Focus: Greater Grace

Text: Heb.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."

In this 8th month of the year we look forward to greater manifestations of God's grace. Grace abounds in Christ. The number 8 is 5+3. 5 is the number of grace, and in Christ there are dimensions of grace. The number 5 appears first in Gen.1:22-23, and it says, "And God blessed them, saying, Be fruitful, and multiply, and fill the waters in the seas, and let fowl multiply in the earth. And the evening and the morning were the FIFTH day." The 5th day here is connected to the blessing of fruitfulness and multiplication. 

Concerning grace, Peter prays, "Grace unto you, and peace, be MULTIPLIED… Grace and peace be MULTIPLIED unto you" (1Pet.1:2; 2Pet.1:2). Jude says, "Mercy unto you, and peace, and love, be MULTIPLIED" (Jud.1:2). Luke tells us about the MULTIPLIED comfort of the Holy Spirit (Act.9:31). He reports that "the word of God grew and MULTIPLIED" (Act.12:24). 

God is in the business of multiplying things including grace, mercy, peace, comfort, and the word of God.

So the number 5 speaks of increase and abundance. John tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ is full of grace, and from His fullness we have received and keep receiving grace on top of grace. He says, "And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace." I love that: grace for grace. In Christ we find that grace is ever-flowing and overflowing. Grace forever multiplies and abounds. It's like a rushing stream or fountain. There's always room for higher, bigger and greater grace. Surely, in Christ grace avails! The grace of God enables us to lead prevailing lives in this world.

The grace of God is inexhaustible and timeless. Paul says, "That in the ages to come he might shew the EXCEEDING RICHES of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus" (Eph.2:7). The "ages to come" is an expression in the Greek that relates to eternity. When the Greeks speak of eternity, they multiply the word 'age.' It becomes 'ages.' Paul is making us see that eternity is the realm where we shall keep exploring and enjoying the exceeding riches of grace. The word 'exceeding' means that which shoots beyond the target. It is that which is in excess. God has surplus resources of grace. Every good thing coming from God is always an inexhaustible abundance. 

Grace is a heavenly commodity that God has in abundance, and it is available for us who believe. God gives us grace in a measure that is humanly immeasurable.

Paul tells us about the immeasurable quality of God's power directed at the believer in Christ. He says, "And what is the EXCEEDING GREATNESS of his power to us-ward who believe…" (Eph.1:19). He tells about "the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant… Exceeding grace of God" (1Tim.1:14; 2Cor.9:14). Peter and Jude tell us of the "exceeding joy" (1Pet.4:13; Jud.1:24). Matthew tells us of the "exceeding great joy" (Mt.2:10). Peter tells us about the "exceeding great and precious promises" (2Pet.1:4). Paul says something about the "exceeding and eternal weight of glory" (2Cor.4:17).

Concerning the house of God, David says, "Solomon my son is young and tender, and the house that is to be builded for the LORD must be EXCEEDING MAGNIFICAL, of fame and of glory throughout all countries…" (1Chron.22:5). We also read of Solomon's wisdom, "And God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding EXCEEDING MUCH, and largeness of heart, even as the sand that is on the sea shore" (1Kgs.4:29). Of his vessels we read, "And Solomon left all the vessels unweighed, because they were EXCEEDING MANY: neither was the weight of the brass found out" (1Kgs.7:47). Also read of the land God gave to Israel: "And they spake unto all the company of the children of Israel, saying, The land, which we passed through to search it, is an EXCEEDING GOOD LAND" (Num.14:7). Everything God has to give us is in abundance. It is exceeding, surplus or in excess.

In this season of our lives, let's begin to tap into the illimitable riches of divine grace and power! Let's begin to draw the wealth of grace made available to us by God's graceful heart! The author of Hebrews draws our attention to the fact that God's throne is branded with grace. He says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb.4:16). In the Old Testament this throne is known as the "mercy seat." The word 'seat' means 'throne.' It's the throne of mercy. From that throne grace and mercy flow to us. There is daily grace for daily need and greater grace for greater challenges of life and for grander purposes of God.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter