Aging In The Grace Of God
Aging In The Grace Of God • Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 220 viewsThe deepest possible expression of God’s character. Though God loves all people, he is especially committed to sacrificial, loyal relationships with his people.
Notes
Transcript
Sermon Tone Analysis
A
D
F
J
S
Emotion
A
C
T
Language
O
C
E
A
E
Social
Aging In The Grace Of God
Aging In The Grace Of God
So what does aging in the Grace of God really mean? Who can really know what it means, don’t get me wrong catchy title and inspiring thought but do we really understand His Grace, His Love and His Mercy for us?
Why does David say this? Because the reality is that God knows our hearts, when we want to do right our sin nature is fighting against us to do wrong.
19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Romans
Well let’s look at the definition of Grace In the He. It means
Mercy, Pardon, Compassion.
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Grace (Old Testament)
Grace is the favor of God to human beings.
John Newton - The great author of Amazing Grace penned this song
- Amazing Grace -
Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)
That sav'd a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears reliev'd;
How precious did that grace appear,
The hour I first believ'd!
Thro' many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace has brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promis'd good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease;
I shall possess, within the vail,
A life of joy and peace.
The earth shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who call'd me here below,
Will be for ever mine.
See to really understand this song you have to know the History of John Newton, He was a deserter of his position in the navy, and was demoted. He was on a ship that back to England and hit some stormy weather, assuming the ship would sink as most on it did, he not being a believer prayed and asked God for deliverance, this began his conversion. But found his way back to the world and now a slave trader who showed no mercy and was a ruthless, cheat of a business man. He became ill and found his way back to God and finally walking away from all the world had to offer. This is why this song has such strong meaning. God’s Grace is truly sufficient!
“When I get to heaven, I shall see three wonders there: The first wonder will be to see many there whom I did not expect to see; the second wonder will be to miss many people whom I did expect to see; the third and greatest of all will be to find myself there” (John Newton, author of hymn “Amazing Grace”)
Jonah didn’t want the Ninevites to be delivered from God’s wrath he wanted them to perish, he was like good kill’em all!
So he was willfully disobedient trying to run from God but you all know the story.
But listen to these verses specifically.
7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. 8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. 9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” 10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.
Jonah 2:7
7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: “No one, not even the animals from your herds and flocks, may eat or drink anything at all. 8 People and animals alike must wear garments of mourning, and everyone must pray earnestly to God. They must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence. 9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will change his mind and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us.” 10 When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.
-
1 This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. 2 So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. 3 Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.” 4 The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?” 5 Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. 6 And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant. 7 But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. 8 And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed. 9 Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?” “Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!” 10 Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. 11 But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”
-
So what does aging in the Grace of God really mean? Who can really know what it means, don’t get me wrong catchy title and inspiring thought but do we really understand His Grace, His Love and His Mercy for us?
God’s nature is love
God’s nature is love
8 But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
See also
10 As Jesus came up out of the water, he saw the heavens splitting apart and the Holy Spirit descending on him like a dove. 11 And a voice from heaven said, “You are my dearly loved Son, and you bring me great joy.”
See also ; ; ; ;
Characteristics of God’s love
Characteristics of God’s love
It is eternal
It is eternal
3 Long ago the Lord said to Israel: “I have loved you, my people, with an everlasting love. With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.
See also ; ; ; ;
It is a covenant love
It is a covenant love
9 Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.
See also ; ; ; ;
It is lavish
It is lavish
6 The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out, “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness. 7 I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But I do not excuse the guilty. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren; the entire family is affected— even children in the third and fourth generations.”
See also ; ; ; ;
My Favorite Illustrations More than Enough
A young woman grew up in dire poverty in the heartland of the country. A benefactor made it possible for her to take a trip to the coast where for the first time she saw the ocean. Enraptured she stood gazing at its vastness. In awe she was heard to say, “Thank God for something of which there is more than enough!”
So it is with God’s love. We stand in awe of its vastness. There is more than enough!
5 He loves whatever is just and good; the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
I love what one poet said - He was asked “How do we know what God’s grace is ? He responded “God’s Grace is the ocean pouring out on us... A Daisy.
See also ; ;
David knew he was flawed and he couldn’t even imagine why God chose him, God’s Grace.
Images of God’s love
Images of God’s love
God as a father:
God as a father:
; ; ; ;
God as a husband:
God as a husband:
; ;
God’s loving actions
God’s loving actions
The gift of God’s Son is a unique act of love
The gift of God’s Son is a unique act of love
9 God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. 10 This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.
See also ; ;
God sets his love on the unlovely
God sets his love on the unlovely
7 “The Lord did not set his heart on you and choose you because you were more numerous than other nations, for you were the smallest of all nations! 8 Rather, it was simply that the Lord loves you, and he was keeping the oath he had sworn to your ancestors. That is why the Lord rescued you with such a strong hand from your slavery and from the oppressive hand of Pharaoh, king of Egypt.
See also ; ;
God always acts in love towards believers
God always acts in love towards believers
38 And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. 39 No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.
See also ;
God’s love for his people
God’s love for his people
Israel
Israel
4 Others were given in exchange for you. I traded their lives for yours because you are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you.
See also ; ; ; ; ;
The church
The church
5 and from Jesus Christ. He is the faithful witness to these things, the first to rise from the dead, and the ruler of all the kings of the world. All glory to him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.
See also ;
God’s love for the world
God’s love for the world
;
See also ; ; ; ;
God’s love for individuals
God’s love for individuals
“Jedidiah” means “loved by the Lord”.
See also Benjamin
David:
David:
;
Ezra; Solomon
God’s love transforms human love
God’s love transforms human love
Human love must respond to God’s love
Human love must respond to God’s love
19 We love each other because he loved us first.
See also ; ; ;
Human love must be modelled on God’s love
Human love must be modelled on God’s love
44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! 45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
See also ; ; ;