Given Ministry by the Grace of God Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power. To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ. (Ephesians 3:7-8)

As we have seen, “give” is the language of grace. “I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus” (1 Corinthians 1:4). Our heavenly Father wants to give us all the blessings of His kingdom as a gift of His grace. “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). No wonder then that we are given ministry by the grace of God.

The Apostle Paul had a special stewardship entrusted to Him by God’s grace. “If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you” (Ephesians 3:2). This special calling given to him by God concerned the miracle of Jew and Gentile being made one in Christ (as the body of Christ): “that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ through the gospel” (Ephesians 3:6). This wondrous “mystery of Christ” (Ephesians 3:4) was a distinctive emphasis of his ministry: “Of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.” Paul repeatedly stated that this ministry calling was given to him by grace. “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

On other occasions, Paul spoke of his ministry without referring to this special emphasis of Jews and Gentiles becoming one in Christ. Still, he described his ministry in the same terms of grace given to him. “According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation” (1 Corinthians 3:10). Here, Paul views his service as a spiritual builder laying a spiritual foundation for the construction of godly lives. God’s grace equipped him and sustained him in such service.

We are all called to serve our Master. In our hearts there is a desire to be used of our King. How comforting to know that our ministry will develop by God’s grace given to us. Again, humble dependence is the path to such grace for ministry. “To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given.”

Lord Jesus, I long to serve You in ministry. I rejoice that ministry depends upon Your grace, not my abilities. Lord, I humbly bow before You, seeking You for the necessary grace to serve You in any way that You desire, in Your gracious name, Amen.

Daily Grace, day by day:

(Acts 20:32 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17) “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God  may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

God’s word (which is “the word of His grace”) is characterized by heavenly ability: “which is able…and is profitable for.” By God’s grace at work, the Scriptures take us into the wholeness that is ours in Christ, as well as fully equip us for service unto Christ.

All of the word of God’s grace is divinely inspired. “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God.” Although written through human instruments, the Bible message is what God wanted to say. Therefore, the word is able to bring great spiritual profit into our lives: “and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” God’s word “is profitable for doctrine.” The teaching ministry of the word reveals to us the path of godliness. “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105). Also, God’s word “is profitable for… reproof.” The admonishing ministry of the word tells us when we are drifting from God’s path. “Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition” (1 Corinthians 10:11). Further, God’s word “is profitable for… correction.” The restoring ministry of the word calls us back to the straight and narrow path of godliness. “Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon” (Isaiah 55:7). Finally, God’s word “is profitable for… instruction in righteousness.” The transforming ministry of the word moves us on down the path of Christlikeness. “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror [the mirror of the word] the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

As we allow God’s word to carry on this profitable, four-fold process, His grace is bringing us into a greater experience of the wholeness that is available to us in Christ: “that the man of God may be complete.” Additionally, this process is fully preparing us to serve the Lord in any manner that He desires: “thoroughly equipped for every good work.”

Dear Lord, I need the word of Your grace at work in my life daily. Please impact my life by the supernatural ability of Your word. Teach me, reprove me, correct me, and instruct me in righteousness that I might walk in Your wholeness and serve for Your glory, Amen.

Daily Promises:(KJV) Luke 11:13> If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall [your] heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him? (Luke 11:13)(NIV) “If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Fater in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him!”ReflectionEven though good fathers make mistakes, they treat their children well. How much better our perfect heavenly Father treats his children! The most important gift he could ever give us is the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4), whom he promised to give all believers after his death, resurrection, and return to heaven (John 15:26).When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. l of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. “When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father—the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father—he will testify about me.How can we doubt the abundance of gifts from our heavenly Father? We who are steeped in the ways of wickedness still are able to recognize good gifts. How then can we imagine that God, who is good beyond measure, would give us less than every spiritual blessing? In truth, the trove of His riches is immense and He gives freely to everyone that He calls His child. So rejoice!

