LIFE COLLEGE WEEK 22 – GRACE – SESSION 5 

GRACE TO GET IT DONE

 EPHESIANS CHAPTER FOUR, VERSES SEVEN AND EIGHT

DISEMPOWERED

Jesus re-established what was lost to us in Eden. When we were created, God created a physical world and designed it in such a way as to be a SUPPORT to the supernatural trajectory He wanted us to have. He breathed that supernatural trajectory into the form (support device), and His supernatural gifts gave Adam life. While Adam and Eve operated in the Spiritual Circulatory System (relationship with God), their physical world was simply an expression of spiritual wonder.

Then they made the physical realm more important than the supernatural one and prioritized the physical realm. Their eyes, which had been blind to the flesh, got distracted by physical desires and needs, and they could not keep their eyes on, their focus fixed on, the supernatural realm. They lost their identity and, in doing, lost the power of having a supernatural source and a supernatural destination.

Supernatural power (authority) comes from the three primary elements of our supernatural makeup:

Identity (relation to the Father) – “Make man in our image…”

Blessing (realization of the supernatural truth of the Father’s promises) – “And He blessed them…”

Purpose (given the ability to accomplish beyond what our flesh could achieve) – “Go fill the earth…”

BY GRACE

The full restoration of our supernatural power comes from realizing the fullness of Jesus’ death (realigned), resurrection (revival), and ascension (reestablishment). That realization only comes when we make it our personal death, burial, and resurrection.

Our IDENTITY is established when we die to the flesh and realize our flesh is not the image in which we were made. We die to the sin that keeps us from our relationship with God.

We understand the BLESSING of God’s promises when through the resurrection evidence of our own lives (Testimony), we present the truth about Him making us strong when we are weak, bringing us into light when we are in darkness, and giving us life when we are dead.

We realize that we are established in Christ when the gifts of operating in the supernatural life are given to us. Our authority is restored, which enables us to accomplish our SUPERNATURALPURPOSE of filling the earth with the worship of God. Our worship is achieved in two ways, being empowered to see the supernatural for ourselves and helping others break the flesh chains.

EMPOWERED

Jesus restores our identity by removing the barriers to our relationship with God on the cross. He releases the blessing of the truth of His promises at the resurrection and empowers us by introducing the Holy Spirit after His ascension. 

Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you.  John 16:7 ESV

In turn, the Holy Spirit empowers us to supernaturally walk out our identity, blessing, and purpose by giving us special gifts to hold us to the wonder of the realm of life and not flesh.   

But grace was given to each one of us according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore it says, “When he ascended on high, he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men.” Ephesians 4:7-8 ESV 

For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 ESV

SPIRITUAL GIFTS ARE GRACE GIFTS

“About spiritual gifts … I do not want you to be ignorant,” were Paul’s words to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 12:1). 

There are several principal passages that deal with gifts: Romans 12:1-8, 1 Corinthians 12-14, Ephesians 4:7-16, and 1 Peter 4:7-11. 

The Bible’s favorite word for a spiritual gift is not “spiritual gift” (pneumatikos) but “grace gift” (charisma). Unfortunately, most Bible translations do not make this distinction. Further, a spiritual gift, besides being an expression of God