Live Under the Canopy of Grace: Favour People Can See

Sermon outline

Grace is God's divine influence on your heart that shows on the outside as favour, protection and ability, and you can keep growing in it by growing in the knowledge of Jesus Christ.

1. Grace guarantees favour and success

   Grace is the divine influence of God in a person's heart that shows on the outside as favour, goodwill, beauty and ability, and it ends striving and competing in the flesh. Living in the Word brings that grace into every area, even marriage: he tells them it is his wedding anniversary, twenty-eight years. Be doers of the Word, not hearers only, because doing it brings results.

   Illustration: If you are fighting and bickering in your marriage, it means you have not yet got the revelation of the Word.

   “Your marriage can be a success because of the grace of God.”

   • James 1:22

2. Run after God, and all these things are added

   Jesus promised those who left everything to follow Him that they would receive houses, lands and family in this life. Do not focus on what you lost for Christ or run after position, fame and things; seek the kingdom first. The heart attitude matters: we give tithes and offerings because we love God, and then grace grows in our lives.

   Illustration: Peter told Jesus, 'we have forsaken everything to follow you', and Jesus answered with a promise of what would be added.

   “Run after God, run after his word, and then what? All of these things the Bible says will be added to you.”

   • Luke 14:26
   • Luke 18:28-30
   • Matthew 6:33

3. Grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ

   Grace has a starting point and a continuation, so don't stop at the measure you received when you were saved; there is grace upon grace to be added. You grow in the knowledge of Christ by attending services, studying the Word, reading books, listening to tapes and joining home cells and church programmes, and as knowledge grows, grace grows.

   “When you start to grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ, you automatically grow in grace.”

   • 2 Peter 3:18

4. Beloved of God, called to be saints: grace and peace to you

   God addresses His church as beloved and as saints, whatever you think of the brother beside you, and speaks grace and peace over them. God's grace is abounding towards you: it will pick you out of a crowd, promote you whatever is said about you at work, and lift you out of every pit others dig for you.

   Illustration: Joseph was put in a pit and it was not long before he was out; they put him in prison and it was not long before he was out.

   “Doesn't matter how far back you are, God's grace will pick you out.”

   • Romans 1:7
   • Genesis 37:24
   • Genesis 41:14

5. The grace of God is visible

   The grace of God was upon the child Jesus, and grace shows: you are busy when other businesses are quiet, you find what you want at a good price, and God brings the right house at the right time. For grace to keep working, your heart must be upright and free of evil intent, believing God and walking in love without offence.

   Illustration: Walking into a store just as an announcement says the exact item you want is now half price. A member testified that week that she bought a car for cash.

   “The grace of God is visible.”

   • Luke 2:40

6. Live under the canopy of God's grace

   As God fed Israel in the desert, He will meet every need, so he refuses to fear lack, accidents or attack. Under grace your bills are met, your children are protected and you are justified, acquitted as if you had never sinned. Jesus created by words, so call money, business and healing to come, because God has given us the power of attorney. Grace also keeps you energised and makes you look better as you grow older.

   Illustration: The day after his son Wesley left a job, the store was robbed, and Wesley said nothing had happened while he was there; he told him the grace on his life had protected that store. He also believes that when we put grace to work, Jesus stands up and applauds, as Stephen saw Him standing.

   “You've got to live under the canopy of God's grace.”

   • Matthew 6:26
   • Isaiah 10:27
   • Matthew 17:27
   • John 2:7-9
   • John 11:43
   • Acts 7:56

7. God is your friend: He loves you very much

   Many picture God as cross and waiting to punish, often because of a harsh parent, but God is full of grace and relates to you on your level. He sometimes laughs with God while driving, and at times God tells him He doesn't like something and he says sorry. No mistake is too big for God, because He gave us Jesus, so do everything in the love and grace of God.

   Illustration: Sometimes while he is praying the Lord says, 'I just want to tell you, I love you very much.'

   “No mistake you make is too big for God to handle.”

   • John 3:16