by Keith A. Butler
UNSTOPPABLE
Grace
The word of faith. The Apostle Paul referenced it in Romans 10:8 when he said, “The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach.” The word of faith is a powerful revelation, but—if we’re not cautious—we may think it’s the only topic Paul covered. It isn’t. He addressed something else that works with the word of faith…and together, these two revelations make believers unstoppable. In Acts 20:24, he wrote, “… neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” In verse 32 of that same chapter, he mentioned it again: “And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified” (emphasis added). Paul refers to both, the word of faith and the grace of God. Both are important. While we’ve studied the word of faith, we haven’t spent as much time on the grace of God. So, let’s take a moment and look at God’s grace, starting with answering the question: What is grace?
The Many Names of the Godhead To better understand grace, we have to go back to the Trinity. Three people comprise the godhead: the Father, the Word (Jesus, the Son) and the Holy Ghost (1 John 5:7). Although all three are always together, they have taken turns in who has the ascendency, or the dominion, in dealing with mankind. During the first 4,000 years of our existence, Jehovah the Father had ascendency. He came face to face with mankind. In His dealings with us, He referred 2 0 : B VOV
to Himself by many Names: Jehovah Rapha, Jehovah Shalom, Jehovah Nissi and others. Each Name reflects an aspect of His nature. If we were to look at only one of His Names, we wouldn’t have a clear picture of who He is. If we only learn that He is Jehovah Rapha, for instance, we may know Him as Healer, but we’ll miss that He is also Jehovah Shalom, our Peace. Or we might miss that He is Jehovah Nissi, our Banner. We would be selling Him short of the fullness of who He is. It’s the same with the Son. We know Him as Jesus, Lamb of God, Prince of Peace and other Names. Each one only communicates an aspect of who He is and what He did. While His time on earth was short and His ascendency was only 33 years, He changed everything. The same can be said about understanding the fullness of who the Holy Spirit is. We also know Him by many Names, such as Comforter and Spirit of Truth. There is one in particular, though, I want us to pay close attention to—Spirit of Grace. Hebrews 10:28-29 mentions this Name: Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace? (New King James Version, emphasis added). Believers often refer to grace as a position. But, a position can’t be insulted. Only a person can be insulted. After the earthly ministry of Jesus, after His death and resurrection, the Holy Spirit, or the Spirit of Grace, received the ascendency. He had—and continues to
