New: You can now watch a video of this message by clicking below or by visiting http://new.livestream.com/rickpina/live/videos/39816585.
(Romans 5:17 KJV) For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.
(2 Corinthians 6:1 KJV) We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” For the last few days I have been sharing nuggets from the two verses I have been meditating on this year (Rom 5:17 & 2 Cor 6:1), and this morning we will do more of the same. Let’s get to it.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. Grace is the key to living beyond human limits. The less we are aware of God’s grace and the less we understand that He wants to use us to accomplish His Kingdom plans and purposes, the less we will submit to and experience God’s empowering presence. It is this awareness of, and the submission to, God’s grace that enables us to walk in the realm of the Supernatural.
2. Grace does not mean you will not have to work. Don’t mistake the message of grace to mean that God will do it all and that you do not have to do anything. I can’t keep track of the amount of hours I put into pursuing my life’s purpose. But it is not a strain, it is a labor of love. I do it, but it is really the grace of God empowering me to do it. Paul said, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them–yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me” (1 Cor 15:10). Paul made the greatest impact of all the Apostles in the first century, but he also put in the most work. Even then, Paul gave the credit to God. Everything he was able to do, he was graced by God to do. I can say the same. Can you?
3. Grace means that God adds His Super to your natural to accomplish His will in the earth. I have already made it clear that God does not want you to be lazy. If you look at the people God used in scripture, none of them were lazy. God wants you to get busy, pursuing your purpose with tireless passion and zeal, knowing that He will add His Super to your natural, enabling you to do things that far exceed your ability. And remember, you will not receive supernatural grace to accomplish things that are outside of His will. You will only experience God’s supernatural power when You are pursuing His will. If you pursue your will, you will have to do it with your power and you will eventually get tired of it. But if you pursue His will, He will grace you to do it, and you will not experience burn-out! You will have the grace to keep going!
4. God is a God of progression and not regression. God wants us to live with a ‘forward ever, backward never’ mentality. 2013 was a Year of Preparation. Now that we endured and overcame the challenges we experienced last year, as we were learning about God’s grace, we are now in position to die to self and to allow God to flow through us powerfully this year. 2014 shall be a Year of Power! Not our power, but God’s power. Not because we deserve it, but only because of His grace and purpose. Get ready to go higher!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your amazing, immeasurable and inexhaustible grace. The more I learn about Your grace, the more I understand that it is the key to live the life You want me to live. Your grace is the key to living beyond human limits. By faith I declare that I am aware of Your grace, and I willingly submit to You in every area of my life, so that You can flow through me freely. The more I die to self, the more You live through me. As I am dying to self, I am not looking to get out of work, but rather to get into work. I am not lazy. I am ready to be used of You, for Your glory. I am ready to become the man/woman of God You have destined me to be. I am ready to pursue my purpose with tireless passion. I am ready to experience Your supernatural power. I put forth the natural, and You add Your Super to it. I give You my ability, and You give me Your power. 2013 was a year of preparation, where I learned about Your goodness and grace towards me. But 2014 shall be a year of POWER, where the supernatural will become natural for me. I enter into 2014 with an expectation to experience You and Your power like never before. 2014 shall be the best year of my life. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
