The Pen of a Ready Writer

Posted on June 1, 2014 by James Ryle

“My tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1).

One of the first prayers I prayed as a young

believer called by God to preach, comes from
the words of David the Psalmist. “Open my
eyes, that I may behold wondrous things from
Your Word” (Psalm 119:18).

Indeed, the Lord has faithfully answered that,

and continues to do so to this very day.

One of the greatest things He has ever shown

me in the Word is the truth about GRACE. I
have preached this message for the past 30+
years, and will continue to do so as God gives
me grace.

Beginning today I will post a series of

devotions that pass along to you the wondrous things the Lord has shown me about Grace. My purpose
in writing this series of devotions is to show you the extraordinary measures to which God has gone in
order to insure our success in being the men and women He created us to become; to be men and
women who stand in grace and reign in life.

The Psalmist said, “My tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1). If permissible I should like to
take the Psalmist’s words and make them my own as I undertake this truly ambitious project of
unpacking the truth about God’s grace day by day here for your thoughtful consideration.

This will take some time to accomplish. And for this reason, I ask you to make a commitment here – stay
with me through this series. I know how easy it is to read a few days, and then drift off…only to pick back
up sometime later. If you approach this series of postings in that way you will miss out on the heart of
this message.

I will faithfully do my part of writing and posting, and ask that you read each post as the case builds. The
conclusion will be well worth the time you invest!

While offered in the brevity and repetition of daily devotions, there will be nothing brief and repetitious
about this at all. This ongoing series of postings represent the fruit of several years of deep reflection,
arduous study, impassioned preaching, continual musing, and uncompromising refinement.

This message has burned in my heart for many years, and flooded my thoughts with such wonder and
delight that I have longed for others to know of it, and to experience the truth of it for themselves. So, if
ever a man could be ready to tell what he knows – it is I; and if ever the time was right to tell it, it is now.
Thus, my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

So, prepare yourself as we excel into the lofty heights of the most astounding revelation ever given to us
from Jesus.
Join me tomorrow on a journey of a lifetime!
So, You Wanna Go On a Journey?

Posted on June 2, 2014 by James Ryle

“Go home to your friends and tell them the great things the Lord has done.” (Mark 5:19).

There is a place called Grace. I have been there many, many times and have seen great and wondrous
things. “Go home to your friends,” Jesus said, “and tell them the great things the Lord has done”
(Mark.5:19). So I am here offering you an invitation to come with me to this place called Grace, and to
discover for yourself the great things the Lord has done for you.

Wanna come?

First of all, no need to pack a lot for this trip. In fact,

the less you pack the better. I’ve seen some people
try to make the trip with so many bags of stuff that
they simply can’t go the distance. They are weighed
down with this or that – you know, things like
opinions, attitudes, pre-suppositions, cherished
nonsense and unchallenged beliefs. I’ve never seen
too many of them make it very far. Their “stuff” gets
in their way.

I read once that the mind and heart are like a

parachute – they only function when open. So, open
up and let the wind of God fill your heart and mind
with His Word. You are about to experience
dramatic change in your life.

Baggage – the less you have the better off you will
be on this journey.

And, secondly, you do not need to dress up for this

trip. Come as you are. The Lord loves each one of us
always, but He especially delights when we are
unpainted, unstained, unvarnished and unclaimed
by this world. You need not try to be someone you
are not, nor try to impress others with who you
suppose they want you to be. Come as you are. Whatever changes are needed to be made, the Lord will
take care of all that along the way.

The third thing you need to know and prepare for is that this journey is going to take some time. This
will not be a quick run to the convenience store; nor even a midday excursion to the nearby super-store
where we can pick up a bunch of stuff at discount prices all in one stop.

No, this trip is going to take some time and will require a commitment on your part to stay the course.
There are a lot of stops all along the way, loaded with plenty of distractions that will cause you more
than once to ponder turning aside. It’s a free world, and you can turn back, turn aside, or stop anywhere
and anytime you want.
But don’t. Instead, stay the course until we reach this place called Grace. It will be worth it, and you will
be so glad that you made the effort and paid the price.

Alright, then; with all that said — We leave first thing in the morning.
Forty Years in a Library

Posted on June 3, 2014 by James Ryle

Note to Reader: If you have not yet read the previous two posts, please take a moment and do so
before proceeding. You will understand why once you’ve done it.

“Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105).

“What qualifies you to be our guide on this journey?” a voice called from the pack.

“Excuse me?” I answered, wondering what sort of soul would ask such a question at the outset of a trip
they had themselves volunteered to take. But, whatever their motive, I felt the question merited an
honest reply. And so I said….

I must confess that my credentials for serving as your guide on this journey to a place called Grace were
issued and certified by a Librarian. That’s right; a Librarian.

You see, I’ve spent the past forty years living in a Library. Now, mind you, it’s not just any old Library; oh,
no, not at all. It is a very special and quite remarkable Library. In fact, it is truly unique in all the world.

First, there are only sixty-six books in this Library; that’s all. Only sixty-six. And I have read each one of
them many times during my forty-year stay.

These books cover a wide range of human experience from Law, History, Geography, Philosophy, Ethics,
Prophecy, and Poetry. They tell of wars, and rumors of wars; they speak of angels and demons; good
men, and bad. There are Parables of Life, and Letters outlining noble character and moral conduct in a
world filled with darkness. These books tell of a Great King, and His Kingdom; a Kingdom which shall
never end. They tell of Life and death – and Resurrection.

And there is one more thing that makes this Library unique. In this Library there is a Ghost. Not just any
ghost, mind you; He is a Holy Ghost. And He has special interest in each of the sixty-six books; such that
anytime you open a book to read, this Holy Ghost draws near and breathes upon the pages causing a
light to reveal truths that are otherwise veiled in the words.

Think of it this way: Imagine yourself standing on the bank of a mountain creek in the Fall looking at the
golden leaves that seem to shimmer as they ripple on the surface of the water. As you look your eye
catches a richer glimmer in the depths of the river. Suddenly you see past the golden leaves to the real
gold that is there beneath them on the river bed. That’s what the Holy Ghost does for you when you
read the books in this Library. He breathes on the pages and shows you the true gold that lies beneath
the golden leaves.

That is how I came to discover this place called Grace, and found a path that leads all seeking souls to its
open Gates. The Lord’s Word is “a lamp unto our feet, and a light unto our path.” And it will be the
means whereby we make this journey together; step by step, keeping pace with the Holy Ghost as He
lights our path and leads us onward, upward.

Very well then, if there are no other questions, let us be away.

A Long Journey to a Place Nearby

Posted on June 4, 2014 by James Ryle

“The Kingdom of God is within you.” (Luke 17:21)

There is one in every crowd. We had no sooner taken our first turn when some clown near the back
called out, “Are we there yet?” And then someone else asked, “Exactly how far are we going?”

That’s when I was struck by a bit of irony in our travel. Yes, we are indeed gong to place named Grace;
and, yes, the journey will take some time for us to traverse. Yet, we are not going far; not at all. For, the
truth be told, we are already there!

The problem, however, is that we do not know it. So the journey is

necessary for us to discover what we already know; to possess what is
already ours.

Jesus said that we would know the truth, and that the truth would set
us free. A friend commented on this and said, “It is not the truth that
sets us free; it is the truth that we know.” In other words, the truth
must enter into our hearts and “the lights must come on.” That is when
freedom happens.

The truth about grace has been unnecessarily muddled to such measure
over the past few hundred years that our understanding of it today is
miles removed from what the disciples knew and believed in the
beginning. To them grace was a divine power at work inside them —
enabling them to rise to any occasion, and ennobling them with the
very character of Christ.

To us, sad to say, it is little more than a kindness God shows to us as we

continually struggle and stumble in our plaintive attempts to “be more
like Jesus.” That is a far cry from how God wants us to be living our
lives. We are looking at the gold leaves floating on the surface of the
stream, but missing the real gold that lies on the river bed.

Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient, for My power is made perfect in

weakness.” Paul responded to this revelation and said, “Most gladly
therefore will I glory in my infirmity, that the power of Christ may rest upon me!”

I will show you that Grace is the empowering Presence of God, enabling you to be who God created you
to be, and empowering you to do what God has called you to do – right where you are.

This is what Paul taught, and what the first followers of Jesus believed. And as we journey together
onward and upward, somewhere along the way an epiphany will occur in your heart and you will
exclaim with wonder, “Oh, my! I never saw it like this before!”

And in that delightful moment, my fellow sojourner, you will experience the overwhelming wonder of
the Grace of God in such manner that it will revolutionize not only your way of thinking – but your way
of living.
So, yes, we are taking a long journey to a place nearby.
A Word Fitly Spoken?

Posted on June 5, 2014 by James Ryle

“A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver” (Pro 25:11).

One of my favorite movies is “The Princess Bride.” Our family has watched it so many times we just
about have it memorized, and we often find lines from the movie inadvertently slipping into our
conversations.

In one scene, the dread pirate Roberts (which is actually “my sweet Westley the farm boy” posing as the
pirate) is single-handedly sailing a ship in pursuit of rescuing Princess Buttercup (the most beautiful
woman in the world), who has been kidnapped by a trio of mismatched villains made up of Vincinni the
smug Sicilian mastermind, Fezzik the rhyming Giant, and Inigo Montoya, the sword-fighting Spaniard
bent on avenging his father’s death at the hands of evil Count Rugen, the six-fingered man.

Wesley (posing as the pirate) is

gaining on them with great speed
despite their efforts to outrun him.
Vincinni repeatedly exclaims,
“Inconceivable!”  He says it so many
times that finally the Spaniard says,
“You keep using that word; I do not
think it means what you think it
means.”

I mention this otherwise

meaningless scene to say that many
of us today do the same thing with the word ‘Grace.” We keep using the word, but “I do not think it
means what you think it means.” We have unintentionally diminished the word “grace” to where it is no
longer “a word fitly spoken.” Instead, it has become one more word in the big pot of Christian jargon.

Consider this, and see if it is so. On virtually every occasion that the word “grace” is used in pulpits and
prayer closets, as well as in daily conversations, there is an unmistakable inference being made to God’s
love, mercy, goodness, favor and blessing – none of which we deserve.

Yes, God loves us – but is that grace? No, that is love. Yes, God is merciful unto us – but is that grace?
No, that is mercy. Yes, God is good to us, and favors us with blessings – but is that grace? No, that is
God’s goodness. And so on, and so on.

See what I getting at? We keep using the word “grace” as though it were a synonym for God’s love,
mercy, goodness, and favor. As a result we are missing out on one of the greatest revelations given by
Jesus to His Church, and are consequently living less than the Lord purposes for us.

GRACE — “You keep using that word; I do not think it means what you think it means.”

I tell you what…step over here for a moment and let me show you something wonderful off in the
distance on the other side of this great valley below us…. (to be continued)
The Distant Lights of a Great City

Posted on June 6, 2014 by James Ryle

“A city set on a hill cannot be hidden” (Matthew 5:14).

Stand with me for a moment on

this precipice as we look across a
vast valley to a distant City on a
Hill. It’s twilight time, and the
lights of the City fill the evening
sky. What we do not know from
here is that we are not looking at
one City, but actually Five. The
combined glow of their united
lights look as though it is one great
city in the distance.

The five magnificent municipalities

we see filling the distant sky with their inviting lights are the City of Love, of Mercy, of Goodness, of
Favor and the City of Grace. Each is distinct from the other, yet all have open commerce between them.
The inhabitants in this happy Metropolis come and go without restriction – and the lives they live are
legendary.

Let me give you what the tourism brochure says about each of the Five Cities:

The City of the Love of God is immeasurable – none can determine it length, its breadth, its height, or its
width. The Love of God is “greater far than pen or tongue could ever tell. It goes beyond the highest star
and reaches to the lowest hell.” The residents live secure and productive lives. The glow of this City calls
out to all around the world: Come as you are! God loves YOU – even if you do not love Him in return. His
Love never fails.

The City of the Mercy of God is breathtakingly beautiful. God’s tender mercies are over all His works –
given freely to all; especially to those who ask for it. But even to those who do not ask, God’s Mercy is
shown in great supply. It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed. He makes the sun to shine
on the just and the unjust; He gives rain to the wicked, and to the righteous. His compassions fail not;
they are new every morning.

The City of the Goodness of God extends it resplendent influence throughout all the earth, bringing
untold blessings to every fallen child of Adam. “Why do good things happen to bad people?” we ask.
Because God is good all the time; and all the time, God is good. It is the Goodness of God that brings us
to repentance. No man or woman will have a claim that he or she may lay against God on the Day of
Judgement – for He has been forever good to each one of us throughout the days of our sojourn in this
world.

The City of the Favor of God is a place of unique blessings, which ebb and flow like the tide; there are
seasons of great advance in which one may seem invincible on their God-appointed mission. And then
there are setbacks and downturns, in which it would seem that even God Himself has turned His back.
Yet, while His Favor may seem diminished – His Love and Mercy are always present. And even when
things seem to be tuned upside down, God is nevertheless working all things together for our good.
Even in the stillness He is yet favoring us with blessings.

The City of the Grace of God is the Crown Jewel of all God’s greatness. It holds within itself the full
supply of everything we need to excel and triumph in all things. We are journeying to this place called
Grace. Yes, it is true that we see and experience Love, Mercy, Goodness, and Favor all together within
the incomprehensible gift of Grace – but, we must no longer view these as being Grace. Grace is
something much, much more than this.

And Grace stands alone.

And this is the purpose of our journey; to arrive at a Place called Grace, where we will stand amazed in
the Presence of Jesus – thanking Him for His “unspeakable gift!”
 GRACE — God’s Unspeakable Gift

Posted on June 7, 2014 by James Ryle

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2

Corinthians 9:15).

How does one describe that which is indescribable?

Though my tongue may be the pen of a ready writer (or
not), the challenge I undertake is quite daunting. For,
according to the Apostle Paul, we will be speaking about
something that is “unspeakable.”

Reaching for the words to express his feelings about the

abundant grace of God, Paul said, “Thanks be unto God
for His unspeakable gift!”  The word unspeakable means, “incapable of being fully expounded.” Paul
found himself in this predicament on repeated occasions.

In his Letter to the Ephesians he calls it “the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Eph.3:8), and marvels that
God would give him the great honor of preaching it among the Gentiles. He exclaims in Romans that
these matters are “unsearchable and past finding out” (Rom.11:33).

The word unsearchable means, “there are no tracks leading to where this may be found.” How then
shall we find it? How may we be sure in our travels to this place named Grace? The Spirit of God must
open our eyes to see what our minds can only wonder at, but never fully explain. Such is the case with
Grace — it is unspeakable and unsearchable apart from the work of the Holy Spirit.  

How odd that today, in contrast to how Paul felt, we seem content to reduce that which is
unspeakable to “bumper-sticker” catch-phrases. “Grace,” we say, “is God being good to us though we do
not deserve it.” As if that were the sum of it all.

And some clever lad came up with this one – “Mercy is God withholding from us what we DO deserve;
Grace is God giving to us what we DO NOT deserve.” That sounds all well and good, but it is woefully
inaccurate. (For the record, we will talk in detail about Mercy further along in our journey, so for now
let’s stay on the subject of Grace).

Grace is the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who God created you to be, and to do
what God has called you to do – right where you are.

Consider that Paul himself, an anointed apostle to whom this staggering revelation of Grace was given
directly from the Lord Jesus, by his own admission exhausted the fullness of his inspired vocabulary in an
attempt to explain it.

He flatly admitted to his inability to express the inexpressible; to utter the unutterable; to speak the
unspeakable. And thus, he heads the long line of prophets and preachers, poets and minstrels, sages
and scholars, authors and orators – a line which stretches in rambling tracks through the winding
corridors of the centuries; each in their time attempting to do what has yet proven to be beyond us: to
fully speak of GRACE — God’s unspeakable gift.
So, let us press forward — and when we have completed this ambitious hike, I am certain that you, too,
most surely will be saying, “Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Co.9:15).
A Man with Grace on His Mind

Posted on June 8, 2014 by James Ryle

“Thanks be unto God for His unspeakable gift!” (2 Co.9:15)

Yesterday we discussed the “unspeakable gift.” We know from the context of this exuberant
exclamation that Paul is talking about the Grace of God. A quick reading of what led up to this burst of
enthusiasm from the apostle will show that he was a man with grace on his mind.

Consider this. Paul writes to the Corinthian church so as to ready them for a visit from himself. The
primary purpose of the visit is to pick up a promised collection of goods and resources for the relief of
the famine-smitten Christians in Jerusalem. Paul has told other churches throughout the region about
the Corinthian’s pledge of generosity, and one of the churches – the Philippian church in Macedonia –
had followed the Corinthian’s example and already given a gift of relief to Paul.

Now on his way to Corinth with a few of

the leaders from the Philippian church,
Paul thought it best to write and make
sure they were ready to deliver on their
promise. In this short section, Paul speaks
about God’s grace no less than seven
times. 

Let’s review.

First he tells them that God “bestowed

His grace on the churches of Macedonia” and thereby empowered them to do what even they
themselves did not realize was possible. “For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and
even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of
sharing in this service to the saints” (2Co 8:3-4).

He then writes, “We urged Titus to bring to completion this act of grace on your part” (2Co 8:6), and
then personally challenges them – “see that you also excel in this grace of giving.”

Then Paul lifts their vision high and points them to Jesus – “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty
might become rich” (2Co 8:9).

Finally, Paul gets to the heart of the matter -– “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that
in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work” (2Co 9:8). In other
words, whatever it is that God wants you to do He will see to it that you have everything you need to get
it done without skimping or cutting corners – and you will even have had something left in reserve.

Paul then tells them he is on his way, travelling “with this grace” (i.e., the tangible evidence of God’s
power displayed in and through the Philippians). (see 1 Co.8:19).

And he concludes his appeal with a promise – “men will praise God for your generosity in sharing with
them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the
surpassing grace God has given you!” (2Co 9:13-15).
Finding his heart full, and finding himself incapable of fully explaining what he feels about all of this, Paul
erupts and shouts – “Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!” (2 Co.9:15). In a single word – GRACE!

How might your day be different if you go through it with Grace on your mind? Might you find yourself
bursting forth into praise before the clock strikes twelve?
Clearing the Way So We can Move Forward

Posted on June 9, 2014 by James Ryle

“Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway;
gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people” (Isaiah 62:10).

We began our descent from the precipice down toward the Valley of Crossing on our way to the Place
called Grace.

“But I’ve always been taught that Grace was unmerited favor,” someone in the pack calls out. And then
another says, “Yeah, even the Bible dictionaries say that’s what Grace is!”

“Yeah,” says another, “My Professor at the Seminary told me this.”

And yet one more chimes is, “That’s what my Pastor preaches all the time.”

We now have a potential coup on our hands, so we must stop a little longer and address these
legitimate concerns.

I fully understand that “unmerited favor” is the conventional view of Grace held near and dear across
the vast reach of the Christian Church. But, I also know without a doubt that this is NOT what the New
Testament teaches, and it is not what the first followers of Jesus believed. And I will to the best of my
limited abilities demonstrate this in the following days as we journey onward together.

But the question for now is, “How did we come to this?”

Perhaps these Scales will help me

provide you a satisfactory answer.

Using the King James Bible as our Lab, a

search will show that the word “grace”
occurs a total of 170 times – 39 times in
the Old Testament, and 131 times in the
New Testament. Clearly the NT tips the
scales.

