Kwame Osae (00:00:07) - How are we doing today? It's a beautiful day out there and I'm excited to be in the House of God with you. Yes. Let's share. What a prayer. Father. We thank you for this wonderful opportunity to be in your presence. David said. I was glad when they said to me, Let's go into the house of the Lord. Lord, as we've come here, I know many have come, Lord, with burdens. Many have come. God Almighty looking up to you. But nobody comes into their presence, Lord, and leaves the same way. And so we pray, God Almighty, that You will have your way. Let your spirit move. As you please. In Jesus name. Amen. Amen. Well, I'm. As I said, it's really good to be in the House of God. Last week, as Pastor Mark mentioned, we started a series in the book of Galatians and possibly did an excellent job laying a solid foundation on the book of Galatians, giving us the historical context.

Kwame Osae (00:01:17) - You know, how the the church. Paul preached the gospel to the people of Galatia and how people there were teachers that are those that try to add to what God had set through. Paul And he he sort of passed the baton on to me nicely in one of his, uh, one of the points which is in reference to the grace of God. And so today I'm going to be sharing with you on the topic Surprised by grace and peace. Anybody here surprised by God's grace and peace? Only a few people. So growing up in in Ghana, I remember my my parents or the eldest, whenever they met each other, they would ask the question in our local dialect. Now, let me give you a warning. Please don't try this at home. But they would ask, How are you doing in the local dialect? And they will respond like this. Adam Which is spelled November Yankee Alpha. Mike Echo, which is in reference to the omnipresent God omniscient omni portend God and are doing which is spelled alpha Delta Oscar Mike which is grace.

Kwame Osae (00:02:40) - And there was a sense of humility interwoven with our total dependence on God's grace. To live day by day. And this I made a had a galvanizing impact on me growing up. Of course, at the time I didn't understand the depth of why they would answer. By the grace of God, I thought it was a cliché. But as I grew. Older. And became wiser. And life taught me a few lessons. I understood what they meant by the grace of God. And so quite recently, a friend of mine was invited to have a program, was like they were given a platform to speak and to sing. Are they only summer festival? And when we got there, one of the things that when I was driving into only was the signage, only the place of town of Amazing Grace. And for me, it was a pilgrimage because. To think about John Newton and how the fact that in fact, I was so excited. I was thrilled because I thought, hang on a minute.

Kwame Osae (00:04:07) - This song was written just a few minutes away from me. I got so excited about it. And so when I was thinking about today's sharing with you today, my mind wouldn't be before what happened to John Newton. Of course you encountered God and there was a transformation. But where did the story of Grace start from? And so. It took me to the Book of Genesis. The Bible says in John chapter one, Verse one, it says in the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God. He said he was with God in the beginning. They said all things were made through him. Without him, nothing was made. I was made. And in him was life. And the life became the light of men. And so, God. This shine is light. And I came across. When we look at second Timothy chapter one from verse 7 to 11, the Bible says, For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind.

Kwame Osae (00:05:18) - Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the Gospel according to the power of God who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who was abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel to which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. And so we see that the grace of God has always been from the beginning. And we see also a portrait of God's grace in the book of Genesis, in Genesis chapter three, verse 21. The Scripture says that and the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife, garments of skin and clothe them. Now, this is very, very significant because we see a God was gracious even when man fell.

Kwame Osae (00:06:23) - God still lived through his grace and love, clothed, month covered man. And that is symbolic of what Jesus Christ I mean, God through Jesus Christ, through the gift of salvation, that God will clothe you and I in righteousness is in God. So amazing. It was an act of kindness. I say to people all the time when you miss your way in life. Run to God. Because for Satan. The devil's CV. Is to steal, to kill and to destroy. But when you run to God. God knows how to fix us. He made us. He knows our DNA. He knows when we rise. He knows when we fall. So wrong to God. That's why the enemy uses all kinds of voices to push you away from God. But the best place to run to is to run to God. We seek grace also for ages to come. In Ephesians chapter two, from verse 1 to 7. It says, And you were dead in trespasses and sins in which you once walked.

Kwame Osae (00:07:38) - Following the course of the world, following the Prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience, among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath like the rest of mankind. But God being rich in mercy because of the great love which he loved us even when we were dead in our trespasses, he made us alive again, together with Christ. And by grace, you and I have been saved and raised up with him and seated us with him in heavenly places, in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness towards us and in Christ Jesus. So again, we see that the grace of God has been from the beginning, and the grace of God is for the ages to come. But also in the scriptures we see that the message of God's grace is proclaimed. Our God is merciful and gracious, is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression of sin.

