“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ” Ephesians 4:7
”But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever”. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18
WHAT IS GRACE?
Grace is the divine influence on the heart of a man and it is reflected or expressed outwardly. In other words, it is the out-working of a divine inward influence in your heart through God’s Word and the Holy Spirit. Grace is the glory of God working in a man’s spirit.
The Greek word for grace is ‘Charis’. It beautifies the spirit and would always show on the outside. Grace functions at different levels in our life. It locates you and brings you into the good place at the right and opportune time. Some people do define Grace as “unmerited favor” but this definition is from a negative point of view and is somewhat limited.
There is such a thing as to increase in grace, to grow (Auxano). As Christians, the Bible admonishes us to grow in grace even as we grow in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Don’t work against Grace in other people; acknowledge, respect and help grow it when you find it manifesting in others around you.
The Grace of God can be seen in what it produces; as much as Grace is a divine working on the inside of a man, it manifests itself on the outside of a man in diverse ways:
GRACE PRODUCES THE FOLLOWING:
1. Acceptability.
There always is something about a man/woman with Grace that attracts people to him/her. Grace singles you out; they just don’t know why they are attracted towards you. Grace has got nothing to do with one’s status, profession or gender. You can turn on grace in your life; God gives you more Grace as you put to use the Grace He already made available to you. There are levels of Grace at which different Christians function. It should be your desire to function at the highest level of Grace possible.
2. The Advantage.
Grace brings and gives you the Advantage. As a Christian, you need to ALWAYS be conscious of the Grace of God upon your life, this is what makes it work and you need to recognize that you have got grace working for you. You do not need to struggle for/with anything in your life, if you put the Grace to work, it will deliver them to you, on a platter. Hallelujah! Grace is the glory of God working in a man’s spirit and it beautifies. Only the man with Grace recognizes Grace. Never try to work against Grace in a man’s life; one who does it, fights against the Source of Grace; Deity.
3. Favour.
Grace brings you FAVOUR. Good is turned towards the man with Grace and forgiveness always knocks at his door. Even when he seems to have made great mistakes, the Grace of God speaks for him. To walk in Grace means to walk in and with divine influence. It makes you have the mentality of “if I want anything, I will get it!” You are God’s trophy, and He wants everyone in the world to know how much he loves you. He is the ‘I am’ and you are the ‘in Him’. There is no need for the struggles and the worry wrinkles. Grace is available to deliver favour to you. Favour that comes by Grace comes by divine influence. Hallelujah! All He says is “yield to my Word”.
The Scripture is laden with accounts explaining how God has given us the measure of Grace. Much more, we have a huge role to play in making sure that the purpose for the Grace is accomplished. God expects us to put his Grace to work by careful study and meditation of His Word, which is the Word of Grace.
It's our Month of Increased Grace! There's increased grace for growth; for ministration; grace to do all things. You can do more for the LORD.
"We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak". 2 Corinthians 4:13
For the divine provisions of the Gospel made available to you in Christ Jesus to become your vital experience in life, you must acknowledge what God has done for you and in you, and confess it. Many live beggarly lives, far below their calling because they don’t know how to make these “joyful confessions.” A joyful confession is declaring what God has said about you; rejoicing over who you are, what you have, and what you can do in Christ, and confessing it!
Others may say you’re boasting when you joyfully confess God’s Word about you, but it makes no difference. You’re what God says you are!
2 Corinthians 8:9, “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
1 Corinthians 3:21 says “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours.” Also,
1 Peter 2:24 “Who his own self bare our sins in his body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.”
Thus, on the basis of these scriptures, you ought to make your joyful confessions and say “I refuse to be broke, poor or sick!” Say this today and every day; make it your language. Remember, Jesus said you shall have what you say (Mark 11:23). Therefore keep talking right! Learn how to use your mouth to take possession of that which is already yours in Christ Jesus. Keep declaring who you are in Christ. Testify to what God has done for you, in you and through you!
The Psalmist said “I believe therefore have I spoken” (Psalm 116:10); and in our opening scripture we read that “We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak.” That’s because our confessions rule us. So keep making those joyful confessions of God’s Word that reveal your identity, ability and inheritance in Christ Jesus.
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. (Psalm 1:1-3).
The life God has given us in Christ is that of great glory and prosperity. You’re ordained to prosper, not just financially or in certain aspects of your life, but all-round – in everything and in every way. This ought to be your experience of life. Our opening verse gives us the key to this all-round prosperity, where everything you do and everything that has to do with you prospers! It’s by delighting yourself in the law of the Lord – His Word – and meditating on it day and night!
