1. ACTS 4:31-34 The Only Thing We Need

2. What do you need? Prayer  When you pray, what do you ask from God?  What do you ask God to give to you?  Increasingly, I find that the thing I am asking God for is His grace!  No matter what the situation, I have come to understand that the one thing I really need is God’s grace!

3. The Grace of God Charis  Grace = charis - probably the most meaningful word in the languages of men  The magnificent, rich term charis (grace) appears 155 times in the New Testament  Grace describes God's undeserved favor to mankind  Grace is the free gift of both the desire and the ability to do God’s will  It is a dynamic force that totally transforms believers' lives

4. The Grace of God Charis  Grace  Begins at salvation (Acts 15:11; 18:27; Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:7; 2:5, 8; 2 Timothy 1:9; Titus 2:11; 3:7  Continues through sanctification (2 Peter 3:18)  Takes us all the way to glorification (Ephesians 2:7)  Grace sets the Christian faith apart from all other religions  God is gracious, benevolent, and kind, in contrast to the gods of false religions, who are at best indifferent and need constantly to be persuaded and appeased

5. The Grace of God Charis  The Bible means something far more than men mean by grace  To men the word "grace" means: That quality within a thing that is beautiful or joyful or lovely It may be the fragrance of a flower, the rich green of the grass, the beauty of a lovely person It may be a thought, an act, a word, a person A gift, a favor that someone might extend to a friend The favor is always freely done, expecting nothing in return, and the favor is always done for a friend

6. The Grace of God Charis  When the early Christians looked at what God had done for them, they had to add a deeper and much richer meaning to the word grace  God had saved sinners, those who had acted against Him  Therefore, grace became the favor of God showered upon men who did not deserve His favor  Grace became the kindness and love that God freely gives to His enemies — men who are... "without strength" (Romans 5:6) "ungodly" (Romans 5:6) "sinners" (Romans 5:8) "enemies" (Romans 5:10)

7. The Grace of God Charis  No other word except “grace” expresses so well the depth and richness of the heart and mind of God  This is the distinctive difference between God's grace and man's grace Man sometimes does favors for his friends and thereby can be said to be gracious God has done a thing unheard of among men: He has given His very own Son to die for His enemies (Romans 5:8-10)

8. The Grace of God Charis  God's grace is not earned  It is something completely undeserved and unmerited Ephesians 2:8-9 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  God's grace is the free gift of God extended toward man  God's grace is the only way man can be saved  The grace of God brings salvation and God's grace is Jesus Christ, the gift of the Savior to the world

9. The Grace of God Charis  Grace means all the favors and gifts of God Definition: Grace is both the ability and the desire to do God’s will God’s grace is all the good and perfect gifts of God, all the good and beneficial things He gives us and does for us, whether physical, material, or spiritual (James 1:17)

10. The Grace of God Charis  Grace means all the favors and gifts of God Ephesians 1:7 "In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” Ephesians 2:7 "That in the ages to come he might show the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus” Philippians 4:19 "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus” 1 Timothy 1:14 "And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus”

11. The Grace of God Has a Purpose To redeem us from every lawless deed  Christ died to redeem us from all sin  We are guilty of iniquity, that is, of ungodliness and worldly lusts, of lawlessness, of disobeying and transgressing the law of God  We are sinners and we cannot keep from sinning without God’s grace  We need to be redeemed - set free and delivered  This is why Jesus Christ gave Himself for us: to redeem us

12. The Grace of God Has a Purpose To redeem us from every lawless deed To purify for Himself a people  A people for His own possession Christ died so that He might have a very special people as His own possession This is seen in the word "peculiar” = periousion "peculiar” = periousion = set apart, possessed over and above, especially selected and reserved for

13. The Grace of God Has a Purpose To redeem us from every lawless deed To purify for Himself a people  A people for His own possession Christ died so that He might have a very special people as His own possession When a person really grasps what Jesus Christ has done for him, that person can only surrender all he is and has to Christ The person desires to follow and serve Christ, to do all that Christ says – that’s grace! The person separates himself from the world, and Christ takes the person and by the power of the Holy Spirit sets the person apart to be His own very special possession

14. The Grace of God Has a Purpose To redeem us from every lawless deed To purify for Himself a people  A people for His own possession  A people zealous for good deeds When a person really grasps what Jesus Christ has done for him, the person is stirred to give his life to Christ He desires to do all he can to serve Christ and to tell everyone in the world that the Savior has come to save men The believer works and works, doing all the good he can in order to reach everyone he can with the message of redemption

15. The Grace of God Has a Purpose To redeem us from every lawless deed To purify for Himself a people To bring joy to God’s people  Grace is refreshing, it is joyful, and it is awesome because it is not anything that I desire, but it is the heart of God to freely give it to me  It gives God great joy when we desire to do His will and He shares His joy with us!  True joy is “the joy of the Lord” and it is an outcome of God’s grace at work in our lives!

