By Vince Viozzi – 02/09/19
As I was doing my daily bible reading this morning (Saturday 02/09/19) I read this very familiar scripture.
Zechariah 4:6-7 (NKJV) 6 So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts. 7 ‘Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’
My attention was drawn to the words, “With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!”
That’s Double Grace available to move mountains!
We who understand that the Christian life has its encounters with many spiritual mountains, which try to stand in our way, often resort to spiritual warfare when dealing with these mountains. And we recall the words of Jesus who said,
Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV) 21 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.”
So we begin speaking and commanding the mountains to be removed in Jesus name! While this is not entirely wrong, as I was reading the Prophet Zechariah, I saw that the Lord told him to shout to the mountain “Grace, grace”!
What is Grace?
Both biblical languages bring out the idea of having favor with God! And this favor is shown to us as God’s influence upon our hearts and then it is reflected in our lives. In other words, those around us, including the spirit realm, can see that we have God’s favor on us because it is reflected in our lives. They see the reflection of Jesus in us and act or react accordingly! This is the source of our influence upon the world around us! It is God’s grace upon our hearts and lives!
The Hebrew meaning is this:
grace, chen (chayn); Strong’s #2580: Favor, grace, graciousness, kindness, beauty, pleasantness, charm, attractiveness, loveliness, affectionate regard. The root chanan means “to act graciously or mercifully toward someone; to be compassionate, to be favorably inclined.” Nelson, Thomas. NKJV, New Spirit-Filled Life Bible, eBook: Kingdom Equipping Through the Power of the Word . Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.
And the Greek meaning is this:
g5485. χάρις charis; from 5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): — acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace(- ious), joy, liberality, pleasure, thank(-s, -worthy).
The Spirit of Grace
One of the references to the Holy Spirit is found in Hebrews 10:29 and He is referred to as “the Spirit of Grace!” This passage actually says that we can insult the Spirit of grace! Heb. 10:29 (NKJV) “… and insulted the Spirit of grace?” Thus, it is possible to actually insult the Holy Spirit and to break His connection to us which gives us the influential favor of God to speak to the mountains in our lives and to reveal to them that we are standing in favor with God and that favor gives us the place as sons and daughters of God to command them to be removed from our lives as we endeavor to enact His “will on earth as it is in heaven!” This is what Jesus did as “The Son of Man!” WOW!
Non-condemning Introspection
How do we know if we have insulted the Spirit of grace? We do so by asking the Spirit to show us if we have, and then repenting of anything He does show us. In Christ, as those who are endeavoring to walk by faith and in the Spirit, we are told by scripture to examine ourselves and to repent of missing the mark of God’s best in our lives. (see 2 Cor. 13:5-6) However, we also need to be aware that the enemy of our souls is right there, and he desires to place us under guilt and condemnation for being a sinner. In Romans 8:1 it says that there is no condemnation that we are to walk under if we are endeavoring in our hearts to walk in the Spirit and to not fulfill the lust of the flesh. God had the Apostle Paul write this to the people of God! And the Same God had the Apostle John write this in 1 John 1:8-10 (NKJV),
“8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.”
Reconnecting & Walking Together
Knowing this, God has already put into place a way, Jesus The Way, to deal with our sins that might be insulting the Spirit of grace, and to cleanse us from them! God is Good! He knows what we are going to do before we do it. That’s why Abraham told Isaac, in Genesis 22:8 (NKJV),
8 And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.
Did you notice the end of that verse? “So the two of them went together!” When we acknowledge and confess our sins to God, then He is faithful to forgive us and to cleanse us and to restore us to right relationship! How awesome is our God!
Restored Grace!
Once we have gone through the non-condemning repentance and get back into right relationship with the Father, we are now walking together with our loving Father, and the Spirit of grace is once again active in our lives. We are restored in partnership with the King of Heaven! Grace has not only been restored but it has been re-enacted or re-initialized in us as sons and daughters of the Most High God! We are not on our own any longer, and together, God working in us and through us, we can shout to the mountains in our lives and let them know that we are highly favored by God and they have to move!
Mark 16:19-20 (NKJV) 19 So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20 And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen.
A Final Prayer
Let’s pray together as we reflect upon this teaching.
Heavenly Father, I come humbly before you and I ask you to reveal to my heart and mind if there is anything that I have done to insult you. Please show me any sins in my life that I need to confess and repent of so that I can be restored in Your grace. I do not want to hurt You, Father, nor do I want to insult Your Spirit in any way, so I say right now, that I am sorry for these things that You are revealing to me, and I am endeavoring to repent and change so that I may walk together with You and Your Spirit of grace. I thank you for Your grace that I need to continue to walk free from sin and to be in partnership with You so that I can be an agent of grace in the earth for Your glory and honor. Thank You that You are faithful and just even when I am not. I receive Your loving forgiveness and re-invite You to come back into my life so that I can be all that You want me to be! In Jesus name I pray! Amen
Now go get ‘em!
You are awesome and you are loved!
Vince Viozzi