"GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE"

“GOD SHED HIS GRACE ON THEE”

Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Moses prayed unto the Lord. (Exodus 34:9) “And he said, now I have found grace in your sight, O Lord, let me Lord, I pray you go among us for it is a stiff-necked people; and pardon our iniquity and our sin, and take us for your inheritance.”

Grace – Strong’s #5485 – “that which affords joy; pleasure; delight; sweetness; charm; loveliness; grace of speech; good will; loving-kindness; favor; of the merciful kindness by which God exerting his holy influence upon souls turns them to Christ; keeps; strengthens; increases them in Christian faith; knowledge; affection; and kindles them to the exercise of  Christian virtues.   The spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace; a gift of grace; benefit; bounty; thanks, (for benefits, services, favors); recompense; reward.

The patriarchs cried out to the Lord, “If I have found Grace in your sight”.   As Christians, “We believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” (Acts. 15:11)

American found Grace in the eyes of the Lord.  This is graciously described by Katharine Lee Bates in America The Beautiful:

“O beautiful for spacious skies

For amber waves of Grain

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain

God shed His grace on three

And crown thy good with brotherhood

Fro sea to shining sea.”

John Adams wrote:  “The second day of July 1776 will be the most memorable epoch in the history of America.  I am apt to believe it will be celebrated by succeeding generations as the great anniversary festival.  It ought to be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God Almighty.  It ought to be solemnized with pomp and parade with shows, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations from one end of this continent to the other, from this time forward forever more.”

His prophetic declaration only missed by two days.  July 2, 1776 was the date the resolution of Independence was approved in a closed session of congress.  It is still debated that it was actually signed on July 4, 1776.  However, it was signed!!!

This nation was birthed by the Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.  John 1”17:  “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ and great grace was upon them all.”

In accordance with this declaration that this day should be commemorated as the day of deliverance by solemn acts of devotion to God, it is to the credit of a coalition of Texas pastors who are planning an event on the 235^th anniversary of our Independence calling for the removal of the Houston National Cemetery Director.  Arleen Occasion, Director of the N.C.H has attempted to censor a pastor’s prayer, and has issued a general policy prohibiting reference to God or Jesus as well as other prohibitions of religious expression at the cemetery.

What better way to celebrate this day than take the time to stand again for religious freedom.  “We hold these trusts to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

The Word of God tells us that Grace is able to build us up and give us an inheritance.   Paul’s apostleship was by Grace.  We are justified by Grace.  The promises to the seed are appropriated to us by Grace.  We have access by faith into Grace.  It is that which helps those who believe.  Our work in the Kingdom is fulfilled by Grace.  The testimony of the Word of Grace is signs and wonders.  Paul was urged to stand fast and continue in the Grace of God.   God gives grace to the humble.  The Grace of God brings salvation.  We have Grace to help in times of need.  The Holy Spirit is called the Spirit of Grace.  Husbands and wives are heirs together of the grace of Life. 

Hebrews 12:14-15:  “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord; Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness spring up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.  Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

Prophecy given by Marvin Barham, 6/25/11:
Subject: Prophetic Word 25 June 2011

Dear Caroline, The Spirit of the Lord told me to call you and tell you that the Body of Christ, to include LWC, has been in a season of sifting. Even until the first day of the conference the sifting will be. During the times of sifting God will cause you to plant new seeds in preparation for a new harvest. There has been and will continue to be efforts on the part of the powers of darkness to disrupt what God is doing. However, God will disrupt the efforts of the enemy. Be not distracted nor dismayed for the Lord is with you. God is placing His finger on the cultural, compromise, and carnality of those in His body who will not walk in the His grace. God will require of the unbroken a sacrifice of a fleshly heart as the sinew at the alter of God. Be of good courage. Do not be shaken. Do not be moved for the grace of the Lord will overshadow you like the sweet dew of a new day that is coming. God is sending someone of great significant city influence to you. God will cause new connections for Kingdom distribution and divine disposition of His resources to the Body of Christ. He is posturing His people for a great release. Though devastation may surround us on every side throughout the Body of Christ the east will say to the west, "Let us come and work together in the name of the Lord." And the north will say to the south, "What is mine is yours." Stand as God has called you. Listen not to the voice of another for you know that the hand of the Lord is upon you for this hour for which you have been apprehended.

