Big God Great Grace
Death is imminent
One last Or letter
One last Greatest, closest friend
What would the Last and greatest letter Of your life be?
One last Greatest, closest friend Son in The Faith
For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure - vs. 6
One of the most interesting And complicated men ever Knows…and writes
Paul= Life of religion Pedigree, Zeal Self-righteousness, Pride and Ego "One of the ones God loves"
Paul= Knocked off his donkey Grace and Humility Spurning Pedigree Christ-righteousness One God loves by Grace Alone
Last words… From a life of grace
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…
…Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me…
Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry. I sent Tychicus to Ephesus
When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, and my scrolls, especially the parchments
Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done
You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it - 2 Tim. 4:9-17
So what?
Drips grace… Real grace Hard grace Biblical grace
Grace speaks Truth
Do your best to come to me quickly, for Demas, because he loved this world, has deserted me and has gone to Thessalonica…
…he loved this world We should love the world As God does
Demas: Reputation Freedom Safety Pleasure
Does it cause me to stand And serve? Or compromise and bolt?
Grace speaks Truth
False Grace: - Ignores it (nothing changes)
False Grace: - Ignores it (nothing changes) - Justifies it (no need to repent)
False Grace: - Ignores it (nothing changes) - Justifies it (no need to repent) - Becomes harsh (not grace)
Paul the gossip?
Grace Speaks the Truth In Love
What they need to hear Not what I need to say What is helpful to them Not what is hurtful or vengeful
Grace Communication: - What they can hear - As much as they can hear - In a way they can hear - When they can hear it
Pray and Repent
Grace doesn't Throw people away
Only Luke is with me… Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry
Mark sounds like A good, reliable man!
Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing”
Barnabas wanted to take John, also called Mark, with them, but Paul did not think it wise to take him…
…because he had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in the work
They had such a sharp disagreement that they parted company - Acts 15:36-39
Get Mark and bring him with you, because he is helpful to me in my ministry
What changed?
What changed? Mark! By the grace of God…
Grace doesn't Throw people away
Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals
Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals - People aren't their mistakes
Because of Grace: None of us are static individuals - People aren't their mistakes - You aren't your mistakes
God is the God Of the next chance We are called to be people Of that same grace
In all of The Faith Grace is the one thing Christians Are so quick to demand And so unwilling to give
The grace we've received Forms the basis for the grace We give Receiving God's grace makes us Responsible to Share that grace
Grace doesn't Throw people away
Pray… For Eyes of Faith And a heart of Grace
Grace gives to God What belongs to God
Alexander the metalworker did me a great deal of harm. The Lord will repay him for what he has done
You too should be on your guard against him, because he strongly opposed our message
Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme - 1 Tim. 1:20
Grace gives to God What belongs to God Grace doesn’t stay angry or Get bitter or seek revenge It doesn’t repay
Do not judge (as to condemn) The ground is level at the cross We want grace Not justice
Forgive, and you will be forgiven. Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”
The moment I demand justice Instead of turning it over to God And seeking Grace I turn myself over to Justice
Don't miss this! There's peace here Joy and Spiritual Filling
For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you”
You are never more like God Than when you forgive what Doesn't deserve forgiveness
Grace gives to God What belongs to God
Pray And Let Go Of what's not mine
Grace makes room For God's Presence
…for if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins - Matt. 6
Has Paul forgiven?
At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them
Grace: Ultimate Betrayal= Absolute Forgiveness
Grace makes room For God's Presence
But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it
Betrayal= Greater sense of God's Presence And strength To accomplish God's work
In Christ- As I live Grace and Forgive well I am never alone I am never without strength
Simply because of God's grace Given through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross
Pray And choose to Forgive
Death is imminent Your life is your letter Time to Grace it With God's Presence
Our God is Great Grace is his masterpiece
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