The Grace of Persevering - I Peter 5:10,11
Grace is not a doctrine. Grace is a lifestyle. It is something for us to live in and through us. Paul says, "I am what I am by the Grace of God". Galatians 2:21: says, "the grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain." I do not set aside, invalidate and frustrate and nullify Grace (unmerited favor) of God in my life. No grace - no life in you! The grace of God must not be in vain - that means "useless or to no purpose". God does not want to pour His grace upon you for no reason. God is the author and finisher of grace in us.
Grace is the power of God in us, with us and through us. This gospel of grace is not about right living but it is right believing. Right believing produces power to right living. If we believe what is right then it will manifest its power to change us and transform us from inside out not outside in. If an egg is broken from outside, life ends but if an egg is broken from inside out - life begins. A miracle and life transformation begins inward through the power of God's grace.
Paul says,"For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (grace) for it is the power of God to salvation to everyone who BELIEVES (not who works or obey first) Right believing give us the power to obey God and serve Him with fresh and flourishing fruitfulness.
Paul says, "For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son (Grace), that without ceasing I make mention of you, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you." Roman 1:9 We can serve God in the spirit of grace by the power of Jesus His Son.
Here Peter was writing to Christians scattered throughout Asia Minor, Turkey today. Peter calls them "God's elect, strangers in the world" 1 Peter 1:1 The believers there had been suffering many kinds of trails. These trials included malicious slander from unbelievers, persecution from their government authorities and spiritual assaults from the enemy. Peter wanted them to be encouraged and strengthened for the hope of the coming glory of Christ.
The promises of God's will will do for them four things: The God of all Grace will restore them perfect, establish, strengthen and settle them.
1) God Will Perfect You (Restore or Complete)
KJV "perfect" means "to make fully ready" or "to complete". Just as fisherman making fishing nets ready by mending them to be used. Saint Peter who fell and fail Jesus to deny Christ three times but was restored. But remember God is a God of all Grace. That means whatever grace you need in your life and problems God is there to help. God grace is boundless and He has large resources of grace ready to make you complete in Christ. God wants you to understand and live in that kind of grace.
After you have fallen a little while. That means to say you have fallen - we have all fallen - we fail - we can sinned - we blew it - we are weak but in our weakness God does not condemn us instead He reinforces us to be stronger and stronger. Grace of God leaves you strong and calm; your good works and effort rent you weak and powerless, frustrated and worry. Only through faith the grace of God works. Faith in the Word of Grace will build us stronger not weaker.
When I fall - God is a God of second chance. God will be gentle with me and not angry - for He will restores and take up my mistakes and failures and work together for good into His purposes and plans.
2. God Will Establish You
When our enemy attack us, yes our home, our marriage, our joy and our health, etc. People will shut us off or pass over us. There is pressure everywhere and should we compromise our faith or stand on? Should we deny Jesus as Peter did it? All forms of testing and temptations to give up at times. But God who creates the universe and earth will hold you up. The bible says, if the enemy comes in like a flood - God will raise up a standard against them. You don't have to do anything but believe (the gospel has the power to those who believe) in His Grace. His Grace will fight for you. Every time we fail just look up to His grace and He will lift you up and establishes you.
Isaiah 54:13 "And all they children (believers) shall be taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace (blessings) of they children." vs. 14 says, "In righteousness shall you be established; you shall be far from oppression for you shall not fear and from terror; for it shall not come near you."
As you established yourself in your faith and righteousness - God says you shall be strong and blessings shall come upon you and your children. And terror and oppression from the enemy shall not even come near your tent.
3) God Will Strengthen You
How will God strengthen you? By His power. Power is out of His grace.
2 Timothy 2:1 "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus". Confess that: "I am strong in the Grace of God". Paul didn't tell Timothy to be strong in himself; he told him to be strong in the grace of the Lord. Your strength is only in God. Your help is only in God's grace and nothing else. The scriptures say, "they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength" Here "renew" means "exchange". When you wait upon the Lord in faith you will exchange His strength with your weakness, sin, doubt, disappointment. Your disappointment will be God's appointment.
That is why when you come to the Holy Communion table every time, you exchange strength with Jesus, you exchange sickness with His health, you exchange your poverty with His riches, you exchange your sins with His righteousness. He was rich and he became poor (at the cross) so that we might be rich. An exchange for all His blessing at the cross. This is the New Covenant of Grace - an exchange for life and life more abundantly.
Let His Righteousness and Grace strengthens you.
Isaiah 52:1 says "Awake, awake; put on they strength O Zion (church); put on your beautiful garments." Your beautiful garments speak of Christ righteousness. When you put on you have activated Christ righteousness in you - you will put on His strength. Your garments are spotless, pure and holy.
4) Finally, God Will Settle You (Rest you)
This is the last of the four promises is that God will settle us. The word means "to be made to rest securely" like strong building on a sure foundation. Through a lot of circumstances the devil makes us uneasy and unsettle. But God wants you to stand. Paul says in 1 Peter 5:12 "I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying "that this is the true grace of God in which you stand."
God wants you to stand resting in His Grace. The strength we have is to rest in His Gracious Grace. His grace will perfect us in weakness and is sufficient for us for the day. Keep standing on that Marvelous Grace and it will last. Remember grace never strengthen you to sin and live immoral life. Grace is not a license for you to do wrong but power for you to do right.
I tell you grace is your birthright of every child of God. Your are born with it in Christ. It is like your birth mark. It cannot go away. God's grace will stick with you forever as your believe in Him. Grace cannot leave you alone. It will lift you up again and again. Many of us will say "Can God ever use me again?" Des He even want me?" Will things ever be the same again with us?" God will settle that for you because He loves You.
Finally, just run into His arms of grace. Don't run away from God's grace. You belong to the God of all grace. Run into His grace! Cast your care upon His grace! And Grace will restore you, establish you, strengthen you and settle you for His glory.
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