Topic: Grace- Great men are helped
Text:1 C or 15:10, Phil 4:13
Introduction
Grace is a common term both in the Christian world and generally among all men and it is commonly defined as undeserved favor.
Grace is a result of the victory that Jesus (the word of God) has given us. When Jesus saved us and raised us to a higher life spiritually and otherwise, He made us beneficiaries of God’s grace.
We cannot boast about it because God chose to lift us to greatness. We look around and we see that it’s not because we are better than others, but it’s just by the divine selection of God.
Everything that can be gotten from God and in God is called Grace.
Example of a man helped by the grace of God is David, a shepherd boy who became great king and one of the greatest in history (1Sam 16:11-13,2 Sam 5:10)
Another example is Paul, a persecutor of the church who later became an Apostle that did mighty works for God more than anybody in his generation (1Cor 15:10, Acts 19:11-12)
When a supernatural result or a great thing happens in the life of a man, men usually refer to such situation as the work of God’s Grace, for example being empowered by God to do some mighty works like healing, becoming wealthy, winning a bet, getting a political office, all this are referred to as the work of grace.
- Q. Now what is grace?
*What is Grace*
Grace is all spiritual blessings that are accessible through the office of the Christ (the word of God and the will of God for man) given to a believer to produce a life of victory and a life that reveals Christ (Heb 4:16)
If it is grace then it must be accessed through Christ (the word of God and his ways) and be used to reveal and glorify Christ (2Tim 2:1)
Grace is also the empowerment of a believer for supernatural results (1 Cor 15:10)
*Note*: Grace is found in Christ Jesus
– *what grace isn’t*
*If it is not accessed through God’s word and ways and it does not reveal and glorify God, then it is not grace, no matter how supernatural it looks and the result it gives.
Men can get results or enablement that looks supernatural through other means(devil).
*If the revelations of God and his ways is not seen in the display of spiritual abilities then there is every reason to challenge that result that it is not grace (E.g getting a position through corrupt means, God is not glorified in unholiness, so that is not grace at work)
*Grace is not also an excuse to live a sloppy life and get by with it
*Grace is the power not to have to live in sin, it’s not an excuse to live in sin and think God will overlook it because He is so gracious.
*Dimensions of Grace and how it works*
Grace is multi-dimensional
The Two forms of Grace
- A) Empowering Grace
- B) Enabling Grace
- A) Empowering Grace
Empowering Grace is the form of Grace that is based on the settled Authority and identity we have in God. It is given to us in full without our own input, it is defined perfectly and we receive it fully as given by God.
Also another characteristic of Empowering Grace is that we don’t grow in or into them.
The following are the types of Empowering grace:
-1. Saving grace (Titus 2:11-12, Eph 2:8)
The grace that saves a man’s souls (that brings righteousness, eternal life)
Saving grace means “unmerited divine assistance given humans their regeneration or sanctification” or “God’s benevolence to the undeserving to bring them into the righteousness of Christ Jesus.
saving grace” is the grace of God that saves a person.
This dimension of grace is received into our lives by believing and confessing Christ as our lord and savior (Rom 10:8-10)
This grace has to do with the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus (Jesus became the guilty and was killed for our sin and righteousness is now imputed to us because sin has been paid for ( 1 pet 2:24)
In this grace is also found the grace for Adoption
-2.Special grace
Special grace is a unique ability given to someone by God for the glory of our lord Jesus Christ(Acts 19:11 KJV)
- B) Enabling Grace
Enabling grace is given to believers for their Growth and continual fellowship with God and their walk with God. Believers can grow in these graces in different levels as revelation knowledge increases.
As we gradually get the revelations of scripture the enabling grace is released for us to do what we see or what has been revealed (Zech 4:6,2 Pet 1:2)
–1.Common or general grace
God’s common grace is the kindness of God to all men saved or unsaved because of his love for all(Matt 5:45, Acts 17:25)
–2.Prevenient Grace
This grace is the work of God’s grace that prepares our heart for salvation,even before we were aware of him working on our behalf.
