Habits of Grace

Small Things Big Results   •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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There are habits that we can have that will help us experience the grace that God has given us. This ushers us into His presence and brings our heart's joy

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RECAP OF SERIES
Small things Big results
Paquenya things Grande results
When you think of small things, think of it in terms of small shifts, because obviously turning to Jesus is a massive thing. But it is small shifts that lead us in the paths of righteousness as says
Week 1
The small thing was turning back to Jesus, repenting and turning to live the way that God wants us to live.
It is often the small things that no one sees that results in the big things that everyone wants.
Jesus when he was baptised didn't have the opportunity to do anything big, but God spoke and said that He had a massive love for His son
Week 2
Van talked about having a one phrase focus as the small thing that has big results, Vans was Studying God like he studies his wife. This can be boiled down into having a one word.
He talked about studying our savior so that we can serve Him well.
Week 3
Prioritizing God first in the order of our affections
Disordered love Pulls us from Peace
Not being anxious about what we eat drink or wear
Ordered love pushes us toward peace
Seek first the kingdom
Jesus ceases to be a compartment, but becomes the lens by which we see
We seek what we treasure most
Kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field
We share what we treasure most
Loving Jesus above all things is like having a light, we pass this light on to others
Cellphone Illustration
Today Were talking about habits of Grace

Habits of Grace

What small habits could we have in order to see a massive impact on how we experience God?
Please Check out David Mathis book “Habits of Grace” it is all about enjoying Jesus through the spiritual disciplines.
These disciplines are not for cold dead faith but a faith that enjoys God and through enjoying God we will have a dynamic impact for the kingdom
God has given us his grace, that grace is once for all thing but the effect is ongoing, our sanctification is an act of grace because God is making us more into his image though we seldom act like we deserve the title CHILD OF GOD.
These habits do not save us, they are however ways that we can experience more of the realities of the grace that we have already been given, and they usher us into the presence of God, and in the presence of God there is fullness of Joy.
The gospel opposes earning not effort.So we climb the mountain of Gods grace with our hands wide open.
August 19th of 2012 Chandler gave an amazing message called under the faucet. We can go to the faucet turn the knob put our face under the spout and expect water to come out, but we don’t provide the water. These habits though are inconsistent and messy.
The habits are there to position ourselves so that when God wants to pour out His Spirit, were ready.
So these habits are the actions that we can take in order to experience a more profound manifestation of the presence of God if he decides to pour out His Spirit.
These habits are there to train us in the art of glorifying God through our encounter and enjoyment of Him
So Habits are good, anyone who is training for something knows that good habits will help them get there, Paul tells Timothy...
1 Timothy 4:6–8 ESV
If you put these things before the brothers, you will be a good servant of Christ Jesus, being trained in the words of the faith and of the good doctrine that you have followed. Have nothing to do with irreverent, silly myths. Rather train yourself for godliness; for while bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way, as it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come.
As any good trainee would know, a good habit to have is making sure to train with others, the first habit were going to talk about is fellowship.

God Strengthens US Through Others

Acts 2:42–47 ESV
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. And all who believed were together and had all things in common. And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.
Acts 2:42 ESV
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Acts 2:42
They did life together, we do life together through community groups.
If you have never been in a community group before or struggle jumping into one with a ton of history, we have Begin Groups
No one can do the Christian life alone, satan is looking for loners to devour, but when we are with others, we are not so easily broken.
Ecclesiastes 4:12 ESV
And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Ecclesiasties 4:12
Interview
What does it practically look like to do life with others?
How have you experienced transformation through your group?
How does your group effect your joy in God?
A good trainee will also listen to what his trainer has already said. His instruction, his past story, who else he has trained.

God Has Given Us His Voice

2 Timothy 3:14–17 ESV
But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
2 Ti
GRAB AND HOLD BIBLE
God breathed out His word for us, to not read it would be insanity.
The Bible is God’s story, it is about Him, His glory, His plan of Redemption, His acts of restoration, it is not a story about us, so it cant be a handbook for living a good life, its so much more than that.
It is God’s own words written through human beings by the work of His Holy Spirit and thousands of men and women have died so that we can have this book today.
The reason this book is covered in the blood of the martyrs is because it is the very words of God, the Bible is infinitely more than a handbook for living, this is the voice of God
Interview
What habits have you formed for Bible reading?
How have you experienced transformation through reading the Word as a habit?
How does your study of Scripture effect your joy in God?
A good trainee will be in constant communication with his trainer for what he needs, the trainer will give what is needed most.

God Has given Us His Ear

God has stooped down to lend his ear, we can talk to Him like we would our own father.
What relationship can you have without talking to someone? Its impossible. In prayer that is where a massive amount of the strength for the Christian life is gained. Through desperate pleas to our father, begging for his presence, and being answered by a God who delights to pour out his presence and sing songs of joy over those who seek him!
Through prayer we can cast our anxiety on him, and the amazing thing is that he actually cares!
Daniel prayed, he made a habit of praying even when everything around him said that he shouldnt pray, even when praying would be punished with death, Daniel did as he had always done. Daniel made a habit of prayer.
Daniel 6:10 ESV
When Daniel knew that the document had been signed, he went to his house where he had windows in his upper chamber open toward Jerusalem. He got down on his knees three times a day and prayed and gave thanks before his God, as he had done previously.
Dan
Prayer is the walkie-talkie on the battlefield of the world. It calls in for the accurate location of the target of the Word. It calls in to ask for the protection of air cover. It calls in to ask for fire power to blast open a way for the tanks of the Word of God. It calls in the miracle of healing for the wounded soldiers. It calls in supplies for the forces. And it calls in the needed reinforcements...But what have millions of Christians done? They have stopped believing that we are in a war. No urgency, no watching, no vigilance, no strategic planning. Just easy peacetime and prosperity. And what did they do with the walkie-talkie? They tried to rig it up as an intercom in their cushy houses and cabins and boats and cars - not to call in fire power for conflict with a mortal enemy, but to ask the maid to bring another pillow to the den.-John Piper
We have the ear of God why are we asking for such small petty things, lets pray desperate prayers asking for things only God can do!
Lets ask God for a growth in our church that could only be explained as an act of God
Lets ask God for a movement in our city that turns people away from sin and toward righteous living
Let’s ask God to make His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven
Interview
What habits have you formed for praying?
How have you experienced transformation prayer as a habit?
How does your prayer life effect your joy in God?
The small things truly do have big results. It is the small shifts, that cause us to end up in completely different places. Having a central phrase is a small thing, it has big results, Having God as your top priority is a small shift that brings big results, Having small habits in our lives has big results.
Communion
Communion is a habit that Christians have had for 2,000 years.
it connects us with God by helping us remember what Jesus did on the cross.
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