1Peter 4:10
The Manifold Grace of God
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We continue tonight looking at some of the graces of God.
We remember the Bible verse from which we get our definition of grace.
Phi 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure.
From that, we get our definition that grace is God working in you, through you, and
for you to accomplish His will. That is the big picture of grace. I liken it to
a big river, but that river is made up of smaller graces, which I liken to smaller
tributaries.
The Bible lists some of them:
2Cor 8:7 Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and
knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in
this grace also.
In tonight’s text, we have Peter speaking of the manifold grace of God. Manifold
means "the different" or "the various sorts of." So Peter is speaking of the
different and various forms of God’s grace.
The graces that we have seen so far are truth and faith. Although we might not
often call those commodities grace, once we consider it, it is obvious that they
are. However, one of the reasons that I am preaching this message is because
not all of the graces are as apparent. Most would not consider those that we
will look at tonight graces, but if God uses them to work in us, through us, or
even for us, they are.
I. The church
A. Most do not understand God’s wonderful plan for the church.
1. To most, church is an option.
a. If you go, well.
b. If not, well you weren’t getting that much out of the sermon
anyway.
2. Church is a lot more than just hearing a sermon.
3. It is a place through which God works in many ways to touch many
lives.
a. The problem is that most people give so little to and get so
little from the church that they really don’t see the value
of it.
b. If that is the case, you have cut your self off from a
powerful tributary of God’s grace.
c. You will never be the kind of Christian you are supposed to be
if you have opportunity to go to church and do not.
d. If you go through your Christian life without a precious
relationship with your church family, you have deprived
yourself not only of dear friends and inspiring sermons, but
of a work of God in your life, through your life, and for
your life.
B. To appreciate how God could use the church in your life, let’s go to
the Old Testament for a minute.
Jeremiah 18:1 The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying,
2 Arise, and go down to the potter’s house, and there I will cause thee to hear
my words.
3 Then I went down to the potter’s house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the
wheels.
4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so
he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it.
5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying,
6 O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold,
as the clay is in the potter’s hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.
7 At what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a kingdom, to
pluck up, and to pull down, and to destroy it;
8 If that nation, against whom I have pronounced, turn from their evil, I will
repent of the evil that I thought to do unto them.
9 And at what instant I shall speak concerning a nation, and concerning a
kingdom, to build and to plant it;
10 If it do evil in my sight, that it obey not my voice, then I will repent of
the good, wherewith I said I would benefit them.
1. There is an important lesson here.
2. Namely, God works in what might seem to be harsh ways to shape us.
a. We are in God’s hand.
b. Sometimes the Potter might pull out a pebble or shave down a
section or build up a section.
c. Clay has no feeling, but you and I do.
d. When God does that to us, it is probably going to hurt; but
He does that for His glory and our good.
3. I say that to say that God uses the church in some ways that we
like and God uses the church in some ways that we do not lie.
a. It is easy enough to let God’s grace work in our life when we
feel the Spirit moving and things are feeling good.
b. But when you get your feelings hurt or have to make a sacrifice
to be involved in a ministry, it won’t feel as good; but that
is still God using the church to shape you.
c. If all you are willing to endure are the "feel good"
experiences at church, you aren’t going to see much of God’s
grace and you probably won’t be around very long either.
II. So how does God use the church to work in, through, and for people.
A. God works through the church to help the saved.
1. The church is a place of worship.
a. Worship is a wonderful work and a wonderful experience; but
worship does not come easily.
b. Worship, experiencing God, requires that you comply with God
on some issues.
(1) To worship God requires you make God a priority.
(2) To worship God requires your time and devotion.
(3) To worship God requires that you keep short sin accounts.
c. If you can spare seven minutes and have access to Facebook,
Bro. Dale Murphy posted a link which I reposted that is a
portion of a sermon by David Wilkerson on Anguish which
would do everyone good to listen to.
2. The church is a place of instruction.
a. Not only is the church a place of worship, it is a place of
instruction.
(1) That is probably one reason why it is not very popular in
this age.
(2) No one wants to be instructed.
b. We have become like the strutting peacock. We feel that we
are beautiful just the way we are and that everyone else
should appreciate us and want to see us that way.
(1) The problem is we are not all that beautiful.
(2) God wants us to be told some things, so He put us in
church.
c. God must have a lot of instructions for us because a good deal
of the New Testament is focused on just such dialogue.
3. The church is a place of discipline and accountability.
a. God made the church a body with self-discipline authority.
Matt 18:16 But if he will not hear thee, then take with thee one or two more,
that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.
17 And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it unto the church: but if he
neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican.
b. God even made His own leaders accountable to the church.
Ac 14:27 And when they were come, and had gathered the church together, they
rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of
faith unto the Gentiles.
c. Today, what disciplining authority the church will use is
largely stripped from it.
(1) Most churches will not discipline a church member today.
(2) But if you ever find one that will, the church member is
likely to just go to another church down the road or
just quit going all together.
(3) That is unfortunate because the purpose for church
discipline was not to embarrass, but to mode better
Christians.
(4) God wants to use His church to shape, mode, fire, and
polish His people.
d. The positive effect of that is that for the church to
accomplish that aspect of its ministry today, you have to
submit yourself to it.
B. God works through the church to help the lost.
Mt 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of
the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
C. God works through the church to help a nation.
III. God works through the called workers of the church.
A. God calls men to lead the church just as surely as God calls the
church to help others.
B. These men are called to grow the flock.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
C. These men are called to feed the flock.
Ac 20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the
which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which
he hath purchased with his own blood.
D. These men are called to protect the flock.
Jer 23:2 Therefore thus saith the LORD God of Israel against the pastors that
feed my people; Ye have scattered my flock, and driven them away, and have not
visited them: behold, I will visit upon you the evil of your doings, saith the
LORD.
3 And I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all countries whither I have
driven them, and will bring them again to their folds; and they shall be
fruitful and increase.
4 And I will set up shepherds over them which shall feed them: and they shall
fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall they be lacking, saith the LORD.
E. Like it or not, God directs the church and the individuals of the
church by these men.
Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists;
and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:
IV. God works through the commandments to be obeyed in and by the church.
A. There are many commands that God gives us and God works through them
all, but I specifically draw your attention to the church related
commands.
B. Commands to get along.
1. Commands to love one another.
2. Commands to forgive.
3. Commands to serve together.
4. In some ways, it is like God is saying, "If you did not learn how
to play with others when you were a child, you are going to
learn now."
C. Commands to give.
D. Commands to work.
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