(Read Matthew 9 and 10)
This morning we continue our series, “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing our mini-series entitled, “Grace Based Success (Prosperity)”. Over the past couple of months we have walked our way through Matthew chapter 9 and most of chapter 10. As I prayed over what to share today I felt led to take a step back from individual verses in order to share a few thoughts, within the overall context of the overall passage, about the greater lesson Jesus was teaching His disciples.
Jesus sent His disciples out to do what He had been doing. He was walking in the supernatural, they had been spectators, and Jesus was ready to make them participators. Jesus instructed His disciples to heal the sick, raise the dead, lay hands on lepers and cast out demons. This was something they certainly had no power to do (on their own). They had to totally rely on the Father to do the work through them. And as if to further drive home the importance of total reliance on the Father, Jesus forbid them to take any money for the journey. So the disciples had to rely on God for both the natural and spiritual, earthly and heavenly, human and divine.
So what does this mean to you today? I am led to share a few thoughts about what the mission meant for the disciples and for us today.
1. Embracing God’s grace takes the spotlight off of you.
a) Jesus asked His disciples to do things that were humanly impossible and He did it with all sincerity, because He never expected/required them to do it. Jesus was looking to the Father to do it through them and He knew all the disciples needed to do was look to the Father as well. Guess what? The same applies to you today.
b) What do you want your life to be about? What do you want people to think about when they remember you after you are gone? When the accolades come now, while you are living, do you want people to think you are a self-made man/woman or do you want the glory to be deflected to God? These are critical questions for every person and understanding God’s grace will help you provide the right answers.
2. Embracing God’s grace takes the pressure off of you.
a) Life can be stressful. When you think about everything you have to do in your daily routine, and you add all the things God is calling you to do, if you are not careful you can stress-out. This is why it is so critical that believers understand, accept and embrace God’s grace. Embracing the grace of God takes the pressure off of you and it puts it on God. Jesus did not want His disciples to stress-out over how they were going to do what He sent them out to do. He simply wanted them to believe and trust God. Guess what? That’s what He wants you to do as well.
b) Accepting and embracing the grace of God is liberating. The realization that you are simply a conduit of God’s glory and an instrument to be used in His hands sets you free from the pressure to perform.
c) When you accept and embrace God’s grace you are in position to simply say what you hear, do what you are led to do, and freely give what is freely given to you.
3. Embracing God’s grace makes the meaning of your life all about God.
a) When you get to the point where you die to self, you give yourself away to God, and you wake up every morning ready to do whatever he leads you to do, you know your life is all about Him. If you ever get to this point the life you live will be amazing, because it will be the life God planned for you before the world began.
b) Your life should not be about selfish pursuits. Make your life about the one who gave it to you and you will experience life beyond anything you ever imagined.
c) Accept the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness provided to you in Christ Jesus, release the pressure to perform, and live a grace-based life. If you do, you will enjoy grace-based success.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for teaching me about Your grace and my requirement to live by faith. My life is all about You. I don’t want my life to be about me or any selfish pursuits. I declare that I am delivered from me. I am free from sin, self and selfishness. I rest in You, trust in You, believe in You, walk with You, and experience You daily. You are my source. You are my strength. You are my supply. You are my God and I trust in You. I am delivered from the pressure to perform. I release the stress associated with the focus being on me. I now live every second of every day focused on You, available to You, and ready to be used of You. Living this way I am positive I will experience grace-based success, because it is You Father, living me in, You give me the words and You perform the work. I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
