No Shortage of Grace

Kevin says next week looks like…I think next Sunday looks like cap city

intro where I’m from…FINAL EDIT Good morning, I’m pastor Jonathan Barker. I am currently serving as the lead pastor of Cap City Church just south of Columbus right off route 23. But long before today I was a 2005 graduate of Ohio Christian University, although the entire time I attended the school it was referred to as Circleville Bible College. In fact, my class was the first class to receive diplomas that read Ohio Christian University. As I reflect back to 2 decades ago when I was attending chapel in this very building I can assure you I never thought I would be standing up here looking back at a wonderful group of people like you. In fact I didn’t sense a call to preach until the summer after I graduated from here. So while you some of you embark on this adventure for the first time, and some of you continue on the path, be open to what God’s plans for you are and know that He has a way of doing the unexpected in our lives. I’m going to read just a few verses of scripture here in a minute so if you want to find your way to Hebrews chapter 4 on your phone we will look at that together here in just a few minutes, but first let me introduce our discussion for today a little bit.

I believe that the when the pandemic season of this life hit, that it exposed a little bit about what we might fear. Now i’m not talking about what your opinions were on mask wearing or vaccines or what the virus might actually do to you or a loved one physically. Because while most of us may or may not fear death, did you realize that most of us fear pain or discomfort much more than death itself? Let me explain what I mean… You stocked up on something. What did you stock up on? Do you remember that first week? I mean that first week when they told you there was something you weren’t going to be able to get your hands on? I mean I remember seeing shopping carts full of everything from toilet paper to milk, diapers to alcohol. The closet alcoholic couldn’t hide anymore when the stood in line at the drug store with a cart full of wine bottles. You could act like you cared about your neighbor more than yourself, but when you grabbed the 48 mega rolls of toilet paper, you were telling everybody that you weren’t really concerned with how they were going to take care of that issue in their own life.

Man of our “Shipped to you the next day” offers turned into the next day, after the next day if you’re lucky. I recently ordered something at the house that was supposed to ship in 2 days, it was lost twice, re-ordered, and ended up taking 23 days to get to us.

But as you start a new school year this year I want to remind you that even though our world has changed, and our economy has changed, there is no change in God’s economy. Heaven has no shortage. Our God is able to supply our every need! The Apostle Paul reminds us of this in Philippians 4:19 when he writes, “19 My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” God has plenty of grace to hand out to each and every one of us. Today, let’s look into God's grace. There is no shortage on the grace of God. There never has been, and there never will be!

Let’s check out our text this morning found in Hebrews 4:14-16…

(Text)“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 EVERY TIME OF NEED.” (Prayer)

I’ve learned that college students will do just about anything for food and gas. I remember being there with you. That’s why I’m going to give you a chance to win gift cards for both if you fill out surveys for me today.

On that note, let me ask you this morning, how low do you let your gas tank get before you fill up? I wonder how low it has to go before you get a little anxious? Many of us might be embarrassed to answer that question. About 20 years ago we saw the introduction of the digital fuel gauge as a step up from the analog. Pretty much any new car is going to come standard with the digital feature today. This was such a great innovation for those of us that love to push the limits or those of us who like to be more intentional about playing safe. I can remember as a teenager, when I only put 5 or 10 bucks of gas in my car at a time, and that maybe you never really knew where that fuel level was as you watched the needle teeter around the Empty line. I remember my grandfather, the eloquent man that he was, stating that ignorance can be measured by the number of gas stations one passes on a trip before running out of gas. But the digital gauge should remove all excuse, right? Most cars even hit zero before they actually run out. Yes, I know that from experience and some of you do too.

This morning I want to focus this morning on the fact that God’s grace is not running low. There is no shortage of God's grace. When you go to sleep tonight there will be grace, and when you wake up tomorrow morning, there will be grace. God is not running low on grace. There is no situation or circumstance where God’s grace is not available. But we also cannot allow ourselves to run on empty. We will talk about that a little more as we go on today, but let’s take a look back at our reference point in Hebrews today…

The book of Hebrews was initially written to a Jewish audience. That audience would have certainly been familiar with having a high priest.

