Ben Furman God’s grace is mine for free, because it is based upon Jesus’ performance . . . And not mine.
Author Keith Miller became extremely transparent when he told then story of how he’d once planned to commit adultery. He had planned to meet a woman in a certain hotel, out of state. But when he got to his hotel room and picked up the phone to call her — his mind was flooded with Scripture. Interestingly, he said, it was not passages dealing with the sin of adultery, but with the love of God. God was clearly communicating that no matter what happened that night, God still loved Keith, as a son. Keith slammed the phone down. It became very difficult to proceed with his sin when he was being consumed with God’s unconditional love. He picked up the phone again, but again — more grace & love. When he tried to call the woman for the 3rd time, he was so overwhelmed with God’s love for him that he slammed down the phone and cried out: “It’s no use! God — I am hopelessly in love with you!”
Isn’t it interesting that it was not the law (“Thou shalt not commit adultery”…) that empowered Keith to avoid the sin? It was grace. For God to demonstrate love in that moment didn’t make sense — but it got the job done. In Luke 10:38-42, Jesus teaches the priority of grace. Martha is troubled over her inability to pull off a perfect dinner. Jesus, refusing to be impressed by her human effort, taught a valuable lesson: Do not attempt to serve God until you are first served BY Him. Mary was experiencing the grace and relationship and presence of Jesus before she attempted to “perform.” Many of us have jumped directly into a “performance trap”, without a prior empowering of the grace of God.
GRACE FOUNDATIONS. . .
- God’s grace is available because it is based upon Jesus’ performance – not mine.
- God does not love me and save me for what I can do for Him.
- I must die to the old law and stop relating to God on that basis.
- God’s grace accepts me as I am, then enables me to live above my own ability.
- My service is actually greater under grace, because gratitude, not guilt, is the motivation.
- All I must have to receive and grow in grace is humility; I need and must ask for grace.
MY TIME WITH GOD
1.) Preparation Time
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed . . . .” List the issues you are wrestling with regarding experiencing God’s grace and escaping a performance trap in your…
Personal Life
Family Life
Church Life
Business Life
Other
2.) Waiting Time
During your waiting time, let God…
Love You
“God, I feel your love today, especially in the area of…”
Search You
“God, you have permission to reveal any wrong motive in my life.
(Guilt, ego, approval of men, etc.)
Show You
“God, is there any area in which I need to receive your grace today?”
3.) Confession Time
“But God gives a greater grace. Therefore, it says, ‘God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.’ Submit, therefore, to God.” (James 4:6-7)
Confess areas in which you boast or have fallen into a performance trap:
4.) Bible Time
We can never pray out of God’s will when we pray God’s Word.
. . . Read this passage slowly a couple of times.
. . . Close your eyes & allow a main truth to surface in your heart.
. . . Pray the Scripture & allow God to minister to you.
“And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore, I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12: 9-10)
5.) Meditation Time
After praying the Scriptures, write down the thoughts that God has impressed upon your mind:
6.) Intercession Time – Praying for Others
Begin this time with a prayer of blessing and for God to pour out a “greater grace” on the people of whom you will now intercede:
NAME REQUEST
7.) Petition Time – Praying for Yourself
Pray for God to reveal areas of your life where you are “performing” in the flesh, then ask for His grace to transform you and empower you:
PRAYER REQUESTS
8.) Application Time
The smallest obedient act is better than the greatest intention.
- What is the main thing that God has impressed upon me today?
- What am I going to do about it?
Steps to take in my obedience to God this week:
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
My goal: To implement the above steps in the next 7 days.
9.) Faith Time
Faith is our positive response to what God has said. Spend a few moments praying, through the eyes of faith. Tell God the positive things you see happening because of His goodness!
10.) Praise & Thanksgiving Time
Praise God by recognizing WHO HE IS.
Thank God by recognizing WHAT HE HAS DONE.
THIS WEEK’S MEMORY VERSE: (2 Corinthians 9:8)
This Week’s Time Alone With God
Monday – This Lesson
Tuesday – God’s grace really is sufficient! Not only does it enable us to endure tough times, but it empowers us to move forward in ministry and service.
Below are some fundamental truths about God’s grace. Interact with them, & jot down your thoughts: How deeply do you embrace the statements? Can you give examples from your life on how you’ve personally experienced them?
Truth #1: Grace is absolutely free. It never manipulates because you “owe” something. You can’t pay for it.
Truth #2: Grace enables you to live beyond your own ability. It is God’s sufficient power at your disposal to meet any need.
Truth #3: Grace means God gets all the glory. This is true because God becomes the one who does all the saving and empowering.
Wednesday – Refer to James 4:6-7
- Write down the areas in which you take pride or have fallen into a performance trap:
- The above text speaks of God giving a “greater grace.”This simply means that the same grace that saved you, is what will sufficiently enable you to face all other needs in life! God longs to pour out doses of “greater grace” each day of our life to empower us, but many of us struggle receiving anything beyond the grace that will save us. In what areas of your life do you need this “greater grace?”
- Begin asking God to pour out His grace in these areas. Humble yourself, acknowledge your need, and trust Him for it.
Thursday – Go back and look once again at 2 Corinthians 12:9-10. If you have experienced times of powerlessness, or times when you’ve felt like you’re facing your struggles alone, or times when you’re caught in a “performance trap”, try walking through these…
STEPS INTO GRACE
- Reveal – Honest personal examinations & diagnosis of myself.
- Relinquish – Surrender performance issues to God (Ego/insecurity).
- Recall – Note the people/reasons for which I’m performing.
- Release – Forgive & let go of wrong views & perceptions.
- Request – Ask for the Holy Spirit to reveal God’s grace.
- Renounce – Refuse to allow wrong motives to rule me.
- Respond – Return to serving God with a loving, responsive heart.
Friday – In order to experience a lifestyle of grace, you must adjust your heart & mind to think like God does. To walk in this grace on a daily basis, there are 3 essentials that will enable you to do so:
- The Essential Of Repentance
You must turn loose of pride and self-sufficiency.
- The Essential Of Family
God created families to be laboratories of grace & love. They are to be safe places of relationships; grace-distribution centers.
- The Essential Of Trust
You must believe that God will do what He says in His Word.
Q: Do you consistently walk with a repentant heart, leaning on God?
Q: Do you have a family “laboratory”, whether it is your biological family, or church family, or small group?
Q: Do you really trust God and His unconditional grace for you?