Embracing Grace: Living Beyond Our Past

Devotional

Day 1: Forgiveness as Liberation

Forgiveness is a powerful act that frees us from the burdens of past grievances and mistakes. It is not merely about releasing others from their wrongs but also about liberating ourselves from the chains of regret and bitterness. By forgiving, we align ourselves with the grace that God extends to us, allowing us to move forward in faith and trust. This act of forgiveness is a testament to the grace we have received and are called to extend to others. It is a step towards spiritual growth and a deeper relationship with God. [37:06]

Ephesians 4:31-32 (ESV): "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."

Reflection: Is there someone you need to forgive today, including yourself? How can you begin this process with God's help?

Day 2: Grace Over Legalism

Embracing grace means moving beyond a checklist mentality of faith, where rules and regulations dictate our spiritual journey. Instead, it is about understanding that our worth is not based on our actions but on what Christ has done for us. This shift from law to grace transforms our relationship with God, allowing us to experience His love and mercy in a profound way. By focusing on grace, we cultivate a genuine relationship with God, one that is based on love rather than law. [44:39]

Galatians 5:1 (ESV): "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery."

Reflection: In what areas of your life are you still holding onto legalism? How can you embrace God's grace more fully today?

Day 3: Living for Divine Approval

Our lives should be centered on pleasing God rather than seeking the approval of others. This focus on divine approval frees us from the pressures of societal expectations and allows us to live authentically in our faith. By living for God's approval, we are liberated from the need to conform to the world and can instead focus on our relationship with Him. This authenticity in our faith journey is a powerful testament to others, pointing them to Christ. [54:44]

Colossians 3:23-24 (ESV): "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ."

Reflection: Are there areas in your life where you are seeking the approval of others over God? How can you shift your focus to live for God's approval today?

Day 4: The Power of Example

Our lives are powerful testimonies of God's love and grace. We are called to be examples, pointing others to Christ through our actions and words. This responsibility reminds us that our faith is not just personal but communal, impacting those around us. By living out our faith authentically, we become a living sermon, showing others the transformative power of God's grace. [57:25]

1 Peter 2:12 (ESV): "Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation."

Reflection: How can your actions today serve as a testament to God's love and grace? Who in your life might be impacted by your example?

Day 5: Called to Extraordinary Lives

We are made for more than mediocrity. God has set us apart for a purpose, equipping us with unique gifts and talents. Embracing this calling means stepping out in faith, trusting that God has been with us from the beginning and will continue to guide us. By living extraordinary lives, we fulfill God's purpose for us and become a beacon of His love and grace to the world. [01:01:12]

1 Peter 2:9 (ESV): "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light."

Reflection: What unique gifts and talents has God given you? How can you use them to live out your extraordinary calling today?

Sermon Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound theme of being "Made for More." We began by acknowledging the importance of forgiveness and letting go of past grievances, understanding that our past should not dictate our future. This act of forgiveness is not just about others but also about freeing ourselves from the shackles of past mistakes and regrets. We are called to step out of the shadows of legalism and embrace the grace that God offers, which is sufficient for all our needs. This grace is not about following a set of rules but about cultivating a genuine relationship with God, one that is based on love rather than law.

We delved into the story of a mission trip to the Dominican Republic, where unexpected challenges turned into opportunities for growth and reflection. This experience served as a metaphor for our spiritual journey, illustrating how we often find ourselves paralyzed by fear and past failures, much like Fred on the sandbar. Yet, when we realize that God's grace allows us to walk on water, we can step out in faith and embrace the life we were meant to live.

Paul's teachings remind us that we are not bound by the law but are liberated by grace. This liberation calls us to live for God's approval rather than the applause of people. It is a call to authenticity, where we are encouraged to be real rather than perfect. Our lives, transformed by grace, become a testament to others, pointing them to Christ.

As we prepare for a mission trip, we are reminded that our purpose is to point others to Jesus, to be examples of His love and grace. Our lives may be the only sermon someone ever hears, and it is through our actions and love that we can truly make an impact. We are made for more than rules, mistakes, and mediocrity. We are called to live extraordinary lives, set apart for God's purpose.

