Embracing Grace: The Path to Holy Fear

Devotional

Day 1: Grace Inscribed on Our Hearts

The new covenant God promises is one where His law is inscribed on our hearts, not just written on stone. This internalization of His word through grace leads us to a deeper reverence and awe for God, a holy fear that is not about being afraid but about honoring and respecting His divine nature. This transformation from within is a profound act of grace, allowing us to live in alignment with God's will. As we embrace this grace, we are invited to experience a relationship with God that is intimate and personal, where His presence is felt in every aspect of our lives. [02:08]

Jeremiah 31:33 (ESV): "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people."

Reflection: In what ways can you allow God's grace to inscribe His law on your heart today, transforming your thoughts and actions to reflect His divine nature?

Day 2: Grace as the Fulfillment of the Law

The law of God, as given to Moses, sets the standard for righteousness, revealing our shortcomings and our need for a savior. However, it is through the grace of Jesus Christ that we find the means to meet this standard. Grace is the nurturing resource that enables us to live out the character of God in our lives. It is not earned by our works but is a gift freely given, allowing us to walk in the fullness of God's love and mercy. This grace empowers us to fulfill the law not through our own strength but through the transformative power of Christ's love. [06:35]

Romans 8:3-4 (ESV): "For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit."

Reflection: How can you rely on God's grace today to live out His character and fulfill His standards in your daily life?

Day 3: Grace Through the Ages

Throughout history, from Noah to Moses, and even in the life of Jesus, we see grace at work. It is a constant reminder of God's unfailing love and His desire to see us live in harmony with His will. This grace is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with others. As recipients of God's grace, we are called to extend it to those around us, embodying the love and compassion that Christ showed during His time on earth. This historical perspective of grace encourages us to see it as a timeless gift that transcends generations. [12:58]

Genesis 6:8-9 (ESV): "But Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord. These are the generations of Noah. Noah was a righteous man, blameless in his generation. Noah walked with God."

Reflection: Reflect on a historical example of grace from the Bible. How can you emulate this grace in your interactions with others today?

Day 4: Living Out Grace

Embracing God's grace brings us closer to Him and enables us to extend grace to others. It is a call to live out the love and compassion that Christ showed, allowing His grace to overflow into our interactions with those around us. This grace is not just a personal experience but a communal one, inviting us to be vessels of God's love in the world. As we live in grace, we are transformed into agents of change, spreading the message of God's love and mercy to all we encounter. [18:39]

Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."

Reflection: Who in your life needs to experience God's grace through you today? How can you intentionally show them love and compassion?

Day 5: Worship in Awe of God's Majesty

In our worship, we are invited to stand in awe of God's majesty, to let His grace fill our hearts and overflow into our lives. This awe is not just an emotional response but a recognition of God's power and presence in our lives. As we reflect on His grace, we are reminded of the supernatural God we serve, one who is capable of doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Let us continue to walk in His grace, allowing it to transform us and draw us closer to Him. [32:39]

Psalm 33:8-9 (ESV): "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him! For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm."

Reflection: How can you cultivate a sense of awe and reverence in your worship today, recognizing God's majesty and allowing His grace to transform your heart?

Sermon Summary

In our gathering tonight, we explored the profound relationship between the grace of God and the holy fear of God. These two concepts, though seemingly distinct, are deeply intertwined in our spiritual journey. As we delve into the scriptures, particularly from Jeremiah and the book of Job, we see how God's grace is not just a passive gift but an active force that transforms our hearts and minds. The new covenant God promises is one where His law is inscribed on our hearts, not just written on stone. This internalization of His word through grace leads us to a deeper reverence and awe for God, a holy fear that is not about being afraid but about honoring and respecting His divine nature.

The law of God, as given to Moses, sets the standard for righteousness, revealing our shortcomings and our need for a savior. However, it is through the grace of Jesus Christ that we find the means to meet this standard. Grace is the nurturing resource that enables us to live out the character of God in our lives. It is not earned by our works but is a gift freely given, allowing us to walk in the fullness of God's love and mercy.

Throughout history, from Noah to Moses, and even in the life of Jesus, we see grace at work. It is a constant reminder of God's unfailing love and His desire to see us live in harmony with His will. This grace is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with others. As recipients of God's grace, we are called to extend it to those around us, embodying the love and compassion that Christ showed during His time on earth.

In our worship, we are invited to stand in awe of God's majesty, to let His grace fill our hearts and overflow into our lives. This awe is not just an emotional response but a recognition of God's power and presence in our lives. As we reflect on His grace, we are reminded of the supernatural God we serve, one who is capable of doing immeasurably more than we can ask or imagine. Let us continue to walk in His grace, allowing it to transform us and draw us closer to Him.

