Today we will continue our series entitled “God’s Grace & Our Faith.” We are looking at The Law given under Moses vs. the Grace provided by Jesus. Our primary scriptures are John 1:14 & 17. In our last message, we also looked at Galatians 5:22,23, the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Let’s look at those again.
(John 1:14 New International Version)
The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.
(John 1:17 New International Version)
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
(Galatians 5:22,23 The Passion Translation)
But the fruit produced by the Holy Spirit within you is divine love in all its varied expressions:
joy that overflows,
peace that subdues,
patience that endures,
kindness in action,
a life full of virtue,
faith that prevails,
gentleness of heart, and
strength of spirit.
Never set the law above these qualities, for they are meant to be limitless.
So what does this mean for you today? Let’s talk about “a life full of virtue.” Other translations list this as “goodness.”
1. You are predestined to specific good works, and you can perform them in a “sweatless” manner by the grace of God.
Good works are a fruit of the Holy Spirit. For this point, I will reference Ephesians 2:10. Let’s look at this verse in two translations.
(Eph 2:10 Easy to Read Version)
God has made us what we are. In Christ Jesus, God made us new people so that we would spend our lives doing the good things he had already planned for us to do.
(Eph 2:10 The Passion Translation)
We have become his poetry, a re-created people that will fulfill the destiny he has given each of us, for we are joined to Jesus, the Anointed One. Even before we were born, God planned in advance our destiny and the good works we would do to fulfill it!
— You have a preordained destiny. Your destiny is tailor-made just for you. In order to fulfill your divine destiny, our text makes it clear that you must perform specific good works. In other words, you cannot fulfill your destiny without performing the “work” that is connected to it. So if you are Born-Again but lazy, you run the risk of wasting the grace God placed on you and in you.
— Ephesians 2:10, and other scriptures like it, drive home the point that there are “good works” God planned (before the world began) for us to do. We are predestined for our divine purpose and destiny.
— When you are led by the Holy Spirit, He produces change IN you and fruit FROM you. Part of the fruit the Holy Spirit produces FROM your life is the good works you are destined to perform.
— People see God in you by the work you perform. Jesus said that we would be known by our fruit (Mat 7:16). In other words, the fruit our lives produce should help identify us as children of God. Good works are part of that fruit.
— People without the Holy Spirit are not spiritual people. They don’t have God’s Spirit, and they don’t hear God’s voice. So they are looking for things they can see (things they can validate with their natural senses). When you claim to be a Christian, they look at your life, and they judge your faith by your works. If your life is not “producing” something that the lives of non-Christians produce, then they will see no difference between you and the world. In other words, the world is looking for your life to show them your faith. When you are led by God’s Spirit, your life will produce “works” that will do just that.
— We are not saved BY works, but we are saved FOR works. Once you are saved and filled with the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God will lead you to do things that are good in God’s eyes. These are actions that are pleasing in God’s sight. As a result, the world will see Jesus IN you!
— The text says that even before you were born, God planned in advance to use you in a special way. Part of the fruit the Holy Spirit produces in your life is work, good work, work that advances God’s Kingdom. This is work you are preordained to perform. Therefore, you were predisposed to it. All your life, God has been preparing you for this work. Don’t fight it. As you are led by God’s Spirit, you will be led to do things you were born to do, and you will enjoy it because you have the grace for it. It may be “work” to others, but it won’t feel like work to you because it is part of your destiny. This is your purpose. It is your assignment, and when you walk in it, you get to enjoy the grace of God to perform it.
— When you live #TheGraceLife, you wind up working harder than you have ever worked in your life, but it doesn’t feel like it. Your body does not break down. Your soul does not get drained. You don’t find yourself stressed out. You get sweet sleep. Why? Becuase you are doing what you were born to do, and the grace of God is on you to do it. You are doing it, but then again, God is doing it through you. When you live this way, the Holy Spirit produces fruit from your life that everyone will see. You make a Kingdom impact on this planet. You leave a mark in this world that will not easily be erased. Why? Becuase you have yielded your life to the Holy Spirit and the grace of God!
2. When you perform the good works you were born to perform, you bring glory to God on earth.
For this point, I will reference Matthew 5:16. Let’s look at this verse in two translations.
(Matthew 5:16 New International Version)
In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
(Matthew 5:16 Easy to Read Version)
In the same way, you should be a light for other people. Live so that they will see the good things you do and praise your Father in heaven.
— Never be afraid to do what you were born to do, and never be ashamed of whom God called you to be.
— When you walk in your divine purpose and fulfill your divine assignment, you bring glory to God on earth.
— You can never be a success in life without doing what you were sent to this planet to do. For example, I can use a pen for many things, but if a pen does not write, it is not a success becuase it was designed to write. My point is that you were designed for a specific purpose. You will never be a success, in God’s eyes, until you discover it and walk in it.
— You can’t come up with a desire for your life and then call it your destiny or your purpose because God decided your destiny and purpose before you were born. Therefore, you will never be a success until you become the man/woman you are destined to be.
— Part of being a success, in God’s eyes, is actually DOING what you were sent to this planet to do. There are “good works” that you are ordained and predestined to accomplish. When you perform these works on the earth, you bring glory to your Heavenly Father in heaven.
— When you do the things you are called to do, you allow God’s LIGHT to shine through you for all the world to see. To be clear, this may or may not have anything to do with the church. You may be called to be a captain of Industry, a leader in business, a trendsetter in finance, a trustworthy mechanic, a dedicated teacher, a public servant, a loving nurse, a kind doctor, an honest lawyer, etc. Whatever you are called to do, you have the grace for it!
— When you do what you are called to do, you are doing the GOOD WORKS God planned in advance for you. As you do it, you bring glory to God and His name. You don’t have to be a Pastor or Missionary to glorify God. If you run a beauty salon and you are doing what God called you to do, or if you are a kindergarten teacher and you are walking in your purpose, you are no less anointed for your assignment than a Pastor, Evangelist, or Missionary. You are doing what God called you to do. So as you do it, you bring glory to His name. This is YOUR good work. Do it with all your might. Do it as you are led by God’s Spirit. Do it as unto the Lord. Do it by God’s grace! Do it for God’s GLORY!
This is all part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and the grace of God.
That’s enough for today.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, I was born for such a time as this. You sent me to this planet WHEN You did and WHERE You did because of WHY YOU DID! I am not saved by works, but I am saved FOR good works.
I declare, by faith, that I will FIND, FOLLOW and FINISH my purpose in life before I die. I will do what You birthed me to do. I will arrive at Your overall expected end for my life.
I am going to heaven, but I refuse to live a miserable life while I am on this planet. Yes, I am going to heaven, but I will also ENJOY THE RIDE because I am determined to fulfill my assignment. I work harder than most, and it does not feel like work because it is what I was born to do. I have the grace for it!
I enter this day ready to work, and I will whistle while I work because I do what I do BY YOUR GRACE and FOR YOUR GLORY! Therefore, I know GREATER IS COMING FOR ME! I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