We come to the acknowledgement of this after salvation in most cases (1cor 15:8)
This grace includes things like the Gospel reaching us, intercession for our salvation by other people, good examples of faith around our lives (parents, siblings etc.), or sermons that looks like God is speaking directly to us
–3. Sanctifying grace (John 17:17, 2 Tim 2:21)
Sanctification means to set apart and make Holy. Sanctification happens by the sanctifying power of God’s word
This is the grace given to believers to make them conform and be restored to the image and likeness of Christ (Rom 12:2)
4.Grace for Endurance (COL 1:11, ROM 15:5, JAM 1:2-3, 2 COR 12:9),
God gives his people grace to endure trials and temptations and stand properly in the midst of storms and earth’s warfare. (John 16:33)
Other kinds of Enabling Graces are:
1.Grace for Favor (Ex 3:21,Psalm 5:12, Dan 1:9, Psalm 45:7)
The dimension of grace called favor works well when the power dimension of it works hand in hand with man’s effort, which includes skill, mastery, Excellence,Diligence, Good Character.
2.Grace for speed (Isa 60:22)
3.Grace for restoration(Joel 2:25)
4.Grace for visibility (Psalm 92:10)
5.Miraculous Grace (Acts 6:8)
6.Provisional Grace (Phil 4:19)
Examples of Men Helped by Grace
1.Daniel(Dan 1:9-12, Dan 5:11-12)
Daniel’s story really gives us several examples of the manifestations of the grace of God in different dimensions ranging from Empowering grace to Enabling Grace.
2.Paul(1 Cor 15:10)
Paul’s life also shows us the different manifestations of the graces that are found in God both before and after his salvation and He(Paul)recognized these Graces and confessed in the bible passage (1 Cor 15:10).
Abuse of grace
Grace can be abused by the recipient.(Heb 10:26-29)
Abuse means when you misappropriate a benefit. It is very possible to abuse grace
For example
1.Men can because of the misunderstanding they have about grace, may decide to remain in sin thinking grace will cover for their willful sinning(Jude 4, Romans 6:2, Titus 2:11-12)
2.By living below God’s expected standard or Underutilizing the grace of God
This happens when people want to be saved but not transformed not knowing that grace did not just come for us to escape hell but the work of grace is to transform us into Godlike men who can represent the purposes of God well on earth
When men underutilize grace God is not happy because he will not be glorified and others will not be saved through the life of the one that has received his grace (Gal 4:1)
3.By willful sinning (Rom 6:1, Heb 10:26) Unbelievers taking the grace of God for granted
4.They embrace the part of grace that benefits them but shy away from the responsibility grace has mandated us do(1 cor 15:10, Phil 2:12-13,1 cor 9:27)
- Trying to use the grace you don’t have Some individuals desire or attempt to possess the grace of others just for selfish reasons. e.g Pastors wanting to have the grace of a Prophet. When God assigns you to a duty, there’s a grace that comes with it. Do not abuse God’s Grace by being envious of other people’s Grace(1pet 4:10-11,Acts 19:11-20,)
- Pride can also cause abuse of Grace. Pride can lead individuals to believe they are spiritually superior to others or that they have more measure of Grace than anyone around them, creating an attitude of arrogance and self-righteousness.(Rom 12:3)
7.We abuse God’s grace by ignoring the holy Spirit and by this the precious grace bought by the blood of Jesus can’t work in and on such a person in order that God may be Glorified.
The Holy Spirit wants to change us, but we resist him by looking at others comparatively and thinking we are better than others or atleast I go to church.(2 Cor 10:12)
- We can abuse the grace of God through walking in the flesh. (Rom 8:1)
Despite having good intentions, somethings have to be done by the leading of the Holy Spirit and not mere human efforts, although the Holy Spirit method might take time, maybe not looking the best but we shouldn’t abuse His grace by trying to do things our own way ( even if it’s for His work or for good)
Examples of men who Abused Grace
***Discuss how they enjoyed grace and how they Abused it.******
1.Saul (1Sam 15:7-20)
2.Judas Iscariot(John 12:6)
Conclusion
HEB 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.
