What is grace?

Grace is the ability of God released right now on your inability.

His grace.

His grace.

His grace.

The revelation of what the power of God’s grace can accomplish in believers is at the core of my ministry. I may be wrong, but I think the gift of His grace is the most misunderstood gift of God in the body of Christ. True understanding of the grace of God is irresistible to the unbeliever. It is the only source of salvation to the believer. And it most definitely is the only way to walk the powerful ministry Jesus has called you to fulfill. 

The Spirit spoke to me and is releasing this over you: “Don’t just lean on the gift of grace, be consumed by it.” Be enveloped and overwhelmed by His grace.

“Don’t just lean on the gift of grace, be consumed by it.”

If I were to say to you, “That person is gracious”, what would you think? Most people would say they are kind and lovely. Everyone would agree that a person who handles a situation with grace means they are courteous and pleasant. When a child falls or fails the parent picks them up with grace and compassion. Most agree that grace is always the opposite of anger and impatience. All of these are true. But these definitions are referring to character. In God’s terms, grace not only refers to His character but to His ability.

 In God’s terms, grace not only refers to His character but to His ability.

 His grace comes from His character like a flood of power chasing down our weaknesses and replacing them with His strength. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV “[God] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

And in The Passion Translation…

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 TPT “But he answered me, ‘My grace is always more than enough for you, and my power finds its full expression through your weakness.’ So I will celebrate my weaknesses, for when I’m weak I sense more deeply the mighty power of Christ living in me. So I’m not defeated by my weakness, but delighted! For when I feel my weakness and endure mistreatment—when I’m surrounded with troubles on every side and face persecution because of my love for Christ—I am made yet stronger. For my weakness becomes a portal to God’s power.”

His grace is His ability found in our inability.

This is an important revelation: His grace is His ability found in our inability. His grace comes from His character like a flood of power chasing down our weaknesses and replacing them with His strength. "My weakness becomes a portal to His power.”

Our weaknesses, surrendered to Him (like a tight fist releasing open) create a vacuum drawing the ability of God into our inability. His grace is everything needed in this life. The more we release our inadequate abilities, the more His grace can operate.

We know that God is perfect love. What is also true is wherever God is, there is grace. If you are joined to Jesus Christ, God’s greatest gift to the world, His grace is now available to you. His grace is the unmerited favor of God. This gift of grace is not to be leaned into but received as your source of life.

A perfect example of humanity receiving this grace is in Genesis 2:7.

Genesis 2:7 NIV  And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being.

This human laying on the dust was lifeless and without the ability to live on their own. Perfectly weak. God breathed His ability into the inability and there was strength. His grace still works this way in your life today.

Ephesians 2:8-9 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—  not by works, so that no one can boast.

Let’s resist the temptation to get “churchy” with this and see what God is teaching us about grace here. Your good works, your good intentions, your perfect ministry moments, your sacrificial service acts for the Lord… if they are sourced in your own ability, they are dead. Grace gives life to your dedication.

Paul was a self-proclaimed “Jew among Jews”, he was personally visited by Jesus Christ, he was powerfully anointed, and, unbeknownst to him, became the Spirit inspired author of most of the new testament. He had a ministry that was filled with signs and wonders. He had brand new revelations from the Holy Spirit regarding being joined to the Anointed One, Jesus, and how to live a life filled with the Holy Spirit.

In 2 Corinthians chapter 12 he is sharing a life changing moment when he understood more deeply the gift of God’s grace. He tells us he has been harassed by “a messenger of Satan” and goes to the Lord asking to be relieved of this agitation. I personally believe it had to do with the other apostles who had actually walked with Jesus (he called them “super-apostles” in 2 Corinthians 12:11 TPT) and their followers not respecting his ministry. It was a thorn in the pride of his flesh. The enemy was working with that pride and Paul was asking the Lord to come to his rescue and defend his reputation. 

God's response: “My grace is enough.”

Here we see the power of God’s grace is released through humility.

Key: The power of God’s grace is released through humility.

Paul laid down his pride in this moment and grace was allowed to take over. After experiencing this, Paul said, “I love your grace power, Lord! Here are more weaknesses! Take them all!”

