---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Byron Wicker
To: People Who Keep Company with God
Date: 9/4/2008 9:04:47 AM
Subject: Greater Grace

Dear People Who Keep Company with God,

One of the things I believe God desires to teach us in this hour is how to stay in grace. Many times, we unknowingly frustrate the grace of God. Galatians 2:21. In my studies of moves of God and revivals of the past, they all began because God poured out an extraordinary grace upon the people, but it appears many were prematurely ended because they did not stay grounded in the very grace God gave them. The writer of Hebrews tells us that it is good for the heart to be established by grace. Hebrews 13:9.

Grace is not one dimensional, as Peter said it is the "manifold grace of God"1 Peter 4:10, therefore grace can be messy and is misunderstood by much of the church. At a city pastors gathering I made a comment on how we needed to see the grace of God released into some situations that were happening in our city. I was immediately corrected by another pastor that grace had been abused and was not what was needed. This pastor only saw grace as unmerited favor and not as might and power to obey God and do His works as Paul described it to be; For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, Titus 2:11-12

One thing that makes grace so messy is that it allows both the righteous and unrighteous to grow together. Jesus clearly illustrated this in the parable of the wheat and tares. A farmer had planted wheat and an enemy came in and planted some tares in his field. The workers wanted to pull the tares up, but the farmer had wisdom and told them. 'Allow both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn." Matthew 13:30. Jesus went on to explain that it is the angels' job to remove all the stumbling blocks, not ours. "The Son of Man will send forth His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all stumbling blocks, and those who commit lawlessness. Matthew 13:41

This past spring and much of the summer we saw a remarkable outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Lakeland, Florida. Many were saved, healed and there have been numerous reports of resurrections of the dead. Unfortunately due to personal failure by Todd Bentley and poor judgment by the leadership of the Florida Outpouring many have become discouraged and disillusioned and have put their focus more on the tares that sprouted and grew during the outpouring than the wheat.

I believe these situations need to be addressed and corrected, but we must not throw the baby out with the bath water as many are quick to do. The revival that God desires to bring to the Body of Christ in America does not hinge on a person, ministry, or a particular move or church. Men have fallen, but God hasn't nor will He ever fall. I believe we are at a crossroads and what may look like defeat or a major set back may be a door of opportunity for a greater grace to be released.

But He gives a greater grace. Therefore it says, "GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE." James 4:6

It is easy to spot the tares in a wheat field; the tares stand upright while the wheat is bowed. As I think about this I hear Heidi Baker's words from a couple of years ago, "get low". I believe if we will humble ourselves anew we will see an even greater release of God's grace; His love, power and a soundness of mind in our lives and in this nation.

Many Blessings, BW