Grace: More Than Unmerited Favor, Pastor Wendell Williams

Here is the Audio files from today's Church Service.

Pastor's Notes:

Grace                                                             GGFC SUN 7/25/10

Gentleness 2 Sam 22:36  Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy gentleness hath made me great. 37  Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip.

GENTLENESS = 6031. 'anah, aw-naw'; [YOU STOOP DOWN (NIV)]a prim. root [possibly rather ident. with H6030 through the idea of looking down or browbeating]; to depress lit. or fig., trans. or intrans. (in various applications, as follow):--abase self, afflict (-ion, self), answer [by mistake for H6030], chasten self, deal hardly with, defile, exercise, force, gentleness, humble (self), hurt, ravish, sing [by mistake for H6030], speak [by mistake for H6030], submit self, weaken, X in any wise.

H6030. 'anah, aw-naw'; [ANSWERETH, TO GIVE AN ANSWER]a prim. root; prop. to eye or (gen.) to heed, i.e. pay attention; by impl. to respond; by extens. to begin to speak; spec. to sing, shout, testify, announce:--give account, afflict [by mistake for H6031], (cause to, give) answer, bring low [by mistake for H6031], cry, hear, Lean noth, lift up, say, X scholar, (give a) shout, sing (together by course), speak, testify, utter, (bear) witness. See also H1042, H1043.

GREAT = 7235. rabah, raw-baw'; a prim. root; to increase (in whatever respect):--[bring in] abundance (X -antly), + archer [by mistake for H7232], be in authority, bring up, X continue, enlarge, excel, exceeding (-ly), be full of, (be, make) great (-er, -ly), X -ness), grow up, heap, increase, be long, (be, give, have, make, use) many (a time), (any, be, give, give the, have) more (in number), (ask, be, be so, gather, over, take, yield) much (greater, more), (make to) multiply, nourish, plenty (-eous), X process [of time], sore, store, thoroughly, very.

GRACE

ISA 61:1  The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; 2  To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

3  To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

BEAUTY = [H 2580 Chen - graciousness, i.e. subj. (kindness, favor) or obj.

(beauty);- favour, grace (ious), pleasant, precious, [well-] favoured.

GRACE [NOAH] IN THE OT HAS A TREMENDOUS EMPHASIS ON THE MERCY OF GOD…AND THANKFULLY SO…

BUT IN THE NT…GRACE HAS AN EMPHASIS ON THE POWER OF GOD WORKING THRU YOU HIS WONDERS TO PERFORM…[DESPITE THE IMPERFECTIONS IN YOU!...].

JOHN14:12  I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.13 and I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

The Old Testament 8467 Graciousness, intrigue, favor, supplication. Well, that’s very different than the meaning in Greek. ..In the Greek, it’s not supplication, its empowerment or endowment of power. That comes from [techinoff], kindness to an inferior. To favor or bestow, to implore, to favor by petition, to besiege, to show favor, able; give, grant, gracious, to intrigue, to be Merciful, to show mercy upon.

Old Testament: have pity upon. What Christ made available to us was not centered upon Him having pity upon us; He was saying, .You can do what I did!. .Come on, join the team!. He is compassionate to the point of blessing us with great ability. [JOHN 14:12-14 TELLS US SO]

NOW IT IS TRUE THAT IN THE OT IN [2 SAM 22:30] KING DAVID WRITES…” 30 For by thee I have run through a troop: by my God have I leaped over a wall.[NIV] SAYS: 30  With your help I can advance against a troop ; with my God I can scale a wall.

IN THE OT…THANK GOD DAVID WAS GETTING HELP…BY THE MERCY & FAVOR OF GOD…BUT IN THE NT…WE ALL GET HELP WHEN PAUL WRITES…

ROMANS 8: 37…We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us. 38  For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, 39  Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

PLS SAY THIS WITH ME: “GOD’S GRACE IS AN ALL-SUFFICIENT [2 COR 12:9], ALL-CONQUERING, EMPOWERING FORCE AT WORK IN MY/OUR LIFE/LIVES..[I AM…YOU ARE…WE ARE…MORE THAN CONQUERORS THRU JESUS CHRIST WHO LOVES US…. AND DIED FOR US…WHO LIVES AND I INTERCEDES FOR US….AND IS THE KING OF GLORY SOON TO RETURN FOR US.]

P. DON MOORE IN HIS BOOK, “GRACE MORE HAN UNMERITED FAVOR” WRITES…” The

Traditionally accepted definition of Grace as unmerited favor causes us to feel gratitude for God’s kindness to us. This makes us humble and feeling significantly smaller. Understanding Grace as God intended is not only humbling, but adds a greater degree of empowerment.

Grace gives us an .I can do. .I will do. .I must do what I’m called to do!. IT’S AN Attitude of power. .

IN [2 COR 12:9]. Jesus told Paul My Grace is sufficient for you  . Jesus was saying, .I.ve empowered you with enough of Me to free yourself!. Paul was crying out as a victim and Jesus was telling him stop whining, I have made you a victor - a victorious overcomer!.

[“MORE THAN A CONQUEROR!]

