10.12.2008 BE STRONG - GROW IN GRACE
by William Akehurst, HSWC
To BE or not to BE. That is the question.
BE!
Call to Worship
Psalm 104:33
I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.
TEXT:
2 Timothy 2:1 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
LAST WEEK WE LOOKED AT WHAT IT WAS TO BE STRONG and TO BE.
But today I want to expound a bit.
2 Peter 3:18
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
BE JUSTIFIED
Titus 3:7
That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
BE MULTIPLIED THROUGH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND JESUS
2 Peter 1:2
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
Gods Grace
Grace, grace, God’s grace. Grace that will pardon and cleanse within.
GOD’s grace is unmerited favor GRACE means unearned favors received from God.
GRACE is the unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification
If we are to be STRONG in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus
Then does that mean that we can do whatever we want and just ask the LORD to forgive us? Not a chance.
Romans 6:1-2
1What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
2God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Heaven Forbid!
No, just as Christ’s showed his mercy and grace for us.
Even while on that cross, he prayed. Father forgive them, they know not what they do.
If we are to be strong in that grace
And we are to GROW in that same grace.
Then we must act in that same fashion to each other.
Growing in grace in the sense that we too, show grace to one another.
Forgiving and forbearing one another. Even when the person doesn’t come up and apologize.
Like water off a ducks back. Let the offence go. Do not hold a grudge. Show grace. Grow in grace.
We heard before the story of the eagle, flying. It was being annoyed by other smaller birds, and to get away, the eagle did not fight or charge or hold a grudge - it flew above the problem. It soared.
We too must soar above and learn from the FATHER above. He has shown us his mercy and grace. And if we are to live like Him, to be not only followers of Christ, but examples to others OF the love of Chirst.
I once heard it like this - We may be the only - Christ - that people know. We may be the only vision of what Christ was all about to someone who is looking on us. Not that we ARE Christ, but that we exemplify, magnify, glorify Jesus Christ.
So if we are to be strong in the grace of Christ
And we are to GROW in the grace of Christ
WE must BE and DO and GROW and LIVE in the Grace of Christ
WE must reflect what Christ did for us.
In this same manner, as Christ commanded us.
LOVE the LORD your GOD with all your heart, mind and strength
LOVE your neighbor as yourself.
IF we are to do this, in this fashion, then we will GROW by doing that which the LORD commanded us. We will show grace to one another.
|MORE BE’s|
BE STRONG BE BRAVE
1 Cor 16:13
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
BE KIND
BE TENDERHEARTED
BE FORGIVING OF ONE ANOTHER
Ephesians 4:32
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.
BE LOVING
MATTHEW 22:37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
BE A BRIGHT WITNESS
Matt 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.
BE MERCIFUL
Matt 5:7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.
BE PURE IN HEART
Matt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
BE A PEACEMAKER
Matt 5:9 Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.
BE PROSPEROUS, FRUITFUL
PSALM 1:1-3 1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
BE SOBER, in you mind, guarded, not allowing yourself to be clouded by things.
BE OBEDIENT UNTO THE LORD, as children to the parent (are supposed to be, anyway)
BE HOPEFUL to the end for the grace. LOOK AHEAD. LOOK BEYOND. LOOK TO ETERNITY
BE HOLY, as Christ was holy
1 Peter 1:13-15 (King James Version)
13 Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;
14 As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance:
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
BE TRUTHFUL
Psalm 119:29-31
29Remove from me the way of lying: and grant me thy law graciously.
30I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me.
BE SEEKING OUT THE LORD
Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
BE FOCUSED ON THE LORD
Galatians 5:22
22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
24And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
25If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
BE – Walking in the Spirit
Be Loving
Be Joyful
Be Peaceful
Be Longsuffering/Patient
Be gentle
Be good
Be faithful
Be meek
Be temperate (pleasant) Kind
Be crucified to the flesh
Be obedient
BE GENTLE, PATIENT
2 Timothy 2: 24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient,
BE JOYFUL
1 Chronicles 16:9-11 (King James Version)
9Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.
10Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.
11Seek the LORD and his strength, seek his face continually.
BE CLEAN, BE PURE
PSALM 24:3-5
3Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
BE FREE FROM SIN
BE SERVANTS TO GOD AND WHAT IS RIGHT
Romans 6:18
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
Romans 6:22
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
TO BE or NOT TO BE a Christian
Is to BELIEVE or NOT to BELIEVE
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life.
TO BE is to BE-LIEVE
Acts 17:28
For in him we live, and move, and have our being
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the LORD Jesus Christ we shall be saved
Acts 16:31And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
Romans 10:9
That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
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FROM LAST WEEK
Joshua 1:7
Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go.
Haggai 2:4
Yet now be strong, Zerubbabel,’ says the LORD; ‘and be strong, Joshua, son of Jehozadak, the high priest; and be strong, all you people of the land,’ says the LORD, ‘and work; for I am with you,’ says the LORD of hosts.
1 Cor 16:13
Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.
2 Cor 12:9-10
9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
Romans 4:20
He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
Joshua 24:24
And the people said unto Joshua, The LORD our God will we serve, and his voice will we obey.
Jeremiah 7:23
But this thing commanded I them, saying, Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and ye shall be my people: and walk ye in all the ways that I have commanded you, that it may be well unto you.
BE WELL DOING
Galatians 6:9-10
9And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
2 Thessalonians 3:13
But ye, brethren, be not weary in well doing.
BE GRACIOUS IN SPEECH
Colossians 4:6
Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Philemon 1:25
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
Deuteronomy 4:29-31 (King James Version)
29But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
30When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice;
31(For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.
BE STILL
Psalm 46:10 Be still and know that I am God
BE LIFTED UP
Psalm 27:5-6
5For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.
6And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me:
END
Romans 16:24
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Revelation 22:21
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
