WEBVTT 00:04.627 --> 00:07.628 [SPEAKER_00]: Grace is a gift most of us don't know how to receive. 00:08.228 --> 00:17.491 [SPEAKER_00]: We've been so inundated with the earthly systems of give and get and work and earn that Grace is a concept few ever fully grasp. 00:18.151 --> 00:21.592 [SPEAKER_00]: Yet it's grace alone that has the power to transform lives. 00:22.192 --> 00:28.534 [SPEAKER_00]: Grace alone has the power to bring freedom to the captives and by grace alone we are saved. 00:29.334 --> 00:36.485 [SPEAKER_00]: Today we're launching a new series taking time every day to discover and receive the grace of our good and loving father. 00:37.147 --> 00:39.050 [SPEAKER_00]: Welcome to the first fifteen podcast. 01:13.807 --> 01:18.271 [SPEAKER_00]: Our Scripture for today comes from second Corinthians twelve verse nine. 01:19.151 --> 01:24.455 [SPEAKER_00]: Scripture says, but He said to me, my grace is sufficient for you. 01:25.116 --> 01:27.978 [SPEAKER_00]: For my power is made perfect in weakness. 01:28.979 --> 01:36.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 01:39.673 --> 01:45.216 [SPEAKER_00]: It seems like every day I discover new ways in which I am weak and in need. 01:46.097 --> 01:53.181 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether it be sin, physical exhaustion, or emotional dependence, I'm constantly discovering my need for help. 01:54.101 --> 02:00.565 [SPEAKER_00]: But daily, I also discover a God who is wholly sufficient in all the ways I'm weak. 02:01.726 --> 02:09.090 [SPEAKER_00]: Daily, I receive rejuvenation from my Heavenly Father, who seem to take these weaknesses of mine and use them for his kingdom. 02:10.329 --> 02:19.051 [SPEAKER_00]: Paul writes in second Corinthians twelve nine, but God said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. 02:19.811 --> 02:26.953 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 02:28.653 --> 02:31.834 [SPEAKER_00]: What great comfort we can find in the words of Paul here? 02:32.574 --> 02:39.396 [SPEAKER_00]: And what amazing love our Heavenly Father has for us, that He would bestow His sufficient grace upon us. 02:40.673 --> 02:45.455 [SPEAKER_00]: We serve a God who turns our greatest weakness into our greatest strength. 02:46.395 --> 02:52.918 [SPEAKER_00]: In His grace, all He asks of us is to have a heart open, willing, and receptive to Him. 02:54.025 --> 02:59.491 [SPEAKER_00]: Our God is one who comes down to us and lays down his life that we might live through him. 03:00.392 --> 03:05.037 [SPEAKER_00]: He's the king of kings who washes the feet of the very men who would betray him. 03:06.078 --> 03:13.186 [SPEAKER_00]: He's the God of compassion who heals the sick and spends time with the sinners rather than the pious. 03:14.471 --> 03:25.034 [SPEAKER_00]: He has given up any form of personal gain in order to devote his entire existence to paving the way for us to have restored relationship with our Heavenly Father. 03:26.414 --> 03:30.155 [SPEAKER_00]: We serve a God whose grace is wholly sufficient for us. 03:31.036 --> 03:35.097 [SPEAKER_00]: In fact, it's only in living by his grace that we are made strong. 03:36.223 --> 03:40.525 [SPEAKER_00]: Your Heavenly Father says, My power is made perfect in weakness. 03:41.906 --> 03:47.008 [SPEAKER_00]: In Christ, we can boast in our need for our need is our greatest asset. 03:47.828 --> 03:54.852 [SPEAKER_00]: Christ demonstrated through His ministry that He works powerfully when people simply acknowledge their need of Him. 03:55.933 --> 03:58.274 [SPEAKER_00]: from the woman desperate to touch his garment. 03:58.694 --> 04:00.575 [SPEAKER_00]: Does that kiss the tax collector? 04:01.055 --> 04:03.736 [SPEAKER_00]: To the paralyzed man lowered through the ceiling. 04:04.417 --> 04:11.319 [SPEAKER_00]: God works incredible miracles in the lives of those who come before him with all their brokenness and need. 04:12.400 --> 04:17.342 [SPEAKER_00]: His power is made perfect in those who simply cry out to him in desperation. 04:18.720 --> 04:25.546 [SPEAKER_00]: In contrast, we see those in Scripture who come before God thinking they have at all, and therefore receive nothing from Him. 04:26.526 --> 04:38.376 [SPEAKER_00]: Mark X seventeen to twenty-seven tells us of a rich young ruler who came to Jesus asking for his help, but was unwilling to trade worldly success for eternal relationship. 04:39.457 --> 04:47.884 [SPEAKER_00]: In response to the young man's unwillingness, Jesus says, how difficult it will be for those who have wealth to enter the kingdom of God. 04:49.224 --> 04:54.547 [SPEAKER_00]: I don't believe Jesus was just talking about monetary wealth here, although money is most definitely included. 04:55.047 --> 05:02.371 [SPEAKER_00]: I believe Jesus is making a statement about anyone who feels satisfied in themselves and the world apart from God. 05:03.452 --> 05:09.876 [SPEAKER_00]: You can be poor and still receive nothing from God because you live pridefully without acknowledging your need. 05:11.163 --> 05:13.584 [SPEAKER_00]: One of our greatest gifts is weakness. 