Drawing From Grace

“You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.” 1 John 4:4 (NIV)
God graces us with gifts according to His discretion because He has a mission. His mission first and foremost is that all His sheep return to His pen so that they can worship Him and so they are protected from the enemy. Yes, we have an enemy; he is ruthless and evil and our only place of safety is in God’s dwelling place. God sends us to go around the world to tell people about Him so that they can be saved – free to worship and protected from the devil.
Going for God’s mission is going against the enemy – a fallen angel that possesses a great deal of power but God is strong. He stands undefeated. All authority descends from Him and He gives this authority to us to conquer.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, ‘All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.’ ” Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV)
What we need to defeat the devil and fulfil God’s mission on earth has been given to us by God. He graces us with spiritual gifts that enable us to stand and fight every spirit in the heavenly realm, spirits that would otherwise hinder us from the work of the ministry.
“I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace given me through the working of his power.” Ephesians 3:7 (NIV)
Paul’s ministry was specific and he knew and walked into it thoroughly. He knew he was called to preach to the Gentiles. What is it that God has called you into and can you say that you are walking in it well? What are things that are holding you back from doing what God has called you to do? Remember that all things that manifest on earth are first made real in the spirit and therefore our victory or defeat is dependent on how we fight in the spirit. We have been given grace to conquer all hindrances.
“As God’s fellow workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, ‘In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.’ I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.” 2 Corinthians 6:1-2 (NIV)
Holding on to faith we must exercise everything God has given us, we must use up all the grace He has given to us to fulfil His mission on earth according to His special purposes set out for each of us and rest assured that nothing can stop us because His plans can never be thwarted by anything or anyone.