From: Peggy A Young <peggypraise@juno.com> To: "[Rivermail]" <sdayton@northwest.com>

Dear Rivermail readers:

I had been given this message for a local Aglow meeting here in No. California back in February and then I was able to share it again last night with the people last night in my own church body. I am sensing from the Lord that it is also time for me to share it with the Body of Christ in a greater way. I offer it to you as God has given it to me.

pressing in and pressing on.

Jabez blessings to all.

Peggy Young - Oroville, CA

When I was asked to speak at a local Aglow, I immediately began to seek the Lord regarding the message that He wanted me to bring and He gave me His answer right away.

He said, "Grace: under pressure."

I laughed and said, "but Lord...I am not even walking in victory in regards to grace under pressure." He said, "I know, but you are going to have the opportunity to walk this out and that the heart of the message would come through testing."

This "40-day" testing (and it actually was exactly 40 days) proved to be opportunity after opportunity to overcome.

I failed a lot of the tests, I passed some of them, I repented a lot. But what I realized most is that through these times of intense testing and pressure, there is a receiving of His grace, and then there is an extending of His grace to others (especially when they don't deserve it).

I discovered that I struggled with both. Mostly extending grace to others. I blow it all the time but I found comfort in the scriptures when God took me to Romans 8:22 (The Message)

...the created world itself can hardly wait for what's coming next. Everything in creation is being more or less held back. God reins it in until both creation and all the creatures are ready and can be released at the same moment into the glorious times ahead. Meanwhile, the joyful anticipation deepens...

Romans 8:22 tells us that all of creation is groaning and travailing and waiting for the day of the Lord's return. Groaning and travailing as in childbirth. There is pressure in childbirth. Creation is under that kind of intense pressure as it waits for the return of Jesus and God showed me how sometimes, even creation blows it.

Earthquakes - tidal waves - hurricanes - avalanches - tornadoes - thunder - lightening!

Even creation blows it! I said "wow Lord, - creation blows it and You have not yet turned Your back on creation".

And He said "neither will I turn my back on you."

When we blow it, there is a process of repenting and then learning to receive His grace. If we do not learn to receive this saving grace, we will find ourselves living in constant condemnation - especially if you blow it as often as I do!

God's grace extended to us is a voluntary, loving and undeserved favor in our lives. We can't earn it. We do not ever deserve it. No religious, intellectual or moral effort can gain it - it comes only out of God's immeasurable and indescribable love that He has for you and me.

Our responsibility is to accept it - receive it - believe that it is for us - as a matter of fact - our salvation depends on it.

Ephesians 1:5 (NIV)

...He predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One He loves. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding.

In Eph. 1:5, Paul is describing the freely-given, saving grace of God.

Another kind of grace Ephesians talks about is the grace that we extend to others through the words of our mouth.

Read Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV)

...let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

This one is not as easy at it sounds. Imparting grace on the home front Is probably the area I personally struggle with the most in my life. Although I have found a great scripture prayer for just such occasions.

Read Psalm 101:2 (TLT)

...I will try to walk a blameless path, but how I need your help, especially in my home, where I long to act as I should.

Walking in the revelation of God's saving grace (the one we read about in Eph 1:5) will enable us to be able to impart grace to others.

Ephesians is very specific about the impartation of grace through the words of our mouth and we are to speak redemptively to others. This is probably by far our most important ministry as Christians.

There is much talk in the body of Christ today about our callings - I am called to the prophetic ministry - or I am called to intercession - or I am called to worship ministry.

Yes it's important to make our calling and election sure as mentioned in 2 Peter. However I think our most important ministry is encouragement and edification. Building one another up. Imparting grace through the words of our mouths. Life and death are in power of the tongue.

If you are continually struggling with this part, extending grace you are probably also struggling with fully understanding and receiving God's saving grace for your life.

One should flow in, God's saving grace that we receive, and one should flow out; God's redeeming grace that we are empowered with to extend to others.

