THE THREE-FOLD GRACE OF GOD
#042 THE THREE-FOLD GRACE OF GOD
Scripture Matthew 5:5-13; 26:39 NIV Orig. 7-5-64 (10-75) (4-85)
Rewr. 4/22/84
Passage: V5-13 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.
9 “This, then, is how you should pray:
“‘Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
10 your kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us today our daily bread.
12 And forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,[a]
but deliver us from the evil one.[b]’
V26:3939 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
Purpose: Using Jesus’ teaching and example in prayer to remind us of the parameters of God’s grace in our lives today
Keywords: Commitment Grace of God Prayer Christ Mediator Communication
Introduction
Mahatma Gandhi, the Indian leader of peaceful resolution, gained many of his most significant insights from Christ. He is quoted as having said that he would have given more serious consideration to having become an avowed follower of Christ had it not been for some of the Christians that he had known. It is still so, that the greatest hindrance to the Kingdom of God is usually found in the discordant events in the lives of those who are presumably members of the kingdom.
Dr. R.G. Lee entitled one of his favorite sermons, “The Menace of Mediocrity.” In it he writes “Mediocrity is somebody with diamond and ruby talents, worth as little to God’s cause through the church as a punctured Japanese nickel is worth at a Chinese bazaar.” In that message, he mentions another sermon entitled “Bantam Baptists.” Dr. Lee said he could have preached the same message to any gathering. He would only have had to change the name: “Midget Methodists, Peewee Presbyterians, Lilliputian Lutherans, Puny Pentecostals, Miniature Mennonites, or Diminutive Disciples.”
Too many of us as Christians seem content to go through life with some such spiritual mediocrity as that mentioned in the child’s verse that many of us read to our children.
“Solomon Grundy
Born on Monday,
Christened on Tuesday,
Married on Wednesday,
Taken ill on Thursday,
Worse on Friday,
Died on Saturday,
Buried on Sunday.
And that was the end of Solomon Grundy.”
I. Grace is First Considered in Communication with the Father. V6 “But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place.”
It acknowledges the practiced humility. It means to practice prayer. It means that we are to do so even though we are not advantaged in the world’s eyes.
Charles Schultz has cartoon books for teens. Girl to Sunday School classmates: “I had to give up my secret closet of prayer. Every time I went in there, all those cashmere sweaters made me feel guilty.” Think how many of the world’s problems could be resolved if more of us were willing to be disadvantaged. Ireland could become a land of religious harmony. Central America could offer struggling third world nations a chance to be free and economically secure. South Africa could resolve racial hostility.
It acknowledges practical meditation. Clearly, we are to search for answers. We are to do so with resolve in what the Father already knows. V8 “Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask.”
Jesus not only taught us so to pray, he exercised this option to the fullest. Recourse to this grace is extended to each of us. Job 13:15 “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him.” II Chronicles 32:8 “With him is an arm of flesh; but with us is the Lord our God to help us.” We seem to want Him removed out of our politics and government, out of our schools and homes. All that will be left is churches. All that will be left is some social stigma, or worse, against believers.
Mediocrity is but a step away when we fail to be in touch with God’s grace through prayer. It is to claim other resources than God. It is to claim dependence on our own wit and charm. Luke 18:11 In Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector: “The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, [I thank Thee that I am me.]”
II. Grace Extends to Companionship in the Father. V8 “Be ye not therefore like unto them; for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask Him.” It pertains to a day-by-day awareness of God, and His help. Norman Vincent Peale: “Millions of men and women are creeping through life on their hands and knees merely because they refuse to rely on any power but self.” Too many of us are too distracted by the myriads of things in our lives. V7 Admonishes us “not us use vain repetition as the heathen do.” It is to put the Lord first, and to know where we stand with Him.
Remember the old radio ad of the dog sitting before an old timey speaker. The caption says it all: “His master’s voice.” It is to be obedient to Him. “Too many Christians spend six days sowing wild oats, and the seventh praying for a crop failure.”
Such companionship offers not only daily help, but also delivering help. V13 “Deliver us from the evil one.” People who are insensitive to Satan’s zeal, tend to discount his power. It is amazing how many people respond to exercise, diet programs. They eat the right foods. They work out strenuously. But these same people give no consideration to spiritual needs. James 1:4 “Every man is tempted when he is drawn away of his own lusts and enticed.”
The promise of God’s help is in accord with the practice of faith. I Corinthians 10:13 “God is faithful who will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able.”
Daily help, delivering help, becomes determined help. V10 “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” We don’t come into the kingdom grown. We grow in the pursuit of God’s will as we nourish our interest in it. Our Daily Bread told of a tribal chief where missionaries were working. “If you become better men and women by being Christians, you may remain so; if not, I forbid you to be Christians at all.”
III. Beyond Communication and Companionship, there is Commitment. Matthew 26:39: “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as thou wilt.”
No person ever wanted to live, or had reason to live, like Jesus did. “Let this cup pass.” He thought of needs: hunger, disease, injustice. He thought of meaningless religion: unbelief, cynicism, error. He thought of misguided zealots: Jewish and pagan. He thought of the disciples and their wavering faith: Judas’ rejection, Peter’s denial.
Jesus wanted to live. “Let this cup pass from me.” But greater than His desire to live was His determination to do God’s will. Thus, grace is given: Grace opening to us the door to communing with the Father; Grace enabling us to experience companionship in the Father; Grace motivating us for commitment in the Father.
Conclusion
The French painter, Emile Ranouf, has depicted on canvas what he calls, “The Helping Hand.” It is of an elderly man in fishing gear, rowing a boat with a small girl at his side. Obviously, there is great love between them. Her small hands are also on oars. He looks at her fondly. The child has desire, but the strength is the grandfather’s. Thus is a renewable parable of our relation to God.