True Grace by Brother Curtis Hansen

         Good morning. This morning I am wanting to talk about grace. Now, the best example of grace in the world can be found in the world of finance. When you purchase something that requires a loan, there's what is considered a grace period for the person before they have to begin paying what is owed. Everyone has a good grasp of this process. Grace to believers is often misunderstood and wrongly applied. Grace isn't getting the good parking spot, getting a promotion, different earthly pursuits. We tend to conflate grace with favor. Those things listed may be favor given to you by God and not grace.

        My main point this morning is that Grace is God's power to change us into something far greater than we could accomplish on our own.

        One of the best examples of God's grace within scripture is the conversion of Saul of Tarsus to Paul the apostle. This is what we are going to read and discuss this morning. Our primary scripture will be in the book of Acts chapter 9. We will be reading beginning at verse 1.

        Before we get into the scripture, I want to give you my first point to this message.

        1) Grace confronts us in our sin.  

        Grace chips away and picks apart our mindset, our preconceived notions and biases. Grace is not tolerance. At the start of Saul's story, he wasn't searching for Jesus in rounding up the early church, he was resisting Jesus. Let's begin with verse 1.

        And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest.

        2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound into Jerusalem.

        3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven.

        4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest me?  

        You do not have to be a christian to receive grace. Grace interrupts our walk through confrontation. Like Saul, we all are blind to our own ways. We are all guilty of thinking we are right, even when we are completely wrong. Saul was on a mission to capture, jail, and kill this new move proclaiming Jesus as Lord. Grace will confront the sinner. It breaks pride, sin, and rebellion. If one or all of these things are present in your life, grace will confront it. 

        Now, let's go to the second point.

        2) Grace always points to Jesus as Christ. 

        5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 

        Saul thought he was serving God. He thought he was doing the right thing. Saul was serving the law. God confronting Saul gave human opportunity to change. As Paul, he would find Jesus in spots through the old testament. Grace doesn't stop us, but it redirects us. In grace it's personalized salvation. It doesn't work like religion. Religion is a gathering of believers of community. Community brings all things from the 5 fold ministry together. Now for the 3rd point.

        3) Grace transforms the impossible.  

        Let us go over to 1 Corinthians chapter 15 and read verses 9 and 10.

        9 For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.

       10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

        You cannot change your past. There's nothing you can do to erase the wrongs, the failings, the mistakes you've committed in your life. There's accountability, acceptance, and move forward. Leave it behind you. You were born into sin die to the act of Adam in the garden, Paul said the grace bestowed upon him wouldn't be taken for granted. We should carry the same mindset daily. Do not take the grace bestowed upon you for granted.

        Now, there's a second man in this conversion account. His name is Ananias. After Saul is struck blind on that road to Damascus, he was led to the home of Judas on Straight Street. Ananias received a vision from Jesus instructing him to meet Saul and put his hands upon him. Ananias was very aware of Saul's reputation persecuting of believers in Jerusalem. God assured Ananias that Saul would be shown great things he must suffer in the name of Jesus. 

        15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: 

        Grace is free but what are you going to do with it. The biggest threat of the early church becomes it's biggest builder. That is an example of my 3rd point. Grace transforms the impossible. "I am who I am" will close some doors to you. Paul never denied who he was. Don't sweep your past and sin under the metaphorical rug. True strength comes from confronting your past and realizing that God delivered you from it through he grace.

        No one is beyond God's grace. There is no one too lost or too far for God to reach. Remember that when praying for those lost on their path. Now, for the 4th point of the message.

        4 Grace empowers us for service and not in power. 

        16 For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake.

        Grace doesn't leave us idle but to send us out into the world. It not only changes us but it also equips us. Every believer is a vessel of grace that's been chosen, forgiven, and sent.

        Saul's story is not just a history but a testimony of what grace can do. Saul showed fear of God and then instructed to wait by the Lord. Saul was laid low and humbled without sight on that road. Saul immediately went to the old law of fasting 3 days to find our what God wanted from him. It would do us well to go and do likewise. Your greatest breakthrough may come from fasting and prayer.

        I will close with a scripture from the book of Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8. Paul writing to the church in Ephesus;

        8 For by the grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

        Nothing we created as man brought this. We need more faith for the grace given to us. Paul wasn't the only one changed by grace. The scripture has many different people and instances who were like Paul. May you have a better understanding of grace today, and not so quick to confuse grace with favor.