The word ‘abounding’ can be defined as when something exists in or is provided in great or plentiful quantity or supply. When something exists in large numbers. It can also be defined as when an entity is rich or well supplied, filled or teeming with something special. Other words for abounding are abundant, full, overflowing, flourishing, lavish, plentiful, bountiful, etc.
Grace can be defined as the approval or kindness, especially (in the Christian religion) that is freely given by God to humans. It can also be defined as unmerited Divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; or a state of sanctification enjoyed through Divine assistance. Other words for grace are favour, benevolence, mercy, privilege, blessing, advantage, benefit, liberty, etc.
There are several kinds of grace available to men from God. These numerous grace can however vary in the life of individuals, including believers, depending upon our personal request and yieldedness to God; and God’s sheer favour. We have:
Prevenient Grace – God’s active presence and influence in people’s lives before they consciously realise it (Rom. 5:8).
Common Grace – God’s blessings to all people, including natural blessings and general kindness(Mt. 5:44-45).
Saving Grace – The grace that empowers individuals to believe in the gospel and accept Jesus (John 6:44).
Adopting Grace – The grace that welcomes believers into God’s family, making them His children and heirs (John 1:11-12).
Justifying Grace – The grace that forgives sins through faith in Christ (Eph. 2:8-9).
Sanctifying Grace – The ongoing grace that enables believers to grow in holiness and become more like Christ (John 17:17).
Sustaining Grace – The ongoing grace in the life of believers that provides strength and support in daily life and challenges (Rom. 9:13-16).
Enablement Grace – The grace that empowers believers to fulfil their calling and ministry (2 Cor. 12:9).
There are other kinds of grace that covers good health, wealth, success, long life, influence and impact, etc (3 John 2; 2 Cor. 9:8).
Abraham is one individual that enjoyed abounding grace from God. A man who was born into idolatry was chosen by God to start a special race for Himself. God made sure that Abraham was able to understand His voice and His intentions. He was given strength and protection to travel for several hundreds or thousands of miles as an old man (possibly from present day Iraq to present day Israel). He would have passed many hostile nations along the way, yet miraculously protected (Psalm 105:8-15).
On few occasions, when Abraham erred, he was graciously pardoned by God (Gen. 12:10-20; 16:1-6; 20:1-18). He became the progenitor of the Israel’s race. He was blessed with wealth, with servants, and with long life (Gen. 24:1).
Abraham is today referred to as biological father by many nations. He is also referred to as a father by believers in the Christendom. Interestingly, even though Abraham is currently in paradise, those in hell, still referred to him as father! (Luke 16:19-31). What else can a man ask for more than such a grace.
In one of the letters of Apostle Paul to the church in Corinth, he commended them of the many grace they have manifested. He however admonished them to seek and grow in a particular grace that was still lacking in their midst – the grace of sacrificial giving (2 Cor. 8:1-15). So, it is possible for a believer to excel in certain grace and yet be deficient in another.
In this fifth month of the year and ongoing, it is the intent of God to assist us to abound in certain grace that had hitherto been deficient in our lives and in our midst. God intends to bless and endow us with spiritual grace. He will bless us with grace to enjoy our physiology. He will bless us with grace for sound health.
The Lord will surprise us with career, business, academic and vocational grace. The grace for undeniable excellence will be vivid upon us. The grace to serve the Lord will be ignited again upon us. The grace for supernatural wealth will be injected into our genome. The grace for fruitfulness, settlement, establishment and expansion will be common among us. The grace for being ‘a city set upon the hill’, ‘the light of the world’ and ‘the salt of the earth’ will be more pronounced upon us. The Lord will bless us with the grace to enact and thrive in meaningful relationships.
God is poised to bless us with an unusual grace that will make the ends of the earth to fear Him (Psalm 67:1-7). May the God of all grace do these and many other miracles in our lives and in our midst this month and beyond in Jesus mighty name. Amen!