Grace Through Us

After the defeat of Hitler’s Nazi regime in World War II, Holocaust survivor and Christian Corrie ten Boom returned to Germany to declare the forgiveness of Jesus Christ. One evening, after giving her message, she was approached by a man who identified himself as a former Nazi guard from the concentration camp at Ravensbruck, where she had been held and where her sister, Betsie, had died.

When Corrie saw the man’s face, she recognized him as one of the most cruel and vindictive guards from the camp. He reached out his hand and said to her, “A fine message, Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea! You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk. I was a guard there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein, will you forgive me?” About this encounter, Corrie writes:

I stood there—I whose sins had again and again been forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place. Could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I ever had to do . . . I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. . . . But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. “Jesus, help me!” I prayed silently.

As she reached out her hand to the former guard, Corrie says that something incredible took place. She continues:

The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes. “I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart!” . . . I had never known love so intensely, as I did then. But even then, I realized it was not my love . . . It was the power of the Holy Spirit.

For the past two weeks, we have gone over grace that is for us and a grace that is with us. Today we will discussing Grace Through Us. This is grace that we extend to others. It is a grace that is sorely lacking in the heart of the Christian today. I will say that writing this message I was truly convicted. I would like to think of myself as a gracious person, but when I looked at what the bible describes as grace shown to others, I fall way short. And what is bad, it is a command that Christ has given to his disciples.

34 “I give you a new command: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Jn 13:34–35.

We discussed this in the first message, that Christ love for us, brought him to the cross and this was the gift of grace given to us. Here we see Christ giving us the command, not a request but a command, to love one another. He says it right here that they will know you are my disciples by how you love each other. To take it a step further, by the grace you show to each other.

But pastor, they aren’t showing grace to me, why should I show grace to them? This is the first thing that hit me hard writing this message. I have already been shown grace, grace from the Father, I have already received all the grace I am to be given, He is telling me to do the same to those around me. I should not expect any more grace than God has and still gives me, but I am commanded to give more.

Grace Through Us

Words

Let It Go

Be There

Forgiveness Both Ways

Watch Your Speech

Gratitude

These six evidence of grace shown through you is just a touch of the list that is in the bible. This message today is meant to hurt some feelings, to step on the proverbial toes. To steal a quote that we say during the Christmas time, it is harder to give than to receive. Especially when it comes to grace. So look at each of these points today with a critical eye on your life. See where you can change or do better at.

Words

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

6 Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

We are not talking about bad language here, that comes later in point 5. We are talking about speech that should be seasoned with salt, not cayenne peppers. Or some I should say Carolina reaper peppers. Sometimes it is not what you say but how you say it. Men, you know what I am talking about. Give story here.

We let our feelings towards certain people guide how we speak to them. You know what I mean, You give those one word standoffish attitude answers, and when someone else walks in, you are the sweetest thing since honey in a sugar pot. You do not know if that person you were stand off too is someone God put in front of you to help. To give advise. To be a shoulder to cry on. But you turn them away because of a mean word. Or some of you don’t even say anything, you just grunt.

Oh but pastor, they were disturbing me, I was trying to get this or that done, you don’t know the day I had, you just don’t know. And I will say, It Dont Matter. Be Nice with your words. Be gracious in the how you speak to people.

Let It Go

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 20

3 Honor belongs to the person who ends a dispute,

but any fool can get himself into a quarrel.

This point here kicked me square up in the tooths. There are a ton of rude people out in this world. We need to keep a calm spirit. We need to respond with grace.

Tell the story of the entitled old lady.

I will say my speech was seasoned a bit more with Tony’s rather than salt. Even though she was a rude old bitty, I should have shown more grace.

Be There

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 12

15 Rejoice with those who rejoice; weep with those who weep.

The greatest evangelistic tool we have as a church is to be there. Sometimes your presences is all that is need to show grace and love to someone. Be happy with them, cry with them.

The good Lord gave you two ears and one mouth. He wants you to listen twice as much as you speak. I have such a bad habit of interrupting people. My mind goes a million miles per hour and I start to wonder about 12 other things while someone is telling me stuff. I have had to learn to shut up and pay attention.

So we have seen that we need to gracious with our words, not be quarrelsome, and to just be there. Now we get to one alot of us don’t like.

Forgiveness Both Ways

14 “For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you as well. 15 But if you don’t forgive others, your Father will not forgive your offenses.

Mt 6:14–15.

Oh yeah pastor, I forgive and they have to forgive me too. No. This is not what this point means. Lets start with the first one Forgiving others. When someone ask you to forgive, do so graciously and without correction. I am saying now, forgiveness is not easy, but why should we hold back forgiving others when the Lord did not hold back any forgiveness for you. We call ourselves Christians(little Christ) so should we not act like Christ and forgive. Look at how he forgave those who hung him on the cross.

Forgiveness is not an occasional art, it is a permanent attitude.

Martin Luther

Look at our illustration at the very beginning.

Forgiveness Both Ways

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

23 So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift

Asking for forgiveness. I am not saying they have to forgive you. That part is on them. I am saying when you have wronged someone, ask for forgiveness. We want our gift to be accepted by the Lord, our prayers, our tithes, our lives, we must be gracious and humble before our brother and sisters and ask for forgiveness.

Watch How You Speak

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

29 No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.

We have some potty mouths, especially when we feel we have been done wrong. We need to gracious on how we speak. My mom is one of the worst.

Our language should be used to build people up. Is your speech gracious to those around you? You go out there wearing your Christian t shirt or even better your NEC shirt, and you are cursing your kids out or you have your cross on your car and the first person that cuts you off you are screaming how they are a son of a wonderful woman. But cursing is not only those nasty words. Calling someone stupid, or an idiot, or telling them they will never accomplish anything. There is power in your words, will you use them to build up or tear down?

Gratitude

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Say thank you often and let people know you appreciate them. Show appreciation to people. Thom Rainer did a survey of volunteer workers in the church setting. The majority quit doing volunteer work because they were never told thank you or felt appreciated for what they did. If you see someone doing work here at the church tell them thank you. If you see them doing all the work, take the time to sweep the floors with them, wash the dishes with them after fellowship Sunday. Be gracious and pick up after yourself.