The Journey of Grace: Message Two - Seeking Grace
By Dr. Jon Fillipi
What do you seek?
The incredible desire to share...
The transformation that takes place...
As Wesleyans, we believe that grace is at work long before we understand what grace even is.
Five spiritual motifs of grace...
Seeking grace
Saving grace
Sanctifying grace
Sustaining grace
Sufficient grace
We believe that God is already at work in our lives, even before we are aware that He is at work in our lives.
Ephesians 2:1-2, 4-5
And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved),
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Acts 10:1-8
Now there was a man at Caesarea named Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian cohort, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, and gave many alms to the Jewish people and prayed to God continually. About the ninth hour of the day he clearly saw in a vision an angel of God who had just come in and said to him, “Cornelius!” And fixing his gaze on him and being much alarmed, he said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and alms have ascended as a memorial before God. Now dispatch some men to Joppa and send for a man named Simon, who is also called Peter; he is staying with a tanner named Simon, whose house is by the sea.” When the angel who was speaking to him had left, he summoned two of his servants and a devout soldier of those who were his personal attendants, and after he had explained everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.
We discover a man named Cornelius who is living life at the crossroads.
We discover here the curiosity that is created in our hearts when we begin to see God at work in them.
Remember that no one ever comes to Jesus...Jesus comes to them.
We discover the grace-filled companionship that comes when you rub shoulders with God's people.
We discover the power of conviction as Cornelius begins to align his life by grace to the Kingdom of God at work in him.
We must allow time for God to work. If we are in touch with Him through prayer, He will lead us to the moment of decision.
We do not naturally seek God; instead, God seeks us. No one ever comes to Jesus. Jesus comes to them. That is prevenient, seeking grace!
