Acts 20:24 (NKJV)
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
Romans 1:16 (NKJV)
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.”
Exposition
The Gospel is fundamentally the good news of God’s grace—His unmerited favor extended to sinful humanity through Jesus Christ. At the heart of our Lenten theme, Grace and Truth (John 1:16–17), lies the mandate to proclaim this Gospel boldly and faithfully.
In Acts 20:24, Apostle Paul expresses a deep sense of divine assignment. His life mission was not centered on personal safety or comfort but on fulfilling the ministry given to him—to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. This reveals that the Gospel is not merely a message to be admired, but a commission to be executed.
Similarly, Romans 1:16 emphasizes the potency of the Gospel. It is not just persuasive speech or religious philosophy; it is the power of God unto salvation. This power transforms lives, redeems sinners, restores destinies, and reconciles humanity back to God.
The Gospel of grace declares that salvation is not earned by works but received by faith in Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:8–9). This message is urgently needed in a world burdened by sin, guilt, and spiritual confusion. Many are trapped in darkness, yet the Gospel remains the divine instrument for their deliverance.
As believers, we are called to:
- Preach with boldness (2 Timothy 1:7–8)
- Preach with clarity (1 Corinthians 14:8)
- Preach with compassion (Matthew 9:36)
- Preach with urgency (2 Corinthians 6:2)
The Gospel must not be diluted, hidden, or compromised. It must be proclaimed in its fullness—declaring both the grace that saves and the truth that transforms.
Key Lessons
- The Gospel is a divine assignment, not a suggestion
Every believer is entrusted with the responsibility of sharing the message of grace. - Grace is the foundation of salvation
No sinner is beyond redemption when they encounter the grace of God. - The Gospel carries inherent power
It is not our eloquence but God’s power that saves. - Boldness is essential in Gospel proclamation
Fear and shame must not silence our witness.
Pastor Ebenezer Yinka Daramola
Prayer Points
- Father, thank You for saving me by grace as I put my faith in the finished works of our Lord Jesus. (Ephesians 2:8-9).
- Father, thank You that I am no more a sinner, but I am now a bonafide child of God since the day I confessed with my mouth the Lord Jesus and believed in my heart that God raised Him from the dead in Jesus’ name. (Romans 10:9-10).
- Father, I thank You for redeeming me through the blood of Jesus, the forgiveness of my sins, according to the riches of Your grace in Jesus’ name. (Ephesians 1:7).
- Father, forgive me sometimes for not living by the grace You extended to save me and for not preaching this gospel of grace as I should to save other sinners in Jesus’ name. (Galatians 3:3, 1Corinthians 9:16).
- Father, I destroy every form of busyness that the devil is using to distract me from preaching the gospel of grace right now in Jesus’ name. (1Kings 20:39-40).
- Father, I choose to break free from the things of this world that I have been chasing that have decreased my passion for preaching the gospel of grace to save the sinners in Jesus’ name. (Matthew 6:33).
- Father, by Your grace I choose to preach the gospel of grace henceforth passionately as it is the only way sinners could receive salvation in Jesus’ name. (Romans 1:16).
- Father, as I choose to preach Your word, help me by Your Spirit to only preach the gospel of grace to save sinners and not another gospel that some are preaching nowadays in Jesus’ name. (Galatians 1:9).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace, help me by Your Spirit to overcome all kinds of persecutions that the religious people may bring my way in Jesus’ name. (Acts 20:22-23).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace, help me by Your Spirit never to be moved nor count my life dear to me so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I received from You in Jesus’ name. (Acts 20:24).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace, confirm Your word through accompanying miracles, signs, wonders, deliverances, healings, and so on in Jesus’ name. (Mark 16:20).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace with accompanying signs, let the sinners gladly receive Your word and come into the Kingdom in multitude in Jesus’ name. (Acts 2:41).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace to save sinners, by the help of Your Spirit, help me to discipline my body so that I should not become disqualified at the end of my earthly journey in Jesus’ name. (1Corinthians 9:27).
- Father, as I choose to preach the gospel of grace, none of the rewards of my services, sacrifices, efforts, and labour of love shall elude me in Jesus’ name. (Corinthians 3:14-15).
- Father, thank You for answering all my prayers, thank You for the testimonies and the manifestations that shall surely follow in Jesus’ name. (1 John 5:14-15).