HE GOES ON TO WRITE THAT…” The plan of salvation is wise in its design. Everyone

saved becomes an evangelist to another. This is possible because each one can teach one. Jesus leads us to Himself as the source of salvation and by His example. One Man’s death pays the sin debt for many; by their Faith millions are saved. If you will believe He paid your debt, then He did! God permits a righteousness by Faith for payment of sin. This is amazing – BECAUSE (John 1:14)..the Word became flesh and dwelt among us. Not only does this work for salvation, but it works also for Grace. If we believe Jesus Christ provided Grace for us, then we will have it. If we have the wrong definition of Grace then we will appropriate something but it will not be the Grace Jesus died to give us.

THE WRONG DEFINITION OF GRACE IS…”I AM A WORM AND IF IT WASN’T FOR YOUR MERCY, I’D STILL BE A WORM….OH THANK YOU GOD THAN I’M NO LONGER A WORM.”…[NOW I UNDERSTAND THAT….BUT]…HOW ABOUT THIS…THANK YOU GOD THAT I’M NO LONGER A WORM…I AM A SINNER SAVED BY [GRACE]…YOUR AMAZING AMAZING GRACE…YOUR UN-MERITED…MEANING I DIDN’T DESERVE IT BUT YOU GAVE IT TO ME ANYWAY GRACE…

BUT THE GRACE THAT I RECEIVED AT MY SALVATION HAS NOW BECOME AN EMPOWERING GRACE THAT I WALK IN…AS I WALK OUT MY SALVATION…

• IN OTHER WORDS BY HIS GRACE I AM SAVED…. [EPH 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:]

• BY HIS GRACE “…I LIVE & MOVE & HAVE MY BEING” [ACTS 17: 28].

• AND BECAUSE OF HIS EMPOWERING GRACE…”I AM MORE THAN A CONQUEROR THRU HIM THAT LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME…”

• I HAVE BEEN ANOINTED WITH FRESH OIL [PS 92:10]…I HAVE RECEIVED POWER BY THE INDWELLING AND POWER OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT [ACTS 1:8]

ROM 6:6-8 Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.[WORMINESS] 7  For he that is dead is freed from sin.[WORMINESS] 8  Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him: [GODLINESS]

GAL 2:20-21  I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live[GODLINESS]; yet not I [WORMINESS], but Christ liveth in me [GODLINESS]: and the life which I now live in the flesh [GODLINESS] I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me. 21  I do not frustrate the GRACE of God: HOW DO I FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD?

A: ONLY AND ALWAYS THINKING LIKE A WORM, OR LOSER OR A FAILURE

B: FEELING SO DEPRESSED AND HOPELESS ABOUT MY LIFE ALL THE TIME SO MUCH SO THAT IT’S ALWAYS ABOUT ME AND AS A RESULT…

C: FAIL TO SHARE THE GOSPEL AND THE LOVE OF GOD WITH THOSE I LOVE,     CARE FOR OR COME IN CONTACT WITH. I MUST REMEMBER THAT DESPITE MY CHALLENGES, DIFFICULTIES & FRUSTRATIONS THERE IS ENOUGH OF GOD IN ME TO SHARE WITH OTHERS...

THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY OTHER WAYS THAT I CAN FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD IN MY LIFE (THE LIST COULD GO ON BASED ON MY ATTITUDES…CHARACTER & LIFESTYLE…ETC.BUT JUST CONSIDER THIS FOR A MOMENT)…

I CAN FRUSTRATE THE GRACE OF GOD IN MY LIFE:

• BY NOT OPENING MY HEART & MY SPIRIT & MY LIFE, COMPLETELY TO GOD SO THAT HIS GOD-SIZED POWER & POTENTIAL WORK IN ME…FOR ME & THRU ME.
• BY THINKING THINGS ABOUT GOD THAT ARE NOT TRUE.
• OR BELIEVING THINGS ABOUT HIS WORD THAT ARE NOT ACCURATE

I MUST REMEMBER & PURPOSE TO LIVE A LIFE THAT SHOUTS IT’S “CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY!”

PAUL SAID IN COL 1:27 &28 “THIS IS WHAT We proclaim ABOUT Him, THAT IT’S “CHRIST IN ME THE HOPE OF GLORY!”  admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ . :”For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” “To this end I labor, struggling with all HIS [GOD’S] energy, which so powerfully works in me.” [EPH 2:10] [COL 1:29]

GRACE = CHARIS GOD’S graciousness, gratifying manner. GOD’S spiritual & divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in OUR LIVES including gratitude:--GOD’S acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, gracious joy, liberality, pleasure.

P. DON FURTHER WRITES,AND WE CONCLUDE WITH THIS STATEMENT…” Grace that is only unmerited favor [MERCY] leaves the end times church[THAT’S THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH ALIVE IN THE EARTH TODAY] blessed [THANKFUL], but not empowered[ ANOINTED] to defeat or bind the enemy [WITNESS & SHARE THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST THE GOOD NEWS OF JESUS.

ACTS 1:4-5,8  And, being assembled together with them, commanded them that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but wait for the promise of the Father, which, saith he, ye have heard of me. 5  For John truly baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost not many days hence. 8  But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

WE ARE RECIPIENTS OF HIS MERCY. FOR WHICH WE ARE ETERNALLY THANKFUL. BUT WE ARE ALSO ANOINTED BY GOD TO BE WITNESSES OF & FOR HIS GOSPEL!

PRAISE THE LORD! LET US PRAY