good news for us, for now that we have believed upon Christ, through our faith we have been chosen by God as his adopted Children and his treasured possession.

We don’t ask God why, for we know our acceptance is not based on our flawed merits, instead we freely thank God that we are chosen based on the perfect finished work of Christ! God planned it all before time began, and through faith in Jesus we have entered into the ‘light’ of that plan. God is working out everything according to the purpose of his will, he has created a way so that we who are the first to hope in Christ, can truly rest in him, know him and boast freely in Him, to the praise of his glory.

How, I ask you, did we find ourselves In Christ, the One whom we find not only rest for our souls, salvation for our spirits but also Gods blessings in this life? Were we included In Christ by our own efforts? Of course not, we were included In Him when we heard the word of truth, the good news that by his life, sacrifice, death and resurrection we are saved! Now that you believe, you are marked as a Child of God with a Heavenly seal, that seal is the promised Holy Spirit now living in you, given to you, to remind you daily of this wonderful reality.

You belong to Jesus, and the day is coming when you will inherit the kingdom of heaven itself. We’re not simply going to heaven one day as servants, but as sons and daughters! We will not only be part of the Kingdom of Heaven, but together with Christ we will own it! We now belong to God, and for that reason we inherit all that is Gods, and all this is by His will! Oh how he loves us!

It is for this very reason that I write to you, to remind both you and I of the good news of Jesus. I have to let you know how Christ has filled me with joy with the news of your new found faith in Him and the love you know have for each other.

Indeed, since I heard of your faith, I have not stopped thanking God. I’m telling you the truth! I feel so blessed to know you too have believed upon Christ, and write to welcome you to His family! And now just as I thank God for you all, I also keep asking that our awe inspiring, universe creating, redemption making, glorious Father may also give to you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, that you may know him even more intimately, for that is His desire! Just as you now belong to Him, I pray the Lord will also draw your heart even closer to Himself and help you understand the fullness of his love for you, in order that you may know him even better.

My dear friends, God has not only saved you, but he has called you into the riches of his glory! You are not saved and now kept distant from Him; you are saved and drawn close to Him! Oh may the eyes of your heart see this beautiful reality that is your birth right in Christ Jesus. His Life now lives in us! And his Life is powerful! It is the same power that he demonstrated to us when he created the universe and once again when he raised Christ from the dead. That power is now living in us, and through his grace it is now at work in us!

My brothers and sisters in the Lord, stop and think about it: that very same power that was strong enough to raise Jesus from the dead and place Him at the Fathers right hand in Heaven is now dwelling in you. By that same power Jesus now reigns in glory above all. Nothing can compare to the power, authority, and dominion that Jesus now has. He is above every title that can be given from eternity to eternity, he reigns supreme – and we are now in him! We have been united together as his Church, which is his body, and through our faith in him, God is his wisdom is fulfilling his glorious plan of mankind’s redemption!

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