By Seyi Gesinde
December 13, 2025
The minister in charge of Fountain of Grace Church, Rev. Solomon Adebara, has called on believers to embrace the transformative power of GOD’s grace, mercy, and favour as the foundation for a successful and purposeful life.
Speaking at the CharisDay 2025 celebration on Saturday, December 13, themed “The Gift of Grace,” he delivered a message titled “GRACE, MERCY, AND FAVOUR.”
He told congregants, “By strength shall no man prevail.” Reflecting on his personal journey, he added, “I told GOD I don’t want to be a pastor, but I said, if I will be a pastor, You must be the Shepherd, and I will be the undershepherd.”
Drawing from nearly four decades of ministry rooted in grace, Rev. Adebara emphasised that human effort alone cannot sustain life’s purpose. “Grace is a very elaborate subject. May you understand grace fully. When you grasp it, struggle ceases, competition fades, and life begins to flow with divine ease,” he said.
He explained grace as God’s unmerited, unearned, and undeserved help that empowers salvation and enables believers to excel.
“Grace is free, empowering, and rooted in Christ,” he said, referencing Ephesians 2:8,9, Romans 3:24, and 2 Corinthians 12:9. “When the grace of GOD is active in your life, it will be sufficient for everything,” he added, citing John 1:16, Titus 2:11,12, and Lamentations 3:23.
Highlighting biblical examples, he said, “Even a man condemned to death received grace” (Luke 23:42,43). “Paul, an apostle, who came last, was personally pursued by Jesus Christ, he enjoyed grace.
By the grace of GOD, he became who he was” (1 Corinthians 15:10). He further encouraged believers, “I can do all things through CHRIST who strengthens me. What you have not done is what you have not asked GOD to do for you.”
On mercy, Rev. Adebara noted, “Mercy is GOD withholding what we deserve, judgement and punishment. I will have mercy on whom I will show mercy.”
He explained that mercy often precedes grace, addressing guilt and preventing destruction, warning, “When you are not merciful to others, you are destroying yourself. Show mercy and reap mercy. If you don’t sow mercy, you won’t have mercy.
He charged, declaring, “May mercy triumph over judgement in your life.”
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Rev. Adebara referenced Psalm 103:8,10, Micah 7:18, James 2:13, and Luke 18:13 to stress that mercy overrules judgement and must be sought continually. “Always ask for mercy even when you have not sinned,” he added, “David, who deserved death, Nineveh, and the woman caught in adultery.”
On favour, he described it as GOD’s tangible approval granting preferential treatment, advantages, acceptance, and opportunities beyond natural ability.
“When the favour of GOD is active in your life, someone who has done you good will wonder, ‘Why did I do it?’” Favour, he said, “makes people like you, brings divine preference, and opens doors no one can shut” (Psalm 5:12, Proverbs 3:3, Luke 2:52).
He advised, “Glue yourself to grace early, and you won’t regret it. Grace grows because Jesus grew. If GOD must favour you, it is He who initiates it. Take eye service out of your life, seek to please GOD alone.”
He cited Joseph, who found favour in prison (Genesis 39:39,41), and Esther, who became queen through GOD’s favour.
Distinguishing the three, grace, mercy, and favour, he said, “With mercy, God does not give you what you deserve, condemnation or imprisonment. With grace, God gives you what you don’t deserve, and through favour, God grants advantages and access you don’t earn.”
He added, “Grace empowers and saves, mercy withholds judgement, favour elevates and distinguishes. Mercy preserves you, favour promotes and opens doors. Favour, Psalm 5:12, mercy spares you, grace saves and empowers you, favour elevates and distinguishes you.”
The minister emphasised the indispensable role of grace: “Grace is the divine currency to access GOD’s blessings. No matter how talented or good-intentioned you are, no one can succeed without depending fully on God.”
“Whatever you are is by the grace of GOD. Grace makes us spectacular achievers with minimal struggles. When the grace of GOD is busy in your life, your race will be easy,” he said.
Rev. Adebara explained that grace is the work of the Holy Spirit in a man, enabling him to live a divine life on earth, saying, “Grace qualifies the unqualified, gives the ability to do the unusual, and helps you outperform your contemporaries and superiors. Grace is unsolicited divine assistance.”
He cited Proverbs 4:9, “Grace is an invincible crown that determines how life treats you,” and recalled Noah, who found grace and accomplished the unusual. “Don’t try to please man to get it; please GOD. With grace, GOD even causes your enemies to be at peace with you.”
He referenced 2 Corinthians 3:18, “The more you behold Jesus, the more you have grace,” and 1 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
The cleric urged believers, “Don’t be dishonest to succeed in life. Don’t do eye service. Run your race through GOD. When people try to run you down, don’t run them down.”
On stirring up grace, he instructed, “Acknowledge its presence, focus, follow GOD, keep moving. Live righteously” (Genesis 6:8,9, 7:1, Romans 6:1,2), “learn obedience” (1 Samuel 15:22,23), “practice humility, humble yourself before GOD, intercede and pray” (Hebrews 4:16).
He added, “Grace flows as hearts repent” (Zechariah 12:10) and “is renewed daily” (Lamentations 3:23). “When you leave where GOD has allocated you, your allocation will not come. As you intercede and pray, you draw grace.”
Concluding, Rev. Adebara charged, “Glue yourself to grace early. Embrace mercy and favour as daily realities. Seek to please GOD alone, and allow His grace, mercy, and favour to shape your life, end struggle, and produce enduring impact.”
