Recovering Sanctifying Grace - 02/07/2021
Greetings in His Precious Name,
This week we continue in our understanding of God's Grace as part of our "Recovering God's Grace" series based on the work of Pastor Steven Martyn.
As we discover God's Sanctifying Grace this week, we are reminded that God's Grace is God's Grace. Pure and simple. The terms we are using to understand His Grace more fully (Prevenient Grace, Justifying Grace and now Sanctifying Grace) give us a level of understanding the different areas where His Grace is present in our lives.
Prevenient Grace comes before we know we need it. Justifying Grace cleanses us from our sin.
Sanctifying Grace is with us on our path toward holiness. God truly desires to help us in healing from our own brokenness, cutting out our harmful and sinful actions and putting to death our sinful nature. This does not happen overnight and it does not happen without God. It also does not happen without our receiving this Grace and allowing Him to work in our lives.
This sanctification happens through our lives once we accept Christ as Lord and Savior. We take part in this process through what John Wesley calls the "Means of Grace".
Prayer
Reading Scripture
Celebrating The Lord's Supper
Participating in small group Christian Conferencing
Fasting
These means of grace give us different ways to connect our hearts to God on a path toward holiness. None of these means are effective unless our heart is seeking Him. We may be prompted by God to pray aloud in a public place, but we must remember that the prayer is to God. We want others to see God and His work in our lives through our prayer. We do not pray out loud and call attention to ourselves so others can "see us pray".
Participation in ANY means of grace should be heart lead. A heart led by God.
He is our One Affection. Our One Audience. Our One Savior.
He leads. We receive.
Paul reminds us in Colossians that "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men," (Col. 3:23 - ESV).
May we all receive His Grace this week in everything we do.
Here is the link to this week's message.
Pastor Jeremy
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