Grace is not earned, however it is usually birthed out of an intense situation. God knows just how to increase the pressure in our lives in order for us to realize that we have need of His grace.

He will also turn up the heat in our relationships to teach us how to Impart and extend grace under pressure to others. This one however, might take a little longer to learn.

God so desires us to be like his Son Jesus. It is only God's grace that enables us to change to be more like Jesus.

Real change can not come until we, like David, see our own hearts. Everyday our prayer should be create in me a clean heart oh God... renew a right spirit in me....

We can not change our hearts and God will not change our minds, but if we will change our minds, God can change our hearts. When we understand our need for change, we are halfway to victory.

There was a woman in the old testament. She understood that she had need for change. She got a revelation of who God was and because of that, she was able to impart grace to others.

Her name was Rahab. Hebrews 11 tells us that she was a trophy of grace: under pressure.

In Joshua 2, we have Israeli spies checking out Jericho. They came to the home a "working" woman named Rahab. The scripture says that she was a prostitute.

Reading down in verse 2 we find out that someone told the king of Jericho about the spies and he sent his officials to Rahab's house. They ordered her to surrender the spies. The people of Jericho had heard of the exploits of the Israelites - the Red Sea - Pharaoh and the plagues - they were not too interested in messing with them.

So the pressure is on Rahab. She knew why the spies came - she knew they had plans to destroy her city - she most likely had gotten some flack from her family members who probably didn't understand what she was up to and she had these thugs at the door who were not here for a social visit. We can also assume that they probably were not giving her too much respect because of her career choice.

Rahab had everything to lose by helping these spies. Rahab's house sat right on the city wall - great for business - she could offer lodging and entertainment to weary travelers - lousy place during a battle - first place to be attacked.

Rahab found herself in an extremely vulnerable place.

Verse 4 tells us that she told the officers that yes, the spies had been there, but she had sent them on their way.' She then told the king's men they needed to hurry along if they wanted to catch the spies. What she did was send the officers out on a wild goose chase.

In spite of her fear, Rahab chose to respond in the opposite spirit of courage. She didn't have all the facts - she couldn't predict the outcome but she operated in the spirit of boldness and courage and ended up sending the enemy on a wild goose chase.

When we react to the enemy the way we always react , we usually end up sinning. But if we anticipate the enemy's move and we learn to respond by choosing to move in the opposite spirit, we too can end up sending the enemy on a wild goose chase.

We have got to begin to foresee the enemy coming. Rahab hid the spies because she knew the enemy would be coming.

We are to be sober and alert. Watch for the enemy and as you become an over comer in these areas, the enemy will begin to leave you alone. If he can't get a sinful reaction from you, he is certainly not going to help you to get the victory.

In spite of Rahab's fears and she exposed her own vulnerability not even knowing if God would spare her life but she put her faith in the only revelation of God that she had.

Verse 11 says that Rahab knew that the lord God is the supreme God of the heavens above and the earth below.

Now that's a revelation and she immediately began walking in the light she had.

She knew that Jericho would be defeated but she did not let herself become defeated before the battle even began.

Are you anticipating victory or defeat; before the battle even begins?

Get a revelation of who God is to you like Rahab did, and you will be empowered to extend grace under pressure to others during the heat of the battle.

Rahab was a business woman and she knew how to work a deal. Beginning in verse 8, scripture tells us that she went up to the roof top to talk to the spies.

She took her faith a little "higher". She boldly asked them to save her and her household. How big is your God?

Are you believing for you and your household? Do you know that God is that big?

Somehow Rahab did. She told them that she was afraid but she made them promise her that they would look kindly upon her and her family and she even asked for a guarantee.

The Israelites agreed to defend her with their lives. Jesus has already done that for us.

Even though Rahab had everything to lose she had an assurance from the spies.

We have an assurance. We don't have to defend our rights. We don't have to defend our positions - our titles - our giftings - our callings - our ministries - our stuff - our right to be right.

Psalm 84:11 says that the Lord God is our light and our protector. He gives us grace and glory. No good thing will he withhold from those who do what is right.

