The Grace that Kept Me

Isaiah 43:6-7 NKJV

I will say to the north, ‘Give them up! And to the south, ‘Do not keep them back! Bring My sons from afar, And My daughters from the ends of the earth7 Everyone who is called by My name, Whom I have created for My glory; I have formed him, yes, I have made him.”

I. INTRODUCTION

Hebrews 4:15-16 NKJV
For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Psalm 124:1-8 NKJV

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, ”Let Israel now say—2 “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, When men rose up against us,3 Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;4 Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; 5 Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.” 6 Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. 7 Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers; The snare is broken, and we have escaped. 8 Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth.

II. AWARENESS THAT MY SAVIOR SYMPATHIZES WITH MY STRUGGLE

A. He’s Never Too High That He Cannot Meet You in Your Low

Isaiah 59:1 NKJV
Behold, the LORD’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save; Nor His ear heavy, That it cannot hear.

B. He Is the Template on How to Handle Your Trouble

III. APPROACH HIS THRONE WITH THE RIGHT POSTURE

A. My Boldness Is Greater Than My Brokenness

B. Come with Expectancy

IV. ACCEPT YOUR NEED FOR MERCY

A. Do not Be in Denial About Your Weakness

B. Christ Prevents the Penalty

V. ACKNOWLEDGE WHERE YOUR HELP COMES FROM

A. He is an On-Time God

B. I Remain in Pursuit of His Presence and His Promise

II. DEAL WITH YOUR IDENTITY – WHO AM I?
Your Identity Always Come From Within You
Your Identity Never Changes
“Who Am I?” Is The Foundation For “Why Am I Here?”
Luke 19:1-10 NKJV
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. 2 Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich. 3 And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature. 4 So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way. 5 And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.” 6 So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully. 7 But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.” 8 Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham; 10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.

A. Social Identity
B. The Hope Of Identity
III. THREE STEPS TO UNDERSTANDING “WHY I AM HERE?”
Devotion
Discipline
Different
Romans 12:2 NKJV
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

IV. FOUR TRUTHS ABOUT WHY YOU ARE HERE
To Be Like God In True Righteousness And Holiness
Ephesians 4:22-24 NKJV
that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, 23 and be renewed in the spirit of your mind, 24 and that you put on the new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

2 Corinthians 3:18 NKJV
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

To Have Fellowship With Jesus Christ
1 Corinthians 1:9 NKJV
God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

For Good Works
Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 NKJV
Whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I did not withhold my from any pleasure, For my heart rejoiced in all my labor; And this was my reward from all my labor. 11 Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done And on the labor in which I had toiled; And indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun.

Live In Harmony For Your Reason For Being Here

V. My Life Has To Manifest Purpose

Predestined
Jeremiah 1:5 NKJV
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations.”

Passion
John 21:5-6 NKJV
Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?” They answered Him, “No.” 6 And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

Purpose
Preparation
People
Platform
Pressure
Produce
Priorities
Praise
1 Peter 2:9 NKJV
But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;