Grace that is Simply Amazing

(Eph 2:4-10 PHI)  But even though we were dead in our sins God, who is rich in mercy, because of the great love he had for us, gave us life together with Christ—it is, remember, by grace and not by achievement that you are saved—and has lifted us right out of the old life to take our place with him in Christ in the Heavens. Thus he shows for all time the tremendous generosity of the grace and kindness he has expressed towards us in Christ Jesus. It was nothing you could or did achieve—it was God’s gift to you. No one can pride himself upon earning the love of God. The fact is that what we are we owe to the hand of God upon us. We are born afresh in Christ, and born to do those good deeds which God planned for us to do.

I trust you were blessed by the “Faith and Patience VOL III – Never Give Up!” series.  It was a blessing to me and I received many testimonies about how the series helped people persevere through the many challenges of life.  I was not sure how long the series was going to last, and up until this past weekend, I was not sure if I was supposed to go back to teaching in Proverbs.  I preached in Williamsburg, VA this weekend and while there the Father gave me the green light to teach a series about His Amazing Grace.  I don’t know how long this series is going to last and I don’t know all the scriptures we will cover (I never know until the Father shows me), but I am genuinely excited about this series.  I have learned more about the Grace of God this year than any other year of my walk with Christ.  I humbly submit to the Father to be the vessel through which He teaches you about His immeasurable grace and as we go on this journey together, it is my prayer that we both grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus the Christ.

I was raised in the Catholic Church, licensed in the Methodist and Baptist Churches, and then ordained in a Non-Denominational Church.  I have been walking with Christ for 17 years and in that time span I have heard lots of doctrine, theory, dogma, and theology.  I have studied in Bible College and under the tutelage of great mentors.  However, it was not until this past year, while focusing more and more on God’s grace, that I truly realized how amazing grace is.  I have been getting up early to write Today’s Word, five days a week, for 15 years.  I spend countless hours preparing to teach, preach, blog, email, and etc. and without realizing it, over the years I built up a subtle tendency to think that I was earning things in Christ; that because I keep a busy schedule for God – and I have for years – that I somehow earned the blessings I have been enjoying.  However, the more and more I study God’s grace the more I realize that I have not earned a thing.  I am honored that God would use me to do anything; because if I would be honest, I know am not worthy of anything He has given me.  None of us are.  Earlier this year the Father pulled me out of a trap that many Christians have fallen into; the trap of believing that they are working to attain whatever they are receiving in God.  When you think that way the emphasis is too much on you and too little on God.  In this series it is my prayer that the Father would help us all to redirect our focus back towards Him and to what He desires to do in and through us.  Without question… it’s all about Him!

Please read the passage I have provided for you.  Tomorrow we will discuss it.

So what does this mean to you today?  A few quick things:

1.  You are who you are by the grace of God.

2.  Salvation, just like everything else God gives you, is given to you by God’s grace.  You have not been able to earn it and there is no way you ever could.

3.  Your life is not about you, it is all about Him (God).  God should be the central character in your life’s story.

4.  You are not worthy… get over it; none of us are!  God bless you, not because of what you do, but because of what Jesus already did.  Jesus paid it all for you!

Closing Confession:  Father, I thank You for Your grace.  I am who I am by Your grace.  You loved me when I was dead in my transgressions and sins.  You opened the door of salvation to me; even though I had turned my back on You countless times.  You have blessed me richly, in spite of the fact that I have messed up more times than I can remember.  Your goodness, mercy, and grace have kept me, even when in my own estimation I was not worth keeping.  Thank You Father for loving me that way that You have and for bestowing Your goodness upon me when I clearly did not deserve it.  As I learn about Your immeasurable and incredibly amazing grace, I seek to do my best to honor You and to bring glory to Your name.  You put Your treasure in me, an earthen and flawed vessel, and I will now freely tell everyone that the excellence is from You and not from me!  In Jesus’ name. Amen.

This is Today’s Word!  Apply it and Prosper!