Grace As The Power And Ability Of God Operating Through The Believers. Series

UNDERSTANDING THE GRACE OF GOD

Topic; GRACE AS THE POWER AND ABILITY OF GOD OPERATING THROUGH THE BELIEVERS.

Too many Christians are trying to reach all of their goals and aspirations operating out of their own strength. Instead of relying on God’s power and leadings to get them to where they are supposed to be going with Him, they are relying on their own wisdom, knowledge, intelligence, and strength.

We need the power of God flowing and operating through us if we are going to achieve any real success in the Lord with whatever He will be calling us to do for Him in this life. Without God’s divine power and ability operating through us, we will never make it to the tops of mountains that He is calling us to climb for Him. We will never be able to reach the goals, the aspirations, and the finish lines that God has in store for us unless we have the power of His Holy Spirit working in us and through us.

The grace of God is the divine life, power, and ability of God flowing and operating through us, the believers. It is the power and ability of God operating through us so that we can effectively work in whatever He will be calling us to do for Him in this life. This same divine power is also needed for us to be able to be properly sanctified in the Lord, along with helping us overcome different types of sins, addictions, and temptations.

POWER VERSES FOR MEDITATION,

These verses all have to do with grace as the power and ability of God working through us. Each one of these are major power verses and they all have to do with the second definition of grace. The first definition or the first side of the coin (as discussed in lesson 2) is that grace is the unmerited favor and unconditional love of God towards mankind. As you read and meditate upon these scriptures, may you be established in faith in Jesus name.

• “And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” (Acts 4:33)

• “… but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

• “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:1)

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

• “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:4-8)

• “But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.” (Ephesians 4:7)

• “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith …” (Romans 12:6)

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

INSIGHT FROM THE ABOVE SCRIPTURES.

Verse 1(Acts 4:33)

The first verse really sets the stage for us as it shows us that in God’s divine grace is also His divine power. Notice that “great power” and “great grace” was on the early apostles. I believe that God is giving us a major clue in this verse is that in His divine grace is also His divine power. Great power is thus a part of God’s divine grace. If God the Father can give “great grace” and “great power” to the first set of apostles, then He can also do the exact same thing for you since He is no respecter of persons!

Verse 2(2 Peter 3:18)

Notice in the second verse, (2 Peter 3:18) that we are to “grow in the grace” of God for our lives. In other words, you can grow mightier and stronger in God’s grace if you will allow Him to train and bring you up in it. It tells us to “grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.” To grow in grace is to mature as a Christian. We are saved by grace through faith (Ephesians 2:8–9), and we mature and are sanctified by grace alone. We know that grace is a blessing that we don’t deserve. It is God’s grace that justifies us, sanctifies us, and eventually glorifies us in heaven. The sanctification process, becoming more like Christ, is synonymous with growing in grace.