“…having been justified by faith, we have PEACE WITH GOD through our Lord Jesus Christ, THROUGH WHOM ALSO we have access by faith INTO THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND…” (Romans 5:1-2)
What are the two things that happen in this verse?
- WE ARE SAVED: “by grace you have been saved (justified) through faith…” (Ephesians 2:8)
- ALSO, WE HAVE ACCESS BY FAITH INTO THIS GRACE IN WHICH WE STAND: The second work of grace empowers us to stand…
“It is God’s will that you should BE SANCTIFIED…” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)
I mentioned yesterday that I took a couple of marijuana joints with me to study the bible, today I know that smoking marijuana to get high is not pleasing to the Lord. I was defiantly saved but I desperately needed to be sanctified. “…in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, SOME FOR HONOR and SOME FOR DISHONOR. Therefore, if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be A VESSEL FOR HONOR, SANCTIFIED and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.” (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
I was saved on Wednesday, on Friday night Tim took me to a revival at the Seattle Church, Tim’s wife sang “Sheltered In The Arms of God” it really touched my heart and made me want to pray. So, when the Evangelist gave the altar call, for the first time in my life, I ran to the altar. I was praying for the Lord to give me what I needed to KEEP GOING WITH MY RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM and the Lord spoke to me and said, “Bill, you need to get rid of your marijuana and alcohol…” I said yes Lord, I will and at that moment I felt like something amazing happened inside of me. There was no longer a desire to FEED MY ADDICTIONS, I felt clean, I felt free, I felt a real love for the Lord, and I told Him so, over, and over as I cried and groaned, making a mess at the altar!!!
I continued to pray and asked the Lord if I SHOULD SELL my newly purchased 10 bags of Acapulco Gold marijuana, and give the money to the church or should I BURN IT UP in my fireplace? “No, flush it down the toilet.” So, on the way home I asked Tim if he would help me flush all my drugs and alcohol down the toilet. I traveled a lot on my job and had many airline bottles of booze.
When we got home I gave Tim and Joyce all my booze to flush. I took my marijuana, which I had put into the large baby food jars and all the stems ground up into one jar, in the bathroom and gladly and joyfully began pouring it in and flushing it down until I got to the last jar. I grabbed that jar and could not get it opened, I’m pretty strong and strained and strained but it would not open, then this voice said to me, “you might need this later you better set it aside…” I did not recognize that voice, so I cried out Lord help me!!! The jar came open and as I poured it out, somehow the Lord lifted me up and said, “this will make you feel so much better than that ever could.” That night I was sanctified and INSTANTLY DELIVERED from my addictions and filled with THE JOY OF THE LORD.
Your Personal Pastor -Bill Stockham