MANIFOLD GRACE OF GOD

 I Peter 4:10 

The apostle Peter instructs believers, “As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.” The phrase manifold grace of God captures the richness and diversity of God’s grace, expressed through the unique gifts and talents bestowed on each believer. Peter’s words remind us that God’s grace is an incredible reality that equips us for various roles within the body of Christ.

 The manifold grace of God is not just about the diversity of gifts but also the different ways His grace operates in our lives. James 1:17 reminds us, “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change”. The manifold grace of God is evident in how He meets us in different circumstances, providing exactly what we need at just the right time. Whether it is strength in suffering, wisdom in decision-making, or comfort in grief, God’s grace is sufficient and perfectly tailored to our situations.

We are called to be “good stewards” of the manifold grace of God. Stewardship takes responsibility and intentionality. We are not to hoard or neglect the gifts God has given us but rather to use them actively for the benefit of others. As Peter writes, “Whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—so that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ” (I Peter 4:11). When faithfully stewarded, God’s manifold grace brings glory to God and edifies the Church.

 Manifold in the Greek is (Poikilos): meaning various in character or different. This word is used in other places in the New Testament that some of you may be familiar with: I Peter 1:6 “Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations” and Ephesians 3:10 “To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.”

Some people get grace and mercy confused. Grace is 1) the great enabling power of God to accomplish what He has set before us, 2) the unmerited favor of God. While Mercy is receiving less than you deserve. Ezra 9:13: “Seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this.”

 DIFFERENT TYPES OF GRACE

 ABOUNDING GRACE: (Romans 5:20)

 Evil abounds and the working of Satan and his demons are increasing in this present world. “Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.” (Titus 2:12-14)

 We can live in this present world with the evil, with alcoholics, with drug addicts, with prostitution, with cigarettes, with obesity, with ungodliness, and with all manner of oppression because where sin abounds grace does much more abound.

 “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the LORD shall lift up a standard against him (Isaiah 59:19). In the Hebrew it says, Even as the enemy comes in like a flood, the anger of Jehovah shall cause him to be taken away.

SUFFICIENT GRACE: (II Corinthians 12:9)

“And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, than am I strong.” (II Corinthians 12:7-10)

 Paul was a man that killed Christians and yet the grace of God made him the chief apostle. He had a thorn in the flesh, most probably bad eyes, and probably a hunch- back, and some even say he had a speech impediment; but when he spoke, people stopped and listened. The grace of God had made a tremendous impact on the life of Paul.

 Here was a man that lived through much pain. “. . . labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.” (II Corinthians 11:23-27)

 And yet, this man loved God! He had learned how to live in the Grace of God no matter what happened to him. We don't serve God just because things are going right, but we serve Him because He loves us and has given us Grace and Mercy!

 In the race that has been set before us, it is not only the one that finishes first that wins; it is all that finish that win! We have to learn to continue in Grace. Ignore the pain and the sorrow and go on with God! (Acts 13:43) 

 SAVING GRACE: (Ephesians 2:8)

 In John 3:1-8 Nicodemus learned about the kingdom and saving grace. Salvation is a gift (Ephesians 2:8). The Holy Ghost is a gift (Acts 2:38). Living water is a gift (John 4:10). Eternal life is a gift (Romans 6:23). The Grace of God brings many gifts to the believer. None of them are deserved, none earned, none bought (Acts 8:20).

 We blame ourselves for things we do wrong. We accuse ourselves and make ourselves less than what we are and we make the Grace of God of none effect. When you sin and think that God won't forgive you. That is not true! You can only fail if you quit! His grace is boundless, bigger than the universe and there is nothing you can do that God's grace will not cover if you ask.

Jesus told his disciples: In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world (John 16:33). His grace is able to save us even through the tribulations and troubles of life.

TEACHING GRACE

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world”. (Titus 2:11, 12)

Life is a learning experience. “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” (II Peter 3:18) When we experience problems and keep our minds and hearts open, we learn by our experiences. We learn how to please God, how to live our lives happily, and how to work in harmony with other church members. His grace teaches us how to be harnessed together to get our job accomplished. In Exodus 13:18 the Bible said that the only way the Jews made it out of the Land of Egypt was that they were harnessed together.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hop: And hope maketh not ashamed, because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” (Romans 5:1-5)

Let's not criticize one another and talk about one another, but let's let the grace of God teach us how to be fitly framed together into one house (Ephesians 2:21). When one suffers we should all suffer and when one cries we all should cry” (Philippians 1:27). Grace teaches us to live above this world.

HELPING GRACE:

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

Anytime you need God there is a throne of grace that you can find. Don't criticize God when things go wrong, go to the throne of grace and find help!

Carbon when it is heated and compressed turns into a beautiful diamond. If you want to see the most beautiful stars you've ever seen find the darkest night and look up. I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help, David said.

Adam and Eve committed sin in the Garden, God judged them without mercy. He cursed Adam and cursed the earth. He placed a curse on Eve, without forgiveness. But when He looked at the serpent His heart was moved in Him and He promised the seed of the woman would bruise the head of the serpent. There is a hope! And a Help in God! “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me” (Psalms 27:5) and in Psalms 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”

James chapter 4:4, 6 “Whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God”. But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble”. God's grace is able to help you overcome the call of the world; the call of evil.

MANAGING THE GRACE OF GOD

Our reference scripture, I Peter 4:10 As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If you want the grace of God to be effective in your life, you must properly manage it. We are the stewards of His grace.

Two important facts that we should always remember. Jesus is our example. We should live the way he lived and, that He is forgiving, loving, kind, burden-bearing and compassionate.

Jesus commanded us to minister. Not just minister the Gospel, but to minister the grace that He has given to us. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do. (John 14:12)

In Matthew 10:7, 8 Jesus said: And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

As you go about your everyday lives, freely ye have received, freely give. He wants us to be compassionate, forgiving, kind, burden-bearing, loving, etc. just like he was.

The Bible says that the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets. (I Corinthians 14:32) You manage the spirit in you. It is not God that moves your lips or your feet. It is not God that witnesses; He gives the unction, utterance, etc. but we do the work. (I John 2:20)

WHY GRACE?

His grace is able to keep us from falling and failing. Many people pray about being taken out of this world, but true victory is not in leaving this world saved. True Victory is living for God in this present world. Jesus prayed in John 17:15: “I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil.” His Grace is able to keep us. It will keep us when men revile us. It will keep us when we are weak. It will keep us when we are strong. It will keep us in battle, in prayer, in frailty, and in all things.

The manifold grace of God points us to the source of all grace—God Himself. His grace is abundant and never exhausted. It is “many-folded.” As we serve and minister to one another, we draw from the endless supply of His grace, which empowers us to persevere in our faith and service. “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work” (II Corinthians 9:8). His grace is abounding; it is all-sufficient; it is manifold.