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What is Grace?

 

Grace is the unmerited Favor of God – undeserved; unearned; a free gift (Gr: charis) Grace is God’s divine influence in our hearts and our lives where we would otherwise fail. Grace is God’s strength perfected in our weakness.

 

Common manifestations of the “manifold” (multifaceted) grace of God:

• Favor (Prov. 12:2)

• Anointing (1 John 2:27)

• Holy Ghost power (Acts 1:8)

• Supernatural strength (Phil. 4:13)

• Blessing (Gal. 3:13,14)

• Holy Boldness (Acts 14:3)

• “My help” (preachers) (Ephesians 3:8)

• Spiritual gifts (Romans 12:6)

• Salvation, healing, deliverance (Eph 2:8) (Matt. 10:1)

• Prophetic dreams & visions (Joel 2:28)

• Signs & wonders, miracles (Mark 16:20) (Luke 1:28-30)

• Wisdom and revelation (Eph. 1:17)

• Power to get wealth (Deut. 8:17,18) (Ecc. 5:19; 6:2)

• Strength to overcome temptation (Heb. 4:15,16)

          Love (Romans 5:5)

 

God gives favor, but doesn’t show favoritism. (Luke 20:21) (Galatians 2:6)

God’s grace is not for the selfish. (James 4:1-10) (Matt. 10:8)

God’s grace cannot be purchased. It is freely given. (Acts 8:19,20)

Grace is a gift, not a reward. Know the difference. (Rom. 4:4) (2 Cor. 6:1) (Gal. 2:21)

 

Trials don't come to make you strong. Grace comes to make you strong so you can overcome your trials.

Proverbs 24:10 If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

Adversity helps to expose our weaknesses. Once those weaknesses are identified, we then know what we need grace for.

Weakness is very different than wickedness.

We all have weaknesses, which are simply human limitations or inabilities. Using weakness as an excuse to disobey God is wickedness. Weaknesses are okay. Wickedness is not.

 

What do we do when our strength is small?

2 Corinthians 12:9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities (weaknesses), that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
 

God loves it when we can boast about His ability in spite of our inabilities.

Matthew 7:11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! Sometimes we confess, declare, decree and work hard... but forget to simply ask.

 

 

How do we obtain the favor of God?

(We don’t pay for favor, we position ourselves to receive.)

 

1. FAITH – It gives us access to God’s grace/favor

Romans 5:2 through [Jesus] whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

There are times God instructs us to do things beyond our own ability. Our faith in Christ helps us tap in to supernatural ability and strength to do God’s will.
Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
Ephesians 3:7 of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.

 

2. SURRENDER – We must give God the opportunity

Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.

• Spiritual hunger and thirst is intentional. It requires emptying ourselves of those

  things that occupy God’s space, and surrendering that space completely to Him.

• The promise is that He will fill that space. He only fills empty vessels.

• The worldly mind will seek to fill a spiritual need by natural means. The spiritual

  mind will set its affection on things above. (Colossians 3:1,2)

  1 Chronicles 29:3 Moreover, because I have set my affection on the house of my God, I have given to the house of my God, over and above all that I have prepared for the holy house, my own special treasure of gold and silver:

  Mark 12:33 And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one's neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

        • To love is to give. God regards all the examples above as better offerings to Him than those prescribed in the old covenant law.

 

3. SUBMISSION -- We must prefer God’s will over our own

James 4:6-10  6 But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."7 Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. 8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.

• God’s divine influence will work against those who are lifted up in pride. He gives

  favor however to those who humble themselves.

• Power to resist the devil comes when you submit to God.

• In order to be promoted, you must first be submitted.

 

 

THE MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD

 

1. Grace is a provision of the New Covenant

John 1:17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. Hebrews 10: 28, 29 / Romans 6:14

Ephesians 4:7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ's gift.

2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began

     • The New Covenant was established in eternity (before time began) and fulfilled in time.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due (set, appointed) time Christ died for the ungodly.

 

2. There are seasons for which we receive grace to accomplish specific assignments

Genesis 39:21-23 / Luke 1:30-31 /Acts 14:26 / 1 Cor. 3:10 / 1 Cor. 15:10 / Prov. 18:22

 

What do we do with God’s grace?

2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward 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.

     • The old covenant demanded good works to obtain God’s favor. The new covenant gives us God’s favor to accomplish good works.

Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

Peter says it best:

1 Peter 4:10 As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.