Grace for Transformation: Fruitfulness IV

Grace for Transformation: Fruitfulness IV

John 1:16-17

This message is a continuation of a series on the requirements for fruitfulness.

Spiritual fruitfulness in the lives of people comes when the grace of God is at work. God does not only give believers grace but transforms them by His grace. This transformational grace makes us an extension of grace such that when we get in touch with people they encounter God’s grace. The grace makes us to be vessels God uses to extend His grace as needed. It gives us a new nature that is not only fruit bearing but also produces a God kind of fruit. I remember from my experience of herding cattle how we would walk in forests. Some trees you could not tell if they ever produced flowers and fruit. Others, we were warned not to touch their fruit because it was poisonous. But how refreshing when you were hungry, to find a tree that bore edible fruit.

The word of God says we have received the fullness of Christ which brings to our lives grace upon grace (John 1:16-17). Grace is therefore Jesus Christ and the gospel is not just about grace but is grace. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him (2 Corinthians 5:21; Acts 20:24; 20:32). You can choose to be grace conscious or labor conscious; righteousness conscious or sin conscious; mercy conscious or judgment conscious. Your choice rules you. Grace silences every accusation brought before God because grace does not depend on man’s performance but God’s perfection. God acquitted you of all wrongdoing with heavy costs to the accuser.

Grace is God loving you first. Grace is God’s unmerited favor. It is acknowledging that God owes nothing and that human effort is never good enough to earn God’s acceptance. In addition, there is no shortcoming bad enough to push a person beyond the reach of God’s love. Grace therefore entirely depends on God’s choice to love humanity and extend His grace to them. Such love is illogical (Psalm 144:3; Hebrews 2:6). It is illustrated in the parable of the wasteful son (Luke 15:20). Grace means Gods arms are wide open to humanity. Grace is God’s action among humanity for humanity.

God customizes His grace to the needs of individuals and groups. Grace is an undeserved gift. Grace says despite your poor start, your inconsistencies and weaknesses I love you but love you too much to leave you as you are. Grace manifests in various forms in the believers’ life (1 Peter 4:10; 5:10)   In other words grace is manifold. Grace was promised salvation in the past, brings salvation in the present and to be revealed in the future at the consummation of salvation (1 Peter 1:13). Grace is all that you need. Grace takes the form of solutions as suggested in Jehovah names like Jireh, Rapha, etc. They translate to salvation, healing, strength, increase, transformation, etc. Grace as divine selection and enablement takes the form of various divine abilities or spiritual gifts for special assignments or tasks (1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 1 Peter 4:10; 1 Corinthians 12; Ephesians 4:11; Romans 12).  Grace also seasons our speech and singing (Ephesians 4:29, Colossians 4:6; 3:16).

God has given grace in abounding measure (Romans 5:17; 1 Timothy 1:14; Ephesians 1:7; Psalm 84:11-12; 2 Corinthians 9:8). Grace therefore means lavish or bountiful blessing. Grace abounds beyond unrighteousness (Romans 5:20). Abounds over problems (2 Corinthians 12:9) and, abounds to all (Romans 5:15). To abound means to break boundaries, to raise a higher standard and like waves to relentlessly pound with a life giving ‘Tsunami’. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work (2 Corinthians 9:8; Romans 8:28). Grace therefore means more than enough. God’s grace is in the realm of adequacy. The realm knows no lack. We are taught all our lives the economics of inequality and scarcity so much that we are disoriented in sufficiency for all. We need to learn the economics and mindset of abundance. In grace, you have no rival because there is enough for all. No one can take what belongs to you. In a world of scarcity if you dish out billions to every person you only, increase the rate of inflation.  With grace, it is possible. In grace, more than one person or team can take the gold medal. There is no need for ‘PHD’ syndrome – Pull Him or Her Down. It is the realm where you can get immeasurably valuable treasure free of charge.

God’s grace is an assurance that it will be well. It will not fail because it represents God who does not lie, is all-powerful, loving and unchanging.  God’s grace is the surety we have to approach God for all things now and forevermore. Grace is accessing what God has already settled in our favor through Christ.  Grace affinity is a focus on thanking God for what you already have (Ephesians 1 and 2) in Christ and in hand.  He receives you based on His provisions not your performance.  God’s current promises are based on God’s historic provisions. Our salvation carries the codes for our profound victories. The cross of Christ paid in full for your access to grace. The new covenant assures God will keep his promises (Hebrews 8:6).  The purpose of grace is to bring earth into agreement with heaven. To bring the current reality into agreement with the historic provisions of God. To bring the practical truth in line with the spiritual positional truth. It was done in heaven by God and by grace we effect it on earth. We are the blessed people defending our blessing, and not the cursed aspiring for blessing.

