Graceplaceav

Send us Fan MailToday WE Talk About Meekness- Three things definitely stand out when examining meekness- One is that it is a very rare quality of character- Two, it is exceptionally precious in the sight of God- Three, it is probably the most challenging feature in the teaching of the fruit of the Spirit- Meekness is not to be confused with weakness- That is why meekness needs to be defined very carefully- A lot of people compare the word meekness with weakness, but their difference is massive- Real meekness requires great strength of character

Send us Fan Mail- It is unfortunate that authorized versions of the Bible somewhat confuse the meaning of the seventh fruit of the Spirit by translating it as “faith.”- “Faith” by itself is not a fruit of the Spirit, but is one of God’s gifts- 1 Corinthians 12:7-10, “7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: 8 for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [a ]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues.”- Even the faith that saves is described as the “gift” of God.- Ephesians 2:8, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,”- The actual construction of the Word in Galatians 5:22 is “faithfulness,” which is translated in some theological circles as “fidelity.”- Another scripture where the meaning is “faithfulness”, but uses the word “faith” is Romans 3:3, KJV, “For what if some did not believe? shall their unbelief make the faith of God without effect?”- The NKJV says, Romans 3:3, “For what if some did not believe? Will their unbelief make the faithfulness of God without effect?”- As mentioned in Galatians 5:22, faithfulness, as a characteristic of the fruit of the Spirit, is also trustworthiness, loyalty, reliability, constancy, and/or steadfastness. - That as we are the body of Christ, faithfulness from God is manifested, and our faithfulness to Him must be grounded in belief in Jesus Christ- Even in the world, faithfulness is the foundation on which our community rests- We see faithfulness being translated into faithlessness on the world stage, involving international treaties and agreements

Send us Fan Mail Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV), “22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.  Now we use the word “good” synonymously with the words “sound”, “decent,” and “respectable.”- We describe items we purchase as “good,” meaning that it was worth the money spent on it and we use “good” to describe if someone is solid in their character, or how we currently describe our current state of being- When someone asks us if we are “good,” it is not in reference to spiritual fruit; rather, it is a question of how we cope in and among the world.- We do not use the word “good” or “goodness” too often to describe character, much less a fruit of the Spirit. - But in those instances when we are trying to determine whether their personality is solid and dependable, whether they are honest, and whether they are balanced in their lives – we often use the word “good” to describe that person- This last definition is what the fruit of the Spirit is – “goodness,” but there are a couple of levels to this understanding. Passive Goodness- There is, or appears to be, two sides to goodness- Let’s call the two sides passive and active- As we discuss passive, let’s remember that passive goodness is relative, meaning it is actively influential- The Lord describes passive goodness when He likened His disciples to the “salt of the earth.”- Matthew 5:13, “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.”- 

Send us Fan Mail - Saturday passes but not without Jesus speaking to John in Revelation 1:18, “ I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of [a ]Hades and of Death.”- Why is that important, Jesus is signifying that He has absolute authority and control over death and the realm of the dead- It lets us know that Jesus has conquered death, hell and the grave- Then on Sunday morning, the first day of the week, early in the morning, Jesus rose from the grave- Mark 16: 1-7, “Now when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, that they might come and anoint Him. 2 Very early in the morning, on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen. 3 And they said among themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the door of the tomb for us?” 4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled away—for it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. 7 But go, tell His disciples—and Peter—that He is going before you into Galilee; there you will see Him, as He said to you.”- Him getting up allowed us to have life and that more abundantly- Him getting up saved us for sin, shame, and hell- Him getting up gives us hope for a better tomorrow- Him getting up shows us who are in Him that we are more than conquerors- Him getting up changed my life 

Send us Fan MailSis. Lydia Murphey, Luke 23:34Sis. Christy Kelsey-Luke 23:43Sis Delissa Butler-John 19:26-27Bro. Marshall Coleman-Matthew 27:46Evangelist Cheryl Cook-John 19:28Deacon Eric Butler-John 19:30Elder Johnny Ray- Luke 23:46Facilitator - Mother/Sis. Marion Coleman

