A Time of Much More Abounding Grace

Scripture Reference: Romans 5:8, 12-20; 2 Corinthians 9:8; Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 2:11-12

We are living in a time where end-time phenomena and fearful signs are everywhere (Luke 21:10-11). The global economic draught and moral decay we see today are largely responsible for the "falling away" experienced in the church, a crisis engineered by evil forces who know their time is almost up.

However, this message is meant to keep us in spiritual shape. Our salvation is near! We must remember that God's provision is always superior to Satan's purpose. Though the enemy seeks to drain the church, God has the infinite ability to increase the grace capacity of His children.

"But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." – Romans 5:20

Grace is a free gift; it is not of our own works (Ephesians 2:9). When received, it actively teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts (Titus 2:11-12).

Rejecting the False Assertions of the Age

In these last days, there are demonic assertions based on wrongly applied maxims and twisted scriptures. These deceptions lead believers into ungodly compromises. We must reject them entirely:

• "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." Many claim that because we live in a world of sin, we cannot avoid it—like fish cannot deny water. This is a lie. A child of God is called to be an oasis in a desert. Under grace, sin shall not have dominion over you (Romans 6:14).
• "If you can't beat them, join them." The Bible commands us, "Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil" (Exodus 23:2). Though many are plowing and reaping iniquity (Job 4:8), making the entire ecosystem sin-laden, a child of God must be blameless, harmless, and shine as the light of the world (Philippians 2:14-15; Matthew 5:13-16). You must strive to abstain from anything that could scandalize the Church.
• The Doctrine of Free Grace / Eternal Security. Some preach that simply believing in Jesus gives an irrevocable ticket to Heaven, with no need to live a transformed life, quoting John 10:27-28 ("My sheep hear my voice..."). However, this scripture applies to mature sheep who have been trained to hear God and are ready to suffer for Christ. Many who preach eternal security are merely immature lambs using this doctrine to make themselves comfortable in their sins.
• The Doctrine of Hyper-Grace. This dangerous teaching claims that your past, present, and future sins are already forgiven, so there is no need to ever confess sins again. This is a doctrine of the devil meant to sear the conscience.

The Faculties of True Grace

True grace is God's free gift based on what Jesus accomplished at Calvary. It expresses itself powerfully in the life of a believer:

• It Genders and Sustains Salvation: By grace we are saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8; Isaiah 43:25), and it is God who works in us to sustain that walk (Philippians 2:13).
• It Brings Transformation: Just as Paul said, "By the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Corinthians 15:10). The true transformation that comes from the cross is powered by grace (Romans 12:2).
• It Empowers Daily Devotion: As prayed for in the congregation, grace breaks the yokes of distraction. It breaks the "yoke to the handset and the internet." It gives believers the strength to read the Bible with a renewed appetite and wakes them up for early morning fellowship with the Lord.
• It Leads to Healing: By His stripes, we are healed. The Healer of Israel brings health through grace, lifting up lives and binding up the brokenhearted (Psalm 147:3).
• It Enables Spiritual Gifts and Calling. (Romans 12:6)
• It Begets Righteousness and Retains Grace: It establishes our moral standing before God (Romans 3:24) and enables a pilgrim to comply with divine directives, keeping us from falling (Jude 1:24; 2 Corinthians 12:9).

The Frustration of Grace

Sadly, many people frustrate the grace of God in their lives (Galatians 2:21). When you frustrate God's grace, you cannot grow; you remain spiritually stunted. How do people frustrate grace? By consciously participating in acts that drain divine energy.

Beware of the "little foxes" (Song of Solomon 2:15)—the seemingly harmless things that mar your faith:

• Carnality: Being obsessed with outward beauty, what to eat, money, or education to the point that it consumes all your time (Romans 8:5-6; Galatians 5:17).
• Indulgences in Pleasure: Allowing the flesh to dictate your leisure time.
• Contamination with "Grace Sappers": Watching X-rated, demonic, or violently explicit movies. These media choices gradually erode the Holy Spirit's empathy and compassion from your heart.
• Gossip and Tale-bearing: Speaking evil of others destroys the flow of grace (Titus 3:2).
• Undue Self-Confidence: Seeking to be recognized as an "achiever." Let your confidence be in the Lord alone (Philippians 2:3).
• Resisting the Prompting of the Spirit: If the Spirit prompts you to do something as small as stopping eating midway dinner, do not disobey (Genesis 6:3).

Walking in the Full Operational Mode of Grace

The rate of the increase of sin is always inferior to the rate of the increase of Grace. With the escalation of the activities of darkness today, our Faithful Father has made grace much more abounding. Every temptation that comes your way is by the permission of God, and He always makes a way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:10-13; Acts 2:22-23).

However, this abounding grace must be actively accessed. You must exercise faith and lean entirely on God. Do not have confidence in your own fleshly abilities (Galatians 2:20).

This is the day of the abundance of grace! The beneficiary of grace relies completely on the Lord (Ephesians 4:13). We must come to the point where we are no longer seeking accolades from men, but are living only to please God. Hold fast to the old-time doctrine, look for the true transformation that comes from the cross, and let God's super-abundant grace prepare your soul for the coming of the Lord.