If you don't have it - it isn't good for you right now - no good thing will He withhold.

Rahab did not have to defend herself. She was willing to lay it all down for the ones who would defend her with their lives.

Are we willing to lay it all down for the One who has already defended us with His life? Are we laying down the "now" for the bigger picture?

Rahab did. She laid down her life for people that were ultimately going to destroy her home. Doing the right thing will cost you something. When you are willing to lose your life for His sake - your way - your position - your title - your gift - God provides a way of escape.

Did He not provide Abraham with a ram. The ram was a way of escape. Do you honestly think God wanted Isaac murdered by the father that adored him?

God wanted to know if Abraham was willing to lay it all down for His sake. God wanted to know if he had Abraham's heart and of course we know that He did.

Rahab let the spies down by a scarlet cord and through a window told them to escape to the hill country and hide for 3 days.

The spies told Rahab that they would guarantee her safety if that same red cord could be seen hanging in the window. Rahab accepted the terms. We have to accept the terms.

We can only receive God's saving grace when we are willing to accept the terms. His terms are simply - believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved.

We begin to receive God's grace in our lives then we begin to desire to yield in obedience to His word and promises.

Rahab's scarlet cord hanging in the window was her sign of faith that she believed in the promise.

Now as the days went on, I am quite sure the enemy tried to tempt her with doubting the promise. She probably thought, 'well, what if they miss? What if they can't see the cord? What if the wind blows it away? Did they really mean my entire household?'

Nonetheless, she had the red cord as a constant reminder of the promise and she had to put all of her faith in the ones who made her the promise.

Our reminder of the promise - like that scarlet cord - is the shed blood of Jesus. When we are tempted with doubt and unbelief - we can put all of our faith in the One who made us the promise and we can yield in faith to the promise of His redeeming blood.

Rahab's story continues in Joshua chapter 6 when the Israelites prepared to attack Jericho. She knows that her city doesn't have much time and the pressure is on.

The armies of Israel are gathering outside the city gates - Joshua already knows that God has promised him Jericho but Joshua has to be obedient to a process.

Do you know that sometimes victory can only come through a process?

Day 1 - armies are marching around - 7 priests are marching in front of the Ark of the Covenant and each of them are blowing shofars.

Day 2- same thing -

Day 3- same thing -

Day 4- same thing.

Do you think Rahab has started to pack the china?

Her family is probably putting her through the ringer - telling her that she is crazy for listening to those religious people.

The pressure was building and Rahab still hung on waiting for the promise.

Are you waiting for the promise as the bills are mounting?

The kids are acting like something that you didn't give birth to.

Your husband or wife is still clueless.

The dog is chasing the mailman.

The enemy is marching around your house!

Day 5 - same thing - God why is it taking so long?

Day 6 - God why aren't they saying anything - they are just marching around blowing those horns.

God my husband's not making any sense - he's just blowing hot air. How on earth do you expect me to extend him grace under this kind of pressure?

Day 7 - God - they're doing something different today. They are marching around the city once, twice, three, four, five, six, seven times.

And listen! The horns are different today. It's just one loud blast!

It's ok mom and dad - I have a promise! See that scarlet cord in the window.

It's ok honey - we have the promise and the blood of Jesus.

When the pressure was really beginning to build and the walls began to shake - everything around Rahab was falling apart - the Israeli spies extended grace: under pressure to Rahab and her family.

Joshua 6:23 tells us that the spies kept their promise and delivered Rahab and her family to a safe place outside the camp of the Israelites.

Rahab experienced God's saving grace: under pressure.

You can also read about God's redeeming grace in Rahab's life in Matthew 1:5 where we discover that Rahab became the mother of Boaz - making her the great, great, grandmother of King David. Establishing her in the lineage of Jesus Christ.

Rahab was living a life of great sin but she caught a revelation of the Living God and He extended her grace: under pressure.

There was another woman in the new testament who experienced the saving and redeeming grace of God under an extremely intense situation. Her story is in John 8.

This woman was having a little trouble with sin in her life and we actually are never even told her name. We only know her as the woman caught in the act of adultery.

Her story begins with Jesus teaching in the temple. He was preaching to a bunch of religious leaders when they were abruptly interrupted by someone bringing in a woman caught in the act of adultery and they threw her in front of the entire crowd.

This girl had obviously been looking for love in all of the wrong places. I believe, because she allowed herself to end up in that kind of position, she must have been dealing with a very poor self-image and chose to accept whatever kind of "love" she could get. (And the pharisees knew right where to find her.)

This poor woman had no idea of her true worth and now she stood naked before her accusers and before a man that some had been calling a prophet of God.

Undoubtedly, she had dealt with rejection and abuse most of her life but this by far was the worst. She knew she was about to die a horrible death as she watched the men begin to pick up the stones. She knew her worthless life would soon be over.

Do you think she was under a little pressure?

She had been dragged out of the house naked and thrown in front of all these men who were all staring at her - except for the prophet man who wasn't looking at her at all. He was bending down writing something in the dirt.

This man Jesus, stood up and began looking at the men. You see Jesus knew the law and he knew that she couldn't be stoned because the law required both the man and the woman caught in adultery to be stoned. But the religious leaders just kept on bugging Jesus to reply to their accusations - they were trying to trap Him.

So Jesus stood up and looked at the men. Then He asked them if any of them were without sin they could surely be the first one to throw stones. Then He bent back down and began writing some more in the dirt.

One by one, this woman heard the sound of dropping stones and she watched as man after man began to walk away until it was just her and Jesus. Jesus got up and looked at her, but He looked at her like she had never been looked at before. He wasn't interested in her nakedness - He seemed to look past her shame - her vulnerability was completely exposed to Him and for the first time in her life - she was looking at someone who made her feel valuable.

This woman caught a revelation of her own reflection through the eyes of Jesus just like Rahab caught a revelation of the supreme Hebrew God.

She was ready to receive the saving grace of Jesus because of who He said she was.

Jesus then asked her, "where are your accusers and have any of them condemned you?" She said "no." And Jesus replied, "then neither do I." And then He released her to go and sin no more.

This woman also experienced grace: under pressure.

An undeserving, sinful woman, caught a glimpse of who she was in Christ and was able to receive His saving grace extended to her.

Jesus saved her from death, He saved her from a life of humiliation, persecution, a life of constant ridicule and worthlessness and then His redeeming grace reached out and empowered her to go and live a life of obedience. Her testimony must have brought hundreds to their knees.

I did a quick word study on the word grace and I found a couple of interesting facts.

Strong's concordance lists two major root words for the word grace used in the bible.

The first root word is only used in the old testament. It is a Hebrew root word - chen - pronounced khane and it simply means favor.

Rahab experienced the favor of God on her life. This is the kind of grace that is described throughout the old testament.

But the meaning of the word grace changes as we study it's new testament counterpart.

Grace first mentioned in the new testament is in Luke 2:40 describing Jesus as a child who grew in wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him.

This new testament meaning of the word grace comes from the Greek word - charis - and when grace is mentioned in the new testament, it means:

The divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life.

The woman caught in the act of adultery experienced a divine influence upon her heart and it's reflection manifested in her life as she was delivered from her life of sin.

I want His divine influence upon my heart - I want others to experience Him as He is reflected in my life.

I want to be so secure in the knowledge of who I am in Him, that my vulnerability towards others is just an opportunity for them to experience the manifest grace of God.

I can't describe it to them - you can't describe it to them - but you and I can show the. We can extend grace to them.

Sometimes life just plain sucks - sometimes it's unfair - the pressure is too much - therein lies your opportunity to embrace vulnerability in order to extend grace: under pressure.

Jesus in the garden of Gethsamane is probably the greatest example of grace: under pressure that I could find. Even the name Gethsamane means - oil press - or olive press.

