TAKE IT BY FAITH
Dearly beloved, I bring you greetings in the name that is above every name, Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God and our soon coming King. Thank God for the grace to see another month, we give Him all the glory, praise and adoration because He deserves it. I have come your way this morning with a word from God for you, to admonish you to take all that God has promised you, by faith.
“For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favour upon favour and gift [heaped] upon gift.” John 1:16 (AMP)
From the text, John the beloved, bearing record of Jesus, laid the important foundation as it concerns our being blessed, physically or otherwise, here on earth. The scripture makes us understand that all that we have received is of His fullness and abundance, not based on our performance, works or efforts. I particularly love the simplicity with which the Message translation explains this; “We all live off His bounty, gift after gift after gift.” Did you see that? Everything we own, was received from His abundance. Also, Apostle Paul writing to the church in Ephesus in Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) says, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”
Beloved, from these scriptures we see that every blessing has been made available in Christ Jesus; spiritual, physical, financial, material, marital, healing, and so on. Therefore the question is, how do you receive the manifestation of these blessings? You receive by faith!
Child of God, grace has made every blessing available to you, and faith takes what grace has provided. Faith appropriates what is already made available by grace. This simply means that your part is to believe and receive what God has done. God is not going to do anything new; He has already done and perfected all that needs to be done. Jesus said it is finished, signifying the work has been completed. The Bible makes it clear in 2 Peter 1:3 that “as He HAS GIVEN ALL THINGS that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us by glory and virtue.” As I’ve said many times and it bears repetition, God has called us as believers to partake of the banquet, He has set the table before us, therefore, come and eat. This is all we have to do, to believe and receive what Christ has made available for us.
Matthew 9:18-26 (NKJV) tells the story of the woman with the issue of blood, who despite her condition and the limitations that the law put against her, saw grace, and decided to take her healing. According to the law, she was not supposed to be found amongst people, because the law regarded her as unclean, and unworthy, but when grace appeared, her faith was awakened. That was why she said in v.21, “For she said to herself, if only I may touch His garment, I shall be made well”. While the crowd gathered and pushed in excitement, she saw beyond the excitement, she saw grace manifested and believed in the healing that this grace had provided. She believed that all she had to do was contact grace, and she will be made whole.
Beloved, everything you need to prosper is already available to you, but you must lay hold on it by faith, for it to manifest. Within your sphere of influence, at the office, market, business, declare that your work will grow from glory to glory, regardless of what the enemy is trying to show you. Declare the word of God boldly as written in Proverbs 4:18, that “But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more, unto the perfect day”, and receive by faith, the prosperity that is already assured you in Christ. Your business has no choice but to respond to the word. As a student, failure is not an option, so having studied and prepared, approach that examination believing that God has already made you the head, and not the tail, above and not beneath. You will succeed because grace has made it available.
Refuse every lie of the enemy; remember that he’s your adversary and not your adviser. When he tries to tell you that you’re not qualified to partake of the riches of grace, remind him that it is God that justifies the ungodly, therefore you are qualified (Romans 4:5). Christ has paid for it all, your part is to take it! I know this is the part a lot of people struggle with, but if you have a good understanding of this, you will put the enemy on the run.
Child of God, do not settle for anything less than what grace has provided, take it by faith and see it manifest. Declare your stand on the word of God boldly, and make the devil mad.
I declare to you that as you go into this week, you will Win! This week, you will reign over every situation and circumstance. I bless you in Jesus’ name. I will hear your testimony.
Maranatha!
In His Royal Service
Dr Mike Okonkwo
The Presiding Bishop