God’s grace is amazing in depth, power and effect. No price was too high to pay for God. One is stunned and asks ‘Grace what you did – killing God’s Son on the cross?’ Understanding his love is the key to loving him (Romans 5:8). The measure of his ability and love is the basis to trusting Him. 

The grace of God is most amazing at transforming people. An example is in 1 Samuel 9 and 10 where grace changed Saul to another man. When God was raising a king at the request of His people, a series of events take place. It all began when Kish’s donkeys got lost. Saul was therefore sent in the company of Kish’s servant to look for the lost donkeys. After passing through four territories looking for the donkeys, he did not find them (1 Samuel 9:4).  When they came to a place called Zuph, Saul thought enough had been done and he would give up the search.  He suggested they return to his father Kish. The servant persuaded him to give the man of God in the area a chance to show them the way.  Behind everything happening in your life God's hand is guiding you towards trusting Him. God by his grace uses circumstances and our heart’s desires to get us to a place of transformation. For Saul a real transformational journey began at Zuph when he gives up the search and accepts the servant’s idea of seeking a divine solution.  In the end, Samuel anoints him king over Israel. God’s grace cannot be effective in our lives unless we have a Zuph experience.

Zuph is the place of humility to accept that it will not work out without God. A place where the things you are seeking by human effort are elusive and you realize you cannot continue without God.  A place of acknowledging that you need God in what you are doing in life. Zuph is the place where the search for donkeys directs you to God. A place where you either go back empty or go up the hill to meet God and be crowned king.  It is the place where God’s grace frees you to seek Him. It is a place of letting go of something eclipsing or obscuring your view of God.

The choice Saul made at Zuph led him to the throne over Israel. Like Saul, you can catch the plot of your life. God brought Saul to Zuph for a reason. Saul thought he was looking for donkeys, but was actually there because God was looking for him. Direct the search for the donkeys to God and you will discover the issue is not the donkeys for they have been found.  You will discover that you are the donkey Father God is looking for. When you let go of something for God to takeover you will receive something to empower you to take over. Do not be like the man who fell into the ditch carrying his suitcase. When they tried to rescue him, he almost perished in the ditch because he could not let go his suitcase in order to hold the rescue rope thrown at him. In a similar way, do not be like the monkey that was killed because it refused to let go of the banana in a narrow opening calabash to escape. 

The meeting with Samuel and the subsequent anointing were private and unnoticed but later became public. He had to be separated from the servant. Some things from God require that you be alone. He was also told to be still to hear Gods word (1 Samuel 9:27). Grace comes through Gods word.  He had to climb to higher ground. For some things, God is calling you up to higher place in Him. He was then anointed to be king and prophet with oil – symbolic of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit releases the grace of God’s word in you by faith. 

When he turned to follow the instructions he got from Samuel Saul’s heart was changed (1 Samuel 10:9).  Four crucial things happen in his journey from Samuel. Firstly, he met people who assured him the donkeys he set out to search for had been found (1 Samuel 10:2). This was important for him to have peace from life worries. God takes care of your business and equips you for His business. Secondly, he met people who gave him two loaves of bread (1 Samuel 10:3). This gift encouraged him to know God cares for his physical welfare. Thirdly, he passed by the garrisons of the Philistines. Earlier God had said he was raising Saul to deal with the Philistine threat. The kingly grace was stirred in him when he was exposed to the challenge and threats he faced that required grace to overcome (1 Samuel 10:5a). Fourthly, he met prophets who inspired him to prophesy also. People of like faith who flow in the same grace (1 Samuel 10:5-6) stir Grace. Saul was turned into another man at this point. Those who saw him watched in amazement and disbelief that it was him (1 Samuel 10:11).  He was a very different person. Remember up until this moment Saul is an unknown, unnoticed wanderer. Something significant had happened unnoticed to an insignificant person in their eyes. God will do the same for us if we give Him the chance and if we continue to follow him faithfully. The transformational grace of God makes us new people to whom all things are possible by faith. You have been turned into another man

Message by Dr. Kurai Chitima.

Faith Ministries – Johannesburg Faith Life Center.

Ground and First Floors Sunset Bay Building,

204B Bram Fischer drive,

Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa