Sunday April 24, 2022
https://www.facebook.com/Encountertexoma/videos/1395089900931761
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever told a child or grandchild to do something and they didn’t want to do it? And as you insisted they reluctantly and stubbornly did what you asked them to do.
But you knew, they might have been standing up doing what you told them to do but they were sitting down on the inside!
Just a Note: The obedience God desires in our life is one in which if He says “stand’, I’m standing on both the outside and the inside. If He says “sit” I’m sitting on the outside and the inside. If He says “go to Africa” I’m going to Africa on the outside and the inside!
THAT’S WHAT WE CALL SURRENDER!
This even had to happen in the life of Jesus as He went to the cross.
Acts 26:42- “Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”
Matthew 15:8- “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, And honor Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”
HERE’S WHAT I WANT TO ACCOMPLISH IN THIS SERIES: That while we’re doing the work of God, the things of God, worshipping, serving, loving our neighbor, giving financially, all the things we do because we carry the identity of a Child of God.
While we have all these outward expressions of being followers of Jesus Christ, we need to be on a journey of understanding and believing the truth about grace in our hearts!
Because it’s due to GOD’S GRACE we have all these outward expressions of being a child of God!
God’s grace is prerequisite to any true movement toward God.
Romans 5:1-2- “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.”
STANDING IN GRACE!
(MSG)- “By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that’s not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.”
I’m standing in grace, both inside and outside!
THREE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT THE GRACE WE STAND IN
- God is Full of Grace
Exodus 34:6- “And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,”
This is God saying this about Himself. Then David agrees with God!
Psalm 86:15- “But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious,
Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth.”
Friends when you and I can agree with what God says about Himself, we’re STANDING IN GRACE both inside and out.
God never runs out of grace, He is always FULL!
Stop allowing the enemy to tell you that God is running on empty when it comes to His grace in your life!
GOD ALWAYS HAS A FULL TANK OF GRACE! STAND IN GRACE!
2. God’s Grace always gives us Hope.
1 Peter 1:13- “So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed.
FIX YOUR HOPE ON THE GRACE OF GOD!
WHY DOES GOD’S GRACE GIVE US HOPE?
Grace- undeserved favor
I have hope because it’s not about what I deserve! It’s about God’s Grace and He is always full of Grace!
HE IS FULL OF UNDESERVED FAVOR!
It’s not about my performance it’s about HIS GRACE, HIS UNDESERVED FAVOR!
1 Thessalonians 2:16-17- “Now may the Lord Jesus Christ and our Father God, who loved us and in His wonderful grace gave us eternal comfort and a beautiful hope that cannot fail, encourage your hearts and inspire you with strength to always do and speak what is good and beautiful in his eyes.”
When you stand in grace you stand in hope!
3. You can Grow in Grace
When you’re growing in grace you’re not only standing on the outside, you’re standing on the inside!
2 Peter 3:18- “Rather, you must grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.”
2 Peter 1:2- “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.”
It may be that I’m standing on the outside and sitting on the inside when it comes to grace because I need to GROW IN GRACE!
AND THAT COMES FROM GROWING IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND JESUS CHRIST! TRULY KNOWING GOD THROUGH HIS SON JESUS CHRIST!
WHY DID PAUL HAVE SUCH A REVELATION OF GRACE?
Philippians 3:8- “But more than that, I count everything as loss compared to the priceless privilege and supreme advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord [and of growing more deeply and thoroughly acquainted with Him—a joy unequaled]. For His sake I have lost everything, and I consider it all garbage, so that I may gain Christ,”
CONCLUSION: Here’s one of the keys that unlock the door of heart and allows our heart to filled with God’s Grace.
James 4:6- “But he continues to pour out more and more grace upon us. For it says, “God resists you when you are proud but continually pours out grace when you are humble.” (Show Picture) What is the Holy Spirit saying to you today?