Theme: THE UNSEARCHABLE RICHES OF HIS GRACE
DAY 19, Read 2 Corinthians 9:6-15
GRACE FOR DOING THE WORK OF MINISTRY
Key text: “And God is able to make all grace abound towards you, that you, always having sufficiency in all things, my have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).
Paul owed every work he did to grace. As you study the life of Paul, you see grace at work at each stage. That is why some have called him the apostle of grace. Unlike some preachers, Paul’s emphasis on grace is not for excuses or a cover for personal lapses, but a way of explaining the secret of his success and effectiveness.
Grace enabled Paul to do the extra-ordinary; something that he could not have done by his own effort. It is the ability to endure the sufferings, which are ministry-related. Grace enabled him to accomplish extra-ordinary results, goals and targets. Paul said that it was grace that enabled him to be an apostle to the Gentiles (Ephesians 3:8).
I see the grace of God operating at seven levels in Paul’s life. It is one grace but manifesting or functional in various ways and situations in the life of this man. The same grace is available to us. There is the grace that brought us salvation (Ephesians. 2:4-9; Titus 2:11,12).
2) There is the grace to start the ministry (1 Timothy 1:12-17). This is the grace to start and move to the next level of ministry. It is the grace that makes you obey the call to the ministry. It is the grace for obedience and submission. It is the grace that equips you for the ministry.
3) There is grace to continue in ministry (2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 1 Corinthians 15: 9,10). It is the grace that enables you to go through hardship, difficulties, trials and challenges. This is the grace that helps you to remain focused, relentless and persistent in the face of all odds, difficulties and challenges. This grace keeps you from temptations, trials, and make sacrifices like Jesus did (2 Corinthians 8:9).
4) There is grace to finish the ministry (Acts 20: 17-24; 1 Timothy 4:5-8).
This is grace that enables you remain humble in the face of success.
It is the grace that keeps you in the path of integrity. Paul had the grace to minister to the Gentiles; and grace to lay foundations (Ephesians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 3:9,10).
5) The Bible also teaches about the grace for accomplishing special tasks (Zechariah 4:7).
6) There is also the grace for service (Hebrews.12:28).
7) And then, there is the grace to live sacrificially (Hebrews. 2:9).
We need all of these seven levels of grace. The most difficult aspect of the ministry is to start and finish the race. Many start but don’t finish the race. Many start well but find it difficult to cope with success. They end up poorly. Many buckle under the weight of success due to various distractions.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for the power of grace that can transform a life like Paul.
