Sunday's Message, April 25, 2021 - Grace: God's Goodness and Kindness

 Greetings Believers,  

Today's message begins a look into God's grace.  His goodness and kindness should provoke a response from us.

God Bless!

Scripture References & Highlights

Prayer for 2021:  This year will be a year of Light; that Light will shine and darkness will not dispel it. 

In Jesus' Name

Message Scriptures

• Background Scriptures - 
• Ephesians 2:7-8 (TPT)
• Lamentations 3:22-23 (AMP)
• Romans 1:1-7
• vs. 1 - we are all chosen to be set apart and share the gospel, there is a grace to complete this mission
• vs. 5 - 
• grace cascaded or rushed forth in quantity toward us.  Why?  Ephesians 2:7-8 says because we will be a visible display or God's infinite grace and kindness by way of salvation
• empowering us with the gift of apostleship to win people from every nation into the obedience of faith (just as we are); to bring honor to His name: and because we are chosen to belong to Jesus
• 1 Corinthians 15:9-10
• grace to fulfill God's purpose for my life
• Titus 2:11
• Grace ...
1. is a person in Jesus
2. brings salvation for all
3. educates us on how to live pure lives
4. brings a hope of the manifestation of Jesus
• Romans 1:10-12
• Grace of the goodness and kindness of God to impart spiritual gift that will empower us to stand strong in our faith.
• Paul was an apostle, Ephesians 4:11-12, gifts to the Body of Christ an apostle along with prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to equip God's people to do His work and build up
• vs. 16 -
• the message of grade or goodness and kindness is liberating to all people not just one people group
• vs. 17 -
• we are given God's righteousness
• Do we understand that God is always holy, faithful, and without sin.  This is how God sees us when we accept the Gospel or message of grace.  
• This is not to be confused with a distorted message of grace that syas we can do whatever we want because God sees us as righteous
• Romans 6:1-2, 15-16
• grace isn't a license to sin 
• grace frees us to choose our own master; sin or God.  
• vs. 18-20
• everyone has the innate ability to know God.  He gave it to us all.  Genesis 2:7, God gave us part of Him, His Spirit
• vs. 21-32
• refusing to honor God and be thankful, not taking the time to know God can lead to refection of God and His goodness & kindness
• this is choosing sin over grace and truth at which God will allow us to follow hard after those ungodly thoughts
• Romans 5:8-11
• God's grace:  goodness and kindness, He knew the state man would be in absent of Him.  Yet, He still made a way for man to turn from sin and to Him, in Jesus Christ.
• Ephesians 2:5-11
• united into the life of Christ
• saved by grace
• co-seated as one with Christ
• a visible display of the infinite riches or grace and kindness
• salvation is never a reward for good works
• we are God's masterpiece
• by God's grace we will fulfill our destiny and good works.

 Nuggets for the Week

• Because of God's grace in our lives, we can expect to be co-encouraged and co-comforted by each other's faith.  As we share what and how God is moving in one another's life it is encouraging 
• Sin distorts/blinds us from tapping into our innate ability or knowing Him.  That's why we are called to go into all the world, preaching the Word an dmaking disciples.
• But there is a hope!
• God is not moved by man's refection
• God has not stopped loving man

Reflections

• Our lives are God's masterpiece displaying God's goodness and kindness

 Key Takeaway for the Body

• How kind of God to use our lives (no matter how broken it was or is) to bring Him glory and honor.
• How kind of God to give us His righteousness; not a license to sin but not to be slave to sin but choose righteousness over sin
• We are called to go awaken what was already placed on the inside of people, God's spirit
• What a good and kind God we worship!

Prayer Time

In your times of prayer this week (9am,12noon, and 6pm) we encourage you to include the following scriptures located below and in the article 7 Verses and 7 Prayers for your Pastor/

Ephesians 1:17-19, 3:16-17

Philippians 1:9-11

Colossians 1:10-12

Worship Highlight