But there is more to consider. Of the

131 New Testament occurrences, the
Apostle Paul accounts for 99 of those
times. Clearly, the scale tips once more
– and Paul is the man with the answer.

Nobody in history had a clearer and

deeper understanding of Grace than did the Apostle Paul. He, being Jewish and fully acquainted with the
OT, had a life-defining encounter with the Lord Jesus that changed his view about Grace completely. And
if we want to understand what Grace truly is, then we must listen to what Paul wrote about it in the NT.

For the record, each time the OT uses the word “grace” it does in fact mean favor. The word derives
from a root expression meaning “to bend, or stoop in kindness to an inferior” (see Strong’s #2580, and
#2603).
However, the New Testament use of the word took on an entirely new meaning, and this is what
radically altered Paul’s world. Today, we are attempting to live in a New Testament era while holding to
an Old Testament belief. We need the same revelation about grace, which God gave to Paul.

“I am what I am by the grace of God,” he wrote. “And His grace given to me was not in vain, for I labored
more abundantly than they all; yet it was not me, but the grace of God in me.” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
God’s grace empowered him to fully do God’s will.

Paul is known and loved far and wide as the Apostle of Grace, for the revelation of this world-changing
truth flowed from his inspired writing even as he was under-going some of the greatest challenges any
one person could ever face. Truly God empowered Paul with His Presence to completely fulfill his
mission with stellar success — crossing the finish line, showered with shouts of praise in Heaven!

So, let’s pick up from here and move forward; in the days ahead your questions and concerns will be
fully satisfied.

I promise.
A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

Posted on June 10, 2014 by James Ryle

“But without a parable spake he not unto them: and when they were alone, he expounded all things
to his disciples.” (Mark 4:34).

Note to Reader: If you have not yet read the previous posts, please take a moment and do so before
proceeding. Simply scroll over to the Archives on right side menu bar and click on any unread posts,
beginning June 2014. This will help you join in on an ongoing journey.)

Inasmuch as we are seeking to speak about God’s

unspeakable gift – perhaps we may be better served
by adopting the old notion that a picture is worth a
thousand words.

Maybe this drawing can serve as a visual Tour Guide

during our next stretch on this journey to a place
called Grace.

I realize this picture makes little sense to you right

now, but in time it will make all the sense in the
world. You can click on the PDF link below and print
out a larger size of this drawing for your personal
use as we move forward. You can fill in the blanks
day by day as I take you through the steps.

Then, once we have finished, you will be able to use

this to “go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done!”

Click to Print PDF Copy of Drawing

By the way, I recently presented a message about Grace at a church in Dallas, and I used this illustration
on a whiteboard during my talk. It went well. Afterwards a couple approached me and said with great
enthusiasm, “That’s the Gospel on the back of a napkin!”

The phrase stuck.

One of the great lessons we learn as we follow Jesus is that “if you want to keep something, you have to
give it away.” This is especially true about the revelation of GRACE.

So, once we are done with this ambitious journey to a place named Grace, you will be able to share the
truth of God’s amazing Grace with your friends and family is such simplicity and clarity – that they, too,
will see it and become empowered by it!

And by giving it away to others — you will have it forever!

The Measure of God’s Will for You

Posted on June 11, 2014 by James Ryle

“I will not boast beyond my measure” (2 Corinthians 10:13).

Did you know that before you were even born, God
knew all about you? In fact, He mapped out your life
in advance and set you inside the circle of His will.
(In your printed copy of the drawing, write “God’s
Will for You” inside the base of the circle.)

Click here to get PDF of drawing

God clearly wants you to stand in the center of His

will, but there are no strings attached. You have full
range of motion to come and go as you will. And, of
course, by now you know that you have on many
occasions stepped outside God’s will for your life. In
some case – way outside His will.

Paul challenged us to a better life. “Be not

conformed to this world,” he wrote, “but be
transformed by the renewing of your mind – so that you may prove what is the good, acceptable, and
perfect will of God” (Romans 12:1,2).

In another place, he said, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,
which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:10). I love the way the Amplified Bible puts it,
“taking paths which He prepared ahead of time, that we should walk in them; living the good life which
He prearranged and made ready for us to live.”

This was not mere theory to Paul; he lived it himself. Listen to his own words, “We will not boast beyond
our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach
even as far as you” (2 Co.10:13).

Paul understood that his effectiveness in life depended upon him staying within the measure of God’s
will for himself, and not over-reaching in some vain effort to prove himself to others.

You will never fully experience nor understand the grace of God apart from embracing God’s will for
your life.

There are few things more graceless than an individual attempting to achieve something for which they
are unsought, unsuited, and unskilled. The more they try, the more unsuccessful they will become.

You must find that sweet spot of God’s will, where all your gifts and talents may flourish; where your
heart soars with passionate vision, and your labors seem to effortlessly serve others in meaningful and
lasting ways.

This is what awaits you in the measure of God’s will for your life.
The Two Great Temptations

Posted on June 12, 2014 by James Ryle

“Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the Garden?” (Genesis 3:1).

From the very beginning, the devil – that old hissing,

slithering, whispering foe – has been forever seeking
to lure us out of God’s will into some snare; great or
small. He will play whatever card he has, and call
our bluff at every turn.

There are temptations aplenty, but when you get

right down to the bottom line you discover that the
devil is ultimately tempting us to do only one of two
things; and if he can succeed, then he will have
ensnared us and thwarted our journey for a while.

What are the two great temptations he sets before

us daily?

First, he tries to bait us into over-reaching and

attempting to do more than God wants us to do.
And, if that fails, he then tries to back us down and have us settle for doing something less than God’s
will for our lives. (In your drawing, fill in the boxes with “MORE” and “LESS”).

Click here for PDF Drawing

Over-reaching, and under-achieving – these are the two most common mistakes made by people every
day. When we try to do MORE than God’s will, we always end up in “FRUSTRATION.” And, when we seek
to settle for LESS than God’s best – we always end up in “BITTERNESS.”

If you ask the devil, “Do you tempt Christians?” He will answer, “More or less.”

MORE is the guy who would build bigger barns for himself; LESS is the guy who wrapped his talent in a
napkin and buried it is the ground. Neither of them made the right choice with their lives, and thus
ended up as fools.

Os Guinness said, “Our passion is to know we are fulfilling the purpose for which we are on earth. All
other standards of success – wealth, power, position, knowledge, and friendships – grow tiny and hollow
if we do not satisfy this deeper longing.”

Step into today fully resolved that you will press into the center of God’s will – nothing more, nothing
less.
The Heart of the Matter

Posted on June 13, 2014 by James Ryle

“God resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5).

When you peel everything else away and get to the

bottom of all things – the heart of the matter – you
discover at the root of it all in one of two things:
Pride or Humility. (fill in the words in your copy of
the drawing)

Let’s talk about this.

Pride at its very essence is a disagreement with God.

It is the ultimate act of independent self-
determination. Neither God’s Will, nor His Word,
carry any weight in the heart of a proud man.

When we read of the Fall of Lucifer we see the first-

fruits of pride displayed in the arrogant five-fold
declaration of self-will – “How you are fallen from
heaven, O Lucifer!” Isaiah writes. “For you have said
in your heart: ‘I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God; I will also sit on
the mount of the congregation on the farthest sides of the north; I will ascend above the heights of the
clouds, I will be like the Most High.’” (Isa 14:13-14).

Perhaps we can now understand why “God resisteth the proud.” The word means “to set oneself in
battle array against another.” Friends, it is not a good thing to have God dress Himself in battle gear and
place you in the kill zone of His arsenal.

Surely you prefer a more excellent way? An alternative to war with the Almighty?

May I suggest Humility?

Humility is the God-given self-assurance that eliminates the need to prove to others the worth of who
you are, and the rightness of what you do. (James Ryle)

Humility is the singular virtue from which stems all other blooms of the Kingdom. When a man or
woman humbles themselves before the Lord, then He lifts them up on high.

Humility is agreeing with God, and experiencing the peace of mind that comes from doing so. A proud
man contends with God; a humble man agrees with God. God opposes those who disagree with His will
for their lives; and He empowers those who embrace His will for their lives. In other words, God
resisteth the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Choose Humility over Pride every time – and God will flood your life with His grace.
The Measure of Grace

Posted on June 14, 2014 by James Ryle

“Unto each one of us is grace given according to the measure of the gift of Christ” (Ephesians 4:7).

We learned in our travels yesterday that God gives

grace to the humble. This poses an interesting
question: If grace is “unmerited favor” then why
does God only give it to the humble? Why not give it
to the proud?  

But there’s more. Not only does God discriminate

between the proud and humble when He gives His
grace to man, but Paul tells us in Ephesians that
grace is also given by God in measures.

It is not sent from above like a great Niagara

downpour drenching all upon whom it falls. No;
rather, it is supplied in specific measures. Some
receive more; others less – but everyone gets
exactly the measure that they need.

So again I ask – if grace is “unmerited favor” then why does God give it only to the humble; and, why
does He then give it in proportionate measures?

And while I am asking questions, I might as well ask two more – which really present a challenge.

First, if Grace is “unmerited favor” then why can you fall from grace? Why would God freely give me
something I clearly do not deserve, and then make it possible for me to lose it if I don’t start acting like I
deserve it? Do I get it for free, but then have to keep it by my behavior? Even hillbillies know “that don’t
make no sense!”

And before you answer, what about this one. If Grace is “unmerited favor” then why does the Bible say
that the grace of God was upon Jesus? Are we to believe that God’s “unmerited favor” was upon His
Beloved Son? Jesus did not deserve it, but God gave it to Him anyway? Of course not!

I tell you what, let me answer these questions in just a little bit. For now, what I want you to see is that
God gives us grace in exact proportion to His will for our lives! (write the word “grace” inside the box on
your drawing) click here for PDF drawing

This means that whoever God has created you to be, and whatever God has purposed for you to do – He
has already supplied you with the full measure of grace you will need to successfully prevail in His
purpose for your life!

You cannot fail – as long as you stay humble.

And nobody knew this truth better than the apostle Paul. The last time I passed this way he was at a
tavern just up the road; it’s likely that we will be able to talk with him tomorrow, and he will clear this
up for us.
The Moment When Everything Changed

Posted on June 15, 2014 by James Ryle

“My grace is sufficient, for my power is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV).

We arrive at the Tavern and enter to find the Apostle Paul seated at a table, working on a new book.

Greetings, Paul! My friends and I are on a journey to the place called Grace, and I am so glad to find you
here once again. If it’s not a bother, would you take a moment and tell us what the Lord Jesus showed
you?

“I would be delighted!” Paul answered, “for I

have no greater desire than to finish my
course with joy, and the ministry, which I
have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify
the gospel of the grace of God.” ((Act
20:24).

Listen up everybody; we are in for a real

treat!

“As you know, Paul said, I was zealously

devout in seeking to please God; so much
so that I even persecuted those who were
followers of The Way. For I truly believed
at the time that they were a dangerous
threat to the Truth.

“But God, who is rich in mercy, stopped me in my tracks on the Damascus Road. That singular encounter
with the risen Lord changed my life forever! I carried my proven zeal into my new-found Faith and
labored more earnestly to excel as a follower of Jesus.

Yet I continued running into challenges, which I could not overcome.

“The good that I would, I do not,” I wrote, “but the evil that I would not do – that’s what I do!” My
vexation rose to such a level it felt as though thorns were piercing my soul. I cried out to the Lord to
remove this from me, and this is what He said:

“My grace is sufficient, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

“I did not understand what He meant at first, but after three times of hearing Him repeat these words,
suddenly the truth shot into my spirit like a bolt of lightning.

“I had always believed that His grace was a kindness shown toward an undeserving inferior, but in that
moment, I understood that His grace was His power made available to me so that I could be who He
created me to be, and do what He was calling me to do.

“Most gladly will I glory in my infirmity that the power of Christ may rest upon me!” I said in great
exuberance. And, while the Damascus Road experience changed my life – this revelation of His grace
changed my living!
Now, because of grace, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

People often ask me, “What was the thorn in the flesh?” I never tell them, because that’s not the point.
No, what I want them to see is that from that moment forward the thorn, nor any other thing the devil
threw at me, had any power to thwart my journey!

“And from that day I lived, preached, and wrote with a new and deeper passion than ever before about
the Grace of God! For I now know that grace is ‘the power of Christ to do God’s will’ no matter what
obstacles we may encounter along the way.

“This changed everything! Now, if you will read my letters and, with my permission, replace the word
‘grace’ with the phrase, ‘the power of Christ to do God’s will’ – it will change everything for you, too!”

“And, if you are willing to stay with me a while longer before continuing on your journey,” Paul
concluded, “Tomorrow, I will show you a few of my favorite writings and you will see for yourself what I
mean.”

What do you say, fellow travelers; shall we stay an extra day here?
A Conversation with the Apostle of Grace

Posted on June 16, 2014 by James Ryle

“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the
Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8)

Good morning, Paul. Our group stayed up late into the evening around the fire, buzzing with excitement
about what you had to say to us yesterday. And we are filled with anticipation for what today will bring
forth.

Several asked me if I would ask you to start this morning by explaining what you meant when you wrote
the phrase “fallen from grace.” (Galatians 5:4)

“Ah, yes,” Paul replied, smiling as though he

knew all along that one would mess with a
lot of us down through the ages.

“You do understand, don’t you, that it

comes down to the difference between
Pride and Humility?”

Yes, we have discussed that already on our

journey.

“Very well,” Paul continued, “then you

know that a proud man is determined to
live in the power of his own self will, to
decide his own way, on his own terms – even if he is attempting to serve and please God.

“But a humble man places no confidence in the flesh; for he knows that Jesus is the true Vine and that
we, apart from Him, can do nothing.

“Anyone who seeks to justify themselves with God on any terms other than those provided by God
exclusively in and through our Lord Jesus is a man, or woman, who by necessity is “fallen from grace.”
That is to say, they are outside the provision of Christ’s power. For Jesus will not empower anybody to
succeed apart from God’s will.

“If you are determined to do your own thing, then the Lord will oblige you by stepping aside and leaving
you to do it on your own. The expression, fallen from grace, does not mean “losing your salvation” (as
some have erroneously concluded); rather, it means, quite frankly, “losing your sanity!”

“I have shown you that Grace is the power of Christ to do God’s will. If you are not interested in doing
God’s will, then don’t expect the Lord to give you His grace to do your own thing. Are you crazy?! You
must be!

“Consider what I wrote elsewhere, “For by grace (i.e., the power of Christ to do God’s will) are you saved
through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, lest any man should boast.” (Ephesians
2:8).
“Or this, one of my favorites, ‘For where sin did abound, grace (i.e., the power of Christ to do God’s will)
did abound much more!'(Romans 5:20). You see? You and I are no longer slaves to sin, because a power
greater than sin is now at work in and through us. It is the power of Christ – God’s Grace!

“Perhaps now you can see why I said, “I am what I am by the grace of God; and His grace (i.e., the power
of Christ to do God’s will) given unto me was not in vain, for I labored more abundantly than they all. Yet
it was not me, but the grace of God in me!”

“When I left my dear friends from Ephesus on the shores of the Aegean Sea, I said, “Brethren, I
commend you to God, and to the word of his grace (i.e., the truth about the power of Christ to do God’s
will), which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”
(Act 20:32).

“I knew that the only way they would ever make it was by the grace of God. And, friends, that’s the
only way you will ever make it also.

“Forgive me for going on like this,” Paul said, “but talking about Grace brings out the preacher in me! 
But let me leave you with this — God has given every humble man and woman a measure of grace, the
exact proportion of Christ’s power necessary for them to be who God created them to be, and to do
whatever He has called them to do. Take time each day to make sure you are living in your measure.

“This was even true of our Lord Jesus in the days of His Incarnation. The grace of God was upon Him,
empowering Him fully to live each day in the freedom and power of His Father’s presence and purpose.
And He never once stepped outside that place of blessing.

“And now it’s your turn. You can do it, and God will do the same for you!

“May the grace of God be with you as you travel onward to that Great City you are seeking! For, but in a
little while, you will enter its gates, never to leave! And I will see you there!”

And with these words Paul sends us on our way. We continue first thing in the morning.
On the Road Again…with New Provisions

Posted on June 17, 2014 by James Ryle

“My God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Note to reader: if you missed the last two entries, you need to pause a moment and read them before
proceeding.

As we once again undertake our upward journey to

a place named Grace, our hearts are full from a
recent visit with the Apostle Paul at the Tavern.

Grace is the power of Christ to do God’s will.

Our visual Tour Guide (pictured at the right) now

makes perfect sense. By looking at the illustration
we can see that God’s will for each of our lives is
measured out as a specific sphere of ministry and
influence around our lives. And He has matched that
measure with a proportionate supply of His grace –
the power of Christ to do God’s will.

Once we humble ourselves in agreement with God

and embrace His will for our lives, His grace begins
to fill our sphere of influence with power, purpose,
provision, and peace. Like Paul we can now say, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!”

When we are standing in the center of God’s will, then we have everything we need to be and do
whatever it is that God wants for us. Paul said, “God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all
things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
This says it all!

To take it one step further, now let’s fill in the next measure…..the Measure of Faith. (write FAITH in the
box on your personal copy) click here to get copy of drawing

Remember? Paul told us about this. “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is
among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think (i.e., outside your measure); but
to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.” (Rom 12:3).

The measure of faith which God has dealt to you is in exact proportion to the measure of God’s will for
your life, and the measure of God’s grace in your life.

Because God made each of us unique, we all have gifts differing from one another according to the grace
that is given to us, and we are to exercise these gifts “according to the proportion of faith” (see Romans
12:6).

Faith is the conscious awareness of what meets with God’s approval, as revealed to us by the Spirit of
God through the Word; and the courageous decision to live within that conviction.
Faith is not merely believing you can do something; it is knowing that you can through the power of
Christ – GRACE.

When faith is active in our lives we will not over-extend ourselves into matters that are outside of God’s
will. Nor will we through fear and unbelief limit ourselves to doing something less than God’s will.

Presumption, thinking more highly of ourselves than we ought, takes us outside the measure of
Grace….and leaves us languishing in a place called Grief. (fill in the boxes on your travel chart).

Here, then, is what we know to be true.

God has given each one of us the grace and the faith that we need to do exactly what He has called us to
do – no more; no less. Life takes on its fullest meaning and finds its greatest success when we abide in
this blessed place – a place named Grace.

Brace yourself; for tomorrow when we turn the corner up ahead…. what you will see is going to blow
your minds!
The Final Measure

Posted on June 18, 2014 by James Ryle

“The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works” (Psalm 145:9).

At last, in the final measure, do we discover the

“unmerited favor” of God – it is His tender mercies,
which extend over all His works; for the Lord is good
to all. Even to those whose hearts are hard and turn
away from Him.

While God withholds his GRACE from the proud, He

still gives them His mercy; and that in the same
measure as to the humble. He makes His sun shine
upon the just, and the unjust. He sends rain to
righteous farmers, and to the wicked ones as well.

In His hand is the breath of every living creature –

even those who use that very breath to utter
blasphemy against heaven.

There is none who is perfect; we each are flawed in

many ways. Were it not for the Lord’s mercies – who could stand? Even a just man “falleth seven times,
but he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.” (see Prov.24:16, and
Psa 37:24).

