Grace To You

God as we continue to dive in if we continue to learn more about who you are. And why that matters for who we are and for this world today? Would you remind us God?

That at your name

promises are true at your name knees will bow. At your name tongues will confess. At your name, there's nothing that can overcome us.

What a privilege it is. To be able to have your name etched across our hearts God.

Not after what I've done.

I hear that all the time and maybe you do too.

Maybe someone here is saying that this morning not after what I've done. See we make the assumption that that God wants nothing to do with us because of something we have done . Whether you're a churchgoer. And you were caught embezzling funds from your company and its you know, you have been going to church and you and heard about Grace, but you didn't let it really touch you and so you just stop going. Maybe you're the church leader. Who

You had that secret sin of pornography and you've been going to church since you were little and you've heard all about Grace over and over but you didn't let it you underestimated its power and so in your life. You kind of just faded away and walked away from God. Maybe it's the the mom taking her fifteen-year-old daughter for an abortion. And on the way home, mom says now you will never ever talk about this again.

that daughter Hides from God the rest of her life just like Eve did in the Garden of Eden. Never Letting Grace penetrate your life is it Grace is something that

it's not that people haven't heard about grace. It's it's that they've underestimated its power.

see you may have come to church every once in awhile, You come on Christmas or you come on Easter or you come every week and and and you've heard of this forgiveness that's available. You've heard of the grace of Jesus you've heard that salvation can be yours. And and you may understand Grace and you may even be able to tell somebody about Grace but you've just underestimated its power. in your own life

Is it not just to forgive?

What the redeem your life? Grace not just a help us but to heal us. So today I do not want you to miss out on Grace.

We tend to focus on brace for things that we've done. We its focus in our really Christian world is that that we think of God's grace for us and for the stuff been in our past and all that we've done and week we have great teaching on it and Colossians chapter 2 verses 13 and 14 remind us of that you were dead because of your sin and because of your sinful nature was not yet cut away then God Made You Alive with Christ for he forgave all our sin. He canceled the record of charges against us and he took it away by nailing it on the cross. That's great news, right? That's as good as it gets that we have that but but when it comes to Grace That's where we tend to live. That's where we tend to just kind of hang out.

See there's another aspect. Is Grace strengthens us to go through what we never thought we could think of that aspect of grace too often. Meeting the grace to get you through some of you some of you know exactly what I'm talking about. You've been there you've experienced that there was that that the sufficiency of his grace that is Grace was all sufficient. It it gave you. Just what you needed to go one more day when you didn't think you had another day in you and suddenly Grace makes sense to you because of that you've experienced disgrace it sustained you in that dark and broken place in your life.

So so Grace is Enough for the things we've done and and Grace is is also for what we're dealing with. Sometimes it reminds me of the that there's this reality out there in our world that sometimes. We find out a second reason an alternative a benefit that something provides. Comes to mind one of the best examples is Rogaine. You know, so Rogaine was initially invented created to treat high blood pressure, right? You know that until one day some dude with high blood pressure. What who was balder than anything when it was in a test trial for it and also he starts growing.

They've discovered this additional benefit which obviously became the cash cow for that drug was to cure baldness in some way shape or form. I think that's what it's like with Grace a little bit. It's so often we focused on Grace being available to us for what we've done and receiving that forgiveness that that it it brings us, but the other side is so powerfully impactful in our life knowing that we have a Grace that is greater than whatever we're going through. extra bonus

How do you express how do you explain something so magnificent race like that remarkable explanation in the Book of Romans in Romans? 5 we read when Adam sinned sinned entered the world Adam sin brought death. So death spread to everyone for everyone. Send.

There are these constant reminders of of of sin in the Fallen broken world. We live in right bat up Paul uses the the imagery I hear of a really a virus that's in spread to all mankind like a virus and everybody's infected with it. In fact other elsewhere and scripture creation, even understands that we're in a broken world and and and and and we read that all creation is groaning for Christ's return and how do we see that there more hurricanes than ever before more tornadoes than ever before we see more earthquakes. We seek older colds and Hots and wetter wets and dryer dry times in our world.

But it wasn't long in scripture soon after Creation. In fact the very next chapter in Genesis chapter 3. God already starts to set the table. He begins to Hinton a lewd and foreshadow for a redeemer is coming. That there will be one that can come in and solve this in problem that Jesus would come and so Paul continues that idea in verse 15 of Romans 5, but there's a great difference between Adamson and God's gracious gift for the sin of this one man Adam. brought death to many but even greater is God's Wonderful Grace and is gift of forgiveness too many through this other man, Jesus Christ. This is Paul's remarkable explanation on Grace and it is it's wonderful. It's necessary. It's eloquent. It's helpful.

