Sustaining Grace.
1st Peter 5:12.
We are in our third sermon on the series titled amazing grace. We are talking about that wonderful subject grace. We talked about saving grace last week. We got our text in Ephesians 2 verses 8 &9. “For by grace are you saved through faith, not of works lest any man should boast.”
Now today, I want to talk about sustaining grace. Not only are we saved by grace but we live by grace. I don’t know that you have ever thought about being sustained by God’s grace but I want you to understand more about this today. Over in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.”
I like what that verse teaches because it leaves no doubt. It didn’t say He might perform it; it didn’t say He will try to perform it; it didn’t say that He would perform it if you do this and that. It does say He that has begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ. You see, Jesus not only saves us by grace but will sustain us by His grace.
Over in 1st Peter chapter 5 verse 12, Peter tells us about the sustaining grace of God. Look at what we are told in that verse.
He is talking about how the grace of God sustains you. When the storms come, God’s grace will sustain you and there are many in our congregation that can attest to that this morning. When the devil is there to tempt you, there is the sustaining grace of God to help you stand against the temptation of the devil.
Now I want to mention about two things that are witnesses to the sustaining grace of almighty God. The first one of those things I want to mention is, GOD’S SUSTAINING GRACE HELPS US TO STAND WHEN WE ARE TEMPTED. I want you to look at verse 8, he said, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
You have heard several times in the news about someone being stalked. If you are a Christian, I want you to know that one thing is sure and that is you are being stalked. You are being stalked by the devil. The devil knows he doesn’t own you any more but he wants to make you stumble and looking for every opportunity to make you do so. Let me tell you how that the devil makes us stumble; and that is when it comes time for decisions we decide for self rather than the way of the Lord.
A few years back, Larry King had Billy Graham on his program. It was right after the time of the immoral acts of Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky. Mr. King was talking about American leaders, those that are in the lime light, yielding to times of immorality. He asked Dr. Graham how he had escaped being caught in the scandal as many others in lime light. Dr. Graham said I have been tempted like all others but there is the sustaining grace of God. He said God will not allow a temptation to come that He does not provide a way of escape.
Folk that means at time you may have to change channels on TV. It might mean that you have to turn your head and some times it may mean you have to change friends. Some times it means just a fast pair of feet to flee from the place, but the sustaining grace of God will provide a way of escape.
Not only do we see that the sustaining grace of God helps us to stand when we are tempted but we see also that GOD’S SUSTAINING GRACE HELPS US TO STAND WHEN WE ARE TIRED.
I have had people come and tell me that they hated to go to work on Monday. Not because they hated the job but they were the only believers in the office. I know some of you are faced with that at the work place. Many have said I am tired of being laughed at and made fun of. I am not going to say anything to them. I have a verse for you and I will guarantee you will work. Remember this verse of Scripture and what I am about to tell you again is the sustaining grace of God. Galatians 6:9 says, “let us not grow weary in well doing for in due season we shall reap if you faint not.”
I want to tell you something that will help you and that is God doesn’t ask us to live for Him. He expects us to die to Him that He might live His life through us. That is the key to the Christian life and that is to know that the Spirit of God has taken His abode in your heart and wants to live His life through you.
There are some here this morning that need to give your heart to the Lord. I believe there are some here this morning that need to get saved. God the Holy Spirit is convicting you showing you a need to be saved. I want every head bowed all over the building this morning and listen to this pastor. If you feel that you need to be saved, then will you hold your hand in the air? Preacher pray for me that I will be saved and go to heaven when I die.
Next, there are some of you that have been saved but you have never followed through as far as baptism and joining the church. You need to do that. You need to be a member of the local church. I will ask you to come this morning during the invitation. Do you know Jesus?
