Back in the 18th Century, there was a young boy whose mother had died. So he decided to leave his home and follow his father to the sea. When he got out into the world, it didn’t take him long to start fitting in with the world. He became rebellious and hateful and did a lot of things he was ashamed of.
In his late teenage years, he got a job on a ship transporting slaves from England over into the New World. Now this was an evil young man, but just as Paul had a life changing experience on the Road to Damascus, this young man had a life changing experience onboard a slave ship.
At the age of 23, he was on a ship when a hurricane came up, and in the middle of this storm, he saw the ship being battered, he saw people going overboard, and that young man, in fear for his own life thought back to what his mother did when she had times of trouble – she prayed. So that young man cried out to God and asked God to save him, and as soon as he did, the storm ceased and God saved not only that young man, but everyone else on that boat.
About a decade later, this young man, at the age of 33, was called to pastor a church by another man named Charles Wesley. When he was preparing to preach his first sermon, he wanted to convey to the church what God had done in his life and the best way he could of to do that was through a song. And here are the words he spoke:
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me.
I once was lost, but now I’m found
Was blind, but now I see.
Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fear relieves.
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares
I have already come
And His grace has brought me safe thus far
And His grace will lead me home.
When we’ve been there 10,000 years
Bright shinning as the sun
We’ve no less days to sing God’s grace
Than when we first begun!
John Newton wrote about the day he found God’s grace – and truly it is AMAZING GRACE!
That word “amazing” means “To fill with surprise or wonder.” Webster’s Dictionary defines grace as “Divine love and protection.”
In II Corinthians 12, Paul’s ministry is being questioned, so he begins to open-up his heart in this letter to the Church in Corinth. In Chapter 12 he really begins to focus in on the Provision of God.
In verse 7 he speaks of being given a “Thorn in the flesh.” A lot of people speculate what this thorn in the flesh was – maybe blindness, or sickness, or arthritis. Truth is, we really don’t know what his thorn might have been.
What we do know is that it Hurt Paul, it Hindered Paul in the ministry. So, Paul prayed three times that the LORD would remove his thorn in the flesh. But God said to Paul, “I not going to remove it, but I’m going to give you and added ingredient called “Grace.”
As a combat veteran, I have carried with me over the years a “thorn in my flesh” called PTSD – among other ailments. I have prayed and asked God to remove that thorn from me, but He hasn’t (and probably never will) – but what He has done is give me an extra ingredient – Grace. And I am so thankful this morning for God’s amazing grace!
IT’S AMAZING BECAUSE OF ITS AUTHOR (v.9a)
In verse 9 He says, “My Grace.” Paul wanted the church in Corinth to understand that Grace could only come from God Himself.
Paul didn’t need his friends grace – He needed God’s grace. Many people are seeking a lot of things in this world to fill that empty void in their life, but the only thing that can fill it is GRACE, GRACE, GOD’S GRACE!
I have a very good friend of mine that is probably 10 years younger than me. He used to be on fire for God, and years ago he turned his back on God. He has spent years trying to fill that void in his life, with drinking, with drugs – and he knows the only thing that will fill it – he just won’t turn it over to God. Sin has taken a heavy toil on his life and to see him you would think he is in his 70’s.
Listen to me this morning, you can search high and low trying to find something to fill the empty void in your life, but the only thing that can fill it come from Him – GRACE.
There was a young man that planned to go on a one-week fishing trip with his buddies, but a few days before they were going, he stepped on a piece of glass and cut his foot. He was wearing a pair of blue socks and the dye from the socks caused his foot to get infected. Back in those days, they didn’t have the antibiotics we have now. So while he was home, he decided to attend a revival service, since he didn’t have anything else to do. During that revival service, that young man gave his heart to Jesus. Who else could use a blue sock to bring someone to saving grace? That young man’s name was James Garfield – the 20th President of the USA. And God goes out of His way to make sure we know GRACE comes from Him!
