Untitled Sermon
God's grace has the ability to bring stability in our lives when life gets tough
Now, the last thing: There needs to be not only that, but a spirit of stability. Look, if you will, in verse 10 now: “But the God of all grace”—don’t you love that phrase, “the God of all grace”? This is chapter 5:10—“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10) Here’s the picture of a person who is not blown about by adversity. Here’s a picture of a person who has met troubles, trials, tribulations, but that person is still standing. When all the dust is settled, and when all of the artillery of hell has been quieted, and when all of the imaginations of the enemy had been exhausted, here is that person who is still standing there because God is the God of all grace. There needs to be a spirit of stability, and that stability comes from the grace of God. He is “the God of all grace.” (1 Peter 5:10) And, what will that grace do? Well, look at it for a moment.
A. Grace Will Make You Fit
First of all, it says, “Make you perfect.” (1 Peter 5:10) Do you see that? Now, that word perfect does not mean “mature,” as the other word for perfect means, but it actually means “to mend.” It was a word used for the mending of a net that had been broken, or it was the word used for the setting of a bone that had been broken. And, what he’s saying is, here, that God is going to make us fit.
Now, many times we get unfit; I mean, we get out of shape. We do like Simon Peter did, and the devil gets us. And, he breaks our bones, and he tears our nets. But, the Lord Jesus is there—hallelujah!—with His grace to restore us, to mend us, to make us fit. Now, there are some of you here today that He wants to do that for, and His grace will do that. You’ve gotten bent out of shape? You’ve gotten away from the Lord? Sin in your life? You’ve failed Him? You’ve gone down? You’ve disappointed Him? He’ll mend your net. He’ll tie up those loose ends. He’ll set that bone again straight, and Jesus will heal you today.
B. Grace Will Make You Firm
But, not only will God’s grace make you fit; friend, it will make you firm. Look at it again. He says, “And stablish you.” (1 Peter 5:10) You know what that means? You’re part of the establishment, friend. You’re not going to be blown around. You’re not going to be maneuvered. The devil is not going to shove you around. Aren’t you tired of being shoved around by the devil? The grace of God will make you fit. The grace of God will make you firm.
C. Grace Will Make You Forceful
The grace of God will make you forceful, for look at the next verse: “strengthen [you].” (1 Peter 5:10) What kind of strength? Not physical strength, not monetary strength, not intellectual strength. You may have none of those. But friend, you can be strong as iron through the grace of God. And, in tough times, God will give you strength that is absolutely inexplicable apart from His grace. So, God wants, dear friend, to make you fit. God wants to make you firm. God wants to make you forceful.
D. Grace Will Make You Fixed
And, God wants to make you fixed. Look at that next word, and that is to “settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10) That word settle means “to lay a foundation.” I mean that … “How firm a foundation [is laid for your faith], ye saints of the Lord.” (R. Keen) Now, that’s all by the grace of God. Isn’t grace wonderful? I mean, just praise God for His grace. That’s what makes God love sinners like we are. And, He’s called “the God of all grace.” (1 Peter 5:10) What kind of grace?
1. Saving Grace
First of all, saving grace. What is it that saves us? We’re saved by grace. “For by grace are ye saved.” (Ephesians 2:8)
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
—JOHN NEWTON
You’re not saved by joining a church, or getting baptized, or keeping the Ten Commandments, obeying the Golden Rule. These are all well and good and fine. They have their purpose; they have their place. But, they can’t save you. If you could be saved by those things, Jesus Christ never would have died on the cross. But, He died to do for us something we could not do for ourselves. We’re saved by grace.
2. Sustaining Grace
But, not only is it the grace that saves us; it’s the grace that sustains us. Remember when old Paul was going through tough times? He came to the Lord, and the Lord said, “[Paul,] my grace is sufficient for thee: [and] my strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Through many dangers, toils, and snares
I have already come;
’Tis grace [hath led] me safe thus far
And grace will lead me [on].
