Welcome to Delight in Grace, the teaching ministry of Rich Powell, pastor of Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. The steps of a man are established by the Lord. When he delights in his way, though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.
That's Psalm 37, 23 through 24, and part of the text from today's message. Pastor Rich lays out what it looks like to walk through life, trusting the very one who establishes our steps. How boldly and freely we can live life when we're devoted to the omnipotent, all-knowing master who uses his power on our behalf. Let's listen in. This is part three of a message first preached on February 3rd, 2024 at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem.
To hear the full message, visit www.delightingrace.com. Free from the judgments of others. And that's what Jesus did. Peter gives us the supreme example of Jesus Christ. Who could be reviled more than the Son of God was?
Nobody could. But what was Jesus' example for us? He left us an example that we should follow in his steps.
And what was his example? 1 Peter 2, 23, when he was reviled, he did not revile in turn. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. Folks, learn that verse, learn that verse, consider, contemplate the second half of that verse. When he suffered, he did not threaten, but here it is, continued entrusting himself, that's the same concept, entrusting himself, rolling himself onto him who, what, judges justly.
Who is that? God alone. The outcome is God's business. Your business is to trust, to roll yourself onto him, trust him, trust the Lord and do good. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day.
Here's the point this is making, folks. God has the last word. God has the last word. It is his opinion that counts. You can count on that. You can trust that.
And that is why you need to trust him. So let's bring this down to today. Living by faith. My world today, what categorizes, what characterizes my world today? One word, brokenness. Brokenness. Your world is broken.
Anybody disagree? Your world is broken. And it's broken in two places.
You ready for this? Brokenness exists in me. That's where we have to recognize it first. So what does it look like to live by faith, recognizing, acknowledging that brokenness exists in me? Now I'm speaking to those of us who are in Christ. If you have his forgiveness and his righteousness has been credited to you by faith, then this is true.
Even though you're experiencing brokenness, even brokenness on the inside, every bitter thought, every evil deed, still have to, still have to battle those, right? But in that brokenness to walk by faith means that I trust the gospel of grace. I trust the gospel of grace.
What is that gospel of grace? What does God say about me in his self-disclosure? If I have surrendered myself to him in faith, what does God say about me? He tells me that I am forgiven. He tells me that I am justified. He tells me that I have his righteousness, the righteousness of Christ, and therefore I am fully loved and accepted by him.
Nothing changes that. That's the gospel of grace. And what else he tells me is that I am a new creation. Yes, brokenness still exists, but I am a new creation at the core of my being, and I am in the process of being made like Christ. In other words, God is making progress in me that's taking me towards him.
Romans 8, 29, predestined to be conformed to the image of Christ. If you're in Christ, that's true about you this morning. Know that.
Grasp that. Preach that gospel to yourself because Paul says to the Philippians, he who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ. God's at work in you. So when you recognize that brokenness that exists in you, when you make those mistakes, when you trip up, when you drift away, preach the gospel to yourself, I'm justified before God, and he's working in me. But in the world of brokenness, not only is brokenness in me, but it is also near me, isn't it?
It's in your context. What do you do when you recognize the brokenness near you? You do good and commit yourself to the faithful creator. That's what Peter said, 1 Peter 2, 12. Do good and commit yourself to the faithful creator. That is living in the outflow of his grace and faithfulness. Psalm 37 verses 1 to 5, contentment, faithfulness, delight.
Do good and commit yourself to the faithful creator. All of this is what it looks like to trust. Now let's conclude with this. What does it mean to trust God? There's two sides to this coin, okay? Trusting God means there's two sides to this coin. Number one, side number one, I will do what God has said. God reveals himself. Trusting God says I will do what God has said. That means being honest at work and in my work.
It means showing kindness to a hateful friend, relative, associate, or neighbor. I will do what God has said. It means being faithful to God in front of a disobedient or drifting spouse. I will do what God has said. Do you trust God?
You see that's the stewardship part. There is a stewardship element to trusting God because there's the other side of the coin, isn't there? Side number one of the trust coin, I will do what God has said. Side number two, I will trust God to do what he promised and leave the outcomes to him.
That's hard for recovering control addicts, isn't it? And that's what every one of us is as Christians. The first side of trust is I will do what God has said. The second side is I will trust God to do what he promised and leave the outcomes to him. I may not be honored at work.
I may be. I may not be able to build a bridge to my hateful neighbor or relative or associate, but I also may be able to. But know that in the end God will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day. You are piercing the darkness and the darkness will be overcome. Isn't that good news?
Do you trust that? That's reliance on God. You see, looking out for number one is not trusting God. Abdul grew up in Pakistan under the strict Sharia law within an oppressive shame culture. He grew disgusted with his life because he did not understand the view of life after death and he grew so intense that he wanted to commit suicide. To Abdul's surprise, his Muslim friend challenged him to take a Bible correspondence course that he had been taking. Everything made sense to Abdul until he came to Romans 8.1.
There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus. The concept of grace presented was so foreign to him that he initially thought it was an error, but the more he studied the scriptures the better he understood the uniquely Christian teaching about God's mercy and grace and Abdul placed his faith in Jesus Christ. Three months after becoming a Christian Abdul decided to share the gospel in his village.
He spent two weeks in prayer and preparation before beginning to tell friends and strangers about Jesus. Then one day he arrived home and saw a group of people gathered outside his house. Abdul immediately sensed the tension as he stood in front of his family and then his uncle pointed a gun at him. He must be kicked out of the house, his uncle said tearfully, otherwise I will kill him.
But Abdul, overwhelmed with emotion, responded, I am asking you to become a Christian so you can have salvation. His family kicked him out of the house. Abdul had nowhere to stay so after nightfall he returned to his parents house and climbed up to the roof to sleep. At sunrise he climbed down and left the house before anyone was up. He followed the same pattern for the next day and every day for the next six years.
It was easy in the summertime but it was very hard during the wintertime. He said, I always kept a matchbook in my pocket to make a fire to make myself warm. Whenever he found himself suffering from the weather and loneliness he said a simple prayer, thank you God this is all about you and for you. When he wasn't selling newspapers to earn money he was talking with people in neighborhood villages and visiting workers out in the field and every morning he walked two miles with a man who made the daily trip to get milk for his family and they discussed the scriptures every step of the way. Abdul has led ten men to Christ so far and another thirty have shown interest in learning more.
Not everyone is open to his message though. Abdul receives frequent death threats from Islamic leaders because of his evangelism. When Abdul's father died his uncle refused to let him attend the funeral. Abdul has not given up on his uncle despite the ongoing harassment.
While the verbal abuse continues today Abdul's standard response is a kind smile. I'm praying for my uncle that he can receive salvation before he dies Abdul said. Abdul is planning to marry a Christian girl he met in another part of Pakistan but his family will not be there to support him. He hopes his wife will partner with him in ministry reaching out to women whom he is unable to speak with in their strict Islamic culture. Although he continues to receive death threats he accepts the tension in his life as a part of his faith. Did you get that?
That's foreign to us isn't it? May God help us. If the threats become reality he's okay with that too. He knows for sure where he is going when he dies. I know that I have to die he said but before I die I want to share the good news. Commit your way to the Lord trust in him and he will act he will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the new day. You've been listening to Rich Powell the lead pastor at Grace Bible Church in Winston-Salem. The Delight and Grace mission is to help you know that God designed you to realize your highest good and your deepest satisfaction in him the one who is infinitely good. We hope you'll join us again on weekdays at 10 a.m.
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