Agents of Grace: Grace to Lead

2016-04-24 
Pastor Jonathan Falwell 

Memory Verse:
Luke 5:11
So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

TODAY, we continue our series, Agents of Grace, on the topic of “Leading Grace.” This specifically discusses how we can all be used of God to lead in grace in every situation.

1. Jesus Restores

John 21:15-17
So when they had eaten breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Feed My lambs.” 16 He said to him again a second time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” He said to Him, “Yes, Lord; You know that I love You.” He said to him, “Tend My sheep.” 17 He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?” And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.” Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep.”

Jesus addresses & forgives Peter for each time Peter denied Jesus!

2. Jesus Empowers
– “feed my sheep”

Jesus asked Peter to take inventory of his heart and see if at his very CORE he deeply valued Jesus BEFORE he went out to tell others about loving Him. IN OTHER WORDS, If you are right in your heart, you will undoubtedly do what He has called you to do; namely, go out to serve & share Jesus’ love to the world!

3. Jesus Calls

– Jesus ends with the command to do what I had INITIALLY called you to do — “feed” believers — be a leader! Remember back 3 1/2 years ago, Peter accepted the invitation to be a spiritual leader – Jesus emphasizes not to quit on God’s Calling upon your life!

Luke 5:11
So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him.

“forsook” (ah-FEE-a-mee) = “to drop what is in your hands, to walk away and leaving something behind.” An action done with resolute commitment.

John 21:18-19a
“Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” 19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”

4. He Can Use Anybody!

Don’t think for a moment that this topic is just for those who have exceptional leadership skills are extremely gifted in leadership. God can empower anyone to lead in their homes, their workplace, their own lives, etc

Consider Peter & most of the Disciples:
Fishermen were looked upon as blue-collar, uneducated, untrained people …and definitely incapable of changing the world in any way/shape/form. But Jesus had different plan to reach the world – different than what the world would have thought of as success.

I Corinthians 1:26-27
For you see your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called. 27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty;

God uses common people to do the most profound work for the Kingdom!

God’s Grace Is The Key For You To Be a Leader!

Don’t allow past failures to keep you from serving. Remember, the Evil One will ALWAYS want you to remember your sinful past so that you will never preach about the Grace of God. Because when you truly confess your sin and change your ways, you want to caution others of going down the same sinful path

Psalm 51:13-15 Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You. 14 Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God, The God of my salvation, And my tongue shall sing aloud of Your righteousness. 15 O Lord, open my lips, And my mouth shall show forth Your praise.

Peter was a perfect example of brokenness made whole and being used because of the Grace of God. As a result, he became an agent of grace to a broken world.

Acts 3:11-14a Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk? 13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go. 14 But you denied the Holy One and the Just…”

Peter took a stand for Christ – he was a leader publicly, unapologetically, unequivocally…all the way to the end!