BEING STRONG IN GRACE 2
(week 16/12)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article last week, we saw that it is possible to receive the grace of God in vain or to be weak or lazy in the grace in Christ Jesus. This week, we will see how to be strong in the grace of God.
To be strong in the grace in Christ Jesus, you need to:
1. Increase your humility by practicing submitting to the will of God when you do not feel like it especially with fasting:
Psalms 35:13 KJV: But as for me, when they were sick, my clothing was sackcloth: I humbled my soul with fasting; and my prayer returned into mine own bosom.
This is because God gives grace to the humble and so as you become more humble the measure of the grace of God given to you increases and will always be sufficient to overcome whatever challenges you face:
2Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV: And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. (8) For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me. (9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (10) Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
2. With the grace received through humility as a daily habit ‘put on the whole armour of God’ and pray effectually and fervently in the Spirit with all kinds of prayer including travail:
Ephesians 6:10-11 KJV: Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. (11) Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
Ephesians 6:18 KJV: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
Now, because God is love (1 Jn. 4:8,16) the whole armour of God is the armour of love: the characteristics of the love of God in 1 Cor. 13:4-8. You put on these characteristics or the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22) as a daily habit by using the life of God, confession of the Word concerning these things and praying in tongues and travail.
As you practice this as a daily habit, you will be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus and that grace will be continually multiplied unto you so that ultimately you will receive the Spirit or the life of God without measure and never fall:
2Peter 1:2-11 KJV: Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, (3) According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: (4) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. (5) And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; (6) And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; (7) And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. (8) For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. (10) Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: (11) For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