16. The Grace of God Is at Work Saved by Grace – Ephesians 2:8-9  “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”  This is where it all begins - we are saved by God’s grace, unmerited favor towards us, not by works but by faith in Jesus Christ  It is not about what we have done or don’t do in our lives  It is about what He has already done and what He continues to do that we receive into our lives

17. The Grace of God Is at Work Saved by Grace – Ephesians 2:8-9  This is a gift that God has given to us so our boast is in what He has done – not what we have done  The only thing we have added to salvation is SIN!  You can’t earn your way into heaven  All you can do is receive it by faith, asking Jesus Christ to be Lord and Savior of your life  You are saved by GRACE!

18. The Grace of God Is at Work Stand by Grace – Romans 5:1-2 1 Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  After we are saved, we then stand in grace  What does that mean?

19. The Grace of God Is at Work Stand by Grace – Romans 5:1-2  Grace is the supporting structure of our faith  You can’t stand if your legs are weak or broken or handicapped, or if you could it would be very unstable  And yet, as we stand in the grace of God we can stand strong  It brings joy to our lives to see God’s grace at work in our lives!  It brings a sure and certain hope that God will complete the work that He has begun in us!  We stand in the Lord by His GRACE!

20. The Grace of God Is at Work Serve Through Grace – 1 Corinthians 15:10 10 “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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.”  God could and has used a donkey to get His message out, and the donkey would probably do a better job!  God doesn’t need us, but He desires to use us!

21. The Grace of God Is at Work Serve Through Grace – 1 Corinthians 15:10  Thus, when God is looking for someone for ministry, he sees a man down there, and He thinks:  “Not much talent, not too funny, he can’t clap and sing at the same time. He didn’t do well in English and his writing skills, let’s not go there. He doesn’t like to read. Power tools, we don’t have enough angels to protect him and those around him! What in the world can we use him for? I know, let’s make him a PASTOR!”

22. The Grace of God Is at Work Serve Through Grace – 1 Corinthians 15:10  God does use the foolish things of this world to confound the wise, and I do qualify!  But, as Paul said, by the grace of God, I am what I am!  And it is not because of your ability that God uses you, but because of your availability!  Those things we are the strongest in, God tends not to use us in  But in our weakness He uses us all the time!

23. The Grace of God Is at Work Serve Through Grace – 1 Corinthians 15:10  2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”  I hated talking in front of people, especially crowds  I waited until the summer before my senior year to take speech at Mississippi State University, and yet, look at where God has me!  Why is that?  God works through our weakness because we then have to depend upon Him and not our talents, not our strengths  We serve through GRACE!

24. The Grace of God Is at Work Sustained by Grace – 2 Corinthians 12:9 9 “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”  If we truly could do it on our own, then we would not need God!  But Paul’s point is clear, God’s unmerited favor towards us, something we don’t deserve, He gives to us  And even though we may be weak, He will see us through until the end!  And He does!  We are sustained by GRACE!

25. The Grace of God Is at Work God Can Minister Grace Through Our Speech – Ephesians 4:29 29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”  What comes flowing out of our mouths can build up and edify  But it can also tear down and destroy  Our words can extend the grace of God to people or condemnation to them

26. The Grace of God Is at Work God Can Minister Grace Through Our Speech – Ephesians 4:29  Sometimes when we speak to others we are harsh, judgmental, condemning  But look at the grace, the unmerited favor He has extended to us!  Now that we are saved God wants each of us to give that same grace to others!  God’s will is that we be a channel from which His grace can flow through and minister to others!  God can minister through our speech His GRACE!

27. The Grace of God Is at Work God Gives Grace to Grow – 2 Peter 3:18 18 “but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”  How can we grow in God’s grace?  Peter is not saying that by doing good we can receive more of God’s grace and by being bad we will receive less  God’s grace, His unmerited favor, is a constant towards us, and we never deserve it  So what is Peter talking about?

