Grace is one of those Bible words which is impossible to define in a simple sentence. Grace is essential for your salvation, and along-side love, it is the foundation of your relationship with God and how you are to walk out your life as a Christian. So it is important that you get a full understanding and revelation of the scope of this incredible gift.
THE NEW COVENANT OF GRACE
The New Covenant is a Covenant of Grace – with Jesus’ blood paying for your sin once and for all – so that you could come into personal relationship with your Heavenly Father – and receive the gift of His Holy Spirit living in you and transforming you from inside out. No one deserves such a gift and you cannot earn it – it is God’s amazing gift of grace freely given to you.
Ephesians 1: 7 – 8a – In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our sins, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. (NASB)
Ephesians 2: 8 – 9 – For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God not of works lest anyone should boast.
GOD’S NATURE OF GRACE
John 1: 14 – And the Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
Now if Jesus is full of grace and truth and He is the exact representation of God the Father (Hebrews 1:3) then you know God is also full of grace and truth. Not only that but Zechariah prophesies and calls Holy Spirit the Spirit of grace. (Zechariah 12: 10)
Out of God’s grace comes – mercy, kindness, forgiveness, compassion (and much more) – they are all expressions of His grace.
Hebrews 4: 16 – Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
God’s throne is called the throne of grace – because everything He does He does in grace!!
How do you come? What 2 things will you receive?
Now think of the types of petitions you might bring to the throne of grace – need for healing, need for finances, a new job or house, problems in relationships to be solved, desire for your children to grow up strong in the Lord, desire to see more souls saved and so on. So your expectation is for God to intervene in your life and situations and bring things into His divine order = GRACE!
GRACE = POWER
Acts 6: 8 – And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people
2 Corinthians 12: 9 – And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my weaknesses so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
Think back to your salvation – the power that changed your heart was grace. You received forgiveness through the power of grace. When you are saved by grace God’s power is released in you to transform you and every part of your life !
SO – when you pray ask God to release His grace – which is His power – into your specific situation – and you will see amazing things happen because you are asking God to do what He loves to do – that is release His grace!
HOW TO GROW IN GRACE
God gives to those who have and want more. A key to grace is to truly wait on God – sit and listen in the place of rest.
James 4: 6 – God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.
SUMMARY
The God of all grace – has freely given you all that Christ accomplished in His death and resurrection.
Grace is God’s love in action on your behalf – freely giving you His forgiveness, His acceptance and His favour – and abiding with you as the operating power of heaven to meet every need of your life.
The amazing grace of God –
1. Restores to wholeness – completes, mends, restores, repairs, perfects, equips
2. Establishes a solid foundation and grounds us securely in the truths of His unconditional love
3. Provides the ability to stand firm, knowing His strength in your inner man to live triumphantly
4. Brings the blessedness of His rest and the fullness of His promises.
BLESSING
May you grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ – 2 Peter 3: 18
ACTIVATE
KNOWN BY OUR GRACE
In John 1: 14 – it says Jesus was full of grace and truth and now read the incredible promise of John 1: 16– And of His fullness we have all received – and grace for grace.
Question: Since you are to be conformed to Christ’s image (Rom 8:29) – how should you think, feel and act?
Just as everything God does is in grace – so you too – as you are conformed to the image of Christ – are to speak and act always in grace.
Read and reflect:
2 Corinthians 8: 6 – 7 __________________________________________________________________________
Ephesians 4: 29 ________________________________________________________________________________
Colossians 4: 5 – 6 _____________________________________________________________________________
GRACE vs MERIT
The world operates on the basis of merit. Consider – who gets the job? – who gets selected for the sports team? – all these decisions are based on individual merit. Merit based thinking is inherent in human nature.
Sadly many Christians understand you can only be saved by grace – but then revert back to merit based thinking once they are saved. Eg – I need to pray more or read more of the Bible so God will answer my prayers. Remember there is an enemy only too willing to foster such wrong thoughts in your mind!
So be on guard against reverting back to merit based thinking. Remember that because you are a son or daughter of God that you can come boldly to the throne of grace with your requests with the expectation that your heavenly Father will release His grace into your situation.
GOD’S GRACE FOR MINISTRY
Ephesians 3: 7 – 8 – (Paul)…I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.
Question: What do you see from this verse?
Anyone can become what God has called them to be by grace. Always remember – that it is only through grace – that you can fulfil God’s call on your life – not by your own ability. When grace is flowing, the right doors open, the right words come and God’s plans and purposes are fulfilled in and through you.
Read – what the great apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:10 – But by the grace of God I am what I am and His grace toward me is not in vain, but I laboured more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Testimony: There was an Englishman who wherever he spoke – God released financial miracles. God insisted that he write a book – but he had a problem – he was dyslexic. After much arguing with God he was obedient and in faith and through God’s grace he wrote the book. As soon as he did – God healed him of his dyslexia!
