Enablement and ability through grace (Grace series 4)

Enablement and ability through grace (Grace series 4)

1 Corinthians 15:10; Acts 20:32.

In case you missed the first three grace series or would like to reread them, click on the link corresponding to the one you missed to read (1, 2, 3).

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

We have come to the concluding lesson in this series of Grace. Grace is the element of divine strength bestowed upon a man for the actualization of God’s will and purpose. It carries the possibilities of God and emancipates even the weakest of all men. We will not be able to fulfill our divine mandate without the continuous dispensing of God’s grace over our lives.

Let us look at this phrase in the text: “his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain”. Just like the unprofitable Servant from the parable told by Christ went and hid the talent given to him, we can also render the grace of God useless over our lives and destiny by not engaging it to the profit of the kingdom. In another light, grace signifies the favor of God. someone wrote that “what/who God ordains/favors, He sustains”. This cuts across all our activities in the kingdom and we should never carry out any task or service for which we have not received its accompanying grace and ratification of the Holy Spirit. During the ministry of Apostle Paul in Acts 16:6-10, we understand that total reliance on the grace of God for direction prevents losses. Indeed, they could preach anywhere and everywhere, but the Spirit at this time forbade them and instead directed them elsewhere. We need to rely on God for the direction of our life and ministry. Thereby saving ourselves from unnecessary stress and waste of time on nonentities.

How do we continuously receive grace? It is in the place of consecration and fellowship- Hebrews 4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. We must always seek the throne of grace in prayer and sincere fellowship with God to receive grace for every detail and engagement of our lives.

1	Grace! ’tis a charming sound,   Harmonious to the ear; Heav’n with the echo shall resound,   And all the earth shall hear.
	All sufficient grace!   Never powerless! It is Christ who lives in me,     In His exhaustlessness.
2	’Twas grace that wrote my name   In life’s eternal book; ’Twas grace that gave me to the Lamb,   Who all my sorrows took.
3	Grace taught my wandering feet   To tread the pilgrim road; And new supplies each hour I meet   While pressing on to God.
4	Grace taught my heart to pray,   And made my eyes o’erflow; ’Tis grace which kept me to this day,   And will not let me go.
5	Grace all the work shall crown   Through everlasting days; It lays in love the topmost stone,   And well deserves the praise.
6	Oh, let that grace inspire   My heart with strength divine; May all my powers to Thee aspire,   And all my days be Thine.