05:14.144 --> 05:19.125 [SPEAKER_00]: Because in acknowledging our weakness, we make space for God to move and work. 05:20.306 --> 05:30.949 [SPEAKER_00]: Those who are satisfied with worldly success, pleasure and possession make little room for the incredible wealth of love, peace, passion, and joy. 05:31.229 --> 05:35.010 [SPEAKER_00]: God longs to give those who simply acknowledge their need of Him. 05:36.322 --> 05:40.768 [SPEAKER_00]: You see, this life is not about possession, whether it be little or much. 05:41.449 --> 05:44.494 [SPEAKER_00]: It's about the posture of your heart toward God. 05:45.475 --> 05:52.885 [SPEAKER_00]: The abundant life God longs to give you will only be received in areas where you acknowledge your weakness and need. 05:54.193 --> 05:59.715 [SPEAKER_00]: The thief hanging on the cross who acknowledged his own sin received the gift of eternal life. 06:00.516 --> 06:08.019 [SPEAKER_00]: Not the pious and successful high priest who in his pride fought to crucify the very savior he had been asking to come. 06:09.359 --> 06:16.022 [SPEAKER_00]: Poster your heart today as all those who have received the incredible wealth of the Lord's love have before you. 06:17.023 --> 06:22.225 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the spirit to show you your dependence and need of God if you don't already know it. 06:23.365 --> 06:27.730 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask God to humble you and make you receptive to all He longs to give. 06:28.771 --> 06:33.876 [SPEAKER_00]: May it be His grace that is sufficient for you today, rather than your own strength. 06:34.517 --> 06:44.888 [SPEAKER_00]: May it be His power that proves strong in your weakness and may you experience today all the sufficient grace your heavenly Father longs to give. 07:15.985 --> 07:19.727 [SPEAKER_00]: As we begin, reflect on your own need of God. 07:21.008 --> 07:24.049 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask the Spirit to reveal to you your weakness. 07:25.150 --> 07:30.472 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time acknowledging your own sin, selfishness, pride, and brokenness. 07:31.793 --> 07:37.436 [SPEAKER_00]: Second Corinthians twelfth nine says, but he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you. 07:38.056 --> 07:40.798 [SPEAKER_00]: For my power is made perfect in weakness. 07:41.707 --> 07:49.111 [SPEAKER_00]: Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 08:23.833 --> 08:27.496 [SPEAKER_00]: And next, receive the grace God longs to give you. 08:28.537 --> 08:31.719 [SPEAKER_00]: Spend time receiving His love and enjoyment over you. 08:32.740 --> 08:35.922 [SPEAKER_00]: Receive the love for goodness, joy and peace. 08:36.363 --> 08:41.306 [SPEAKER_00]: Your heavenly Father longs to pour out on the broken and needy places of your heart. 08:42.487 --> 08:48.572 [SPEAKER_00]: Psalm one forty seven three says, He heals the broken hearted and binds up their wounds. 09:02.093 --> 09:02.461 [UNKNOWN]: you 09:19.528 --> 09:23.731 [SPEAKER_00]: And last, ask God to move and power through your life today. 09:24.571 --> 09:30.555 [SPEAKER_00]: Ask Him to guide and help you accomplish what is set before you today, through the power of the Spirit. 09:31.536 --> 09:37.020 [SPEAKER_00]: Philippians four thirteen says, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. 09:48.823 --> 09:48.883 [UNKNOWN]: you. 10:21.817 --> 10:28.662 [SPEAKER_00]: No matter how gifted you are, God will always work through you to greater levels than you could accomplish on your own. 10:29.522 --> 10:35.526 [SPEAKER_00]: Surrender your life to him and allow him to lead you to a lifetime of his unmarrieded favor. 10:36.467 --> 10:43.612 [SPEAKER_00]: Every day, as you wake up, acknowledge your dependence on God that your day may be lived in the abundance available to you. 10:44.432 --> 10:53.433 [SPEAKER_00]: There is no better prayer you could pray in the morning than one asking God for His love, grace, and power in acknowledgement of your need for Him. 11:11.898 --> 11:14.039 [SPEAKER_00]: Thanks for listening to today's podcast. 11:14.359 --> 11:15.720 [SPEAKER_00]: I'm Josh with First Team. 11:16.380 --> 11:22.002 [SPEAKER_00]: If this space is meaningful for you, if it's producing fruit in your life, would you let us know about it? 11:22.423 --> 11:28.965 [SPEAKER_00]: We'd be honored if you believe a rating or review, or feel free to reach out to us at podcast at FirstSystem.org. 11:30.386 --> 11:37.251 [SPEAKER_00]: Whether by listening, praying, sharing, or giving, thank you for being a part of this space we're making for God's presence. 11:37.812 --> 11:41.795 [SPEAKER_00]: Have a wonderful rest of your day and may God bless you as you see Him.