In the Old Testament, the common people were not allowed to enter the Holy boundaries of the tabernacle and the Temple. In fact, the priests got only as far as the inner curtain, but the High Priest alone would go beyond the curtain, and only on the day of Atonement. The very existence of a priesthood and a way of sacrifices was evidence that human beings were experiencing separation from God. Today, that system has been fulfilled in the birth, life, words, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. And now all believers in Christ Jesus are invited, and encouraged, to come on in. We are encouraged not just to enter into the presence of God, but we are encouraged to do so “boldly,” not timidly, not bashful, but boldly in the name of Jesus. Our High Priest Jesus Christ is there, He is ministering, He is making intercession for us. And since we can come boldly into the presence of God and get the help we need, no trial is too great, no temptation is too strong, Jesus can give us the help and grace that we need.

Sometimes we become too prideful, but God’s grace invites us to draw closer and closer to Him. There’s an infinite number of things we could focus on this morning about the Amazing Grace of God but let's focus on 3 things today… First,

God’s Grace Is An Open Invitation To All

We all get invited to stuff right? I mean I hope you do. I bet there are certain things you get invited to that you get excited about more than others. Sometimes you get invited to a party that you might not really want to attend. You might get an invitation to something that you have to attend. Over the last couple of years I’ve had an email inbox full of zoom call invitations. I wouldn’t mind if I never get invited to one of those again. But then there are those things you get invited to that you don’t hesitate to respond to. I think of phrases like “Front row seats”. It’s a different experience isn’t it? My wife Allison and I aren’t huge NBA fans, that’s pro basketball for those of you that really aren’t NBA fans. We’ve been to a couple games. The last game we went to together was almost 10 years ago and we were sitting in the 4th row. In fact in the arena we were in it was close enough that we were actually looking up at the court, but when we left that night she said I don’t ever want to go to another game unless it’s really the front row, right on the court. I argued with her about how close we were, but she wanted the player diving for a ball, see the sweat, hear everything they are saying kind of experience. I bet you all have a front row, courtside, backstage, or VIP experience you might talk about too.

Here in the text The high priest is Jesus, and though we mentioned Hebrews was originally written to a Jewish audience, We see here though that it includes anyone who has ever been tempted right? Or all of humanity! I’ve never met the person that wasn’t tempted, and Romans chapter 3 goes a step further and tells us that every one of us has sinned and come short of the glory of God. Here’s the cool part though, by being included with someone who has been tempted or sinned before you have also become eligible to receive God’s grace. To have a front row, backstage, VIP experience with the creator of the universe. No matter our age, race, gender, or social status, God does not discriminate. And His grace is available for everyone who accepts… to everyone who says yes to Christ as their Lord and Savior. Through Christ’s redemption of our sinful humanity, God’s grace abounds and is overflowing. In the midst of our sin, no matter who we are, what we’ve done, where we’ve been or where we are going…

God’s grace still covers, strengthens, and cleanses us from ALL unrighteousness. And here’s the best part, God’s grace is available for both the saved and the lost. The purpose of God’s grace is for Christians to grow closer to Him, recognizing their human limitations. God’s grace is calling you, maybe to start over. Maybe to start new. God gives and gives, from His great love for His children. Despite how far we may stray away from God, His grace does not run out and is always calling us back to Him, closer to Him. God’s grace is an open invitation to all. Next..

God’s Grace Is Essential To Us All.

How do we know this from our passage today? By that I mean that God’s grace is essential for us all. It’s quite simple. The way that Jesus is differentiated from us in the text was in the fact that He didn’t sin. That means the rest of us did. And sin has consequences, unless an answer for that sin is given, and that’s why Jesus is the answer.

In this Covid era, we’ve heard the word essential a lot, haven’t we? Is this job essential? Is that person essential? How about that activity? We all questioned what standard was being used to determine something’s status as essential.

God’s grace is essential in your life. God’s grace is essential in every area of our life every single day. His grace makes us who we are. His grace knows where He has brought us from and His grace is preparing a way for us. God’s grace is not only foundational to our relationship with God but with one another. On our own we will fail, we will make mistakes, but God’s grace reminds us and reassures us to depend more completely on Him as we continue on our journey.

We are never alone, His Holy Spirit is always with us, and the sooner we realize His grace is essential in our life the better our life will be. Grace says, “it will be ok.” Grace says, “you are my child.” Grace says, “I love you. I forgive you.” God’s grace is an open invitation to all, God’s grace is essential to us all and finally…

God’s Grace Is Always Available.