Jesus was under some pressure at Gethsamane. He agonized in the garden and told His disciples that His soul was troubled and overwhelmed and sorrowful to the point of death.

I don't think He was agonizing because of all sin in the world. He was agonizing because there was an intense battle going on in His flesh.

It is not that He didn't want to be obedient to His Father, but He was a man. A man who had to overcome His fleshly, carnal nature. His flesh was in a raging war against His spirit. To the point of sweating blood, begging His Father that if it were possible to take this cup from Him.

When you are in the heat of a battle, the pressure is building and your flesh just wants to lash out and be vindicated - for goodness sakes - lay down your pride - become vulnerable - embrace humility. You have not yet been driven to the point of sweating blood. God is big enough for your situation.

Jesus knew that God was big enough too and exposed His vulnerability by yielding to His Father and saying, "not My will Papa - but Yours". And then the Father extended His Son saving grace by sending ministering angels to come and strengthen Him.

What kind of grace are we extending under pressure?

Are we saying to our spouses, "not my will honey, let's do it your way".

Are we saying to our pastors, "that's not what I had in mind Pastor, but your way is better."

Are we saying to our children, "you know that's a great idea, we can do it your way because I want you to know that your opinion is valuable to me."

Are we saying to our Lord, "not my will Father, but Yours."

We all know how the rest of the story ends. Jesus comes out only to find that His best friends, whom He'd asked to intercede for Him, had fallen asleep.

The next thing He knew, Judas betrayed Him with a kiss.

You think you're slighted sometimes?

Officials began to gather around Him to arrest Him, and Peter was off in the courtyard denying Him.

You think you are rejected?

Jesus then stood before the high priest accused of blaspheme.

Not only was He the true High Priest, but blaspheme is a sin that can only be committed against God. He is God.

You think you are wrongfully accused?

The people that called Him a king a week ago, now shouted crucify Him.

You think people are talking about you?

He was beaten and bruised and whipped and flogged and spit upon and mocked and degraded and humiliated.

You think you're under pressure and having a bad day?

He had to carry His own cross, the very thing He would be put to death upon.

When was the last time you had to carry your own coffin?

He was nailed to that cross and soldiers gambled over His only belonging and then He asked the Father for their forgiveness because they didn't know what they were doing.

You think it's difficult for you to extend grace: under pressure?

On-lookers sneered at Him - hurled insults at Him - soldiers were laughing at Him and offering him rotten wine and Jesus was hanging there on the cross offering salvation to the man on the cross next to Him. Extending the thief grace: under pressure.

Ominous darkness covered the land - the sun stopped shining and creation began erupting under pressure - groaning and travailing and Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Father into Your hands I commit My spirit. --- it is finished!!!!"

And at that moment the sound of grace under pressure rang through the temple corridors as the veil was ripped in two.

Jesus continually offers that same grace to you and me today. Your situations are probably not going to get any easier. In fact, as you continue your walk with the Lord - they will intensify, causing you to be under greater pressure; giving you more opportunities to experience and extend God's grace.

One of the most important things I could tell you today, is to challenge you to hunger and thirst for a revelation of the Living God and who you are in Him.

He's waiting to extend and empower you with His saving and redeeming grace. Your situation is not too big for Him.

When life seems unbearable - your problem too intense - the people in your life are not seeing things your way - be vulnerable - be willing to lose your life.

If you are struggling with anger - extend grace in love.

If you are struggling with pride - extend grace in humility.

If it is fear you are struggling with extend grace by being courageous.

If you're overworked and burdened - extend grace by serving some more.

If you're poor and needy - extend grace by giving some more.

Our precious Lord Jesus, we desire Your favor upon our lives Lord, but mostly we desire Your divine influence upon our hearts where Your manifest grace and power can be reflected in our lives. When we experience Your divine influence, I know then that we will see You.

And then we will see who we are in You.

Then they will see You in us.

Then they can catch a revelation of You too and who You are to them.

When they also see themselves in You, all of us will be able to receive and extend ...

Grace: under pressure.