But I think it doesn't quite get it for me. receipt I think they'll stick with me here. I think race is a little bit like fresh pineapple. What in the world where is he going now?

See you in 1980. Holy smokes my basketball team. We travel out to the West Coast we played there then we went out to Hawaii and we played in Hawaii for 10 days. And there was a day where we took a field trip to the Dole pineapple Factory right where they make pineapples. It's amazing. So I remember we went in the Welcome Center and I remember looking through the open doors onto the the field of all the pineapple trees in the back. No, they grow in the ground. They come out of the ground for any of you would still think pineapples grow on trees. Okay, and and you look through and you see these fields and Fields of pineapples and also in this wagon pulls up and the guy comes to the counter with a bunch of pineapples Freight out of the ground in front of the guests here in the Welcome Center, and I took the first one there.

I can remember that bites as though it was yesterday as like 39 years ago. Nothing. If you have ever had fresh pineapple that fresh you will never forget what it is like

Anna Grace's little bit like that

when you when you can you don't fully appreciate Grace until you experience Grace in your life.

I will never forget the taste of fresh pineapple 40 years ago. And there are moments of Grace in my life that I will carry even more freshly than that. Is he? When you study Grace in The Bible study that word of the hermeneutics where you you study the word you study how it's used in contact. You study. Not just the word itself. But but the you know that the way the intonation of it the way it's used and when you study that in scripture, you'll find that Grace is predominantly found in story in Scripture.

ECI think story finds a way to to teach an Express grace even better than explaining Grace. And you go wow. I wonder if that could be true for me if it was true for that person. Call uses the word Grace 100 times in his writing in the New Testament Jesus who was full of grace. Never used the word. but if you study his life and examine his life you begin to understand Grace as it unfolds through the stories of his life and you wonder that could be true for me. as well So for just a minute, I want to more than a minute. I want to share some stories of the Gospel with you some stories that are really out of the life of Jesus and that through those we we can grab that that tangible Taste of Grace that they become a little more real as we hear story and some of these stories will refer to brace for for what has been done to somebody and we see that God is still greater. Some of these stories are or where the person is going through something and you see that God is still greater. Play like Jesus is very first miracle, and it was at a wedding in a place called Cana and and a major part of that wedding or that story that wedding. Was it ran out of wine now in an area where there is an clean water? So why is a main thing you drink? That's a that's a tough deal. And you made a full what's the big deal about running out of wine? That's not that big of a deal will it is unless you're the host of the party. Maybe isn't a big deal. And furthermore The Story Goes to tell us that Jesus is Mom was really interested in the issue that they ran out of watch. So what hat ran out of wine, so Jesus turns water into wine, but that's I don't think the focus. I think what we learned there. Is that what's a big deal to you? Is a big deal to Jesus?

And it's there that that even number. The whole maybe we understand it in a different way because the story kind of finishes with his little twist and Pastor Kyle Idleman would say it this way says it in Jesus turns the water into wine and I demand says and it's great wine and I suppose that's what extravagant race might taste like.

There's a story of Jesus healing a leper leprosy was a many of you know, it was a it was a highly contagious disease that that skin cells and muscle cells with would eventually die and parts of bodies would literally fall off. It was so highly contagious. No one would go near a leper and it was a responsibility of the leper to let people even know they were coming into their presents. and soul People don't touch lepers people don't come near them. They have almost no human contact.

So in this story I mean Jesus heals him.

Scripture says Jesus. Reached out and touched him.

No human has touched him in that was how long and we we learn about the power of His miraculous healing. But we really learn about the power of a touch.

How about Jesus in his choosing of his 12 disciples? He has a rabbi he would have you know, there's this following and most rabbis would have a following people into for those that want to become students. He would accept applications of all these rabbinical students in the the applications would be so high and you would pick the best of the best to be your followers. not Jesus No, he didn't go that path. Jesus uses invitation not application to choose his followers in choosing his followers. He takes a completely different path and I think of that passage a lot. Cuz I'm frankly to be fully honest with you. I think if it was about applications. I don't think I'd be here.

Jesus reaches out through invitation to some fishermen Jesus Through invitation reaches out to maybe the most hated person in the communities the tax collector Matthew. and you you look at that and you say maybe Grace is even greater. What I imagined it would be.

There's a story of a woman caught in adultery John 8. We read about it in an early morning and we say this phrase so quickly and flip it lie sometimes but she was caught in the act. of adultery another word. She was removed from a bed. Probably with some type of sheep sheet wrapped around or something and and haul out into the village town square thrown on the ground.

