Christian Church 24.7 Ministry Community Group
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Many preachers today preach about Grace but, they still can't get the meaning across to those who hear their messages. An Old Deacon told me something years ago that I have always remembered. G--R--A--C---E
God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
Our text today says this: "for by GRACE are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast:!!!!!!!
This statement is just as true as Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death but, the GIFT of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord"!!!!!!!
Grace is the Internal entwined thread or in modern words (Super Glue) that secures our salvation with God!
Grace is used over 150 times in the New Testament. One of the hardest things for me to grasp and understand, back in 1973, when I was saved, is this wonderful thing called Grace.
God's grace is multi-faced just like a fine diamond. The more facets it has, the brighter it is.
Here are 3 things I wish to share about GRACE.
I. God is it's source (or origin):
a. God is the source of Grace
b, Christ is the channel of Grace
c. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace.
Grace is inexhaustible, undescribable, an unmeasureable.
A. Grace reaches all levels of mankind. Rich, poor, educated, unlearned, famous or unknown. Grace can't be bought, it can not be earned and it can not be traded yet, it worth more than man can describe.
Grace is essential for salvation but, we as mankind do not merit it or deserve it. Salvation and Grace are both a work of God. It not what we do, it is what he has already done.
II, What does Grace do?
A, It Sustains Us: II Cor. 12:9 says:
"And He said to me, thy grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Most gladly therefore I rather glory in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake: for when I an weak, then am I strong.
A. Grace sustains us in temptations.
Don't you wish that whenever we get saved, that we are never tempted again? That would be glorious in itself!!!!!!! Temptation always comes from Satan. Examples of temptation:
a. lust
b. a prayerless life
c. failure to read God's word
d. failure to give to God's church
e. failure to attend regularly
B. It sustains us in times of trouble. These times will come. It is not, if they will come, it is when they will come.
1. physical
2. financial
3. spiritual
4. emotional
These will come along sometime in your life. Just because you are saved, does not make you exempt from these things. Those who have experienced this things and have came through them to the other side can testify of God's Grace sustaining them and being with them through these times.
Notice I said that the Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace. What does an administrator do? An administrator takes care of the business at hand, on a daily basis. Our Administrator is the best there is!!!!!!!
III Grace to Serve:
We are saved to serve, not saved to sit. Every Christian has work to do.
In their family, in their community and in their small cities and towns.
I have pastored and preached now for 35 years and I have known some wonderful Pastor friends. We get together at times and discuss church growth, church issues, goals, etc. Here is something I have never heard a Pastor friend of mine say.
a. I have too many workers in my church, I just don't know what to do with them.
b. I have too many people wanting to clean the church and Sunday school areas every week.
c. I have too many people wanting to be church greeters.
d. I have too many people wanting to teach a Sunday School class
e, I have too many people wanting to do special music on Sunday Morning
f. I have too many people wanting to help with Vacation Bible School
g. I have too many people wanting to work in the Nursery on Sunday mornings
h. I have too many people wanting to go visiting lost people, shut-ins and Hospital patients
i. I have too many people wanting to work with the youth at the church
God gives us grace to serve, to witness, to give of our time and our talents for His Glory. If you have no desire to do anything in the church, there is something wrong somewhere!!!!!!!!!
How often do you compliment your Pastor?
How often do you buy him a new suit, a new shirt, a pair of shoes or, a new tie.
How often do you pray for your Pastor?
How often do you give him an anonymous gift? Take he and his wife to lunch?
Sometimes, little things mean a lot folks.
We Pastors take a lot of flack at times. We preach to long, we preach too loud, we are too dignified or not dignified enough, we are boring, or we get too personal about things. Really?
I have been persecuted because I ride a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, because I have tattoos, because I am an ex-alcoholic and drug user, ex-biker, because of jealousy and because I do not have a Bachelor's degree from a cemetery ( I mean Seminary) or, a doctorate Degree.
Don's show me you Seminary Degree. Don't show me your Bachelor's degree or your Doctorate Degrees. These are just pieces of paper that shows you have been through school Want to impress me? Tell me how many souls you have won to the Lord the past year, the past 5 years, the past 10 years!!!!!!!! I have none of these Degrees but, I have the Master's Degree and that is all I need!!!!!!!!
Only the Power of the Holy Spirit can make you an effectual servant of the Lord.
God is the Source of Grace
Christ is the channel of Grace
The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace.
Are you following the directions of The Administrator? If not, why not?
God loved you enough to save you. God's Grace is enough to sustain you and God's Grace will equip you, to serve Him. "For by GRACE are ye saved through Faith.........it is a gift of God.
May God add His blessings to this message.
Oldbiker
God's Riches At Christ's Expense.
