Sermon Tone Analysis

Title: Grace Living

Theme: Walking in God’s Amazing Grace

Series: Living in the Aroma of God’s Grace

“Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.”

(1 Peter 4:10)

God’s grace is the most expensive gift there is.

Jesus Christ paid the ultimate price on the Cross of Calvary and today we are going to participate in an ordinance given to the Body of Christ, “Communion,” to help us remember that cost.

Hebrews 9:22 says, “In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness.”

(Hebrews 9:22) Someone has to pay the price of sin.

The cost for the person who committed the sin is separation from God, which leads to broken fellowship with the Triune God and a life surrendered to self-will and a life of bondage.

The great news is that Jesus paid the only price that would be accepted and His sacrifice broke the power of sin, setting free those who were once held in bondage.

I recently read this phrase in a message put together by Rick Warren, “Grace is God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense.”

Today’s Scripture is written instruction inspired by the Holy Spirit informing us how to live for the Lord.

The application for the word “gift” (charisma) in 1 Peter 4:10 is the special ability given to Christians for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ.

Every Christian has a calling and there is empowerment sent from the “Throne of Grace” to accomplish all that God ordains each Christian to do.

I would propose to you that Christians are to be good stewards of the grace and gifts that the Holy Spirit has given them. 1 Corinthians 4:2 says, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”

(1 Corinthians 4:2) These gifts also include home and property and any open door of opportunity that has been given to you.

Just what is involved in “Grace Living?

Shine like stars

First, Christians who live in the aroma of God’s grace shine like stars drawing attention to the works of Christ in a sin-stricken world.

Therefore, they are hungry for Paul’s instructions in Philippians 2:12-13, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed -- …continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.”

(Philippians 2:12-13)

Walking in God’s amazing grace begins with being hungry to receive the life of Christ within us.

Not only was Jesus humble enough to leave the abode of God and walk this sin-stricken world, He had the heart of obedience.

Philippians 2:8 says this about Jesus Christ, “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death – even death on the cross.”

(Philippians 2:8)

Our key text for the first division of this message gives us an exhortation to diligence and seriousness in Christian living.

Readiness to obey the gospel of Christ speaks loudly and clearly to everyone.

Therefore, it is imperative that we let people know how to live the Christian life, a life that shows God’s grace and a right response to His grace is obedience.

Mark Twain wrote, “Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example.”

Perhaps the most annoying thing about a good example is the fact in our own strength we cannot follow the example of someone else.

The fact is admiration for a person who is a good example can only inspire us, it cannot enable us.

Unless that person can enter into our spirit and take control of our hearts and share his specific gifts, we cannot attain to that person’s heights of accomplishments.

It takes more than an example on the outside; it takes allowing someone inside who is able to give us their power before we can achieve what they have achieved.

A “disciple” (mathetes) means to be a pupil of some teacher.

The practical application for this message is the acceptance in mind, views, practices and life of Jesus Christ.

(The New International Dictionary of the Bible) Personal Salvation in Christ’s Name brings with it responsibilities which Paul relates to Christian obedience.

Therefore the first principle to “Grace Living” is a heart that is hungry for obedience to the Words of Christ accomplished only by allowing the Holy Spirit of Christ into our hearts and life.

He must be the one who enables us.

Trying to achieve it on our own accord leads to dead religion which is what happened to the religious leaders of Jesus’ day.

Once Christians are hungry for a heart of obedience to Christ they can walk in the empowering of the Holy Spirit to achieve their high calling.

Christians are to “…continue to work out [their] salvation with fear and trembling…” To “work out” (katergazesthe) means to pray a task through to completion.

This is a special direction from the Holy Spirit and it is stated forcefully like a coach would yell out to his team to perform a certain task.

Christians are to put into practice daily what the Lord Jesus had placed in their hearts and minds by the Holy Spirit.

The Apostle is not advocating salvation by works which is doing something taught in the Word of God hoping to gain your salvation by your own efforts.

There are three aspects of the believer’s salvation: 1).

“Justification.”

2.) “Sanctification,” and 3.) “Glorification.”

The truth worth grasping in this part of the message is “Sanctification.”

“Sanctification” is the presence of the Holy Spirit taking the Word of God and doing a cleansing work in born again Christians, of which they more and more are being changed into the image of Christ.

Christians who express “Grace Living” will take great care and circumspection in their growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

Christians die to themselves for the Christ they love who enables them to enjoy true pleasure in this life.

Reverent fear causes Christians to not lean upon their own understanding of things, or just go along in life doing what seems right in their own eyes.

