Flamdunktious 3
FAITH FILLED GRACE NOTES
Grace notes:
Generally little, subtleties that make distinct and noticeable difference
Jot and tittle (Matt 5:18)
Mustard seed (Matt 13:31-32, Matt 17:20)
Widows mite (Luke 21:1-4)
Loaves and fishes (Matt 14:13-21, Mark 6:31-44, Luke 9:12-17, John 6:1-14)
The effort to develop the technique to express grace notes with excellence can be likened to going the second mile
GRACE
The Bible itself is a faith-filled grace note, a love letter written to us all
And within the New Testament, the Apostles wrote faith-filled grace notes for believers!
Paul speaks Grace over every person/city he writes to
Rome:
Romans 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Corinth:
1 Corinthians 1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
And again in 2 Corinthians 1:2 Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Galatia:
Galatians 1:3 Grace be to you and peace from God the Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ
Ephesus:
Ephesians 1:2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Philippi:
Philippians 1:2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Colosse:
Colossians 1:2 To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thessalonica:
1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
And again in:
2 These 1:2 Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Timothy
1 Timothy 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.
And again in 2 Timothy 1:2 To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.
Titus
Titus 1:4 To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour.
Philemon
Philemon 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Peter and John likewise spoke grace over the readers in their letters!
2 Peter 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord,
2 John 1:3: Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.
Revelation 1:4 John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne;
The apostles were aware they were writing scripture and led by the spirit, they were incredibly intentional about what they said. In that context, they felt the need to speak grace over everyone who would read.
But what is grace?
Lots of cultural expressions of what grace is.
“I deserve some grace”
Saying “grace” for food
Many people have a “she’ll be right” expression of faith because of cheap grace.
Peter indicates that there is a “true” grace, and thus there must also be a “false” grace
1 Peter 5:12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.
Biblical grace: HANDY LINK
grace
that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
good will, loving-kindness, favour
of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
what is due to grace
the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
the token or proof of grace, benefit
a gift of grace
benefit, bounty
thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
Keynote Scripture: Ephesians 2 (HANDY LINK)
GRACE IS A GIFT
So that no one may boast
2 Corinthians 12
7 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. 8 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 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.
Grace is given to the humble
James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
Grace produces more gifts
The leadership gifts from Jesus to the church, the five fold ministry, are given by Grace
Ephesians 4:7-16
1 Corinthians 12
GRACE IS POWERFUL
Ephesians 2 By grace you are saved through faith
Shout Grace to it
Zech 4:6-7 So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of Hosts. What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain. Then he will bring forth the capstone accompanied by shouts of ‘Grace, grace to it!’”
GRACE IS SUFFICIENT
When scripture said “with God NOTHING is impossible”, it wasn’t being hyperbolic, God’s grace is sufficient and we can do ALL THINGS through Christ who gives us strength.
GRACE IS THE ENVIRONMENT OF GOD’S THRONE
Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
WE ARE STEWARDS OF GOD’S GRACE
1 Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
BID:
By grace through faith
One of the gifts we are given by grace, is faith
We’re ALL given a measure of faith
And we need to CHOOSE to USE that faith in order to FUNCTION in ALL the grace gifts
First of all - we must be saved, we must be born again.
Today, respond in faith to the Gospel that Jesus died, was buried, and rose again with witnesses to all of it. He died so we could have relationship with God. God SO LOVED us, that He sent Jesus to do this so we could be part of His family.
Secondly, we must choose by faith to live lives of obedience to God, lives that follow in Jesus’ grace steps and steward the grace of God.
Romans 12
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have[e] regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
If he is thirsty, give him a drink;
For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.