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(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.
This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing.” This past Sunday I heard my Pastor, Tony Brazelton, preach a powerful message about God’s amazing grace. As I reviewed my notes, I felt led to share some of his thoughts, mingled with some of my thoughts.
We are 17 months into this series and the more I study God’s grace, the more amazing I realize it is. I pray you are growing in grace with me. Understanding God’s grace can certainly change the way you look at God, yourself and life.
So what does this mean to you today? Two things:
1. When you understand grace you can live “God-inside” minded. While teaching on the discernment of spirits and the spirit of the Antichrist, that is already in the world, the Apostle John comforts us by reminding us that we have “already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in us is greater than the spirit who lives in the world” (1 Jn 4:4). Said another way, everything that is external to you if inferior to you, because of the ONE who lives in you.
a. If you attempt to focus on the God in you without embracing grace, you will inevitably do something wrong and the guilt, shame and condemnation that will follow will hinder you from operating in divine power.
b. Grace takes the focus off of you and your limits, and puts it on the God of no limits, who is living in you.
c. When you are God-inside minded you can face every challenge head on, with your confidence firmly rooted and grounded in God’s love and power.
d. When you enter your day with the reality of knowing that God is ON you, IN you, WITH you and FOR you, it does something for your confidence, your inner peace, and your expectations for the day.
2. God is looking for submission, not perfection, in order to perform the supernatural. You must remember that you are here for a reason and that reason is God’s divine purpose for your life. You are not a mistake. He brought you forth, for such a time as this, and He wants to accomplish His Kingdom plans and purposes through you. He knows you are not perfect, but if you are willing, He will work through you by His grace.
a. You don’t have to do everything right for God to bless you, because He blesses you by grace.
b. You don’t have to be completely perfect to operate in the supernatural because God is looking to perform His will by grace and not human perfection.
c. The grace of God is always present. Even when you don’t feel like you are worthy, God is present and He is able to release His grace and power through you, to impact the world.
d. Understanding grace helps you submit to God — failures, flaws and all — in order for Him to freely use you for His glory!
e. God wants to do more than just answer your prayers. He wants you to become the answer to someone else’s prayer; and you can, when you submit yourself to be used of God by grace.
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 love You, the more confidence I have in You, and the more I am able to resist the guilt, shame and condemnation the devil attempts to put on me when I make a mistake. I was Born-Again when I accepted Your Son Jesus as my Lord and Your precious Holy Spirit now lives in me. You have chosen to take up residence in me, even though I am not perfect. You are there when I do something right, and You are also there when I do something wrong. You will never leave me, nor forsake. You will never turn Your back on me. You will never relax the grip You have on me. You will never fail me. You are committed to me, even during those times that I fail to fully commit to You. You love me with an everlasting love and You choose to use me by Your grace. Therefore, I enter this day and every day with a ‘God-inside mentality.’ I know You are ON me, IN me, WITH me and FOR me. Who can be against me? I am not afraid of anyone or anything. My confidence is rooted and grounded in You, and in Your love towards me. I know You want to perform the supernatural through me, and I submit to be used of You for Your glory. I will be Your mouth to talk, Your legs to walk, and Your hands to touch, here in the earth, today and every day. Not because I am so good, but because You are so good. Not because I am worthy, but only because of Your grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
