Becoming a Plug for Grace
BECOMING A PLUG FOR GRACE
Matthew 18:21-35; Luke 15:11-32
RECURRENT THOUGHT
A Christian life is a calling to extend the grace we have received from God to others.
INTRODUCTION
In urban (informal) English, Plug is a person who is a resource for obtaining something valuable that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
Grace refers to unmerited favor; a treatment that is not deserved. The two stories capture acts of grace where the Master/Father forgave persons who had committed acts for which the punishment was already known and undisputed. The Master/Father completely absorbed the persons from liability when they did not deserve the same!
What is striking in the stories is that the Master/Father expected the recipient of his acts of grace and the elder brother to be a resource for grace to others as well.
Key aspects to becoming a plug for grace!
. BEYOND A RECIPIENT
- The Servant misunderstood what happened, he looked at what the Master did to him as an end in itself. He thought it was mere act of receiving from the Master. However, the Master looked at what happened as an empowerment!
- When the master shows you compassion, he is actually empowering you to show compassion. When you receive grace, you are empowered to give grace!
- Therefore, the born again experience and all godly encounters are more than a ‘receiving occasion’ they are moments of empowerment for the benefit of many!
- We do not only experience the divine nature of God, we become partakers of that very divine nature. The born again experience and the Christian walk is useless if it does not result in building the ‘God capacity’ in us. 2 Peter 1: 3-4.
- “Love one another just as I have loved you” - John 15: 12, John 13 :34
- “What I have done to you, do unto others”- John 13: 15
- IT IS THE DEMOSTRATION OF THE POWER OF GOD
- We are defined by reactions. Our reactions to people, events and situations determines what we power manifest.
- The world tells us to react to people the way they treat us. Such that giving grace to people is considered as a sign of weakness. The disciple expected Christ to give a formula for forgiveness that matched the wrong committed. Matthew 18 v 21
- We should never forget that the gospel is foolishness to those who are perishing but to us who are being saved it is the power of God! 1Corinthians 1 v 18.
- The truth of the matter is it does not take strength to feel hurt, be angry or treat people the way they treat us.
- We will never demonstrate the power of God to people unless we are ready to flow in grace. It takes super natural power to flow in grace, love, self-control etc ! 2 Peter 1: 3-9
- The appeal in the path of Christ is this very thing that we are empowered to react differently. We are a wonder to the world when we act contrary to the way the world reacts.
- We are called to display the excellency of the power of God: to give a super normal reaction people, things and situations; 2 Corinthians 4: 7-9
- i. Pressed but not crushed.
- ii. Perplexed but not despair.
- iii. Persecute but not abandoned struck down but not destroyed.
- iv. Peace that surpasses all understanding- Philippians 4 v 7
- h. Many people have missed their destinies because they failed to extend grace to people that God brought into their lives…..they meted punishment when they were supposed to show mercy, they were harsh when they needed to be kind, they rushed when they were supposed to be patient and go at the pace of the other person!
- i. When we give reactions from our ego instead of love it is us who manifest, when we flow in grace it is God who manifest!
- IT IS THE ONLY WAY TO GUARANTEE OUR SUPPLY OF GRACE
- The Servant did not realize that the continued flow of grace he obtained from the master was contingent on him releasing grace to others. His grace was extinguished!
- The grace of God is like currency; it is meant to flow.
- The grace you are willing to extend to others is the grace you can accept for yourself.
- Our reception of the forgiveness from God is tied to our ability to forgive others. Luke 11 v 4
- UNDERSTAND GOD’S INTEREST IN REPENTANCE
- People that are obsessed with rewards and punishment cannot flow in grace.
- In this story and in the story of the prodigal son they both requested for opportunity to pay for their sins BUT they were ignored by the Master.
- Obsession with rewards and punishment is a judgmental spirit, it does not sit with grace.
- To judge is to size up and write-off. Our calling is to show love to people and extend as much grace as would bring them back to the relationship with God. Matthew 7 v 1-7
- Grace focusses on the relationship! It values relationship over vindication!
- There is no release of grace, unless there is a release from punishment!
- The eldest son failed to allow the grace that the father extended to his brother because he wanted to see the young brother pay for his sins and him being rewarded for his good conduct.
- There is no grace in religion because religion obsesses with rewards and punishment!
- Grace Plugs focus on restoration of relationship! ‘this your brother was lost but now is found”.
- . We are not ready to flow in grace if we are not willing to extend grace to the most sinful of people, not for anything else but for restoration of relationship to God!
- Our definition of repentance must change from emphasis on saying ‘sorry’ to God for the sins committed to an act of recommitment to undiluted relationship with God. Repentance is all about reset to desired settings!
CONCLUSION & ALTAR TIME.
- .Being a grace Plug requires an attitude of love. “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self – seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres” 1Corinth 13 v 4 -7.
- Sometimes extending grace may look like a recklessness act, you may feel like you losing control, vulnerable, BUT you have just handed over control to God! Trust his ability to cause all things to work for your good.
- Make a decision to take a posture of grace, release some people from your quest for vengeance and vindication. Release them from the need for punishment.