Let’s say you have buried your talent in a napkin through fear and unbelief, settling for living a life less
than what God wants for you. And your soul is vexed with bitterness as a result. While you have fallen
from grace, you nevertheless have fallen into MERCY.

Or, let’s say you have over-stepped your boundaries and reached for something beyond God’s will for
your life. You have forsaken faith and now live a presumptuous life, filled with pride and the grief it
causes you and others. While you have fallen from grace, you nevertheless have fallen into MERCY.

Mercy is God withholding from us what we DO deserve, and giving to us what we DO NOT deserve.
James Ryle

Mercy is God’s unmerited favor! It is the withholding of judgement and the stay of execution. Mercy is
the kindness and love a long-suffering God gives to even the most undeserving of us all. It is His hand of
blessing and favor extended into the foulest of pits, offering a way out.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain MERCY, and find GRACE to
help us in our time of need!” (Hebrews 4:16).

Did you know that when you feel the most unworthy – that is when you are the most welcomed? That,
my friends, is Mercy…the unmerited favor of God.
Life Outside the Measure…a Real Bad Deal

Posted on June 19, 2014 by James Ryle

“The goodness of God leads you to repentance” (Romans 2:4).

Now that our Tour Chart is completed we can see that life outside the measure is a bad deal; a real bad
deal.

When an individual refuses God’s offer and opts to do life on their own terms – pride sets in and
destruction follows. Yet, because of God’s mercy, the proud man is spared considerable sorrow.
However, being headstrong can doom a man even when God’s mercy is afforded him.

Yes, there is a place, we know not where; and a time, we know not when; that marks the boundary of
even God’s mercy. We know this because there is a place outside God’s mercy called Hell.

You don’t want to go there.

There, in that place, is no mercy. None. There is

no grace, no faith, no good. There is no peace
and blessing, no joy; no hope.

C S Lewis said, “In the end there will be two

kinds of people. Those who say unto God, ‘Thy
will be done’ as they enter into heaven. And,
those to whom God says, ‘Thy will be done’ as
they enter into hell.”

Why tarry in a place of darkness when the Lord’s

hand of Mercy is extended to you freely? Don’t
disregard His goodness and forbearance and
long-suffering; for He is wanting to change your
mind and help you accept His will.

He will bring you up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay. He will set your feet upon a rock and
establish your goings. He will put a new song in your mouth; a song of praise to God. Many will see what
the Lord has done for you, and will stand in awe of His goodness and mercy!

Yes, you can change, even now; because God’s hand is extended to you, and He will lift you up. Humble
yourself before Him, call upon His name, and He will give you mercy (His unmerited favor), and He will
give you GRACE (the power of Christ to do God’s will).

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us
in our time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Perhaps the Psalmist said it best – “For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and
glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly” (Psalm 84:11).

Why not prove this true in your own life today?

 The Merciful God

Posted on June 20, 2014 by James Ryle

“For the LORD thy God is a merciful God.”

(Deuteronomy 4:31)

“Kindness is a law of God’s universe. The world was

planned for happiness. Even now that sin has so sadly
marred God’s handiwork, and introduced elements
which were not from the beginning, the Lord yet has so
arranged matters that the Fall is broken, the curse is met
by an antidote, and the inevitable pain is softened with
mitigations. Yea, even in this sin-stricken world there are
abundant traces of a Hand skilful to soothe distress and
heal disease.

“We may be sure of this – that the Lord has never taken
delight in the ills of His creatures, but has sought their good always and hath laid Himself out to alleviate
the distresses into which they have guiltily plunged themselves.” (Charles H Spurgeon)

Mercy is God withholding from us what we DO deserve, and giving to us what we DO NOT deserve.
James Ryle

Nothing stirs our hearts to adoration and worship greater than MERCY. One need only browse the
Psalms to see this is true. The great theme of David’s praise was the mercy of the Lord. “The LORD is
gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy” (Psa.145:8).

The Lord is powerful in a generous way – that’s gracious. He is sympathetic in a mighty way – that’s full
of compassion. He is patient in a loving way – that’s slow to anger. And, He is merciful in an abundant
way – that’s great mercy.

We all NEED mercy, and we each receive it to some measure or another in our lives – for “the Lord is
good to all, and His tender mercies are over all his works.” (Psa.145:9)

But, in order to FULLY experience the Mercy of the Lord, three things must take place:

First, We Must Ask for It — “For You, Lord, are good, and ready to forgive, abounding in mercy to all
those who call upon You” (Psalm 86:5).

This was best seen when the tax collector, standing afar off from the Temple entrance and would not so
much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, “God, be merciful to me a sinner!” (Luke
18:13).

Jesus tells us that this man went home justified. I love the way one Jamaican pastor put it – “God, He say
him all right.”

Second, We Must Give it Away to Others — Jesus said it plain enough, “Blessed are the merciful, for
they shall obtain mercy” (Matthew 5:7). This fits with the Golden Rule – “Do unto others as you would
that others do unto you.”
How can you honestly expect God to show you mercy if you yourself are unwilling to show mercy to
others? This illustrates one of the great truths of the Kingdom – if you want to keep it, you must give it
away. The Psalmist put it this way, “With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful.” Psalm 18:25

Third, We Must Honor the Merciful God in how we Live  — “The LORD watches over all who honor him,
who trust and obey Him, who hope in His unfailing mercy” (Psalm 33:18).

God is no man’s patsy. He cannot be played like a cheap fiddle. Perhaps some suppose they can
continue in a life of selfish pride, banking on God’s mercy to bail ‘em out anytime trouble hits. They are
in for a rude awakening.

The Lord watches over those who honor Him with grateful hearts and obedient lives. Gratitude is the
true evidence of experiencing God’s mercy. A thankful heart and a trusting mind will always step
forward in the presence of the Lord whenever His mercy is shown.

“The LORD is always merciful and kind to those who worship and honor him, and He keeps his promises
to their descendants who are true to his covenant and faithfully obey him.” (Psalm 103:17-18).
 “So, What’s the Funnel All About?”

Posted on June 21, 2014 by James Ryle

“For by grace are you saved through faith”

(Ephesians 2:8)

We had traveled about a half day and were making

good progress when someone asked, “Hey, so
what’s that funnel all about in the Tour Guide?”

Yea, I was wondering when somebody was going to

notice that. So, let’s talk about it.

Remember that Paul told us that we are saved by grace through faith. In our visual Tour Guide drawing,
we can see “grace” entering the “funnel of faith” at the top. When grace passes through faith, what
comes out of the funnel, and floods our lives is — salvation.

Salvation. That’s a word we need to examine closer. Most of us assume that it means “being born
again.” No, it is much more than that. Being born again is but one part of the great salvation we have in
Jesus.

By definition, salvation is the complete reordering of our entire lives in keeping with the will of God.
Faith, another word we need to redefine, means something much more than merely “believing” – it
means “knowing.”

Faith is the conscious awareness of what meets with God’s approval (as revealed to us by the Spirit of
God through the Word),  and the courageous decision to live within that conviction. James Ryle

“Faith comes by hearing,” the Bible says. And note; it does not say, faith comes by reading. There are
many who read the Bible and never hear what God is saying. They see the golden leaves on the surface
of the river, but do not see the true gold beneath the surface on the river bed.

We hear when the Spirit of God opens our hearts to God’s voice. Faith comes when the gift of hearing
occurs, and in that moment, we not only know God’s will, but we are also filled with the desire to do
God’s will.

Putting this all together here is what we learn.

When we hear (i.e., experience the gift of faith that causes us to know) what God is saying to us, and we
agree with Him (i.e., humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord), then God gives us grace (i.e., the
power of Christ to do God’s will) and we experience salvation (i.e., the complete reordering of our entire
lives in keeping with God’s will).

And that’s what the “funnel” is all about.

So, if there are no other questions, let’s pick up the pace. Having made this journey before, I can tell you
that we are in for a special treat first thing tomorrow. The Ancient Library (where I received my
credentials for this Tour) is but a half day’s distance ahead.

We’ll stop there for an extended visit before we make our final push to the place named Grace.
The Ancient Library

Posted on June 22, 2014 by James Ryle

“Open my eyes that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy Law” (Psalm 119:18)

Entering the great door of the Ancient Library we read these words inscribed in the archway – “Open
thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” Psalm 119:18

It is thus understood that we enter these doors

with a prayer upon our lips. And right it is that
we make such an appeal, for the matters
written herein cannot be known or understood
apart from that gift of sight and faith which the
Lord of the Library alone can give.

There is a timeless beauty inside this ancient

place. No cobwebs, nor dust; no musty odor of
worn leather or parched paper; for the
Caretaker tends to these volumes daily,
breathing upon them a perpetual stroke of
divinity.

The place is not dark, but full of light; and

pulsates with a quietness that seems to carry in
its embrace the harmony of a thousand voices
which whisper through the ages in all these sacred pages.

“Be still and know that I am God.” It is an inescapable Presence that bids us enter and read.

“Let’s look in the volume of The Book of the Acts of the Apostles,” I say. And no one seems to be in
disagreement, for this place has hushed us all into a unified compliance unto something far greater than
ourselves.

The Book of the Acts of the Apostles — the man through whom these words were given us is a Greek
doctor named Luke, who served as a Historian of those epic events that marked the beginning of the
Christian Era. And he writes to a man named Theophilus. His name means “a friend of God.” Is that not
you and I? Then may we know at the very outset of our reading that these words penned so long ago,
were written with this moment in mind.

“Let’s see what Luke has to tell us about the grace of God,” I say, turning through the pages of his book.
And the first reference we find speaks volumes in a single sentence. “And with great power gave the
apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).

Great events have transpired in the past few weeks. Jesus of Nazareth had been executed on a Roman
cross outside Jerusalem, and three days later rose from the dead! The band of followers rallied in an
Upper Room, where the power of the Holy Spirit fell upon them and unleashed them into the streets.
Those who killed the Savior, were now insisting that His followers stop preaching in His name. Their
threats were unpersuasive.
There is mysterious power connected with lives that are utterly dedicated to the Lord. Luke captures this
and says, “And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and
great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33).

Grace, which we know to be the power of Christ to do God’s will, was in full display as the apostles made
their case for Christ in the open forum of public discourse. And those who heard them experienced this
power upon themselves as well.
A Man Full of Grace and Power

Posted on June 23, 2014 by James Ryle

“And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people.”
(Acts 6:8)

Yesterday we saw that the Apostles “with great power gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord
Jesus: and great grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33). What do you expect; after all – they were The
Apostles. But today we discover that a deacon by the name of Stephen was also “full of grace and
power.”

There were some detractors in those first days who sought to undermine the emerging Church. They
clearly didn’t stand a chance speaking against the Apostles, but thought they could easily weaken the
witness of Stephen.

They could not have been more mistaken.

Luke tells us that they rose up to argue with Stephen, but “were unable to cope with the wisdom and
the Spirit with which he was speaking.” (Acts 6:10). The grace of God that was upon Stephen gave him
the ability to speak with irrefutable wisdom.

They then stirred up a handful of scoundrels to

say “We have heard him speak blasphemous
words against Moses and against God.” That
brought the matter before the Courts, where
Stephen was required to make a defense.

Stephen began speaking before the Court. Luke

tells us they “fixed their gaze on him, and all
who were sitting in the Council saw his face like
the face of an angel.” (Acts 6:15). The grace of
God gave him the supernatural ability to
remain poised in the face of religious insanity.

What follows is one of the single most

compelling sermons recorded in Scripture –
and that by a deacon! Stephen starts with God
appearing to Abraham and moves with
sweeping clarity all the way through history up
to the present – and charges those sitting in the
Council with hardening their hearts to God’s
will.

Luke writes, “Now when they heard this, they

were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. But being full of the Holy Spirit, he
gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he
said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But
they cried out with a loud voice, and covered their ears and rushed at him with one impulse.”  (Acts
7:54-57).

They then seized  Stephen and took him outside — and stoned him  to death. 

Luke writes for us the last words that Stephen spoke – “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!” he said. Then
falling on his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them!” Having said
this, he died. (Acts 7:59-60). God’s grace empowered Stephen to face death with unflinching courage
and Christlikeness.

This incident triggered a massive persecution against the Church in Jerusalem, scattering disciples
throughout the greater region. Ironically, those who sought to destroy the Church only succeeded in
making it stronger, and spreading its influence ultimately throughout the Roman Empire and beyond.

God’s grace was upon Stephen, even to the very end. God empowered him with His presence to be who
God created him to be, and to do what God had called him to do – right where he was.

And Stephen did it well.

 Grace in a Place called Antioch

Posted on June 24, 2014 by James Ryle

“When he arrived and saw the evidence of the

grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them
all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts.”
(Act 11:23)

With the massive dispersion of believers

throughout the great regions, The Word spread
quickly — so much so that other cities began to
hear the astounding news of the Gospel. Luke tells
us that followers of Jesus traveled from Jerusalem as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and other cities
telling the story to an ever-widening audience – with extraordinary results.

Luke writes, “The hand of the Lord was with them, and a great number believed and turned to the Lord”
(Acts 11:21).

Antioch was one of those cities.

News of this awakening among the Gentiles reached the apostles in Jerusalem: and they sent Barnabas
to Antioch. Luke tells us that “when Barnabas arrived he saw the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted
them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.” (Acts 11:23)

Don’t miss the connection in Luke’s choice of words. He tells us first that “the hand of the Lord was with
them.” (this does not mean there was a big hand floating around everywhere they went). For then he
writes that Barnabas arrived and “saw the grace of God.”  The two are the same. Both expressions mean
“the power of God.”

Barnabas saw the grace of God. It was tangible, evidential, palpable. It wasn’t a mere theological
concept; it was truth with boots. There was an empowered activity happening in the lives of the
Gentiles. It was the grace of God – enabling them to be who God created them to be, and to do what He
called them to do.

This proved to be a very important moment in the progress of the Gospel.

Antioch was located on the river Orontes in Syria, north of Palestine. It was considered the third city of
the Roman Empire, and has been dubbed “the Paris of the ancient world.” It would eventually become
the staging area for the spread of the Gospel around the world. From here, Paul and his companions
later went forth on their missionary journeys, taking the good news to the Gentiles everywhere.

What Barnabas saw in Antioch was the power of Christ working in the lives of those Gentile believers of
Antioch who embraced the will of God for themselves.

The first thing Barnabas did was to travel to Tarsus and find Paul, that he might bring him to Antioch and
see this for himself.

I’ll tell you why tomorrow.

A Man in Exile

Posted on June 25, 2014 by James Ryle

“When he came to Jerusalem, Paul tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not
believing that he really was a disciple.” (Act 9:26).

Things did not go well for Paul when he started his journey with Jesus. To begin with the apostles were
quite reluctant to embrace him without reserve, or to give him access to their “mailing lists.” For all they
knew his “conversion” was a ploy to penetrate and decimate their ranks.

Clearly the early Church had legitimate

concerns about Saul of Tarsus, a man
described by Luke as “breathing out
threatenings and slaughter against the
disciples of the Lord” (Acts 9:1).

This helps us understand the great

reluctance of Ananias, the man whom the
Lord told to pray for Paul to receive his sight
after being blinded on the Damascus Road.
“Lord, I have heard by many of this man,
how much evil he hath done to thy saints at
Jerusalem: and here he hath authority from
the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name.” (Act 9:13,14).

The inference is, “Are you sure You want me to do this?”

Ananias obeyed and prayed for Paul, a singular act of courageous faith. As soon as the scales fell from
his eyes, Paul at once began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. All those who
heard him were astonished and asked, “Isn’t he the man who raised havoc in Jerusalem among those
who call on this name? And hasn’t he come here to take them as prisoners to the chief priests?” (Act
9:20-21).

Paul’s success became such a threat to the religious leaders in Damascus they conspired to kill him.
However, the believers in Damascus helped Paul escape in the night. Paul returned back to Jerusalem
empty-handed…... but full-hearted.

Luke writes, “When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him,
not believing that he really was a disciple.” (Act 9:26). And, to complicate matters, not only did Paul find
it difficult to get in with the disciples – but his former associates, the religious leaders in Jerusalem,
themselves were even now attempting to kill him.

It seemed that the one true friend Paul had during all of this was Barnabas, the Encourager. Working
with a group of brothers who could see the truth of Paul’s testimony, they managed to get him out of
Jerusalem and back to his home town of Tarsus.

It would take seventeen years before Paul would be brought back into the vortex of the growing
Christian community. He was, in effect, a man in exile.
Though forgotten by man, Paul was not forsaken by the Lord. It was during this time that he had
visitations from Jesus, and was given the staggering revelation of Grace. Barnabas had stayed in touch
with him, encouraging him all along; and he knew firsthand of Paul’s insights into grace.

And now that Barnabas had seen for himself the grace of God in Antioch – he knew that the first person
he had to tell was Paul.

Luke writes, “Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, and when he found him, he brought him to
Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Paul met with the church and taught great numbers of
people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch.” (Act 11:25-26)

Amazing grace.
The Iconium Miracles

Posted on June 26, 2014 by James Ryle

“So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the
message of his grace by enabling them to do miraculous signs and wonders.” (Act 14:3)

Iconium, a fortified city in what is modern day Turkey, was known for its many graven images; from
which we get our modern word iconic. It became a place in which Paul would experience some of his
greatest blessings – and worst persecutions.

It was here that Paul preached the message of God’s grace and saw the Lord confirm the truth of his
words by enabling him to do miraculous signs and wonders. Get it? Grace is the power of Christ – and
Jesus proved it by unleashing His power in healing, salvation and deliverance.

It was from Iconium that Paul and Barnabas, along

with others, traveled to Lystra, a neighboring city, and
preached the gospel with unflinching faith. While Paul
was preaching, there was in the crowd a man who had
been crippled from birth. Paul saw the hand of God
touching the man and thus said to him, “Stand up!”
And the man jumped to his feet and started walking.

The place went nuts!

Pagans that they were, they began shouting out that

“the gods are now among us!” They decided that
Barnabas was the Greek god Zeus and that Paul was
Hermes, since he was the chief speaker. (see Act
14:12).

When Paul adamantly stopped them from

worshipping him and Barney, the fickle crowd shifted;
and in a zealous frenzy they stoned Paul, leaving him
for dead outside the city walls! (Note to self: remove
Lystra from my speaking itinerary)

It was here in the midst of all these astounding encounters that Paul met a young man, a Greek named
Timothy, who would become a protégé of the apostle and a future champion of the Church.

Hey, somebody pull from the shelf over there the Book of Paul’s Letters to Timothy.

“Got it right here,” a young lady said.

“Great; Read a passage to us.”

“Which one?”

“Just look at the pages and read to us the part that seems to lift off the page.”
The lady looked for a moment, and then began reading, “But you, Timothy, certainly know what I teach,
and how I live, and what my purpose in life is. You know my faith, my patience, my love, and my
endurance. You know how much persecution and suffering I have endured. You know all about how I
was persecuted in Antioch, Iconium, and Lystra—but the Lord rescued me from all of it. Yes, and
everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” (2Ti 3:10-12).

Wow. Amazing grace, indeed.

Be Strong in Grace

Posted on June 27, 2014 by James Ryle

“Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2Timothy 2:1)

“Excuse me, please,” the lady said, still holding in her hands the Book of Paul’s Letters to Timothy.
“There is yet another passage that seems to be lifting off the page. Would it be alright if I read it aloud?”

“By all means,” I replied; “Please do!”

