Lifted by Grace

What is grace? God’s Riches At Christ Expense

My thoughts

1. It is divine support provided to ensure that the one endowed with such handle a situation or operate in a manner that is beyond normal in comparative with other mortals.
2. If a dog has supporters, it would defeat a monkey. That support is grace!
3. Grace is the air that makes the balloon soar, it makes the ball bounce. It is the water that makes the garden rich, it is the sun that makes our days bright.
4. It is always an exemption to the rule Psa 127:1 e.g. The 2 interviewee of Wednesday.
5. When what you don’t deserve is reserved for you, that is grace.
6. Disgrace comes when there is no grace given a person.
7. Without grace, we depend on the flesh and that may explain our prayerlessness.
8. Just a phone call, a visit, a touch, being in a position at a time can change your story.
9. It only the limitation that you placed on your life that covers your glory. When you operate under grace your story changes.
10. If our promotion and elevation are following natural course then where is grace?

Ge 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. {What if he did not believe?}

“And I will give this people favour in the sight of the Egyptians: and it shall come to pass, that, when ye go, ye shall not go empty” Exo 3: 21

Esther 2:17 And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favour in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti.

Don’t be afraid, despised insignificant Jacob, men of Israel. I am helping you,” says the Lord, your protector, the Holy One of Israel. “Look, I am making you like a sharp threshing sledge, new and double-edged. You will thresh the mountains and crush them; you will make the hills like straw. (Isa 41:14-15)

Grace is difficult to understand by man

• When naked Adam and Eve looked for leaves to cover themselves and this is what man has always been doing
• Man always want to prove his independence. Gen 11: 2 And it came to pass, as they journeyed from the east, that they found a plain in the land of Shinar; and they dwelt there. 3 And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter. 4 And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
• Children are eager to leave home.
• Women lib is all over the place.
• The Galatians started in the Spirit and went into routine.

Grace vs work

• Zechariah 4:6 Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts. 7 Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it.
• Ec 9:11 I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all
• Ro 9:16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
• Failure to operate under grace is invitation of a curse. Jeh 17:5.

5 ¶ Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD. 6 For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited. 7 Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. 8 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.

• It is like:
  • Strength vs intelligence
  • Walking vs flying. The eagle vs the hen.
  • An aeroplane without pneuma – a big bus.
  • Comparing Internet banking the days of tally numbers. The man that fought drivers on Ife road due to inability to meet with banking hours.

There is always a higher level where your own competencies would be inadequate

• Grace is most beneficial to those that recognize their helplessness without God.
• They are like the drowning man that an experience diver waits to sink to a level of no strength before he is rescued.

Why grace?

• God hates boasting Eph 2: 8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.
• God loves Himself and wants to be glorified
  • Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
  • 2Co 4:15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God
• That’s how God earns His majesty. 2Co 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Who needs grace?

Lu 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.

Lu 2:52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.

One day of favour is better than worth a lifetime of labour. Moses understood this. Exo 33fwd

13 Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. 14 And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. 15 And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. 17 And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.

18 And he said, I beseech thee, shew me thy glory. 19 And he said, I will make all my goodness pass before thee, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before thee; and will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy.

Areas where we can be lifted by grace.

• Habit
• Finance
• Marriage
• Educational pursuit
• Family limitations
• Professions
• Vocation
• Ministry

Grace Attractors / Multipliers

Jesus is the source of grace!

John 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ

2Co 5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

Humility

Pro 3:34 Surely he scorneth the scorners: but he giveth grace unto the lowly

Jas 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

1Pe 5:5 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.

The Magnificat shows that. The barrier of pride kicks out grace. God does not push his grace on those who see no need for it. Luk 1:46 And Mary said, My soul doth magnify the Lord, 47 And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. 48 For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed. 49 For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name. 50 And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. 51 He hath shewed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 52 He hath put down the mighty from their seats, and exalted them of low degree. 53 He hath filled the hungry with good things; and the rich he hath sent empty away.

Lk 19:9-14 is about the tax collector and the Pharisees. The man that was self righteous did not have his prayer answered.

Knowledge / Wisdom

2Pe 1:2 Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.

