Today, we continue our series entitled “Living the Grace Life,” where we will learn to embrace and walk in God’s unmerited, unearned, and often undeserved favor throughout 2025.
As part of this series, I am teaching a verse-by-verse exposition of the book of Galatians. Let’s get into it.
Key scriptures for this year:
2 Corinthians 9:8 TPT
“Yes, God is more than ready to overwhelm you with every form of grace, so that you will have more than enough of everything—every moment and in every way. He will make you overflow with abundance in every good thing you do.”
Galatians 5:4 TPT
“If you want to be made right with God by fulfilling the obligations of the law, you have cut off more than your flesh—you have cut yourselves off from Christ and have fallen away from the revelation of grace!”
Romans 6:14 ERV
“Sin will not be your master, because you are not under law. You now live under God’s grace.”
1 Corinthians 15:10 NIV
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.”
Scripture(s) we will study today:
Galatians 2:9 NIV
“James, Cephas and John, those esteemed as pillars of the church, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.”
Galatians 2:9 TPT
“And when James, Peter, and John—who were viewed as pillars of the church—recognized the grace that was given to me, they offered both Barnabas and me their right hand of fellowship, agreeing that we would minister to the non-Jewish people while they focused on reaching the Jewish people.”
Galatians 2:10 NIV
“All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.”
Galatians 2:10 TPT
“They simply requested that we would be mindful to minister to the poor, which was the very thing I was already eager to do.”
Setting the Stage:
Today, Paul shows us something beautiful about Kingdom partnerships. When the apostles in Jerusalem recognized the grace that was given to Paul, they didn’t compete with him—they partnered with him. They gave him and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, agreeing on their different spheres of ministry while maintaining unity in purpose.
Here’s what I want you to understand: When grace is properly recognized and honored, it creates powerful Kingdom partnerships that multiply impact far beyond what any individual could accomplish alone. The same grace that calls you to your assignment also connects you to the right people who will help you fulfill it.
So, what does this mean to you today? A few things.
1. The Grace on Your Life Will Attract Recognition and Support from the Right People at the Right Time.
Notice that the Jerusalem apostles “recognized the grace given to” Paul. They didn’t just see his ministry success or his impressive résumé—they recognized the grace of God operating through his life. When you’re walking in your grace assignment, the right people will recognize God’s grace on your life and be drawn to partner with you.
How this applies to you:
— You don’t have to promote yourself to the right people. When grace is on your assignment, the right people will recognize God’s favor on your life and will want to be associated with what God is doing through you.
— Stop trying to convince the wrong people about your calling. The right people won’t need convincing. The right people will see the grace and immediately want to partner with you. At the same time, wrong people will question what the right people celebrate.
— Grace makes you attractive to people who can help you fulfill your assignment. Doors will open, introductions will happen, and opportunities will arise that you could never orchestrate in your own strength.
— When you’re walking in grace, people will want to invest in what God is doing through you. Resources, opportunities, and partnerships will flow toward what grace is producing in your life. The key is to remain humble and focused on your assignment, not on getting recognition.
— The timing of these connections is sovereign. Just like the apostles recognized Paul’s grace when it was time for the next level of his ministry, your Kingdom partnerships will emerge when you’re ready for the next phase of your assignment.
— Don’t despise small beginnings or feel frustrated when recognition doesn’t come immediately. This did not happen for Paul until after 14 years of ministry. God orchestrates recognition according to His timeline, not yours.
— Your character and consistency in your current assignment prepare you for the partnerships you’ll need in your next assignment. The apostles could recognize Paul’s grace because they had observed his faithfulness over time. People are watching even when you don’t know they are watching.
2. Grace Partnerships Include Both Vision and Compassion.
Notice what the apostles asked of Paul: “remember the poor.” They didn’t just want him to fulfill his assignment to reach the Gentiles—they wanted him to do it with compassion for those in need. When God gives you a grace-based partnership, it will give birth to a Kingdom vision, and it will be filled with Kingdom compassion.
How this applies to you:
— Your assignment should always include a heart for people who are struggling or in need. While you can make the argument that those in need have done things to place themselves there, God does not care. Grace is free. Grace is a gift. Therefore, God’s grace isn’t just about reaching your goals. The grace of God on your life also includes the power to bless others and lift them up as you climb.
— The people you partner with should share your heart for compassion, not just your vision for success. Look for partners who care about people, not just profits or platforms.
— Remember that your success creates opportunities to help others who are where you used to be. The goodness and grace of God in your life come with a responsibility to help others.
