MANIFOLD GRACE – MORE DIMENSIONS OF GOD – (continued)

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TEXT: ACT 4:33 (V 32-37)

Manifold grace meaning

Introduction:

A biblical proof of the manifestation of Manifold Grace of God is seen in the operations of the early church. The word of God says that Great Grace was upon them.
Year 2007 has been flagged our year of Manifold Grace
What really do we mean/understand by manifold Grace?
DEFINITION
MANIFOLD
i. As an adj – many types, various e.g. a person with manifold interests!
ii. As a noun – a pipe or an enclosed space with several openings that connect with other parts e. g for taking gases in or out of cylinders in a car engine, the exhaust inlet manifold. (Adv. Learners Oxford Dictionary)

GRACE
i. God’s mercy with favour towards the human race.
ii. Extra time allowed to renew a license, pay bill e.t.c after the due date.
iii. Special favour or trust.

The word Grace is a very common and important word used a lot in the NT
In Rom.4:16 NLT it is translated as free gift.
Grace is God’s gift of LOVE, FORGIVENESS, STRENGTH AND MERCY.

GIFT OF LOVE:
Rom.5:8, Jn.3:16 – God demonstrated this Grace as love by giving up his only begotten son so that humanity will not perish but have everlasting life.

Luke 15 (1-24) – Jesus describes God’s love as God’s Grace. The sum total of the scripture here indicates that if there is only one sinner in the whole wide world God’s Grace would still have been available to him to save him
§ God is generous, persistent and patient in his willingness to forgive and accept those who have fallen short of his standards provided they repent and return to him.

GOD’S GIFT OF FORGIVENESS (Jn.8:1-11)
God’s grace is forgiving and merciful
Jesus demonstrated this forgiving grace towards a woman caught in adultery in the very act. The religious leaders expected Jesus to condemn her but instead by his action showed that God in merciful rather than condemnatory. His responses summarizes grace “I will also not judge you guilty, you may go now but don’t commit sin again.
God’s grace though abounding creates and demand a change in your lives. It is by God’s Grace that you are forgiven but it is by his gift of Grace that you are enabled to stop sinning (Rom.5:12-6:2, Tit.2:11-14, 1Pet.1:13-16)

GOD’S GIFT OF MERCY – Jn.1:17; 21;2:1
– You cant hope to earn God’s gift of forgiveness which is found only by knowing Jesus Christ as Lord (Phi.3:3-11, 2Pet.3:18)
– God’s mercy is great coupled with his love. You have been saved by Gods grace, you didn’t save yourself, it was a gift from God.

Grace therefore translates to mean that God’s blessing in our lives is his own initiative rather then ours.

God’s mercy and love are bountiful and forgiveness and being saved from sin and its punishment are God’s free gift.
Eph.2:9. Gods gift of forgiveness was not the result of your own efforts so you can’t boast about it, hence Grace by definition is not deserved or earned but given freely. Sometimes we tempted to interpret God’s gift of grace as the natural result of our own efforts and abilities- Jas.4:6, Paul also made the same mistake – Eph.2:8-9, Phil.3:4-7 and describes the lesions he learned through painful physical problem. 2Cor.12:7.
It is in our helplessness that we often learn God’s gracious gift of love strength and mercy. – 2Cor.12:9.

The translation of this grace in the early church was exemplified in (acts 2:42-47, Acts 4:32-37)
v Unity – Had the same mind and the same heart
v Multiplication- The Lord added to the church as were to be saved.
v Had all things in common – No lack amongst the members and poverty was far away from them.
v Signs, wonders and miracles following
v Fellowship (home)
v Communion / Breaking of bread / Prayers
v Powerful exposition of the Word
Finally it is worthy of emphasis to mention here that Grace is not as a result of your hard work but it is a free gift from God. You will receive of his fullness grace for grace this year 2007.

MANIFOLD GRACE 4 ( 5 (FIVE) SECRETS OF CONNECTING TO GRACE )

Texts: 1 Peter 4: 10, Gen. 18: 1-15

INTRODUCTION:

We have heard a lot on the subject of manifold grace especially on the meaning of the subject matter. Quite a number of us might be wondering or disturbed about how to tap into this grace. Why should some believers or Christians still have to struggle in life.

Brethren it is very important for us to know that this grace can be caught or connected to. I will try to explain using biblical references the five secrets of connecting or taping into manifold grace.

The word grace itself has five letters and we know that no. 5 represents grace. Each letter in the word grace can be used to explain the five secrets to connect to grace.

G- Giving
R- Revelation
A- Asking
C- Confessions
E- Excellence

A) GIVING: Gen: 33: 8-10, 2 Corinth 9:8

One of the secrets to tap into the Grace of God is by giving especially sacrificial giving. Show me a man of god that has great grace of God upon his life, I will show you a man that understands the power of seed.

“And he said, what meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, these are to find grace in the sight of my lord”. Gen: 33:8

“A man’s gift maketh room for him and bringeth him before great men”. Prov: 18:16

What you are willing to let go determines what you are willing to receive including grace.

“But just as you excel in everything – in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us- see that you also excel in this grace of giving” 2 Corinth 8:7(NIV)

The three areas of giving are:

1) The Poor or needy. Proverbs 19:17
“He that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.”

2) Parents: Deut. 5:16
“Honor the father and thy mother as the Lord the God hath commanded thee; that thy days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with thee in the land which the lord thy God giveth thee”

3) Prophets: 1Kings 17: 10-16

The widow of Zarephath gave to the prophet and lack seized in her life.

B. REVELATION: Judges 6:17, Proverbs 13:15, Isaiah 45:3

Carriers of grace are men and women that hear from God.

“And he said unto him, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me” Judge 6:17 What God gives you by revelation is bigger than what anybody can do for you.

In Gen. 18: 1-15 Abraham encounter with God delivered God’s promise to him, if he was not sensitive to the spirit of God he would have missed it.

C. ASKING IN FAITH. Malachi 1:9, 1 Sam 1:18

Grace can be humbly sought through the prayer of faith. “And she said, let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.” 1 Sam 1:18
“Then she said, “Let me find favour in thy sight, my Lord for that thou hast comforted me and for that thou hast spoken friendly unto thine handmaid, though l be not like unto one of thine handmaidens”. Ruth 2:13

D. CONFESSIONS: Proverb 23:7, Proverb 4:23, Eph.4:29

You can’t experience manifold grace if your confessions is negative (contrary to the word of God). You will never possess what you are unwilling to confess. It is important we begin to imagine and confess what we want in life. Zig Ziglar said “The most powerful nation in the world insn’t America after all, but imagination”. That it is your imagination determines your rating in the world.

For instance, an entrepreneur will never see a big business until he has a picture of one”.

E. EXCELLENCE: Proverb 22:29, Daniel 5:10-12, 1Sam.18:5

One of the secrets to tap into the Grace of God is to begin to do things excellently i.e break the yoke of mediocrity.

“Seeth thou a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men”. Prov. 22:29

People with excellent spirit always aim for the best which often releases the grace of God.

CONCLUSION:

In this year of manifold grace, the challenge for all of us is to strive for the best. If we focus our mind on the above five secrets, we will be amazed what God will do in our life this year.

Brethren, Grace can be contacted, if only we will make up our mind and believe God for it.

Dr. Udoh
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