“With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and MUCH GRACE was with them all” Acts4:33
“From Attilia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been COMMITTED TO THE GRACE OF GOD for the work they had now completed” Acts 14:26
What made the grace of God so important for the early Christians? Why did the church in Antioch pray for God’s grace to be upon Paul and Barnabas, and later Paul and Silas, as they embarked on their missionary journeys?
A. THE MEANING OF GRACE
The most common understanding of the word “grace” is “God’s unmerited favour” – in other words, even though we were sinners, deserving judgment, God looked upon us in love and forgave us.
This, however, is only half its meaning. It also means “God’s enabling power.”
“May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word” 2Thessalonians 2:16-17
His grace not only grants us acceptance into the family of God, but it also equips us with the strength necessary to live out the Christian life. Two verses highlight these two facets of God’s grace present in every believer.
1. God’s Unmerited Favour
“For it is by grace [God’s unmerited favour] you have been saved, through faith-and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9
2. God’s Enabling Power.
“… In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will – to the praise of his glorious grace [enabling power], which he has freely given us in the one he loves” Ephesians 1:4-6
Read the whole chapter, which describes all that we have received by grace (by his enabling power).
In salvation, we see not only God’s unearned grace, as we are granted forgiveness and a renewed relationship with Him despite our unworthiness, but also His empowering strength – for it is through HIS power that we are capable of and are undergoing transformation.
“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation, the old has gone, the new has come!” 2Corinthians 5:17
This principle of grace remains integral to our journey with God. In all aspects of our Christian lives, it is through God’s grace that we are able to grow and gain strength—an empowering gift bestowed upon us without any effort or merit on our part.
“… grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ… ” 2 Peter 3:18
B. GRACE GIVEN TO THE HEROES OF FAITH
The powerful influence of grace is evident in the lives of individuals across the entire Bible. Each hero of faith began their journey with God recognizing their own limitations and shortcomings.
It was only by embracing God’s grace—His empowering presence—that they could transform into the individuals that God intended them to be and realize the divine plan and purpose He had for their lives.
C. GRACE IN THE LIFE OF MOSES
Read Exodus 3:11-13 and 4:1-13. The task that the Lord assigned to Moses was incredibly daunting. At that time, Egypt was the dominant empire, known for its wickedness, and Pharaoh, its malevolent ruler, wielded authority that was viewed as divine.
Every nation in the known world was fearful of Pharaoh’s power. When God instructed Moses to travel to Egypt and demand that Pharaoh free His three million people from slavery, Moses responded immediately, overwhelmed by his own weaknesses and shortcomings; —-
3:11 “Who am I?”
3:13 “Who are you?”
4:1 “They won’t believe me!”
4:10 “I’m not eloquent!”
4:13 “Lord, send someone else!”
But with God’s grace, Moses found the strength and courage he needed to embark on the difficult journey to Egypt. Despite his initial hesitations and self-doubt, he felt an undeniable calling to fulfill the divine mission set before him.
Armed with the powerful signs and wonders that God had bestowed upon him, Moses confronted Pharaoh, the powerful ruler of Egypt, who held the Israelites in bondage.
Each miracle performed—turning the Nile into blood, bringing forth swarms of locusts, and parting the Red Sea—served as a testament to God’s authority and a catalyst for change. These extraordinary acts not only demonstrated God’s power but also ignited hope among the enslaved people of Israel, reassuring them that liberation was indeed within reach.
Through tenacious perseverance, Moses remained steadfast in relaying God’s message to Pharaoh: “Let my people go.” The struggle was arduous, fraught with moments of despair, but through it all, Moses held onto his faith. Every confrontation, every demonstration of God’s miraculous power, was a step closer to freedom for the Israelite people.
D. GRACE IN LIFE OF GIDEON
Examine Judges 6:1-24. God called Gideon to rescue His people from the invading Midianite forces. For years, Israel had experienced nothing but defeat. In verse 13, Gideon’s reaction to God’s message highlights his initial doubt.
“But sir, Gideon replied, ‘If the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us? Where are all his wonders that our fathers told us about when they said, Did not the Lord bring us up out of Egypt? But now the Lord has abandoned us into the hand of Midian.’”
Even when the Lord encouraged him and promised to be with him, Gideon answered:
“How can I save Israel? I’m the smallest member of the smallest family in our tribe!” see verse 15.
Despite his fear and limitations, Gideon, empowered by God’s grace, delivered Israel. He accomplished this with only a small group of men. It was GRACE that made all the difference!
E. GRACE IN THE LIFE OF THE APOSTLE PAUL
Read Acts 15:40. Before Paul and Silas set out on their missionary journey together, the church at Antioch prayed for them and “commended [them] … to the grace of the Lord” for the work that was ahead of them.
Read Paul’s description of his experiences in 2 Corinthians 11:22-33. It is understandable that he was first commended to the grace of God!
He needed it to survive! The Lord’s answer to Paul’s confession of weakness is His promise for us too: “… My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness… ” 2Corinthians 12:9
F. GRACE RELEASED IN OUR LIVES
In our relationship with God – as we walk with Him each day – we constantly meet situations that would try to overwhelm us. Our response to God is to trust His Word.
We express our trust through obedience.
This proves we believe what God’s Word says despite what the circumstances might indicate. God’s response to our faith is His grace – His enabling power, which causes us to triumph in every situation.
G. TWO IMPORTANT PROMISES
1. We Have Bold Access To The Throne Of Grace
“Let us then approach the THRONE OF GRACE with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and FI ND GRACE (His enabling power) TO HELP US IN OUR TIME OF
NEED” Hebrews 4:16
2. God is Able
“And God is able to male ALL grace ABOUND to you, so that in ALL things at ALL times, having ALL that you need, you will ABOUND in EVERY good work”
2Corinthians 9:8
Today I decide to receive God’s grace – His enabling power – into every area and problem that arises in my life, and teach others to do the same also.