Daily Promises Dec.3,2021

Then Moses said unto Aaron, This [is it] that the LORD spake, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh me, and before all the people I will be glorified. And Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:3) NIV – Moses then said to Aaron, “This is what the LORD spoke of when he said: “Among those who approach me I will be proved holy;

References: Ex. 19:22> Even the priests, who approach the LORD, must consecrate themselves, or the LORD will break out against them.”
Ex.30:29> You shall consecrate them so they will be most holy, and whatever touches them will be holy.
Lev.21:6> They must be holy to their God and must not profane the name of their God. Because they present the food offerings to the LORD, the food of their God, they are to be holy.
Eze.28:22> and say: ‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: “ ‘I am against you, Sidon, and among you I will display my glory. You will know that I am the LORD, when I inflict punishment on you and within you am proved to be holy.

Reflection

Our Lord is of infinite holiness. He stands in light unapproachable. He will be glorified in all who stand before Him, whether by their edification or by their destruction. Praise the mercy of our great God and Father that while we were yet sinners and bound for destruction, Christ died for the redemption of we who are His sheep! Glory and honor be His! Praise Him with your whole hearts, O people of God, forever shall you glorify Him in your heavenly abode! It is easy for us to grow careless about obeying God, to live our way instead of God’s. But if one way were just as good as another, God would not have commanded us to live his way. He always has good reasons for his commands, and we always place ourselves in danger when we consciously or carelessly disobey them.

 Day by Day by Grace (December 1st)

Continuing in the Grace of God

Acts 11:23

When he came and had seen the grace of God, he was glad, and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord…Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 

Whenever the grace of God is allowed to work in human hearts, there will be evidences that appear. This can bring joy to those who are outwardly observing this inward work of grace. Still, it is appropriate to exhort those who have made progress in grace to continue in the grace of God.

When Barnabas arrived in Antioch to evaluate the reported spiritual revival, he was able to observe the outward confirmations of God’s inward work of grace. These verifications of grace caused him to rejoice. “He was glad.” However, he knew that words of exhortation were appropriate. Thus, he began to urge them to press on with Christ. He “encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.” It is important for those who have started out with the Lord (through faith in His name) to go on with the Lord. Life in Christ is basically about the most vital relationship of all. “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent” (John 17:3). The Christian life is not only about meeting the Lord and receiving eternal life. This life-giving relationship with the Lord is to be nurtured and developed day by day unto abundant life.

Some time after Barnabas shared this exhortation with the saints in Antioch (north of Israel), he and Paul were visiting the believers in another Antioch (in Pisidia, in the region of modern day Turkey). Here, they gave a similar exhortation. However, on this occasion, their urging was related to God’s grace: “[they] persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.” Yes, grace is not only the way we begin with the Lord, but it is also the means by which we go on with Him. God’s grace is to be sought every day. It is a major error of the faith to relegate grace to days gone by. We can praise and thank the Lord for all of His grace experienced in previous years. Nevertheless, the grace of God is essential today-and in each new day. Also, it is so fitting that the saints in one town were exhorted concerning continuing in the Lord, whereas others later were urged regarding continuing in grace. Grace cannot be separated from the Lord Jesus. “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ“ (2 Corinthians 8:9).

Lord, I want to continue with You and Your grace. I do not want my experience of You and Your grace to consist only of days gone by. I long to know You better and to experience Your grace more—each day!

Daily Promises (December 1st) (Proverbs 3:24)

When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

References: >

Lev.26:6>“ ‘I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid. I will remove wild beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.

Ps.3:5> I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

Job 11:18>You will be secure, because there is hope; you will look about you and take your rest in safety.

Reflection
When Christ is our life, we have nothing to fear. Our rest can be sweet because we have a God who neither slumbers nor sleeps. And He is always watching over those whom He loves. May you be at peace while trusting in the arms of your Saviour.

Lives Drawn by the Exceeding Grace of GodThey glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men, and by their prayer for you, who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you. (2 Corinthians 9:13-14)

The church at Corinth became a vivid illustration of what the grace of God can do in lives. God’s grace was so mightily at work among them that believers in other parts of the church world were drawn by the exceeding grace of God: “who long for you because of the exceeding grace of God in you.”

Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians confronted their various problems. His second letter showed how they were responding to the convicting and transforming work of the Spirit of God. As the church at Corinth was growing in godliness, they were becoming a generous body of believers. They were learning to share with liberality that which the Lord had given to them. Such generosity was being exemplified to them by other churches in the region of Macedonia. “Moreover, brethren, we make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia: that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded in the riches of their liberality” (2 Corinthians 8:1-2). While the churches in Macedonia were burdened for the needy churches in Judea, they themselves were very needy (“in a great trial of affliction…their deep poverty”). The explanation for this burden of compassion in Macedonia was the grace of God at work. “We make known to you the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.” God’s grace was stirring in them a concern for others and a willingness to share their limited material resources.

A similar work of God was occurring in Corinth, and it was impacting the saints in regions beyond. As other Christians looked at God’s grace operating in Corinth, they gave glory to God for their generosity. “They glorify God for the obedience of your confession to the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal sharing with them and all men.” As they prayed for the saints at Corinth, their hearts were drawn after them in great yearning: “by their prayer for you, who long for you.” When the grace of God is allowed to work deeply within followers of Jesus Christ, others develop a yearning to pray for them, to be with them, to communicate with them. They want to be impacted by the exceeding grace of God that has changed and enriched their lives.

Dear Lord of exceeding grace, I thank You for generously sharing the riches of Your grace with me. By Your grace, give me a generous heart towards others. Also, please flood my life with such fullness of grace that others will be drawn to learn more of Your exceeding grace, Amen.

Today’s Promise – Proverbs 3:25-26

(KJV) Be not afraid of sudden fear, Neither of the desolation of the wicked when it cometh. For the LORD shall be thy confidence, an shall keep thy foot from being taken. (NIV) Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared.

references:

1Sam.2:9> He will guard the feet of his faithful servants, but the wicked will be silenced in the place of darkness. “It is not by strength that one prevails;

Reflection: Hannah praised God for his answer to her prayer for a son. Her confidence in God’s sovereignty and her thankfulness for everything he had done are the themes of her poetic prayer. Mary, the mother of Jesus, modeled her own praise song, called the Magnificat, after Hannah’s prayer (Luke 1:46-55) . Like Hannah and Mary, we should be confident in God’s ultimate control over the events in our lives, and we should be thankful for the ways God has blessed us. By praising God for all good gifts, we acknowledge his ultimate control over all the affairs of life.

My Prayer: Lord, I thank you for Your love that keeps me securely in Your hands! Help me to depend on You when evil comes to temp me. Thank you that I have nothing to fear, for You are always with me.

Daily Bible Study: John 4:14 (NIV)

……but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst,(e) Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water(f) welling up to eternal life.”(g)

(KJV) But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life. (John 4:14)

References:

e-John 6:35> Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

f-John 7:38> Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them.”

g-Matt. 25:46> “Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Reflections: verse 13-14

Many spiritual functions parallel physical functions. As our bodies hunger and thirst, so do our souls. But our souls need spiritual food and water. The woman confused the two kinds of water, perhaps because no one had ever talked to her about her spiritual hunger and thirst before. We would not think of depriving our bodies of food and water when they hunger or thirst. Why, then, should we deprive our souls? The living Word, Jesus, and the written Word, the Bible, our satisfy hungry and thirsty souls. Never to be thirsty forever! How glorious this revelation! Ever more shall our soul’s desires be quenched. God’s spirit shall fill us to overflowing and our rest will be made full. Praise God for His mercy and lovingkindness!

Wed., Nov.17,2021 -Daily Promises 2Corinthians 3:18> And we al, who with unveiled face contemplate (y) the Lord’s glory (z) are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.

References: Y-1Cor.13:12> For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

z-2Cor.4:4,6> The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[fn] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.

A- Rom.8:29> For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.

Focus Point:

The Holy Spirit’s way of transformation works and lasts longer than even Moses’ glorious experience. With the freedom the Holy Spirit gives, our false beliefs and misconceptions fall away. We can clearly see what God wants and better reflect it to others. The Spirit works progressively in us to point out where we need to change. Step by-step, he gives us insights on how to do it and empowers us with his love. Some happens quickly, but God works in his own timing. The process may be slow in some areas, so never give up if you don’t see the spiritual progress you desire. God will work it out. (Philippians 1:6) From the moment we place our faith in Christ, he began to transform us into His loving and gracious nature! We are transformed from glory to glory into His marvelous image.