Shalom,

Pastor Marvin Barham
VCFI Church

I am re-visiting this prophecy given by Brother Barham because I have been watching for at least two weeks as the Lord is doing a deep work in the Body of Christ.

What does it mean to “sift”?   The word “sift” occurs three times in three verses in KJV.  Isa. 30:28; Amos 9:9; Luke 22:31:  It means to quiver, totter, shake, reel, stagger wander, move, make move, wave, waver, tremble, be unstable, to totter, go tottering, vagabond, to be tossed about or around, to shake, disturb, to cause to wander.

“To cause to wander”---This sifting has been going on for some time in the church at large.  Holy Rollers have taken on a whole new meaning.  It is those Christians who roll from one meeting to the other one.  They never settle into a local fellowship mostly because they have risen above the leadership.  There are those whom the Lord “sends”.  These are not wanderers, but “sent ones”.  The wanderers are those who promote themselves.

The Lord is calling the Body of Christ to a higher level of anointing that we may be equipped to be dispensers of the Grace and Power of the Lord,  In order for us to be able to receive this power, there will need to be a deeper work of Grace.  We can receive this Grace or we will miss God and continue to live in our carnality in the contaminated culture of the world system.  If we will receive this work of Grace, then we will become dispensers of His power and Grace to the world.

Ezra 9:8:  “And now for a little space grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us a remnant to escape, and to give us a nail in His Holy place, that our God may lighten our eyes and give us a little reviving in our bondage.”

Ps. 84:11: “For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord will give grace and glory; no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.”

A confirmation of that which the Holy Spirit is doing in our midst came through CorpPray Resource from a prophecy given by Brad Burk, Dallas, TX.

Subject: Do NOT Despair

Brad Burk, Dallas

BradBurk@Juno.com

Realize that this is not a time to despair, in fact, I would speak to you commandingly not to despair, but this is a time to behold, look, see, set your spiritual eyes upon the fact that the OLD is truly passing away. It is the time to behold, look, see, and set your spiritual eyes upon the NOW. In looking for the NEW you will begin to see the system of social formalities requiring works and performance is quickly passing away. I am moving my people into a casual restful intimacy of My Presence. You will be lovingly coerced into the rest that I have ultimately called my people into. Do you not realize that the great call to prayer is nothing more than a deep intimacy with me in which you will find that there is a time for words and a time to be quiet? The system of social formalities requiring works and performance has been based in the fear of doing wrong, speaking wrong, and acting wrong. Discouragement has become rampant. I am bringing an enlargement of freedom to my people as they embrace the REST of My Presence. I am causing my people to advance by being in Me step by step, but they will know when to take a step. Out of this relationship will come the ability for my people to know they have a pure heart. Whether things are done, said, or accomplished rightfully will be based on the obedience of the heart, rather than legal perfection. Through all of this, you will begin to embrace God’s purpose for you and the church, and also, be able to find and walk in God’s new order. I would strongly urge you to not go back to the old because that is where you are comfortable. All that you will find in the old will be poverty in your heart, soul, and spirit, even if your body seems to prosper for a season.

Again I would say, do not despair, for truly you will begin to experience that it is not by might, not by power but by the spirit of God that destinies will be fulfilled and the Kingdom of God will go forth. It is time for us to speak, no SHOUT “Grace, Grace” into and over this place, this area, and the situations, the people, the government, and the nations. It is time for my grace, which is the power of My Presence that enables people, places, and things to be accomplished by God-all destinies that have been proclaimed, prophesied and declared into the earth by God through his people.

Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications; and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, and one mourns for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, and one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.”

John blessed us with this grace in the very last verse of the Bible. Rev. 22:21: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen”

Preached by:  Pastor Carolyn Sissom