Speak To It

Speak to it”

By

Bishop M. L. Maughmer, Jr.

Zechariah 4:6-10 “Then he answered and spake unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. Moreover the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this house; his hands shall also finish it; and thou shalt know that the LORD of hosts hath sent me unto you. For who hath despised the day of small things? for they shall rejoice, and shall see the plummet in the hand of Zerubbabel with those seven; they are the eyes of the LORD, which run to and fro through the whole earth”.

FOCUS VERSE is vs #7 which says “Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain: and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it”.

This seems like a strange scripture when you first read it but the power it has in it is amazing.

The phrase “crying Grace, grace unto it”, may cause some to wonder what in the world does that mean. So let me first talk a little about grace and lay the foundation.

The Bible mentions Grace over 170 times.

16 of the 21 Epistles of the New Testament open with Grace be unto you, or Grace and Peace unto you.

In the study of Theology there is what is called the Doctrines of Grace. The phrase “doctrines of grace” describes the soteriological doctrines (study of salvation) that are unique to Reformed theology (any doctrine that is protestant). These doctrines are summarized with the acronym TULIP. The T in TULIP stands for Total Depravity, U for Unconditional Election, L for Limited Atonement, I for Irresistible Grace, and P for Perseverance of the Saints. Reformed Christians believe that all five of the doctrines of grace are derived directly from the Scripture and that the acronym TULIP accurately describes the Bible’s teaching on soteriology—the doctrine of salvation.

The number 5 represents God’s grace.

The catch all definition of Grace is the unmerited favor of God. He gives us what we don’t deserve, not based upon us but upon His love for us. John 3:16 says “For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him shall not perish but have everlasting life”, that’s Grace, we didn’t deserve it but He gave it to us any way.

The common acronym for Grace is

G = God’s

R = riches

A = at

C = Christ’

E = expense

There are 4 major categories of Grace.

1. SAVING GRACE – Ephesians 2:8 says “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God”. This saving grace is amazing for it saved a wretch like me for I once was lost but now I’m found was blind but now I see. There was no works that I did to earn this grace but I got it through my faith.

2. JUSTIFYING GRACE – Titus 3:7 says “That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. Justified is to be declared just as if nothing ever happened. Our slate has been wiped clean, we are forgiven, and can start all over again just like nothing has ever happened.

3. TEACHING GRACE – Titus 2:11-12 says “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. This grace teaches us how we are to live. People think because we are under grace that I can do what I want, live any way I want because I am under grace, but Grace teaches you how to live righteously, it is not a live any way you want without consequences escape clause. Paul says in Romans 6:1-2 “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein”?

4. ENABLING GRACE – Hebrews 4:16 says “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need”. This is grace to overcome and stand having done all to stand. Paul prayed 3 times to have the thorn in his flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet him removed God said my grace is sufficient. In other words Paul what I have given you is grace to be able to stand in spite of what is going on.