In like because of the law says you're Stone someone that does that.

The leaders I've already got all the stones in their hands circling her. Ready to kill her. when Jesus comes on the scene Jesus comes in and comes to her rescue. And he looks at them in the eye and you know what? He says many of you. Those of you who haven't send it all. You throw the first stone?

He looks them in the eye one by one. You see the stones drop one at a time around the circle because they kind of realize that. He knows my sin. And then one of the moments that I don't think it's enough attention is I just picture Jesus picking up this traveling woman who is about to face that was facing. pressure off looks are in the eye answers. I don't condemn you. No. Go and leave this life of sin. and you think maybe Grace is even greater than I ever imagined.

The story of Jesus attending the funeral of his good friend Lazarus. If you know the end of the story, you know that Jesus eventually brings Lazarus back to life. Jesus comes into that scene and he's driving a little late and he sees in that seen this picture of Lazarus has friends and family weeping. In scripture is very clear to give us a I think a very important point that we pass over because we focus on the miracle. What scripture says he saw them weeping?

the shortest verse in scripture says Jesus wept

think about that. He knew what's going to happen. but Jesus Weeps with those who weep

that's where you begin to understand that we learn a little bit more about Grace true story.

No remarkable story of Jesus's entering the home of Simon the Pharisee so Simon the Pharisee is a leader and he's just a man focused on the rules. And one of the rules is when another leader or teacher comes to your way. You need to show some Hospitality. So he invites him over to his house. But that's as far as he wants to go. He's just going to go through his religious Duty. He's going to go through the motions and invite Jesus over in Jesus comes to his home in any you can tell that he's not really the same as not really into this because he doesn't even have his is attending his servant washed Jesus's feet which was customary for anyone in the day. So Jesus is reclined.

and in walks a woman that pretty much scripture alludes that everyone in the room knew that sinful woman. She's a bad one. What does she do? She's at the great Simon the Pharisees house. She goes to Jesus instantly and falls at his feet. And she's so humbled by Jesus. That her tears wash his feet. She anoints his feet with perfume or oil. Cleanses them in Jesus. Jesus looks at Simon the great leader and Pharisee and other leaders in the room and he's like she gets it. You don't get it. You've been studying and memorizing scripture all your life. And you don't even know who I am.

I don't know how it really happened after what happened after that. But there's a moment that we can't miss there either. That's when the either the party broke up or right then and there Jesus looks at this woman who is washed his feet with his tears. And he and Ne says the one who's been forgiven of much. Love's much remarkable story of Grace and maybe maybe Grace is even greater than we ever imagined.

final story

Jesus is on the cross. He just spent hours with Roman soldiers beating the stuffing out of him. Torturing him not to just prove a point but to eventually kill him. That's the point. and he's brought to a Hill Called Golgotha and he's nailed to a wooden beam and put on the beam and the soldiers are playing games and they're mocking and they're torturing and they're doing it all in Jesus is watching it unfold and Jesus the one who's been tortured by these people looks at them and says, father forgive them

They don't know what they're doing.

Wow.

And we learn that Grace isn't just about knowing it. It's about an encounter with it experiencing it.

so today

braces for you Grace is to you that that if it's good enough for all these people on these stories you today Believers in Jesus and some here don't yet know him and put your trust in him, but for each of us, we can understand that if it's good enough for them it ought to be good enough for what I've done. I don't have to pretend any more to cover up any more secrets about it because it was.

It's good enough for me, and I can celebrate the grace of God in my life.

The stories have a way of explaining Grace to us. Doesn't it just a couple more before I close? These are the closest ones. These aren't in the Bible. These are ones that I've experienced that I live with and you live with two. Very good friend of mine.

Several years ago her mother who is a great-grandmother was about 75 at the time. She was in a Syracuse shopping plaza. She has any more. I'm sorry. She was in the Syracuse lot parking lot middle a by the 15 16 17 year old teenage boy comes up to her mugs her knocks her to the ground steals her purse. She's laying bloodied on the ground with broken bones.

Please find the kid they arrest him. She asks if she can meet with him. She goes to the Syracuse Police Station she meets with this young boy finds out that well, he's already got a record and this is going to put him over the top. This one will send him to State Prison.

She meets with him. She the great grandmother. still puffy and swollen Looks at him and forgives him.

Tells the police to drop the charges. Meet arrangements for this young man to get transferred and get connected with the Teen Challenge Ministry in Syracuse a Christian recovery program. That could really help his fundamental issues. Now here's a kid.

Who from his perspective? Grace Change this life and maybe Grace is even better than we ever imagined. That was a story of something being done to you while a story that were familiar with of of giving Grace to go through something.

