Philippians 2:13
The Grace of God (1)
I want to preach a series of messages on The Graces of God. If the Lord will
allow me to do so, I will but first, I need to lay some ground work. Before we
can understand what "graces" are, we need an understanding of what "grace" is.
Years ago, a family in our church paid for Kathy and myself to go the Bill Gothard
seminars. At first, I was somewhat reluctant to go. I did not think going to
watch a recording of a man talking would be very helpful to me. I was wrong. Not
only did I thoroughly enjoy that year, but Kathy and I continued to go back year
after year, not only for that course but for several others, until our summer
schedule simply got too busy for us to continue going.
One of the many things that Bill Gothard said in that video series which served
as a seed to me was that grace is God working to give you to the will and the
ability to do what He desires. He used this verse as the text for that thought.
From that thought came my definition of grace:
Grace is God working. It is God working in you, through you, and for you.
Let us consider some thoughts this evening.
Philippians 2:13 FOR IT IS GOD WHICH WORKETH….
I. Grace is God working.
A. God does work.
1. God works in lives and in circumstances.
2. God works in opportunities and disappointments.
3. God works in what we call accidents and in the unexpected.
B. God works according to His divine plan.
1. Sometimes, that plan may be to prosper someone.
2. Sometimes, that plan may be to hinder someone.
3. But that plan is always that God might be glorified.
C. God’s purpose in every situation of life is to bring glory to Himself.
1. This is always God’s purpose.
a. I do not believe God has any other purpose for I do not think
there is any other thing that is worthy of God.
(1) God does not need to build up His retirement account.
(2) God does not need to build a newer, bigger heaven.
(3) God does not need to save up for future needs.
b. When you get down to it, God does not HAVE TO DO ANYTHING for
Himself.
(1) God is ALL AND ALL.
(2) So what else is there to occupy God save to bring glory to
Himself?
2. This is part of the reason why God allows bad things to happen to
us.
a. Part of the reason is sin. We are sinners and bad things
happen to sinners.
b. However, part of the reason is so that God can bring glory to
Himself.
(1) Bad things happen and He delivers us. That brings glory
to Him.
(2) Bad things happen and instead of delivering us, He works
on our attitude so that we praise and serve Him anyway.
That brings glory to Him.
(3) Bad things happen and God rewards us for endurance. That
brings glory to Him.
D. Notice how the Bible calls the work of God GRACE.
Ac 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of
the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
1. What did these men see?
a. They saw God working in the lives of people.
b. What did they call God working in the lives of people? GRACE.
Ac 11:23 Who, when he (Barnabas) came (to Antioch), and had seen the grace of
God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would
cleave unto the Lord.
2. What did Barnabas see?
a. He saw God working and was very glad for it.
b. What did the Bible call God working? GRACE.
Ac 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we
shall be saved, even as they.
3. What brings men and women to a saving knowledge of Christ>
a. God working in their lives.
b. I can preach; we can produce and distribute beautifully
illustrated brochures, but ONLY GOD CAN PRODUCE CONVICTION
AND SALVATION.
c. What does the Bible call the working of God that produces
salvation? GRACE.
E. So I believe that grace is God working in every situation to bring
glory to Himself.
II. We need to understand the power of God’s grace.
A. Grace is like a mighty river. That may sound like a strange analogy
but I think it is a good comparison.
B. How so?
1. Grace, like a river, is strong.
a. All rivers move and because they move, they have a current.
b. The strength of the current may vary, but generally, the larger
the river, the stronger the current.
c. In grace, the more God wills something, the stronger grace (or
the pull of grace) is going to be.
d. You and I need a strong work of grace in our lives.
(1) The stronger, the better!
(2) It took a lot of grace to get me saved.
(3) It has taken a lot of grace to change me.
(4) I am certain it will take a lot of grace to keep me!
2. Fighting grace, like fighting a river, will only hurt you.
a. We do not want to be found resisting grace for resisting grace
is to resist the working of God.
(1) Resisting grace is fighting God.
(2) We want to be yielded to grace.
b. Like a river current, we want to be moving in harmony with
God’s grace, God’s working.
(1) We understand that grace like a river current is strong.
(2) One who fights against the river current wears himself
out and will ultimately be swept under by the power he
is resisting.
c. So is it for the person who resists grace.
(1) God may not smite you the day you begin to resist Him.
(2) But in time, fighting grace will destroy you.
(a) Think of the person who is resisting the grace of
salvation.
(b) Think of the person who is resisting the grace of
obedience.
(c) Think of the person who is resisting the grace of
service.
3. Grace, like a river, can carry you to where God wants you to be.
a. Once you launch out into a river, you are on a journey.
(1) The current is going to take you some place.
(2) All you need do is nothing.
b. So it is with grace. Just quit resisting and God’s grace will
take you where God wants you to be.
III. So what can grace do for us?
A. Let’s go back to our definition. Grace is God working IN YOU, THROUGH
YOU, and FOR YOU to accomplish God’s will.
1. Grace works IN you.
a. Once you are saved, you have stepped into the river of grace.
(1) Your journey has begun.
(2) God is working to change you.
(3) If you resist, you are resisting God.
(4) If you resist, you will ultimately be hurt by the very
grace that is pulling you along.
(5) If you submit, this grace will make you into the very
image of God’s Son.
Col 1:13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us
into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Ro 8:29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the
image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.
b. This is God working IN YOU.
(1) Let God work. Let grace do it’s job.
(2) God’s grace will make you what He wants you to be.
2. Grace works THROUGH you.
a. As a river moves, it comes into contact with others.
(1) People live, work, and play along the river.
(2) My father bought a piece of land along the river. He made
good friends there. Eventually, he moved there. He even
started attending a church fellowship there.
(3) The river influenced his life and because of it, he was
able to influence others.
b. Grace working in your life will open the door for God to work
in the lives of others.
(1) If you want a ministry helping others, let God help you.
(2) Get into the river of grace and go WITH the current. You
will be amazed at how many lives you touch.
3. Grace works FOR you.
a. All the blessing of God come as you are floating down the
River Grace.
(1) Do you want prosperity? Go with God not against Him.
(2) Do you want joy? Go with God not against Him.
(3) Do you want a strong family? Go with God not against Him.
b. And then comes the greatest of all blessings.
(1) Remember, all rivers have a destination. They flow
together until ultimately they get to an ocean or sea.
(2) The River Grace will keep pulling you along in its current
until it takes you into the very presence of God.
(3) Grace will deposit you at the very throne of the Almighty.
Technically, anything that God uses to accomplish His work in people or
circumstances is of grace.
2Corinthians 8:7 Therefore, as you abound in everything, in faith, and utterance,
and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound
in this grace also.
All of these and many others are the "graces" of God. I pray God will let us
consider how some of these can be useful in our lives to effect His will.
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