Grace To Serve, Grace To Do, and Grace To Be!
Pastor Terry Wayne Millender
 

(Psalm 84:11)  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
 
What an amazing and encouraging verse!
 
Go ahead and whisper these words out loud:  "Grace comes from God."
 
Excellent!  Think about what you've just said.  Now, as an exercise of the power of words, go ahead and speak it once more, but make it personal. "The grace in my life comes from God."
 
As I have been privileged to teach the Body of Christ in America and around the world, I've discovered that too many people have a one dimensional revelation or understanding of the subject of grace.
 
If you ask the average Christian what grace means they will say something to this effect; Grace means the unmerited favor of God.
 
Since we are talking about understanding our God given grace, let me share with you a primary assignment on my life.  The ability to hear and understand God the way I am permitted to do is a grace.  For me to walk in the ministry of prophetic teaching and preaching, I must hear God.  I need His touch in order for me to teach with an insight and inspiration that is unnatural.  I liken it to a professional piano tuner.  When he hears someone play the piano, he is able to detect things that are in and out of tune far beyond you or me.  It’s because of the gift that is on the inside of him to hear.  It’s not natural.  It is an internal grace. 
 
In light of this, let me peel back a layer on the topic of grace.
 
 
THE FIRST DIMENSION OF GRACE
 
Without a doubt grace, at one level, is unmerited favor.  This has to do with how any man, woman, boy or girl could ever approach a holy God.  If we were not extended the unmerited or undeserved favor of God, there is no way we could be saved.
 
 
THE SECOND DIMENSION OF GRACE
 
Look at our text once more.
 
(Psalm 84:11)  For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
 
If we stop short of understanding the fullness of this awesome gift called grace one would think that once we are saved (or born-again), then we have received the very best that grace has to offer.  But--that is only the glorious beginning!
 
The receiving of grace is not a one-time act.  The Word does not say the LORD has given grace and glory.  It says the Lord will give grace and glory.  The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalm 84:11)
 
The second dimension of Grace is as follows: 
 
The Greek word for Grace is (charis) Strong's Concordance #G5485
 
Thayer Definition:
1.  that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech.
2.  of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.
 
Grace has to do with God exerting His holy influence on our soul!  Wow!  When you hear someone say "I just had the grace to do it" or that person is blessed to be able to sing, dance, preach, pray or prophesy, what they are actually saying is that the person has a "divine influence on their soul to do a certain thing."
 
The second dimension of grace can be summarized as "a divine enabling!" God, in His mercy, will cause a divine enabling to come upon us To Serve, To Do and To Be!  We can serve people and the Kingdom.  We can do things that are beyond ourselves and our strength and then finally we can simply "be" the people God intends us to be.
 
When we understand this second dimension of grace, we can be everything that God expects us to be in the jigsaw puzzle of life.  Oh yes, you are a very valuable piece in the jigsaw puzzle of life.  When the Lord has need of you to complete a section of His puzzle and plan, be sure that you are not the missing piece!
 
THE THIRD DIMENSION OF GRACE
 
Focus on this final section and be strengthened forever!
 
Grace must be:
(1) Recognized
(2) Received
(3) Cooperated with
 
It is not only essential but it is URGENT that we begin to understand these three truths regarding Grace.
 
You must personally recognize the God given grace in your own life.  If you don't who will?
 
Secondly, you must receive from God, the grace that you recognize.  In other words, you must say "Yes Lord, More!"  More grace to grow my company so that I can finance the Kingdom, more grace to teach and train my children, more grace to sing, more grace to plan, organize and administrate on my job.  Whatever the case, you must say "Yes" to the grace of God.  You must agree with it and declare that you receive it!
 
Finally, grace must be cooperated with.  Once you have recognized and received it, it is up to you to cooperate with your God given grace.  If you are an athlete, then you must practice.  If you are a musician, then you must play.  If you are a politician, then you must study and focus.  Whatever you do, it is important that you don’t neglect your grace but rather cooperate with it!
 
All of us have been graced to do certain things.  The journey of discovery comes from getting more acquainted with the God who formed you!
 
Go for it...your best days are the here and now!