Because of God’s Grace, We Have No Excuses

by Larry Ollison | The Cutting Edge

James 1:5 says if any of you lacks wisdom, then you need to ask the Father and the Father will give it to you. Then it goes on to say that when you ask, you need to ask in faith without doubting, for he who doubts is like the waves of a sea, tossed and driven by the wind. You go to the Father and say, “Father, I need wisdom, and I’m asking You to give me wisdom for this situation.”

The Father then says, “I give you the grace to use My wisdom. I’m giving you My ability. Where your ability falls short, I’m giving you My ability that will take up the slack. You can think with the mind of Christ. You can think the way I think. I’m giving you grace in this situation.”

At this point you have a choice. You can say, “Well, I sure hope I have wisdom in this.” But when you speak statements of doubt, you have immediately proven you were not in faith. If God has said He will give you something (and the way He gives it to you is by His grace), then you have to believe He did (by faith). That means you have to believe, speak and act like you have it.

Pray something like this, “Father, in the name of Jesus, I humbly come before Your throne of grace. I have the right to, because I’ve been made righteous. I’ve got a decision to make this week. I don’t know what to do, because there are a lot of options. You said in Your Word You would give me wisdom and You would give it to me liberally. Liberally means more than enough, more than I even need. Well, that’s fine. I’m here. I’m asking. Please give it to me.”

At this time, the Father, by His grace, gives you the grace to use His ability and to have His ability work through you and take up the slack. When He gives you His grace to make a decision, if you believe you have the ability to make the wise decision, then you will make the wise decision.

Faith has to kick in. Faith says, “All right! Praise God! I’ve got that ability now. I can make that decision now because I’ve got the mind of Christ. God has given me wisdom. Praise the Lord!” Then when the situation you were praying about arises, you feel right about going one way or the other, so you make the decision.

Immediately, Satan will step in and try to make it look like you’ve made the wrong decision. Why? Because Satan knows sometimes we’re gullible and we might be pressured to go by what we see.

That’s why God tells us over and over in His Word to walk by faith, not by sight. If He told you He was going to give you wisdom and you believed He actually did give you wisdom; if you subsequently utilized wisdom in the situation and made a decision you felt good about in your spirit, then, at that point, you know you made the right decision.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; He is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways” (James 1:5-8).

Afterward, if something happens that makes it look like it was the wrong decision, you cannot say, “I wonder if I made the right decision?” The minute you say that, you’ve stepped out of faith. You’re doubting. What you are doubting is whether God actually gave you the wisdom or not. If you say, “Maybe God didn’t give me the wisdom,” then you are calling God a liar. That’s not a wise thing to do – both Hebrews 6:18 and Titus 1:2 confirm that it’s impossible for God to lie.

We have no excuses…no excuse for gossiping, no excuse for losing our self-control, no excuse for worrying. Why? Because God’s ability (grace) takes up the slack where we fall short.

This is an excerpt from Larry Ollison’s book,
“Discover the Power of Grace in Righteousness”

Larry Ollison Ministries
All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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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.

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