Grace Works!

[0:00] Titus 2 verse 11 Titus 2 verse 11 Titus 3 verse 11

[1:13] Titus 3 verse 11 Titus 3 verse 11 Titus 2 verse 11

[2:43] Titus 3 verse 11 Titus 3 verse 11 So Ephesians 4 verse 7

[3:45] It says, but unto every one of us Is given grace According to the measure Of the gift of Christ So grace is A gift Grace is a gift The gift Of Christ, Ephesians 4 Verse 7 Grace is his gift to us He is the giver of grace He is the source of grace towards us He shows us his grace He shows us his grace So I want to look at grace in three aspects today Three aspects where God's grace works Firstly, for us God's grace works for us Tozer said, abounding sin is the terror of the world Abounding grace is the hope of God's grace is the hope of God's grace is the hope of mankind Thank God's grace is the grace of God's grace is the grace of God's grace is the hope of God's grace is the source of salvation of sanctification, of revival, of spiritual life, of spiritual gifts.

[5:02] We can acknowledge his grace in all of these ways. It's all of grace, all of grace. So how does he show us his grace towards us, his grace for us?

[5:14] His grace for us is a gift. We can acknowledge it as God's gift. Grace is his character. His character.

[5:28] Think of what really manifests God's grace to us. It's the character of our Lord Jesus Christ. In John 1 verse 14, we read that the Word was made flesh and dwelt amongst us, and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

[5:53] The Lord Jesus, grace personified, grace incarnate. Grace came and paid humankind a visit. Grace came and paid planet Earth a visit.

[6:08] Grace is the character of Christ. We see through his life, his actions, his relationships with others. In the life of Christ, we see grace.

[6:19] We see his nature is grace. His heart is grace. His love is grace. Grace is his character. As he truly lives in us and through us, his character is manifested through us too.

[6:31] Grace is his character. Secondly, grace is his kindness. Grace is his kindness. Grace is his kindness. Ephesians 2 verse 7 it says that in the ages to come he might sow the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus grace is shown in his kindness towards us if God dealt with us as we deserved we'd know about it but he deals with us with kindness thank God for that religion is man's search based on works religion man searches and works thinks if we work hard enough or do enough that the good will outweigh the bad but God says no it's got nothing to do with your works it's got nothing to do with your works the gospel is God's grace reaching down to mankind grace is a gift that we receive and it's out of God's great boundless treasure house his great riches out of his fullness we receive in John 1 16 we read that of his fullness have all we receive and grace for grace

[7:55] Christ has shown us God's kindness in his very person and it's his fullness is grace grace is his character grace in his kindness in his life on earth what did he show when he interacted particularly with the sinful his kindness wasn't it his kindness he didn't excuse their sin he said go and sin no more but he reached out he loved and he gave kindness to those that others would have stoned and condemned and God's grace is manifest in Christ's kindness to humankind God's grace is witness by his life on earth he demonstrated his grace through his relationships with people as he went about his day by day grace is Christ's kindness his compassion his calling was to be that grace personified on planet earth and his kindness helps us to have grace with others too in Hebrews 4 16 we read that his grace helps us let us therefore come boldly therefore unto the throne of grace the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and grace to help in time of need thank God the king that we love has a throne and that throne is the throne of his grace amen it's the throne of his grace thank God for that his grace is sufficient so we see his grace revealed as a gift for us his character his kindness and thirdly his cross the cross reveals God's grace the cross reveals

[9:38] God's grace to us Hebrews 2 verse 9 it says but we see Jesus who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man the cross reveals grace to us his blood was shed for us in Ephesians 1 verse 7 it says in whom we have redemption through his blood the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace thank God for the cross today it's the cross that makes grace possible for you and I to receive that gift today to receive that love extended when God so loved the world that he gave in that gift of his very son and he grants the grace that he offers to mankind to the humble we need to come on bended knee with bended hearts in humble spirits as we read in 1 Peter 5 verse 5 it says be clothed with humility for God resisteth the proud but giveth grace to the humble as we come humbly as we come inadequately knowing our lack knowing our absolute deserved state of condemnation that we can come humbly and bow our knees as it were come boldly to the throne of grace and know that the king of grace will show us grace he'll extend grace to us for us to receive his grace we must bow down to him we must acknowledge and surrender and submit to him someone has put that grace is always the humiliation of the ego salvation is always a defeat for the ego because I want to feel

