Antidepressant...(2Mar08)

Grace @ Work III – Strengthens:

 

Heb 13:9* Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by ceremonial foods, which are of no value to those who eat them (NIV).
Heb 13:9* So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor, not from ceremonial rules about food, which don't help those who follow them (NLT).

 

Grace's effect on our hearts:
NIV & ESV = strengthened.
KJV = established.
NLT = Your spiritual strength comes from God's special favor.
Biblical usage of Heart:
The centre of all physical and spiritual life
The soul or mind, as it is the fountain and seat of the thoughts, passions, desires, appetites, affections, purposes, endeavours.
Of the understanding, the faculty and seat of the intelligence.
Of the will and character.
Of the soul so far as it is affected and stirred in a bad way or good, or of the soul as the seat of the sensibilities, affections, emotions, desires, appetites, passions
Vines: The Heart, the seat (centre) of:
Our moral nature and spiritual life,
Our grief, Jhn 14:1; Rom 9:2; 2Cr 2:4;
Our joy, Jhn 16:22; Eph 5:19;
Our desires, Mat 5:28; 2Pe 2:14;
Our affections, Luk 24:32; Act 21:13;
Our perceptions, Jhn 12:40; Eph 4:18;
Our thoughts, Mat 9:4; Hbr 4:12;
Our understanding, Mat 13:15; Rom 1:21;
Our reasoning powers, Mar 2:6; Luk 24:38;
Our imagination, Luk 1:51;
Our conscience, Act 2:37; 1Jo 3:20;
Our intentions, Hbr 4:12, cp. 1Pe 4:1;
Our Purpose, Act 11:23; 2Cr 9:7;
Our will, Rom 6:17; Col 3:15;
Our faith, Mar 11:23; Rom 10:10; Hbr 3:12.

 

It is GOOD - of great benefit / better.

 

To be strengthened – made strong / secure.

 

By Grace:
Grace (Ex Vines) on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally, e.g., Act 7:10; especially with reference to the Divine favor or "grace," e.g., Act 14:26; in this respect there is stress on its freeness and universality, its spontaneous character, as in the case of God's redemptive mercy, and the pleasure or joy He designs for the recipient; thus it is set in contrast with debt, Rom 4:4,16, with works, Rom 11:6, and with law, Jhn 1:17; see also, e.g., Rom 6:14,15; Gal 5:4;

 

Let the favour & goodness of God go to work in / on our hearts.
Let Grace work on all aspects or our hearts as listed above – let Heavenly goodness affect how we "imagine" or "believe" or "grieve" or "rejoice", ie the power & authority of Heaven as displayed in Grace.

 

Ceremonies are of no value – what ever they may be in our lives (Mk 7).

 

Good works = good works (full stop) = overflow of the joy that grace releases in our lives.
& many good works we will do – Eph = He has prepared them for us.
But not to earn favour, we have favour, we don't / can't earn it, but rather coz we have favour.

 

(Grace = Is 35 we are those walking in the Way / the redeemed.)

 

Matt 11:28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

 

A revelation of God's grace lifts the yoke & the burden of graceless life.
In the Light of Grace, Jesus' yoke is easy & His burden is easy.
Let Grace strengthen your heart – Amen!