When you are a minister and you speak publicly several times a week, there are times when you feel you’ve done better in your presentation than at other times. Recently I was at a meeting and Loretta was unable to attend. When I called her to touch base after the meeting, she asked me, “How did the meeting go?”
And I responded, “Honestly, I think it was the best sermon I ever preached.” It was safe to say that since she wasn’t there. However, it is my personality to feel like every service is a great service and possibly the best of my life to that point.
But one particular Sunday after the “best sermon I had ever preached” on the subject of grace, I was approached by a lady who said, “If you keep teaching grace, then all you are doing is giving people a license to sin.”
I’ve discovered over the years if someone is going to sin, they don’t need a license. They’ll do it with or without one.
Years ago there was a popular song called, “Last Kiss.” You may remember it. It’s the one that started out by saying, “We were out on a date in my daddy’s car, etc.”
Anyway, the man who wrote that song was Wayne Cochran who was popular in the sixties and seventies as Wayne Cochran and the CC Riders. Wayne is now a Christian, the pastor of a church and a good friend of mine. Recently, he was ministering at my church and he made an interesting statement.
He said that God’s love and the love for God and his commitment to God was so strong in his life that he could sin all he wanted to. However, because of God’s love and grace in his life, he didn’t want to and he didn’t.
Just because God’s goodness is based on grace and faith and not on your good works, does not give you the right to not do good works. If your heart is right toward God, then good works will still be a product of your life, but the good works will never be a payment to God for a gift received.
Ephesians 2:8 tells us that we are saved by grace and through faith. Then it goes on to say that it’s not because of our works because if we could say our works is what saved us, then we would become boastful and prideful and self-reliant.
We must not be self-reliant, but we must be God-reliant and while we are relying on Him for His grace and mercy to be manifest in our lives, then we must be doing the works of the gospel out of love and a pure heart.
So even if you have a personality like mine, and you feel that everything is going great, it’s only God’s goodness and greatness that counts. Do we get what we deserve? No! When we’re God’s children, we get what He deserves.
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Dr. Larry Ollison is founder and Senior Pastor of Walk on the Water Faith Church and founder of Larry Ollison Ministries. With over forty years in the ministry, he is a very popular speaker nationally and internationally and ministers the Word of Faith through radio, television, Internet, and daily e-mail devotionals. As the author of twelve books (including The Power of Grace, The Practical Handbook for Christian Living, Breaking the Cycle of Offense, Life is in the Blood, and recently released The Paradise of God), he is in frequent demand for radio/TV interviews, book signings, and magazine publications.
Dr. Ollison was raised a Southern Baptist. While majoring in theology at Southwest Baptist University, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. For many years he traveled extensively speaking at Full Gospel Business Men's meetings and conventions. He later earned an M.A. in Theology and a Ph.D. and Th.D. from Life Christian University.
Currently President of International Convention of Faith Ministries (ICFM), Dr. Ollison is also Vice-President of Spirit FM Christian Radio Network, Missouri State Director of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), and a Trustee on the boards of several international ministries. He is also the host of The Cutting Edge Radio Broadcast and authors The Cutting Edge Daily Devotional.
As the owner of a marine dealership, his extensive business background brings a unique flavor to his teaching. He founded and served as chairman of the Missouri State Marine Board, President of the Marine Dealers’ Association, Vice-President of a bank holding company, along with holding several directorships in various corporations.
Dr. Ollison's strongest areas of teaching are the blood of Jesus, faith, relationships, the Hebrew language, the Holy Spirit, the end times, and heaven. During ministry, he operates freely in the gifts of the Holy Spirit. His use of humor and his ability to make a theological concept simple makes it enjoyable and easy for everyone to understand. Countless testimonies have been received from people who say their lives have been changed after experiencing Dr. Ollison's unique ministry.
Dr. Ollison is a pastor, pilot, teacher, and author. His number one goal is to meet the needs of the people through the teaching of faith in God's Word. He and his wife, Loretta, have two children and six grandchildren.