Paul writes, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in

the grace that is in Christ Jesus” (2Timothy 2:1).

“Whoa,” said a young man with tattoos on his left

bicep, “that, like, makes total sense to me now!”

“Explain it to us” I said.

“Well, since Timothy was, like, with Paul through

all that crazy stuff that happened to him in those
weird cities; and he, like, watched how God’s
power carried Paul through it all – he would, like,
know that there is only one way any of us can
overcome in this world – it is by the grace of
God….you know, the power of Christ working in us
to do God’s will in, like, whatever situation arises.”

“Well said, dude.” The group chuckled a bit, and the tattooed man, like, smiled.

Seeing this as a “teachable moment” I picked up where the young man left off.

Remember, it was Paul who said to us, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

And he leaves no doubt as to his meaning – “I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have
learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is
to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or
hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
(Php 4:11-13).

I once heard a preacher put it this way, “Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything
in the One who makes me who I am.” (Eugene Peterson, in The Message, Php 4:13).

That’s what it means to be strong in grace. It is experiencing the empowering presence of God enabling
us to be who God created us to be, and to do what God has called us to do – right where we are.

How ‘bout the rest of you? Are you beginning to see it, too?

A quiet hum filled the Ancient Library. We all were experiencing the presence of the Lord of Grace –
feeling His power fill our hearts.

Oh, my!
Bringing Back a Good Report

Posted on June 28, 2014 by James Ryle

“And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the
work which they fulfilled.” (Act 14:26)

Paul and his companions had set out on a missionary

journey from Antioch, empowered by grace; and now,
at the end of their tour, it was only fitting that they
return and give a report of all that happened.

Luke writes the account for us – “In the church at

Antioch there were prophets and teachers; while they
were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit
said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Paul for the work
to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted
and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent
them off.” (Act 13:1-3)

There is always a great deal of fanfare at the outset of

some noble campaign; but especially when the cause
is directed by God. Thus we may well imagine the high
excitement that attended the Christians at Antioch
when they heard the Spirit of God tell them to send
Paul and Barnabas out on their mission.

They no doubt would’ve watched as the pair faded off

in the distance, topping the crest of a final hill, passing from their sight. Their excitement in sending
them off could only be matched by hearing the news after some months that they were returning – and
would arrive sometime by late afternoon. You know, “when Johnny comes marching home again —
hoorah! Hoorah!” Get the ticker-tape ready!

We have here a slight advantage over our Antiochian brothers, for we (through the pen of Luke) have
journeyed with Paul and Barnabas, and know full well of all they encountered – and endured.

It is a miracle that they even survived the trip at all.

And what is the news that they bring upon their return? Why, Good News, of course!

There was no chiding, “Thanks a lot for nothing, you guys! You threw us into the open jaws of snarling
lions!!” And, neither was there any whining, “We had it really hard; it was really, really bad; somebody
give me a hug.” Nor was there any singing of the blues, “Oh, nobody knows the trouble I seen…..”

Instead, they brought back a good report, and rejoiced over all that Jesus had done through them – and
TO them during their trip. And why? Because God had covered them with His grace inside His will; and
all things worked together for their good.

Every experience in life makes you bitter, or better. The choice is yours to make. And it all depends on
where you are standing – inside, or outside, of God will for your life. James Ryle
Paul and Barnabas, along with their traveling companions, were fully inside the will of God and,
therefore, covered by the full measure of His grace for this assignment. So the team returned
triumphantly from their journey of faith.

They reported everything the Lord had done, and spent some time resting and being refreshed. And
then, far from backing down because of the difficulty of service, they tooled up for yet another journey
into the expansive will of God.

Here is it in Paul’s own words – “I am what I am by the grace of God. And His grace given to me was not
in vain, for I labored more abundantly than they all; yet it was no I, but the grace of God that was with
me.” (1 Co 15:10)

What has God set you apart to do? Have others affirmed it through prayer and support? How is God
proving Himself to be with you in your labors? And, who is waiting to hear the good news of all the Lord
is doing through you?

“Oh, are you talking to me,” a guy said in the group. “I mean, you are looking straight at me, but it
sounds like you’re talking to somebody else.”

You tell me. Am I talking to you?

Looking Forward to a Bad Stretch of Road

Posted on June 29, 2014 by James Ryle

“But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my
course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the
grace of God.” (Act 20:24) 

There are some things that require little effort,

and yield small results. Many people content
themselves to spend their days in just such
trivial pursuit. Will you settle for being one of
them?

F. W. Boreham wrote, “There is no intellectual

stimulant so intoxicating as the formation of a
noble purpose, the conception of a sudden
resolve, the making of a great decision.” The
truly heroic moments in life demand something
far more than a casual commitment.

Such a purpose had gripped Paul’s heart and set

him on an unswerving mission that would be
met head on with much opposition. His dearest friends, the Ephesians implored him to reconsider his
decision to go ahead – but their appeals could not mount a credible case in the face of his great faith.

“None of these things move me,” he answered.

Neither tender appeals from loving friends, nor looming threats from vicious foes would back this man
down from testifying to the gospel of the grace of God. Os Guinness wrote, “The secret of man’s being is
not only to live – but to live for something definite; to find the idea for which one can live…and die.”

Paul knew this firsthand, and standing on the shores of the Aegean Sea ready to sail for Jerusalem, he
looked forward in faith to a bad stretch of road – knowing God’s grace was sufficient for it all.

If you’ve been at it for any appreciable length of time, then you know by now that this journey with
Jesus is no cake walk.

It is not a stroll through the park on a blissful Sunday afternoon. No. The path has many turns – up turns
and down turns, ditches on both sides, potholes aplenty, and mounds of debris inconveniently strewn all
about. There are setbacks that stall you, and obstacles that intimidate you.

There are bystanders that deride you, backsliders that dismay you, and backstabbers that dishearten
you. There are days when you walk with a company of passionate pilgrims who buoy your spirit with
renewed aspiration; and then there are the days when you walk the lonesome valley all by yourself.
Alone. Sitting in the dark. Eating dog food.

But God’s grace is sufficient.

Paul illustrates for us today the four distinguishing traits of a triumphant faith.
  First, there is conviction of spirit – “I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem.”

 Second, there is composure of mind – “none of these things move me.”

 Third, there is commitment of heart – “neither count I my life dear unto myself.”

 And, fourth, there is constancy of purpose – “so that I might finish my course with joy.”

Paul was an immovable man; unflinching and full of courage. It was he who said, “be not weary in well
doing: in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.” It was Paul who constantly cheered others on their
journey – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work
of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord” (1 Co.15:58).

And it is Paul who by his own example inspires us today to “testify the gospel of the grace of God.”

Let’s go.
The Word of His Grace

Posted on June 30, 2014 by James Ryle

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you
up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.” (Act 20:32)

Let me set the scene for you. There was a gathering of

some of Paul’s dearest friends on the docks of the
Ephesian harbor, shortly before was to board the vessel
that would take him to Jerusalem – and ultimately to a
Roman prison. This would be the last time Paul would
ever see these dear friends, and he knew it.

They feared it, and sought earnestly to persuade him to

change his mind; to cancel his traveling plans and stay on
with them. But, as we saw yesterday, their tender appeals
held no power over the greater influence of the Word of
the Lord placed upon his heart by the Holy Spirit.

But surely, he could effectively serve the Lord by staying

there with them, for Ephesus was an epicenter city –
having great influence near and far. Paul could live out his
days in peace and prosperity, carried by the love and
support of so many to whom he meant so much. Surely
his ministry there would thrive!

Yet, Paul was unpersuaded. He leaves them, but he does not leave them empty-handed.

“And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up,
and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.”

Paul is not pontificating here; he is testifying. There is a difference. One means saying things that are
right because they have been studied and learned from books. The other means saying things that are
true because they have been lived and proven on the road of life.

Paul knew from firsthand experience the power of God’s grace, and he also knew it would be the only
means whereby the leaders and the church in Ephesus would prevail.

Without the empowering presence of God enabling them to be who God created them to be, and to do
what God had called them to do – they surely would fall victim to the “grievous wolves” who were
poised to enter among them to ravage the flock.

And there were a few even among Paul’s dearest friends who, like Judas at the Last Supper, were
waiting for him to leave so that they in his absence could “arise, speaking perverse things to draw away
disciples after them’ (Act 20:29-30).

Therefore, knowing these things, Paul gave them the one thing they needed most – a blessing of the
Grace of God.
He tells them of its power “to build them up, and to give them an inheritance among all them which are
sanctified.” And those who took his words to heart found everything he said to be true.

Those who did not heed his apostolic words did indeed fall away. They fell from grace to such degree
that the Lord Jesus personally chided them years later in John’s apocalyptic message — “You have
forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen!” (Revelation 2:4,5).

What about you and me? Will we stay the course empowered by the grace of God? Will we be all that
God wants us to be, and do all that He has purposed for us to do?

Will we let the Word of His grace build us up, and give us our inheritance among all those who have
been set apart for God?

Yes! By the grace of God!

When I First Saw the Light

Posted on July 1, 2014 by James Ryle

“One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!” (John 9:25)

“Excuse me,” an older gentleman said, “but would you

mind telling us how it was that you first began to see this
truth?” 

Ah, that’s easy. It happened right here in The Library. I

was a young man having just begun my journey with
Jesus when I was drawn to this place. Once here, I found
I never wanted to leave.

But the Lord of the Library taught me that I am to live by

these words, not in them; they are to live in me,
changing me from the inside out. But that was not what
you asked me. You want to know how it was I first began
to see the light of this great truth about God’s grace.

Come with me over here and I will show you the Book I
was reading when the first ray of this truth shone in my
unguarded heart. Let me read to you from The First
Letter of Paul to the Corinthians; there is a passage I
have cherished for many years now:

“I can never stop thanking God for all the wonderful gifts
He has given you, now that you belong to Christ. He has enriched your whole life. He has helped you
speak out for Him and has given you a full understanding of the truth. What I told you Christ could do for
you has happened! Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing
God’s will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Co 1:4-7 Living
Bible)

Something about this verse stopped me in my tracks. What struck me profoundly was the phrase “every
spiritual gift and power for doing God’s will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our
Lord Jesus Christ.”

I had heard it said rather cleverly by an older preacher that “G.R.A.C.E. was God’s Riches At Christ’s
Expense.” That always stayed with me. And now, I understood more fully that Grace was the blessing of
God enriching my life with “every spiritual gift, and power to do God’s will.”

And what’s more, it is NOW.

The expression, “during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ” leaves no doubt that
this promise is for us today – for Jesus has not yet returned.

My mind raced with the endless possibilities and implications of this. It was then that I undertook a
personal challenge to study every reference to the subject of grace in all the books of the Library. And
my studies were met with one amazing discovery after the other.
“This changes everything!” I mused aloud to myself. And straightway I began telling everybody I met
along the Road. Some saw it for themselves; others did not – or would not. Some had their minds
already made up, and were quite determined to dispute the matter. But their arguments were futile; my
heart had been awakened by revelation.

I felt like the man who said, “I once was blind, but now I see!”
The Bible for Dummies? Seriously?

Posted on July 2, 2014 by James Ryle

“Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools.” (Romans 1:22)

Note to Reader: If you have not yet read the previous posts I encourage you to take time and do so;
we are on a Journey to a Place called Grace, and you are joining us in progress. Today’s post will make
much more sense to you if viewed in light of what has already been written.

There are few things that shock me anymore; that leave me speechless in disbelief. But recently I was
floored. I mean dumbstruck in total astonishment at what I saw – or, I should say, at what I didn’t see.

A kiosk in the Ancient Library is provided to assist us in our studies of the great volumes housed in this
venerable place. I set my search engines on the word “grace” and selected for my range Genesis to The
Revelation. I wanted to find every reference used in the entire Library.

The kiosk also provides several translations to choose from, and for my first search I selected The
Contemporary English Version (CEV). I hit “enter” and, with utter bewilderment, saw the search results.
There was not a single reference to the word “grace” anywhere to be found. No, the word did not occur
even once in the complete translation provided by CEV.

I tried once more, supposing that I had misspelled “grace” or set the wrong perimeters in my search; or
something. I just knew this couldn’t be right, so I had to make sure.

Once again, I hit the “search” button and – zilch; nada; zippo. Not one single reference to GRACE
anywhere in that particular translation of the Bible. No, not even one.

My curiosity at a peak, I then went and looked at specific verses where I knew the word grace was
supposed to be; I wanted to see how they were re-wording those time-tested and life-proven passages.
Here is what I found:

Saved by Grace?
We all know the Bible says we are saved by grace. But, that’s not how the CEV puts it — “You were
saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not
anything you have done on your own” (Eph 2:8 CEV).  Huh? That’s not it at all!

The Glory of His Grace?

There are few phrases in the whole of Scripture that capture both in poetry and theology the
unsurpassed majesty of God’s grand design than when Paul says, “to the praise of the glory of His
grace”(Ephesians 1:6).  A gifted orator could preach a series of astounding sermons just on that one text
alone.

But then we have the softer and less sublime alternative given by CEV, certain not to ruffle any feathers
nor stir anybody’s imagination. “God was very kind to us because of the Son He dearly loves, and so we
should praise God.” (Eph 1:6). That’s it? That’s the best you can do?

The Grace of God was upon Jesus?

Luke tells us that as a child Jesus “grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of
God was upon him.” (Luke 2:40). The CEV sees it differently – “The child Jesus grew. He became strong
and wise, and God blessed him.” Talk about watering it down!

The Throne of Grace?

There is a Throne in Heaven; it is the Throne of God. Specifically, it is called the Throne of Grace, and
once we truly understand what grace actually is, this expression becomes so packed with spiritual power
that nothing can keep us down. Nothing.

Well, that is until you read it out of the CEV – “So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely
before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved kindness, and we will
find help” (Heb 4:16). 

Seems to paint a picture of God as a kind, old grandpa who completely empathizes with our weakness
and failures, and welcomes us nevertheless into His presence where He will help us figure out a way to
get through another embattled day.

C’mon, man!

OK. That’s enough for now; tomorrow I’ll tell you in their own words why they did this…
What Were You Thinking?!

Posted on July 3, 2014 by James Ryle

“Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made
foolish the wisdom of this world?” (1Co 1:20)

We saw yesterday how scholars working on the Contemporary English Version edited the Bible by axing
every single use of the word “grace” and replacing it with the notion of “God’s kindness.”

Let me tell you a bit about these scholars, and their reasoning.

The Contemporary English Version (CEV) was produced by employees of the American Bible Society
(ABS) working under the direction of one of the Society’s officers, Dr. Barclay M. Newman.

Newman explained in an interview that he and his

assistants “did a lot of research with children.” They
wanted to create a text that was equivalent to a
fourth-grade reading level. “We also did a lot of
research with persons who were not familiar with
traditional biblical jargon, persons who are almost
street people as a matter of fact, and then we tried
to simply listen to the way that people speak … We
got it by their language, the way they speak, and did
our translating accordingly.”

In other words, let’s publish a Bible that small

children, and those who are biblically illiterate can
easily understand. Hey, a good idea is not necessarily
a GOD idea.

For the record, I do not fault these scholars for their

efforts, and at times I find their spin on certain
verses of Scripture to be helpful; but in this matter
regarding God’s grace, they missed the mark by
miles.

Friends, there are some things you just don’t tamper

with; things that need no editing, no face-lift, no help from modern man. We do not take God’s words
and translate them into the way biblically illiterate people think and speak. Are we out of our minds!

Paul said it best: “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but
in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but
in the power of God.” (1Co 2:4-5).

“Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teaches, but which the Holy Ghost
teaches; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receives not the things of the
Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually
discerned” (1Co 2:13-14).
In other words, there are some things we will never know apart from God opening our hearts and
giving us understanding. That’s just the way it is – and God is pleased to have it that way. James Ryle

Despite their good intentions, the collaborators who worked on the CEV have presented a product that
falls far below the mark of truth; there is nothing at all mysterious nor majestic about their treatment of
one of the single greatest revelations ever given by God to man — GRACE.

Instead, Grace is diminished into little more than sentimental mush. The emphasis in not upon God’s
greatness, it is upon our worthlessness. We – poor, pitiable, and pathetic sinners –
incapable of good, and undeserving of kindness, cower before God in weak and
plaintive cries. And because He is so kind, loving, merciful and good — He forgives us
and lets us in anyway.

Words have meaning, and their meanings have consequence. Mark Twain said, “The
difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and a
lightning bug.”

By watering down the message of grace to make it fit more readily into our contemporary mindset, we
deprive ourselves and others of one of the single most empowering truths in the Bible. No wonder so
much of what passes for “Christianity” today is so utterly void of God’s presence and power.

Oh, I know; I know — your church is different. But I’m talking about all those other “dead zones.” You
know, places where you can’t even get a signal? What are we to do about them? Whether we realize it
or not, their weakness impacts our strength; their floundering calls into doubt our faithfulness; their
limitations ultimately hold us back from our higher aspirations. For the Watching World sees us all as
one Body – fragmented, powerless and offering no real message for their lives.

“Lord, Help us!”

OK. I’ll step off my soapbox now, and first thing in the morning we’ll head on our way to a place named
Grace.
“Does it Really Matter All That Much?”

Posted on July 4, 2014 by James Ryle

“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6).

We were all assembled at the main archway of the great Library, checking our gear and supplies as we
readied ourselves for our onward journey to a place called Grace.

“May I ask a question?” a timid young man said, raising his hand as though he were still in school.

“You sure can,” I replied, in a tone that put him at ease.

“Does it really matter all that much that we distinguish between God’s grace and His kindness? I mean,
when you get right down to it – isn’t it really all the same?”

A few other travelers looked stunned; one could tell they concluded the young man had not been
listening very well. But I felt it was an honest question, especially in light of the fact that we have been
taught otherwise for so long.

“This is not a quick fix,” I said to everybody. “We are

dealing with a widespread, deeply held belief. It has
been promoted and unchallenged for so long that it
now requires much patience on our part as we seek to
help others see the truth for themselves.”

A prophet of old said, “My people are destroyed for

lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). Jesus said, “You shall
know the truth, and the truth shall set you free” (John
8:32). Clearly, it matters whether we know the truth or
not.

Turning to the young man, I said, “Let’s look at what

Paul told us, and perhaps we all can better understand
why getting our thoughts right about Grace matters so
very much.”

“All over the world,” Paul wrote, “this gospel is bearing

fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you
since the day you heard it and understood God’s grace
in all its truth” (Colossians 1:6).

The church in Colossae was a significant accomplishment for Paul. He had never been to Colossae
himself, but had met a businessman from there while on a trip to Ephesus. The man’s name was
Philemon.

Paul shared the Gospel with Philemon and he was converted. Beaming with new life and a great
enthusiasm for telling others about it, Philemon returned to Colossae and started a church meeting in
his home!
It grew rapidly, gathering many of the greater community into fellowship with the Lord Jesus. When
news of Philemon’s success reached Paul, he knew, just like Barnabas in Antioch, that “the hand of the
Lord was with them, and great grace was upon them all.”

Paul the Apostle, the ultimate church-planter, now from a distance watched with great delight as a new
church thrived in much fruitfulness – apart from his direct involvement! This confirmed his own
conviction that “the gospel is the power of God unto salvation for everyone who believes – Jew and
Gentle alike” (Rom.1:16).