Key Takeaways

1. Grace and the New Covenant: God's promise of a new covenant involves writing His law on our hearts, transforming us from within. This grace leads us to a holy fear, a reverence for God's power and love. It is not about fear in the traditional sense but about deep respect and awe for His divine nature. [02:08]
2. The Law and Grace: The law reveals our need for a savior, while grace provides the means to fulfill God's standards. Grace is not earned but given freely, enabling us to live out God's character in our lives. It is the nurturing resource that produces spiritual life and growth. [06:35]
3. Historical Examples of Grace: From Noah to Moses, God's grace has been evident throughout history. It is a testament to His unfailing love and desire to see us live in harmony with His will. This grace is not just for our benefit but is meant to be shared with others. [12:58]
4. Living in Grace: Embracing God's grace brings us closer to Him and enables us to extend grace to others. It is a call to live out the love and compassion that Christ showed, allowing His grace to overflow into our interactions with those around us. [18:39]
5. Worship and Awe: True worship involves standing in awe of God's majesty and letting His grace fill our hearts. This awe is a recognition of God's power and presence, inviting us to experience His supernatural work in our lives. [32:39]
** [32:39]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:14] - Introduction to Grace and Fear
[02:08] - The New Covenant
[04:01] - The Law and Grace
[06:35] - Understanding God's Standards
[07:30] - God's Character at Work
[11:30] - Historical Examples of Grace
[12:58] - Grace in the Old Testament
[13:53] - Living in Grace
[14:59] - Grace and Salvation
[16:17] - Jesus and Grace
[18:04] - Purpose of Grace
[18:39] - Extending Grace to Others
[21:45] - The Power of God's Grace
[23:01] - Personal Testimonies of Grace
[32:39] - Worship and Awe
[36:24] - Closing Prayer

Sermon Clips

"I believe that when we recognize God's grace, it should lead us to a holy fear of God, knowing what He does and what He's able to do. I'm reading in the book of Job right now, and what a... It seems like every time I read that book, I glean a little bit extra out of it, and it's been blessed in my heart as I've been reading it." [00:01:14]

"I'll make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, but this shall be the covenant I'll make with the house of Israel. After those days, says the Lord, I'm going to put my law in their inward parts and write it in their hearts and will be their God and they'll be my people. They shall be my people." [00:02:08]

"The law of God tells us what we need to do. The grace of God tells us how we can get it done. The law of God reveals sin. The grace of God forgives sin. The law of God indicates man's problem. The grace of God provides God's remedy. The law of God demands performance by man. The grace of God offers provision from God." [00:06:35]

"God's grace has been available ever since the beginning of time. Ever since man's been created, of course, His grace is there for us. God used His grace several times in the Old Testament. He forgave people a lot. Look at Aaron. What did Aaron do? Aaron made a golden calf and caused all the people to worship this golden calf." [00:12:58]

"Jesus was full of grace. He had enough grace to go around. He's still got enough grace today to still give that grace out. To us. There are a lot of people that I've heard people say, I don't deserve to be saved because of things that I've done. And I asked them, well, did you kill anybody lately? Have you committed adultery lately?" [00:14:59]

"When he came to save us, he gave us grace. He took his robe down. He took his leadership in heaven down, and he stepped out into the planet Earth, and he went into a small manger and grew up as a humble carpenter. But he was full of grace. He walked among the earth for 33 years, 33 and a half years." [00:16:17]

"We need to walk in the grace God's given us. We need to walk in his grace. Why? Because if we don't walk in his grace, if we don't accept his grace, how can we give grace to others? You know, if you don't have it, How can you give it? And it's very, very simple. God has given us grace. We need to give grace to others." [00:18:39]

"God's grace is great. It's not. It is awesome grace. His grace is great. We have the grace of God upon us. And we must continue in that grace. Ephesians 4, 7 says this, But unto every one of us is given grace according. To the measure of the gift of Christ. All of us are given grace. All of us. Every one of us are given grace." [00:19:59]

"Acts chapter 20 says this, I commend you to God and to the Word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among them which are sanctified. God is able to build us up. He's able to strengthen us through His grace. 1 Corinthians 15, 10 says, Paul was talking and he was telling them, I was pretty bad when I started out." [00:21:45]

"Romans 6, 14 and 15 says, For sin shall not have dominion over you. Paul talking, you're not under the law. You're under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we're not under the law, or are we under grace? God forbid. We can't frustrate the grace of God by trying to be religious." [00:23:01]

"When we know the grace of God, when we know that there are people that come to church and never worship God, they're here to maybe hear singing. They're here to hear testimonies. They're here to visit with someone, but they're not here. Because like I said Sunday, he's here right now. He's here right now in our midst." [00:32:39]

"God's a supernatural God. He can do great and mighty things. If we will just worship him in spirit and in truth, and it comes from our hearts. The psalmist said in 33, 8, Let the whole world fear the Lord and let everyone stand in awe of him. I stand in awe. God i i greatly respect him i know what he's capable of doing." [00:36:24]

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