Sermon

• Maybe in a fight with someone you would say something like you are getting what you deserve now.
• Maybe in a job you feel like you deserve a promotion or a higher salary
• Maybe you feel like you deserve more of the family inheritance.
• Today we want to talk about something that none of us DESERVE  but we may have it anyway.

• Omnipotent
• Omnipresent
• Omniscient

Defining Grace
Condescending favor. It has it’s roots in a Hebrew word that means to bend or stoop.

 * “Love that goes upward is worship, love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace.”  Pastor Donald Barnhouse.

Defining Grace cont.

• To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it.
• Receiving God’s acceptance by grace always stands in sharp contrast to earning it on the basis of works.

Ephesians 2:1-10
 
¹ As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, ² in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. ³ All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. ⁴ But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, ⁵ made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions-it is by grace you have been saved.
⁶ And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, ⁷ in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. ⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
-- NIV

 
KEY WORDS

• BY GRACE,
• THROUGH FAITH,
• IT IS THE GIFT OF GOD.

When it’s all said and done…

• In heaven the interview is going to sound like this: How did you get here? Grace
• What made it possible?  Grace
• What’s  your name? Grace…  
• There is only one password to enter heaven.     GRACE.

Salvation is a gift of Grace for anyone who wants to take it.    

It is free.
 

II: Receiving or Resisting Grace

1. We resist grace when our guilt and shame have not been adequately dealt with.

Grace nullifies guilt and renders shame     powerless.  

Some of us are better students of what we have done wrong rather than what God wants to do with us now

Any person being greatly used of god is a recipient of God’s great grace.
 

2. We resist grace when our pride is still paramount.  

Read the testimony of a humble man named Paul. He lost all confidence in his own track record. He got his priorities straight and when that happened everything fell into place.

  
3.We receive grace when we release all of our expectations.

• We no longer feel that what we have asked for is something due to us.
• “Samson prayed “ Just this once, Lord, I claim your grace.” He was a washout, a failure, a man with a bad record.  Not expectations and God granted his request.

 
III. Falling Away from Grace

Once we receive it why does it feel like sometimes we don’t have any more?
 
 
1. We compare  

    * We become legalistic in our doctrine and we stop living by the spirit of Freedom that christ gives. Christians are very vulnerable to make everyone the same. Different tastes, different opinions, different entertainment, different cars, different lifestyles make us all feel nervous at times. We place too much emphasis on externals and the importance of appearance.

Comparison fuels the fire of envy and prompts the tendency to judge and have prejudices.  

It nullifies grace.
 
If you have found yourself judging, comparing and being prejudice then you need a new dose of Grace to share.  
 
2. We control  

People who use fear tactics, intimidation, manipulation or subtle hints to get what they want is another way that we nullify grace.

So how do we get the Grace to let others be?

• Accept others
• Allow God to direct the lives of other people.  They will develop and mature in God’s time.  Refuse all temptations to be Brother basher or Sister Smasher.
• Never assume a position we are not qualified to fill.  Stop judging others.
• We lack full knowledge.  We don’t know motives.  We live with blind spots.  We are all prejudice.  We lack the big picture.  We are imperfect.
• d.  Love must rule!  We are all bought with a price and out goal is not to please man but to please the Lord.

Do you need Grace?

• Yes we all do!
• Those who are given a lot of grace will in return give grace to others.

GO Question 

1. What the word ‘grace’ to you?
2. How do you describe ‘grace’ mean in daily life? Is that the same mean with compasion? What’s your opinion?
3. To show grace is to extend favor or kindness to one who doesn’t deserve it and can never earn it. Please read Ephesians 2:8-10, God gives grace into ourselves. Have you ever received grace from others? Or give grace for others? Please share
4. Can we receive God’s grace while we can’t forgive others or even ourselves? How do you see this matter? There are things still happening in our daily life, perhaps problems within co-workers, boss, family, friends, etc. Please share
5. Comparison fuels the fire of envy and prompts the tendency to judge and have prejudice. It nullifies (cancel out) grace. It happends many times within family, friends, co-workers, neighbour environment. Are you agreee? What would you do to solve this problem? Please share
6. Forgive people is the grace of God. What else do you think is the grace of God? How do you enhance yourself?
7. Please pray that we can countinuely give and receive the grace of God by remembering others need, sadness, sickness, blessings, etc.

 
Thank you and God bless you all
Erny Yodianto/GO Rejoice