Love, Prayer and Grace Matthew 28:19-20
Jesus gave His disciples one final command upon ascending to heaven. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
Of course no one will go and make disciples, much less baptize a so called follower without believing that Jesus gave them these final words.
These words from Jesus came out of concern, care and love. Jesus foreknew our needs and accomplished them through His surrender on the cross!
Jesus’ final words on earth were for Christ followers to go, go and make disciples, teach them and always know that ‘I AM’ is with you. P.H.
Jesus teaches~ “Everything you’ve received, give to others.
Show everyone your love, your discipleship, your passion, and fruit. Show everyone joy, show them who you worship, show them your peace~ Show them Jesus’ presence with your actions and deeds.~Go ahead live it!”
Know this, “I AM’ will always be with you.”
Everything you’ve received, give to others.
Upon coming to CECC, the Lord gave me 3 words. Love, Prayer and Grace it was to become our motto and our reason to exist, our reason to make disciples of men.
I don’t t think it’s coincidental, that this statement followed me here from another Church body. I believe God offered this vision to a Gainesville church, but they turned it down.
If you’re not careful, you can turn things down by your attitude.
Your lack of passion and lack of faith mixed with a lack of vision for the future.
We have selected this sentence~ “To be a people of Love, Prayer and Grace!”
This scripture is to stay at the forefront while doing life.
Proverbs 29:18NASB Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law.
In the column of your Bible it might say the words~ Redemptive revelation.
Proverbs 29:18NLT When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.
“I like You, understand nothing of significance can be done without the power and presence of Jesus Christ and His Holy Spirit!” P.H.
While playing golf yesterday, the Lord spoke this word to me, and presently it’s a word for you too. “Don’t back off the vision, I’ve look far and wide for a body of Christ to follow this vision and this purpose.”
Don’t back off your standards.
Don’t back off your devotions.
Walk in Love, Prayer and Grace.
With that said, it’s time to talk about them: To Be A People Of Love, Prayer and Grace.
Statement: true or false: “It’s God’s will that His church body grow?” Illustration: If a child isn’t growing his or her parents would start to think something’s wrong. God never intended for His body to sit, soak and sour!
In the book of Acts 2, there are three key words you will see in action: 1. Love. 2. Prayer. 3. Grace.
Love, is the first word that has to be discovered; Love and evangelism work hand n’ hand.
Rick Warren say’s in The Purpose Driven Church “If you knew the cure for cancer, I’m sure you’d do everything you could to get the news out. It would save millions of lives. But you already know something better!”
Acts 2:36-43NASB Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” 37 Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “ Brethren, what shall we do?” 38 Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.” 40 And with many other words he solemnly testified and kept on exhorting them, saying, “ Be saved from this perverse generation!” 41 So then, those who had received his word were baptized; and that day there were added about three thousand souls. 42 They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
43 Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles.
Listen to John 3:16-17 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.
Love is the answer for every problem. Sometimes, Love speaks hard truth; It’s not always easy to love! Love doesn’t bale out; love doesn’t let go. Jesus’ love won your heart and His love will win others.
Song Of Solomon 2:4NASB He has brought me to his banquet hall, And his banner over me is love.
“For love to be real, it has to be vertical before it can be horizontal.” P.H.
Secondly, To Be A People of Prayer: Worship and prayer go hand and hand, you really won’t worship without prayer and vice-versa!
Matthew 4:10NKJB Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the LORD your God, and Him only you shall serve.
This 3 ‘P’s’. “Pride, Power and Pay.”
Notice that Worship and Prayer come before service, because you can’t serve what you don’t worship and pray for!
Psalm 34:3NKJB Oh, magnify the LORD with me, And let us exalt His name together.
Prayer and evangelism is so important! Christ actually gave us five great commissions, one for each gospel, and one in the book of Acts!
The fifth time Jesus said in Acts 1:8NKJB But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Remember, prayer and evangelism is our privilege. Growth isn’t optional; Jesus Christ commands it!
“Satan comes to blind us; satan understands that you won’t wittiness to someone you don’t love!” P.H.
John 17: 22-23NKJB And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: 23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.
A People of Grace: grace is taught and then it’s caught! Grace is the most misunderstood word in the Bible. Grace plus nothing is the truth. When individuals acknowledge the price for their sins, and really understand His grace paid sins penalty in full forever.
If I fed you a message of religion without Christ all you would have is condemnation.
“You’re not good enough! Your going to hell! You’re wearing the wrong clothes! You better do right or else. You got to earn this grace, you got to work your figures to the bone for this grace.
Romans 8:1NASB Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
Grace say’s, “I love you and I will pray for you, Grace say’s, I will do grace, and I will see grace in everything done and watch His church grow!”
This scripture was placed on our tithe envelopes 10 years ago when I arrived. 2 Corinthians 8:9NKJB For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Grace say’s, go make disciples! Because you remember the grace that was given to you way back when! Grace shots out Jesus Christ every time!
Ephesians 2:8NKJB For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
Grace say’s, “How many were saved? How many are coming? Are the pews full?” Grace rejoices over positive results! Grace is seen at its best in Luke 15, when the prodigal comes home, and his father opens his arms. Grace is seen at its worse in the same chapter when the prodigal’s older brother wishes his brother was dead and gone!”
Every person that will declare Love, Prayer and Grace please stand to your feet; Every person who will start showing Love, Prayer and Grace stand up!
Benediction.