It's about 15 months ago. Now the John Stringer. Was diagnosed with the most advanced form and radically growing form of brain cancer. There is

15 months ago doctors at the time said he probably can expect about 6 months. Maybe at most a year to live.

some of your new job before that many of us did because he never came in the door of the church.

But that next Sunday he did. He virtually never missed Sunday until he had to have brain surgery and he was really upset that he kept. Take it that next Sunday, but he was there the next.

John is is one that Leonard will say he's a changed man is a changed man on many levels, but the most important level would be this one that we had the opportunity to share with you about a year ago. I'm here with John W Stringer John just about a month or five weeks ago. We we were together at church you started coming around come on pretty regularly and the end of one of our services you indicated that you wanted to place your trust in Jesus. We know dear today. You're up against a Earthly Battle For Life. Set date 5 weeks ago. You already won the battle for everlasting life by surrendering your life to Jesus it so I want to ask you right now in front of our friends. Have you placed your trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior by Rise mostly in Hartwell place now, we just want to encourage you to keep letting him make those guiding steps for youself hearing that I want to baptize you in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit in graduation. Well done young man. Well done.

so God certainly has a purpose in John's life doesn't he? He's showing us what Grace looks like. Drew Linda and how she is holding up and getting through each day.

the grace of Jesus that sustains them we read in scripture. My grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness. That weren't sufficient. Remember it remember it's best explanation for you in this context is always just enough. My grace is always just enough no matter what you're going through.

Peter wrote to Christians who are suffering the full force of persecution up against death because they were Christians for their faith and Peter writes these words. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that the grace of God is with you. No matter what happens. No matter what happens. So as we close, I would invite you maybe just close your eyes. I want to read something to you written by Pastor Kyle Idleman that really reminds us of This Promise of no matter what happens matter, what you've done or has been done to you Grace is greater than the diagnosis. You've been given the abuse you suffered greater than the secrets you've kept Grace is greater than the addiction you battled. Grace is greater than anything that happens to you or anything you've happened to do. So no matter how far you falling or often you failed. Grace is still greater than that. Greater than however, many times you've relapsed or the times your resolve has collapsed Grace may not heal your spouse. But Grace will hold you up Grace may not cure your cancer. But Grace will carry you through Grace may not rescue you from your circumstances, but Grace can redeem your circumstances and work things out for good. You can say to yourself. Not after what I did things can't be undone. I cross the line No Going Back. Grace is greater than what you did. Because of what Jesus has done. You may have dropped out or got kicked out or knock down or locked up. But what's most important about you is that no matter what God's grace is greater than all of that. He is faithful and true. Because of what Jesus has done no matter how broken you are God's grace can make everything new God's grace is powerful enough to cover your guilt and big enough to cover your shame and real enough to heal your relationships. God's grace is strong enough to hold you when you're weak sweet enough to cure the bitter heart satisfying enough to deal with your disappointments and beautiful enough to redeem your Brokenness. You may have given up on Grace, but Grace hasn't given up on you. And it's no accident. You're sitting here. It's not by chance that you're hearing. These truths that's in your life right now.

God is chased you down. He will meet you where you're at and he will help you back up. No matter what you've done no matter what's been done to you. No matter what you're going through God's grace is still greater. So while our heads are bowed.

Do you believe this?

Can you Embrace this this morning that you may have walked in? Still thinking man? I have really messed up and I'm keeping that little secret in the back and God's Not Just 9 me to talk to you about that. Zion I know it's beyond him. Maybe you're here today and you've never even been able to come to a place that says Jesus. I want to surrender this rotten life of mine because I just can't believe your grace is big enough to cover it.

Want to challenge you this morning and frankly anyone who's listening to this that this is an opportunity to to embrace the grace. That only comes Jesus Christ. And through story that we see throughout scripture and story that we experience here. We can see and understand that Grace is greater than we ever imagined. So I invite you to join me as we pray and close our service today.

Jesus there are folks here that I think for some knees are trembling at the moment because they they know it's timeto to step up and allow your grace to make a change. And as we close our service father, we want to share with everyone. This would be an opportunity to just come right up front and and pray with someone about that. For those who have yet to place their trust and hope in Jesus, they can come forward to just as we end our service that this is that opportunity. available to them Father we ask that you would go before us that that we see and we can articulate we can talk about Grace, but Lord we want to experience it as well. For some of us in here we have and it's changed us and we will never forget that experience of receiving your grace and understanding your sufficiency is always just enough for us. So have your way in our mitts we pray in Jesus name. Amen.