May Jehovah Be Most Gracious To You, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye
Grace is a Divine favour bestowed freely on people as well as the associated gifts that comes with that favour.
Three of the most powerful virtues among humans on Earth are Love, Mercy and Grace. Also three of the greatest blessings that God can show to Mankind are Love, Mercy and Grace. Out of these three, Grace is the most powerful and most special.
God is love. Though we understood that agape love is unconditional and sacrificial.
I have come to know that just like we can earn the love of another fellow, God’s love can be also earned.
Do unto others as you want others to do to you (Mt. 7:12; Luke 6:31).
If you love me, you will keep my commandments (John 14:15,23).
Those who obey me, I will love them back.
Exodus 20:5-6 –Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the Lord thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; And shewing steadfast love unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments.
God is merciful. He can decide to show mercy on who He wants.
Again, I have come to know that one can earn or obtain mercy, either from God or from Man.
Offend Man: Offender pleaded guilty in court: could be given half term. Show remorseful life in jail: could be pardon or paroled.
Offend God: Ahab – punishment delayed (1 Kings 21:20-29).
David – sin taken away (2 Sam. 12: 1-14).
God is gracious. He does demonstrate His grace on whom He will.
Unlike Love and Mercy, Grace is given as a gift. It can’t be earned in anyway.
Just as man is saved from sin. There was nothing we could have done or can do to save ourselves.
This act of God was prompted by love; as a show of mercy; and given as a gift of grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9 – For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
It was the grace of God that spared Moses from going to hell (Jude 1:9).
It was the grace of God that spared Jonah’s life (Jonah 1:17).
It was the grace of God that made Jacob the carrier of Abrahamic covenant (Rom. 9:10-12).
God can be gracious to someone, more gracious to another, most gracious to another fellow. May God be most gracious to you.
I began to understand the meaning of the grace of God about eighteen years ago, as we were preparing for our wedding. Myself and my wife were trying to design our invitation cards. So I asked her to come up with ideas regarding our toast that needs to go on the card. A number of things came to our minds. But after I’ve prayed and spontaneously opened the bible, the first portion I read was Psalms 67:1. As I wanted to close the bible and to try opening it again, the Spirit of God impressed it upon my spirit to read that chapter again. Then, it suddenly dawned on me that this was to be our anchor-word through our lifetime.
Psalm 67:1 –God be gracious unto us, and bless us; and make His face to shine upon us; Selah.
It was years later, that I got to know that it was the secret of what makes the Israelites who they are.
Numbers 6:22-26 – And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, Speak unto Aaron and unto his sons, saying, On this wise ye shall bless the children of Israel, saying unto them, The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.
There are many ways that God can manifest His grace upon our lives. I strongly believe that there is God’s grace for every aspect of life.
– There is a universal grace of God over all His creation (Mt. 5:45).
– There is then the saving grace for those that acknowledge their sins and repent (Eph. 2:8).
– There is a grace to carry on in life, regardless of whatever (2 Cor. 12:9).
– There is a grace to live a spectacular life (Acts 6:8).
– There is a grace to accomplish more than others (I Cor. 15:10).
– There is a grace for financial breakthrough (2 Cor. 8:7).
– There is a grace for timely help and assistance. (Hebrews 4:16).
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
E.g. The widow of Nain; Bartimeaus on Jericho road.
Going through the bible, one will see that some of the godly characters did enjoy varied dimensions of the grace of God.
– Abraham/Isaac/Jacob
Wealthy, long life, etc. But they had to trust God for fruitfulness till the grace was released.
– David was a celebrated king, greatly anointed and wealthy. But had to trust God for deliverance from constant oppositions. The same goes for Moses as well.
– Aaron/Eli/Samuel were greatly anointed and revered by the Nation of Israel. But they all had problems with their descendants. (Abihu/Nadab; Ophini/Phinehas; Joel/Abijah).
– David/Solomon/Rehoboam enjoyed a life of majesty and splendour. But do not particularly live long. (70/60/58 years).
2 Corinthians 9:8 – And 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:
May God make all His grace to abound to you in Jesus name.
Apart from the fact that there are different dimensions of God’s grace, it is also true that any of these grace can manifest at different levels as well.
Shockingly, the grace of God in a particular area can either increase or decrease.
– The grace of supernatural power of God on Samson (Left with hairlocks removed, began to increase when hairs began to grow).
– The grace of kingship on David increased (600 men; Judah tribe; whole of Israel).
So therefore, God can add to or multiply His grace upon a life.
– The Apostles (Acts 4:33-34). Great power and great grace was given.
– The saints everywhere (2 Peter 1:2). Grace and peace to be multiplied.
– The elects abroad (1 Peter 1:2). Grace unto you and peace be multiplied.
– The sanctified of God (Jude 1:1-2). Grace, peace and love to be multiplied.
The very reason why Peter therefore admonished us to grow in grace.
2 Peter 3:18 – But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
How to increase in grace
2 Peter 1:2 – Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord.
- Through Knowledge of God; and
- Knowledge of the Lord Jesus.
Exodus 6:2-3 – And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the Lord: And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name Jehovah was I not known to them.
What do you know about God regarding definite aspects of your life? He can only do as much as you know.
E.g. At Nazareth (Mark 6:1-5). Jesus could not do miracles because they knew Him as a Capenter and not a Prophet, talk less of a Saviour.
Prayers
Almighty Father, be most gracious to me.
Almighty Father, remove every negative ‘but’ from my life.
Almighty Father, please sort my life out once and for all time sake.
May Jehovah Be Most Gracious To You, by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on May 10, 2015. You can obtain the CD/audio download of this sermon from the Multimedia Department.