Does God really have a better plan for our lives than what we think? Too often we think that our plans are better than God’s plans.
The Word of God tells us in Jeremiah 29 that God does have a better plan for our lives.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
What an awesome promise that is! God has a plan for each and every person in this community.
I like the sound of that, don’t you? Plans to prosper, to have a hope and to have a future, those things can be ours. And there is even more.
“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and I will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” Jeremiah 29:12-14
It doesn’t get any better than that! That’s good stuff right there, I don’t care who you are!
These things are gifts to you and I from a loving God.
How many of you like to get gifts? (Pull out a card (Thinking of You) with $20 in it)
I have a gift right here. It is a card with something in it. It has some money in it. $20.
It is a gift that I want to give to someone with no strings attached. I have even written a nice little note in it too. I spent some time picking out the card and thinking about what to write. I spent time working so I could make the extra money to put in the card.
I wrote this card on July 18, 2007. It was a Wednesday afternoon; it was cloudy and hot outside. I was listening to my Ipod. I was listening to Casting Crowns. The song I was listening to was If we are the Body.
I didn’t know then to whom I was going to give this card to. Some faces popped in my mind but I didn’t know for sure.
Ask some people, What would you do with this gift if I gave it to you? Would you keep the card? Would you spend the money? Would you tithe?
GIVE SOMEONE THE GIFT
Most everyone likes receiving gifts. Today, each of you has been offered a gift. It is not a card from me with $20 in it. It is a gift that is much greater than that $20.
The gift that we have all been offered is God’s gift of grace. And the potential benefits of God’s grace are unlimited.
READ Ephesians 2:4-10
I found and an acronym about God’s grace the other day that I really liked.
G - Gift
Grace is a Gift of God. Ephesians 2:8
Jesus – the Gift of Grace. Romans 5:15, 17
It was Granted to Us because God loves us. John 3:16
The neatest thing about grace is that it was given free, with no strings attached. I don’t have to pay for it. I don’t owe anything for it. It is free. All I have to do is accept it.
R - Receive
It was given for us to Receive it. John 3:16 John 1:12
It was given to Renew us. Romans 6:4
It was given so we can walk in the newness of life.
For this we can truly Rejoice.
A – Accept and Act
We must Acknowledge God’s gift. It is real.
We must Accept God’s gift because with out it we have no hope.
We must Act on it. We must make a decision to accept Christ so we can experience this gift. John 14:6, John 3:3
And when we accept this gift we have unlimited Access to God. 24/7 access to the Creator of the Universe.
C – Cleansed and Created anew.
We need to Confess the gift of grace.
We need to Call out to God.
It is a gift that Cancels our Debt
It is a gift that Creates a new creature. 2 Corinthians 5:17
It is a gift that Cleanses us from all Unrighteousness.
It is a gift that Commands us to Change our ways. Luke 9:23
It is a gift that we can Confess to others so that they can accept. Matthew 10:32, Luke 12:8
We need to Celebrate God’s amazing grace.
E – Erased and Enriched
God’s grace Erases our Sin.
God’s grace Enriches our lives with a greater power to live for Him.
God’s grace allows us to Enjoy His freedom and His forgiveness.
Our sins are forgiven. Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Doesn’t that touch your heart today? Listen to what the Word of God says in 1 John 1:9, If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”
God’s Amazing Gift of Grace is something that needs to be opened by all and accepted by all. It cannot be left up on a shelf for another time. What if that person to whom I gave the gift of $20 left the money in the envelope and put it on a shelf? What good would that gift be? They could buy groceries or pay a bill…
So many people do the same thing today. They have the Word of God, His written Word to mankind available to use everyday and where is it? They have it up on a shelf collecting dust. We need to get the Bible off the shelf and into our hands, so that we can get it into our heads and into our hearts.
They have prayer and they don’t speak up. They have the church and they don’t show up.
If God does have a plan for our lives and if we are God’s workmanship, (that is what His Word said) then we should be able to do some amazing things!
Once we get it into our heads and into our hearts then we are able to move to the next step. Salvation is just the beginning.
Remember the skit at the beginning of the message? God does have a better plan for our lives. Remember the Scripture?
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11
There is more than salvation available to us when it comes to God’s Amazing Grace. We accept His grace we are enriched by God’s multifaceted and unlimited blessings
I heard a story a few years back, of an elderly couple that had saved all their married life for a cruise on a ship. Sacrificially they saved until they could afford to purchase third class tickets on a cruise. They got to the boat, they checked in, they found their room but before the boat said they realized that they did not save enough money for meals.
The elderly husband had five dollars and told his wife he would take care of the meals. The boat wasn’t sailing for a few hours so he went ashore, found a store and purchased a loaf of bread and some peanut butter and then went back to the ship.
Every meal they would sit in their room and eat a peanut butter sandwich. Until one day one of the maids noticed what they were doing. The maid went to the captain and told him the story.
The captain then went to the couple and said, “Didn’t you know, the meals were provided with your fare?”
The same thing holds true with God. There is so much more available to us than salvation when it comes to being a Christian. We don’t have to live on peanut butter sandwiches. God has much more for us! There is a smorgasbord a God’s blessing available for all.
The verse that really brings this out in Ephesians 2 is verse 7. … in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus.
That isn’t the first time Paul used that kind of language in this letter.
Listen to Ephesians 1:18-19, I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
These thoughts had to have been in John Newton’s mind and heart when he penned the words of the great hymn, Amazing Grace.
In that song, Newton talks about salvation, “that save a wretch like me..”
He talks about our fears being taken away, “My fears relieved…”
He talks about the power of God and the provision of God and the blessings of God, “Thru many dangers, toils, and snares I have already come; “Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,and grace will lead me home.”
The point of this message is very simple today. There is more to God’s grace than we sometimes think. Salvation is not the finish line, it is the start of the race. Salvation is the first bonus.
God sent Jesus to the earth first for our salvation. He sent Him to reconcile man unto God but there was more. It is like having your cake and eating too.
What is the bonus?
Jesus told us what the bonuses are in God’s Word.
Bonus two, Jesus said, “Now I am going to him who sent me, yet none of you asks me, ‘ Where are you going?’ Because I have said these things, you are filled with grief. But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to You.” John 16:5-7
Bonus two, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is as important to the life of the believer as is air to the human body. That is pretty important.
Why? It’s a power thing. Jesus told us that we would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on us.
It’s not that we are on a power trip because we are Christians,
Well, maybe it is, Jesus promised us power when the Holy Spirit comes.
Power over sin, power over temptation, power to be witnesses, power to walk in the authority of God: Which is the other bonus.
Mark 16:17 “And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and they will drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all, they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.”
What a difference this world would be if we all walked in the authority of God that was given to each of us because of His amazing grace. These things are the incomparable riches of His grace. Salvation, forgiveness of sins, protection, provision, healing, strength, power, love, and friendship.
Where are you today my friend? You have heard of God’s Grace, but have you received it? Have you accepted it? Have you allowed God to Change you? Or do you need a change? You can enjoy His forgiveness… You can live a better life. You can be free from your burden
All you need do is Receive it. All you need do is Accept it
Do it now. Before you take your next breath. You never know which one will be your last. Accept his Gift right now.
