More Of His Grace
Review partnering with Grace.
1 Corinthians 15:9 For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.
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Romans 5:20 The law came to make sin worse. But when sin grew worse, God’s grace increased. 21 Sin once used death to rule us, but God gave people more of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him. And this brings life forever through Jesus Christ our Lord. NCV
· The law came to make sin worse?
o How does the law make sin worse?
§ By shining light on it (revealing it)
§ By calling it what it is (naming it)
§ By condemning it (result of it)
o Truth makes sin worse because as long as people don’t know the result they can be deceived into thinking that it is OK.
o The law (have to do it) will never connect you to God.
o Not only this but the purpose of the Law was to drive us to grace, to our conscious need for God.
§ When you hear “You shouldn’t do that…”(law)
· You have two choices
o You can get mad at me
§ You can’t judge me ( I don’t the words of God do)
§ Who do you think that you are?
§ This is taking up a position of defense!
o or you run to God
§ The law was to get you to run to God
· But when sin grew worse, God’s grace increased.
o but God gave people more of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him.
o His Grace will always be more than you can sin.
§ So do I sin more? No!
2 Corinthians 12:7 To keep me from becoming conceited because of these surpassingly great revelations(more Grace), there was given me a thorn in my flesh, a messenger of Satan, to torment me. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness (total dependence).” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses (need for God), so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. NIV
o To keep me from becoming conceited
o Self exalting, dependent
o Because of the outpouring of his blessings
o Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me
o I ask the Lord to do something for me that I was to do for myself
o “My grace is sufficient for you
o Not NO, but it is enough
o My grace is enough to do what I want you to do.
o my power is made perfect in weakness (total dependence).”
o To release this grace you must meet the requirements.
o Faith Ro.5:2
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. NIV
· No earnestly seek = no reward
o Position John 15:5-6 (stay connected)
John 15:5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. NIV
· Position of weakness?
o I will not come to God unless I know that I need him. (really)
o I must admit I have need of him (not just I need this or that)
o but God gave people more of his grace so that grace could rule by making people right with him.
§ Grace is given authority to rule in our lives by making us right with him.
· A Limited goodness limited by the flesh (natural abilities) vs. a limitless supply.
§ Imagine for a moment how generous you could be if you knew no matter how great the need, the supply would always be more than enough.
§ If the need increased the supply would increase even more, always abundantly more than the need. Whatever the need, the grace that we would need to do the good work would be there. Strength, power, finances, love, faith, etc…
§ What would happen?
· The first thing that would go is the fear, right?
· Confidence and boldness would come.