IT’S AMAZING BECAUSE OF ITS ABUNDANCE (v.9b)
“My grace is sufficient.” James 4:6 tells us that “he giveth more grace.” That word sufficient means “more than enough.” Aren’t you glad God gives us more than enough? That’s why God’s grace is so amazing – He provides me with more than enough and MORE THAN I DESERVE.
I’m reminded of a story of a family during the Depression Era. They were struggling and extremely poor. Every evening at dinner, the mother would set out a glass of milk, and on the glass, there were lines marked. Each member of the family would take a drink down to the next line and then they would pass it on to the next member of the family. The daughter got very sick one day and had to be admitted to the hospital. The first evening there, the nurse brought in a tray of food, with a big piece of cake and a full glass of milk. The little girl asked the nurse, “Where are the lines?” The nurse asked her what she meant. The little girl proceeded to tell her that in her house, they were so poor that they could only drink to the next line, then pass it on to the next family member. With tears in her eyes, that nurse said, “Oh sweetie, don’t you worry about that here. There is more than enough to go around here. When you finish that glass, there’s more waiting.”
Isn’t that the way it is with God’s grace. Sometimes we feel like we are going to exhaust the grace of God and we drink and drink and drink, only to find that the grace just keeps on coming. God’s GRACE IS NOT ONLY ENOUGH – IT IS MORE THAN ENOUGH.
- God’s Grace was enough for Abraham when he was going to offer his son as a sacrifice – God provided a Ram. His grace and provision was more than enough!
- God’s Grace was sufficient for David when he picked up a stone and slew Goliath.
- God’s grace was more than enough for Elijah when he called down the fire of heaven on Mt. Carmel and sucked up the sacrifice.
And I’m telling you this morning, God’s grace is more than enough for if you will just trust in His Amazing Grace!
God’s Grace is Amazing because of its Author and its Abundance, But
IT’S AMAZING BECAUSE OF IT’S APPLICANT (v.9c)
“My grace is sufficient for thee.” Let me replace that word with my name, or with your name. In fact, on the count of 3, let all say this verse together and replace that word “THEE” with your name. Ready, 1, 2 , 3 – “My grace is sufficient for JOE MOORE.”
Listen, no matter what your need is this morning, God’s Grace is Sufficient for you! It is more than enough FOR YOU.
I Peter 5:10 says “He is the God of all grace.” No matter what the need is, God has the grace to cover that need. Because God’s Grace is:
- Amazing Grace
- Abounding Grace
- Believing Grace
- Beautiful Grace
- Comforting Grace
- Cleansing Grace
- Delivering Grace
- Dying Grace
- Enduring Grace
- Everlasting Grace
- Free Grace
- Far reaching Grace
- Guarding Grace
- Guiding Grace
- Humbling Grace
- Helping Grace
- Infinite Grace
- Impartial Grace
- Justifying Grace
- Joyful Grace
- Keeping Grace
- Loving Grace
- Longsuffering Grace
- Matchless Grace
- Miraculous Grace
- New Grace
- Never ending Grace
- Overcoming Grace
- Overwhelming Grace
- Providing Grace
- Protecting Grace
- Quickening Grace
- Redeeming Grace
- Righteous Grace
- Saving Grace
- Sustaining Grace
- Supernatural Grace
- Timely Grace
- True Grace
- Underserving Grace
- Understanding Grace
- Victorious Grace
- Wonderful Grace
- Words You Can’t Explain Grace
- There’s no words for X so it’s X-Citing Grace
- Yielding Grace
- Zealous Grace
No matter what your need is this morning, He has the A-Z Grace to cover you Hallelujah! Can somebody say AMEN right there? God’s grace will be there when you need it.
When you really boil down Grace, it simply means God’s Riches At Christ Expense. Dying alone on that hill, He gave us GRACE. I can’t explain it, but I think John Newton got about as close to describing it as you can by writing:
AMAZING GRACE HOW SWEET THE SOUND
THAT SAVED A WRETCH LIKE ME
I ONCE WAS LOST BUT NOW I’M FOUND
WAS BLIND BUT NOW I SEE.
Fighting for My Pea Patch 