LIVING IN GRACE CONSCIOUSNESS

Paul testifies, “By the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (I Corinthians 15:10).

 

In Acts 13:43, Paul and Barnabas who speaking to the people, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God as the congregation has broken up. In Acts 14, they stayed in Iconium and speaking boldly in the Lord, who was bearing witness to the “word of His grace”, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. The multitudes of the city were divided because GRACE was preached there.

LET US BE GRACE CONSCIOUS DAILY

We have a ministry build by grace and not a graceless ministry. We do not want to be grace killers but be conscious of God’s grace daily so that our work will not be in vain. Ministry that is not build by grace will be in vain. That is why Paul was very concern about this ministry in the churches today. The gospel of the churches today is all watered down gospel. He said in his own words "I labored more abundantly than they all". He put daily emphasis on it. He was conscious of God’s grace.

God’s grace that is freely given to us is our generous giving to others, for “God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8; see also 2 Corinthians 8:1–19; 9:8–15). 

GRACE IS FOR MINISTERING TO OTHERS

God’s grace to believers involves spiritual gifts that are to be used in edifying all the members of the Body of Christ.

“As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (I Peter 4:10).

“Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness” (Romans 12:6–8) There is grace in teaching, grace in exhortation, grace in giving, in ruling and showing mercy to others.

GRACE TO BRING OTHERS TO SPIRITUAL MATURITY

God’s grace works in us to bring us to spiritual completeness and maturity. “The God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you” (I Peter 5:10).

The grace of God is multiplied to us, and we grow in grace through the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. “Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord…. But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 1:2; 3:18). 

In this definition of grace, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates commented, “Grace is like God’s power generator, and we are like the conduits which carry His power to its intended purposes by the Holy Spirit.”