[11:36] I've done something I've done something to accomplish it that's religion that's religion that's legalism when we try to work or do or be of our own strength and doing and trying instead of trusting his grace his grace is where our ego is utterly vanquished and bowed before him in absolute humiliation and surrender as we receive the free gift we can do nothing to receive it we can do nothing other than to receive it it's free for the taking and it has nothing whatsoever to do without being worthy of it so it's good to stop and think God's grace is so overwhelming so magnificent grace is God doing for me what I could not do for myself the Lord Jesus is that complete manifestation in his character in his kindness in his cross of grace for us the gift of God grace for us grace that never fails grace that sustains grace through Christ alone by his grace alone through my faith alone to his glory alone and grace sustains his own grace will not let you go grace will keep you through every day he says to you my grace is sufficient for thee my strength is made perfect in weakness

[13:05] Paul said most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me Paul said I'm going to glory in the things that may not be quite how I'd like them to be that God's power will rest on me God comes to us through grace he seeks us by grace he saves us by grace he keeps us he restores us he frees us and he keeps us going and going by grace and growing by grace it's all of grace and God's promises don't depend on our performance if they were what hope would we have especially if it was something that could be lost or gained and found and lost at the whim or fancy of our doing or not doing grace is his gift and that is the wonder of it it doesn't depend on your performance or mine otherwise we'd all be in trouble well certainly I would be it all hangs on his grace brothers and sisters it all hangs on his grace and someone has put it where there is no grace there is no gospel grace is the gospel where there is no grace there is no gospel thank God there's a gospel of his free gift that undeserved sinners such as we can receive and consider the awesome power of his grace today his grace awakens us it frees us it saves us and his grace is forever forever grace as someone has said

[14:35] Jonathan Edwards said this grace is but glory begun and glory is grace perfected you know we've got a foretaste of heaven today in the grace of God that we save men and women we're children of God grace is but glory begun we're already having that foretaste of glory a safe people as we think of the praises to come we're already living the everlasting life in the present tense grace is but glory begun and glory is grace perfected that's when it will all be wrapped up in that wonderful package of the glorification of our bodies so we sing thank God for grace is for us his grace is for you today if God be for you who can be against you his grace is for you today brothers and sisters and so we see secondly God's working is his grace in us think of God's grace that is working in you in you grace is a spirit grace is a spirit it's a spiritual thing

[15:42] God's grace should fill us in Hebrews 10 29 and Zechariah 12 verse 10 the spirit of God is called the spirit of grace that's a wonderful title isn't it for the Holy Spirit God the spirit the spirit of grace God in dwells his own people with his own spirit the spirit of Christ the spirit of grace that's what he wants us to know to have and it's a spiritual work that he works within us inside of us in your life and in mine grace in us grace works in us Paul prayed in Galatians 6 brethren the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit amen it's God's grace the grace of Christ with your spirit it can be it can be may the spirit of grace indwell your human spirit we see God's grace works in us so we're going to look at three quick things that touch on this theme firstly let grace crown your life let grace crown your life in Psalm 103 verse 4 it says of our Saviour who redeemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with loving kindness and tender mercies there's a crown that you wear as a Christian it's the crown of his loving kindness and his tender mercies the crown of grace it's the glory of your life it's your crowning achievement is his grace it's his it's all to him all to his praise all to his glory all to his honour the crowning achievement of your life is to know his grace it's nothing of yourself it's to him be glory in the church it's to him be glory in our lives let grace be uppermost in your life let grace be your glory that which you praise and that which you boast in is his glory it's his grace it's his marvellous manifest grace it's his honour that is that which we prize is the crown of glory it's your prize