Later in his ministry, when he was in a storm and on that sinking ship in Acts 27 and 28, he was not afraid. It wasn’t his abilities that placed him there. It was God’s grace. He knew God’s ability was at work and Paul’s ability had been taken over. 

Each one of us has experienced this grace power. It is most powerfully at work when you have no strength left. I had a deep understanding of His grace at work when two of my closest family members died in an eleven month period. I sensed the ability of God come under me to stabilize an earth shaking season. If you think back, it was in those times when your ability was inadequate to change your situation that God’s grace was given free reign to surround you.

While really meditating on this and challenging my thoughts regarding God’s grace power, I woke up one morning with a vision of a flame. The flame had been lit and it burned brightly. Strong winds blew against the flame and threatened to extinguish it. The flame concentrated its efforts and burned against the wind with all of its ability to the point of exhaustion. Then a hurricane lamp was placed over the flame. The winds had no effect on the burning flame even though they came all around it. It was able to burn brightly.

When we are aware of God’s grace over us, it becomes our hurricane lamp. When we believe, grace becomes our atmosphere to burn for Him and we can rest. When we live in a state of awareness that God’s grace is able to protect, strengthen, and be the breath of life in us then we get out of the way and His grace power can function. 

When we yield to grace, the Holy Spirit in us can move! He can move us into His perfect plan. He can work miracles through us. He can be big in our lives! When we stop looking at our own abilities as the only source of change in our lives, then God can actually change the situation.

His grace.

His grace.

His grace.

Let me share with you a beautiful analogy of the many different qualities of God’s grace made available to us.

Picture yourself walking along a difficult path and in need of shelter. Up ahead is the glow of a perfect home. The porch is welcoming and draws you in. The porch is the inviting grace of God. Our Creator has made available an irresistible grace. It is what every unbeliever yearns for. It is filled with mercy and loving-kindness. It is the overwhelming embrace from a loving Father to the prodigal child who has finally come home.

After coming into the porch and finding rest there, the door of the home is before you. It beckons you to enter. This is the grace gift of Jesus Christ. It is cleansing grace. As you pass through, it sanctifies, redeems, delivers, and heals. It is the grace of salvation. After coming through the threshold, you walk into eternal life. 

Some tragically stay on the porch and never make this choice. To walk through the door that is the cross of Jesus Christ is life-altering. You are forever changed and Jesus says you are born again. John 1:17 says that Moses gave us the law which needed to be obeyed to cross over, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. We can cross over into grace and truth and there are no laws to pass through!

Now you are in the home.

It is the wide-open space of the Good Shepherd and it is the place governed by His grace. It is the Kingdom of God here on earth.

It is where we live and move and have our being in Christ (Acts 17:28). We now make our home with Him, not just to enjoy the furniture, but experience the good works He has planned for us to do empowered by His grace.

We can yield more fully to Him here, in an atmosphere of His ability. This is where we live. Living only by the breath of His grace.

“And from the overflow of his fullness we received grace heaped upon more grace!” John 1:16 TPT

Jesus reminds us today, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

He shows us a large animal shouldering a powerful yoke. He is strong and capable, while pulling a plow. He is then joined by a smaller, weaker animal, overwhelmed by the task. They share the same yoke. 

The yoke attached to Him is the yoke of grace. His ability takes over our inability.

The larger animal does the lion-share of the work and teaches the other about keeping a steady, peaceful pace.

When we learn more and more about our Savior we learn to operate under the power of grace. We can live enveloped and overwhelmed by His grace.

That problem, that need, is being overtaken by His grace right now.

He tells us to begin with humility.

Remember: Grace is given free reign through humility.

When you learn to go forward in your call, this humility will bring rest to your soul.

Remember, His yoke is easy. And His burden is light.

Let grace do the work.

As a final note, know that when you understand His grace, you can’t help but share it! Grace always moves.

To obey Jesus’ command to “Learn of Me”, read my book, “The Jesus Handbook” and have a listen to my podcast with links here: Holy Ground Life

Until next time, remember, when you look to Jesus, you are on Holy Ground and His grace gives you power to grow.

Blessings,

Teresa

If you can think of someone who needs to be encouraged with this message please share it with them. :)