It is often common to come across people who may purport to be self-made consequent to their pedigree, and achievements in career and business. As mentioned earlier this week, being born into the royal family naturally confers some serious advantages on you in life - such as portfolio of land, property and assets; tax exemption; access to royal suites; and a collection of precious jewellery. 

 

When as believers we finally come into the revelation of the God-family we have been adopted into, suddenly, we realise who we are and the privileges at our disposal. Hence, we choose to purport to be grace-made men.

 

One of the spiritual privileges we have access to is *GRACE*! Even though it is given, at times, we struggle to receive it, because grace may take us out of our comfort zone. 

 

*What is Grace?* It is the divine favour toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favour.

 

*Ephesians 3:8-12* - “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”


 

“To me, *who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given*...” echoes *James 4:6* - “But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”

 

“*A heart filled with pride is one that is not given to prayer*.”


 

“*God send no one away empty except those who are full of themselves*”. - Dwight L Moody

 

“*Humility provokes the benevolence of God’s grace upon men.*”

 

*Three Expressions of Grace*

1. Elevates

2. Exposes

3. Empowers

 

*Grace That Elevates*

1. Vs 8 - …*grace was given, that I should preach*…

I. Grace given at the point of recognition of your assignment and purpose in God

II. Grace is given to accomplish your assignment and purpose

III. You may not qualify, or worse still, be disqualified based on the standards of men, but by grace through yieldedness and obedience you are accepted with God.

 

“*It is not what you are that is holding you back. It’s what you think you are not*.”

 

2. Vs 8 - …*grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ*…

I. Grace to do something that has never been done before or rarely done. Something totally new!

*1 Corinthians 2:9-10* - “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God.”

 

II. “*What you are intimate with determines what offspring you bring forth.*”

*Luke 1:35* - And the angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God.”

 

“*You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have*.”

Father, I lay hold of this grace that you have given me to recognise and accomplish the assignment that You have destined for me. I obtain the revelation of the unsearchable riches of Christ as I co-labour with You to bring Your vision for my life, ministry, and career to pass.

 

*Grace That Exposes*

3. Vs 9 - …and to *make all see* what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ…

I. Grace (exceptional capacity) to make the outcomes and results in your life not hidden, but visible to all. You may be talented and gifted, yet not have the opportunity to be showcased.

 

“*There are some messages that can only be preached by the results you have in your life*.”

 

4. Vs 10 - …*to the intent that now the manifold wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places*…

I. Grace to experience and demonstrate  the boundless and infinite wisdom of God to rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.

 

II. Through the display of God’s wisdom as part of the body of Christ you become a wonder to the kingdom of darkness

 

*Prayer Point 2*

Father, I thank You for the grace that brings results in life. Let Your results in my life attest to the display of Your manifold wisdom in my life, ministry, career, relationship to the principalities and powers in the heavenly places.

 

*Grace That Empowers*

Can I be honest with you? Paul did not just stumble into the unveiling of this spiritual privilege. It was revealed to him as a result of making the Secret Place his habituation - his permanent dwelling place.

 

5. Vs 11-12 - …according to the eternal purpose which He accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom *we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him*.

I. Grace overpowers fear and timidity. Paul echoes this in verse 12, “…in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through faith in Him.”

 

*Prayer Point 3*

Father, I [insert your name] have boldness and access with confidence to approach You in the Secret Place through faith in Your Son Jesus Christ.