THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH LUBRICANT AVAILABLE!

God is so graciously gracious with His GRACE!  

Some time ago the Lord was sharing with me about GRACE! He simplified it to me and made it so relevant that I have been delivered from living an unfruitful life of mere “works.” He gave me a vison of gears. When gears have no oil between them there is much friction and great heat produced. This will cause quick wear and tear, scuffing, pitting, scouring, corrosion, and ultimately it will cease to function; there will be no movement. He said oil is needed to prevent all of this. This oil He likened to Grace! Before I elaborate on this, I got another analogy. Both humans and animals have joints (the meeting of two or more bones). For there to not be friction which would cause pain, and restrict movement, there is cartilage which allows the bones to glide over each other. “Normal, healthy cartilage has a smooth surface and is made even more slippery by the synovial fluid (joint oil) that fills the space between the bone ends.” (https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/B9780721603834500062).

Grace is that special endowment given by God for us to do what we need to do and become who we need to become. In 1 Corinthians 15:10 KJV, the Apostle Paul said,  

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 labored more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.  

Helps Word Studies of Charis means “favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit, it answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná (“grace, extension-toward”). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.” Through grace, God extends Himself, He leans in, makes Himself become a part of what we are doing and involved in. Another translation given for Charis is God stoops, He comes to our level to assist and to raise us to where He is at! From the Hebrew word Chen, grace means to make camp. So, He not only leans in or stoops, He also makes camp. He is abiding where His grace is granted and will help the individual to accomplish great things easier.  

These meanings are so powerful because of what grace affords. We often limit grace to God’s unmerited favor, but it is so much more than that. It is the oil we need to function smoothly and not experience great pain because there is no friction. The Lord told me that with every instruction and assignment, He gives grace. Whenever we work with His timing, we are able to go through peacefully with much strength, courage, drive and passion because of the assigned grace. When we disobey and try to do things out of His time, there is no grace, and it becomes difficult, laborious and takes greater courage to do the same thing. He encouraged me to maximize grace, work with His timing so I can experience what it really means when He says in Matthew 11:30KJV, “For my yoke is easy and my burden light”. The Amplified Cassic extends it to read, “For My yoke is wholesome (useful, good—not harsh, hard, sharp, or pressing, but comfortable, gracious, and pleasant), and My burden is light and easy to be borne.” The work of grace is amazing, this is what enables us to not look like what we have been through or are going through! There are several men and women of God that seem to do great works effortlessly; this is because of grace! Grace makes you look calm, cool, and collected!  

The Word of God says in John 1:1 that the Word was God; John 1:14 says the Word became flesh and dwelt among us; Revelation 19:12-13 it spoke of a man on a white horse whose garment was dipped in blood and His name was the Word of God, AKA Jesus Christ; John 1:14 says Jesus was full of grace and truth and vs 17 says that the law was until Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ; John 1:16 AMP says, “For out of His fullness [the superabundance of His grace and truth] we have all received grace upon grace [spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, and gift heaped upon gift].” When we come into a relationship with Christ and He makes His home within our hearts, we receive the fullness of His Grace, the spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing, favor upon favor, gift heaped upon gift, endowments upon endowments!  

Over the years I have heard people pray for patience, but Romans 5:3 says that it is tribulation that worked patience, so I prefer to ask for grace. Grace paves the way and makes the journey more bearable, and grants the ability to endure longer. In 2 Cor. 12: 9 when the Apostle asked for the thorn to be removed from his flesh and the Lord told him His grace is sufficient, that was the Lord saying there is enough oil in Paul’s machinery to keep him going because He lived in Paul. The Apostle had what it takes because grace took away the friction; so, though he had challenges, he was able to keep going. It is this glorious revelation that makes me willing to obey as I know that the lubricant will come to see to it that I can complete the task. No wonder the Apostle Paul was willing to labor more than them all, he knew that more grace would be granted.  

Grace is great for defying sin, for salvation and living an obedient life. If you need more grace, then it is accessed through humility. Grace is not to be taken for granted nor abused. Hebrews 10:29 speaks of a sorer punishment to anyone who does despite (insult, contemptuous treatment or behavior) to the “Spirit of Grace.”

This is just a short exhortation on another aspect of grace. Let’s appreciate and embrace grace! Let’s appreciate and embrace Jesus wholeheartedly!