2Pe 3:18 But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen

Ge 41:39 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Ge 41:41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt. Ge 41:42 And Pharaoh took off his ring from his hand, and put it upon Joseph’s hand, and arrayed him in vestures of fine linen, and put a gold chain about his neck; Ge 41:44 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, I am Pharaoh, and without thee shall no man lift up his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.

-The driver that we gave double opportunity at interview; yet he failed due to paucity of knowledge

When you don’t know your gifting / calling, you’ll struggle for long!

If we fail to recognise grace, will stop celebrating it. If we stop celebrating it, we will stop rewarding it and anything unrewarded will exit our lives– Mike Murdock.

Faith.

Ro 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,

Ro 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Eph 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Your seed

Gal 6:7; Mat 5:7 7 Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Abraham sowed into Lot, Boaz sowed into Ruth.

• Ruth- a Moabitess that became a progenitor of Christ
• Esther 6:3 And the king said, What honour and dignity hath been done to Mordecai for this? Then said the king’s servants that ministered unto him, There is nothing done for him. 4 ¶ And the king said, Who is in the court? Now Haman was come into the outward court of the king’s house, to speak unto the king to hang Mordecai on the gallows that he had prepared for him. 5 And the king’s servants said unto him, Behold, Haman standeth in the court. And the king said, Let him come in. 6 So Haman came in. And the king said unto him, What shall be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour? Now Haman thought in his heart, To whom would the king delight to do honour more than to myself? 7 And Haman answered the king, For the man whom the king delighteth to honour, 8 Let the royal apparel be brought which the king useth to wear, and the horse that the king rideth upon, and the crown royal which is set upon his head: 9 And let this apparel and horse be delivered to the hand of one of the king’s most noble princes, that they may array the man withal whom the king delighteth to honour, and bring him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaim before him, Thus shall it be done to the man whom the king delighteth to honour. 10 Then the king said to Haman, Make haste, and take the apparel and the horse, as thou hast said, and do even so to Mordecai the Jew, that sitteth at the king’s gate: let nothing fail of all that thou hast spoken. 11 Then took Haman the apparel and the horse, and arrayed Mordecai, and brought him on horseback through the street of the city, and proclaimed before him, Thus shall it be done unto the man whom the king delighteth to honour.

• Heb 11:31 By faith the harlot Rahab perished not with them that believed not, when she had received the spies with peace

Praising God

Ps 67: 5 Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. 6 Then shall the earth yield her increase; and God, even our own God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

The reason we find it difficult to praise God is because we use less of the grace of God. Things were not so easy for Paul, but knowing where he was coming from, he had no choice but to glorify God

Obeying God Isa 1:19

Abraham would have had only the promise without grace if he disobeyed.

Gen 12: 1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land that I will shew thee: 2 And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: 3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.

Staying with people that carry grace

Esther’s grace also extended to Mordecai in Est 2 vs 22. The grace later extended to all the Jews.

Pro 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

Can you be a vendor of grace to others?

Signs of grace

Num 6:23 Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, 24 The LORD bless thee, and keep thee: 25 The LORD make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: 26 The LORD lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. 27 And they shall put my name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.

Exo 33: 16 For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us?

My education / jobs are grace. It is not all accountants that we went to school that have achieved so much.

What of marriage?

Examples:

1. 2Pe 2:7 And delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked:(KJV)
2. Moses Num 12
3. David- a shepherd that became a king
4. The three Hebrew boys had it
5. Esther
6. Daniel had it
7. The parable of the talents shows that there different levels of grace
8. Paul the chief of sinners
9. Peter – a fisherman becoming a leader in the church

Concluding thoughts.

• If the grace of God enables us to do what we cannot do with our own power and might, then it goes without saying that there is a relationship between grace and the Spirit of God.
• Fear is anti-grace. Fear comes when we look at our own power and ability in facing a challenge. The more we look at the bigness of our God, the less we fear any challenge.
• Where there is no revelation or knowledge of the grace that is made available for us, we can end up frustrated as we struggle to do something that we don’t have grace to do. Do if we just know the grace released for such.
• Being religious and dutiful does not produce results as His grace.