THE GRACE OF GOD

But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever: Amen (Peter 3:18).

Introduction: Grace is the outward Reflection of The Glory of God. The beauty of God that causes a man to prosper in everything he does. Grace is the beauty of divinity.
Grace is the inner working of God that is seen from the outside. It’s that thing that causes you to move from one level to another. Grace is the favor of God manifested in your life; and that’s why the Bible instructs us to grow in it. Every child of God has received Grace in abundance (Romans 5:17), but the degree to which you let it reflect is up to you. The more you fill your heart with the Word and have the Holy Spirit work in your life, the greater grace will shine forth on the outside.
You can and should increase in that outward reflection of the glory of God in your spirit, to such an extent that others will see it and glorify God. They might not be able to explain it, but they’ll not be able to deny that there’s just something excellent and beautiful about you. In our opening scripture, the Spirit of God through the Apostle Peter admonished us to grow in grace: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.” The word “grow” is from the Greek “auxano” and it means to “increase” or “enlarge.” In other words, God wants you to increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” For example, when the Lord Jesus was a child, the Bible says he “…grew (increased) and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). He increased in grace, even as a child thus he had favour with God and man (Luke 2:52)
In the book of Acts, we’re told that Barnabas went to visit certain brethren and saw the grace of God upon them: “…when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and extorted them all…(Acts11:23). What Barnabas saw wasn’t a light beaming out of their heads- He saw the beauty of God, which is the grace. He saw in them the outward reflection of the glory of God. He saw the word working out excellently in the lives of these brethren. This can be your testimony today, as you recognize, take advantage and grow in the grace that’s in Christ Jesus. Scriptural Verse: 2 Peter 1:2; John 1:16; Ephesians 4:7.

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

And the lord God planted a garden in Eden; and there he put man whom he had formed.
[Genesis 2: 8}


When God created the earth, He got everything ready. He planted a nice garden with a lot of juicy fruits, it was only after everything has been set that He created Adam and brought him into the garden. He brought him into nice and pre-planned world where he didn’t lack anything. He only gave Adam the responsibility to tend and keep. (Genesis 2:15), not so Adam would have a job but as a means of livelihood, but to make him responsible. This is the reason your job is not your source, but an avenue for learning, responsibility, discipline and contribution.

God’s got a better plan for you than having you hustle and live on your salary. According to God’s word, we’ve been born to do “…those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us {taking paths which He prepared ahead of time}, that we should walk in them {living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live}”(Ephesians 2:10 AMP). There’s a prearranged, good life which God has ready for you to live in Christ. He planned for you!

Some folks act though God was taken by surprise by their birth. They believe as though, God’s got the entire angel running helter-skelter trying to sort things out for this ‘surprise package’ that suddenly emerged on the scene. They obviously haven’t read Ephesians 2:10. God is not scratching His head wondering what to do about you. He planned for your coming before the foundation of the world and provided you with everything you needed for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3) What the Lord expects of you is to trust Him and cast yourself on His word, for His Word is your sustenance. Your salary was never intended to sustain you, rather, it’s to provide you with seed for sowing. Remember that the one who brought you to this world surely have a good plan to take care of you, so trust Him with your life. That you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work (2Corinthians 9:8)

Scriptural reading:(Ephesians 2:10; Jeremiah 1:4-5)

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

And the lord God planted a garden in Eden; and there he put man whom he had formed.
[Genesis 2: 8}


When God created the earth, He got everything ready. He planted a nice garden with a lot of juicy fruits, it was only after everything has been set that He created Adam and brought him into the garden. He brought him into nice and pre-planned world where he didn’t lack anything. He only gave Adam the responsibility to tend and keep. (Genesis 2:15), not so Adam would have a job but as a means of livelihood, but to make him responsible. This is the reason your job is not your source, but an avenue for learning, responsibility, discipline and contribution.

God’s got a better plan for you than having you hustle and live on your salary. According to God’s word, we’ve been born to do “…those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us {taking paths which He prepared ahead of time}, that we should walk in them {living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live}”(Ephesians 2:10 AMP). There’s a prearranged, good life which God has ready for you to live in Christ. He planned for you!

Some folks act though God was taken by surprise by their birth. They believe as though, God’s got the entire angel running helter-skelter trying to sort things out for this ‘surprise package’ that suddenly emerged on the scene. They obviously haven’t read Ephesians 2:10. God is not scratching His head wondering what to do about you. He planned for your coming before the foundation of the world and provided you with everything you needed for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3) What the Lord expects of you is to trust Him and cast yourself on His word, for His Word is your sustenance. Your salary was never intended to sustain you, rather, it’s to provide you with seed for sowing. Remember that the one who brought you to this world surely have a good plan to take care of you, so trust Him with your life. That you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work (2Corinthians 9:8)

Further Scriptural Study:(Ephesians 2 :10 ; Jeremiah 1:4-5)

THE GARDEN OF EDEN

And the lord God planted a garden in Eden; and there he put man whom he had formed.
[Genesis 2: 8}


When God created the earth, He got everything ready. He planted a nice garden with a lot of juicy fruits, it was only after everything has been set that He created Adam and brought him into the garden. He brought him into nice and pre-planned world where he didn’t lack anything. He only gave Adam the responsibility to tend and keep. (Genesis 2:15), not so Adam would have a job but as a means of livelihood, but to make him responsible. This is the reason your job is not your source, but an avenue for learning, responsibility, discipline and contribution.

God’s got a better plan for you than having you hustle and live on your salary. According to God’s word, we’ve been born to do “…those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us {taking paths which He prepared ahead of time}, that we should walk in them {living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live}”(Ephesians 2:10 AMP). There’s a prearranged, good life which God has ready for you to live in Christ. He planned for you!

Some folks act though God was taken by surprise by their birth. They believe as though, God’s got the entire angel running helter-skelter trying to sort things out for this ‘surprise package’ that suddenly emerged on the scene. They obviously haven’t read Ephesians 2:10. God is not scratching His head wondering what to do about you. He planned for your coming before the foundation of the world and provided you with everything you needed for life and for godliness (2 Peter 1:3) What the Lord expects of you is to trust Him and cast yourself on His word, for His Word is your sustenance. Your salary was never intended to sustain you, rather, it’s to provide you with seed for sowing. Remember that the one who brought you to this world surely have a good plan to take care of you, so trust Him with your life. That you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound in every good work (2Corinthians 9:8)

THE TRUE CONFESSION

...If thou shalt confession with thy mouth the lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation
[Romans 10:9-10}


The word ''confess'' in the scripture above means ''to speak the same things in consent with God.''It derives from the Greek word ''Homologia'' which means speaking the same things in consent. That means you're saying the same in agreement with God; you're saying what God has said. That's true confession. It has nothing to do with confessing all your sins to God as some people think.

The Bible says, ''...if thou shall confess with thy mouth the lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.''That's the principle for salvaltion. This is not just talking about being saved from sins or the devil. It includes being saved from all the negative influences and circumstances of life.

So when you say Jesus is lord over your life!'' you're also saying'' He's Lord over your money, therefore, you can not be broke in your life!'' You're saying'' He's Lord over your body, therefore, you will never be sick or diseased!'' You're also declaring'' He is your Shepherd, therefore, you will not lack!'' Youspeakingthe same thing with God. You're saying what God has said! That's true confession.

Learn to declare with your mouth the same things God has said concerning you in His Word. No wonder the Bible says, ''...He hath said...so that we might boldly say...'' }{Hebrew 13:5-6}. Create the habit of studying and laerning God's Word, for that's how you will know what God has said about you,and then speak accordingly. Remember, what you say is what you get; therefore, speak the Word only, say what God has said concerning you in His Word! That's faith principle that guarantees a day-to-day life of sucess,victory and progress.

This is the true confession that can change a man's life for good.

SCRIPTURAL VERSE: 2CONRINTIANS 4:13 1TIMOTHY 6: 12

THE LOVE OF GOD

John 3:16 For God so love the world that he gave his only begotten son whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life


The love of God is the greatest power in the universe and it takes the Holy Spirit to put it in our heart. The kind of love I'm talking about is not a mother's love for her children. That's human love and human love is limited. God's love is true and boundless, and that's where the power is.



As Christians, we are called into that love the moment we gave our lives to Christ, and that love is shared abroad in out heart by the Holy Ghost. Our responsibility is to be conscious of it and work in it. When people see that love demonstrated through you, it has a potent effect on their lives and demons can't stand it, they check out immediately.

It reminds me of an old song we sing sometime:

"Let the world see Heaven in your eyes
Show them love they can't deny,
Let the world see Heaven in your eyes,
Heaven in your eyes."

God saved mankind by demonstrating His love by sending His son Jesus to die for them. Hitherto, as seen in the Old Testament, He had introduced the Law of Moses, but the people couldn’t keep it.

The love of God transformed a previously furious personality as Saul of Tarsus, into Paul the greatest Apostle to the Gentiles- one of the greatest Apostle ever known. That same love -power is potent enough to transform anybody -be it your aggressive in-law, your cooperative brothers, or Sister, Your nagging boss, etc. Show them love by hearing their voices differently and view their actions and motives differently. YOU'LL BE GLAD YOU DID AT THE END OF THE DAY.

Scripture to read: 1Corinthians 13:13; Ephesians 3:17-19

UNWRAP THE PACKAGE!

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as on my presence only, but now in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling'' { Philippians 2:12}

When you read from the first verse of the first chapter of the book of Philippians you will observe that the apostle Paul was addressing the saints in Philippi: ''Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.'' And he charged them to work out their salvation with {godly reverence, awe} and trembling.

Salvation is a complete package and it's yours in Christ Jesus. The word ''salvation'' is an all-inclusive word, and it encompasses all the things God did for the human person in making him the best that he can be, having been the worst that he can be. But you have to discover the other beautiful things that come with the package. Paul didn't say, ''Pray that you will work it out,’’ Work out your own salvation.''

When someone gives you a gift packaged with beautiful wrapping paper, you wouldn't just settle for the packaging or the wrapping paper however beautiful it may be. You're more concerned with the gift inside the package. The person that gave you the gift doesn't have to unwrap the gift for you, you'll have to 'work out your salvation' by tearing the packaging open, because whatever is inside is far better that the wrapping sheets. Interestingly, many have gotten the gift of salvation alright, but they've settled for the packaging and the wrapping sheets alone!

Salvation is wonderful and it's worth rejoicing about but you must realize that salvation is just the packaging; there's so much more in the Word that we haven't yet touched. Make your study time a priority because that's the only way to unwrap this 'salvation package;' that's the way to work out your own salvation with godly reverence.


Scripture to read: Acts 20:32; 2Timothy2:15