28. The Grace of God Is at Work God Gives Grace to Grow – 2 Peter 3:18  He is saying that we should grow in being more aware of our sinful lives compared to a holy and righteous God  The more we see that, the more we realize how much God has extended to us His grace  It is freely given and all we must do is receive it by faith!

29. The Grace of God Is at Work God Gives Grace to Grow – 2 Peter 3:18  God loves us just the way we are but He also loves us so much that He won’t leave us like we are!  He wants us to grow in “the desire and ability to do His will”  God’s grace towards us doesn’t change  But we grow as we see how awesome it really is, how rich it is, how deep it is  And we will continue to see this more and more as we grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  We grow in and by His GRACE!

30. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace 2 Corinthians 12:9a “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you”  Paul's 3 requests for healing and relief of his pain resulted in the same answer from the Lord  Each time God did not answer by removing Paul's pain, because that pain was spiritually productive in Paul’s life  It revealed Paul's true character, it kept him humble, and it drew him intimately close to God in prayer  The Lord granted Paul relief not by removing his suffering but by giving him grace sufficient to endure it

31. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  The Bible teaches that believers “have all received... grace upon grace” through the Lord Jesus Christ (John 1:16), since “grace and truth were realized through” Him (John 1:17) and He, as God incarnate, is “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14)  Luke, writing of the early Christians, said that “abundant grace was upon them all” (Acts 4:33)  Paul wrote of the “grace in which we stand” (Romans 5:2)

32. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  James wrote of grace that is greater than sin's power (James 4:6)  Peter described the “manifold grace of God” (1 Peter 4:10)  Paul called it the “surpassing grace of God in [believers]” (2 Corinthians 9:14)  And Paul was confident that “God is able to make all grace abound to [believers], so that always having all sufficiency in everything, [they] may have an abundance for every good deed” (2 Corinthians 9:8)

33. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  When God declared to Paul in answer to his prayer, “My grace is sufficient for you,” He affirmed the total sufficiency of His grace for every need in life:  To believe the gospel  To understand and apply the Word to all the issues of life  To overcome sin and temptation  To endure suffering, disappointment, and pain  To obey God and serve Him effectively  To worship Him – God’s grace is sufficient!  God's grace is sufficient for the deepest pain Paul (or any other believer) can ever experience

34. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  1 Corinthians 10:13 is a great and comforting truth 13 No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.  The way of escape is the way of endurance in grace  Hebrews 4:16 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

35. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  Deuteronomy 33:26 reminds us “There is none like the God of Jeshurun, who rides the heavens to your help, and through the skies in His majesty.”  God's promise of His strengthening presence to Joshua applies to all believers!  Joshua 1:9 “Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go”

36. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God Uses Suffering to Display His Grace  His promise to Israel also applies to us as believers  Isaiah 43:1-2 1 But now thus says the LORD, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. 2 When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.

37. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God’s Totally Open Hands  Some people think that God is uptight, rigid, condemning, stern  But God’s grace demonstrates to us that He is exactly the opposite of all those things

38. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God’s Totally Open Hands  God lives with totally open hands  We can hurt Him and He keeps loving us  We can distance ourselves from Him and He stays available when we are ready to return  We can mock Him and He bows His head and waits for us to stop (look at Jesus at his trial and crucifixion – that’s God!!)  We can pierce His heart with our selfish, rebellious behavior and attitude, and we already know what He says – “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do”  We just don’t get it!

39. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God’s Totally Open Hands  God in His grace reminds me of little children who, when we hurt their feelings, accept our tearful apology almost as a formality  All they really want is to get back to the joy of loving us again, and being loved by us  That’s the way God is  God has limitless joy that flows out of His limitless willingness to continue loving you and me despite the awful things we sometimes think, say, and do

40. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God’s Totally Open Hands  I wonder if anything pains God more than when we, who know the suffering He did for us, who know the humiliation He endured, doubt His willingness to love us through all our failures  What we need is to embrace God’s grace!  We need to let God love us the way He really wants to love us!

41. The Grace of God Is Sufficient God’s Totally Open Hands  What is your response to God’s desire to extend his grace to you today?  God wants to love you no matter what you may have done, or who you are, or where you come from  What more do you need from Him today than His grace?