Missing Elements of Grace, Word and Power

In my previous blog I highlighted the three stages and importance of Grace, Word and Power from repentance to the Father, believing in his Son and receiving of God’s Spirit. In this blog I look at the typical characteristics of when individual Christians or whole churches fail to live out any of them.

Grace Only no Word and Power
Those who start in grace but fail to move well into word and power typically show the following characteristics: –

• Show love and acceptance to those who do not believe but fail to expect them to move on and grow
• Provide a community of social support
• Understand people’s circumstances yet have no real influence to change them
• No power in their own life for victorious living
• Believe we are all sinners and are dependant on God for all things yet fail to partner with God in building his kingdom
  
  

Word Only no Grace and Power
Those who start in grace and then become absorbed by the word of God in scripture leaving behind the grace typically show the following characteristics: –

• They move from loving the world to hating the world
• Scripture becomes the focus of all things
• Believing that if they know scripture and say it then then that changes the world and keeps them holy
• They become disciplined while losing the joy
• Are legalistic and judgemental with others
• A common trait for children living under this regime is that in later life they rebel and go away from God
• Believing is not related to the real internal drivers such as love or anger but related to knowing bible verses – ‘say it and claim it’
• They believe that the Holy Spirit was given at conversion and do not operate in the supernatural gifts such as tongues, word of knowledge, healings etc
• Believe the world is getting more evil, the church is shrinking and not victorious
• Believe they are part of the remnant of true believers
• Hope is in the life after this world

Power Only no Grace and Word
For those living with the demonstration of the power of God while failing to hold onto grace and word typically show the following characteristics: –

• Live for their power encounters in the church meetings
• More excited about prophetic words than scripture
• People are healed, talk in tongues but fail to mature
• Expect powerful prayers to solve all problems rather than taking personal responsibility in Christ. EG Expect prayer to sole financial problems rather than good money stewardship
• Become exclusive in their community
• Show lack of personal disciplines in their lives
• Emphasis on seeing the Spirit move in power, less emphasis on teaching how to develop fruits of the Spirit etc

I will leave you to figure out what will be the characteristics of having two of the three core elements Grace, Word and power…….

Questions – reaching for the fullness of God

1. Grace – Do I still have love for the world just as God so loved the world he sent his only Son. Do I have compassion for people? In God’s eyes do I see myself no better than others just incredibly fortunate that I have been saved by grace?
   
   
2. Word – Do I realise that Jesus Christ is the Word and that I can get to know him by prayer and in the scriptures? Am I growing in Christ to take personal responsibility, self-control and become an active partner building the Father’s kingdom? Am I growing in character and wisdom?
   
   
3. Power – Have I sought for, asked and submitted (lost control) to receive power from God to prophecy, heal and know things supernaturally? Am I willing to empty myself in giving out to see God step in where I finish in the natural to see the supernatural? Am I willing to risk embarrassment, loss for the sake if seeing God move rather than just me?