Send us Fan MailGalatians 5:22, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness (kindness = NKJV), goodness, faith…”1 Timothy 3:3, “not given to wine, not violent, not greedy for money, but gentle, not quarrelsome, not covetous;”Titus 3:2, “to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.”James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy.”Gentleness is kindness in the fullest sense of the word. - God is gentle, and to exhibit gentleness as a fruit of the Spirit is to honestly attempt to be like God

Send us Fan MailThe long-suffering of God has been with us since way before we were in existence. - What is long-suffering, first and foremost?- Long-suffering is the patient endurance of hardship, provocation, or injury without retaliating or giving up hope- Long-suffering in short is God holding back what we deserve- And we deserve a lot, if we be honest with ourselves- We deserve to punished, hated, whooped, and much more2 Peter 3:9,  The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.”

Send us Fan MailWhen we discuss peace, we are referring to something that often irritates many people when they see that you possess it.- But sometimes it’s hard to realize you truly have peace until it becomes clear that you possess the peace of God.- The peace I am talking about is the peace promised to believer.

Send us Fan MailEverybody desires joy…not just happiness…at least I hope the desire is not only happiness- But I do believe everyone desires joy- Even those individuals who select a path of self-denial that makes joy almost impossible…still do what they do to obtain joy- One thing that unites all people is the longing for joy. - It is important to recognize that joy and happiness are not the same thing. - While happiness is often based on external circumstances or fleeting moments, joy is deeper and more enduring. - My hope is that what we truly seek in life is joy, not merely happiness, because joy remains even when situations change and get harder- Jesus, Himself, endured the cross, and despised the shame, “For the joy that was set before Him.” (Hebrews 12:2)

Send us Fan MailGalatians 5:22-2322 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.You have to have spiritual fruit in order for your gifts to work.It is important to have a practical understanding of the Fruits of the Spirit. We know that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, and it is equally true that God is in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself. In the same way, the Holy Ghost is sometimes viewed as the Spirit of the Father or the Spirit of the Son, yet remains a distinct person, distinct from both the Father and the Son. Therefore, the Fruit of the Spirit is an outcome of the man in Jesus, encompassing new birth manifested through the Holy Ghost.

Send us Fan MailPressure pushes you further towards your purpose, Spoken Word by Elder Alex Conedy1 Corinthians 10:13No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it.

Send us Fan MailIf we are going to be used by God, it is going to cost us something to do ministry.- Matthew 16:24, “Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.- It is going to be a sacrifice, something you have to give up.

Send us Fan MailOur fasting CalendarGRACEPLACE CHURCH19 DAYS OF FASTING & PRAYERJanuary 21 – February 8“This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.”Matthew 17:21TABLE OF CONTENTSHow to Use This BookletFasting GuidelinesDay 1 – Surrender (January 21)Day 2 – Repentance (January 22)Day 3 – Hunger for God (January 23)Day 4 – Discipline (January 24)Day 5 – Obedience (January 25)Day 6 – Faith (January 26)Day 7 – Rest (January 27)Day 8 – Forgiveness (January 28)Day 9 – Humility (January 29)Day 10 – Holiness (January 30)Day 11 – Wisdom (January 31)Day 12 – Strength (February 1)Day 13 – Freedom (February 2)Day 14 – Purpose (February 3)Day 15 – Love (February 4)Day 16 – Unity (February 5)Day 17 – Spirit-Led Life (February 6)Day 18 – Thanksgiving (February 7)Day 19 – Renewal (February 8)HOW TO USE THIS BOOKLETThis fasting and prayer guide is designed to help you intentionally seek God over the next 19 days.Each day includes a focus, a scripture, a prayer, and a reflection prompt.Use this booklet during your prayer time.Move at a pace that allows you to hear from God clearly.This fast is not about perfection—it is about positioning your heart before the Lord.FASTING GUIDELINESFasting WindowNo eating between 12:00 AM – 12:00 PMWater is encouraged during fasting hours.Eating Guidelines (After 12 PM)Try to cook at homeLimit sugar and processed foodsEat simple, nourishing mealsPractice gratitude and moderationPrayer CommitmentPray throughout the dayBegin your morning with prayer instead of foodUse hunger as a reminder to seek GodEnd each day with thanksgivingSpiritual SacrificeFasting is not only about food.Sacrifice gossip, excessive cell phone use, entertainment, and distractions.Replace them with prayer, Scripture, worship, and quiet time with God.DAY 1 – JANUARY 21SURRENDERScripture:Romans 12:1Prayer:Lord, I surrender my body, my desires, and my plans to You.Reflection:What do I need to fully place on God’s altar?DAY 2 – JANUARY 22REPENTANCEScripture:Psalm 51:10Prayer:Create in me a clean heart and renew a right spirit within me.Reflection:Is there anything I need to confess or release?DAY 3 – JANUARY 23HUNGER FOR GODScripture:Matthew 5:6Prayer:Increase my hunger for You more than anything else.Reflection:What competes for my spiritual appetite?DAY 4 – JANUARY 24DISCIPLINEScripture:1 Corinthians 9:27Prayer:Help me walk in discipline and spiritual focus.Reflection:Where do I need greater consistency?DAY 5 – JANUARY 25OBEDIENCEScripture:John 14:23Prayer:Help me obey You fully and without delay.Reflection:Is God asking me to obey Him in a specific area?DAY 6 – JANUARY 26FAITHScripture:Hebrews 11:6Prayer:Strengthen my faith and trust in You.Reflection:Where do I need to believe God more?DA

