Living a Grace-full Life
SERIES: WHAT’S SO AMAZING ABOUT GRACE?
Pastor Dan Myer
"But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
“…to know the love of Christ… that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God.” Ephesians 3:19
Intro:
This is one of the richest studies I have found in the word of God, the study of grace…We spoke about Healing Grace, Saving Grace, and Redeeming Grace.
It is the deepest desire of God for us to grow in his grace and to become all that he has established and purposed for us to become in him. He has created us to have purpose and value here on earth and to have purpose and power in the eternal realm!
This is a significant process from which God takes the old man or the “sinful man” from darkness to a life lived in the power of His glorious light! We need his wonderful presence to reach this highest of calls!
To better understand how to live a Grace Full life we can look at the life of Jesus Christ!
I. Jesus is Grace-Full
John 1:14
“…the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.”
John 1:17
“The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
- Hebrews 10:29 calls him the spirit of grace
- No one more Perfect or Powerful
- He was the pattern for us…
II. The Right to Become
Grace is not merely the un-merited favor of God it is more importantly the favor and power of God to become!
John 1:12
“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name.”
To become the men and women he has desired for us to be.
Galatians 4:19
“My little children, of whom I am again in travail until Christ be formed in you”
- We spoke about how… GOD RUNS TO US…what is our response? Do we run to him? Teenager many hours in prayer!
- Not just leading us out of sin…but leading us into a place of promise!
- Do not get lost in the journey…
III. The Grace-Full life is a:
1. Surrendered Life
a) Seeking God, “David as hart [deer] pants…”
Luke 22:42 (NLT)
“Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”
Philippians 2:4
“… Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus:
He made himself of no reputation, and took … the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”
b) He dwells with the contrite:
Isaiah 57:15
“For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Isaiah 66:2
“I will bless those who have humble and contrite hearts,
who tremble at my word.”
c) Grace-Full people:
Actively pursue a lifelong process of spiritual growth in Christ and seek to become conformed to His image. To this end, they consistently nurture their spiritual development through prayer, worship, and the word of God.
d) Grace-Full people:
Regard the word of God as the final authority in all areas that it teaches about and desire to be completely obedient to it. They honestly confront areas of personal sin and engage the presence of God to turn from sin.
e) The early church gave themselves to God:
2 Corinthians 8:5 (NLT)
“They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”
f) Your rebuke is like oil running down, I want to please you God!
g) What you choose Lord! 2 Corinthians 8:5
2. Hidden Life
a) Accepted in the beloved
Ephesians1:6
“…to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.”
b) Hidden in Christ, Put on Christ
2 Corinthians 5:17
“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.”
Colossians 2:11
“… putting off of the body of the flesh, in the circumcision of Christ; having been buried with him in baptism, wherein ye were also raised with him”
Colossians 3:3
“For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.”
3. Elevated Life
a) If you will humble yourself…you will be exalted
James 4:6 (NIV)
“But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
Matthew 23:12
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”
b) Come to do thy will
Philippians 2:9
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:”
4. Overflowing Life
a) Christ in you the hope of glory, Colossians 1:27
b) God will walk and dwell in the grace filled…
2 Corinthians 6:16
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”
c) “Out of your bellies shall flow rivers of living water…”
John 7:38
“He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.”
Closing:
Cornelius a devout gentile, feared God, prayed always, and gave alms…this has come up before God. (Acts 10:1-5) Send for Peter and he will deliver the message from God, what you are to do. (Acts 10:34-48)
