This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul. We are two weeks into our journey of learning about Grace from the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul and I trust you have enjoyed it thus far. On Fridays I like change up the format of my messages a little. Today, as I considered what to share, I was reminded of something I shared earlier in the week in a church service. I spent this week here in Arizona, which is why some of my messages went out a little later than normal (with the three hour time difference). On Wednesday night, at a church here in Arizona, I taught a message entitled, “The Relationship between Faith and Grace.” The gist of the message was that God called use before the foundations of the world by Grace, He then willingly reveals His will to us (which He established before the foundations of the world), and we must in turn seek to access the Grace through the vehicle of faith and become the person we have been called to be, doing what we have been called to do. Paul clearly understood this and this morning I will share with you a few things Paul wrote along these lines. As you read these scripture passages, the message of Grace will be evident.
In the opening statements of his letter to the church in Galatia Paul wrote, “But even before I was born, God chose me and called me by his marvelous grace. Then it pleased him to reveal his Son to me so that I would proclaim the Good News about Jesus to the Gentiles” (Gal 1:15,16). With this statement Paul summarizes what we have learned about him over the last two weeks and instead of attributing his accomplishments to himself, Paul attributed them to God and His amazing Grace.
To the church in Ephesus Paul wrote, “All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ. Even before he made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in his eyes. God decided in advance to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to himself through Jesus Christ. This is what he wanted to do, and it gave him great pleasure. So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son” (Eph 1:3-6). In the second chapter Paul wrote, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph 2:8-10). Paul makes it clear that we are no mistake and that God made plans for us before the foundations of the world. Therefore, it is obvious that we could not have earned it, because He did it before we were born. So then, what was His motivation? The answer can be captured in one word: GRACE!
To the church in Rome Paul wrote, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom 8:28-30). God sent His Son to die for our sin and whoever calls out to Him as Lord is saved. God did not have to wait for you to call out to Him in order to know that you would. God foreknew your actions and He predestined you according to them. He made plans for you, by grace, before the foundations of the world, knowing what you would do (good and bad) and what He would do in your life.
So what does this mean to you today? I believe I have shared the main crux of the message already, but I will provide you a few quick closing thoughts:
1. You are not a mistake. God made plans for you before the foundations of the world.
2. God’s plans for you were made by Grace because you were not around to earn them.
3. Your assignment in life is not something you earn, it is something you discern.
4. Not only can you not earn your purpose, you can’t come up with it either, because God came up with it before the foundations of the world. Your purpose cannot be developed, it must be discovered.
5. As God reveals His purpose for your life to you, remember that along with the purpose, He also gives you the Grace to fulfill it! God will never expect you to do something He has not already equipped you to do.
Closing Confession: Father, I am not a mistake. I am here for a reason. Before the foundations of the world You chose me and called me by Your marvelous Grace. You have already blessed me with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places, and You did it because You knew beforehand that I would be united with Christ. You take pleasure in working with me to accomplish what You knew beforehand that I would. You saved me by Grace when I exercised faith and it is now by faith that I continue to access the Grace that You have given me. You freely give me everything I need to fulfill my life’s purpose by Grace, and I access the Grace through faith. Grace is Your part, faith is my part. Understanding this, I don’t attempt to make up what my purpose is. I understand that my purpose cannot be developed, it must be discovered, and I seek to discover it as I walk with You. I have a relationship with You and You freely reveal Your will to me. Step by step, little by little, Your will for my life is revealed to me, and as it is, I learn more of what You have already given me by Grace and I seek to access it by faith. Father, thank You for being so good to me. Thank You for taking the time to think about me. Thank You for extending Your Grace towards me. I enter this day and every day with a determination to accomplish what You destined me, before the foundations of the world, to accomplish. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