Kwame Osae (00:08:57) - As I mentioned, a portrait in the book of Genesis, which is a powerful testimony of God's grace. We see God's God initiating a redemptive covenant through Abraham. In Genesis chapter 12, verse 1 to 3. He came to Abraham. Abraham at the time, who background was a background of worshipping, man made idols. But God showed up. And brought him into a relationship with him. As we read in Genesis two, 1 to 3. It says, Get out of your country, from your family and from your father's house to a land that I will show you. I'll make you a great nation. I will bless you. I will make your name great and you shall be a blessing. And I will bless those who bless you and our cursing mute curses. You and you are the families of the earth shall be blessed. So throughout, from generation to generation, what we see is that the seed of Christ. Initiated to God's redemptive plan. In Abraham, who later becomes Abraham, is carried on from generation to generation.

Kwame Osae (00:10:06) - When we read Matthew chapter one from verse 1 to 16, we see the genealogy of Jesus Christ. And in there, we can count 42 generations between Abraham and Jesus Christ. When we break it down from Abraham to David, 14 generations from David to the exile in Babylon, 14 generations, and then from the exile to Christ 14. So God has always had a redemptive plan. His word is timeless, and it goes from generation to generation. One thing that I found out is that through. Through Christ, the entire human population will be offered entrance into God's plan of redemption by grace. So what is grace? Grace is undeserved favor. Grace. Is God's gracious darling from God. It also is free favor, specially manifested by God towards money in the Gospel scheme. I like this in the Gospel scheme, in the plan of God's and God's plan to bring good news. Glad tidings. Joyful news. And through this good news, through Jesus Christ, we see Paul, who wrote to the Church of Galatia.

Kwame Osae (00:11:34) - Encounter Jesus and encounter the grace of God in Acts Chapter nine from verse 1 to 7. Then so still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus so that if he found any who were of the way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. And and as he journeyed, he came near Damascus and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground. He heard a voice saying, Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? And he said, Who are you, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus. You are persecuting it. Whom you are persecuting, It is hard for you to kick against the goats. So he trembling and astonished, said, Lord, what do you want me to do? Then the Lord said to him, Arise, go into the city and you will be told what you must do. And the men who had journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no one to the extent, even investigating.

Kwame Osae (00:12:40) - When the Lord came to us and asked him, he said, Lord, I've heard from many about this man. How much harm has he done to your saints in Jerusalem? And there he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name. But the Lord said to him, Go for the chosen vessel of mine to hear my name before Gentiles, kings and children of Israel. For I will show him how many things you must suffer for my name. So here comes so. Who was an antagonist of the gospel of the believers, but through the grace of God is not transformed into an apostle. And so Paul becomes a beneficiary of the grace of God. He understood what it meant to walk in God's grace. To partake of God's grace. Hence his letter to the church in Galatia, reminding them of the importance of God's grace, reminding them not to add anything, nor take anything from what God was doing. And in Galatians chapter one Bible says Paul, an apostle, not from men, not through man, but through Jesus Christ and God, the father who raised him from the dead and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia Grace to you and peace from God, the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver us from this present evil age according to the will of our of our God and Father to whom we be glory forever and ever.

Kwame Osae (00:14:19) - Amen. In verse six, he says, I marvel that you are turning away so soon from him who called you in the grace of Jesus Christ to a different gospel, which is not another. But there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the Gospel of of Christ. Now I want to stop that. Paul could not find some of the fact that. The grace of God had been made available. The grace of God had been given the grace of God. God had embraced, you know, that the Church of Galatia, in his love, in his mercy, he couldn't understand the fact that people would want to add to it. In other words, you need to it will be through your hard work, through your wisdom. None of that God's grace is a free gift through salvation to you. And I don't. We do not deserve it. But in God's love for us with open arms, He received all of us so that we will be partakers of this grace to even add more that Paul understood.

Kwame Osae (00:15:30) - What grace meant from research. The 131 Uses of Grace in the ESV. 124, The New Testament. But 86 of which are from the Apostle Paul. That means two thirds of all the uses of the word grace are from Paul. So Paul didn't take the grace of God for granted. I was amazed at the revelation that the book of Galatians communicated to me. And I want to take the next few minutes and share with you what I learned. But when we took about the grace of God. It comes from God's unconditional and boundless love for us. Romans Chapter three, verse 24, He said, We are justified by his grace. And by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ. French Grace is what inclines God to give gifts that are free. And undeserved by sinners. I also came to understand that radical grace as a result of grace. There is radical transformation. In Psalm 36, verse nine, The Bible says that for which you are God is the fountain of life.

