Is Grace Really Enough?
All of Heaven is Watching You. • Sermon • Submitted
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Raise Your Eye Level.
Raise Your Eye Level.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 He was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
4 In Him was life, and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.
John 1:1-5
Read: and vs 5 comprehend.
The New Strong’s Dictionary of Hebrew and Greek Words katalambanō καταλαμβάνω
καταλαμβάνω katalambanō, kat-al-am-ban´-o; from 2596 and 2983; to take eagerly, i.e. seize, possess, etc. (lit. or fig.):— apprehend, attain, come upon, comprehend, find, obtain, perceive, (over-) take.
Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Apprehend
1. katalambano (καταλαμβάνω, 2638) properly signifies “to lay hold of”; then, “to lay hold of so as to possess as one’s own, to appropriate.
Demonstrate: Heaven is releasing Word, life, light. (GRACE) It is the very nature of Heaven to Release what is needed. It wasn’t that they couldn’t understand it., they didn’t seize it as their own.
So,
Continue:
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ ”
16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:14-17
verse 14: JESUS: The Word was full of GRACE AND TRUTH. Not Grace or Truth. Not Grace without Truth. Grace and Truth. Full: There isn’t room for anything else.
16 For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.
What I have just shared, is a Truth. Is it your reality?
Is it Important that I Walk in The Fullness of His Grace?
Explain. And Continue.
1 God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets,
2 has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds;
3 who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,
Complete the journey. From the Throne to the Earth. From the Earth to the Cross. From the Cross to the Grave. And From the Grave to the throne. Right now. Jesus is seated at the right hand of the Father.
Continue:
8 But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, And the righteous scepter is the scepter of His kingdom.
Hebrews 1:8
David Livingstone.
17 For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ.)
Romans 5:17
I have received an abundance of grace, and the gift of righteousness. With it, I will reign (rule) in LIFE through Jesus.
ALL OF HEAVEN (The Abundance of His Grace) IS OPEN if, I will walk in the Gift of Righteousness. (Right Standing with God )
IF! Click
I will embrace the Grace.
Allen, Of Course I will Embrace the Grace, I want everything Heaven has to offer.
14 Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.
15 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
16 Let us then fearlessly and confidently and boldly draw near to the throne of grace (the throne of God’s unmerited favor to us sinners), that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it].
Review: I have a need. Where should my eyes turn? To the Throne of Grace. What will I receive at the Throne of Grace? Mercy, and Grace to help in my time of need. Maybe? NO. Heaven always releases the Grace I need, when I come to the Throne. I then take the Delivered Grace, and the Declared Righteousness, and I REIGN in Life through Christ Jesus. I am an Ambassador of Heaven, on assignment with full credentials.
What could possibly Go Wrong?
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh.
Paul’s Thorn in the Flesh.
1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message,
1 This boasting will do no good, but I must go on. I will reluctantly tell about visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I was caught up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. Whether I was in my body or out of my body, I don’t know—only God knows. 3 Yes, only God knows whether I was in my body or outside my body. But I do know 4 that I was caught up to paradise and heard things so astounding that they cannot be expressed in words, things no human is allowed to tell.
5 That experience is worth boasting about, but I’m not going to do it. I will boast only about my weaknesses. 6 If I wanted to boast, I would be no fool in doing so, because I would be telling the truth. But I won’t do it, because I don’t want anyone to give me credit beyond what they can see in my life or hear in my message, 7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Vs 2-3, We can be so developed spiritually, that the spiritual realm is more real than the natural realm.
Continue: But I do know....
Vs 5- 6: Some experiences are so “Holy” it is hard to talk about them. Why? People’s focus comes off of God onto a person, but yet we need to hear the testimony. We should be able to take any testimony, remove the central character and replace him with someone else, and still celebrate the victory. (explain) Continue, read vs 6 again. through vs 7 1/2
Now Read all of vs 7
7 even though I have received such wonderful revelations from God. So to keep me from becoming proud, I was given a thorn in my flesh, a messenger from Satan to torment me and keep me from becoming proud.
Seems reasonable., right?
What Was Paul’s Thorn?
Eye Disease? Malaria? Epilepsy? Migraine Headaches? Guilt from his past?
All things Bible Scholars have written.
Why is it important to know what Paul’s thorn is? Example: Migraine Headaches.
An Incorrect Belief system, Puts a Cap on My Faith.
