Sermon Tone Analysis

Today we’re going to *continue* on the *subject of Grace*.

*Today’s message* is called “*/Strong in Grace/*.”

*Last week* we *said* that *God* has *established* a *covenant with us* to where *everything* that *He has He gives* to us *and everything* *we have* *we give* to Him.

     *I.

*In the *O.T*.

*God* *had* a *Covenant* *with* the children of *Israel*, but *now* *in* the *N.T*.

we have a *New Covenant*.

*A.

*(*/Hebrews 8:6/*) Says, “*/But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises/*.”

*1.

*This *New Covenant* has been *established* in *Heaven and on Earth* forever *by* the shed *Blood* *of* the Lord *Jesus*.

*a.

*This *New Covenant* is *sometimes refereed* *to* as “*/The Age of Grace/*.”

*2.

**In this Covenant God gives* us *His greatness*, *His ability*, *His Grace* *to all* those *who* *come* to Him *in* simple *faith*.

*a.

*His Covenant with us is a Covenant of Grace.

*II.

**One* of the *truths* that we can *see* interwoven *throughout* the *Word* of God, *is not what man can do* in himself, *but what he can do in Christ Jesus*.

*A.

*(*/Philippians 4:13/*) Says, */“I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me/*.”

*1.

**God* has *created us in* *His image and likeness*.

*a.

**Why*

                                  *b.

**For fellowship*?

That is *1 reason*.

*2.

*He has *also created us* in His *image* and in His *likeness* *to* *reveal His goodness* *and* to *show His greatness* in Human form.

*a.

*Turn to (*/ACT 10/*)

                                  *b.

**Jesus* is *our picture* *of* the *goodness of God* in action.

*c.

*Look at */ACT 10:38/*

                        *3.

*The Apostle *Paul* becomes, for us, the *example* of a *man* *redeemed from* a life of sin against God *who turns* his *world right side up* *with* the power of this *Gospel*.

*a.

*In *Paul’s writings*, he *points to* the *most vital aspect of* the *message* *he has been given*.

*b.

**Every one* of *his* *letters* *refers to grace from our Lord Jesus Christ*.

*4.

**Grace* is such an *important subject*.

*a.

**It is at the heart of all that God is doing* in humanity.

*b.

**Yet*, it *remains* a *somewhat* *vague* and *neglected* *subject*.

We *seem* to *assume* that *every one understands it*.

*B.

*The word “*/Grace/*” is *used* primarily in *2* different *ways*, or *there are* *2 aspects of Grace*.

*1.

**1st*, *it’s* the *gracious heart of God* the Father *that** **moves Him to love us and lift our lives into His best*.

*a.

**His grace* *looks beyond* *our sin* *and* *shortcomings* *and* *sees us in the light of forgiveness* though the sacrifice of Jesus.

*b.

*We could *never earn His blessings* through good deeds, He has *chosen to freely bless our lives*.

*2.

**2nd*, *grace is the power of God at work in you to fulfill what He has designed for us to do*.

                                  *a.

*The *Strong’s Concordance* *defines* *Grace* as “*/the divine influence (of God) upon the heart, and its reflection in the life/*.”

*b.

**Grace is God’s ability* *in you to do what you cannot do on your own*.

*c.

*Look at */1COR 15:10/*.

*i.

*Notice Paul said, “*/By the grace of God I am what I am, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me/*.”

*ii.

**What you will become and do for God* *will be* the *result of His Grace and ability*

     *III.

*Turn to */2TIM 2:1/**.

*

              *A.

**We need to be strong in Grace*.

*1.

**Andrew Murray* once said, “*/Grace is not only the power that moves the heart of God in its compassion toward us. it is also the power that moves the believer with the disposition and power which it needs to love God and do His will/*.”

*a.

**It’s important to see God’s grace as a power* in your life.

*b.

**It’s the power within to bring change*.

*If you can be* *changed by God’s influence on the inside*, *you can be more effective in bringing change to situations on the outside*.

*2.

**Faith changes things*.

*a.

**God* has *given* *you His faith to grow in* *and bring* *change* to the *natural* *situations* you face.

*3.

**Grace changes people*.

*a.

**By God’s grace* *you become what He has said in His Word you are to be*.

                                  *b.

**Have you ever faced some challenging problem*?

*i.

*You *feel* that *you cannot cope* *with* the *pressure*.

*ii.

**You know* that *God* has *provided* *you* with all of the *power and ability to handle any situation*.

*iii.

**But the Grace that you have does not seem to be enough*?

*c.

*You need to *do what Peter said*, */2PET 3:18/*.

(Grow in Grace.)

*B.

**In* *Matthew* *we have one of the clearest pictures* *of this need for Grace*.

*1.

*Look with me to */MATT 26:36-41/**.

*

                                  *a.

**Jesus went into the garden to pray* *with a heaviness that seemed as though it would kill Him*.

*i.

*He was *facing* the *darkest hour* ever recorded in human history.

*ii.

*He *prayed* that this *cup would pass* from Him *if possible*.

*iii.

**His flesh drew back* on the thought of what was going to happen.

(We would do the same thing.)