Kwame Osae (00:16:54) - For in the light, we shall see light. Paul reminded the Church of Galatia. I said this gospel. Let me make it known to you. It's not according to your mind. It was not given to me by a man, but he came to the revelation of Jesus Christ. And I like what Philip Holmes said. They said, reading the Bible and communion with God. Is essential to Christian flourishing. The less we read and pray the Bible, the more blemished our view of God becomes. If you want the grace of God to blow your mind. Again, read your Bibles. So reading God's Word. Studying God's Word. Gives birth to Revelation. And a revelation. Triggers radical transformation in our hearts. That was what happened to the blind man when he encountered Jesus and the religious leaders were trying to. Figure out how somebody like him. Could I encounter the grace of God? They try to dig out, you know, his family connections, they say. Is he your parents are sin.

Kwame Osae (00:18:20) - How come this guy got saved? How come you got, you know, healed? But he says something. They said one thing that I know is that once I was blind, but now I can see. It doesn't matter. Your religious arguments. What's key here is that I have encountered the grace of God. And today the grace of God is available for us. When I looked into. The book of Galatians. Again, I discover that. We need to acknowledge God's grace in our lives. In Ephesians chapter two, from verse 8 to 10, he said, For by grace we have been saved through faith. And this is not our own doing. It is a gift of God, not a result of works so that no one will boast. There comes a time, friends, where we need to look into the pages of life. And see the grace of God. How, for God's grace has brought us what God's grace has done in our life. That transformation, the preservation. Even looking at the fact that.

Kwame Osae (00:19:33) - How God will still love us despite. Me being me, despite all my mistakes. Despite all my frailties as a human being, the grace of God. So we got to look into the pages of life, because if we don't do that, then we can take the grace of God for granted. And that is where we get surprised by the grace of God. We're looking to the pages of life and we see. This is what God did for me. I didn't deserve it. But God's love brought me this far. When I look into the book of Galatians, I see that God's grace. Gives us the confidence. To draw nearer to him. In Hebrews chapter four from verse 14 to 16, he says, Since then, we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens. Jesus, the Son of God. Let us hold fast for fast our confession, for we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every aspect has been tempted as we are.

Kwame Osae (00:20:43) - Yet with our sin. Let us then, with confidence, draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Grace. She gave us that confidence. Come to God's presence. Come into God's presence with boldness. Know that you are a child of God. And I like what it says in Romans, he says. That the spirit bears witness with our spirits, that we are what children of God? And if we are children, we are joint heirs. We joined hands with Christ. Don't let anyone. Don't let the devil lie to you. You belong to God. You are a chosen generation. You are a royal priesthood. You are God's holy people. He's called us out of darkness so that we can proclaim his praises. Our livestock, proclaim his praises, our testimony, Proclaim his praises. You have been chosen by God. So have that confidence to come into the presence of God. And then lastly, I. I discovered that grace is for eternity.

Kwame Osae (00:22:02) - So grace from the beginning. Grace for ages to come. And Greece for eternity. Where one day. We all spend eternity with our God. The grace of God is also manifested in those times. In Romans five 2221. It said more about the law entered that offense may abound, but where sin abounded, grace abounded more, much more so that our sin reign in death. Even so, grace might rain through righteousness to eternal life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Grace in God is a blessing of an eternal inheritance. Which is untouched by death. Imperishable. Unstained by evil. Undefiled unimpaired by time. And will not fade away. That is a great place to praise the Lord. Knowing that grace doesn't fade. Grace is for eternity. No longer can. The enemy lied to us. Because God's grace. Is for you and I. Years ago. It would be about. When I was a teenager, I had an encounter with Jesus Christ. I went into a crusade. The gospel of the good news was preached.

Kwame Osae (00:23:41) - And I had a gospel. And I give my life to Jesus. But years later. I walked away from the Lord. I backslid just under about a decade. I'd gotten older and I was working with my father. I saw that time I could finance that lifestyle because when I was growing up. I got addicted to smoking excessive alcohol, and there were times where even with one would go out, we would have competitions of who would be the last man standing. And I used to be one of the last man standing. I remember one day. I went to the beach, but I don't remember how I got home. And when I woke up, my my younger sister came into the room and they look, they gave me. I knew something was wrong. So I asked him, How did I get here? He said, Daddy came to pick you from the next door neighbor who happened to be a friend, and we went to the beach together. So what happened? Somebody from one of the boys schools who dared me.

