The Grace Connection

---

As a believer, you may have heard fellow believers say, “I connect to this grace,” expressing the desire to operate at a certain level of ease in a particular area of life. You may also have heard or been involved in conversations depicting the ease with which certain persons do things without the labour or stress expected to be expended on that task. We often say the person is ‘graced’ in that area. These comments are responses to a visible expression of a certain level of ease that is uncommon.

Oxford Languages Dictionary defines Grace as the free and unmerited Favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. Our focus this week is on the bestowal of blessings.

Our text expresses it thus:

¹¹ And [His gifts to the church were varied and] He Himself appointed some as apostles [special messengers, representatives], some as prophets [who speak a new message from God to the people], some as evangelists [who spread the good news of salvation], and some as pastors and teachers [to shepherd and guide and instruct], ¹² [and He did this] to fully equip and perfect the saints (God’s people) for works of service, to build up the body of Christ [the church]; ¹³ until we all reach oneness in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God, [growing spiritually] to become a mature believer, reaching to the measure of the fullness of Christ [manifesting His spiritual completeness and exercising our spiritual gifts in unity].

Ephesians 4:11-13

Just as the gifts to the church are varied for the purpose of establishing and equipping a balanced Church, so has Christ endowed marketplace ambassadors, who represent the body of Christ, with graces expressed through diverse giftings to operate in their various spheres of influence. The same way in the church, some are Pastors, others are Apostles, Evangelists, Teachers, and Prophets, so are you graced to function in one or more unique office(s) as a professional.

Your sphere of influence is your platform, your pulpit. Until believers come to this realization and consciously operate within their assigned office(s), there is a limit to the level of Kingdom dominion that can be achieved. With this understanding, then you must realize that just a Prophet will speak mysteries and tell of what is humanly unknown, so also has God graced you with that skill that you effortlessly display in your sphere. The question is: Are you conscious of the grace that you carry? Are you utilizing it? Are you developing it? Are you deploying it?

Being connected to grace is not enough. A teacher has to continually study to be able to dissect the Word of God, a Prophet must be connected to heavenly portals to hear God for the people and a Pastor has to consciously develop Pastoral skills. You also as a professional need to continuously develop, engage and deploy the gifting of God, otherwise, over time, the ease to operate within that office diminishes.

What has God ‘graced’ you with? Are you an evangelist in the marketplace, a teacher, or a prophet? There is a grace connection already, but have you activated that connection through prayers, skills development, and discipline?

Speak it Forth (Confession):
I am a Kingdom Ambassador and I represent God in my sphere of influence. I am graced for Kingdom assignment in the marketplace, and I consciously develop, engage, and develop these graces to honour God while blessing humanity.

Take the Step (Action):
Do you recognize your area of gifting? If yes, are you developing and deploying it? If you are not sure of your graced skills or if you desire more, this week;
1. Pray for clarity
2. Reach out to fellow believers who know you and ask what things they see in you that you effortlessly do
3. Seek professional guidance from fellow believers who are operating within your gifted area
4. Be intentional: have the kingdom in mind always.