God’s grace was upon Philemon to start a church in his home. God’s grace was upon the church, and it
grew with influence in the city of Colossae. What is God’s grace empowering you to do?

Our world is in dire need of the Grace of God. Perhaps more to the point – the Church is in even greater
need of it. By failing to distinguish between grace and kindness we have wandered far off course and, as
a result, there is widespread barrenness in the lives of many true believers.

Many of the Lord’s people are “being destroyed.” The root meaning of that word is “to be brought to
silence.” Could this be the reason much of the Christian church has no voice in today’s world. We are
experts at “preaching to the choir,” but stumble over our words in trying to share Christ with an
increasingly pagan world.

The success of the Colossian believers reveals a colossal truth. Their fruitfulness in the things of the
Kingdom began, according to Paul, “from the day they heard and understood God’s grace in all its
truth.”

The same applies to us today. We must “hear and understand the God’s grace in all its truth” so that the
same fruitfulness experienced by the Colossians will also happen to us. This is why it matters; why it
matters very much!

“Thank you!” the young man said excitedly. “This really helps me a lot!”

Alright, then; if there are no other questions, let’s leave the Library and get back on the Road. We are
not far from our destination. Not far at all.
Grace – The Greater Power

Posted on July 5, 2014 by James Ryle

“For where sin did abound, grace does much more abound.” (Romans 5:20).

As we prepared to set out on the next leg of our journey I couldn’t help but wonder if there were others
in the group who also had unanswered questions, but weren’t asking them. So, I decided to ask a couple
questions of my own. 

“Has anybody here ever struggled against the power of Sin?”

The answer was unanimous – “Yes! All the time!”

Yes, even Paul the Apostle was vexed with this great battle– “I want to do what is good, but I don’t do
it,” he wrote. “I don’t want to do what is wrong, but that’s what I do anyway.”

And then he says, “I love God’s law with all my heart.

But there is another power within me that is at war
with my mind. This power makes me a slave to the sin
that is still within me. Oh, what a miserable person I
am! Who will free me from this life that is dominated
by sin and death?” (Rom 7:22-24)

A life dominated by sin and death; what a miserable

thing. Especially if we were doomed to always live that
way. But we are not! God answered Paul, and what He
showed him changes everything for all of us.

“Where the power of sin abounds; the power of My

grace abounds far greater!”

 In a contest of two powers, the greater power prevails.

And in this struggle against the power of Sin, God has
given us the power of His Grace. In other words – plain and simple – Grace is not a theological concept;
nor is it an affectionate feeling in God’s heart toward us. No, Grace is the greater power of God at work
in our lives. A power that over rules and overturns even the power of Sin and Death!

 “I have another question for you all,” I then said. “Have any of you ever prayed something like this?”

‘O Lord, I thank you for Your Grace; I am so undeserving, and unworthy that you would be so good to
me. Yet, You are merciful and good; Your love never fails and You favor me even when I fall short of Your
glory. Oh, how I thank and praise You for Your grace. Amen.’

Several said yes. In fact, most of us have prayed a prayer like that – probably more than once. When we
pray in this manner we are putting God’s grace, mercy, goodness, love and favor all into one big bundle
– as if they all mean essentially the same thing; as if each were a synonym of the other.

It sounds good and right; it’s seems genuinely humble, and appropriately self-effacing. But the net effect
of such a prayer is that it leaves us in a place of powerlessness and defeat.
Can we not see that our misconception of Grace is what lies behind this prayer?

If Grace is “unmerited favor” then our prayer is appropriate. But if Grace is the power of Christ to do
God’s will (a power that is greater than the power of prevailing Sin), then our prayer is filled with
unbelief – and stands as an insult in the face of God!

Rather than bemoan our failures and bank on God’s “unmerited favor” to continually cover for us, let’s
instead “come boldly to the throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help us in our
time of need.”

This is the counsel Paul passed on to us.

“So, you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ
Jesus,” he said. “Do not let sin control the way you live; do not give in to sinful desires. Do not let any
part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin.

“Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have
new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory
of God. Sin is no longer your master, for you no longer live under the
requirements of the law. Instead, you live under the freedom of God’s grace.”
(Rom 6:11-14)

It was a genuine light bulb moment for our entire group.

“So, are you saying that we no longer have to sin?” a man asked.

Exactly. We do not have to sin anymore, because the greater power is now at work in and through our
lives. It is the power of God’s Grace!

Let’s talk more about this tomorrow.

The Life That is Far Above

Posted on July 6, 2014 by James Ryle

“Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not
only in this world, but also in that which is to come” (Eph 1:21).

Jesus said that He came that we might have life, and have it
more abundantly. When He died on the cross, He took our
place. We died in Him, and were raised with Him to a new
life. A life that is abundant – one that is far above the life we
knew before.

We were enemies of God, now we are friends. We were

slaves to sin; now we are sons and daughters of
righteousness. We were under the Law; now we are under
Grace. The old life condemned us; the new life empowers us!

Now that we are pardoned, why do we insist on continually

bringing our failures before the Lord. Is it that we do not
really believe He has forgiven us?

“Who is a God like unto Thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and

passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage?
He retaineth not his anger forever, because He delighteth in
mercy. He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us;
He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins
into the depths of the sea.” (Micah 7:18-19)

Or, dare we suppose that our penitent prayers somehow move God to show us more of His kindness
and mercy. Wouldn’t it be far more pleasing to God if we took Him at His word – embracing the
unmerited favor of His mercy, and experiencing the prevailing power of His Grace?

Perhaps now Paul’s own words will provide the final push we need to change our way of thinking….so
Christ can change our way of living.

“Once you were dead because of your disobedience and your many sins. You used to live in sin, just like
the rest of the world, obeying the devil—the commander of the powers in the unseen world. He is the
spirit at work in the hearts of those who refuse to obey God.

“All of us used to live that way, following the passionate desires and inclinations of our sinful nature. By
our very nature, we were subject to God’s anger, just like everyone else.

“But God is so rich in mercy, and He loved us so much, that even though we were dead because of our
sins, He gave us life when He raised Christ from the dead. (It is only by God’s grace that you have been
saved!) For He raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms
because we are united with Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:1-6)
It is His Mercy that pardons us and blesses us with unmerited favor. It is His Grace that empowers us to
live a life that is far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is
named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.

Isn’t it time we each began living that life?

If we will – then we will surely see a Grace Awakening in our world!

The Grace Awakening

Posted on July 7, 2014 by James Ryle

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to every man” (Titus 2:11).

The sun filled the morning sky as we made our made out from under the arch of the Ancient Library
onto the Road leading to a place named Grace. Someone eagerly said, “The path of the righteous is like
the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until the full day!” (Proverbs 4:18)

That’s a great thought as we move forward this

morning. For, like the sun above, Grace is not
passive. It is full of dynamic energy. Grace
empowers us with light and liveliness, fills our
lives with warmth, growth, joy and beauty.

Some happy soul midway back in the pack let

out with a song – “For the LORD God is a sun
and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory:
no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly.” (Psalm 84:11).

Sun and Shield. We need both on this

pilgrimage that we take; for the unmitigated
cold could quench our resolve, and incessant
attacks from unseen bandits could thwart our progress. The Lord’s presence and power insure that we
are comforted and protected – the pillar of fire by night, and the cloud of covering by day. A sun above
us, and a shield about us.

He gives Grace and Glory. The Lord gives Grace in this world, and Glory in the one to come! Grace
empowers us to walk uprightly, and Glory awaits at our destination. Blessed are we to journey in such a
mighty convoy! No good thing will He withhold from us as we press on in doing what is right and true.

In light of this bright sunshine let’s now consider Paul’s words – “For the grace of God that brings
salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should
live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious
appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem
us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:11-14)

First, the grace of God brings salvation; that is, it does not leave us the way it finds us. We are changed
by its power; changed from the inside out. “If any man is in Christ Jesus, he is a new creation; old things
have passed away, behold all things become new.” (2 Co.5:17).

Second, this grace has appeared to all men —  appeared to all, yes; but not embraced by all. For those
who do embrace it, the power of Grace empowers us to deny ungodliness and worldly lust, and to live
soberly, righteously and godly –in this present world.

Third, we live looking for the return of the Lord – redeemed from all iniquity, purified unto Jesus, a
peculiar people zealous of good works.”
Imagine what our world could look like if this truth about God’s Grace took hold of the great, diverse
Body of Christ – and then spread its redeeming power and presence to all men everywhere.

Jesus said, “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and
glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Mat 5:16). Let’s do this by the grace of God.

The results of our faithful obedience would be nothing short of a Grace Awakening!
Reigning in Life

Posted on July 8, 2014 by James Ryle

“They which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one,
Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:17).

Take out your visual Tour Guide  (click here if you’ve

lost your copy); I want to show you something that
will help you tremendously. Also, grab a pen –
because now you get to doodle.

First, draw a crown on the head and put a scepter in

the hand. Next, put a glow around the person in the
picture. Then, in the margin to the right, put
“Reigning in Life” – with an arrow pointing to the
drawing.

This illustrates the great truth of Grace in the

clearest of terms, and helps us see one of the
dominant teachings of the New Testament – which
is, our unsurpassed victory in Jesus over the power
of Sin and Death.

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans
6:14).

Jesus not only forgives us, He frees us from the power of sin and death. He not only redeems us, He
raises us to reign in life. The one distinguishing mark common to all those who follow Jesus is they are
“over-comers.”

Jesus said, “I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). And now, because we are in Him and He is in us,
we also overcome. John the Beloved, one of Jesus’ closest friends, said, “You, dear children, are from
God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the
world” (1John 4:4).

In a world of whiners, Christ makes us winners. However, some settle for being wieners. That is not the
way of grace!

Yes, in Jesus we can reign in life. Mark well these words, for they speak of a noble calling; a high and
happy placement in life; a triumph and a glory that gives no place for self-pity and belittling doubts; for
second-guessing, or second-class living.

The Apostle Peter, who we will meet in a short while just up the road, put it this way – “You are a
chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the
praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Pe 2:9).

John the Revelator wrote, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has
made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve His God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever
and ever! Amen” (Rev 1:5-6).
Jesus Himself said, “I have come that they might have life – abundant life” (John 10:10). It is a life
above the common. That’s an overcoming life!

Paul faced unbelievable difficulties, but withstood the assault in kingly grace. “Who shall separate us
from the love of Christ?” he wrote. “Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or
danger or sword?”

And then, he answers his own question, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through
him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the
present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will
be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom 8:35-39).

More than conquerors? One translation puts it this way, “Overwhelming victory is ours.” (The Living
Bible) In simple terms —  we don’t just overcome the powers of darkness; we overwhelm them!

The Lord Jesus supplies us with all the provision God has for His people. Grace – the empowering
presence of God enabling you to be who God created you to be, and to do what He has called you to
do…right where you are.

Therefore, those who receive the gift of righteousness, being made right with God through Jesus; and
who receive the gift of grace, the power of Christ to do God’s will, shall reign in life by Jesus.

But, hold on – there’s more!

Unveiling the Big Picture

Posted on July 9, 2014 by James Ryle

“By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the
glory of God” (Romans 5:2). 

Now we come to the unveiling of the Big

Picture. As you can see in the illustration,
we’ve added the final touch to it.
“Standing in Grace” is what God wants for
each of us, and all things work together
for our good unto that purpose.

Click here to print Grace Big Picture

Thus, in everything we give thanks for we

know that God is somehow using this or
that to conform us more and more to the
likeness of Jesus, and to bring us to this
most blessed place – a place called Grace
– where we may STAND.

“Having done all, STAND,” Paul exhorts us.

(see Eph.6:13).

The word means to stand sure, as

opposed to floundering; to stand up, as
opposed to cowering. It means to stand
out, in the sense of excelling; to stand
still, in the sense of abiding; to stand fast,
in the sense of enduring. It means to
stand true and faithful to the end.

All of this and more we can and will do by the grace of God.

“I am what I am by the grace of God,” Paul exulted, “and His grace given to me was not in vain; for I
labored more abundantly than they all. Yet, it was not me, but the grace of God that was in me!” (1
Corinthians 15:10)

Oh, for the day we each one of us can say this!

Having humbled ourselves under the mighty hand of God by embracing His will for our lives, rather than
grasping and clutching to our own selfish dreams and schemes, we now stand in a place called Grace.

And it is here that God has opened a funnel of faith whereby we may experience the fullness of His
empowering presence in our lives. And as we grow and grace, being strengthened by the power of Christ
to do God’s will, we will reign in life as overcomers.

Here is how Paul summed it up for us:

“So now that we have been made right in God’s sight by faith in His promises, we can have real peace
with Him because of what Jesus Christ has done for us. For because of our faith He has brought us into
this place of highest privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to
actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.” (Romans 5:1,2 The Living Bible)

Did you catch that? When we stand in Grace — this place of highest privilege — we can “confidently and
joyfully look forward to actually becoming all that God has had in mind for us to be.”

“Yes, I caught that! After all, that’s what fishermen do.”

“Huh?”

The odd and unexpected remark gave us all in the group a momentary pause. But the grin on the man’s
face who made the remark suddenly caused us to realize that the Apostle Peter had joined our tour!

We’ll talk to him tomorrow!

 “Look Who I’ve Become”

Posted on July 10, 2014 by James Ryle

“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw

two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew
his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they
were fishermen. Then He said to them, ‘Follow
Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’”
(Matthew 4:18-19).

A rush of excitement shot through our tour

group when we discovered that the Apostle Peter had been walking with us for a while – and we didn’t
even know it!

“When did you…how did…. where…” — I couldn’t find the right question.

Peter flashed a big smile and put me at ease. “I’ve been walking with you for about three miles now.
James and John bet me I couldn’t blend into the group; but I guess I won the bet,” he said.

“So, you are on journey to a place called Grace, are you?” Peter asked, even though it was obvious he
knew we were. “You will never regret having made this journey.”

“Peter, tell us about your Journey,” a young lady said.

“What would you like to know?” he asked.

“Tell me about the Day of Pentecost,” she exclaimed. “What was that like for you?”

“Astounding in every way,” Peter replied. “The day itself was truly historical, but it was what happened
later that night that moved me most.”

“What happened? There was no mention of anything in The Library.”

“No, this was not written down; for nobody knew about this but me. After the Day had ended and we
each settled down to sleep, I was still so full of God’s Spirit I could hardly stop trembling. My mind kept
racing back through the day’s events, reliving each moment over and over.

“The mighty, rushing wind; the flames of fire, and dynamic power; the sermon – are you serious? Me, a
fisherman with no formal education in such matters – yet there I stood on the Temple porch and
preached to thousands. There was such clarity in my thoughts and power in my words. I was more
amazed than anybody!  

And then the moment came, when over three thousand souls were at once born again, and became
followers of our risen Lord. Late into the evening, when everybody else was sleeping, I still could not get
it out of my mind.

And as I thought upon it, my mind raced back over the years to when I first met Jesus.
“My brother, Andrew, and I were fishermen, like our father before us. One day this Jesus fellow came
passing by and called out to us. “Follow Me,” He said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” And that’s
what we did.

“What could a Rabbi possibly know about fishing?” I thought to myself. “But on one occasion He showed
me what He could do. We had been fishing all night and had caught nothing. Calling it quits we headed
in, and He called out to us from the shore.

“Let down your nets for a catch,” He said. And that’s what we did. We caught so many fish that our boat
began to sink!

“Jesus told me He would make me a fisher of men. And as I lay upon my bed that night after Pentecost I
could only shake my head in speechless wonder over how exactly true the Lord’s promise had proven to
be. For on that Day that is what I did – I became a fisher of men!

“Me, a nobody. Born in a no-place town, working in a nowhere job, living an ordinary, no-point life. And
now Jesus had brought me from that to this!

“O Lord,” I whispered quietly; “Look who I’ve become.” 

We all stood there in silence, watching Peter stare off into the distant sky; we could tell it all was as real
to him in this moment as when it first occurred.

“Yes,” he softly said again, “Look who I’ve become.”

And then, turning his piercing gaze upon us, he spoke up with Pentecostal fire and said, “Stay on this
journey, friends, and one day you’ll be saying the same thing about yourselves!”

And that’s what we are going to do.

When Jesus Comes

Posted on July 11, 2014 by James Ryle

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ! In his great mercy, he has given us new birth
into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” (1Peter 1:3).

“Peter, can you tell us about Jesus?” a man asked eagerly. “You were one of His closest friends. What
was that like?”

“It was full of wonder and mystery; it was challenging beyond belief; it was life-transforming and
timeless,” Peter answered, choosing his words very deliberately.

“I saw the eyes of the blind opened when Jesus came upon the scene. I was there when the deaf heard
for the first time. I watched as cripples leapt to their feet, dancing and rejoicing; and a man with a
withered hand was healed in an instant.

“I was there when the Gadarene was liberated from

the legion’s demonic grip, and stood amazed as
Jesus sent him home to his friends to tell them the
great things the Lord had done.

I saw Jesus touch the leper, and the leprosy

disappeared. I was there at the tomb of Lazarus,
weeping with Martha and Mary at their loss. Jesus
Himself wept. But then, He raised Lazarus from the
dead!

I was there when He turned water into wine, and

again when He feed a multitude with two fish and
five loaves of bread.

And I was there the night Judas betrayed Him. And

then I denied Him.

That was the night my whole world came to an end.

I never imagined they would actually put Him to
death! How could they; why would they? He was
good, and did no evil; He was kind, and loving. Yes, He was straightforward and could read men’s hearts.
I know; He read mine on many occasions.

There were a few times I was really angry at Him; but, I was wrong. He was always right.

No one can ever know the depths to which my soul plummeted in darkness that day when I watched
from a distance as He died on the cross.

I heard Him cry with a loud voice, “It is finished!” And I cried in unquenchable sorrow, “It is over.” I was
talking about my life; He was talking about something else.

I know this now, because of what happened on the third day.

Gripped with inconsolable sorrow and guilt, I had returned to Gethsemane where I had last been with
Jesus. It was there He had often prayed; and I thought maybe His God would somehow hear my cry, too.
I didn’t notice when someone came walking into the garden, and was rather startled when I heard my
name called, “Peter. Simon Peter.”

I knew that Voice.

I turned immediately and saw my Lord standing before me — alive! He had risen from the dead that
very morning! And on that day, I rose from the dead, as well.

I wrote about this. Perhaps you’ve read it?

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord, Jesus Christ!” I said. “In his great mercy, he has given us
new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead!” (1Pe 1:3). This was
my own personal experience; it happened to me!

Peter then lifted his eyes up and began singing,

When Jesus comes, the Tempter’s power is broken;

        When Jesus comes, the tears are wiped away,
He takes the gloom and fills the life with glory,
       For all is changed when Jesus comes to stay.

Suddenly we all began to feel the very presence of the Lord enfold us as if we were in a cloud of light.

“May I tell you what I know about His grace?” Peter asked.

“Oh, please do,” we all said enthusiastically. And then listened with rapt attention as the great Apostle
spoke.
Fifteen Days in a Friendship of Grace

Posted on July 12, 2014 by James Ryle

“Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and
returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter, and abode
with him fifteen days.” (Gal 1:17-18)

“I remember well when I first learned this wonderful truth about God’s Grace,” Peter began. “And
strange as it may seem, I didn’t learn it from Jesus. There were many things Jesus did not say to us. It
was because, as He put it, we “were not able to bear it now.” (John 16:12-13). He was right.