Kwame Osae (00:25:05) - And I said, Let's see who would be the last man standing. But it took me out completely. So when my friends go home came to see me and I asked them, So guys, what happened? They said, you know, on the way back. You try to dance like Bobby Brown? He used to be one of my favorite musicians. It was such an embarrassing moment. But as I said, over the years, as I grew up, I began to I could finance that lifestyle. And I lived a nocturnal lifestyle going from club to club, get into the club, sit at the counter. That's what they call it for the big boys. But I was empty. I had no peace. I was tired of coming home, being drunk, looking at the ceiling, and the ceiling will spin and spin and spin. And I'm like, I'm not doing this again. And then I found myself. He had a stranglehold over me. But one day, no more day. I went to bed and I had a dream.

Kwame Osae (00:26:19) - And in the dream. There were two sides. On one side was. Jesus and these people. And on the other side were people who had walked away from Jesus. And there was confusion all around. But I noticed in the dream that the people that were on the side of Jesus were preserved and they were okay, but I wasn't on the side of Jesus. So I asked the Lord, I said, Lord, why am I not on your side? And the Lord said to me, I've given you so many chances, but you did not heed. It's late, and I woke up sweating profusely. I ran to the front room to check if my parents were okay. I checked where my sister's where my brother was. I thought, Yeah, they're home. So surely I've never been left behind. So I walked quietly to my room and I knelt by my bedside and I surrender to Jesus. That was 28 years ago. And the Lord's grace has kept me. Praise God. It was that terrible to the extent I once when I got saved, I walked out to to preach the gospel because I was passionate about preaching what God had done for me about the grace of God.

Kwame Osae (00:27:43) - I walk into, you know, preaching the streets, preaching my friends, and I say, Guys, it's not worth it. Come to Jesus. I bumped into one of my seniors who used to be one of the leaders in the Scripture Union. As soon as he saw me. He called me by my last name. Now, in our culture, I want somebody who calls you by your last name. You see that you've done something naughty or you've done something great. So you call me by my last name. He said, What are you doing here? I said, I'm preaching the Gospel. He said, No, you. I say, yes. I've given my life to Jesus. He was so shocked. He was surprised. To the extent he said, let's give God praise right now and right here, it didn't matter whether people were around. He was so excited. Today. That same Jesus. Is knocking on your heart. This is a salvation moment. Maybe you're here. I learned that over the years never to assume that somebody has received a gift of salvation because we could come to church Sunday in, Sunday out, go through the motions.

Kwame Osae (00:28:55) - But really, we have not given our hearts to Jesus. And so if you are here today, I want to encourage us to participate. If you're here today and you're saying, Jesus, I want to know you. Don't be ashamed of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want you to lift up your hand. Don't be afraid of anybody. If you can lift your hand. I want to pray with you. Because the grace of God is available in this place today. If you are here today and you're saying, Lord, maybe my relationship with you, I've walked away. Like I walked, I walked away. I'm just going through the motions. The grace of God is still available. And I'm going to share what a prayer with you. Lord God Almighty will meet all of us at the different levels where we are. Shall we pray together? Father in the name of Jesus. I bring before you, Lord. Everyone. God Almighty, that is. Hearing your voice today. Feeling that tug on their hearts.

Kwame Osae (00:30:08) - Jesus knocking at the door of their hearts. We've had the message of grace and how. Paul's transformation brought surprise. To the people that. We're with him. Today, a message of grace has come. I pray, Lord God Almighty, that you would touch the hearts of everyone listening. Oh, God. And those that will listen to this message subsequently. Not a work of salvation. Through grace. The gift of eternal life will become real. To someone here. Lord. I also pray that anyone going through any difficult time of God, your grace, may be sufficient to them. I pray, God Almighty, that we will never take Your grace for granted. I pray that, Lord, you continue to remind us of the sacrifice you made through your son, Jesus Christ on the cross. Father shut out every negative voice that keeps lying to us that we are not worthy. No, we are worthy. Because you paid the price for us and you love us. And so the blood of Jesus makes us and gives us that access into your presence.

Kwame Osae (00:31:36) - How should we go out of this place of God? We continue to encounter you in the name of Jesus. Amen. If you are here today and you feel you need more prayer, you made a decision. There will be people to my left and to my right who will pray with you. Or you can. You know, you can walk to the connections and get somebody to pray with you. Don't leave this place without a prayer. May God Almighty continue to be gracious to all of us. And as we go into a new week. May God's love be real to us. Go in the peace of God. Go in the victory of God. Be blessed. Have a fantastic week.