Not By Works, But

Kristine Cucinotta Murphy

It is not by your own works; that’s old covenant, but by the works of the Holy Spirit, by Faith; the new covenant. Mere vessels, a branch, you are not your own. Your thoughts and ways are not God’s. You can do nothing without Jesus Christ -The True Vine. Grafted in. He must increase, I must decrease.

We can easily get caught back up into old ways and doing our own works. This is why prayer, fasting and daily meditating on, studying the Word is vital. This is why we are encouraged to ask God to search us and know us. This is why God throws us in the refining fire. This is why God purges out our hearts as they become broken and contrite. This is why God prunes us and removes what does not belong. This is why the storms blow in to try the roots of our Faith that continues to grow and dig deeper and wider in him, to show us, it is not by what we do, but by what he has done.

It is ALL God’s work in us that by a mere seed of God given faith we are able to live and testify his mercy, forgiveness and grace. We were all bought at a price, we are not our own. Nor, by our own works will anything stand.

Without Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior, without submitting to the Holy Spirit to dwell in us in all humility and fear of the LORD, to obey his commands, that he has made us able to do as he did and even greater things: without him, we are nothing, wretched and lost.

But, he has found us and able to save us. He stands at the door and knocks, won’t you let him in. His yoke is easy and burden is light. Lay down your ways and your thoughts, your pains and your burdens at the foot of the cross. Ask for him to come in and live in your heart, to heal you, to restore you, to desire to serve him, he served you first. Return to your first love, he loved you first. Sit at his feet and listen to his voice alone. You are called by him, to be a Royal Priesthood, a Holy Nation, without spot nor wrinkle.

Jesus Christ did the ultimate and died on the cross for your sins, he has shown you the way: pick up your cross, die to self, be risen again into life of eternity with peace, joy and love with him.

No one can make this life or death decision for you, hear the quiet voice of the Lord say “Here am I, won’t you invite me in.” Feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit that has found you naked, to be clothed in all humility from all of your sin. He has redemption for you, the salvation you need to be spared by God’s wrath to come.

Receive this priceless gift of grace, to endure to the end and be saved from eternal damnation in hell of weeping and gnashing of teeth in fire and brimstone that those there won’t even get a small drop of relief, because you believed you don’t need to ask for forgiveness and submit to the Holy Spirit to have him complete a work in you to follow Jesus Christ by faith. Again, you can do nothing without him, not even be saved and go to heaven. Jesus Christ is the only way, the truth and the life. He is the spring of life, living water to not run dry.

Cry out right where you are, cry out for him and let him in.

Abide, Abide, Abide in Him always!

Matthew 24:36-37
But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.