Underlying
Theme: How
specific things help me be fulfilled as a part of the Church
Focal
Idea No.3:
I am a work
of God's grace and a vessel of God's grace which He wants shared with
others
A.
Two definitions of Grace?
Grace
has two primary meanings in the Bible:
1.
God's goodwill freely expressed where it is not deserved
NB.
“Goodwill” = kindly feeling or disposition towards another
Eph
2:5 “it is by
grace you have been saved.”
i.e.
it is by God's goodwill freely
expressed that you have been saved
Rom
3:24 “(we) are
justified freely by his grace through the redemption
that came by Christ Jesus”
i.e.
“(we) are justified freely by God's
goodwill freely expressed through the redemption that came
by Christ Jesus”
Rom
5:20 “But where
sin increased, grace increased all the more”
i.e.
“But where sin increased, God's
goodwill freely expressed increased all the more”
Eph
1:7 In him we have
redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance
with the riches of God's grace
i.e.
In him we have redemption through his
blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's
goodwill freely expressed
But
this free goodwill is expressed in practical ways
2.
God's freely given resources to enable us to live the life he
gives us
The
practical expression of God's goodwill towards us comes in the resouces
or gifts or abilities that He gives us:
Phil
1:2 “Grace
and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”
i.e.
“ may you have God's freely
given resources to enable you to live the life he gives you,
and peace from ….”
or
“ may you have God's freely
given resources (which are the expression of His goodwill)
to enable you to live the life he gives you, and peace from ….”
Gal
2:9 “when they
recognized the grace given to me”
i.e.
“when they recognized the freely
given resources (gifting) given to me”
or
“when they recognized the freely
given resources (gifting) given to me as an expression of
His goodwill”
Rom
12:6 “We have
different gifts, according to the grace given us”
i.e.
“We have different gifts, according
to God's freely given resources given us”
or
“We have different gifts, according to
God's freely given resources given us as an expression
of His goodwill”
Recap
: Grace is:
•
God's goodwill freely expressed
where it is not deserved
and this is expressed as
•
God's freely given resources
to enable us to live the life he gives us
B.
Ministering Grace?
Ezek
45:4 “the priests,
who minister
in the sanctuary and who draw near to minister before
the LORD.”
i.e.
to minister = to serve
Rom
12:6-8 We have different
gifts, according to the grace given us. … prophesying….serving ….. teaching
…… encouraging …..contributing to the needs of others ….. leadership
….showing mercy
- consider
this set of gifts as an example:
prophesying
serving
teaching
encouraging
contributing
leadership
showing
mercy
|
-
imparting revelation
-
working to bless others
-
imparting knowledge
-
help lift people
-
providing for people's needs
-
showing the way ahead
-
showing the compassion and forgiveness of Christ |
As
we mature, so different gifts become more obvious in us and enable us
to bless others.
Note:
- These
are GIFTS of God and are not earned
- He
gives them as He sees fit
- Therefore
there is no room for pride OR jealousy
Note
: Your Availability
1
Tim 4:14 “ Do not neglect
your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the
body of elders laid their hands on you.”
- it
is up to us to use what God has given us!
2
Tim 1:6 “ For this
reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you
through the laying on of my hands.”
- we
can stir up our gifting.
Rom
12:6-8 “ We have different
gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying,
let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him
serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him
encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give
generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is
showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.”
- look
again at these examples and how to use them:
Sunday Services
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