Saturday Motivation: Winners Grow in Grace!
March 14th 2020
Saturday Motivation: Winners Grow in Grace! Let`s Glow!
Text:
Hebrews: 4 v16: Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Ephesians 4 v 7: But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it
John 1 v 14: The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
Ephesians 1 v 7: In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God`s grace.
James 4 v6: He gives more grace. Therefore it says, God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.
Today`s motivation will be an interactive session;
What`s Grace?
Grace is the unmerited gift of God to all humanity. Grace is God`s favor toward the unworthy or God`s benevolence on the undeserving. It is similar to God`s mercy, love and unmerited kindness. Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us notwithstanding our sins. Grace is God giving His greatest treasure to the least deserving.
When we enjoy God`s grace, we are in a state where God is willing to forgive us and bless us abundantly in spite of the fact that we do not deserve His generosity.
To fully understand the topic of Grace, let us consider who we were without Christ and who we are presently.
• We were born in sin: Psalm 51v5 ; Please note that sin that is not confessed shuts out the energies of grace.
• We are all guilty of breaking God`s holy laws: Romans 3 v 23; For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.
• We were enemies of God: Romans 5 v 10; for when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
• We were deserving of death: Romans 6 v 23; for the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord!
• We were unrighteous: Roman 3 v 10; As it is written: There is no one righteous, not even one.
• We were without means of justifying ourselves: Romans 3 v 20; Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God`s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin.
Notwithstanding the above, God extended His favor to us. By Grace He saved us; Ephesians 2 v 8
Examples of what we have acquired by Grace!
By grace we have victory over sin. Grace gives us eternal encouragement. Grace is the basis of our newness of mind. Grace gives us divine hope and peace.
Jesus Christ is the embodiment of Grace and truth. As winners, God gave us the gift of grace as the basis of our new life.
Grace is a gift from God?
Why do I say Grace is a gift from God? Ephesians 4 v 8: When He ascended on high, he took many captives and gave gifts to His people.
• If you have ever received a gift, you will know that it`s different from a loan or credit facility A loan requires repayment with interest but if it is a gift, you owe nothing in return.
• The giver of a gift bears the cost while the gift is free to the receiver. The gift of salvation cost us nothing for us to be saved. Christ paid the price for our sins by dying in our place.
• A gift becomes that of the transferee once it is given. Once a gift passes from the transferor, he relinquishes all rights to take back the gift in future. So it is with the grace of God. It is ours to keep forever.
• The giver of a gift forfeits something he owns voluntarily so that the receiver of the gift can benefit from it. The giver sacrifices something of value, so that the receiver can be enriched by it. 2 Corinthians 8 v 9: You know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that though he was rich, he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.
• The grace of God that we enjoy is totally unmerited. We do not deserve God`s salvation but while we yet sinners, Christ died for us so that we can be reconciled to God through the death of His Son; Romans 5 v 10.
Does the Grace of God stop or diminish once we are saved?
The grace of God does not stop or diminish once we are saved. There are so many other benefits that we enjoy as a winning believer.
Examples of the things we enjoy are;
• Access to communicate and fellowship with God; Ephesians 1 v 6, Hebrews 4 v 16
• Justification before a Holy God; Ephesians 1 v 6, Titus 3 v 7
• Intimacy with God; Exodus 33 v 17
• Spiritual growth and riches; Proverbs 10 v 22, Ephesians 2 v 10
• Living in a way that honors God; 2 Corinthians 8 v 7, Titus 2: 11-14
• Help in times of need; Hebrews 4 v 16
• Deliverance from the power of darkness; Psalm 44 v 3-8, Hebrews 4 v 16
• Divine strength, preservation, comfort and encouragement; 2 Timothy 2 v 1, 2 Thessalonians 2 v 16-17, 2 Corinthians 13 v 14
Does the Grace of God ever end?
The grace of God upon the life of a believer never ends. As winners, God`s grace is continually working in our lives it never ends, never stops, never fades. It is the unending gift of God to all humanity.
We can do nothing without the grace of God. The grace of God is superior to our sinful nature. On a daily basis, we enjoy the grace of God in abundance. The grace of God is indescribable. I have no words to quantify it; 2 Corinthians 9 v 15.
As recipients of God`s grace, we are to be gracious to one another, love one another and bear one another`s burdens. We are to rejoice with those who rejoice and mourn with those who mourn.
It is the grace of God that gives us the freedom to love the unlovable, forgive the unforgivable and pardon the unpardonable. The grace of God reminds us of how much we are loved and forgiven and it makes it easy for us to operate in an attitude of gratitude.
Biblical examples of strength and grace.
• God`s grace infuses Noah`s story in Genesis 6 v 8; But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
• God`s grace endured in spite of Abraham and Sarah`s unbelief; Genesis 12 v 3b: And in you shall all the nations of the earth be blessed.
• God`s grace gave Joseph the strength to persevere; Genesis 50 v 20; Joseph said “ You intended to harm me , but God intended it for good”
• Moses doubted God at every turn but God graciously guided him; In Exodus 4 v 13; Moses said, Pardon your servant Lord, please send someone else.
• The Israelites repeatedly rebelled against God but He graciously rescued them; Judges 10 v 16 says; “And He could bear Israel`s misery no more”
• Rahab the harlot bravely asked God to save her in spite of her past sins and He did; Joshua 2 v 11b• Paul endured trial which caused him to depend more upon the Lord. It was described in; 2 Corinthians 11 v 23-28; as a thorn in the flesh. Paul was told by God that the affliction was to show the power of God through a weakened life. When we are weak, sick, in need, persecuted, or distressed for Christ`s sake, God can show Himself strong for our benefit and for His glory by equipping us with grace to go on.
• David lusted, stole, fornicated, lied and killed- yet God saw his heart and loved him; Psalm 5v11; Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.
Looking at the account of David, I realized that God looks to our hearts and not to our faces. David had a good heart even though he made some wrong decisions along the way. The key to God`s love for him was that he always repented each time he fell into error.
This is what God wants from us all. He wants us to repent and turn away from sin. He wants us to focus on Him, to trust Him and love Him like He loves us.
God`s promise; My Grace is sufficient for you
To continue to win and glow for as long as we live, we must allow God`s grace to perfect His work in us.
We all go through challenges. Some of us even have physical challenges, financial difficulty or spiritual problems. Others suffer persecution and discrimination. Some have experienced pain through the loss of a loved one. It`s different strokes for different folks.
Whatever challenges we are facing, we must trust in the grace of God to help us through them. We must continue to seek God`s face in the place of prayer, meditate on His Word and allow Him to be all that we need to endure during the trying time.
1Peter 5 v 10 -11; But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered for a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen!
Let us pray!
Psalm 23
Psalm 91
Prayer into our water
May God bless us all! Amen!
Shalom!