Efc2026: Impartation Service — Wings Of Faith Day 5 by Bishop David Oyedepo: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The Requirement: A Genuine Crave

Every impartation of grace demands a crave — not just a presence. No one is permitted access to any grace they do not crave for.

Elisha knew this. When Elijah was about to depart, Elijah said: what exactly do you want? Elisha named it precisely. A crave must be specific.

There are graces upon persons and graces upon churches. The grace of serenity in ministry was something craved — too much energy was being exerted in ministry, and another man's serenity was visible and desirable. That grace was pursued — from here to America, not from one side of town to the other. And it came.

If there is a grace you see working somewhere and you lack it, it is wisdom to be awake and go after it. What you don't crave for, you are not permitted access to. A crave. A crave. God pours water only upon him that is thirsty.

Without a crave, your presence means nothing. It is an inner thing — it has nothing to do with how you look. It has to do with where you stand in your spirit man.

Grace: Divine Enablement for Specific Virtues

Grace can be defined as divine enablement that enhances specific value-adding virtues.

Not all who have strength and skill actually labour. Not all who labour are disciplined and focused. Students do not fail in school because they lack potential — but because they will not engage their potential. Everything is in them.

Upon salvation, we have access to the manifold grace of God — the many-sided grace covering innumerable aspects and infinite varieties of life. 1 Peter 4:10-11 — as everyone has received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.

When Jesus came, diverse manifestations were seen that are not listed among the gifts of the spirit — they are raw manifestations of the manifold grace of God:

• The grace of focus. When they came to make him king by force, he fled (John 6:15). At the cross he said: to this end was I born and for this cause came I to the world (John 18:37). One end, one cause, lived for that cause throughout until he said it is finished. Behind the making of first-class citizens in the kingdom is focus. If your eye be single, your whole body will be full of light. Focus is grace.
• The grace of discipline. At twelve years old he was already in his Father's business. To the disciples going to buy food, while they were gone he was actively engaging a woman in the word, pursuing his mission in season and out of season. He was hungry but ministering. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me and to finish his work. Paul said: all things are lawful for me but all things are not expedient. I will not be brought under the power of any (1 Corinthians 6:12). Discipline is grace.
• The grace of serenity. Mark 4:37-39 — there was a storm on the sea. He was fast asleep on the pillow in the midst of the storm. When they woke him up, he said peace be still and there was a great calm. The Lord shall fight for you as long as you hold your peace. Anxieties and apprehensions — all expressions of doubt — put God off. Serenity is grace. Grace and peace multiply by knowledge (2 Peter 1:2).
• The grace of study. The Bible says about Jesus: how knoweth this man letters, having never learned? (John 7:15). That is grace. Paul was a lifelong student until he went to heaven. Bring me my books. Bring my notes. Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman that will not be ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15).
• The grace of liberality. This is the covenant gateway to supernatural prosperity — and it is not a gift of the spirit. 2 Corinthians 8:1-5 — the Macedonian church, in deep poverty and great trial of affliction, had abundance of joy and gave beyond their power to give. They were willing of themselves, praying to be allowed to give. Paul said: that is grace. Stinginess is a result of lack of grace. Abraham, with a great financial empire, was a liberal soul — he gave and gave until he gave his only begotten son. He that gives to the poor shall not lack (Proverbs 28:27). Jesus came to give: I came that you may have life and have it more abundantly.

Grace to Labor: The Mystery Behind Greatness

There is no anointing for labor. It is grace to labor.

1 Corinthians 15:10 — Paul speaking: But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. But I labored more abundantly than them all — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

Productive labor is the security of everyone's future. Proverbs 14:23 — in all labor there is profit, but the talk of the lips leads only to poverty. The hand of the diligent shall bear rule but the slothful shall remain under tribute. The throne in every field of human endeavor is open to the diligent — not the slothful.

Proverbs 22:29 — see that a man diligent in his business? He shall stand before kings. He shall not stand before obscure men.

There are three dimensions of why labor must engage grace:

1. Labor must be continuous

   It was labor that gave Isaac his enviable future. Isaac sowed in the land — in the time of drought — and the Lord blessed him. He went forward and waxed very great and the Philistines envied him. When they filled his wells, he dug again. When they contended again, he dug again. He dug until they got tired. He secured his enviable future through productive labor. You cannot afford to stop. Receive grace to occupy until he comes. There are next levels of glory ahead of you — we need grace to see glory and still labor. To build your dream house and have your dream car and still be laboring requires grace — because that was the dream. You have it. Now you think you have arrived. That is the Laodicean syndrome that comes when the grace to labor is lacking. The grace for continuity is what is needed.

