WHAT IS GRACE?
“But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7).”
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.
”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
Grace is unveiled as the fifth gift in a list of 'the Seven Gifts of God in Christ Jesus',
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:
The grace of God on your life is the divine ability in you to be successful in every endeavor.
Grace is the power of promotion; it’s the thing that causes your life to move from one level to another, every child of God has been given grace in abundance (Romans 5:17), but the degree to which you let it reflect is up to you. The more you fill your heart with God’s Word and have the Holy Spirit work in your life, the greater the grace of God that’ll be manifested in your life.”
YOU’RE FULL OF GRACE
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen (2 Corinthians 13:14).
Grace is the outward reflection of the glory of God in your spirit. It’s the favour of God manifested in your life. Ephesians 4:7 tells us that “… unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ”; so you’re full of grace. John 1:16 says, “And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace.” You’ve received of the Lord’s fullness to be the expression of His grace.
Grace is the supernatural influence at work in you that causes everything you do to prosper; it’s a divine enablement that causes increase, promotion, and progress! However, the degree to which you let the grace of God in you reflect on the outside is up to you. The more you fill your heart with God’s Word and have the Holy Spirit work in your life, the greater grace will shine forth on the outside.
You can and should increase in that outward reflection of the glory of God in your spirit, to such an extent that others would see it and testify to it. They might not be able to explain it, but they’ll glorify God for His beauty and excellence that’s manifested in your life. In 2 Peter 3:18, the Spirit of God, through the Apostle Peter admonished us to grow in grace: “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ….”
The word “grow” is the Greek “auxano” and it means to “increase” or “enlarge.” In other words, God wants you to increase in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. For example, when the Lord Jesus was a child, the Bible says He “… grew (increased), and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). He increased in grace, even as a child, and He had favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). The grace of God will attract the right people, materials, and resources you need to function in God’s destiny for your life. Celebrate that grace in your life today.
HOW DOES IT MANIFEST?
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: below are seven manifestations of grace in a man’s life.
* ACCEPTABILITY
There always is something about a person with grace that attracts people to them. 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. Grace causes nature to respond to you and there are levels of grace at which different Christians function. It should be your desire to function at the highest level of grace possible.
* 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. 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.
* FAVOR
Grace brings you favor. 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 them. He is the ‘I am’ and you are the ‘in Him’. There is no need for the struggles and the worry. Grace is available to deliver favor to you. Favor that comes by grace comes by divine influence. All He says is “yield to my Word.”
* JOY
Grace brings about joy; joy indescribable and unspeakable. As a Christian walking in grace, let joy work out through your life. When you take advantage of grace, the world will not be able to explain how you are always up there. Where they let worries and the cares of this life control them, they do not understand how you have become a distributor of joy. With grace in your life, you become dauntless even in seemingly difficult situations. When challenges come to you look inwards for the solution, because you know that: “The bigger the problem, the bigger the testimony.”
* LIBERALITY
Grace brings liberality into your life. You have got to recognize that grace opens a two-way channel; it is called giving and a receiving channel. Recognize that giving is a grace. When grace opens up that passion to give; it also opens up your capacity to receive.
* PLEASURE
Grace brings about pleasure. Do you know that pleasure comes spiritually and that you can take pleasure in all that God has created? Your life is for Him; recognizing this makes everything in your life pleasurable and yet pleasing to God. Now, grace brings about a kind and happy pleasure that should make you appreciate the people and the things in your life.
* GIFT
Grace brings gifts into your life. Grace brings about an uncanny ability to do what others cannot do. This can manifest itself in the form of a skill, quality, and understanding of certain areas. It’s important that you recognize the gift of God upon you and put it to use, it makes God’s power to come upon it.
THE GRACE TO EXCEL
Every Christian has the grace to excel in everything. God is able to direct all the grace you require for anything in this life towards you, such that you’re never behind in competence or ability. The Bible says in 2 Corinthians 9:8 that ’’And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work…’’. You’re qualified for any task; that’s what it means to have “all sufficiency in all things”; it means you have all the competencies and special skills required for excellence in every good work.
The word translated “sufficiency,” in this context, is the Greek “autarkeia,” which means competence. This indicates a state of self-sufficiency whereby you require no aid or support. God has given you a life that makes you so competent that you don’t require any help! This can work vitally in your life. You can be sufficient in all things; competent in all things. You can be competent in your job, family, academics and daily pursuits.
