By Keith Hazell   

“To everything there is a season and a time for every purpose under heaven”

If you have read some of “The Narnia Chronicles “ you will know this wonderful allegory created almost a century ago, by C.S. Lewis, has been the means of speaking to so many in these days.

There was warfare and battle in the scenes, as well as promise. As the time went on there was hope of the coming of Aslan. In the time before his appearance there were wonderful pictures of the Grace and Mercy of God at work.

Many are saying that we are presently in an “hour of grace” when there is an awakening of understanding, like the breaking of the ice in the stories mentioned above. This season is one when we are re-discovering His Grace as a practical relevance, not merely a doctrinal statement.

Whenever, we re-discover an old and venerable truth, it inevitably leads to misunderstanding and strange application in the process of revelation.

At present there seems to be a battle going on for those of us who believe in God’s Grace in the life of the believer.

Firstly, it is apparent that some are using the Grace of God as a reason for license and loose living. There seems to be a rejection of Gods moral law as summed up in the Ten Commandments and replacing this with “what we think”. I am not talking about the legalistic requirement of religion, but the stated and written will of God.

Judges 21:25 “In those days Israel had no king, everyone did as he saw fit”

Over the years I have observed people undertaking unbiblical journeys, and actions based on “The Lord told me it was OK.” Today, because of some folks misunderstanding of the Grace of God, we are being told “It’s OK to live together before marriage” or “It’s OK for me to divorce my wife”. “’God told me it’s OK, God told me I can live without a church family’”, and so on, and so on.

Being right in our own sight or following the practice of the society around us, is no reason to believe that this satisfies God at all.

James 4:17 anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins.

Seeking “spiritual people’ who will endorse our actions is no answer either.

2 Tim 4:3 The time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine (or teaching) Instead to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

We have God’s Moral Law that lays out the moral fabric of the Kingdom of God. Nothing can replace it or super-cede it, no matter how compassionate or convenient it may be.

If we know to do right and don’t do it … the Bible says this is sin, whether we are saved or not its still sin. In fact Heb 11:29c says, “Has insulted the spirit of Grace” This is quite a serious accusation.

Most of us would not go out and murder someone “because we are covered by the Grace of God”. It is true that murderers may be saved by grace! However, deliberately setting out to murder, and then saying “God gave me permission to do that” is totally contrary to our biblical understanding of Grace. This applies to the whole Moral Law of God not just simply to “thou shalt not kill.”

The Prodigal son found there were consequences to leaving the Fathers house and direction….. He landed up in the pig pen! It wasn’t Gods fault! God saw him as a son all the time. He did not however approve of his actions.

His Grace was there for a bridge of restoration, not a mark of his approval of his son’s actions.

Heb 4:16 Let us approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in our time of need.

God’s Grace is our safety net in a time of weakness not a support in a time of open rebellion for our actions and attitudes. Grace never endorses sin.

Heb 12:15 See to it that no one misses the grace of God and that no bitter root grows up to cause trouble and defile many, see that no is sexually immoral or is godless like Esau, who for a single meal sold his inheritance rights as the oldest son.

When we live or act in defiance to the stated will and Moral Law of God, we always “lose something” in our inheritance or the blessing of God over our lives.

Dealing with this is a proactive matter, “see to it,” It must be confronted in order to see return to total productivity and destiny in the kingdom in our lives. There is a place for Christians to repent, not to salvation, they already have it, but rather to finding their right place with the Father in His household, and restoring close communion with Him in their lives.

When we are confronted with our sin (as defined above) too often we make an automatic response “you are just condemning me.” Actually, when faced with sin it is not wrong to point it out and to rebuke it without condemning the person or ceasing to love them. In fact part of true love is actually to face those we love when they ignore the Moral Law of God.

Rev 3:19 those I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. (Jesus said this)

Gal 6:1 Brothers if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently, but watch yourself or you also may be tempted.

The statement here illustrates that Grace is effective in dealing with those “caught in sin” and that they should be confronted and restored with a right attitude.

None of us are perfect but Grace does not put us in a place where “anything goes”! Out of incredible thankfulness for all He has done, and is doing for us, a heart change in the believer, brings an attitude of willing co-operation with the Holy Spirit and a desire to do as Jesus said “If you love me keep my commandments (and His commandments are not grievous).

It’s time to appreciate the Grace of God even more, and not to bring it into disrepute by our actions. Thank God we have been freed from the legalistic chains of religion. Gods Moral Law is not legalism; it is hidden in the order of every major culture in the world, and should be written on the heart of every believer. When it is so written it causes us to recommend the Grace of God to a needy world by a life of God seeking and real pleasure in walking in His commandments.

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For over 35 years, Keith Hazell traveled internationally as a prophet and teaching ministry, demonstrating the prophetic and raising up a new generation of prophets. Keith went to his eternal reward in September 2013. Copyright Keith Hazell, Used by permission