— James said, “Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.” James 1:27 (TPT). Be careful when you are considering partnering with someone who is just focused on money. The love of money is deceitful. Money corrupts. Don’t let it corrupt you.
— The grace and blessing on your life should benefit more than just you. As you walk in your assignment and you partner with the right people, the Holy Spirit will lead you and your partners to look for ways to BLESS those in need.
— Compassion keeps your heart tender and your motives pure as you fulfill your assignment. Don’t let success and money harden your heart toward people who need help.
— Partner with people who have a proven track record of helping others, not just helping themselves. True Kingdom partners are givers, not just takers.
— Your partnerships should create platforms for generosity, not just platforms for personal advancement.
3. Grace Partnerships Are Confirmed by Mutual Agreement and a Shared Mission.
The apostles didn’t just tolerate Paul’s calling; they agreed with it. They said, “we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised.” True Kingdom partnerships are built on mutual agreement about God’s plan and shared commitment to advancing His Kingdom.
How this applies to you:
— Don’t force partnerships with people who don’t share your vision or understand your assignment. Wait for the people who not only recognize your grace but also agree with God’s plan for your life.
— Your partnerships should be based on shared mission, not just shared benefits. When you’re both committed to advancing God’s Kingdom, the partnership will withstand challenges and setbacks. But when you don’t agree on the purpose or mission of what you are doing, the partnership will either fall apart or it will cause endless frustration for both sides.
— Agreement about roles and responsibilities prevents confusion and conflict later. Just like Paul and the apostles clearly defined their spheres, you should have a clear understanding of who does what in your partnerships.
— Mutual respect for each other’s calling is essential for successful Kingdom partnerships. Don’t partner with people who don’t value what God has called you to do, even if they could help you in other ways. Their help is not worth it if they don’t value YOU.
— Your partnerships should feel like divine connections, not forced relationships. When God brings the right people into your life, there will be a natural agreement and flow in the relationship.
— Shared mission creates shared sacrifice. Both Paul and the Jerusalem apostles were willing to make sacrifices to advance their respective assignments. True partners invest in each other’s success.
— Your agreements should be clear and specific. The apostles were specific about who would reach whom, and they were specific about remembering the poor. Clear agreements prevent future misunderstandings and help partnerships succeed long-term.
4. Grace Partnerships Position You for Greater Impact Than You Could Ever Achieve Alone.
When Paul received “the right hand of fellowship” from the Jerusalem apostles, he wasn’t getting their approval (because he didn’t need it)—he was gaining their partnership, their support, and access to their network. This partnership positioned Paul for global impact that he never could have achieved as a lone ranger. Grace doesn’t just give you an assignment; it connects you to the partnerships that multiply your assignment.
How this applies to you:
— God never intended for you to fulfill your assignment alone. The grace that calls you also connects you to the people, resources, and networks you need to succeed at levels beyond your individual capacity.
— Your current level of impact is often limited by your current level of partnerships. When grace brings the right partnerships into your life, your influence and effectiveness will multiply exponentially.
— The people who recognize your grace often have access to platforms, resources, and opportunities that you don’t have access to on your own. Partnership gives you access to what you couldn’t reach by yourself.
— Your partnership network becomes your ministry network. Just like Paul gained access to the Jerusalem church’s support and credibility, your partnerships will open doors that your individual efforts never could.
— Don’t underestimate the power of endorsement from the right people. When the Jerusalem apostles gave Paul their endorsement, it gave him credibility and authority throughout the early church. The right partnerships validate your assignment to people who might otherwise question it.
— Your greatest seasons of impact will often coincide with your greatest seasons of partnership. Paul’s most fruitful ministry years came after this meeting in Jerusalem, when he had both the assignment and the partnership support to fulfill it. Prepare for your greatest impact as God brings the right partnerships into your life.
Declaration of Faith:
Father, thank You for bestowing grace on my life that attracts recognition from the right people at the right time.
I thank You for connecting me with Kingdom partnerships that multiply my impact.
My partnerships include both vision and compassion for those in need.
I partner with people who share my mission and recognize my grace.
My partnerships position me for greater impact than I could achieve alone.
I have access to networks and resources through the divine connections You have given me.
I give the right hand of fellowship to others walking in their grace.
Father, my greatest seasons of impact coincide with my greatest partnerships.
You connect me to the right people at the right times for the right things to happen.
I am living #TheGraceLife, and GREATER IS COMING FOR ME in 2025 and beyond!
I declare this by faith. In Jesus’ name. Amen!
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper!
