To those that were at LBC this past Sunday, this may be a repeat, but I did add something extra at the end. Grace is one of the basics of Christianity. Whether we realize it or not, man can not live without it and it is possible and most beneficial to attain more of it according to God's Word. The meaning of the form of the word "grace" that we will be using from the Bible is: the divine influence upon the heart, and it's reflection in the life; including gratitude. My explanation of it is, a gratefulness of heart that allows God to strengthen your heart to make it through anything in life.
1. Must voluntarily humble one's self before the Lord. (read James 4:5-10) Many times a person will humble themselves after they have been chastened by the Lord. This is good and needed, but it is best and God can give more grace if we willingly humble ourselves. This humbling must be done before the Lord, hence acknowledging His greatness and our great need of Him. Sometimes we will have a false humbling of our self before mankind and think it is the same as humbling our self to God. This is not good and it is a trait of the Pharisee's of which most rejected the Lord.
2. Must realize that grace only comes through and due to the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. (read I Peter 1:13-21) Just because God can bless us with more grace, it is never because of what we have done to allow God to give it to us, but all because of what Jesus did for us by dying and shedding His blood on the cross so the we could have access to this grace. It is through this grace offered by Christ to all man that we can be assured of our salvation and our heavenly home for all of eternity. If you have never trusted Christ as saviour, these first 2 points are as far as you need to read. I plead with you earnestly that right now you humble yourself before God and realize His son Jesus paid for your each and every sin when he shed his blood for you and me and willfully accept him as your one and only saviour today. Simply confess with your mouth to God, and believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day to save your soul and you will be saved for all eternity at that very instant.
3. Must separate our desires from the lusts (desires) of the world. (also I Peter 1:13-21) This sounds easy, but you will spend the rest of your life accomplishing this. Even though it is a task that mankind in his sinful nature will struggle with until death, God honors it when we strive to be different from this sinful world and try to live according to His plan laid out in the Bible.
4. Must maintain Biblical family order. (read I Peter 3:7) I don't expect this to be a popular point in today's world, but it is still the truth. God designed the family to be led by the husband in a loving, not domineering fashion; the wife is to submit and follow the husband; and the kids are to be led and raised by the parents and therefore submit and follow the parents. Notice how this verse states that the husband's prayers will be hindered if he is out of order with his wife. Much grace is sought and received through our prayer life.
5. Must spread the grace we have received to others. (read I Peter 4:8-10) Very little that God does for us and gives to us that He does not expect us to use it to help others. There is a world full of sinners on their way to hell waiting for us to share this grace with them. There are also many struggling Christians in need of you sharing your grace with them and you may be that vessel God is using to give them the extra grace they need.
6. Must be considered a cherished task. (also I Peter 4:8-10) This task of spreading God's grace to others should be done as "good stewards". It should be a task and privilege that we are eager and willing to do.
How important is it to gain more grace? Peace is something we have in our life when this grace is present and growing. I will leave you with the following verse to think on.
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
1. Must voluntarily humble one's self before the Lord. (read James 4:5-10) Many times a person will humble themselves after they have been chastened by the Lord. This is good and needed, but it is best and God can give more grace if we willingly humble ourselves. This humbling must be done before the Lord, hence acknowledging His greatness and our great need of Him. Sometimes we will have a false humbling of our self before mankind and think it is the same as humbling our self to God. This is not good and it is a trait of the Pharisee's of which most rejected the Lord.
2. Must realize that grace only comes through and due to the shed blood of Jesus Christ on the cross. (read I Peter 1:13-21) Just because God can bless us with more grace, it is never because of what we have done to allow God to give it to us, but all because of what Jesus did for us by dying and shedding His blood on the cross so the we could have access to this grace. It is through this grace offered by Christ to all man that we can be assured of our salvation and our heavenly home for all of eternity. If you have never trusted Christ as saviour, these first 2 points are as far as you need to read. I plead with you earnestly that right now you humble yourself before God and realize His son Jesus paid for your each and every sin when he shed his blood for you and me and willfully accept him as your one and only saviour today. Simply confess with your mouth to God, and believe in your heart that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again the third day to save your soul and you will be saved for all eternity at that very instant.
3. Must separate our desires from the lusts (desires) of the world. (also I Peter 1:13-21) This sounds easy, but you will spend the rest of your life accomplishing this. Even though it is a task that mankind in his sinful nature will struggle with until death, God honors it when we strive to be different from this sinful world and try to live according to His plan laid out in the Bible.
4. Must maintain Biblical family order. (read I Peter 3:7) I don't expect this to be a popular point in today's world, but it is still the truth. God designed the family to be led by the husband in a loving, not domineering fashion; the wife is to submit and follow the husband; and the kids are to be led and raised by the parents and therefore submit and follow the parents. Notice how this verse states that the husband's prayers will be hindered if he is out of order with his wife. Much grace is sought and received through our prayer life.
5. Must spread the grace we have received to others. (read I Peter 4:8-10) Very little that God does for us and gives to us that He does not expect us to use it to help others. There is a world full of sinners on their way to hell waiting for us to share this grace with them. There are also many struggling Christians in need of you sharing your grace with them and you may be that vessel God is using to give them the extra grace they need.
6. Must be considered a cherished task. (also I Peter 4:8-10) This task of spreading God's grace to others should be done as "good stewards". It should be a task and privilege that we are eager and willing to do.
How important is it to gain more grace? Peace is something we have in our life when this grace is present and growing. I will leave you with the following verse to think on.
Psalm 119:165 "Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them."
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