Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
Topic: Grace In Stages
MEMORISE: Open Heaven 18 April 2019
But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.” – (2 Peter 3:18).
READ: 2 Corinthians 9:8-14 (KJV)
8. 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;
9. (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor; his righteousness remaineth for ever.
10. Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
11. Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
12. For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages
13. Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men;
14. And by their prayer for you, which long after you for the exceeding grace of God in you.
MESSAGE: Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages
Growth and progressive multiplication has been central to God’s purpose and agenda for mankind from the beginning of creation. Through his declarations in (Genesis 1:22?,28), God coded growth and increase into the fabric of everything he created at the elemental level, such that the propagation and future development of all created things occurs naturally through the process of growth and progressive multiplication.
As a vital ingredient necessary for actualizing God’s purpose and agenda in men’s life. God’s grace also has the capacity to grow and multiply. God’s grace in His unmerited favour made known through Jesus Christ, and it is expressed in the redemption and full forgiveness of sinners through faith in him (Titus 2:11?-12). At its basic stage, God’s grace offers to all human being forgiveness, redemption from sin and adoption into God’s family.
Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages
After enjoying the benefits of this basic stage of grace, God expects every converted person to grow in grace from one level of glory to another. The spiritual development of believers is a growth of grace that can be likened to the growth of infants into adults. Just as every father wants his baby to grow into the full stature of a man or woman, so does our heavenly Father want us to grow into the full stature of Christ (Ephesians 4:13).
In 2 Peter 3:18, the Holy Spirit admonishes us to grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. This establishes the growth of God’s grace in the life of every believer as a rule of Christian living. In Ephesians 4:13, the Holy Spirit further tells us that Christian growth must continue until we become perfect in faith and in the knowledge of God, to the measure of the fullness of Christ. Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages
Contrary to this expectation, many individuals in the Body of Christ are like sickly plants with very feeble growth, because they are not ready to put in the work or make the sacrifices that are needed to help them grow at the pace that God desires (James 1:25). Lack of spiritual growth in the Body of Christ is also caused by the reduced emphasis on the teaching ministry in churches and a clear departure from the principles and practice of sanctification by Church leaders.
Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages written by Pastor E. A. Adeboye
The Christian life is not meant to be stagnant; rather, it must be a progressive experience of encounters with God. Through constant Bible study and emphasis on growth in grace, let us daily aim to be perfect in our Christian character (2 Peter 1:5?-8). Our love for Christ should wax stronger and stronger, even as our will becomes subordinate to the will and purpose of God (Acts 21:14).
PRAYER POINT:
Father, please don’t let me remain stagnant; help me to grow daily in You in Jesus’ Name.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Genesis 17-18, Jeremiah 20:7-18
HYMNAL: Open Heaven 18 April 2019
Hymn 12 – Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
1. Deeper, deeper in the love of Jesus
Daily let me go;
Higher, higher in the school of wisdom,
More of grace to know.
CHORUS:
O deeper yet I pray,
And higher ev’ry day,
And wiser, blessed, Lord,
In Thy precious, holy word.
2. Deeper, deeper! blessed Holy Spirit,
Take me deeper still,
Till my life is wholly lost in Jesus
And His perfect will.
3. Deeper, deeper! tho’ it cost hard trials,
Deeper let me go!
Rooted in the holy love of Jesus,
Let me fruitful grow.
4. Deeper, higher ev’ry day in Jesus,
Till all conflict past,
Finds me conqu’ror, and in His own image
Perfected at last.
Open Heaven 18 April 2019 – Grace In Stages
5. Deeper, deeper in the faith of Jesus,
Holy faith and true;
In His pow’r and soul exulting wisdom
Let me peace pursue.
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