Gifted Grace

Grace - Unmerited favor, ability, blessing

If grace is a gift, how is it received?

To receive grace, must be dressed appropriately

1 Peter 5:5-6 (NLT) 5 In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time he will lift you up in honor.

From Christ – the losing of rank for the sake of obedience to actions of a necessary lower state.

Philippians 2:5-8 (NLT) 5 You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. 6 Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. 7 Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as a human being. When he appeared in human form, 8 he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

Humility - “Don’t think less of yourself, just think of yourself less.” Ken Blanchard (Not C.S. Lewis)

Mine – the removal of ranking self above the capacity to act on wisdom from another source.

Abraham’s reception of grace

Genesis 12

• God tells Abram to leave his home and go somewhere unknown.
• Always building altars for sacrifice unto God.
• In Egypt posed as Sarai’s brother

Genesis 13

• Though very powerful in wealth, did not dominate with entitlement.
• Simply deferred to Lot and became positioned for God’s promise of possession.
• He walked through the land as an act of possession.

Genesis 14

• After rescuing his nephew Lot and gaining the spoils from the battle Abram gave the first tithe to God through Melchizedek.

Genesis 15

• When given the promise of fathering a nation, Abram believed.
• A covenant was made as a result of his belief.

Genesis 16

• Personally failed in attempting to help God out without consulting Him.
• Resulted in an ongoing challenge for his descendants, but gained wisdom in humility.

Genesis 17

• At 99 – way beyond any doing of his own, God established a humility requiring covenant that would secure the promise already made.

• The body was old, but is now had the mark of covenant with the One who would keep His word.

• Names were changed to accompany the physical changes.

Genesis 18

• Received the promise again.
• Intervened on behalf of Lot in Sodom and Gomorrah

Genesis 22

• Commanded to sacrifice Isaac.
• Immediate response

Genesis 22:16-18 (NLT) 16 “This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that 17 I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. 18 And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

In his humility gained actual possession of land

Genesis 23:12-13 (NLT) 12 Abraham again bowed low before the citizens of the land, 13 and he replied to Ephron as everyone listened. “No, listen to me. I will buy it from you. Let me pay the full price for the field so I can bury my dead there.”

When God’s way is chosen over the world/self, grace is received.

James 4:6-8 (NLT) 6 And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world.

James 4:13-17 (NLT) 13 Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” 14 How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. 15 What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.” 16 Otherwise you are boasting about your own pretentious plans, and all such boasting is evil. 17 Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.