There I was a 12 year old boy full of energy, surrounded. So I sat in the hard wooden pew of the Methodist church in Madison Georgia, the prettiest town in America. On my left side was my maternal Grandmother “Mamma Dessa”. On my right side was my great aunt Stella whom I dearly loved, and to the right of my aunt Stella was my paternal Grandmother “Nanny”, whom I loved more than anyone. I didn’t stand a chance. My cousin Jo was there also with her mother Doris. These women weren’t about to let me,”slouch”,”twitch” or “slump”.
What I wanted to do was go outside and run around. No such luck. Since I was entrapped in the arms of love, I figured I might as well listen to the proceedings. The penalty for not doing so was a pinch or a poke or an evil eye from one or all of my guardians. They all loved me but were far more concerned with the serious responsibility that had been placed on them by no less than the Holy Spirit Himself, than they were about tolerating my indiscretions.
The message was about the love of Jesus. I don’t remember the sermon, but I will never forget the featured hymn which has stuck with me ever since. Here are the lyrics:
“Jesus is the sweetest name I know
and He’s just the same as His lovely name.
Jesus is the sweetest name I know
and that’s the reason why I love Him so!”
When we accept Jesus as our Lord and savior for real, we become new creations in Him. Everything old has passed away and everything is new and is of God. It is no longer we who live, but Jesus who lives within us and the life we live, we live by the faith of Jesus. The more we pursue Jesus, the more like Him we become, and the more He reveals Himself to us. The more we Know Him the more we understand how deep and infinite is His love for us.
Think on this, while we were yet sinners, Jesus died for us and in so doing, demonstrated His and God’s pure,unqualified and immeasurable love for us.
Jesus loves us so much, that He suffered worse than any living thing ever has to ransom us for Himself. He died a gruesome death and endured three days in the bowels of the earth because He loves us so much individually, that He can not live with out us. He loves us so much, that He payed the price for our sins once and for all. He loves us so much, that He destroyed illness, so that we would walk in divine health, by suffering every disease known and unknown to mankind in his body on the cross.
Jesus loves us so much that He has caused us to walk with Him in a state of Grace:
“THEREFORE, SINCE we have been justified (found not guilty, acquitted,declared righteous and given a right standing with God) Let us grasp the fact that we have the PEACE of reconciliation to hold and to enjoy, PEACE (a state of un-disturbedness) with God through our Lord Jesus.”
“Through Him, also we have our access (entrance, introduction) by faith(living in this present moment with JOYFUL EXPECTATION, of the things we can not see) into this GRACE (God’s willingness, ability and power to do those things for us that we can not or will not do for ourselves) in which we FIRMLY AND SAFELY STAND.)”
“And it is by this Grace, that we have been saved through faith, which is not of ourselves but is a gift of God, not of works lest any man should brag.”
Now get this, “Neither has eye seen nor ear heard, nor has it entered into the hearts and minds of man, the things that God has prepared for us who love Him.”
And what is the cost of our new wonderful, blessing filled life? TO BELIEVE ON HIM WHOM GOD HATH SENT!
No one has ever known a greater love than the infinite love of our King. He sees us as His glorious inheritance.
So does this grace and forgiveness mean that we can live a fleshly life of sin? “SHOULD WE USE THE GRACE OF GOD AS AN OCCASION FOR SIN? GOD FORBID! Instead the opposite is true. We are to behave well not because of the fear of punishment but because we love Him so!
Read the Words of Peter: “SO BE done with every trace of wickedness and all deceit and insincerity and grudges and slander and evil speaking of every kind. Like Newborn babies you should crave, thirst for, earnestly desire,the pure unadulterated spiritual milk, that you may be nurtured and grow into salvation, since you have already tasted the goodness and kindness of the Lord.”
Read the words of Paul: “For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the Holy Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are opposed to the flesh (Godless human nature)”. for these are antagonistic to each other, so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire.”
“Now the doings of the flesh are clear; they are immorality, impurity, indecency, Idolatry, sorcery enmity, strife, fear, doubt, unbelief, anxiety, worry, jealousy, anger, selfishness, envy, drunkeness, carousing, and the like.”
But Jesus has enabled us to live the life of the Spirit not out of compulsion but because of our love for Him.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, courage, faith, belief, gladness, happiness, peace, patience, an even temper, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, being teachable, self control, against such things there is no law.”
Jesus, through His precious love, gave us the ability to receive newness of life and joy unspeakable!
Yes Aunt Stella, Momma Dessa Nanny and Doris: JESUS IS THE SWEETEST NAME I KNOW!!!
Some of the scriptures this teaching are based on include but are not limited to: Isaiah 53:4, John 3:16, Galatians 5:18-20, 1Peter1, 1Corinthians 2:9, Romans 5:3-8, 1Peter 2:24 and Hebrews 10:10.
I pray that this teaching has blessed you. If so, please pass it to another who will be blessed.
This is a link that will enable you to hear a great message from the Holy Spirit delivered at our Sunday meeting:
https://knowjesusknowgrace.com/598
Throne of Grace Ministries is a 501c3 tax exempt ministry. Our primary ministry is to personally Pastor and Coach business and community leaders. We also minister in Hospitals, Recovery Centers, Nursing Homes, Assisted Living facilities, to addicts, homeless folk, alcoholics, mentally ill folk, in Churches, Businesses, Bible Study Groups, Homes, Restaurants, and wherever the Holy Spirit leads us. We minister the un-compromised truth of the Gospel of Jesus to thousands of people in hundreds of countries around the world through our website: KnowJesusKnowGrace.Com.
We are entirely funded by the generosity of our Donor Partners. We are not affiliated with any group, denomination or organization. If you would like to become a Donor Partner and help us continue our Spirit driven work, please make your check payable to Throne of Grace and mail it to the address below, or make a secure on-line offering at our website above.
Thank You!
Pastor Allen Fleming
Throne of Grace Ministries
P.O.BOX 669153
Marietta, Georgia 30066
