(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)”. Yesterday I shared a message about the liberating power of grace. Today’s message flows in the same vein.
We have been studying a passage where Jesus sent His disciples out to heal the sick, raise the dead, lay hands on lepers and cast out demons. This was something they could not do with their own power, strength or ability. If they internalized the assignment and then began to consider how “they” could do it, they would stress out, because there was no way they could. The assignment was supernatural – beyond human ability. The only way to do it was by totally relying on God. The assignment came from God and the ability had to come from God. The vision came from God, so the provision was going to have to come from God. So without stressing out, without taking on undue pressure, the disciples simply went out, trusted God, and performed the supernatural. This is the way we are suppose to live.
So what does this mean to you today? A few things.
- Many stress over life’s pursuits. If your life is all about you and the pursuits birthed in your own heart, you will have to pursue your dreams with your own power, ability and strength. You will also have to taken on the challenges associated with the pursuit on your own. This is how most people live and it can lead to stress, struggle, strain, frustration, toil, and even depression. However, when your life is NOT about you, when the pursuits you take on where birthed in the heart of God and you know you are pursuing God-given dreams, you are delivered from the pressure to perform and you are able to roll the pressures of life over to God. I have made the shift and it is a much better way to live. God wants you to meet every one of His goals for your life, but He wants you to do it by grace, without stressing, relying on Him to perform IN, WITH and THROUGH you. It’s the Father, living in you, He will give you the words and He will perform the work.
- Many people stress over money. They either don’t have enough and they stress over making ends meet, or they have an abundance and they stress over keeping it. The Lord does not want us stressing over money. Money makes an excellent servant, but a poor master. Solomon was the richest man on the planet during his time and he acknowledged the fact that his riches came from God, by His grace, and not human effort. Thinking about this, Solomon said, “The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it” (Prov 10:22). Another translation reads, “It is the Lord’s blessing that brings wealth, and no hard work can add to it.” Paul told us that God is able to make all grace abound towards us, to the point where we are so financially blessed that we have everything we need, at all times, meeting the needs of every situation, and we have excess so we can contribute to every good work (2 Cor 9:8). That is grace-based success and grace-based supply.
- Many stress over their significance (or lack thereof). Everyone wants to feel important. We all want to feel significant. The problem comes when we pursue that significance on our own. Can you imagine the type of significance the disciples felt when they went out to do what the Lord sent them to do. Can you imagine how they felt when they were doing the will of God and they knew they were being used of God? When you find your God-given purpose and you pursue that purpose by God’s unearned grace, knowing you are being used, experiencing God’s grace on a daily basis, you can’t help but feel significant. It’s just a different type of significance. This significance is even more powerful, because you are giving the credit away. You acknowledge God, you give Him the credit for your life and success, and you still feel significant, wanted, and important, because you are pursuing your divine purpose. This is an amazing way to live. This is God’s way to live. This is grace-based success, and it comes without the stress associated with relying on yourself.
*** Embracing God’s grace is liberating and life-changing. You ought to try it if you have not already!
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. My life is all about You. You are my strength, my source, and my supply. You tell me what to do, You empower me to do it, You release the provision for Your vision, and You give me favor with men. You open doors for me that no man can close. You close doors for me that no man can open. You bring me before the right people, at the right time, for the right experiences. You make all grace abound towards me, to the point where I always have the finances to meet the needs of every situation, and I have more than enough, so I am able to give to every charitable work. I finance ministry projects, I bless others financially and through deeds, and I live the life You birthed me to live. Living this way is not effortless, but it is sweatless and it is stress-free. Thank You Father for the liberating power of Your unearned and amazing grace! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