1 Large crowds followed Jesus as he came down the mountainside. 2 Suddenly, a man with leprosy approached him and knelt before him. “Lord,” the man said, “if you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out and touched him. “I am willing,” he said. “Be healed!” And instantly the leprosy disappeared.
Vs 1-2. I know you can, I just don’t know if you are willing.
That understanding of God, kept him a leper. If Jesus had said, no, or wait or sometimes I am, sometimes I am not, there is no place to put my faith.
Vs 3. Instantly.
Back to 2 Corinthians. Let scripture interpret scripture.
7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.
What was the thorn? A MESSENGER OF SATAN. His purpose? Read again. Keep it in context, chapter 11
23 Are they servants of Christ? I know I sound like a madman, but I have served him far more! I have worked harder, been put in prison more often, been whipped times without number, and faced death again and again.
24 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine lashes.
25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. Once I spent a whole night and a day adrift at sea.
26 I have traveled on many long journeys. I have faced danger from rivers and from robbers. I have faced danger from my own people, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced danger in the cities, in the deserts, and on the seas. And I have faced danger from men who claim to be believers but are not.
27 I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. I have been hungry and thirsty and have often gone without food. I have shivered in the cold, without enough clothing to keep me warm.
2 Cor 11:23-27
Read: Paul wasn’t just unlucky. He wasn’t going though a bad week. This was his day to day existence. Do you ever come under attack?
Just as Important.
Who Gave the Thorn?
Side Journey to James.
16 So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting shadow.
7 And to keep me from being puffed up and too much elated by the exceeding greatness (preeminence) of these revelations, there was given me a thorn (a splinter) in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to rack and buffet and harass me, to keep me from being excessively exalted.
Great extraordinary revelations. Good. Messenger of Satan, to torment and harass Good, or bad?
God and Satan are not partners. They are not working things together to benefit you.
Hell assigned a personal messenger to torment Paul every place he went. Why? To try to stop the message of the cross.
The Amplified Bible. (1987). (). La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Great and Exalted Teacher Allen.
God may not have caused it, but He allowed it.
Certainly.....It is in your life. God allowed it.
Continue: Back to Paul.
8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.
2 Cor 12:8
I pleaded. I BEGGED........3 times.
2 Cor 12:9
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
Why? That’s the way we think sometimes. We might not say it out loud.
God is sovereign you know. Sometimes He says yes, sometimes He says no. Sometimes He says wait.
Great Bumper sticker, but lousy attempt at scripture.
What did he really say?
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
He said, I will give you my Grace in ever situation. I will give you my power in every situation. Did Paul feel like Grace was enough? Apparently not. He begged three times. God didn’t say no. God you have to make the devil stop. God says here is my Grace. You make him stop. Wait, wait wait. God I need you to make him stop. No You take my grace and you make Him stop.
3 times. Finally Paul gets it.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.
2 Cor 12:9
Tornado at Children’s Camp. Taught on the authority of the believer. Pastor Allen pray. God Speak to it. (Grace)
Grace is enough. (Finish)
Noah: Background: Everyone was condemned. The sentence had been pronounced.
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
explain. Grace was enough.
Becoming Grace Minded.
(Birds)
27 When Jesus departed from there, two blind men followed Him, crying out and saying, “Son of David, have mercy on us!”
28 And when He had come into the house, the blind men came to Him. And Jesus said to them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” They said to Him, “Yes, Lord.”
29 Then He touched their eyes, saying, “According to your faith let it be to you.”
vs 29, and extension of His Grace. Why didn’t he just stop and heal them? He extended grace. They embraced it.
29 Now as they went out of Jericho, a great multitude followed Him.
30 And behold, two blind men sitting by the road, when they heard that Jesus was passing by, cried out, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
31 Then the multitude warned them that they should be quiet; but they cried out all the more, saying, “Have mercy on us, O Lord, Son of David!”
32 So Jesus stood still and called them, and said, “What do you want Me to do for you?”
33 They said to Him, “Lord, that our eyes may be opened.”
34 So Jesus had compassion and touched their eyes. And immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed Him.
Compassion:
M.L.
Tyvone? Maybe.
Amish? Maybe.
Jesus, If you will just heal me, I know my kids will get saved, my neighbor’s will get saved, my spouse will come to church.
Noble? Yes, but it doesn’t work. Jesus said so. Rich man and Lazarus.
God Graces Healing, Because it is His Nature to Heal.
God Graces Healing Because He Loves You.
Next Time: God’s grace for finances.
Migraines.
