Welcome to 2017. The theme for the year is “Disciples Indeed”. It was a moment of thanksgiving and rejoicing as we all thanked God for allowing us see another year. Testifying were 5 brethren from Bayelsa who had come for the 2016 End of Year Retreat, exactly one year ago and were involved in a motor accident on their way back home. By the grace of God, no life was lost and they all fully recovered from the accident.

The sermon of the year was delivered by the International Director, Pastor Isaac V. Olori and titled “Sufficient Grace”. Introducing this topic, he pointed that everything we need do, in this New Year would only be possible by God’s grace.  It offers us a challenge to be God’s ambassadors on earth, as well as instruments in God’s hands. He described this grace to be different from human graces that brings you in favour with man – usually in the form of gifts, kind gestures etc. To survive through the hurdles of this New Year, God’s kind of grace is needed, as human grace is insufficient.

Understanding this kind of grace, in his words, can only come via revelation as was seen in the life of Paul according to 2 Corinthians 12:7. So, to receive this revelation and operate in God’s sufficient grace, we must walk in intimacy with God. The sermon also revealed that, from the day we decide to walk with God, we attract messengers of Satan, troubles and adversaries but to succeed, we must build our lives in accordance with God’s grace. These adversaries come in form of spiritual and physical pressures but the grace of God is always adequate in every situation and as such, there is no need to fear. Some truth about grace revealed in this sermon are;

1. Grace talks about divine intervention that is made available when we hold on to God.
2. God’s grace speaks of unmerited favour.
3. The mystery of God’s grace is that God will not always remove the trouble but He will cushion it.
4. God’s grace made available in our weaknesses does not imply that this grace will aid our weakness of failure to study God’s word or praying, but will be made available in difficult and overpowering situations that come as a result of physical and spiritual pressures.
5. To enjoy God’s grace we must tap into it – Titus 2:11-12.

Some blessings that come with God’s grace include;

1. Salvation - When we embrace this first consignment, other things will follow. No matter how ungodliness fills the whole world, there is grace to live righteous. The grace of God helps us to hate worldliness and ungodliness.
2. If we continue in the Word, God’s grace is there to build us up in any area of our life. Acts 20:32. God’s Word is referred to as the Word of His grace. If we discover His revealed Word, we discover His grace.
3. An inheritance amongst a sanctified people. If we operate in God’s grace, He will give us an inheritance amongst a sanctified people, hence, there is no need for struggle and rivalry, as God will give us our due portion (1 Corinthians 15:10 – it is the grace of God that makes me who I am). Nevertheless, to get a portion amongst a sanctified people, we must seek sanctification – 2 Timothy 2:1.

Finally one of the things that releases great grace on men and the Church is getting involved in the gospel (Acts 4:23, 9-33).