Today in our worship time we focussed on seeking God’s face. We were encouraged by the prophetic word that came forth - to stir up the fire and passion for God in us.

Chris Kolle then continued his messages on grace, talking about ministering grace.

All ministry begins in grace. The grace of God has given us everything we need to be and to do everything we need to do. In 1 Cor 15:9-10, Paul calls himself the least of the apostles - that’s humility. None of us deserve anything from God - the grace of God doesn’t treat us according to what we deserve. Paul realises that he used to persecute Christians but by the grace of God he is who he is. Paul didn’t define himself by his past, but who he is in Christ. We need to do the same - define ourselves by who we are in Christ, not our past.
Gal 1:15-16 tells us that Paul was set apart and called by God’s grace so he could preach among the gentiles. Just like Paul, we all have a ministry to perform. This is not salvation, but the outworking of that salvation. Grace with work is grace outworked. We don’t work to get.

If you don’t give out and minister the grace of God, it will be without effect. Paul worked hard. Not for salvation, but to outwork the grace. If you work hard for the wrong motivation, you won’t get anywhere or last long. You can’t serve to get something from God (Rom 11:6), you can’t serve to repay God. We work to give. Everything done for God is the outworking of grace.

True ministry outworks grace.

1 Pet 4:10 - we have all received a gift and we need to use that. We need to “faithfully administer God’s grace”. Administer means to steward, to be a steward; to be accountable with the gift you have been given. Paul says (1 Pet 4:10) that we are to use the gift we have received. That means we have already received the gift and we need to steward it.

Acts 14:26 says that we need to be committed to the grace of God for the work. That means we aren’t just committed to the work. If you are committed because you are faithful and loyal, that won’t cut it. Your motive is wrong and you’ll give up. The apostles were committed to the grace of God for the work. If you’re loyal and faithful to the work only, you’ll eventually come up against a roadblock or obstacle that you won’t be able to get past. Your own strength won’t get you through. You need to be committed to the grace of God for the work. In order to stay committed to the grace of God, you need to guard your intimacy and relationship with God. Don’t get so caught up in the work that you neglect this. The grace and intimacy will help you get through the obstacles where loyalty and faithfulness won’t. People will let you down, but God’s grace won’t. When people start to fall away and don’t turn up to do the work, keep God’s grace in mind and don’t get critical.
Be committed to the grace of God, not the work.

Keep in mind 1 Cor 13:3 when you are doing the work. You need to remember why you are working and who you are doing it for. Don’t be loyal and faithful without the grace or you will become judgemental and legalistic.

Look in the mirror, don’t be ashamed of your past, you are who you are. We bring what we can. Be a part of the church because you have a call on your life, not because it meets your needs or out of loyalty. Minister out of God’s grace and don’t neglect your relationship with God.