[17:57] God's grace God's grace is a crown for us and secondly let grace clothe your life let grace clothe your life your clothing can be grace in Colossians 3 verse 12 12 exhorts put on therefore as the elect of God holy and beloved bowels of mercies you know bowels it's like your innermost guts it's your bowels it's your it's that innermost man that that inner part of you and it should be filled with mercies that inner man of you should be filled with his mercies bowels of mercies kindness humbleness of mind meekness long suffering it goes on forbearing showing charity the bond of peace the peace of God for instance grace should clothe us he says put on in other words clothe yourself put it on like a garment not put it on as a pretense but put it on as that clothing that clothes you that person of Christ that nature of grace should clothe you that God's grace would be so all consuming in our lives that it is what sets us apart from the world around about it sets us apart his grace sets us apart from others who lack grace who lack grace let God's grace surround your life so that it it just beams out of you

[19:25] God's grace the grace of his salvation let it be worn by you as a clothing that you'll live a lifestyle of grace it'll be so manifest that grace is what you wear every day when you get up in the morning and you put some new clothes on that you put on the garment as it were of grace that you put on the garment of praise that you put on the garment of his grace let grace clothe you brothers and sisters and as a godly person grace will be something that you wear every day not a plastic smile or a pretend kind of thing but it's real it's real it's something that you've got to wear it you've got to have it on you're not fully dressed without it but you will not leave home without it and you'll wear it at home soon grace grace God's grace God's grace works in us as a natural part of living the Christian life it's part of our clothing and thirdly as we see grace working in us by his spirit we see that grace will crown us it will clothe us and it should continue in us grace should be something that is of a continuing nature grace should continue in us it says in Acts 13 43 when Paul addressed the crowd he persuaded them to continue in the grace of God continue in it continue in it as an ongoing work of grace it's something that we should have a sustained perseverance in that's the sense of it there continue in the grace of God grace shouldn't be something that's static that we saved and then we're in a rotten and we're just stagnant as a

[21:09] Christian not static but alive dynamic active serving God filled with his spirit actively showing grace letting grace do its work in us grace is not something static it grows as we read 2 Peter 3 verse 18 Peter says but grow in grace grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ to him be glory both now and ever amen so grace can be short circuited friends brothers and sisters let grace continue in your life let grace continue let grace do its perfect work let it not be stunted and static but let it be active and growing growing grace it's God's will for you as God's children that you would grow in grace that each of us would grow in grace that we'll have more grace today than we did yesterday that we'll have more grace tomorrow than we do today growing grace let your grace abound and abound let it grow grace is God's gift grace is a working of his spirit grace in us transforming us our thinking our living our lips our lifestyle by his spirit and it strengthens through prayer we read as we said earlier come boldly unto the throne of grace you know we've got a high priest the context there he's not unmoved by the feeling of our infirmities he knows exactly what we're going through he's not unmoved by he's not one that cannot be touched by it he has feeling for us and we can come to him tempted as we are yet without sin we can come boldly

[22:55] Hebrews 4 14-16 so the Lord Jesus is full of grace he still is he still is full of grace today he's full of grace and truth and we can come to him and know him and grow in his grace and God's grace is a work within us and it is his work so we see his gift of grace works for us in salvation his work of grace works in us as opposed to in sanctification as his spirit of grace works in us continues that transforming work and thirdly we see that his grace works through us his grace works through us because not only is it a gift in salvation a spirit in sanctification but it is a fruit in the walk of the believer God's giving you the fruit of grace in your life it's something that should happen as a natural course of being a Christian his fruit of grace works through us