When I think back over all the times I argued with Him about this or that, it amazes me that He ever told
me anything at all! Don’t laugh; for the same is true for you. Right?

And here’s a question for you. Are you willing to let someone who comes along after you show you
something that you don’t yet know?

We don’t know everything, and that’s why it’s best to always be teachable. And don’t be surprised who
the “teacher” might be! I mean, if God would use a jackass to speak to stupid Balaam, who’s to say what
He might use to speak to you!

Laughter erupted in our group as

everybody pointed at me. “I’m sure
that’s not what he meant,” I said. We
all had a good laugh then.

“Then, who was it that taught you

about God’s grace?” we asked.

“The apostle Paul, of course!” Peter

said. “He knew more about it than all
the rest of us put together.”

“You can only imagine how astonished

we all were when we first heard the
reports of Paul’s conversion. Frankly,
we didn’t believe it.

The man was monstrous and

unmerciful; breathing out threatenings
and slaughter against the disciples of
the Lord. He made havoc of the
church, entering into every house and hauling away men and women, putting them in prison. Indeed,
some he even put to death.

“So, yes, we found his conversion to be a bit of a stretch. But clearly, we underestimated the power of
the Lord.
“Paul was indeed a new creation in Christ, old things had passed away and all things were becoming
new. He came a stayed with me for about two weeks and we talked at great length about many things.
And one thing towered above all others in Paul’s mind – it was the Grace of God.

“His understanding of grace was different than what we had been taught from our childhood. We had
viewed grace as God’s favor, given in kindness to the undeserving. But this was not the message Paul
brought to me.

“Grace is the power of Christ working in me and through me,” he said with such passion and conviction,
one could hardly resist him. “I got this directly from the Lord Jesus Himself,” he would add; underscoring
his resolve in making sure I understood it.

Paul was not only convincing; he was right.

“I myself had indeed experienced the grace of God on many occasions, but did not fully understand it at
the time. I just knew that the power of the Lord was surging in me and through me in ways that left me
amazed with what happened. Think about it – my shadow healed a man! I guess you could say I took the
heat off of him. Yet, it wasn’t me; it was the grace of God in me.

Or how about the day John and I walked into the Temple and saw a man begging alms. “Alms?” I asked,
“How about a pair of legs?” And it happened! He jumped up and started dancing and shouting; got us
thrown out of the Temple and arrested by the Council. Nevertheless – about five thousand more turned
to follow the Lord because of it.

“Fishers of men,” Jesus said. “Fishers of men.”

Yes, I had experienced the Lord’s power many times; but those fifteen days with Paul helped me to
understand more fully that it was the grace of God in me – and through me. It was the power of Christ
helping me do His will.

Paul and I became fast friends. Our visit together also showed me that, while Paul was an apostle to the
Gentiles, and I to the Jews – we both were life-long friends on one mission: Proclaiming to all the Gospel
of God’s Grace!
Peter’s Parting Words

Posted on July 13, 2014 by James Ryle

“Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now
and forever” (2 Peter 3:18).    

“It has been a delight to walk along with you,” Peter said, “but I really must be going. You see, there are
many other groups from all around the world traveling to this Place called Grace, and them also I must
visit. And, I’m sure I will see you again.”

Are there any parting words you could give us before you leave?

“Yes,” Peter answered, “yes indeed.”

First, “Gird up the loins of your mind, be

sober, and hope to the end for the grace
that is to be brought unto you at the
revelation of Jesus Christ” (1Pe 1:13).

You folks dress differently than in my

day. We had long, flowing garments that
could impede our progress unless we
gathered the excess material and
fastened it with a belt. Then we could
run with the best of them. That’s what you need to do with your minds! Let the belt of Truth gather all
the loose material into a single focus so you will always be ready for constant action.

And be sober; exercise self-restraint, and be always watchful; looking all about you for what the Lord is
saying and doing.

And be full of hope to the end for the grace to be brought to you at the appearing of our Lord Jesus
Christ! Most certainly shall the power of God be on full display when Christ returns. But even now while
we await His return, Jesus appears to us again and again – and each time there is grace, the power to do
God’s will. John put it this way, “Of His fullness have we received – grace upon grace!” (John 1:16).

Second, Give it all you’ve got. Give away to others what has been freely given to you. Each one should
use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various
forms. (see 1Pe 4:10).

As Paul put it, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let
him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is
encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is
leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.” (Rom 12:6-8).

It is all based upon Grace, the power of Christ working in and through you to do God’s will. There is no
pecking order here; no hierarchy of religious titles and positions. “All of you be subject one to another,
and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.” (1Pe 5:5) 
And Third, Grow in Grace. Don’t ever suppose that you have learned it all, or know it all. Keep an open
heart; hungry for more of God, more of grace; more of life. Yes, grow in grace and in the knowledge of
our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever. (2Pe 3:18) 

Then, raising his aged hand to offer an apostolic blessing, Peter concluded his visit with these words –
“May the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have
suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you — this is the true grace of God
wherein ye stand. Now, grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of
Jesus our Lord” (1Pe 5:10,12; 2Pe 1:2). 

Amen.
 Entering Into This Place Called Grace

Posted on July 14, 2014 by James Ryle

“Seek ye first the Kingdom of God and His

righteousness, and all these things shall be added
unto you.” (Matthew 6:33)

“Surely, we should be getting close to the place

called Grace,” someone said. “I mean, we’ve been
traveling for some time now and you told us at the
start that it really wasn’t very far.”

“You’re right,” I replied. “I told you we would be

taking a long journey to a place nearby. And that is
exactly what we have done.”

First, you should know that there is a Great

Kingdom which knows no boundaries; which is, in
fact, ever-increasing simultaneously in all directions. One sacred poet described it as though a great vat
of honey had been poured from above upon a vast flat surface, and now was spreading from the center
ever outward in a slow and steady motion, enveloping all within its sweet presence.

It is The Kingdom of God.

And you should also know that within this Great Kingdom there is a Garden State – it is called the State
of Mind, and it was miraculously renewed after the Lord’s victory in the Great War at Calvary. There He
fought against the hordes of Hell and drew their Dark Prince, Lucifer, in the open field of battle where
He crushed his head and brought his kingdom to naught. Now the Kingdom of God flourishes, and the
renewed State of Mind thrives with godly commerce.

Before the renewal and the coming of the Kingdom, The State of Mind was a most corrupt place. Filled
with filth and over-run with demons. A notorious gang called the Vain Imaginations roamed the streets,
scratching vile graffiti on every wall and wreaking havoc in every place. The Courts made mockery of the
Law, the Churches blasphemed the Lord, the Schools taught nonsense and called it Wisdom, and the
People were like sloths hanging upside down in leafless trees.

Of the many historic revivals that have been told in stories from of old, none were so great as the mighty
revival that transformed the State of Mind. After the Lord Christ rose victorious from the grave, a blast
of glory ripped through the darkest corridors of Hell itself and severed in one mighty blow all the forged
chains that enslaved Adam’s children to Sin and Death.

Then God Almighty unleashed His Spirit and His Word, both working together like a mighty rushing wind
and a swift, roaring fire. All the filth and disease was in one day purged by the white-hot flames of
holiness. And when the smoke cleared — the State of Mind was gloriously renewed!

And then God set a Capitol City in the center of this renewed State; a City from which the rule of God’s
love and mercy, goodness and faithfulness, favor and blessing extend to all throughout the ever-
expanding Kingdom.
This Capitol City is the place called Grace.

We speak of entering it as though it were like any other city. But here’s where things are different. The
truth is – we do not enter into Grace at all; rather, Grace enters into us!

Thus, wherever we may be – there Grace is also. Whatever we may encounter in our travels, Grace is
there with us. In every situation and circumstance; in joy and in sorrow, in plenty and in want, in
strength and in weakness; and, yes, in life or in death – Grace is there!

Grace is the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who God created you to be, and to do
what He has called you to do – right where you are.
Right Where You Are

Posted on July 15, 2014 by James Ryle

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28)

“Oh, I so want to live in this place called

Grace!” a young lady cried out. “Or,
rather, I so want this Grace to live in
me!!”

Several others expressed themselves with

equal passion, and we all felt God’s Spirit
moving upon us in a tangible way that
caused us to tremble.

“Can you now see how this Journey has

served in preparing us, changing us, and
opening us for the entrance of God’s
Grace into our inner-being?” I asked.

Let me tell you a strange dream I had last

night.

I was an adventurous explorer in a tunnel

looking for The Presence, a very rare artifact from the days of Jesus; which was reported to have
miraculous powers that would heal and deliver all who were over-powered by the devil.

I had long searched for this holy treasure and was assured by trusted friends that I would find it in these
tunnels. After scrunching my way through a tight stretch I entered into a large chamber, that seemed to
pulsate with a deep, resonating beat – like a heart. I stood very still; not knowing what to do next.

I then looked about and saw, directly above my head, a placard embedded into the ceiling of the
chamber. On it were written strange words: “Iti Swhe Reyo Uare.” I phonetically pronounced the words,
but could make no sense of them at all.

And suddenly I saw what it was saying – “It is Where You Are!”

I excitedly reached upward to remove the placard, knowing that The Presence was directly above me. As
soon as I did so a great gush of liquid poured forth all over me, as though I were under a water fall. I was
filled with the Holy Spirit and began praising God as I had never done before. I actually woke myself up
from the dream by singing out loud.

I lay in my bed trembling for some time. I looked at the clock and it read 10:38pm. Oddly enough my
senses were heightened to such a point I felt strongly impressed that I should read from The Book of the
Acts of the Apostles, chapter ten, verse thirty-eight.

Call me crazy, but here is what I read:

“How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing
good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.” (Act 10:38)
I heard a voice then say, “Christ in you is the hope of glory.”

My dream brought me to realize that the Presence is not some religious artifact to be seized upon and
welded as a source of power. Rather, it is the Lord Jesus Himself, being Himself in me, and through me
— right where I am.

And the same is true for you.

God’s will for each one of us is that we be “anointed with the Holy Spirit and power, going about doing
good, and healing all who are under the power of the devil” – because Christ is in us, with us, and will
make His Presence known through us!

Yes, Grace is the power of Christ to do God’s will; and Christ in you is the hope of glory; glory all around
you…. right where you are!

“Let’s walk on a little bit farther,” I said. “We have a real treat waiting for us just around the corner.”  

Having made this journey before, I knew what was coming. And I could hardly wait for the others to see
it.
Brother James in The Great Hall of Truth

Posted on July 16, 2014 by James Ryle

“God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:6-7)

“What is that large building on the right?” a man in the group asked.

“That is The Great Hall of Truth,” I answered. “It is where the Champions of Grace lecture in an open
forum. The sign out front says that today James, the Lord’s Brother, will be speaking to an assembly of
Statesmen and Politicians on the subject of War. You guys want to stop and listen to him?

A unanimous yes! 

The Great Hall of Truth had a unique

architectural design; it actually looked like a
human heart. And the acoustics inside the
place were simply astounding. No matter
where you were seated, you could see and
hear everything that was being said and
done.

The place was packed with heads of state,

and dignitaries of all ranks. There was order
in the house, though there was no
apparent security visible anywhere. No
badges, no guns, no “men in black” scanning the place against any potential threat. In fact, there wasn’t
a sense that there was even any threat at all.

How strange to see so many prominent men and women in such an unguarded moment, I thought. Just
then a hush fell upon the vast crowd as a solitary man approached the podium.

“Good afternoon, Ladies and Gentlemen. I am James, the Lord’s brother. I want to speak to you today
on the subject of WAR.

“Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure
that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You
fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask
amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”

It had become so quiet and still, you could hear a pin drop.

And just like in nature where a flash of lightning is always followed by a peal of thunder, James raised his
voice and lowered the boom —

“Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?
Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God!”

James wasn’t angry; he was just right; passionately right.

“The Scripture says, ‘The Spirit who dwell is us yearns jealously.’ Do you think that is spoken in vain?

“God has placed His Spirit within us, and He yearns with a jealous love for His Spirit to be welcomed.
And the Spirit also yearns over us with the same love. He wants us to be His very own. And so, in the
face of all these inner conflicts which lead to open war, He gives more grace.

“He gives more grace!” James emphatically said once more, as if to underscore his point.

“In other words, the power of Christ to do God’s will is greater than your own desires to do otherwise.
By humbling yourselves in agreement with God, you can overcome anything that is contrary to His will in
your lives. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’

“So I urge you one and all — submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God
and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-
minded.” (James 4:1-8)

“And don’t even think for a moment that your wealth and power can stay His hand. You may defeat your
foes on the battlefield, but you cannot win in a war against the Almighty!”

After looking us over in a long moment of suspended silence, James quietly exited the stage — and
nobody moved.

The silence in The Great Hall of Truth was penetrating. God was dong a deep and lasting work in all our
hearts. Grace was present, and it was prevailing over all other powers!

After an appropriate length of silence a lady approached the podium to introduce our next speaker. It
was then we realized we had walked in to a Conference on the Grace of God.

And the next speaker delivered the goods!

The Greatest Mystery Ever Uncovered

Posted on July 17, 2014 by James Ryle

“To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles;
which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1:27).

By now the Great Hall of Truth had filled with several other groups who had also journeyed to this place
called Grace; a great host from every tribe and nation, eager to hear the truth about God’s Grace.

“Our next speaker is a man from the great city of Colossae,” the Moderator said. “He is a widely traveled
and very successful businessman. He also has the distinction of having started a church in his home,
which grew into a thriving community of believers who are known and loved around the world.

“Please join me in welcoming Philemon of Colossae, follower of Jesus and friend of Paul.”

Respectful applause filled the auditorium.

“Thank you; thank you so very much,” Philemon started. “It is my great honor to be one of the invited
speakers for today’s forum, and I would like to use my time to openly tell you a great secret – one that
has now been made known far and wide.

I learned about this from my dear friend, Paul, while I was on a business trip to the port city of Ephesus.
It was there that I became a follower of our Lord Jesus, and a lifelong friend to Paul.

He wrote me a letter, and also one to the church that met in my home. I would like to read a brief
passage from that letter.

‘God has given me the responsibility of serving His church by proclaiming the word of God in its fullness.’
Paul wrote. ‘This message was kept secret for centuries and generations past, but now it has been
revealed to God’s people. And the secret is this — Christ in you is the hope of glory!’”(Colossians 1:25-27)

“The hope of glory?” I asked Paul when I read this.

“Yes!” he eagerly replied, “Christ in you — His presence and power in your life — is the only way you will
ever become all that God has created you to be. That is the great secret that is now made known to all!

“And this is why we proclaim Him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may
present everyone fully grown, mature and complete in Christ. It is to this end I labor, struggling with all
His energy, which so powerfully works in me.” (Colossians 1:28-29).

“My friends,” Philemon said to all of us in the Hall, “This is the great Life Lesson I learned from Paul; and
it has made all the difference for me in everything I do.”

Perhaps this illustration will help you see it clearly for yourself.
 I am holding a glove in my hand. It is made of the finest
Corinthian leather, and stitched together with hand-
woven silk thread from the Orient. The attention to
detail is impeccable in every way.

But this glove was made for a purpose; it was made to

be worn on my hand. Apart from me this glove can do
nothing. Despite its high quality of design and
materials, its fashion and its form – it is nothing until I
place my hand inside of it. Once that occurs, then and
only then does the glove fulfill its purpose. And with my
hand placed securely inside the glove, the glove can now do whatever my hand can do while wearing it.

Thus, it could be said that my hand in the glove is the glove’s hope of glory; that is, the glove’s only
opportunity of fully becoming what it was made to be.

The same is true and you and me. We were made for a purpose; one that will never be realized apart
from our Lord Jesus Christ. Once Christ puts His presence and power into our lives – then we can do
whatever Christ can do through us! Paul’s timeless words become our very own, ‘I can do all things
through Christ who strengthens me!’

This is our hope of glory!

In Christ – the defeated become victorious; the weak become strong; the poor become rich! In Christ –
the lame are made to leap and dance; the blind are made to see; the enslaved are set free and rejoice!

In Christ – the lowly are raised up; the brokenhearted are healed; sinners are forgiven, and backsliders
are restored! In Christ –dreamers are envisioned; builders are empowered; and all are strengthened
with might in their inner man!

In Christ – in Christ alone! By Grace – by Grace alone!!

The Great Hall of Truth erupted into a thunderous ovation, and great grace was upon us all.
 Embracing God’s Best

Posted on July 18, 2014 by James Ryle

“Embracing what God does for you is the

best thing you can do for him.” (Romans
12:1 The Message)

Before the applause faded Paul, the Apostle

walked to the podium. Of course, the place
went nuts. He raised his hands, gesturing
for us to quiet down.

“I am not here to speak today, but to

introduce our next speaker. Before I do, I would like to make a few comments. And would somebody
please keep an eye on that young man in the balcony; I don’t want him falling asleep and dropping to his
death while I’m talking!”

The place roared with laughter.

“It is good to be with you, and to see so many dear friends together again.”  And seeing us in the
audience, Paul said, “I am especially delighted to have our guest who have traveled far to come to this
place called Grace. I so enjoyed our visit together back at the Tavern, and we all welcome you here
today!”

The great crowd applauded in agreement.

“My friend Philemon is correct. God has indeed promised each of us that He will fill us with His Spirit,
empowering us the be who He created us to be and to do what He has called us to do.

But, the fulfillment of God’s promise “depends entirely on us trusting God and His way, and then simply
embracing Him and what He does” (Romans 4:16 The Message).

Indeed, “all that is required is that we submit our lives to His Lordship in Jesus – fully embracing God’s
work of doing in us what he did in raising Jesus from the dead. That’s it. So, you’re not actually doing
anything; you’re simply calling out to God, trusting Him to do it for you. That’s salvation. With your
whole being you embrace God setting things right, and then you say it, right out loud: ‘God has set
everything right between Him and me!’” (Rom 10:8-10 The Message)

“So, here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life and place it before
God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.

“Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix
your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from
you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of
immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you. (Rom 12:1-2 The
Message).

Friends, you have a decision to make; and no one but you can make it. Embrace God’s best – it’s the
best decision you will ever make.
And now, I invite to the stage a dear friend who is like a son to me. Would you please extend a warm
welcome to Timothy, a true and tested champion of Grace.
The Good News of God’s Empowering Presence

Posted on July 19, 2014 by James Ryle

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace,
who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, ‘Your God reigns!’” (Isa 52:7)

Thank you, Paul.

And thank you all for your enthusiastic applause. We always open with Brother James, because if you
can endure his message then you are ready for anything else the Lord will have the rest of us say!”

The crowd roared with self-depreciating laughter. And James himself gave a smile backstage.

“Indeed, Paul has been a father to me,” Timothy began. “He has taught me both in word and in example
that the grace of God is sufficient for us in all things, at all times. One of my favorite lines from his letters
reads, ‘That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward
us through Christ Jesus.’ (Eph 2:7)

I pray that my feet may be beautiful and

swift in the bringing of good news today,
for I will speak of the exceeding greatness
of his power toward us who believe,
according to the working of His mighty
power when He raised our Lord Jesus from
the grave. (Eph 1:19)

God has not given us the spirit of fear; but

of power, love, and a sound mind. These
are the fruit of His grace at work in our
lives. Power that is greater than sin and
death; Love that is greater than darkness
and hatred; and soundness of mind that is greater than deception and confusion.

