Grace
Grace is the favour of God. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:7-10, NKJV). Over the last five years (since this Ministry began) I have struggled with many various ailments that took their toll on me physically and emotionally. There were many times when I felt I simply couldn’t go on. I would seek God continuously only to feel so abandoned by Him because I would receive no alleviation of my suffering. One particular day whilst I was having my time with the Lord I received a message informing me that the reason I hadn’t received healing in my soul and physical body was because I had fallen from Grace. The reason for this I was informed was because I had been seeking doctors and self-help measures for my healing instead of waiting on God. This of course disconcerted me and I suspected the voice that spoke to me was not the Lord but a deceiving spirit mimicking the voice of the Lord to confuse or upset me. I researched the Scriptures to see what they said about falling from Grace. The main Scripture I found was in Galatians. Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free, and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage. Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor to keep the whole law. You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love (Galatians 5:1-6, NKJV). I knew I had not done anything in the way of going back under the law to be right standing with God, or to earn my salvation so I asked Him again if I had really fallen from Grace. In that moment the Lord revealed to me that the previous voice was indeed a deceiving spirit and that He allows this deception so His children will search the Scriptures to discern the true voice of God. It is using the sword to discern between good and evil for God will never deviate from His word. This is what He spoke to me: - “As long as you are in Jesus you will always have My grace. Only those who fall back under the law to try and justify themselves before Me are not covered by Grace. You have not done this. Many believe that they have fallen from grace because they cannot see Gods favour and mercy in their lives and circumstances. I am going to impart to you and your Ministry more grace. Why? Not because you’ve earned it but because you need it. My grace is sufficient for you for in your weakness I am strong. Your weaknesses will now become strengths. You will receive My empowering grace – the favour of God. I have tested (tried) your heart and I found the weaknesses. I look for and draw out the weaknesses. Why? So I can impart My strength into those weaknesses for My glory. I see how much you can or cannot do. I test your strengths, I test your weaknesses. The suffering is me pulling out and revealing those weaknesses. When you cannot do it anymore I give you more grace. You don’t need My grace if there is no weakness because My strength will not be revealed. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty; and the base things of the world and the things which are despised God has chosen, and the things which are not, to bring to nothing the things that are, that no flesh should glory in His presence. Why else would I use the weak? I have chosen You for My glory – to carry My power and My anointing. You were chosen to carry My manifest presence before you were born. For many are called but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14, NKJV). You were chosen not because of your strengths but because of your weaknesses. Those who are already strong do not need God. Can I use your strengths to My advantage? Of course but what I look for in a chosen vessel is their weakness. If they give their weakness to Me then I can use them. But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble (James 4:6, NKJV).”
Trust - it is all about you continuing to hope and trust in Me to deliver you. It is also about Me trusting you with My strength, power and anointing. Can you carry this and glorify Me with it? Most are so grateful and thankful to me they can do nothing else but glorify Me! I can trust the weak ones with My strength because they are so grateful when they receive it. This may seem cruel but My strength only works in weakness. Can you accept this word giving yourself fully to Me knowing that the testing of your heart was one of pulling out your weaknesses so I can be glorified?
(Prayer to be prayed out loud) – “Father God I accept this word in its entirety. I give myself fully to You for Your Kingdom purposes in which I want to glorify You. I give to You my weaknesses and thank You for them so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. I pray that when You have tried my heart and found these weaknesses that You would impart Your strengths into them so that my weaknesses will become strengths that will glorify You. I ask Father God for more grace – the favour of God into my life and circumstances, and imparted wherever else it may be needed. Your ways are not my ways, nor are Your thoughts my thoughts but I thank You that You are revealing more and more of Your ways to me. I bless you Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.”
By Tania Francis