Prelate has blown the Whistle of GRACE Upon GRACE in sustaining Personal spirituality, ministry and family life

In a powerful sermon titled “Grace upon Grace”, His Eminence Ekpenyong N. Akpanika PhD addressed a congregation of pastors, ministers, and their spouses in the ongoing minsters and spouses retreat at the City of Light Yakurr, declaring the importance of divine grace in sustaining both personal and professional life. Drawing from the opening chapter of the Gospel of John, the prelate emphasized that grace is not a one-time event but a continuous source of strength and renewal for those serving in ministry.

The sermon, based on John 1:16, “For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace,” explored the often-overlooked “crisis of functional self-reliance” in ministry. According to the prelate, many ministers begin their calling with a clear understanding of the grace of God, but somewhere along the way, they subtly transition into relying on their own efforts, forgetting that the grace which started their ministry is also what sustains it.

The prelate’s message was clear: grace is not only the foundation of ministry but its ongoing support. As John 1:16 reveals, “from His fullness we have all received,” grace is received, not achieved. He further challenged minsters and spouses to constantly ask for and receive grace, not just at the start of their journey, but throughout their ministries, marriages, and families. Further, His Eminence mentioned that ‘When grace is no longer actively received, ministry turns into performance, marriages turn into survival, and families bear the strain of unmet expectations’.

Exploring the theological richness of John’s words, His Eminence delved into three key truths that underpin a healthy, grace-filled life in ministry: Grace is not self-generated; rather, it flows from the fullness of Christ. No human effort, no matter how brilliant or disciplined, can equal the unlimited and limitless flow of grace that comes solely from Chris, Ministry is not about being great or living a perfect life, but about daily lowering oneself in order to receive God’s favour. When preachers cease experiencing grace, their ministry, marriage, and family life begin to suffer, Grace is not a one-time event; it is an ongoing flow. Just as today’s grace is required for today’s circumstances, God extends “grace upon grace” to ensure that His servants are never left to battle alone.

The charge, which addressed the minsters and their spouses directly, declares on a number of significant ramifications of living in grace, such as:Marriages flourish through grace, not just compatibility; ministry is maintained by grace, not anointing alone; Ministers’ children are protected by grace rather than coercion. Grace, not endurance, is the foundation of perseverance in ministry.

For His Eminence, true revival begins with a collective turning back to God’s grace, the same grace that sustained the church in its infancy, will sustain it to the end.

He offered prayers to the participant, thus: “We are not sustained by discipline, reputation, or experience. We are sustained because: From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. And this grace will be sufficient for our ministries, for our marriages, for our families, and for the end.”

Rev. Albert I. Chima PhD

PCN DIPA