Agents of God’s Grace

I. It is overwhelming to think of the grace of God shown to us.

A. It is shown in His loving care for us in taking care of our daily needs and answering our prayers. After all, He is the creator and He listens to us.

B. It is shown in the sacrifice of His only Son for our sins.

C. It is shown in all aspects of His relationship to us. The fact that we have a relationship with Him at all shows the grace of God for we do not deserve to be His children, not even His servants.

II. We, as Christians, are not only the recipients of God’s grace, but are also agents of His grace.

A. Song: “The Greater Light” – We do not have our own light but reflect the light of God and “when men see the works we do, they glorify God.”

B. We are the means of showing God’s grace in action to the world.

III. We are agents of the grace of God in the spread of the gospel.

A. The gospel message is called the word of His grace.

B. Acts 20:32 He calls men by the gospel, Galatians 1:6.

C. We are the agents for administering the grace of God, Ephesians 4:29.

D. Song: “Christ Has No Hands But Our Hands” It was God’s choice to make us the means of teaching others. If we do not tell the message, who will?“Christ will not mean anything to the world until He means everything to us.” It is our message of grace that teaches others how to live, Titus 2:11-13. We must show it in our lives as well.

E. We must tell the message of God’s grace so that men will submit to His will.

F. Romans 1:16 tells us that the gospel is the method, or power, that God has chosen to use for saving men. Anyone can do it: Young or old We will be agents of God’s grace when we take the message to the lost and they repent at the teaching of the gospel As God’s grace is shown to all men, only a few will submit and receive it. Our message must go out to many but we must remember that most will reject our efforts. We must go anyway.

IV. We are the agents of God’s grace in our singing.

A. Colossians 3;16-17.

B. In the singing of songs we not only tell of God’s grace but we show it.

C. How do we sing with grace?

D. It is not in the beauty of the chords or the tones. It is in the beauty of the attitude and the message of those singing.

E. We sing with grace when we really believe the words that we are singing and our life reflects that belief.

F. “This World is not My Home”“Amazing Grace”“Hallelujah Praise Jehovah” When we sing from the heart and are not just mouthing words, we show that we really believe that it is only by the grace of God that we are saved and want others to be saved too.

G. We show the grace of God when we are able to “sing songs in the night.”

H. Job 35:10 Acts 16:25 – The apostles in prison Anyone can sing when things are well, but we should be able to sing when things are not well and trust that God can bring good out of any situation. We must see the grace of God and rejoice and encourage others to lift their eyes up to God in very difficult times.

V. We are the agents of God’s grace in answering questions about the hope that is within us, Colossians 4:6.

A. Our attitude and life should reflect that hope that would cause others to ask.

B. We are examples of God’s grace for the world to notice.

C. 1 Peter 2:11-121 Peter 3:15 Our example is not enough, we must open our mouths and teach.

D. If we do not show the world the example of Christ living in us, who will?

E. We are to illustrate ones who are mindful of the grace of God and are ministers of the grace of God.

VI. We are the agents of God’s grace in brotherly love.

A. It is shown in the sacrifice of material things to take care of our brethren.

B. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 Acts 4:32-35

C. Sometimes we pray “Bless brother so-and-so or Sister so-and-so” then do nothing for them. We must be a blessing to them!

VII. We are the agents of God’s grace in showing forgiveness to others.

A. Matthew 18:21-35 – How often to forgive?

B. We are to forgive like those who have been forgiven much.

C. We are also to admonish others so they will have forgiveness of sins, James 5:20.

VIII. We are not only the recipients of God’s grace, but are grace to others as well.

A. We should be able to say with Paul, 1 Corinthians 15:10.

B. We should never be complacent, 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12

C. Galatians 6:9-10 – Let us never give up.