John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

I Proclaim You Innocent!

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world! 


As I bring this message to you today I want you to hear one thing.  If you do not hear or read anything else I want you to hear these words spoken by Jesus until it permeates your very being.  I promise you if you hear these words and understand what they truly mean whatever has happened in your past does not matter, what is happening in your present is changing and your future will be better, brighter, and more than you can ever imagine. The words are found in John 8:11… Jesus said, “I do not condemn you!” 


If you think about these words, one might ask why Jesus said them.  The easy answer is that Grace cannot condemn only the law condemns.  This is true but there is more, Jesus the Lamb of God was already carrying the sins of the world and likewise the world had already been proclaimed innocent.  


John 1:29-31 (The Message)


29-31 The very next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and yelled out, "Here he is, God's Passover Lamb! He forgives the sins of the world! This is the man I've been talking about, 'the One who comes after me but is really ahead of me.' I knew nothing about who he was—only this: that my task has been to get Israel ready to recognize him as the God-Revealer. That is why I came here baptizing with water, giving you a good bath and scrubbing sins from your life so you can get a fresh start with God."


God’s Passover Lamb who came to the Priest, John the Baptist who was in the River Jordan calling people to repentance sees Jesus and proclaims to the people here is your spotless lamb who forgives the sins of the world, he then laid hands on Jesus, the sins of the world was then transferred onto him and his innocence was transferred into the world.  For three years Jesus went about not judging people but proclaiming their innocence.  Then at the time of His sacrifice blood was shed and sprinkled on the Mercy seat paying the ransom for the world that through believing in this redemption salvation is received.  He then rose from the dead proclaiming life forevermore to those who believe.  Glory to God I hope you are getting this…


Let’s turn now to Romans;


Romans 8:1-4 (The Message)


The Solution Is Life on God's Terms


1-2 With the arrival of Jesus, the Messiah, that fateful dilemma is resolved. Those who enter into Christ's being-here-for-us no longer have to live under a continuous, low-lying black cloud. A new power is in operation. The Spirit of life in Christ, like a strong wind, has magnificently cleared the air, freeing you from a fated lifetime of brutal tyranny at the hands of sin and death.


 3-4 God went for the jugular when he sent his own Son. He didn't deal with the problem as something remote and unimportant. In his Son, Jesus, he personally took on the human condition, entered the disordered mess of struggling humanity in order to set it right once and for all. The law code, weakened as it always was by fractured human nature, could never have done that.


The law always ended up being used as a Band-Aid on sin instead of a deep healing of it. And now what the law code asked for but we couldn't deliver is accomplished as we, instead of redoubling our own efforts, simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.


Now I could read this over and over and preach myself happy but the part that I want to point out is “simply embrace what the Spirit is doing in us.”  Of course this speaks of the Holy Spirit but what is it doing in us?  First and foremost the Holy Spirit is proclaiming you innocent. My daughter sings it this way; He makes me clean!  The Holy Spirit will never condemn you, Jesus does not condemn you, God does not condemn you, and because of Grace you have been made innocent.  Embrace this fact and your life will be changed forever!  You might be saying but Brother Bryant my pastor says… or you don’t understand… I have always been taught to ask for forgiveness… the question I have is the same question Jesus asked… where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?  For those in Christ there is no condemnation.  You might ask but what about those who are not saved?  All that is required is that they believe in their redemption and receive their salvation provided by God that was planned before the foundation of the world.


With that in mind let’s turn to 1 Peter;


1 Peter 1:18-20 (The Message)


18-21 Your life is a journey you must travel with a deep consciousness of God. It cost God plenty to get you out of that dead-end, empty-headed life you grew up in. He paid with Christ's sacred blood, you know. He died like an unblemished, sacrificial lamb. And this was no afterthought. Even though it has only lately—at the end of the ages—become public knowledge, God always knew he was going to do this for you. It's because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.


That you trust God and that you know you have a future in God.  It is my prayer that you come to this very understanding that Jesus came not to condemn you but to proclaim you innocent so that you trust God and have a future in Him.  Rest in knowing that God cares for you and wants you to know how much He loves you.  You were on His mind when he laid the foundations of the world.  Because of Grace the life that you travel is a journey of life everlasting, with a deep consciousness of God’s Love for You!


So now I close with the words of Jesus… “I do not condemn you” and in the name of Jesus… I proclaim you Innocent!  Now go and do likewise….


God Loves You and You Are Blessed! 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

“GOD IS YOUR PROVIDER!”

I bring Grace and Peace to each one of you in the name of Jesus the Savior of the world!  


Back in September when I presented the message: “GOD MY PROVIDER” ( http://thegracezone.blogspot.com/2010/09/god-my-provider.html  for those who have not read it.) I knew that especially in America that it was a controversial message, though true if preached in most churches today I would be quickly given the left foot of fellowship.  For those of you that do not know what that means, it means kicked out, never to be invited back.  I am also aware of the fact that even among Grace Teachers this subject causes division.  Now, if you were to ask; do I believe in the tithe?  I would give you the answer yes because Jesus the Lamb is the tithe whose blood was sprinkled on the mercy seat.  Jesus is the final sacrifice who took on the sins of the world. The tithe has been paid.  The way the tithe is taught in churches today when it comes to money and finances is what I do not agree with and is what I believe to be the last stronghold of Grace.