[23:59] God's grace works through us grace is a fruit in other words it shows if you've got a fruit tree that's an apple tree it's going to show what apples hopefully and if you're a Christian and you're filled with God's grace you're going to show what grace grace should work through us it should show it should pervade the world in which we live that we are ambassadors of that grace that we are transmitters of his grace we're carriers of his grace we are here to herald God's great grace as ambassadors of heaven's grace and grace should be something that's evident through our lives in Acts 11 when Paul came in verse 23 it says when he came and he had seen the grace of God he came and he saw the grace of God and he was glad and he exhorted them all that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord so Paul saw something when he attended the assembly when he attended that gathering of the saints that church of God's people that gathering of God's people in that place he saw grace something showed something was evident that he could see grace was at work

[25:16] Paul saw the grace of God was at work and so grace shows grace shows as does a lack of grace let's be honest grace shows and a lack of grace shows when we lack grace who's ever met graceless people graceless people you know there's times I've been one of them I must say at times we can be graceless graceless graceless in other words selfish sour critical finding fault we can be graceless but God wants us to be rather graceful graceful and we can put the graceless people to shame and maybe in time they might turn oh that God would baptise such ones with his awesome grace and he can he does thank God he does he still does that work today so friends today are you one of God's own people a people marked by his grace is grace your language is grace your heart it ought to be if you know him in 2 Corinthians 8 verse 7 it tells us that we are to abound in grace he says

[26:25] Paul writes as you abound in everything in faith in utterance or speech in knowledge and in all diligence and in your love also see that you abound in this grace also see that you abound in this grace also make it your endeavour to abound in grace 1 Corinthians 114 it says and the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant abundant with faith and love which was in Christ Jesus there's an abounding in grace grace is a fruit God wants us to be fruitful doesn't he he wants that fruit that fruitfulness to be something that's abounding abundant abundant the abundant life so grace should show grace God wants us to abound in grace it's the fruit of God God working through us so just three quick points just to cover off on grace working through us grace was shown firstly by our works grace should show by our works we're not saved by our works but our salvation our grace should show by our works it should be demonstrated it should be evident for the world to see grace was shown by our works in 2 Corinthians 9 verse 8 it says and God is able to make all grace abound toward you that ye having all sufficiency in all things may abound to every good work abound to every good work

[27:56] God wants us to be fruitful Christians who have works that show his grace and for our works to be acceptable they've got to be works done by his grace not by our own selfish fleshly energies but by his spirit for them to be acceptable our labours must be done in the spirit of God our giving our life our serving it's an overflow of his grace it's not to merit or to claim any credit for it's not out of a sense of duty or obligation it's his grace it just overflows us like an overflowing vessel it's his grace that should abound and overflow not out of bondage or something burdensome but freely well willingly not out of compulsion but freely cheerfully we have that grace and it is all by grace our works are by grace in Hebrews 12 28 it tells us that they may serve

[28:57] God acceptably with reverence and godly fear let us have grace whereby we may serve God acceptably we can serve God sometimes we can serve God not acceptably grace there are some dear people that think if I work hard enough I'm going to get some greater credit it's not so really it's not so our salvation is entirely of his grace of his gift that's not to say we should be slap Christians and just ease off the pedal and just enjoy the free ride but grace is not of works but grace works grace does work grace is active and we want to serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear it goes on in Ephesians 4 it says that let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace to the hearers minister grace to the hearers so and it goes on about let bitterness and wrath and anger clamor evil speaking let they be put away but rather be tender hearted forgiving one another even as

[30:06] God for Christ's sake have forgiven you so friends there's a wonderful ministry of grace a wonderful work of grace secondly we see that grace works through us as a fruit not only through our works but through our words our words can show God's grace our words show God's grace in Ecclesiastes 10 verse 12 it says the words of a wise man's mouth are gracious but the lips of a fool will swallow him up will swallow up himself the lips of a wise man are gracious friends let us learn the language of grace when we talk to one another when we spend time with one another when you say hello to someone shortly let it be grace that comes from your mouth let grace minister let your words be gracious as you speak in grace as you forgive in grace as you minister as you rebuke in grace if it be so that you'll still do it in grace that you'll restore in grace that you'll encourage in grace let your words be used of

