Life is a journey of highs and lows, triumphs and struggles; and in the midst of it all, we often find ourselves facing areas of lack. These voids could manifest as insecurities, pain, or even perceived failures. However, as followers of Christ, we must remember that God's plan for our lives is far greater than what meets the eye.

What in life are you lacking and what is God wanting to do? What is God leaving out so you’ll be in his will? This message helps you understand more about the tough stuff in your life--insecurities, pain, failures--and what God's grace looks like. What is the area of lacking where God wants to demonstrate his grace?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER:

Apollo Sulse is a youth Pastor at The Bay Church. But that didn’t come easy or right away. In his own words, Pastor Apollo describes his calling:

“I was a teacher for almost 5 years but felt a call on my life to full-time ministry. I took a leap of faith and quit my job to lead a youth group full-time without pay for a year until God opened the door for full-time employment. My amazing wife, Rebekah, and I have been married since 2013 and have two amazing twin boys named Ephraim and Elisha as well as their younger brother, Ezra. We have been doing ministry together since 2008 from the time we started in the same youth group, where we met, to our positions at our current church in Concord, CA. I have been serving as the network youth pastor, intern director, and young adults pastor at The Bay Church and I absolutely love ministry and serving my local community! I believe that God has a specific call on my life to reach, equip, and build up leaders to reach their full potential. I am willing to do whatever it takes to see His love lived out across multiple generations and cultures.”

Understanding the Tough Stuff & God’s Grace

In those moments of lacking, we may wonder what God is wanting to do in our lives. What purpose does he have in allowing us to experience these challenges? The truth is that God is never absent in our lack; instead, he is intentionally leaving certain elements out to make room for his perfect will. It is in these areas of lacking where God seeks to demonstrate his abundant grace.

“The Israelites journeyed from Rameses to Sukkoth. There were about six hundred thousand men on foot, besides women and children. 38 Many other people went up with them, and also large droves of livestock, both flocks and herds. 39 With the dough the Israelites had brought from Egypt, they baked loaves of unleavened bread. The dough was without yeast because they had been driven out of Egypt and did not have time to prepare food for themselves.

40 Now the length of time the Israelite people lived in Egypt was 430 years. 41 At the end of the 430 years, to the very day, all the Lord’s divisions left Egypt. 42 Because the Lord kept vigil that night to bring them out of Egypt, on this night all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the Lord for the generations to come” (Exodus 12:37-42).

I’m going to talk a little about what it means to be without and how that demonstrates God’s grace. In your life, what are the moments that are without, or lacking? Is God doing something in your life today by leaving something out?

'Then they gathered around him and asked him, “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” 7 He said to them: “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority"' (Acts 1:6-7, NIV).

He reveals his power, not by the details he left in but by the details he left out.

When we ask "God are you listening?" It’s in that space where we have the opportunity to step out in faith. It’s in the moments where God shows up. It’s in those waiting periods where God demonstrates his grace.

When something is lacking, more times than not, it’s when God is waiting to demonstrate his grace.

Abraham made many mistakes. He slept a with his housekeeper. He denied his wife and lied. But Abraham is not defined by his mistakes, he is defined by his faith. It’s in the moments of lacking where God demonstrates his grace.

The prodigal son: It is where the son lacked most that his father wrapped his arms around him and gave him grace. Wherever you’re at with your lack or your need, God sees you and is available to you.

Are you willing to give God everything except for that last 1%? Are you willing to give that hurt or insecurity or pain that you’re holding back?

“‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours'" (Luke 15:31).

This is a verse of grace. Everything God has is yours. That is what God’s grace looks like. God is saying you can have my endless grace and mercy and every part of me.

The parts of your life that have been removed have made space for you receive God’s grace. Your addiction, insecurities, hurt, failures all make room for God’s grace.

It’s not about what you don’t have; it’s about what he has.

Suggested Praise and Worship

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This and other sermons brought to you by Faith Chapel, an Assemblies of God church in Pleasanton, CA.