Our God reigns! Go tell it on the mountain, over the hill, and everywhere!

He reigns over us in His mercy and goodness; He reigns in us by His grace and righteousness; He reigns
through us by His love and kindness.

Therefore, my dear friends, stay the course. God is at work in you, giving you the desire and the power
to do what pleases Him. For your part, let this salvation work its way out in your attitudes and actions
toward others.

Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of
God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as
you hold out the word of life! (Philippians 2:12-16)

“And know this — God is able to make all grace abound to you so that in all things, at all times, having all
that you need; you will abound to every good work. Yes, God is able to supply you with the full measure
of His empowering presence, thereby securing your ability to be who He created you to be and to do
what He has called you to do – wherever you go.

“Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works in us; unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world
without end. Amen.” (Eph 3:20-21).

“May the power of God’s Grace work in you in such measure every day that your life and service to our
Lord brings Him great honor throughout all ages!”

“And now it is my great honor to introduce our final speaker. He is one of the most celebrated
evangelists of the New Testament. Loved far and wide, and renowned as an eloquent man, and one
mighty in the Scriptures – please join me in welcoming to the stage, Apollos of Alexandria!”

We did so with great enthusiasm, and when all was said and done we discovered that the glowing
accolades given to Apollos were well deserved.
The Rubble of Zerubbabel

Posted on July 20, 2014 by James Ryle

“Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying,
Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.” (Zec 4:6)

Thank you, Timothy, for your kind words. Thank you all for your warm reception. And I thank God for
this opportunity to speak about the glories of His grace! I hope to show you the extraordinary power of
Grace by looking at a historic moment in the Old Testament, and then making prophetic application for
our lives today.

There once was a beautiful City. It was the joy of the

whole Earth; beautiful for situation – the City of the
Great King. Its people were blessed and highly
favored by God, and covered by His mercy and
grace.

But they were strangely stubborn and self-willed.

They despised the King’s grace and labored long in
obstinate disobedience.  It made no sense to
anyone. Even Heaven itself was astonished at their
glaring defiance and hardened indifference to the
King’s great love.

Even the Great King Himself cried out, “Be appalled

at this, O heavens, and shudder with great horror! My people have committed two sins: They have
forsaken Me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot
hold water.” (Jeremiah 2:12-13)

After some time, an enemy arose and was permitted by the King to invade and destroy the City, leading
the people away with shame to live a long captivity in a City called Confusion. There they languished
under the bitter oppression of harsh task masters until, after decades of defeat and sorrow – they cried
out to their King for deliverance.

In His great mercy, the King answered and delivered them with a strong hand. They returned to the
ruins of their once beautiful City, empowered with the faith and the resources to rebuild it. Their leader,
Zerubbabel, inspired them with vision and passion for the great work ahead.

But their high hopes were shattered when they saw just how vast the devastation was, and how
humanly impossible the task of rebuilding would be. For, rising before them where there once was a
Great Temple and a Beautiful City, there now stood a mountainous pile of rocks; which seemed to be
quite immovable.

At that moment, the King sent a prophet, saying, “It is not by might, nor by power; but by My Spirit, says
the Lord.”

The prophet then turned and faced the massive pile of rocks and said, with a tone of holy sarcasm in his
voice, “And what are you, O Great Mountain? This man Zerubbabel shall turn you into a mole hill! Yes!
He will clear away the stones and fit each one in its place, rebuilding this Temple and this City. And he
will bring forth the finishing Capstone, placing it firmly where it belongs.

And in that crowning moment all the people will shout, “Grace! Grace!” For they will know that the
Lord’s hand empowered them to do this impossible thing. 

(to be continued)
 The Shout of Grace!

Posted on July 21, 2014 by James Ryle

“The glory of the latter house shall be greater

than that of the former.” (Haggai 2:9).

Apollos had captured our imaginations as he

described the Rubble of Zerubbabel in great
eloquence. And he stirred our hearts with
faith and hope when he then made
application of his message to our lives.

“In the old days great stories were written

about the lives and lore of an ancient people
who were chosen by God to bear His presence
and message to the whole world,” Apollos
said. “We see and learn in them many great truths for ourselves.

“They were not chosen because they were worthy; neither are we. They had no merits that qualified
them to serve and represent God to the world; neither do we. They were stubborn and stiff-necked,
disobedient and slow to understand; and so are we.

“But God loved them; and He loves us. He blessed them, and redeemed them. At times He humbled
them, and then heard their cries and turned again to save them.

“The one epic story that illustrates this perhaps better than any other is The Return From Captivity, and
the Rebuilding of the Temple.

“Seventy long years had passed slowly as the children of the Lord languished in Babylonian Captivity.
The last sight they had of the City of the Great King was a fading memory of horror and shame. The
armies of Nebuchadnezzar had invaded, ravaged, desecrated, destroyed, and burned much of the Holy
City. Billowing plumes of blacken smoke rose high into the hot sky as the oil-coated rocks burned until
nothing was left but charred stones covered in greasy dirt.

“The Temple of the Lord had now become the habitation of jackals, snakes, and assorted desert wildlife.
And when things looked the most hopeless, God stepped in and wrought a miracle of resurrection.

“The king of the pagan nation in which God’s people were held captive had a change of heart toward
God and let His people go. Moreover, he charged them in the name of the Lord to rebuild the Temple
and the Holy City, raising it up out of the burnt ruins. And, get this – he provided them all the resources
they would need out of his own royal treasury! It was miraculous indeed.

“The people rallied with a renewed faith and set out for the Holy City. They talked excitedly all along the
way of their return; each day growing more and more enthusiastic about the job that lay before them.

“But then they saw The City. It was worse than they had imagined; far worse. In fact, it no longer even
looked like a city at all. Rather, its appearance was that of a huge pile of disjointed rocks; burnt and
covered with years of untouched dirt. The only signs of life were peasants who had established
makeshift tent cities, strewn about the colossal debris. And there were the wild animals roaming freely
amid the ruins.

The challenge they faced in rebuilding a holy temple from the ruins of toppled debris is not at all
different from what we face in seeing our own ruined and ravaged lives redeemed and set right before
the Lord today.

Have we not lived in a long captivity to Confusion? Has not the Temple of the Lord been desecrated in
our hearts and lives. Haven’t fires burned, and windstorms blown, and dust accumulated on the altars of
our devotions to God? And does not a dark and intimidating presence taunt us with our powerlessness
to do anything about it?

The word which God gave to Zerubbabel is now given to us. “It’s not by might, it’s not by power; but it is
by My Spirit,” says the Lord.

And like those faithful rebuilders of old, we too will lift The Shout of Grace up to heaven. Yes, we will
boldly bear witness to the power of Christ at work in our lives, enabling us to be who God created us to
be and to do what He has called us to do – right where we are.

“So, my dear friends and fellow-builders, take heart. Whatever obstacle it is that you face, stare it down
and shout, “Grace! Grace!” For when you do so, you are actually releasing God’s empowering presence
into the circumstance and He will work His wonders of love – redeeming your lives from the rubble of
Zerubbabel!”

Then Apollos lifted his hand and spoke this blessing over us, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the
love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen. (2 Corinthians 13:14).

When Apollos concluded, he was joined on stage by all the other speakers. And we all stood and
honored them for their faithful service and inspiring words.

Once the series of stimulating Lectures concluded and we all tarried in the lobby, interacting with the
speakers and other groups who had also journeyed to this place called Grace. There was a deep sense of
privilege in all our hearts for being in this place of Grace together.

“Across the Way from the Great Hall of Truth is Monumental Park,” Paul said. “Let’s all meet there
tomorrow. There is going to be a concert you will not want to miss!”
Monumental Park

Posted on July 22, 2014 by James Ryle

“Thy name, O LORD, endureth forever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations” (Psalm
135:13).

In this place called Grace there is a City

Park; Eden-like in it’s beauty, and
magnificent in its significance. It is called
Monumental Park. And in the center of
this Park stands a large marble replica of
The Tablets, upon which God wrote the
Ten Commandments.

The park architect designed the

topographical layout in such a way that
from one unique vantage on a high
mound called Faith Point one can actually
look down The Corridor of Time and see,
in perfect alignment with The Law, an Old
Rugged Cross on a Hill Far Away. And just
beyond the Cross, an Empty Tomb. And
off in the far distance beyond the Tomb, a
Great White Throne. It is a breathtaking
view.

Throughout the Park is an variety of other

notable sculptures, each marking some
epic moment in the unfolding story of
Redemption. There is The Lamb of the
Garden, whose skin was used to cover the
Guilty Pair. There is a replica of Noah’s Ark, celebrating God’s power to save in a time of great judgment.
And there is also a Burning Bush; actually burning in the Park, yet not being consumed. You have to see
it to believe it.

And there is a brilliant sculpture of The Ark of the Covenant, and though carved in stone it still seems to
pulsate with a Holy Presence that silences all who stand near it.

While quiet and reflective, the Park is always filled with people walking about. On this particular day,
word has spread quite rapidly that Moses himself is strolling the grounds. Someone said he was seen
walking toward the Pavilion of Praise, near the Waters of Life.

Let’s go there and see if we can speak with him.

His eyes were bright and almost piercing as he smiled at us and said, “If any man be in Christ he is a new
creation; old things have passed away, and behold, all things are become new.”
I said, “Amen.” The tattooed guy in our tour group said, “Rock on, Dude!” Both remarks made perfect
sense to Moses.

“Mr. Moses, May I please ask a question?” a young southern girl inquired, in that genteel manner most
common among those from the South.

“You may indeed,” Moses replied.

“Can you help us understand what it means for us to no longer be under the Law, but under Grace?
There seems to be real confusion over this.”

“It will be my pleasure,” Moses said.

And we all drew in close to hear what he had to say.

The Law of the Lord is Perfect

Posted on July 23, 2014 by James Ryle

“The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise
the simple” (Psalm 19:7).

“The Law of the Lord is perfect,” Moses began,

“but it was put into the hands of imperfect men —
beginning with me.”

He paused for a moment of personal reflection,

unable to mask the pain in his heart as he recalled
that unforgettable moment.

“When I came down from the Mountain and saw

the people worshipping a Golden Calf, I threw the
Tablets in anger and they broke. I didn’t realize at
the time how profoundly symbolic that moment
was for us all. Even before we actually received
The Law — we broke it. We were guilty…and
doomed.

“But God was merciful and gave us a second set of

Tablets. Yet, the more we tried to obey The Law –
the more we realized how powerless we were to
do so. At length, that which was pure and perfect
became a thing that condemned us in our fallen
state. We knew all too well that we were wicked;
but our anguish was multiplied by the deeper knowledge that we were also powerless to change
ourselves!

Can a leopard change his spots? How then can we do good, who are accustomed to doing evil? And
what is worse, even when we do a good thing, it becomes defiled by pride in our own our self-
righteousness.

We were a stubborn and stiff-necked people; resisting God every step of the way. At one point, He
offered to send us on ahead without Him. He said an angel would go with us, but not Him. “NO!” I cried
out. “For if Your presence not go with us how shall it be known that we have found grace in your sight?
What else will distinguish us from all other peoples on the face of the earth?” (Ex.33:1-16)

He did go with us! And over time we began to see that, like a School Master – true and unyielding in the
administering of truth and wisdom – The Law was actually moving us forward to a time when the Law
Giver would actually come and live inside each one of us as The Law Keeper!

“And thus when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made
under the law, to redeem us!”(Gal 4:4) Christ in you is the hope of glory! For this reason we affirm boldly
that sin shall not have dominion over you: for you are not under the law, but under grace!” (Rom 6:14) 
Yes, “the power of Christ to do God’s will is with us – right where we are. And it is far greater than the
power of sin! For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: that the righteousness of the
law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Rom 8:3-4).

“And the fruit which The Spirit produces in our lives is love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, faithfulness,
meekness, and self-control. Against such things there is no Law!

“Yes, God gave me the tablets written on Stone. But when One came who is far greater than me, Jesus
the Son of God — God wrote His Law on the tablets of our hearts. And now Christ lives in us,
empowering us to live out in our daily lives the righteousness of the Law by His Grace!! And this is what
now distinguishes you from all the peoples on the face of the earth. It is His grace – the power of His
presence in you!

“There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the
flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law
of sin and death. (Rom 8:1-2)

“The question then is this. Will we continue to live in the power of the flesh, or by the power of the
Spirit? With carnal minds, or with spiritual minds? For to be carnal-minded is death; but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace.

“And I am persuaded of better things concerning you my friends. For I can see that you have journeyed
to this place called Grace on purpose.

“I can see in you what is true of all who love the Lord – you have embraced The Cross as your own! You
have been raised from the dead to walk in newness of life! You are being filled with the Spirit that raised
Christ from the dead, and He is quickening you to walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being
fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might,
according to his glorious power – His Amazing Grace!!!” (see Col 1:10-11). 

Moses’ face began to sine with such glory that we almost had to avert our eyes. It was beautiful beyond
description.
Living in the Overlap of Two Worlds

Posted on July 24, 2014 by James Ryle

“Thy Kingdom come; Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2)

“So, Moses, are you saying that we will never sin again?” a guy from the group asked.

“No,” Moses kindly answered, “I am saying that Jesus will never sin. And He is now living in you, and will
show Himself through you as you stand in Grace.”

“That sounds wonderful,” another replied. “But how does it work?”

“Let me put it this way,” Moses

answered. “Did you ever notice that the
first thing Jesus said when He went
public with His ministry was, ‘Repent;
for the kingdom of heaven is at hand?’”

“Yes,” we all replied.

“But then later He told His disciples to

pray, ‘Thy Kingdom come.’ So, let me
ask — which is it? Is the Kingdom here,
or is it yet to come?”

We stared in silence.

Moses then said, “Friends, it is BOTH!”

When Jesus came to this earth He

brought the Kingdom of God with Him, as an invasion into a fallen world. Day by day, miracle by miracle,
person by person, sermon by sermon – He began spreading the redeeming influence of His Kingdom. He
went about doing good, healing all who were overpowered by the devil, for God was with Him.

After He rose from the dead and ascended into glory, He sent forth His Holy Spirit and filled His people
with His presence and power that we might follow in His steps and continue His mission. Living as He
lived, and doing as He did.

And when He returns again, He will bring the Kingdom in it fullness. God’s will shall be done on earth as
it is in heaven — completely! So, the Kingdom is here, and it is yet to come.

Until That Day, we live in the overlap of two Worlds. One, is the Fallen World which resulted when Sin
entered; and with Sin, Death came. The other is The Risen World, which came about when Jesus
conquered Sin and Death, and included us in His conquest.

We now live in both worlds at the same time. And that is why we have experiences that seem to
contradict one another. One day is filled with glory; the next is filled with grief. One day we have victory;
the next day, defeat. One day our prayers work with power; the next they seem to fall dead to the
ground. One day we triumph in temptation; the next we falter and sin.
Nevertheless! Because Christ is in us, the power of His presence – His Grace – now lifts us above the
claims of this lesser world. What I am saying is that you longer have to sin – as though there were no
choice. You have been freed from the chains that held you as slaves to sin, and now you can yield
yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead!

Where you once were slaves to sin, and doomed to live in perpetual unrighteousness, now you are
forgiven, free, and filled with the Spirit of God. You can live a truly righteous life – even in an
unrighteous world! And that is why Paul wrote, “Sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not
under Law, but under Grace!”

When you humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God – especially in the face of overpowering
trials and temptations – God gives His grace in abundance. And, where sin did abound; Grace does much
more abound! And while you may not be able to handle the challenge by yourself – you are no longer
left to yourself to do so. Christ is in you, and He can handle it through you!

“God will not permit you to be tested above what you are able to bear, and with the trial He will also
provide a way of escape so that you may bear the moment in victory. The way of escape which God has
provided is GRACE – the empowering presence of God enabling you to be who He created you to be,
and to do what He has called you to do – right where you are!

Thus it is written, “Let us come boldly to the Throne of Grace that we may obtain mercy, and find grace
to help us in our time of need!”

“Oh, give God praise for His amazing grace!” Moses cried out, with triumph in his voice and glory on his
face.

By this time a great crowd had gathered at the Pavilion of Praise, and we all began to worship the Lord
in the beauty of holiness.

It was truly awesome.

 The Pavilion of Praise

Posted on July 25, 2014 by James Ryle

“Sing joyfully to the LORD, you

righteous; it is fitting for the upright to
praise him. Praise the LORD with the
harp; make music to him on the ten-
stringed lyre. Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.” (Psalm
33:1-3)

The Pavilion of Praise was draped with a

beautiful royal-blue curtain; the deepest, richest blue I have ever seen. When Moses concluded, the
curtain opened and there was a band. Not just any band, mind you; this was a “one of a kind” band that
left us speechless.

King David was on the guitar, and his son, Solomon was playing keyboards. James and John, the sons of
thunder, were also in the band. James played bass, and John was the lead singer. Obadiah was on the
drums; and I must admit, he could really carry a beat.

The horn section consisted of Daniel and the three Hebrew Children — Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego; man, could they blow! Completing the band as back-up vocals were Mary and Martha, along
with Mary Magdalene.

Before the curtain had completely opened they began to play and sing. John belted out his praise in
perfect harmony with the Sisters. Daniel and Fiery Trio lifted up the horns of salvation and blew it out of
the park!

“Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for
thy pleasure they are and were created.” (Rev 4:11)

And they sung a new song, saying, “Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for
thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and
people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.”
(Rev 5:9-10)

And then we all cried with a loud voice, “Salvation to our God which sits upon the throne, and unto the
Lamb!” And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and
fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, saying, “Amen: Blessing, and glory, and
wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever!
Amen.” (Rev 7:10-12)

Then King David shouted, “Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise! For the LORD God
is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that
walk uprightly.” (Psalm 33:3, and 84:11)

And a great shout went up from the Pavilion of Praise.

Then John the Beloved, Jesus’ best friend and Apostle, stepped to the mike and said, “We were there
with Him in the beginning. We walked with Him, talked with Him; we ate together and traveled the land
together. We have touched with our hands and seen with our eyes the certainty of what we now bring
to you.

“Jesus came, full of grace and truth. And of His fullness we all have now received – grace upon grace!
There is no end to the power of His presence, nor to His faithfulness in making Himself known to us –
right where we are!”

Daniel said, “He was with me in the Lion’s Den!” and the Hebrew Children said, “And with us in the fiery
furnace! His presence loosed us from our bonds and kept us from the flames!” Mary Magdalene said,
“He was there for me when I needed Him most!” Obadiah shouted, “Glory to God!” and started
pounding out a drum solo.

Then, all along the Corridor of Time (a huge walkway in the middle of Memorial Park) there assembled a
multitude of men and women, boys and girls from every age of history – all singing the praises of Jesus.

There was Adam and Eve, Joseph and his brothers; there was Father Abraham, walking hand in hand
with Isaac and Ishmael. We could see Joshua, Deborah, Naomi and Ruth. With them was Rahab, radiant
in grace. We looked and saw, walking with them, Joshua, and Samson; there was Jeremiah, Isaiah,
Ezekiel, and Elijah the Prophet. Also in their company were the other Apostles, Mary and the faithful
women; we saw Luke, and Mark, along with a great host of others.

All of them had their hands raised to heaven and were singing aloud the praises of the King! “Thou art
fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.”
(Psalm 45:1-2)

It seemed in that moment as if Time and Space had been suspended and we all were lifted into another
realm.

