GRACE—Appeared!
Christ died for our sins.
He was buried.
Then on the third day, Christ Jesus was raised from the dead.
ALIVE!
- Jesus appeared to Peter and to His followers.
- After that, Jesus appeared to more than 500 others.
- Jesus appeared to James and to His apostles.
- Jesus appeared!
- He appeared to a man who was known for his torture and murder of the believers.
- Yes, that’s right, even to Saul, the persecutor, Christ appeared.
Amazed that Jesus took time, that He even wanted to appear, the apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers living in Corinth.
Let’s read God’s Word together and see—How Jesus Appeared—How Jesus Wants to Appear, & Why Jesus Christ Desires to Appear—to every single person.
“For I am the least of the apostles, and not fit to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God.
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
Whether then it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.”
(1 Corinthians 15: 9-11)
Why does God want to save us? That’s right—Why you & Why me? Have we ever really considered why Jesus died for us, for you and for me? God did not need us; heaven did not need us; our abilities are really just not that great. WHY?
Sometimes I cross paths with those who do not see a need for Jesus in their heart, and I wonder why they think that way.
Other times, I rub elbows with those who run from God, whether they are His children or are those who do not yet know Jesus as Savior, there are those individuals who always seem to be in a dead sprint—AWAY from God.
Today, I would like to focus upon how GRACE appeared to men and women who came before us, how GRACE appeared to me, & how GRACE still appears.
- GRACE appeared to me when I was a kid, a teenager. I was just walking through the days of middle and high school, and there was GRACE.
- My daughter was much younger when GRACE appeared. I was present when HE appeared to her that Vacation Bible School day. I saw GRACE appear to her, and still I am amazed by the way GRACE came into her heart.
- GRACE appeared to my husband, at first I did not believe GRACE appeared. Yes, I was skeptical because my (then) boyfriend had discussed how I did not want to date a boy who did not believe like me. Then GRACE appeared to him, & GRACE saved my boyfriend’s soul, and my (now) husband has never been the same!
- My mom was much older when GRACE appeared. It was a November day, and I know because I vividly remember the change when HE appeared to mom.
- I visited my dear friend yesterday, and I clearly remember when GRACE appeared to her. It was so beautiful, so amazing—the appearing of GRACE in her.
GRACE appeared.
HE still appears.
Oh my, thank YOU, GOD, for appearing to those I love so much.
GOD, I am asking today, GRACE, please appear to those I love who have not yet turned to accept YOU—AMAZING GRACE.
GRACE—Appeared!
GRACE—Appeared to me—to me, and now I am His.
Maybe when GRACE—Appeared to you, now you too know GRACE as LORD!
By YOUR GRACE—We are saved.
By YOUR GRACE—WE are being saved.
By YOUR GRACE—We will be saved.
I heard a beautiful melody “Come to Jesus” about the appearing of GRACE, how HE seeks to save those who remain lost. I share some of the lyrics today, but hopefully you will take time to search and listen to this melody.
“As far as the east is from the west/As far as the sunrise is from the sunset.
That’s how far He’ll move your sin. . . .
Come to Jesus, give Him your heart.
Come to Jesus, just as you are.
And He will make you whole again.
Come to Jesus.
Come to Jesus, bring all your sins.
Come to Jesus.
Come to Jesus, new life begins.
Come to Jesus, He wants to make your heart whole.
Come to Jesus, He wants to love you.
He wants to love you, to save a wretch like you and like me.
He wants to love—you—just as you are.
He wants to love you. Let Him love you.”
SANCTUARY Worship—featuring Blake Perry, Emoni Robinson, & Kira Daffin
Jesus wants each one of us, yes, all of us to know Him. As mentioned earlier, Jesus came to save those who are considered the “worst” and those who seem to be “not so bad,” but the truth is—None are worthy, but praise the LORD, GRACE came to seek and to save ALL!
GRACE—Came.
GRACE—Appeared.
There is so much we can to do to share GRACE with the lost.
So much!
The Bible explains the use of our spiritual gifts given to us once we become His—God’s child.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit.
And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord.
There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons.
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
(1 Corinthians 12: 4-7)
I find it so amazing that God allows us to be the hands and feet of Jesus while we walk the face of this earth.
Bible theologian John Wesley once said, “Do good: as we have time, and opportunity, to do good in every possible kind, and in every possible degree to all men.”
GRACE—Appeared, and because HE—Appeared to us, we have been gifted with the GREATEST GIFT—GOD’S OFFER of SALVATION!
GRACE—Appeared to us, & now we are given numerous opportunities to serve God.
Thank You, God, for the gift of YOU.
YOU have washed us clean with YOUR GRACE.
Thank You, God.
YOU have covered us with YOUR GRACE.
Thank You, God, for then allowing us to be witnesses of YOUR AMAZING GRACE.
Thank You, God, for appearing to those YOU are sending us to.
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; . . .”
(1 Corinthians 15: 10a)