3. Surviving Grace
But, not only is it saving grace and sustaining grace; friend, it is surviving grace, amen? I mean, he speaks here of God’s eternal glory. Look at it again in verse 10: “But the God of all grace, who hath called us [into] his eternal glory.” (1 Peter 5:10) Look in verse 11: “To him be glory and dominion”—for how long? Tell me?—“for ever and ever.” (1 Peter 5:11)
When we’ve been there ten thousand years
Bright shining as the sun.
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when [we] first begun.
Oh, friend, saving grace, sustaining grace, surviving grace—it’s all the grace of God, and it’s in that grace that we stand. And, you’d better put that in your survival kit—the stability that comes only by the grace of God.
Conclusion
I’m so glad that I’m saved today. I’m so glad that I know the Lord Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. There was a time in my life—let me tell you about it—when I stood on a street corner in West Palm Beach, Florida. And, I looked up into the starry heavens that night, and I said, “God, I’m confused. I don’t know whether I’m lost and the Holy Spirit has me under conviction, or I don’t know whether I’m saved and the devil is trying to make me doubt it. But, I’m confused, and my life is not what it ought to be. And God, I want to get it settled so, Lord, right now, with all of my heart, as much as in me is, with every ounce, every inch, once and for all, now and forever, I trust you to save me. Come into my heart; forgive my sins, and save me.” And, I didn’t wait for a feeling; I just said, “Thank you for doing it because I receive it on the authority of your Word.” And, that night a wonderful river of God’s grace and peace started to flow in my heart. I want to give you this testimony: that was over forty years ago, and it’s still flowing.
Do you know Him? Would you say, “Lord Jesus, once and for all, now and forever, I trust you to save me”? And, the Bible says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” (Romans 10:13) And, He’ll save you. Do you know how I know? He’s the God of all grace, and “for by grace are ye saved.” (Ephesians 2:8) You could say, “Lord Jesus, come into my heart; forgive my sins, and save me. I commit my life to you,” and He will. He’ll forgive your sins. He’ll send His Spirit into your heart to make you a new creature. And, one day, perhaps sooner than you realize, He’ll take you home to heaven to be with Him.
I want heads bowed and eyes closed—no one stirring, no one looking around. How many would say, “Brother Rogers, if I were to die tonight, this afternoon, I know that I know that I know that I’d go straight to heaven. My sins have been forgiven. Jesus lives in my heart. God’s Spirit bears witness with mine that I’m a child of God, and I’ll give you this testimony by lifting my hand”? Would you just lift your hand if you know that you’re saved? Heads are bowed; eyes are closed. Thank you. Take them down. Now, not everyone could lift his or her hand; and so, I want you to know that we’re concerned about you, and I’m going to pray for you right now. And, while heads are bowed and eyes are closed, brothers and sisters in Christ are joining me to pray for you.
Lord Jesus, I pray today for those who could not say that they know that they know that they’re saved. And Lord, I pray that today, by your grace and through your Holy Spirit, they might say an everlasting “yes” to Jesus Christ. Father, save the lost here today. Bind the powers of darkness away from them, and shine the gospel sunlight into their hearts. And, reveal Jesus to them, Lord, and help them to understand that He suffered and bled and died upon that cross, that they might be saved today. For we pray in His wonderful name.•
Now, the last thing: There needs to be not only that, but a spirit of stability. Look, if you will, in verse 10 now: “But the God of all grace”—don’t you love that phrase, “the God of all grace”? This is chapter 5:10—“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” (1 Peter 5:10) Here’s the picture of a person who is not blown about by adversity. Here’s a picture of a person who has met troubles, trials, tribulations, but that person is still standing. When all the dust is settled, and when all of the artillery of hell has been quieted, and when all of the imaginations of the enemy had been exhausted, here is that person who is still standing there because God is the God of all grace. There needs to be a spirit of stability, and that stability comes from the grace of God. He is “the God of all grace.” (1 Peter 5:10) And, what will that grace do? Well, look at it for a moment.