How prosperous do you want to be? How glorious do you want your life to be? If you’d delight yourself in the Lord, and meditate on His words regularly or frequently, you’ll be like a tree planted by the rivers of water. You’ll bring forth fruit in due season; your leaves will not wither, and whatsoever you do shall prosper.
Isaiah 58:14
“Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.”
How do you delight yourself in the Lord? It’s by giving yourself to His Word; doing His Word; meditating on it day and night, and living it! Desiring God’s Word and cherishing it more than your necessary food (Job 23:12)! When you do these, everything you do will prosper and turn out right. Whatever you get involved in will work. That’s my life! Everything I do prospers. That’s because I’ve made the Word my delight and my meditation.
Your life is ordained by God to go from one level of glory to another. He created you for success, excellence, dignity, honour and beauty. This ought to reflect in every aspect of your life: in your job, health, family, relationships, business, ministry, etc. – you’re to prosper exceedingly! Remember, prosperity, success, divine health, the good life are all your birthright in Christ Jesus. Our study today is to help you realize this and know some of the things you’re to do to experience the prosperity of God and the manifold blessings of the Spirit in your life
2 Corinthians 8:9; “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”
Wow! I’m ever so thrilled when I read this portion of Scripture. This is our guarantee for a life of supernatural abundance. We’re so rich, it’s impossible to quantify our wealth.
“But, Pastor Chris, is that really possible?” you ask Well,” (Job 22:24); the Bible says, “Then shalt thou layup gold as dust, and the gold of Ophir as the stones of the brooks”
(2 Corinthians 8:9); For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich”
What’s most amazing is the fact that when we start talking like this, the religious folks are the first to raise their eyebrows. In Luke 7:33:35, Jesus rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees, said,” For John the Baptist came neither eating bread nor drinking wine; and ye say, He hath a devil. The son of man is come eating and drinking; and ye say, Behold a gluttonous man, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners! Even at that time, the religious folks were the foremost critics of the Master’s lifestyle. It’s still the same today! One thing religious folks can’t stand is prosperity. It unsettles them and makes them restless: (Isaiah 57:20); “But the wicked are like the troubled sea, when it cannot rest whose waters cast up mire and dirt.” But thank God the Bible says (Psalm 107:42); “The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.” When you talk big and things start looking up for you in life, you’ll discover that those who grumble are the religious people in our midst. If they spend more time with their Bibles and believe what they read and hear, they’ll know.
Psalm 35:27; “Let them shout for joy and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea, let the LORD be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant”
Prosperity is yours in Christ Jesus, so don’t let anybody deceive you. There’s nothing too good for you because you’re the king’s kid! Don’t mind those who say otherwise, just keep talking and living happy. When you see a fellow brother or sister prospering, be happy and rejoice with him or her. Hallelujah
Blessed is the man that trusteth in the Lord, and whose hope the Lord is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit (Jeremiah 17:7-8).
There’s been so much fear and apprehension about the economic situation in the world. Some of the erstwhile biggest and richest multination corporations have gone bankrupt, and the economies of several nations are still groaning with the pangs of the global recession. Indeed, so much has happened in the last decade to warrant such concerns.
But if you’re born again you don’t need to fear or fret, for you play by a different set of rules. Thus the economic crunch and hardship that affect the peoples of the world ought not to overthrow you. In the midst of the recession you can have increasing prosperity, for that’s the life you’ve been called to. The Bible says “when men are cast down, then thou shalt say, there is lifting up…” (Job 22:29).
Our opening scripture lets us know that the man whose trust is in the Lord is blessed, and shall be as a tree planted by the waters. He shall not be anxious or full of care in the year of drought, times of recession, scarcity or austerity! Rather, he’ll keep yielding fruit. In other words, he’ll have increasing prosperity. This is akin to Job 22:24: “Then shalt thou lay up gold as dust…” You well know that the most dust is found in the dry season, and in the world today, many have referred to the economy as dry. But the Spirit of God is telling you that even as the dust is hard to keep away in dry season, so is your prosperity – its ever increasing!
You might wonder, “Is this truly possible?” Sure it is! It’s right in the Word. Take some time today to carefully meditate on what we read in our opening scripture, for it reveals the picture of your prosperity
