God’s Grace Restores Lives

Arthur Meintjes Live Bible Study Notes – 10/31/17

God’s Grace Restores Lives



God’s grace restores lives:

Every one of us has been given a divinely implanted sense of
destiny and purpose, and we can never be

fully satisfied with life, unless we live and experience that
destiny and purpose fulfilled in Christ.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 (Amplified Bible, Classic Edition) –

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He also has planted eternity in men’s hearts and minds [a divinely implanted sense of a purpose working through the ages which nothing under the sun but God alone can satisfy].

But as we all know, life can have many twists and turns, and there are many things that can go wrong and sabotage or hinder our destinies and the fulfillment of God’s purposes.



What if we mess up?

It’s one thing when outside circumstances affect our lives andhinder or sabotage our lives’ purposes,but what happens if we have failed and hindered our own life’s purpose?
What if we have sabotaged our own destiny and failed to seize our opportunities in life?

I love what David says in Psalm103.
God is the one who redeemsour lives from our own destruction.

Psalm 103:1‐4
–
Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

[2]

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

[3]

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy

diseases;

[4]

Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee withlovingkindness and tender mercies.



The power of sin to destroy vs. the power of God’s grace to restore:

The truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is that the power of sin and iniquity to destroy your life is not greater than the power of God’s grace to restore your life!

Romans 5:20 (AMPC) –

But then Law came in, [only] to expand and increase the trespass [making it more apparent and exciting opposition]. But where sin increased and abounded, grace (God’s unmerited favor) has surpassed it and increased the more and superabounded.

The power of God’s grace to preserve and to restore our lives is so apparent in Paul’s life and ministrywhen he experienced it firsthand on the road to Damascus.

Acts 9:1‐9 (The Living Bible) –

But Paul, threatening with every breath and eager to destroy every Christian, went to the High Priest in Jerusalem.

[2]

He requested a letter addressed to synagogues in Damascus, requiring their cooperation in the persecution of any believers he found there, both men and women, so that he could bring them in chains to Jerusalem.

[3]

As he was nearing Damascus on this mission, suddenly a brilliant light from heaven spotted down upon him!

[4]

He fell to the ground and hard a voice saying to him, "Paul! Paul! Why are you persecuting me?"

[5]

"Who is speaking, sir?" Paul asked. And the voice replied, "I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting!

[6]

Now get up and go into the city and await my further instructions."

[7]

The men with Paul stood speechless with surprise, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one!

[8, 9]

As Paul picked himself up off the ground, hefound that he was blind. He had to be led into Damascus and was there three days, blind, going without food and water all that time.

Even in the midst of Paul’s greatest failure and rebellion against the will of God, God’s grace became the ruling factor. His Grace was more powerful to heal, deliver, and restore his life than the power of sin was to hinder, sabotage, and destroy his life!



The whole outlook changes: When we trust and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross, the whole outlook changes!

Romans 5:20‐21 (J.B. Phillips New Testament)
–

Yet, though sin is shown to be wide and deep, thank God his grace is wider and deeper still! The whole outlook changes; sin used to be the master of men and in the end handed them over to death, but now grace is the ruling factor.

No matter where you’ve been, and no matter what you’ve done, you are not out of the reach of God’s grace to restore you and to fulfill His purpose for your life!



God’s expectations of us vs. His expectancy for us:

One of the greatest things we can all learn is that scripture reveals that God has no expectations of us.

Rather, He only has a huge expectancy for our lives.

Jeremiah 29:11 –

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMPC)
–

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.



God’s expectancy for us:

The prophet Jeremiah says that God’s thoughts are not thoughts

filled with an expectation of your life.

Rather, His thoughts are filled with an expectancy for your life!

If God were to have an expectation of us, He would be disappointed in us all the time! Instead, He only has an expectancy for us, for ourlives, for our giftings, callings, and our ministries. Therefore, He is never disappointed in us or because of us. Instead, He has hopeand is always excited for us.

He is the one who not only begins a good work in our lives but will also perform it and complete it!

Ephesians 2:10 (AMPC) –

For we are God’s [own] handiwork(His workmanship), recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined (planned beforehand) for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live].



God is never willing to give up on us: That’s why God is always ready, willing, and able to help us get where we need to go, no matter how difficult we made it, or how many times we have failed or givenup! God is never willing to give up on us!

Philippians 1:3‐6 (AMPC)
– I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.

[4]

In every prayer of mine I always make my entreaty and petition for you all with joy (delight).

[5]

[I thank my God] for your prayers!