By Seyi Gesinde
December 14, 2025
The shepherd in charge of Grace Covenant International Christian Bible Church, Rev Akinlolu Raphael, has charged believers to recognise and access the gift of God’s grace as the foundation for achieving life purpose and fulfilling divine calling.
Ministering on “Accessing the Gift of God’s Grace,” anchored on 1 Corinthians 15:9–10, on the final day of CHARISDAY 2025, Sunday, December 14, 2025, Rev Raphael said grace is the cornerstone for every aspect of Christian life and purpose fulfilment.
Addressing worshippers, he described grace as limitless, saying, “Grace is an inexhaustible topic. Everything about the Bible is grace. Nobody begins anything in the Kingdom outside God’s grace. You can become anything outside of God, He won’t stop you.”
In his message, Rev Akinlolu Raphael referenced the Biblical account of the Tower of Babel to illustrate human effort without God, pointing to Genesis 11:1–4 where people said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, and a tower whose top will reach into heaven, and let us make for ourselves a name” so that they would not be scattered across the earth.
He explained that this story shows how people can succeed in making a name for themselves apart from God, yet such success is meaningless in the Kingdom. Rev Raphael said the builders of that tower were acting independently of God’s will, but “in the Kingdom, you don’t become anything outside grace.
He said, “They wanted to build a tower outside God, and He knew they would succeed. But in the Kingdom, you don’t become anything outside grace. It is by grace you enter the Kingdom, and it is by grace you sustain it,” underscoring that true purpose and fulfilment come only through God’s grace.
Rev Raphael highlighted Apostle Paul’s life as a testimony of grace’s transformative power, declaring, “Grace will cancel your deficit. It will qualify you against your disqualifications. Paul felt he was not qualified, but by the grace of God he became what he was. Grace will not reckon with your past.”
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Quoting Paul’s words, “By the grace of God I am what I am,” he warned that grace, though freely given, can be neglected. “God’s grace bestowed upon him was not in vain. It can be wasted. It is accessible, but you may not be accessing it. The demands of grace are higher than the demands of the law. The law does not empower you, but grace empowers you. Grace is both a provision and an empowerment.”
He emphasised the critical role of grace in achieving life purpose. “The gift of God’s grace is a game-changer in purpose fulfilment. Every human being came with a purpose. Paul was already ordained to be a great apostle before his time, yet he was a ‘Boko Haram’. No one can accomplish their God-given purpose outside God’s grace. The purpose you carry from heaven, you can never become it without grace.”
Rev Raphael contrasted worldly success with Kingdom purpose, stating, “In life, you are either a self-made man or a grace-made man. There are great men and women who don’t know God, and their greatness is outside the Kingdom. If your focus is purpose fulfilment, it cannot be outside grace.”
He further warned of spiritual distraction, explaining, “The devil wants you to neglect God’s grace. He will offer you greatness outside the Kingdom, just as he deceived Adam.”
On salvation and evangelism, he challenged believers: “Genuine salvation will add great passion to your bones. You will be intended to bring others to Christ. It is wickedness not to bring others to Christ. Grace is available to all men, but nothing happens until it is accessed.”
Rev Raphael explained that accessing grace requires faith, humility, knowledge, and prayer. “Grace means it is free. Once work is added, it is no longer grace. Until grace is accessed, it cannot function. Every grace you need to fulfil your purpose is already available.”
He cited Ephesians 4:7, reminding believers, “God has given all of us grace according to the measure of Christ. Everyone carries something,” and encouraged worshippers, “Go boldly to the throne of grace where there is no condemnation.”
Outlining grace as both provision and enablement, he said, “Grace as provision brings salvation. Grace as enablement allows you to enter destiny, enhances your calling, and leaves no room for failure. You will become who God created you to be.”
He concluded with a charge to steward grace faithfully: “Grace is for divine assignment, not decoration. Grace can be wasted. Grace covers every area of your life. Grace is a lifter, and you will give account of how you used it,” citing 1 Corinthians 4:10, 2 Corinthians 12:9, and Zechariah 4:6–7.