Key Takeaways

1. Forgiveness as Freedom: Forgiving others and ourselves is crucial for spiritual growth. It liberates us from the past and allows us to move forward in faith, trusting God to handle our burdens. This act of forgiveness is a testament to the grace we have received and are called to extend to others. [37:06]
2. Embracing Grace Over Legalism: Legalism binds us to a checklist Christianity, focusing on rules rather than a relationship with God. Embracing grace means understanding that our worth is not based on our actions but on what Christ has done for us. This shift from law to grace transforms our spiritual journey. [44:39]
3. Living for God's Approval: Our lives should be centered on pleasing God rather than seeking the approval of others. This focus on divine approval frees us from the pressures of societal expectations and allows us to live authentically in our faith. [54:44]
4. The Power of Example: Our lives are powerful testimonies of God's love and grace. We are called to be examples, pointing others to Christ through our actions and words. This responsibility reminds us that our faith is not just personal but communal, impacting those around us. [57:25]
5. Called to Extraordinary Lives: We are made for more than mediocrity. God has set us apart for a purpose, equipping us with unique gifts and talents. Embracing this calling means stepping out in faith, trusting that God has been with us from the beginning and will continue to guide us. [01:01:12]
** [61:12]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[33:07] - Introduction and Announcements
[37:06] - The Power of Forgiveness
[38:33] - Personal Testimony and Mission Trip
[43:20] - Overcoming Fear and Legalism
[44:39] - Embracing Grace
[45:47] - Paul's Teachings on Grace
[48:36] - The Law vs. Grace
[49:36] - Personal Reflections on Imperfection
[50:43] - Made for More Than Rules
[52:23] - The Lies of Legalism
[53:16] - Living for God's Approval
[54:44] - Grace and Authenticity
[55:49] - Made for More Than Mistakes
[57:25] - The Power of Example
[61:12] - Called to Extraordinary Lives
[65:59] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Sermon Clips

But today I want to talk about what keeps us from looking and moving forward in our lives. What gets us kind of trapped in this spiritual stagnation and why does our faith always get this reduction sauce of checklist Christianity? It just kind of becomes this thing. I'm not cussing. I'm not sinning. I'm not, I'm not. And that's our Christianity. And I want to know and answer the question, why is our default as Christians more about following rules than knowing God? [00:37:38] (32 seconds)

God made you and I for more. Do you know that today? I hope you get to see through his eyes who you are. He wants a real relationship with you. One based on absolute love and not laws. Amen. If you're taking notes today, write down the title of the message. This is looking forward part six, and this is called, Made for More. [00:38:10] (24 seconds)

Fred had never put things together like this. And this is you and I spiritually. And it always makes me laugh when I see it. And it makes me smile. But I think this is how we get. We're afraid of things. We don't attempt to step out. Even though you're on an island of your life and a beautiful set of people around you with clear blue water all around. [00:43:24] (23 seconds)

We're so troubled by our past, we say, what if people find out? What if they find out the thing I did back there with this? We get trapped into rigidity. We get stuck into strictness. We're human beings. We become inflexible and we like stringency. But we're so paralyzed by our surroundings that we can't even see the simple fact that God wants to use us and we want to use him. We're made for more. [00:43:47] (26 seconds)

When you realize one simple thing, it will change everything. And it's this, God's grace is sufficient. That's it. And you got to get out of the boat and step onto the water. You're made for more. Paul's message is the same. And this is why I love Paul. Galatians 1 .6 says this, Paul says, I am shocked that you're turning away so soon from God who called you to himself through this loving mercy with Christ. [00:45:01] (28 seconds)

We don't serve this God from the outside in, it's inside out. We serve this God that does heart, life transformation. Can I get an amen? It's this gospel of grace. And if you're wondering, am I in the grace or am I doing the religion? It's really, really simple, and I'll teach it to you here. Religion is all about what things look like. It's all outside. Am I dressed right? Am I dressed right? Am I bringing my best behavior? [00:46:17] (26 seconds)

Paul is saying, live for the approval of God first. Who cares about the rest? Write this down. And I don't have it on the screen, so don't try to reach for it. Chase God's approval, not people's applause. You will live and you will die by the applause. Much like the Gladiator movie, are you not entertained? You will live and you will die. If you're here, you will die. If you're here for people, if you're here for God, and Jesus always only first, you're going to get somewhere. [00:54:37] (33 seconds)

Grace is being real, not perfect. I love this part. This is where my Christianity and my walk with Christ started to take off. The stride changed. I went from walking to sprinting when I got a hold of this. When I realized grace, grace means I don't need to airbrush my life to make it look perfect on the outside for all people. Grace was enough. Amen. Stop boasting about you. Start bragging about God. [00:55:48] (29 seconds)

The prime reason the number one reason the only reason Jesus rescued us you ready for it it was the point other people to Christ this whole this thing is about God getting his family back together and we're gonna be back together but there's some things you got to do write this down your life may be the only sermon someone ever hears as much as I want to bring everybody in here and thank you everybody online for sharing all this stuff the thing is we don't need more information good God we've got Google I don't need nothing I know everything because of Google you know what we need we need more examples we need more examples [01:00:57] (52 seconds)

I want to remind you, there's nothing you have done that can disqualify you from God's plan in your life. Amen. You're made for more. Let's give the Lord a hand clap of praise. [01:04:55] (12 seconds)

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