I was recently awakened in the middle of the night with a burning question in my heart: What would the apostle Paul and the disciples do in the situations believers are now faced with in Canada, the United States and other parts of the world? How would they live, walk and comport themselves?
In my mind, I was seeing these apostles as bigger than life and present in our world. I sought God for the answers to these questions but received none.
The following morning, as I was reading a devotional, God provided the answer. The devotional discussed the early Christians and the situations they were facing; I saw that they were similar to the things we are now beginning to encounter in Canada. The disciples were being restricted in what they could speak about or teach; they were being disparaged by some of the religious leaders who feared man rather than God. There was a rising level of persecution against Christianity, and Christians were being threatened daily.
Awakening Versus ‘Awokening’
The present “woke” culture being pushed on humanity is a demonic crafting of a new reality founded on satanic, anti-Christ principles. Becoming “woke” is the “awokening” of the masses to the demonic principles of division, immorality and hedonistic lifestyles being espoused through so-called equity. The road to truth leads us not to equity or even equality but rather to crucifixion—to the cross, to a life laid down in full surrender and obedience to God, to the one who said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6a).
I do realize that it is somewhat different to be born into a situation of persecution as the disciples were than it is to watch the freedom that you have known all your life begin to be taken from you incrementally and systematically. So again, I wondered, What would the saints do?
What did the saints do? The disciples continued to press forward and do exactly what they were called to do. They prayed! They asked God for courage and boldness to speak. They asked God to strengthen them in the situations that they faced. As they were obedient, there was a great awakening to the knowledge of truth. Acts 4 reveals the persecution they were experiencing, however, verse 33b says that “great grace was on them all.”
Great Grace
The answer leaped off the page into my spirit, and I saw it. The answer was God’s grace. I suddenly saw that grace brings whatever is needed. Grace is favor, power and all the goodness of God wrapped into one. The disciples asked God to increase the power, and He turned up the grace and gave them “great grace.” At one point, when Paul complained to God about the attacks on his life, God said to him: “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor. 12:9a).
What Is Grace?
Grace is the divine substance that releases the ability to walk supernaturally through any situation without fear. Grace undergirds and empowers the believer in Christ; the one who lives and moves and has his being in Christ, thereby tapping into His life substance.
The word grace in the Greek is charis and means graciousness, especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life, benefit, favor, gift, joy liberality, pleasure. In Hebrew, grace is the word chên and means graciousness, kindness, favor, precious, well-favored.
We can therefore expect that when God’s graciousness is upon us, His divine influence works on our hearts and becomes reflected in our lives. We then experience His benefits, His favor, His joy, His liberality and pleasure over us as He works all things for our good.
Jesus is God! His life force is spiritual substance that is supernatural, creative, imbued with wisdom, insight and understanding. Grace allows us to tap into the treasures of Christ, a place where there is no fear and where every possibility exists. In grace, the substance of God’s life force moves in to take charge of any situation we may encounter. As believers in Christ, we draw from Him and receive His grace—His unmerited favor. Grace is embedded with potential to transform our circumstances and our demeanor from weakness and fear to power and strength.
Grace Is Power
Grace brings an atmospheric change, adjusts our perspective and produces an uncanny sense that all is well. It impregnates the current issue with His divine possibilities … continue reading {eoa}
Faith Marie Baczko is the president of Headstone Ministries International—a ministry that is rich and robust in the purposes and plans of God. She is a prophetic teacher and author, bringing significant revelation to mobilize, equip and strengthen the body of Christ for this momentous hour of history. Faith is an international speaker and has garnered enduring relationships with leaders united in passion for truth and enduring Revival. Faith is an author of several books; her latest release, now available on Amazon, is called A Rising Called For! Contact her at [email protected].
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