Topic: Count on grace
Text: James 4:5-7
Key verse: And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
God\’s grace cannot be explained in one word, it has to be described. It is first a gift nothing anyone can earn, it is a gift that completely changes your lot when you get it. God’s grace qualifies you to do exceptional things, it elevates you to a status you never could have asked for. It empowers and releases different gifts in you once its at work. Favor with God is grace.
But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. Genesis 6:8
The angel told me to give Zerubbabel this message from the Lord: “You will succeed, not by military might or by your own strength, but by my spirit. Obstacles as great as mountains will disappear before you. You will rebuild the Temple, and as you put the last stone in place, the people will shout, ‘Beautiful, beautiful!’” Zechariah 4:6-7
There are challenges in life we are faced with that can defy prayers at times, we give it all that we know, do all that we are taught, follow every suggestion given by friends and family, and still, the situation stands strong before us. God knows all about it!
Your power or might is limited when you are faced with a problem like a mountain, the type Zerubabel had to deal with. After you have exhausted all efforts to drill through it, walk around it and even try to climb over it, you need to relax, there is a better way, the way of the spirit!
In spiritual warfare, , you must be ready to count on God’s grace to pull it through. Our key verse assures us of God’s desire to give Grace generously. And he gives grace generously. As the Scriptures say, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
God wants you to know that your weakness cannot stop what he wants to do in your life. Your mistakes in the past cannot prevent you from having a comeback and the last laugh. Some problems have lasted so long that you have accepted it as the will of God, whereas God has better ideas. These viewpoints have become mental strongholds in our lives, that make us say things like…” He will never change”, “that’s how he behaves, am not surprised “, “I have given up!”, ” Don’t go there”, “Don’t raise my hopes” etc. I don’t know what your impossibility language is, but whatever, l assure you that there is a grace that God releases generously, that can do the impossible through you!
We are not told about Esther’s prayer life until she got into the palace, we are not told that she had ever fasted with Mordecai, but when she was faced with that once in a lifetime challenge, l mean that problem that can make or mar you for life, she turned to fast and pray for grace and favor! If you keep quiet at a time like this, help will come from heaven to the Jews, and they will be saved, but you will die and your father’s family will come to an end. Yet who knows—maybe it was for a time like this that you were made queen!” Esther 4: 14
God\’s favor released courage, strength, and strategy on how to face the battle against Haman and his evil agenda. She didn’t go seeking the life of Haman as so many of us have been taught, she went in search of grace! When the king saw Queen Esther standing outside, she won his favor, and he held out to her the gold scepter. She then came up and touched the tip of it. “What is it, Queen Esther?” the king asked. “Tell me what you want, and you shall have it—even if it is half my empire.”
I want you to ask the Lord in prayer for this kind of favor and grace that will release a divine strategy that will give you back your health, your marriage, your runaway, or rebellious children or your failed business. Remember, Isaac had other ideas of how to recover his business in the time of famine, but that idea did not depend on grace. When he went back to God, it did not depend on his power or might, but grace released a hundredfold return on investment to him where it had seemed impossible!
Grace will give you more than you can ask for. Esther didn\’t want half of the kingdom, but it was served on a platter of gold and presented to her. What can God\’s grace, unlimited favor not do for you? Should l talk about Joseph or Ruth, need l tell you that grace brought back the prodigal son who was deemed dead.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. Romans 11:6 Our victory in this warfare this month shall come by grace and not works. Understand that it is not going to be dependent on your fasting, your sleeplessness due to watching at night in prayer, but it will be by God’s generous grace given to the humble who have no leaven of pride on them.
Let us go boldly now to the throne of grace, there is enough for you and l at his feet.
Grace be to you!
Roses&Thorns
