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This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to teach on the fact that “God’s Grace is Sufficient.” The life of the Apostle Paul was amazing and in my opinion, outside of Jesus, God used Paul to make the greatest impact in the first century church and Paul’s impact is still being felt today.
Paul wrote over half the New Testament, went on five missionary journeys, started churches, served as a Pastor to Pastors, and God used him to leave an indelible mark in the world. Yesterday we took a look at all the challenges he had to endure to fulfill his life’s assignment. You would think that Paul had something to boast about. Paul had overcome challenges that would have crippled the average person, but Paul kept going, and he did it by the grace of God. So after writing about all the challenges and all he endured, Paul said, “If I must boast, I would rather boast about the things that show how weak I am.” The humility in that statement is laudable. And almost as if Paul was thinking that his humility might be too good to believe, Paul went on to say, “God, the Father of our Lord Jesus, who is worthy of eternal praise, knows I am not lying” (2 Cor 11:30,31 NLT).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. Your God-given assignment is too big for you to accomplish without God. God-sized dreams always require God’s involvement. God calls you to do things that are so big that they force you to rely on Him.
2. God wants maximum glory from your life. Never take credit for something God clearly did for you or through you; or for something you could have never done without Him. When God does something through your life that is far greater than anything you could have ever accomplished on your own, everyone will know it was God and He will get the glory!
3. You cannot complete your divine purpose without divine grace. Paul’s assignment was so big that he was clearly reliant on God’s grace and you and I must do the same. The only way to maximize your purpose and potential in life is by dying to self, and allowing God to use you by His undeserved grace.
4. When you ask for less challenges God often gives you more grace. I am sure Paul did not want to endure all he endured. No one likes challenges. No one enjoys hard times. But when Paul asked for less challenges, God gave him more grace. God will do the same with you. Instead of taking the challenge away, God will give you the grace to overcome it!
5. When you know you are nothing without God, you boast in how weak you are. Paul was ‘hands-down’ the greatest Man of God of his time, and instead of boasting in his accomplishments, Paul chose to boast in his weakness. Paul’s point was that he was nothing without God. Paul was able to do all he did, in spite of his inadequacies, not because of his abilities. If you would be honest, you can say the same. Grace puts the spotlight on God.
6. There is freedom in acknowledging your weakness. The message of grace has changed my life. I am free because I know I am not good enough to do what I am called to do. I will get it done, but it will not be because of my goodness or human effort. I am free from all the pressure, because I rely on God’s grace!
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for Your amazing grace. Your goodness towards me is humbling. You have been far better to me than I deserve. If you only gave me what I deserve, I would be a man-most-miserable. You shower me with kindness, You flood my heart with peace, You bless me beyond measure, and You don’t do it because I am so good, You do it because You are so good. You love me with an everlasting love and You bless me by Your unearned grace. You called me by name, from my mother’s womb, by Your grace. When I think of the assignment You have give me in life, I feel inadequate, because I have not earned it, nor could I ever accomplish it without You. The impact You want to make through me, the mark you want to leave in this world through my life, is so big that I have to rely on You. I am not good enough today, nor will I ever be good enough. When I think about the assignment You have given me, and I then think about me, and my inadequacies, I can’t help by rely on Your grace. Your assignment exceeds my checkbook, education, connections, last name, and anything else I bring to the equation. Without You I cannot accomplish it. Therefore, I will boast in my weakness. I will openly declare that I will accomplish Your divine purpose, and I will do it with Your divine grace. Not by my ability, but Your grace. Not by my strength, but Your power. I boast in my weakness. When people look at me, and they see how successful I am, I am not ashamed of letting them know that I am who I am by the grace of God, and God’s grace towards me shall not be in vain. I will leave a mark in this world that will never be erased and I will do it by Your undeserved grace. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
