“God’s Grace”

Acts 4:32-37

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all 34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need. 36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

The Rod

Believers trust that biblical parenting principles are beneficial to their children.

In Proverbs 13:24 it says…24He who spares the rod hates his son, but he who loves him is careful to discipline him.

The word “rod” can literally mean “staff” like that of a shepherd’s staff that the shepherd uses to guide a wayward sheep back to its fold or flock. When the shepherd brings his sheep to a pasture land, some sheep would stop along the way to eat some grass. Sometimes, the shepherd hits the sheep with the rod to get it moving but not to harm. The sheep sees the grass along the way to be good but the shepherd has better plan.

The word “rod” can also mean sceptre like ‘the sceptre of a king’ which symbolizes authority. When parents use the rod to discipline their children, it is not just for the sake punishing children but to use their authority to help the child to do better things. When children do not listen to soft and caring voices, parents would use literal staff, rod or stick to help children understand the instruction is important and not to be ignored.

Modern secular parenting advisors reject the idea of using stick to discipline a child. Using sticks to discipline a child is now considered a child abuse. Physical hurt that results to emotional hurt is enough ground to charge someone in a court.

Aware of that, sermons this days are modified so as not to hurt the feelings of listeners.

In 2 Timothy 4:3 we are reminded that Paul has prophesied about those things… 3For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Paul’s prophecy has proven true by TV preachers with thousands of listeners. Every speaker wishes to please his listeners because negative responses are not pleasing. But with biblical sermons, there will always be offended listeners who would resist it, why?

Because of our rebellious and sinful nature always resists the instructions of God. God’s words normally prick or hurt the proud and rebellious side of our humanity. No one is exempted. Everyone has his or her own human weaknesses, pride or rebellious nature of humanity.

What does that reminds us?

By His grace, Christ helps us to accept biblical instructions and disciplines positively.

This generation is emotionally hurting prompted by pride and the church experiences it also. As a church and as Christians, our testimony is becoming less effective because we unmindfully entertain the wounded feelings rather than to seek the grace of God. We are reminded that, only by God’s grace that we can become more effective in testifying. Trainings are helpful but it takes God’s grace at work in our life to testify more consistently.

1. Testify

32 All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. 33 With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all…

The apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus despite the threats and warnings of the Jewish leaders because God’s grace powerfully at work in them all. They shared everything they had testifies to the work of God’s grace in them.

To be an independent person is considered toughness or being a strong person. This independent frame of mind contradicts and ignores help from the grace of God. An independent person normally wants to do things according to his personal decisions.

When one receives God’s grace, it is tantamount or equivalent to being dependent to God.

There is a very proud feeling when one achieves something independently. Because of that independent mindset testifying about Christ became less effective.

The 1st church was very powerful in testifying about Christ because of God’s grace.

33 And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. NASV

The power in giving testimony about Christ’s resurrection and God’s grace is at work in the believer’s life are two sides of a coin, inseparable. God’s grace at work glorifies the Son of God and helps believers testify how Christ has changed his life powerfully. When God’s grace I at work in a believer’s, he cannot help but to go and testify.

William Carey

To surrender was one thing — to get to the field was quite another problem. There were no missionary societies and there was no real missionary interest. William Carey proposed this subject for discussion at a ministers’ meeting.

One of the founder of the Baptist Missionary Society, Dr. Ryland shouted, ” Young man, sit down:  If God wants to covert the heathen or the lost, He will do it without your aid or mine.”

Carey persisted and went to India in 1793 with his reluctant wife and children.

There were years of discouragement, no convert for 7 years, debt, disease, deterioration of mind of his wife, death of his son, but by God’s grace — Carey continued.

When he died at 73 (1834), the Scriptures was translated to 40 languages.

Carey was called not to baptize but to translate the Bible.

Discouragement and all kinds of problems will always be part of this earthly life. Whether you are called as fulltime minister, missionary, a church leader, each disciple is expected to testify of what God has done in our life and take part in the ministry. God want us to depend and allow His grace to work through us when witnessing. Only by the grace of God can we become effective in sharing the gospel of Christ.

Keep on praying for God’s grace to help you know which ministry you are to take part in. Each believer is called to take part in testifying about the resurrection of Christ. It is also by God’s grace that we can be more effective when taking part in God’s work.

2. Take Part

34 that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales 35 and put it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to anyone who had need.

God’s grace at work made the disciples take part in the ministry of sharing their abundance. The disciples were bringing money and put them at the apostles’ feet. By God’s grace, they trusted that the apostles will allocate the collection properly.

One example in particular was a Levite from Cyprus named, Joseph who sold his field.  36 Joseph, a Levite from Cyprus, whom the apostles called Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”), 37 sold a field he owned and brought the money and put it at the apostles’ feet.

Joseph or Barnabas, was specifically mentioned here because he became a significant figure in the spiritual growth of Paul. What so special about him was, he was a Levite who supposed to have sets of beliefs but came to believe in Christ. Barnabas (which means “son of encouragement”) was not from Jerusalem but from Cyprus became an encouragement to local believers to take part in sharing things.

The giving of the disciples and the mentioning of a Levite points to God’s grace at worked in the life of the Israelites, way back when they were about to build the Tabernacle.

In Exodus 36:2-7 Moses told the Israelite what to offer for the building of the Tabernacle.

Then Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and every skilled person to whom the Lord had given ability and who was willing to come and do the work. 3 They received from Moses all the offerings the Israelites had brought to carry out the work of constructing the sanctuary. And the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled workers who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left what they were doing and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.” Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.

A talent acceptable to God and willingness to take part in the ministry come from the Lord. God’s grace inspires to give generously and participate in the ministry without reluctance. The enthusiasm to take part in church ministries is the work of God’s grace. To give offering generously is inspired by God to take part/participate in His work.

Reluctance in giving generously displays that God’s grace is passive not actively at work. Believers whom God’s grace is at work do not bother how leaders allocate the collection.

Faithful giving is one of the qualifying requirements to be elected in the BOT. It is good to know that BOT members are faithful givers, but when members trust their elected leaders in administering the collection in the church, it is the work of God’s grace.

Faithful giving shows that the person is inclined to take part in God’s work. Taking part in the church ministry selflessly or generously is a testimony of an obvious manifestation of the grace of God working powerfully and actively in the life of the believer.

When the Holy Spirit is ignored, discouragement, depression, friction are experienced. Discouragement, problems and difficulties are signal lights for us to seek God’s grace.

Snow makes drivers drive slowly and that would deter or discourage the independent attitude to drive his fancy car independently. Snow, however, is a reminder that our powerful God is in control of weather. Problem comes anytime, anywhere and we cannot do anything to prevent it just as we cannot do anything to prevent snow from falling during winter.

Each time snow falls, praise God because it is a reminder that our God is powerful. It takes God’s grace at work in our life enjoy snow and to be effective to testify about Christ’s resurrection and to take part in the ministry of the church, the body of Christ.

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