2. Labor must be delightsome

   Deuteronomy 28:47 — because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart for the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies. Come and say God forbid. The delight factor demands grace — particularly having to do it in season and out of season. You serve God as a burden, it is counterproductive. You engage your business as a burden, it will not deliver. So the delight factor demands grace.

3. Labor must be willful

   1 Corinthians 9:17 — if I do this willingly, I have a reward. 2 Corinthians 8:12 — if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted. Isaiah 1:19 — if you be willing and obedient, you will eat the good of the land. It is willful obedience that flies. Nobody has ever needed to encourage this ministry in fifty years. It has been Matthew 6:33 from the beginning. Fifty years come September. And the results are in the fruit.

Developing the Wings of Faith

Only a strong ego — one with strong faith — can develop strong wings. Nothing strengthens a believer in battle like faith.

Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego — we are not careful to answer you in this matter. We are never about your graven image. God delivered them because they trusted in their God (Daniel 3:28). Daniel in the lion's den — God delivered Daniel because he believed in his God (Daniel 6:23).

The two wings of the eagle are the word and prayer. The apostles said: we will give ourselves wholly to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4). And in verse 7: the word of God increased and the number of disciples multiplied greatly.

• The word wing means living by the word — not quoting it, not memorizing it, but engaging the truth of scripture as a lifestyle. Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. Eagles feed on fresh kills, not dead kills. Yesterday's manna goes rotten. Fresh manna — there was not one feeble person among their tribes for forty years. No health issues. Fresh manna.

  The word does not only strengthen the believer — it puts believers in command of signs and wonders. Exodus 4:17 — take this rod in your hand and with it you shall do signs. And they went forth preaching the word, and God confirmed it with signs and wonders following. The word also triggers supernatural breakthroughs — Isaiah 60:1: arise and shine, your light is come. The entrance of his word gives light.

• The prayer wing means engaging a fervent prayer altar as a lifestyle. Jesus taught us to pray and among those words: give us this day our daily bread — making prayer a daily requirement. Paul prayed without ceasing (Romans 1:9). Even in prison, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises aloud — and heavens came down. Prayer is the altar of renewal of strength. Isaiah 40:31 — they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not be weary. They shall walk and not faint.

  There is one dimension of prayer that must be recovered: communion. Exodus 31:18 — God gave Moses the tablets when he had made an end of communing with him upon Sinai. Prayer is ordained as communion with God. Isaiah 41:21 — produce your cause, says the Lord. Bring forth your strong reasons. That daughter of Abraham in Luke 13 gave God seven reasons why she should not be sick — that is communion. Isaiah 43:26 — put me in remembrance. Let us plead together. Declare that you may be justified. Settle down and say: Lord, why am I roaming around the same spot financially? I need the grace to move. Jesus, there must be a way out. Come up to the realm of communion in your prayers — reasoning with God, not just requesting from him. The prodigal son simply communed with himself and it set his feet on the path home. How much more when you commune with God. You never run out of solutions again.

Requirements for Impartation of Grace

1. A Genuine Crave

   For the grace you desire.

2. Spiritual Connectivity

   To the source of that grace. Proverbs 27:18-19 — he that keeps the fig tree shall eat the fruit. So a man that waits on his master shall be honoured. As in water face answers to face, so of man to man. Rivers don't flow uphill — grace flows downhill. The less is blessed of the better (Hebrews 7:7). Being spiritually connected to a carrier of that grace — maintaining the connection without disconnecting — is how the flow is sustained. I have followed one apostle since 1976. That is fifty years. I have followed Copeland since 1977 — forty-nine years. Spiritual connectivity is not running around. It is faithfulness to the mains so the flow does not cease in your house.

3. Honour the Carrier in Your Heart

   Not with the mouth only — because God rejects lip honour when the heart is far away (Isaiah 29:3). Honour the carrier of the grace you seek in your heart.

4. Recognize the Carrier Occupies a Higher Realm

   For without all contradiction, the less is blessed of the better. Meekness is required. In this arrogant generation, nothing will flow to you from someone at your level or below you. It flows downhill.

The grace to labor productively — not only in the vineyard but in your various endeavors — come upon your life now. Grace for focus. Grace for discipline. Grace for serenity. Grace for study. Grace for liberality. Grace to keep working in season and out of season with delight. Grace for continuity. Grace to labor more abundantly than them all. Receive it now in the name of Jesus. Your level will never stop changing as you keep occupying. From this morning on, nobody will push you to pray, push you to study the word, push you to put the word to work. Willful, delightsome, continuous, productive labor — this is the grace that is released to your life today. In Jesus name.