Kingdom principle: Seeking Justice means you have known Grace & Mercy

Desire Mercy, Be Thankful for Grace, Never Give up on Justice.

Since our Prayers don’t change God – they change us…. the passage in Luke is not about being persistent to get what we want. If persistence gets you what you want then prayer is based in possibility thinking and law of attraction. (see last week- it’s not).  The self-absorbed judge of Luke 18 is not like God and God is not like that judge…. God is far more like the widow in His pursuit of Israel so that his people will come to know Him and love him.  Yet, God is the ultimate and final judge, therefore we are to come to Him with our cries for justice. The understanding in the story of the widow – is that her persistence is based on her awareness that justice is due her, and her faith leads her to continue to cry out in faithful expectancy. This very assumption is what we believers are to cling too. God has sufficient mercy and grace for us – and if we do not receive it, then to cry out in prayer for justice is the expectation. When we pray we are not to “bugging” and “nagging” God until we get what we want, or else our actions are not prayer. We are to cry out for the promises that God has committed to us.

First, we ask for Mercy – That God would withhold judgment against us – for we are sinners and death is what is due us all. When we receive Mercy we respond with Thanksgiving (see last week). Our Thanksgiving is an indicator that Grace has been made complete. If we are unaware of the Mercy we receive, meaning Mercy from God was granted, but our unawareness of such action leads us to wonder, “Where is God?” We must pray for Grace. This cry for Grace is that God will give us what we don’t even deserve. When we receive Grace from God, we experience His leading, teaching, guiding, and conviction. (see 2 Timothy regarding how the Word of God is to be preached) This work of Grace is an act of the Holy Spirit granted unto us by the life and blood of Jesus Christ.  When we acknowledge Grace in our lives – we are stewarding our sufferings, relationships and resources – this increases our faith, joy and eternal rewards.  Where a faithful follower of Christ is not encountering Mercy or Grace – the Enemy is thwarting the very desire and will of God. There are two main reasons for this thwarting to take place – either the enemy is intruding, or we have invited. Where there is intrusion we are to CRY for JUSTICE. The Widow was crying for Justice.

God’s justice is the overriding rule that the peace and prosperity of the Kingdom are to be yours in abundance. This commitment is not simply spiritual or eternal, it is that if the fruit that was due you, has been stolen and thwarted by the enemy, God will deliver unto you the Justice of the Lord.  If there is not intrusion, there is no need for Justice. Justice is served when the enemy or an agent of the enemy intrudes into a believer’s life. Sometimes we go as far as to invite the enemy, and nothing happens – in this case Mercy was executed over us. When we invite and the enemy brings chaos, tumult and destruction – this is only stopped by an act of Grace.  It is for this reason that God’s children are called to put on the righteousness of Christ and mediate on the Word of God. Further this is why we are saved by grace through faith.  In Christ’s righteousness, which is grace given to us, is there no invitation of sin. Therefore every time the enemy moves against you, as you are clothed in righteousness – You are deserving of Justice.

• Invitation – When we invite destruction through sinful actions or passive agreement with our flesh nature or desires.
• Intrusion – When Satan breaks the Spiritual laws violating the rule & reign of the King.

Let us be quick to invite the LORD to rule and reign and just is quick to never invite the enemy. While Grace and Mercy are given freely we must seek, cry out for and demand for Justice. This Engagement is an act of prayer that shifts our focus from what is happening to what can happen. Prayer shifts our focus from the reality of this world to the realm of the heavens. When we pray and lament to God for what was due us and how the enemy has tormented us – we are asking for what we deserve –that is Justice. Again grace is being given, what we don’t deserve. Prayer guides us in the journey of faith, teaching us the will of the Father. When we say, “Prayer Changes things”, the very “thing” that is being changed when you engage in prayer is You. Justice being delivered restores you to the rightful place in which God has already seen you. Therefore this is not a change in you, it is a confirmation of what we hoped to be true- now realized.

Finally –

There is no longer any shame in the life of the believer who has received Grace. (Romans 1:16, 2 Cor. 10:8, Phil 1:20, 2 Tim. 1:8, 12, 16; 2:15,  1 Peter 4:16) (It is complete much like our hope for justice) This is because where we have received grace, and anything that happens in our lives is that is not of God can and will be re-paid with Justice. If we error and sin – making an invitation to the enemy to bring destruction, we simply confess our sins and he is faithful and just. (1 John 1:8-9) This nullifies the shame of the act, but does not remove the consequences. So all this to say – Be Alive and full of live in the Kingdom of God. Boast in your weakness, be not ashamed of your life. God is at work in you and for you. Cry out to him and you will see – the Mercy, Grace and Justice that he is longing to bestow on you.