There’s another word translated sufficiency in 2 Corinthians 3:5, this time, the Greek word used is “hikanotes,” and it means ability: “Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think anything as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God….” This means that the ability of God has been made available to you. No wonder Paul the Apostle crescendos in Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”
You too have been specially enabled to live supernaturally to the glory of God, because it says your sufficiency, your ability, your ‘hikanotes’ is of God. Refuse to function with your human ability; rather, function with divine might. That’s what you’re going to do throughout this year: use supernatural ability. You can do all things through Christ! Make this your confession every day. Never say, “I can’t.” Change your vocabulary. Even now, begin to say, “I can walk,” “I can do the job.” “I can perfect it.” “I can do anything.” “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
THERE ARE DIFFERENT GRACES
Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace (Philippians 1:7).
The Apostle Paul, in our opening verse, was addressing the church in Philippi, and said they were partakers of his (Paul’s) grace; the grace of God bestowed on him. There’re different graces on people’s lives, aside from the general grace of Jesus Christ which we all received for salvation. 1 Peter 5:5 says, “…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.” Observe that the Apostle Peter wasn’t writing here to unbelievers, but to the Church, to people who already had the grace of God upon their lives.
Thus, it’s clear that God does give more grace. He increases the grace on your life for two reasons:
firstly, on the basis of your humility;
secondly, on the basis of His calling upon your life.
James 4:6 says, “But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.” The general grace of God is what brought you salvation and protects you in salvation. However, when God calls you, He gives you a responsibility and the grace to fulfil that responsibility.
In Ephesians 3:8, Paul said, “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” Paul makes a personal reference to the grace given to him, and what that grace was for; it was to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ. He makes a similar assertion in Romans 15:15-16: “Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God, That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God…”
The Lord has given you grace for that which He’s called you to do. Recognize that grace, and function in it. Keep walking in love and humility, and He’ll continually increase that grace for you to be more effective in fulfilling His calling on your life.
GRACED FOR INCREASE AND EXPANSION
“Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited” (Isaiah 54:2-3).
Being born again, there’s an anointing in you for increase and expansion. You received that anointing when the Holy Spirit came to live in you.
That anointing causes everything you do to grow and expand, and makes your experience in life characterized by constant increase and expansion in an extraordinary way. That anointing makes everything you do multiply far above what you could ask, think, or imagine.
God’s desire is that you recognize this anointing and let it function in you and through you. Philemon 1:6 says, “That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.”
The anointing and grace for increase and expansion is upon your life, recognize it and walk in it.
SELF-SUFFICIENT AND INDEPENDENT
“And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8)
The Greek word translated “sufficiency” above is “auterkeia” from where we get the English word “autarchy” which means “an economic system of self-sufficiency and economic independence as a national policy.”So the idea the word of God communicates to us from the scripture is that God has given us a life of “economic independence and self-sufficiency,” as well as the grace to live that life.
This means you have the ability to live completely independent of the economy in the country where you live. Therefore it doesn’t matter if there’s inflation; God has given you the ability to live beyond inflation and grow bigger than the economy. You have self-sustaining prosperity!
This is exactly the way God is, and he has given us the same kind of life. By understanding this truth, prosperity becomes your way of life; you’ll never need to beg or cry to anyone to sponsor your dreams, you’d live by the revelation that God has made you self-sufficient and independent. All you ever require for the great life is already in you!
RECOGNIZE HIS GRACE
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7).
How wonderful this is! Each one of us has been given grace, according to the measure of the gift of Christ. We’ve all been given grace to excel in life. The Greek word for grace is “Charis,” which is the root of the English word “charisma.” “Charis” refers to the divine influence on the human spirit that reflects on the outside of a man’s life, producing favour, beauty, goodwill, loveliness, and ability.
It’s the glory of God in your spirit, which reflects on the outside. This grace causes favour and glory to abound in your life. For example, when the Lord Jesus was a child, the Bible says he “…grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40). Grace made Him, even as a child, to have favour with God and man (Luke 2:52). In the Book of Acts, Barnabas went to visit certain brethren, and the Bible says, “…when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all…” (Acts 11:23). What was it that Barnabas saw? It certainly wasn’t a light beaming out of their heads. He saw the beauty of God; he saw things working out excellently in the lives of these brethren.
The grace of God on your life is the divine ability in you to be successful in every endeavour, and you’re to grow in that grace: “…grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ…” (2 Peter 3:18). Grace is the power of promotion; it’s the thing that causes your life to move from one level to another, and that’s why the Scriptures admonish that you grow in grace. Every child of God has been given grace in abundance (Romans 5:17), but the degree to which you let it reflect is up to you. The more you fill your heart with God’s Word and have the Holy Spirit work in your life, the greater the grace of God that’ll be manifested in your life.