By Brother Tobi Thompson
31st October 2022
Father, we thank You. I ask that tonight the Spirit of wisdom and revelation be made manifest in the name of Jesus.
Thank You, Lord, for opening the eyes of our understanding through the power of the Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Welcome everyone once again, tonight we’ll be looking at THE GRACE OF GOD and by the power of the Holy Spirit address some misconceptions about grace. Amen.
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I am vehemently against the definition that mankind has given to Grace. The perceptions of men say that Grace is undeserved favor from God, some others would say unmerited favor from God.
I’m here to tell you both are absolutely wrong and scripturally inaccurate and here’s why.
The first one that says Grace is undeserved favor has an undertone of self-condemnation disguised as humility. Talmabout “I could never have deserved it yen yen yen”😒
The Spirit of God once said that you don’t have to speak low about yourself when relating with God. He has no interest in that (we’ll see why as we learn tonight).
The second one that says Grace is unmerited favor has an undertone of someone that hasn’t recognized what Jesus labored for.
A believer should never be caught saying Grace is undeserved favor abi unmerited favor. Don’t ever say that. It has no scriptural backing.
The Book of John records something very profound John the Baptist said, and this will set the course for us in understanding Grace by the power of the Holy Spirit.
What did John say?? John answered and said,
A man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven.
John 3:27 NKJV
Now, a man can receive nothing unless it has been given to him from heaven shows that the kingdom of God is not a kingdom of works. Rather it is a Kingdom of gifts (if I may say).
I mean, the kingdom of God is a GIVING kingdom, and so, therefore, everything a man will receive or rather has received was because God GIFTED it to the man.
Salvation is not by our works, Salvation is the works of God through Jesus Christ, and so therefore it is a GIFT given to ALL men.
Let’s look at the definition of GIFT according to the dictionary:
- Something given to another voluntarily, without charge.
- The act, right, or power of giving or bestowing.
I love the definitions above as they correctly define what a gift is.
One of the characteristics of A GIFT is that it SPEAKS MORE OF THE PERSONALITY OF THE GIVER than that of the receiver.
And when the receiver truly accepts a gift, you’ll realize that THANKSGIVING is the only response to a GIFT.
Not what you think about yourself, not what others think about you BUT what the GIVER has thought about you.
If the giver has to look at your works or your actions to give you a gift then it’s no longer called a gift rather that it is a reward.
Even though there is a place for rewards in the kingdom of God, if you are yet to get the accurate interpretation of grace you’ll suffer and not have any reward at all.
So, what then is Grace???
Grace is God’s gift to man.
Grace is God’s way of empowering man.
Grace is God’s way of bestowing His nature upon man.
It was never dependent on whatever we thought about ourselves. It was dependent on HIS LOVE for us.
If you know that God loves you, you’ll realize that such words as undeserving, and unmerited are lowly ways of describing the grace of God.
In fact, the Grace of God is a Person! Watch this:
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
Titus 2:11 NKJV
Salvation is a by-product of the Grace of God. When we look by the Spirit in the Old Testament, there were elements of the grace of God in action actually.
Do you think Pa Abraham becoming a father of many nations was because of God’s mercy?? Nope.
That was Grace in action!!!
Can I tell you something??? The believer has gone beyond the mercy of God!!
The believer has gone beyond the veil! The believer has come to Mount Zion where it is all about Grace!!
Watch this:
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
John 1:16 – 17 NKJV
Of His fullness, I Tobi Thompson have received grace upon grace.
See what Paul said:
In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace
Ephesians 1:7 NKJV
The riches of His grace are what brought salvation.
God didn’t save man because He pitied him o, God saved man because the riches of grace determined that He should save man.
You’ll now ask where is the place of Mercy??
See ehn Mercy is God’s response to the limitations of the Old man.
Grace is God’s response to the empowerment of the New Man.
It is unbelievers that require mercy cos God has no legal tender over them, they are still under the limitations and consequences of the Law.
But Believers?? We overflow with Grace!!!
Now you’ll ask me what about Hebrews 4:16?
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
Let’s go back to the previous verses:
Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Hebrews 4:14 – 15 NKJV
The writer is saying even if we fall and make mistakes (which is a natural thing that happens as we mature daily), WE SHOULD HOLD FAST to OUR CONFESSION.
What is our confession?? Jesus our High Priest has passed through the heavens and is right there interceding for us ALWAYS.
In other words, we should move on from our mistakes because it is not counted against us.
How do we move???
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16 NKJV
By doing this! Please do not take these words literally. They are figurative expressions. let’s break it down
Let us, therefore, come boldly… means that DON’T BE AFRAID, there is no charge against you before God.
To the Throne of Grace… means that you have been brought into a location, and we know that Grace is a person. So, therefore, BE CONSCIOUS OF WHO YOU ARE IN CHRIST!
That we may obtain mercy ……. doesn’t mean to start asking for mercy all over again… no-no.
He means that acknowledge that you’ve been forgiven! Repent and move on. In fact, Peter said we’ve obtained mercy already.
who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.
I Peter 2:10 NKJV
Find grace in time of need…means that take hold of what is already yours!
Remember??? Of His fullness, we have received grace upon grace
No one will mature by continually repenting of mistakes. We MATURE BY CONTINUALLY TAKING HOLD OF GRACE.
I’ll give us a few minutes to brood upon this and then we’ll meet on the audio call to go deeper as the Spirit of God leads us.
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Shalom!