Get Close To The Lord

SO SPEAK THE GOSPEL #3

Acts 14:1-3
“And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed. But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren. Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.”

Make sure what kind of church you are a member of. Make sure it is a church that preaches “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

The right kind of church bears the right kind of fruit.
The recipients of Grace. The leaders of the early church experienced the grace of God.

Acts 4:33
“And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.”

Paul often asserted that he was a recipient of grace. He spoke and wrote "through the grace given unto me...” Romans 15:15. He was “a wise masterbuilder, according to the grace of God which is given unto me.” I Corinthians 3:10. His abundant labors were the result of grace.

I Corinthians 15:10
“But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.”

His ministry to the Gentiles was of grace.

Ephesians 3:8
“Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;”

Thank God we can say with Paul “the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.” I Timothy 1:13,14. The members of the early church also received manifestations of the grace of the Lord. Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you.” II Corinthians 9:8. In at least ten of his epistles he saluted his addressees with the prayer that grace would abide upon them. “Ye are all partakers with me of grace,” he wrote to the Philippians. He told the beloved Ephesian friends, “unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.” Ephesians 4:7. All believers of every age and dispensation are recipients of grace. Grace was revealed on Calvary where Christ was a sacrifice for sin. The shadow of the cross reached backwards to Adam and forwards to the last soul to be saved. All men who have ever been saved, or who ever will be saved, are acceptable to God by virtue of Christ’s atoning work.

Ephesians 2:8
“for by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:”

The principle of grace, extends to all men of every age who are “accepted in the Beloved” Eph. 1:6. May I remind us that this is how they SO SPAKE. What a wonderful nugget of Gold!

Russell Stolp
Chaplain, CFO

Psalm 37:4 "Delight thyself also in the LORD: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart."
Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy
ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.