Our text today says this: "for by GRACE are ye saved through faith: and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast:!!!!!!!
This statement is just as true as Romans 6:23 "The wages of sin is death but, the GIFT of God is Eternal Life through Jesus Christ our Lord"!!!!!!!
Grace is the Internal entwined thread or in modern words (Super Glue) that secures our salvation with God!
Grace is used over 150 times in the New Testament. One of the hardest things for me to grasp and understand, back in 1973, when I was saved, is this wonderful thing called Grace.
God's grace is multi-faced just like a fine diamond. The more facets it has, the brighter it is.
Here are 3 things I wish to share about GRACE.
I. God is it's source (or origin):
a. God is the source of Grace
b, Christ is the channel of Grace
c. The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace.
Grace is inexhaustible, undescribable, an unmeasureable.
A. Grace reaches all levels of mankind. Rich, poor, educated, unlearned, famous or unknown. Grace can't be bought, it can not be earned and it can not be traded yet, it worth more than man can describe.
Grace is essential for salvation but, we as mankind do not merit it or deserve it. Salvation and Grace are both a work of God. It not what we do, it is what he has already done.
II, What does Grace do?
A, It Sustains Us: II Cor. 12:9 says:
"And He said to me, thy grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness, Most gladly therefore I rather glory in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distress for Christ's sake: for when I an weak, then am I strong.
A. Grace sustains us in temptations.
Don't you wish that whenever we get saved, that we are never tempted again? That would be glorious in itself!!!!!!! Temptation always comes from Satan. Examples of temptation:
a. lust
b. a prayerless life
c. failure to read God's word
d. failure to give to God's church
e. failure to attend regularly
B. It sustains us in times of trouble. These times will come. It is not, if they will come, it is when they will come.
1. physical
2. financial
3. spiritual
4. emotional
These will come along sometime in your life. Just because you are saved, does not make you exempt from these things. Those who have experienced this things and have came through them to the other side can testify of God's Grace sustaining them and being with them through these times.
Notice I said that the Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace. What does an administrator do? An administrator takes care of the business at hand, on a daily basis. Our Administrator is the best there is!!!!!!!
III Grace to Serve:
We are saved to serve, not saved to sit. Every Christian has work to do.
In their family, in their community and in their small cities and towns.
I have pastored and preached now for 35 years and I have known some wonderful Pastor friends. We get together at times and discuss church growth, church issues, goals, etc. Here is something I have never heard a Pastor friend of mine say.
a. I have too many workers in my church, I just don't know what to do with them.
b. I have too many people wanting to clean the church and Sunday school areas every week.
c. I have too many people wanting to be church greeters.
d. I have too many people wanting to teach a Sunday School class
e, I have too many people wanting to do special music on Sunday Morning
f. I have too many people wanting to help with Vacation Bible School
g. I have too many people wanting to work in the Nursery on Sunday mornings
h. I have too many people wanting to go visiting lost people, shut-ins and Hospital patients
i. I have too many people wanting to work with the youth at the church
God gives us grace to serve, to witness, to give of our time and our talents for His Glory. If you have no desire to do anything in the church, there is something wrong somewhere!!!!!!!!!
How often do you compliment your Pastor?
How often do you buy him a new suit, a new shirt, a pair of shoes or, a new tie.
How often do you pray for your Pastor?
How often do you give him an anonymous gift? Take he and his wife to lunch?
Sometimes, little things mean a lot folks.
We Pastors take a lot of flack at times. We preach to long, we preach too loud, we are too dignified or not dignified enough, we are boring, or we get too personal about things. Really?
I have been persecuted because I ride a Harley Davidson Motorcycle, because I have tattoos, because I am an ex-alcoholic and drug user, ex-biker, because of jealousy and because I do not have a Bachelor's degree from a cemetery ( I mean Seminary) or, a doctorate Degree.
Don's show me you Seminary Degree. Don't show me your Bachelor's degree or your Doctorate Degrees. These are just pieces of paper that shows you have been through school Want to impress me? Tell me how many souls you have won to the Lord the past year, the past 5 years, the past 10 years!!!!!!!! I have none of these Degrees but, I have the Master's Degree and that is all I need!!!!!!!!
Only the Power of the Holy Spirit can make you an effectual servant of the Lord.
God is the Source of Grace
Christ is the channel of Grace
The Holy Spirit is the Administrator of Grace.
Are you following the directions of The Administrator? If not, why not?
God loved you enough to save you. God's Grace is enough to sustain you and God's Grace will equip you, to serve Him. "For by GRACE are ye saved through Faith.........it is a gift of God.
May God add His blessings to this message.
Oldbiker
8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.
great message!