Patterns of the Grace of God in Our Lives

Preached by Apostle Aje Pelser, Harvester Reformational Church, Cape Town 16 June 2013

Scripture Reading:

1Pe 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

1Pe 5:9 Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.

1Pe 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

Using the sense of the Greek this passage could read:

Be watchful and awake, because your opponent in the law suit the devil walks around plotting, like a roaring lion, with desire like a negative worship, whom he may gulp down and drink entirely. Stand against him in the constant moral conviction of faith in God’s Word of Truth, understanding that your brotherhood around the world experiences the same afflictions. But the supreme God of all grace – His grace being His divine influence on our hearts and its reflection on in our lives – who has called and commanded us inciting us to action by His perpetual everlasting glory and honour, by our Anointed Saviour Messiah Jesus Christ, after you have felt the impression or sensation of suffering for a short while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. (Based on a compilation of Strong's concordance definitions of the Greek text in this passage.)

So the patterns of the Grace of God in our lives produce perfection; establishment; strengthening and settlement.

The role of suffering should not be underestimated in the Christian walk of faith. A trial is an extended test of our faith and our opponent in the spiritual court of law accuses us. But the good news is the Jesus is our Advocate who lives to make intercession for us. God the Father is the Judge of all that accepts Jesus ransom for our sins, paid in his own spotless blood on the cross. And the Holy Spirit bears witness of all that Jesus says and pleads our case, sealing us as a guarantee of the purchase made by Jesus until our full redemption,. So the devil does not stand a chance when a believer calls on the name of Jesus!

The grace of God has been defined in various ways by Christians including 'God's Riches At Christ's Expense' but when apostle Paul says ot the Romans – 'grace and apostleship has been given to me for you' the further idea emerges: of grace being an enabling power form God through a believer for the sake of others. Bible dictionaries summarize 'His grace being His divine influence on our hearts and its reflection on in our lives' from the Strong’s concordance for instance. Apostle Paul greets people with 'grace and peace' and it seems that he knew how to draw from God’s grace that was sufficient for him even though he experienced severe suffering and a 'thorn in the flesh that would not go away.' When we acknowledge our weakness His strength is made perfect in us. We can then also start seeing hte riches of God in the saints in the sense of seeing Christ in each other, Christ within being our hope of glory. We learn to see each other by the Spirit and draw from the grace in every believer. We also learn how to 'come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.'

Hebrews 4:16. The grace that we draw from God is then not only for forgiveness of sins but also to empower us to function for the kingdom of God powerfully in Jesus’ name.

The Pattern of Perfection:

“To Repair thoroughly and completely restore you adjusted and fit and framed by His word, perfectly mended.”

Read also Hebrews 10:14

Heb 10:14 For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. God sees us as perfect covered by Jesus' blood. our sanctification is a process.

The Pattern of Establishment:

“To Set your course fast on His Way; turn you resolutely in His direction; confirm and establish you.”

See also Deuteronomy 8:18; Proverbs 3:19

Pro 3:19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; By understanding He established the heavens; The concept of understanding is important in the age of information. God once told apostle Andre: “in the age in information impartation will be important.” Solomon also said that with all your getting get understanding.

Pro 4:7 Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding.

SO how does one get understanding? The Holy Spirit is a spirit of wisdom and understanding. It is one things knowing the sayings of the wise, but understanding how to apply wisdom is even more important. So get baptized with the Holy Spirit through the laying on of hands like in the book of Acts. Get filled with God’s spirit and operate on an entirely different level of life.

The Pattern of Strengthening:

“To strengthen; to give you bodily vigour; hold you up and stand with you; confirm you in spiritual knowledge and power – strengthen you!

Luke 22:32; Hebrews 12:12; Rev. 3:2

The context of chastisement sets the stage for strengthening – when a limb is out of alignment and is then corrected and attached properly, it starts to function again. That is the value of Godly correction in our lives.

Heb 12:10 For they indeed for a few days chastened us as seemed best to them, but He for our profit, that we may be partakers of His holiness.

Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Heb 12:12 Therefore strengthen the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees,

Heb 12:13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be dislocated, but rather be healed.

The pattern of Settlement:

“To settle; to lay a basis for further spiritual growth, erect his temple in you, consolidate His Truth in You – found, ground and settle you!” (All definitions derived from the Strong’s Concordance references of words in the passage from Peter’s epistle.)

Isaiah 14:1

Isa 14:1 For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will still choose Israel, and settle them in their own land. The strangers will be joined with them, and they will cling to the house of Jacob.

As a church God has settled us in the spiritual realm and now physically too in our regions.

We are also seeing strangers being joined to the greater body of Christ and clinging to us in spiritual bonds created by God alone.

Glory to God!