“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” – Ephesians 2:8
Everyone has been called by God.
Grace is God’s gift at work in us. Everything that brought about our salvation was an act of grace out of God’s benevolence. John 3:16 tells us that Jesus dying made mercy accessible and favourable to us all. Mercy ensures that we are rescued from God’s judgement to bring us into the salvation we did not deserve. This is our divine inheritance.
Even though we are called into grace by grace, we are also called to receive more grace. We need more or greater grace in order to live God’s best out of our lives.
The Reality of Great Grace
In Acts 4:31-33, we see how the early Church entered into the reality of great grace.
«”And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”»
Verse 32 tells us how they started. They were in one accord and had all things in common.
Verse 33 shows us the result:
«”…and great grace was upon them all.”»
How did they enter into the reality of great grace?
1. When They Had Prayed
Having a prayer life is the pathway to great grace. It is a consistent, committed life of prayer.
Remember, it was grace that brought us in, and by grace we are sustained. However, greater grace is experienced by living a life committed to prayer. If you do not just want to walk in grace but to experience great grace, then you must become a person of prayer.
Beware of people who accuse you of being “too prayerful.” They do not understand the value of communion with God.
When you pray, you exhale yourself—your weakness, helplessness and vulnerabilities—and inhale God’s strength, abilities and capabilities.
Notice that after they prayed, they spoke the Word of God with boldness. They were no longer concerned about the reaction of the Pharisees. There is a grace at work in everyone who truly prays.
In this month of perfection, you need to secure great grace for a life of exploits.
No matter how sympathetic you are, if you meet a dying man who needs two złoty and you only have one złoty, you cannot help him. Likewise, more grace equals more impact. In the Kingdom, you cannot do more than the grace that has been given to you.
In the place of prayer, you communicate your helplessness and your emptiness so that you may receive God’s almightiness. You give God the opportunity to clear the way and make what He has prepared for you accessible.
When you make yourself disciplined in prayer, the first thing you will notice is change. Prayer changes us first before it changes our circumstances.
The place of prayer affords us the experience of oneness with God.
Tarrying in God’s Presence
In Exodus 24:1, only Moses was permitted to go up the mountain. The others remained at a distance. This gives us an understanding of what Jesus secured for us under the New Covenant.
Sadly, many believers still pray from afar. They say, “Father, if You can hear me…”
In the New Covenant, we are in Christ and have access to God.
Worship is not merely a time to demand things from God. It is a time to gaze into His eyes, tell Him how we feel about Him, and offer Him the whole of ourselves.
Our worship must always be true. God is seeking those who worship Him in spirit and in truth—not merely with their lips, but with their hearts and souls. When worship is genuine, God rises from within us to inhabit our worship.
Those who understand this know that worship is a weapon that ushers God into every situation. It is also a place of deeper cleansing and intimacy with Him.
In Exodus 24:17, the Israelites saw the glory of the Lord like a devouring fire, yet Moses remained alive in that very presence. He was able to host an experience that others could only observe from afar.
This teaches us that there are deeper dimensions of God’s grace available only to those who remain in His presence.
Stay Until You Are Quickened
Exodus 34 teaches us something profound.
This is not need-based prayer. This is the prayer of presenting yourself before God simply because you desire Him.
Many believers deny themselves the transformation that happens in the place of prayer because they only come with prayer requests. Sometimes, you simply need to lie quietly before Him, becoming lost in His presence.
This kind of prayer quickens a person, brings change, and enables them for greater grace.
God called Moses up the mountain because He desired his fellowship. The flesh naturally resists this kind of prayer, but those who stay long enough experience transformation.
Aaron’s rod budded because it remained overnight in God’s presence. Likewise, you cannot enter certain economies of God’s grace by momentary entry and exit. You must until you are quickened.
David prayed, “Quicken me,” because deep calls unto deep.
Many people have never truly prayed. They merely ventilate their emotions and quickly leave.
Learn to shut down hurry and distraction in God’s presence.
Pray:
“Father, I receive grace to shut down hurry and hastiness in Your presence.”
If you want to present yourself before God, do not carry distractions with you. This is where God reveals Himself.
Many people lack the discipline to remain in His presence long enough for lasting encounters and revelation. God reveals Himself to those who learn to tarry.
The Result of Waiting
In Exodus 34:29-30, Moses’ face changed because he had talked with God.
How is it that we can spend hours talking with people, yet struggle to spend time talking with God?
The Israelites saw that Moses’ face shone and were afraid to come near him.
Moses functioned in great grace because he hosted God’s presence for forty days and forty nights.
He carried answers because he had access to the oracles of God. It was as though people were consulting God directly.
David also became a man obsessed with God’s presence.
In Psalm 27:4, his greatest desire was simply to behold the beauty of the Lord.
Imagine spending time saying to God, “You are so beautiful beyond description, too marvellous for words.”
As you behold Him, you are changed.
When Peter, James and John stood before the Pharisees, they recognised that they had been with Jesus.
If you are truly in alignment with God, you do not need to boast about it. Your life will testify.
Declare:
“Lord, I cannot stop thinking about You. I cannot have enough of You.”
The outcome is that rebellion and sin gradually lose their hold over your life.
2. Humility Is the Pathway to Greater Grace
James 4:6 says:
«”God resisteth the proud, but giveth more grace unto the humble.”»
More grace is given to a man who prays and to a man who is humble.
Your humility is an application in the spirit for more grace.
Humility is not cowardice or timidity. Humility is strength under control. Knowing you can strike someone but choosing not to do so is humility.
It is a quality Heaven looks for before increasing grace upon a person’s life.
Whenever God resists a proud person, it is not the devil resisting them—it is God Himself.
If God has to remove pride from you, it is called humiliation. It is far better to humble yourself willingly than to be humbled by God.
May God never be the One resisting us.
Romans reminds us that if God is for us, no one can be against us. Conversely, if God is against a person, everything works against them.
Haggai 1 tells us that God caused holes in the pockets of His people because of their disobedience.
Balaam is another example. God resisted him because of greed and covetousness.
Pride sets God against a person.
The devil loves pride because it causes people to see themselves above measure.
Confidence is different from pride.
Confidence is found in God. Pride is confidence in anything outside God.
David was not boasting in himself when he faced Goliath. His confidence was in the Lord who fights for His people.
His brothers thought it was pride, but Saul recognised confidence in God.
The subject of pride requires careful attention so that it does not interfere with our confidence in God.
1 Peter 5:5 reminds us again that God resists the proud but continually gives grace to the humble.
A humble person positions themselves to receive more grace.
A proud person reveals a lack of grace.
May we never glory in possessions, appearance or achievements, but only in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Giver of all things.
Prayer
Father, I receive the spirit of supplication. I receive grace to access more grace, discipline for prayer, and commitment to prayer—not only when I have needs, but because I sincerely desire You.
Grant me grace to turn to You daily and to honestly tell You that I long to behold Your beauty. Teach me to remain in Your presence until I am transformed.
Father, in the name of Jesus, I reject the way of pride and every manifestation of pride. I choose to humble myself before Your Word and Your instructions.
Lord, I reject proud thoughts, proud imaginations, and the pride of possessions. I will not glory in earthly things but in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Giver of all things.
I receive greater grace today as I humble myself before You.
Thank You for always being for me and never against me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.