Because of the manipulative teachings in most churches today there is a spirit of poverty that is robbing God’s people and teaching that they have to give to be blessed is basically saying that Jesus did not pay it all and now we have to take up the slack.  This is not true, Jesus did pay it all and I am here to declare because of this truth that the windows of heaven are open and you do not have to be blessed… You Are Blessed… receive it now in Jesus name!


After realizing that the message back in September is still my most visited message I felt compelled to come back to the subject to give a more personal message of what God my provider means to me.  First off I want to make it clear I do believe in Giving, under the New Covenant it is called "Free will Giving".  There is no manipulation you give people the opportunity to give and because of Christ in them they give.  


I told a pastor friend of mine last November as sons and daughters of God it is in our DNA to give because God gave His son Jesus who gave it all.  Unfortunately he did not agree with what I said and stated that is not enough.  I am here to say it is enough.  Another example of the manipulation of people to tithe was brought to my attention when I was told of a pastor that I know in a local church that from stage had to bring it to the attention of the congregation to stop writing bad checks because there was $14000.00 of fees on the church records caused by the problem.  Now, do you think that if “Free will giving was taught that there would be this problem?  No, the Holy Spirit would never guide anyone to give what they do not have! The continued teaching of "tithing" in the churches today produces a spirit of poverty over them. I was even told by a pastor once if he did not pass the plate on a given Sunday the bills would go unpaid.  Unfortunately the American Church today has turned Christianity into a business.


I realize that changing this mindset of teaching for most does not happen over night.  For me I grew up being taught tithing it took me about two years to unlearn so I could come to the full understanding of what it truly means to say God my provider.  Now I feel so liberated but first God brought me to a true realization by using the verses in Matthew… 


Matthew 6:25-27 (Amplified Bible)


25 Therefore I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?


26 Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth much more than they?


27 And who of you by worrying and being anxious can add one unit of measure (cubit) to his stature or to the span of his life?


God used the birds to show me that not only does he care for them but that there are times that he uses others to also care for them.  God brought me to a place where in my life I am truly at rest in Him.  I know that every morning that no matter what may be going on around me, that for that day everything has been provided.  God actually brought me into a relationship with him to a point that I know I am cared for and that I am loved.  I know now that because of the words of the Prophet Malachi have been fulfilled and that I am Blessed!  So are you, You are Blessed!


Malachi 3:10 (KJV)


Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and  prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.


I translate it this way… Bring Jesus the Alpha and Omega into the storehouse, that there may be a sacrifice in my house, and prove me now, saith God, if I will not open because of Jesus the Alpha and Omega the windows of heaven and pour out a blessing, I will provide for you.  



In the name of Jesus I bind the teachings of tithing money to be blessed and loose the teaching of Giving of your free will, the windows of heaven are open and you are blessed!



I am going to repeat myself and that is I do believe in giving.  The main message I have for you is when it comes to tithing it is the last stronghold of Grace.  Don't just take my word for it or your pastor's word for it.  Take time to search the scriptures for yourself and let the Spirit of Truth guide you to the revelation that you seek. It is time for me to bow out... enjoy the journey.  


Rest in knowing the GOD IS YOUR PROVIDER.  


God Loves You!  You are Blessed!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

Jesus Is The Word!

One of the problems I see among Christians today is that they, like the Israelites want to listen to a man instead of God.  They sit and listen to a message and take it at face value without taking the time to find out what the Word of God really says and spend time with God themselves and basically say, so and so said it I believe it.   


I am here to say do not take anything that I say or have said at face value.  Spend time for yourself in the Word and let the Holy Spirit guide you to the truths that have been revealed.  God wants to have a personal relationship with you, He loves you and when you read, pray, and study His Word, know that Jesus is the Word!  Not only will you come to more of an understanding, your relationship with God will blossom into what it was meant to be.  Let’s turn to 1 John 1:1…


John 1:1-3 (Amplified)


1 IN THE beginning [before all time] was the Word (Christ), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God Himself. 
2 He was present originally with God. 
3 All things were made and came into existence through Him; and without Him was not even one thing made that has come into being.


Taking this into consideration that Jesus is the Word to me means that when we read the Word we are to read it from the perspective of God’s love for us while seeing Jesus in everything that we read.  When it pertains to the New Covenant all scripture must conclude in no condemnation.


Romans 8:1 (American Standard Version)


There is therefore now no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus.


When reading the Old Testament look for Jesus in what you read, for example the story of Joseph, the story of Joshua, the exodus of the Israelites form Egypt, always look for the types and shadows of Jesus.  When reading the Four Gospels remember that until after the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus this is still during Old Testament times.  Also when reading the Bible especially the New Testament always take into consideration who it is written to.  Allow the message of Jesus Christ to produce in your life.  Jesus is God’s word about your life.  


God wants to have a relationship with you personally, He loves you and sent His son to die for you.  Make use of the finished work of Jesus.  When ever you hear something always research even to the Greek and Hebrew to see what God wants you to know.  Always remember that the translators from time to time added to the word thinking that God said this but really meant this and they were wrong.  


I will close with this; Take time to read the Word of God for yourself, enjoy His love letters to you.  Live under the influence of Jesus and read the Word from the perspective of God’s love.  


God loves you and you are Blessed!