GRACE TO WIN THE RACE

1. THE RACE:
The Race is that Course of life, cut out for an individual or a body of individuals, to pursue to fulfilment.

The Race can be personal, corporate or general.

General Race is for the body of Christ (and we are all part of it)
Matthew 28:18-20,the great commission.

Corporate Race is for different commission /ministry in the body of Christ, while a

Personal Race is for each individual (everyone has a very unique course of life cut out for him/her to fulfill)

E. g Paul, the Aposle

KJV Acts 9:15-16
But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.

KJV Acts 22:9-10
And they that were with me saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but they heard not the voice of him that spake to me. And I said, What shall I do, Lord? And the Lord said unto me, Arise, and go into Damascus; and there it shall be told thee of all things which are appointed for thee to do.

KJV 2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.


2. GRACE:
KJV Joshua 5:13-15
¶And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries? And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? And the captain of the LORD’s host said unto Joshua, Loose thy shoe from off thy foot; for the place whereon thou standest is holy. And Joshua did so.

Grace is man’s impotence handing over to God’s omnipotence

Grace is divine ability exhibited via human instruments.

Grace is divine enabling.

Grace is God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense


3. THE PLACE OF PRAYER IN GRACE:

KJV Hebrews 4:16
Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

Mercy is to be obtained, but Grace is to be sought after.

While God determines the recepients of mercy, Grace has been made already available to anyone that passionately LOOKS FOR(FINDS) IT.

Approaching the throne of Grace is what we call PRAYER.


4. GROWING IN GRACE :

KJV 1 Corinthians 15:10
But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

We grow in Grace by…
i. Maintaining a clean life
ii. Continously approaching the throne of grace in prayer and
iii. Labouring with the grace already found.

iv. Holy Ghost dealings 

KJV Ephesians 3:7
Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power.
KJV Ephesians 4:7-10
But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

The grace of God is a fixed factor, available equally for anyone who cares or craves for, but our lifestyle, our prayer life and our diligence with the grace, are the variable factors.

100 Grace  *  0 Labour = 0 Grace
100 Grace  *  1 Labour = 100 Grace
100 Grace  *  2 Labour = 200 Grace…

5. HOW TO WIN THE RACE BY THE GRACE :

i. Become an addict of Holy Ghost guidance
TLB Ecclesiastes 9:11
Again I looked throughout the earth and saw that the swiftest person does not always win the race, nor the strongest man the battle, and that wise men are often poor, and skillful men are not necessarily famous; but it is all by chance, by happening to be at the right place at the right time.

ii. Be extremely Focused
ERV 2 Timothy 2:4
A soldier wants to please his commanding officer, so he does not spend any time on activities that are not a part of his duty.

iii. Break no kingdom principles
ERV 2 Timothy 2:5
Athletes in a race must obey all the rules to win.

iv. Labour patiently
KJV 2 Timothy 2:6
The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.

By ‘Biodun Atunwa