Let’s look at verse 16 again here in Hebrews chapter 4. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of GRACE, that we may obtain mercy and find GRACE to help IN EVERY TIME OF NEED.”

KRISPY KREME DONUT STORY, hot one? Hot sugar sliding through your body, I mean you feel like you didn’t even eat it but the calorie count begs to differ, anyhow, HOT LIGHT IS ON, app on phone, but working out, stopped my workout, and we drove there. With Christ…

AFTER STORY PICK UP AT>>>> The Grace Light Is Always On.

God is always cooking up grace for your every need, day or night. Rain or shine. Good times and bad. On the mountain top and in the valley. In the hospital, in the funeral home, in the classroom, in the office. God’s grace is always available.

In every time of need

We talked earlier about how I had a 2 day delivery promise turn into 23. I’m not upset that it took 23 days, I’m frustrated because they overpromised and under delivered. God’s promise of His grace always holds true. God is never ever late, sometimes we are just in too big of a hurry. But He will always deliver on His promises and one promise that we have is that His mercies are new every morning.

Perhaps this morning you are suffering with pain in your body. Jesus suffered too, there is grace and it’s always available. Maybe you are struggling financially? Jesus was poor and in fact had no place to lay his head at night. He borrowed a boat, He borrowed a little boy’s lunch to feed the 5,000, He even borrowed a tomb to be buried, which the owner got back in just 3 days! His grace is always available. Are you lonely? His grace is always available. Do you feel that no one understands? Do you feel everyone has abandoned you? Jesus understands, He experienced that feeling too. His grace is available. Do you struggle with being treated poorly on the job, in the community, maybe at the high school you just came from, or with your family and friends because of your faith in Jesus Christ? Jesus knows all about it. He was rejected, He was spit upon, He was beaten, cursed, mocked and nailed to a Cross. THERE IS GRACE.

There is no shortage of God's grace! He put it on full display on the cross of Calvary through His One and only son Jesus Christ!

Pre Response:

What does grace look like practically?

Have you ever had someone give you a second chance? (Grace)

Have you ever said something dumb, and someone said, would you like to clarify that? (Grace)

Have you ever had someone give you something you knew you didn’t deserve? (Grace)

While God’s Grace towards us is practical it’s so much more than just practical. There is nothing more amazing than the grace of God. The Bible is filled with verses, teachings, and examples of His grace. We don’t deserve it, yet repeatedly it continues to be available to us. It’s unmerited. It’s unearned. It’s greater than ALL our sin. It’s His love, it’s His Son, it’s his Spirit, it’s all of this and so much more.

And maybe best of all… God’s grace is always enough and there will NEVER be a shortage!!!

As the ruler of grace He stands prepared to distribute it. He says to come boldly to His throne. But what does it mean to come boldly before the throne today? Krispy Kreme, ran up stairs, jumped in the car, and raced down broad street. Didn’t say well I don’t really need that right now, didn’t say we will never make it, didn’t say the line will be too long, or they will run out…

To come boldly to the throne of grace does not mean we are to approach God carelessly, irreverently, flippantly, or with presumption. It means that we can come to Him with full assurance and freedom. Even though we are not perfect, we are encouraged to come to Him without fear, in liberty in Christ, to make our needs known. To share with Him our pain. To ask Him for help. Boldly mean to ask in faith with no wavering, knowing that our spiritual stability and confidence in God are reflected in our belief, or lack thereof that He can perform what He promises.

RESPONSE – Invite Team, Stand

God’s grace is an open invitation to all. When we respond yes to his invitation we get a front row seat to His greatness, every ticket we get from God says VIP, because you mean so much to Him.

God’s grace is essential to us all, and it is essential for us to show His grace to others. We can’t take it for granted or withhold from others - There’s no shortage of grace provided by God so we can constantly give grace to others. Staying plugged into Him allows us to never have a shortage of grace for others. When we don’t stay connected to God we are choosing to run the tank empty. Remember that God is continually ready to fill us up again.

Hebrews 4:16 Gods throne not power etc but grace

Pray today laying down your pride and being a first time recipient or a repeat customer of his grace.

Pray today asking God to help you extend grace that way it’s been extended to you.

Pray today that God will free you from sin so that grace is not abused but instead it is bestowed upon your life to equip you to share the message of His grace with all whom you come in contact.

PRAY

POST RESPONSE: ??? SURVEY CARDS