[31:14] God Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15 by the grace of God I am what I am we're all different the grace of God is at work in you as well as me and God's grace takes us in different journeys in different ways in different learnings but the grace of God was with me Paul said and our work should manifest his grace so let's just take stop for a moment is the fruit of his grace at work in your life through your life we've all got to take stock how are your words test them practice speaking with grace practice singing with grace it's like a language who's ever learnt a language takes time doesn't it takes practice I'm still learning English I'm still learning to talk like an Aussie I still haven't quite perfected it it takes practice to learn to speak and it takes practice to learn to speak with grace but let it be every part of you let it be the fibre of your being let it be that innate desire of you to be more like Jesus to speak more like

[32:15] Jesus to act more like the Lord Jesus let his grace be that response of your life to the circumstances of life that you don't fall to pieces you trust his grace you trust his grace you can't trust your own strength but you can trust his grace whatever is happening you can trust his grace let your words be his words in Colossians 3 16 it says let the word of cross dwell in you richly in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord you know brother Brad needs to perfect that singing style of his but if he can sing with grace in his hearts then it's perfectly acceptable to God amen who thinks Brad should be song leading more we need to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord doesn't sound what a professional sound of it as long as you have grace it's in the right chord amen let you sing with grace in your hearts to the

[33:19] Lord let us worship with grace let us serve God with grace God's word itself is called the word of his grace in Acts 20 32 Paul says and now brethren I commend you to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build you up it's the word of his grace now he doesn't hammer us with law he saves us with grace there's a place for law we need to know we're sinful we need to know we've fallen we're of Adam's race it's all he's fault no it's Adam and he's fault and we're all guilty in his standing but he replaces our guilt with his grace doesn't he that's what he does that's what he does so thank God there's truth there's works there's words and thirdly there's a witness grace was shown grace was shown by your works grace was shown by your words and grace was shown by your witness we're meant to be witnessing

[34:21] Christians we've got tracks here there's opportunity to reach out but it's especially the life that you live and the personal testimony your words and your witness and grace should work through you through your witness it says in Acts 433 that the apostles had great power they gave witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and great grace was upon them all friends they witnessed and there was grace we can take heart today friends you and I are saved people we're meant to be messengers of God's grace Paul says this grace is given that I should preach the unsearchable riches of Christ Ephesians 3 verse 8 we've looked at salvation it's for us Christ died for us and it says in Acts 15 11 we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved through his grace we save the grace of God has appeared to all men that bring us salvation praise God his grace saves us it justifies us

[35:33] Titus 3 it talks about justified by his grace you know in a legal terminology you are justified you know some people go into all the legalities well God's got a legal document it's called the Bible and it says that you are justified by his grace it's a legal document God's authorised it you are justified by his grace and then he wants us to grow in his grace grow in his grace friends I urge you today as Paul urged Timothy thou therefore my son be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus quickly to recap grace works grace works it's for us in salvation it's his gift the gift of his son the gift of grace the free gift of salvation it's offered it's extended it's appeared to all men it's evident in his character our saviour every part of him it shows grace his kindness and his cross it's grace demonstrated for us his grace in us as you live the Christian walk as you walk the life his spirit of grace will fill you it will show as the crowning work of your life it will be what you have to lay claim to in heaven as it were all of grace all of grace glory to the lamb he is your crown his grace his clothing as you get up and go about don't forget to put the grace on don't forget to clothe yourself with his grace be the best dressed

[37:20] Christian wear his grace and continue in his grace let it not falter let it be ongoing and let me see his grace through us to others his grace through us is a fruit it should happen naturally as a fruit tree bears fruit you as a Christian will bear the fruit of grace of bowels of mercies of loving kindness in your works in your words and in your witness be gracious be gracious it says the last verse in the bible says the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all amen the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all bless god we're going to close with amazing grace how sweet the sound amen amen amen Thank you.