No, they want to know what God’s will is, get the Lord’s perspective on what righteous living is and to feel Lord’s presence within them.

It is like when I got my computer, I would seek out Justin, Derek or my wife, people who I knew had lots of experience with computers.

I would depend upon them to give me clear directions and I would ask them at different times to sit with me and go through everything they taught me until I knew for sure how to accomplish the procedure needing done.

All teachable children will seek out their parents or someone in authority, such as a teacher, coach, pastor, or supervisor to get directions.

They enjoy the presence of those who have authority over them so they can be assisted through the processes of life.

Children who are living in rebellion will not seek the direction of, nor do they desire the presence of those who have true authority over them.

They would rather blunder along in life living for self with no concern for others instead of sacrificially living for the good of those around them.

“Grace Living” involves Christians who are illuminated with the truth of “fear and trembling.”

These Christians have knowledge of the fact of human insufficiency in accomplishing the will of God.

Christians who enjoy “Grace Living” have found and live under the leadership of Jesus Christ in their lives.

Christians who grasp the grace of God know their strength and ability to accomplish the Lord’s will comes from God.

They have the same revelation as Isaiah who wrote, “Lord, you established peace for us; all that we have accomplished you have done for us.”

(Isaiah 26:12)

Paul tells the Body of Christ that God works in them so they can have a desire to do His will and accomplish His good purposes.

The Greek word for “works” (energeo) means to be supernaturally energized and enabled to accomplish God’s purpose through Christ-like character.

(Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament; The Complete Word Study of the New Testament; Word Meanings of the New Testament; Vines; Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon; Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains; Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Based on Semantic Domains)

The Christian life has tremendous potential for God and Christ.

When Christians live by the leading of the Holy Spirit they have real joy and peace achieving God’s purposes.

The true story of a college girl by the name of Cindy illustrates the truth the Holy Spirit wants you to grasp.

Cindy returned home from nursing school for the holidays.

Her parents noticed her unusual behavior of expressing disappointment and discouragement.

At the dinner table she told her mom and dad, “I have something to tell you.”

Her father said, “Just tell us what is on your heart, so we can understand.

We want to pray for you and about it – whatever it is.”

Cindy went on to tell her parents that she went to nursing school because she thought they wanted her to, her mom was a nurse, so she thought she was to follow in her footsteps.

She told her mom and dad, “I can’t go on like this.

I don’t feel that the Lord wants me to be a nurse.”

Her mom and dad told her that they wanted God’s will for her, they knew that to do anything outside of God’s will and enablement meant that everyone is going to be unhappy.

There would be no joy of fellowship with God, and Christ nor enablement from the Holy Spirit if Cindy did her own will, or followed the world’s view.

Now, as an adult it was Cindy’s responsibility to seek the Lord with all her heart and life and put trust in the Lord Jesus alone for guidance.

Christians who enjoy “Grace Living” as children of God, die to themselves, to the world and the things in.

The flesh, the world and the devil can make you do things that will only make you unhappy and unfulfilled.

Christians are enabled to overcome the flesh and the world and discern the lies of the devil through a personal relationship with Christ.

There are no shortcuts in this matter of “Grace Living.”

It is through prayerful reading of God’s Word and a full surrender to the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Christians who live out the grace of God upon their lives seek out good Godly counsel from Christians who have proven themselves faithful to exercise the “grace gifts” sacrificially for the good of others.

How to live in the aroma of God’s grace

Living in the aroma of God’s grace enables Christians to live out a positive active response to the Spirit of Christ working in them.

Walking in the “Amazing Grace of God” empowers Christians to administer the various forms of God’s grace or gifts. 1 Peter 4:11 is Holy Spirit inspired to instruct Christians on how to live in the aroma of God’s grace.

The Apostle Peter exhorts us with, “If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God.

If anyone serves, he should do it in the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ…” (1 Peter 4:11)

There is a long-standing misconception in the church structure where people convince themselves that only one person is to minister in the local church.

This one person is often referred to as the pastor, preacher, reverend, minister, etc.

The Biblical truth is that all can and should minister in one way or another.

“Grace Living” finds its foundation with God and through the understanding that every Christian has a gift (Romans 12:6-8; 1 Corinthians 12:12-31) that they have received for the purpose of edifying the Body of Christ and for the reaching out to those who are without Christ.

There are two key truths to grasp in this passage of Scripture if everyone, Christians or non-Christians, are going have an opportunity to live in the aroma of God’s grace.

There are two activities of the Christian Church, the speaking forth of God’s Word and service.