"Because of Grace..."

Grace can be defined as “Unmerited favor of God”

You are worth Saving

Listen to his heart here. He is telling us the truth about who he is and what he has done. He knows that he is unqualified and unworthy to be named with the Apostles. And he aint lying. Cephas, Peter? To the Twelve? To 500? and Paul finally.

Because God loves you, grace overlooks your faults and past transgressions. Grace does not consider your dirt. But Grace covers. Grace doesn't change the reality of things in our past but it changes how God sees us in spite of it.

When it rains you might not want it to rain, but you can find shelter. Grace is a shelter.

You are what you are

Paul doesn't deny that he is an Apostle, he just knows its no because of himself. It is by the Grace of God that I am what I am. (Elaborate)

And sometimes you might take for granted who and what you are, but if you consider grace, which is all that God has done for you, you should celebrate.

I want to talk to someone who has showed up late for work, braked for too long, left early but..by grace still got a promotion.

I want to talk to somebody who lived a life going from bed to bed, house to house but by grace still ended up with the love of your life.

I want to talk to somebody who hands was sticky like duck tape, and show-nuff stole everything that you could get away with but…by grace.

I want to talk to somebody who temper was shorter than the weekend and who was hot headed…but by grace you learned how to love.

I want to talk to somebody who has had to look over their shoulder because of a crime you committed back in the day...

I want to talk to somebody who should be dead sleeping in your grave..but by grace

Grace for Paul, here, is a testament to what God can do if you let him, and if you seize the opportunity. He says, it’s not in vain, because upon recognizing that it’s God’s grace should prompt you to be all the more enthusiastic about the work. (Elaborate)

You can do it

Now grace does not remove you from problems. No, the grace of God will often times put you into positions of danger and struggle. Because you are blessed means that you will be elevated to higher and better places in the Kingdom but that comes with the price of greater work and responsibility. Having a bigger house means higher property tax. Having a higher paying job usually comes with higher responsibility. And I know that in this life we all have to struggle. But, that’s when grace comes into play. When you are working and surviving all the enemy has to throw at you,

the grace that is with you will enable you to thrive where people thought you will fail (Run)

“…with me.”

But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

Grace was with with you when…laid off.

family passed. Friends were few. money was low. (Run)

Amazing grace how sweet the sound

That saved a wretch like me

I once was lost, but now I'm found

Was blind but now I see

'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved

How precious did that grace appear

The hour I first believed

Through many dangers, toils, and snares

I have already come

This grace that brought me safe thus far

And grace will lead me home