Something to Work With
(Please read to the end. This could change your life)
Recently, I was lying on my bed and meditating on God’s grace and the different expressions of God's lavish grace. Suddenly, it occurred to me that grace is God's divine provision for man’s needs.
Everything you will ever need for a full and successful life on earth is wrapped up in God's grace. When grace is released, it shows up in different forms depending on the need.
To some, it manifests as increased ability, efficiency or speed. To others, it manifests as divine ideas, special knowledge or wisdom. Yet to some, it manifests as financial favor, career breakthrough or any other blessing.
This is the reason Paul taught that God gives grace in consistency with the gift or calling of Christ (Ephesians 4:7). So, depending on the call or responsibility God places on you per time, He releases grace requisite for the task or job at hand.
Think about it for a moment. God doesn't give money. He gives grace, which then brings the money. God doesn't give strength. He gives grace. Strength is a manifestation or fruit of God's grace. Likewise, God doesn't give more anointing. He gives more grace.
Shortly after the apostles, Peter and John, were arrested and threatened never to speak or preach again in the name of Jesus, following the miraculous healing of the crippled begger at the beautiful gate, Luke records that being let go they went to their own company and reported what had happened.
Spontaneously, the whole assembly responded in a heartfelt prayer to God for boldness to keep speaking forth in the name of the Lord, despite the death threats. We are told that they were filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke God's Word with boldness. Two verses down the line, we are told that “great grace was upon all of them." (Acts 4:23-33)
Grace is God's provision in Christ for man’s needs. Everything you and I may require is provided in grace, and grace is not something you work for. It is something you receive.
Also, grace is not an emblem. It is something to work with. God gives the grace and expects the recipient to do something with it.
This is the reason we are admonished not to "receive the grace of God in vain. (2 Corinthians 6:1) It is possible for one to have grace and not take advantage of it.
Hence, Paul said that he did not “frustrate" the grace of God. And again, he said that the grace of God on him was not in vain (see Galatians 2:21 and 1 Corinthians 15:10).
Amazingly, with Christ came all the grace we need in this world. That is to say that a child of God has all the grace he needs to function in this life as a result of the life of Christ in him. There's absolutely nothing I need that I don't already have in my spirit as a result of the indwelling Christ.
" And of His fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17)
Hence, it is not grace that we lack, but the intelligence or skill to maximize grace. Anybody can be extremely successful who knows how to maximize and put God’s grace to work. Grace has been provided for you in abundance, but you must RECEIVE and put it to work.
This brings me to one of Paul's experiences with God in which he repeatedly asked God to remove a certain challenge from him. Instead, God told him, "My grace is sufficient (more than enough, superabundant) for you…" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Remember that grace is something you work with. That is, you do something with it. So, in this passage, God wasn't telling Paul to bear the challenge. He (God) was putting the responsibility on Paul to change it, if he didn't like it.
God was telling Paul in essence, “see, you have My gace. That's all you need. Do something about the situation with the grace I have given you. It can handle anything.”
Like Paul, you may probably be experiencing a certain challenge or difficulty in your life right now. If you have received Christ, I want you to know that you have an abundant supply of grace. Receive this grace and use it to change your situation.
Humble yourself before the Lord. Receive grace. Yield to God's grace, and do something with the grace you have received.
“For if one man’s offence meant that men should be slaves to death all their lives, it is a far greater thing that through another man, Jesus Christ, men by their acceptance of His more than sufficient grace and righteousness, should live all their lives like kings!" (Romans 5:17)
"As co-operators (co-labourers) with God Himself we beg, you then, not to fail to use the grace of God.” (2 Corinthians 6:1)
Lord today, I receive abundance of grace for every area of my life and ministry in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen!