Send us Fan MailWhy do we believe in God? Why do we have faith in the Father, the Son, and the Holy GhostSalvation isn't earned but received as a gift through faith in Jesus's sacrifice, leading to reconciliation with God, the Father.

Send us Fan MailMatthew 14: 9 - 33And the king was sorry; nevertheless, because of the oaths and because of those who sat with him, he commanded it to be given to her. 10 So he sent and had John beheaded in prison. 11 And his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 Then his disciples came and took away the body and buried it, and went and told Jesus.Feeding the Five Thousand13 When Jesus heard it, He departed from there by boat to a deserted place by Himself. But when the multitudes heard it, they followed Him on foot from the cities. 14 And when Jesus went out He saw a great multitude; and He was moved with compassion for them, and healed their sick. 15 When it was evening, His disciples came to Him, saying, “This is a deserted place, and the hour is already late. Send the multitudes away, that they may go into the villages and buy themselves food.”16 But Jesus said to them, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”17 And they said to Him, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”18 He said, “Bring them here to Me.” 19 Then He commanded the multitudes to sit down on the grass. And He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke and gave the loaves to the disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitudes. 20 So they all ate and were filled, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained. 21 Now those who had eaten were about five thousand men, besides women and children.Jesus Walks on the Sea22 Immediately Jesus [a]made His disciples get into the boat and go before Him to the other side, while He sent the multitudes away. 23 And when He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. Now when evening came, He was alone there. 24 But the boat was now in the middle of the sea, tossed by the waves, for the wind was contrary.25 Now in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea. 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out for fear.27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Be of good cheer! It is I; do not be afraid.”28 And Peter answered Him and said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”29 So He said, “Come.” And when Peter had come down out of the boat, he walked on the water to go to Jesus. 30 But when he saw that the wind was boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!”31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His  hand and caught him, and said to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased.33 Then those who were in the boat came and worshiped Him, saying, “Truly You are the Son of God.

Send us Fan MailHebrews 11:6,  But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Send us Fan MailEzekiel 36:26-2726 A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.27 And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes, and ye shall keep my judgments, and do them.

Send us Fan MailJames 4:4, “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.”- This is covenant language.- To love the world’s values is to betray Christ- This is not human jealousy, it is holy jealouse- The Holy Ghost cannot, and will not, coexist with a heart married to the world- When the Holy Ghost fills you, the world loses its shine- When the Holy Ghost sanctifies you, sin loses its sweetness- When the Holy Ghost fills you up, Christ becomes all in al

Send us Fan MailThere are times in life when God sends you through a season- You do not question it, but it consumes your thought process- You pray and try to pray. - Try to pray means trying to remain focused on what the Father is trying to tell me through the Holy Ghost, but most times you find it impossible to stay focused.- But what is imperative is that you remain saved, sanctified, and filled with the Holy Ghost, and a servant of the Lord with gladness