Just then something caught my eye off in the corner of Monument Park; something so “out of place”
that I had to take a closer look to see what it was.

As I walked toward the strange sight, Solomon called out to me from the Pavilion and said, “The LORD’s
curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers
but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherit honor, but fools he holds up to shame.” (Pro 3:33-35)

I was about to see exactly what he meant.

 The Dark Corner of The Disgraced

Posted on July 26, 2014 by James Ryle

“You will be ashamed because of the

sacred oaks in which you have
delighted; you will be disgraced
because of the gardens that you have
chosen.” (Isaiah 1:29)

The sight before me seemed to

contradict everything that was going on about me. It looked like a graveyard; untended and overgrown
with thorns and weeds. It was dark and damp; and seemed so out of place. Yet, here it was, off in a
corner of Monumental Park.

Etched in a stone arch at the gateway of this dark corner were these words: “The wretch, concentered
all in self, doubly dying shall go down unto the vile dust from which he sprung – unwept, unhonored,
and unsung.” (Sir Walter Scott)

I looked inside and I saw that there were five ashen stone markers on this plot of desolate ground.

The first marker had but one word on it – “Insignificance.” It was erected as a witness to the woeful
failure of Lot, Abraham’s kinsman. The second darkened stone said, “I have played the fool.” They were
the dying words of King Saul.

The third marker said, “Ephraim is joined to his idols; leave him alone.” (Hosea 4:17). And the fourth
marker read, “Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world.” (2 Timothy 4:10). These words
were written by Paul the Apostle.

These Four Stones tell a Sobering Tale.

The story of Lot is nothing but pathetic. He was a close kinsman of Abraham, God’s friend. Lot had every
privilege and blessing he would ever need to live a full, free, and prosperous life. But he chose to go his
own way, settling for less than God’s best.

Turning away from Abraham, Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom – the doomed city. The first thing Lot
saw every morning when he awoke, and the last thing he saw every night before he fell asleep – was
Sodom. What a man gives himself to continually gaze upon will soon possess him.

We discover later in Lot’s story that he moved into the city and became vexed by its great evil. When the
Angels visited him to warn of the coming destruction, he made a pitiful request, asking if he could be
permitted to settle in a small town some distance from doomed Sodom. The Angels granted him his
request.

The name of the town was Zoar, which means “insignificant.” And there is where his life ended. An
insignificant man living an insignificant life in an insignificant town – disgraced.

King Saul also stands as the ultimate example of a man who had everything needed to succeed – and
yet he failed miserably. God anointed with His Spirit, gave him victory in battle, empowered him to
prophesy, and rallied Israel to his support. But he tossed it all aside.
His own words sum it up in clear and pathetic finality – “I have played the fool, and have erred
exceedingly” (1 Sa 26:21). His life ended on the battlefield as he fell upon his own sword to prevent the
pagan Philistines from capturing him alive. He died as a man disgraced.

Ephraim came to an unhappy end. Several tribes bore his name and carried it into shame and disgrace.
Chosen by God to be doubly fruitful in all things, they joined themselves to idols and reaped great
sorrow of soul. They drank themselves into a stupor, and then gave themselves over to every sexual
deviation imaginable. They loved shame more than honor. Their lives ended in disgrace.

Demas, a potential champion in the New Testament, traveled and ministered with Paul on several
missionary campaigns. Had he stayed the course in faithfulness his name would be held in high esteem
today. But he quit. At the moment he was most needed by Paul, the waffling man bolted and sought
pleasure over sacrifice; temporal delight over eternal gain. The man’s life in a single word? Disgraced.

There was yet one more stone set in that disturbing and disgraceful place – but it was blank. The words
were pending, not yet written. As I gazed upon it a frightening sense came over my being. I knew that
this singular stone was awaiting the outcome of a life that was yet being lived – mine, and yours.

So, my fellow traveler — what will it be? Grace? Or, disgrace?

After a time of deep reflection, I returned to the Pavilion of Praise to rejoin our tour group. “What were
you looking at over there?” several asked, as I drew near.

“You will need to go see for yourself,” I answered. “But do so quickly, for you dare not tarry long in a
place where others have so shamefully fallen.”
That No One Fail

Posted on July 27, 2014 by James Ryle

“Guard against turning back from the grace of God. Let no one become like a bitter plant that grows
up and causes many troubles with its poison.” (Heb 12:15, GNB)

It was obvious that many in our tour group were disturbed by what they experienced in the Dark Corner
of Disgrace. They needed a word of encouragement, and so I said, “Praise and Prayer always go
together, and ascend as a sweet aroma of faith and love before the God of Heaven and Earth.”

And then I prayed, “O Lord Jesus, we, Your ransomed people whose lives are being rebuilt from the ruins
of selfishness and sin, yield our humbled hearts to become the habitation of the Lord.”

As I spoke, God began to fill us with His Spirit!

King David stepped down from the stage and said to

us, “God takes no pleasure in the fall of His children,
nor in the shame that scars their lives. He is great in
mercy and abounding in grace. Ever ready to receive
and to restore, He waits with open arms to embrace
freely and fully all who turn to Him and call upon His
name.”

Solomon, his son, joined him and said, “We learn

from those who have fallen, as well as from those
who have stood faithful to the end. We have received
grace and mercy; therefore we extend grace and
mercy to others. For our single desire is to be like the
Lord.”

“Exercise foresight and be on the watch to look after

one another,” Paul then added, ” to see that no one
falls back from and fails to secure God’s grace. This
will prevent any root of bitterness from shooting forth
and causing trouble for many.”

In light os this, may I ask you a question? Where are

you, dear friend, in your life? Where has the road taken you thus far? Are you tossed about with
uncertainties? Halting in your devotions, and flagging in your zeal? Are you hot one day, and cold the
next? Has your affection faded and your commitment softened? Does your heart hunger for something
more?

Perhaps in these following words of an anonymous poet, you might find a voice for your own feelings…
and deeper longings.

O the shame and bitter sorrow that a time could ever be,
When I let my Savior’s mercy plead in vain, and proudly answered,
“All of self, and none of Thee!”
Yet He found me. I beheld Him dying on the cursed tree.
I heard Him pray, ‘Forgive him Father.’ And my wistful heart said faintly,
“Some of Self, and some of Thee.”

Day by day His tender mercy; healing, helping, guiding me;

Sweet and strong, and O so patient, brought me lower till I whispered,
“Less of Self and more of Thee!”

Now higher than the highest heavens! Deeper than the deepest seas!
Lord, at last Thy Love has conquered! Grant me now my soul’s desire:
“None of Self, and all of Thee!”

May the grace of God empower you to live in the full measure of His will for your life! May you be a
source of joy and encouragement to others around you, inspiring them to forsake lesser things and
pursue the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
 Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound!

Posted on July 28, 2014 by James Ryle

“Let us come boldly to the throne of

Grace.” Hebrews 4:12-16

John spoke to the vast crowd once more

from the Pavilion, “God is able to make all
grace abound to you so that in all things, at
all times, having all that you need; you will
abound to every good work. Doing good,
and being good; bearing fruit and increasing
in the knowledge of God as you stand under
the covering of His amazing grace!”

Then Daniel and the Three Hebrew Children

began to play a familiar chorus, “Amazing
grace, how sweet the sound.”

The band picked up on it and joined in with

the instruments. And like a prairie fire
swept by a mighty wind, the melody spread
throughout the vast crowd gathered in
Monumental Park. We lifted our voices
together and sang the song of the Ages.

Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found. Was blind, but now I see!
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear, and grace my fears relieved!
How precious did that grace appear the hour I first believed.

Though many danger, toils and snares I have already come,

‘twas grace that brought me safe thus far; and grace will lead me home!
When we’ve been there ten thousand years, bright shining as the sun!
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise than when we first begun!

Then John lifted his voice above the crowd and said, “A great battle was fought as the powers of
darkness sought to seize the Throne of Heaven. The Lord girded Himself in battle array and led His Saints
and Angels into the conflict. The full arsenal of Hell was unleashed in one desperate attempt to topple
the King and take control of all things. There was loss on both sides as the War unfolded all around,
reaching a terrifying and chaotic pitch.

And then, suddenly, there was silence. The last shot had been fired, the final blow had been landed. We
who survived stood in the fog of war waiting to learn of its outcome. A breeze began to blow across the
vast battlefield, and slowly the smoke and dust started to clear. We stood on tiptoe looking about for
some sign that would signal what would happen next.
A ray of golden sunshine pierced through the lingering clouds and we saw it. First, a sparkle from a jewel
in the Royal Crown. Then, the golden glow of its untarnished splendor. It was but a moment longer until
someone closer to the epicenter shouted out in exuberant triumph – “Hallelujah! Jesus Reigns!!”

That word of triumph swept through the battlefield and we raised our voices to heaven as one,
“Hallelujah! Jesus reigns!!”

And then King David shouted, “Lift up your heads, O you gates! And be lifted up, you everlasting doors!
And the King of glory shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, The LORD
mighty in battle. Lift up your heads, O you gates! Lift up, you everlasting doors! And the King of glory
shall come in. Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Selah (Psalm 24:7-10)

At that we all joined together and shouted, “Hallelujah! Jesus reigns!!” And once again we began to sing,
“Amazing Grace!” After some time, we slowly began to disperse. Our group headed toward the west end
of Monumental Park to plan our next move.
“Are We There Yet?”

Posted on July 29, 2014 by James Ryle

And Jesus said unto him, “Thou art not far from the kingdom of God.” (Mar 12:34)

Standing at the west end of Monumental Park with a group

of happy pilgrims taking in the sights and sounds of God’s
amazing Grace, we heard a fellow in our group call out and
ask, “Are we there yet?” His voice was a bit strained, and
betrayed a measure of mild exasperation.

“What do you mean?” a fellow traveler asked.

“The Place called Grace – are we there yet?”

Everybody was stunned. I must admit that I myself was a bit

perplexed at this fellow’s disconnection to the moment.
How could he not know where we were?

“Dude, we’ve been here for quite a while!” somebody else

in the group replied.

Realizing this guy needed help, I then said, “At the start of
our Journey I told you all that we would be traveling far to a
place that is nearby; and once we are there, you will realize
that we’ve actually been here all along. Remember me saying that to you?”

“So, are you saying we have arrived?” the fellow then asked.

“You’re the only one who can answer that,” I replied. “Grace is a place where you experience a power
because you have met a Person.”

That Person is the Lord Jesus, the King of Grace and Glory. The power is the incomprehensible influence
of His redeeming presence in all things, at all times. And the Place of Grace is everywhere humble men
and women live freely to do God’s will fully.

“So, let me ask the question a different way,” I then said. “Have you arrived?”

The perplexed brother stared at me in silence.

Perhaps a short story will serve to illustrate my meaning.

Years ago, at a youth camp the guest speaker presented a compelling message for surrendering our all
to Jesus Christ. What made his talk so compelling was the glow upon his face. This was real to him; and
we could tell. He was “standing in a place called Grace.”

At one point in his message he told us about an experience he himself had at this very camp years
earlier when he was a student. He had taken a walk into the woods after an evening meeting and found
a spot where he fell on his knees and cried out to God, “Oh, God! Do in me anything You need to do, so
You can do through me everything You want to do!”
The power of the Holy Spirit fell upon him as he prayed, and he rose to “walk in newness of life;
empowered to love and serve the Lord.”

We were riveted by his story. One student approached him after our evening meeting and asked,
“Preacher, can you take me to that spot?”

“Certainly,” the camp preacher said, “Follow me.” And they headed off into the woods. After they had
walked for several minutes, the student asked, “Are we there, yet?”

“We’re getting close,” the preacher said. And they walked on further. And again, after some distance
was covered, the student asked, “Are we almost there?”

“It won’t be much longer,” the preacher said. “It should be just a little bit further.”

They walked on deeper into the woods, getting farther and farther from camp. The young man grew
increasingly restless, and asked once more – “Are we close to that spot?”

“It shouldn’t be too much further,” the preacher

said.

After several minutes of more hiking, the student

fell to his knees and cried out in desperation, “Oh,
God! I can’t wait any longer! Do in me what you
did in this preacher!”

God’s presence suddenly flooded the young man’s

heart, as he wept for joy. And the preacher smiled
and said, “There’s the spot, right there!”

Get it? Grace is a place where you experience a power because you have met a Person. Nobody knows
but YOU when that moment occurs. It is that moment when you realize that you cannot, and you will
not, live another day outside this place called Grace.

So, let me now ask the question — “Have you arrived there yet?”
The Gateway to the Kingdom

Posted on July 30, 2014 by James Ryle

“Go ye therefore into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15).

At the west end of Monumental Park stood a huge archway called

The Gateway to the Kingdom. Inscribed in the Arch were these
words: “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved,
let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with
reverence and godly fear” (Hebrews 12:28)

We supposed that by passing through this Gateway we would be

taken from glory to glory; you know, like Ezekiel caught up in the
Spirit and transported to realms beyond our imagination. So we were
quite shocked when we stepped through the Gateway and saw that
it actually brought right back to where we had at first started our
journey to a place called Grace!

It was as if we had not moved from there at all.

That’s when it struck us profoundly – all we had seen and

experienced during this long journey to a place nearby, had actually
happened inside us as we stood in that one location!  “Iti Swhe Reyo
Uare,” I thought to myself. A whisper then came into my ear, “Be still
and know that I am God – right where you are.”

Then we all heard the voice of the Lord say, “What I have done to
you, I will now do through you.”

In that moment, we looked and saw a series of roads that went out
in all directions — over hill and dale, across rivers and oceans, to
places far and wide.

And there was a River. Seeing it reminded me most vividly of the vision Ezekiel told of a river that flowed
from the Temple. It measured ankle deep at the start, and then incrementally deepened – knee deep,
waist deep, and then a mighty river which was over our heads.

Then Ezekiel saw that this great river flowed into the Dead Sea!  And as its living waters enter into the
stagnant pool of this fallen world, a miraculous transformation occurred. “And it shall be,” said the Lord,
“that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude
of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the
river goes.” (Ezekiel 47:9)

Paul stood at the Gateway, together with Peter, James and John, Timothy, Apollos and several others,
and called out to us, saying, “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive
not the grace of God in vain.” (2 Corinthians 6:1).

“You are that River,” Paul said. “It’s time for you to flow forth into all the world, bringing the redeeming
power of God’s Grace to all you meet – as you go. It would be a sad thing indeed if you saw, and heard,
and experienced all of this Grace for no purpose; if it all flowed into you only to be held in an empty
place in your souls.

“I beseech you, therefore, my brethren; you must not hear this truth with no intention of doing anything
about it. That would be directly opposed to God’s will. We all are with you in this as workers together!
Please do NOT receive the grace of God in vain. Do not hear this message and dismiss it without
thought. Do not see this truth and then close your eyes to its wonder and potential in and through your
life. And do not keep it from others.”

Then Peter spoke up, “Remember how I told you to be stewards of the manifold grace of God? To take
the many gifts he has blessed you with, and minister the same to others all around you? Well, if I may
use one of my familiar quotes, ‘This is that!’ Freely you have received; freely give!”

Suddenly we realized that our journey to a place called Grace was in fact a recruiting trip to the mission
field! And we were more than ready to go!!

And all those who had hosted us in a place called Grace called out once more in one voice, saying, “The
grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” (Rev 22:21)
Go Home to Your Friends

Posted on July 31, 2014 by James Ryle

“Go home to your friends and tell them the great things the Lord has done.” (Mark 5:19).

“Hallelujah! Jesus reigns!!” As the good news of the Great King’s triumph over the powers of darkness
began to spread, delusional collaborators with the evil empire sought to intercept the heavenly couriers
and prevent the message of Grace from reaching the ears of captives held throughout their conquered
kingdom.

For many years now this phase of the conflict has been contested, and the tide is turning day by day.
Yet, there are scores still in darkness who have not heard the liberating truth of God’s Grace. Will you
tell them?

It is a question only you can answer.

You now are knighted by Grace with the mandate of God’s mercy, love, forgiveness and goodness. “It’s
not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord. “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan
under your feet shortly, because the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ is with you. Amen.” (Romans 16:20)

My role as Tour Guide for this trip is

finished; but yours has just begun.
What the Lord has done for us, we
now must do for others. Go home to
your friends and tell them the great
things the Lord has done.

And right here I must confess to you

that, while I have been to this place
called Grace many times, this was
my first time ever serving as a tour
guide bringing others to it! Oh, yes, I
have spoken about Grace on many
occasions and told others of the wonders of this place, but this was my first time actually bringing
people along with me on the journey.

And if I can do it, so can you. I’m passing the baton into your hands!

First, you must become filled with the wonder of this place. You have got to see it, and believe it for
yourself. You must let this revelation of Grace renew your mind, so that your witness of it to others will
carry conviction that does not waver in the face of long-standing traditions.

Second, you must remember that the contemporary thinking about Grace has long been unchallenged,
and it will not easily yield ground to traveling pilgrims – no matter how passionate we may be.

Third, you must be patient. Some will see it for themselves; others will not. This is a matter for the Lord
of Grace to resolve; not you. As for you, “walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the
time. Let your speech be always  with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to
answer every man” (Colossians 4:5,6).
Here is a practical plan that just might work.

If you will tell two friends, and take them through the process just like I did for you; and they tell two
friends, and take them through the process just like you did for them; and then they tell two friends…
and so on, and so on, and do on – well, it’s only a matter of time before a Grace Awakening occurs, and a
Grace Revolution transforms the contemporary Church into a spiritual dynamo that shakes our world
with real power and truth.

If you will tell two friends, and take them through the process just like I did for you; and they tell two
friends, and take them through the process just like you did for them; and then they tell two friends…
and so on, and so on, and so on – well, it’s only a matter of time before a Grace Awakening occurs, and a
Grace Revolution transforms the contemporary Church into a spiritual dynamo that shakes our world
with real power and truth.

No more hype and bravado; no more banging of cymbals and prancing of ponies; no more pontificating
and chest-beating – just GRACE: the empowering presence of God enabling us to be who He created us
to be, and to do what He has called us to do – right where we are. For the light that shines the farthest,
shines brightest at home!

Do this and watch what happens! Print out these posts and host a group of your friends once a week at
your home. Become their tour guide and take them on this journey, just as I have done for you. Read the
posts and engage in a hearty discussion together.

Imagine.

If enough of us do this, then its only a matter of time until we will experience a Grace Awakening across
the nation…and dare I be so bold as to believe…around the World!

Tell them to come with you on a journey to a place called grace. Tell them not to pack a lot of bags. Tell
them about the Tavern, where they can visit with the Apostle Paul; and the Ancient Library, where they
can see the gold beneath the surface of the water, illumined by the Holy Ghost.

Tell them about Peter walking with us on the road. Show them your Tour Guide and tell them how they
can get their own copy – and take their own journey. Tell them about the Conference on Grace in Great
Hall of Truth, and the amazing sights and sounds of Monumental Park. And, yes, tell them about the
Stones of the dark corner of the Disgraced.

Tell them about this place where you experience a power because you meet a Person. Tell them about a
place called Grace. And then take them to it.

“Go home to your friends and tell them the great things the Lord has done.” (Mark 5:19).

And as you cross the finish line of your service to the Lord, you can say with Paul, “I am what I am by the
grace of God. And His grace given unto me was not in vain, for I labored more abundantly than they all.
Yet, it was not I; but was the grace of God in me.”