Sinners Saved By Grace!

Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death.

Paul is known as the Apostle of Grace. I have observed that some of the greatest Christians, like Paul, were some of the greatest sinners. I understand this is not always the case. Praise God for those people who grew up in Christian homes and believed from an early age and serve God with their whole hearts.

But when a low down, rotten, Christian persecuting, martyr-making sinner like Saul does a full 180 degree turn by God's grace and becomes a Gospel preaching, soul-winning machine like Paul, God's grace is showcased.

As Jesus said of the sinful woman turned grateful servant, "Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little." Indeed, where sin abounds, grace does much more abound. And when the sin is greater, then grace is even much more so. The greater the wickedness of the sinner, the more amazing the efficacy of God’s grace.

I remember once preparing to preach a message in Mexico about God's amazing grace. The missionary forewarned me that such a concept wouldn't translate in their culture. He said that grace for them was a concept of God's gift that is truly wonderful, but to be expected rather than to be amazed with. It was easy enough to change the message to God's wonderful grace and it worked well. However, I felt sorry for them that they would not be blessed to live in constant amazement that they are targets of God's great grace.

That we are all sinners is undeniable. But those who receive Christ as Savior becoming beneficiaries of grace, God's unmerited favor to us wicked sinners, is unfathomable! To me, as with Saul/Paul, grace is the greatest concept in the universe. It is the most amazing act of the most gracious Being Who condescended to the most undeserving recipients.

I thank God that I am a sinner saved by grace.

The Angel Faced Deacon

Act 6:15 And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel.

Stephen was among the number of the first set of deacons of the church at Jerusalem. He also held the distinction of being the first of the 10's of millions of that special class of Christians called martyrs.

He is recorded as being full of faith and power and God used him to work great wonders and miracles among the people. (vs 8)

Additionally, he spoke irresistibly with wisdom and in the Spirit. (vs 10)

Now, Deacon Stephen is being falsely accused, as was his Lord and Savior. Rather than get angry and bitter, he took on the visage of an angel!

I have known a lot of deacons in my day, and most of them were great guys, but I have yet to witness one looking like an angel.

Chapter 7 records the answer of Stephen to his accusers. He gives them the history of Israel in a nutshell, leading up to the coming of the Just One and their rejection of Him.

What really threw them over the edge was when this deacon was so filled with the Holy Ghost that he stared up into heaven, actually seeing the Glory of God and Jesus STANDING at the father's right hand. This is the only time recorded when Jesus stood up from His throne in glory. Imagine that, a standing O from the Lord!

They were so angered at angel face that they threw a great collective tantrum, biting him, putting their fingers in their ears, crying out to drown out his accusations against their actions, stomping on him, throwing him out of the city and stoning him.

One last act of this deacon was most impressive. While dying, he kneeled down and shouted out, "Lord, lay not this sin to their charge." How like his Lord Stephen was! The next moment, he was in the arms of his Redeemer and living with the angels that he resembled.

David's Great Distress - I Sam 30:6

1Sa 30:1 And it came to pass, when David and his men were come to Ziklag on the third day, that the Amalekites had invaded the south, and Ziklag, and smitten Ziklag, and burned it with fire; 2 And had taken the women captives, that were therein: they slew not any, either great or small, but carried them away, and went on their way. 3 So David and his men came to the city, and, behold, it was burned with fire; and their wives, and their sons, and their daughters, were taken captives. 4 Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep. 5 And David's two wives were taken captives, Ahinoam the Jezreelitess, and Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite. 6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the LORD his God.


"Greatly Distressed" - pressed, feeling extremely pressured. We call it stress.

What Is Stress? Stress is a feeling that's created when we react to particular events. It's the body's way of rising to a challenge and preparing to meet a tough situation with focus, strength, stamina, and heightened alertness.

The events that provoke stress are called stressors, and they cover a whole range of situations — everything from outright physical danger to making a class presentation or taking a semester's worth of your toughest subject.

The human body responds to stressors by activating the nervous system and specific hormones. The hypothalamus signals the adrenal glands to produce more of the hormones adrenaline and cortisol and release them into the bloodstream. These hormones speed up heart rate, breathing rate, blood pressure, and metabolism. Blood vessels open wider to let more blood flow to large muscle groups, putting our muscles on alert. Pupils dilate to improve vision. The liver releases some of its stored glucose to increase the body's energy. And sweat is produced to cool the body. All of these physical changes prepare a person to react quickly and effectively to handle the pressure of the moment.

This natural reaction is known as the stress response. Working properly, the body's stress response enhances a person's ability to perform well under pressure. But the stress response can also cause problems when it overreacts or fails to turn off and reset itself properly.
Good Stress and Bad Stress

The stress response (also called the fight or flight response) is critical during emergency situations, such as when a driver has to slam on the brakes to avoid an accident. It can also be activated in a milder form at a time when the pressure's on but there's no actual danger — like stepping up to take the foul shot that could win the game, getting ready to go to a big dance, or sitting down for a final exam. A little of this stress can help keep you on your toes, ready to rise to a challenge. And the nervous system quickly returns to its normal state, standing by to respond again when needed.

But stress doesn't always happen in response to things that are immediate or that are over quickly. Ongoing or long-term events, like coping with a divorce or moving to a new neighborhood or school, can cause stress, too.

Long-term stressful situations can produce a lasting, low-level stress that's hard on people. The nervous system senses continued pressure and may remain slightly activated and continue to pump out extra stress hormones over an extended period. This can wear out the body's reserves, leave a person feeling depleted or overwhelmed, weaken the body's immune system, and cause other problems.

Signs of stress may be cognitive, emotional, physical or behavioral. Signs include poor judgment, a general negative outlook, excessive worrying, moodiness, irritability, agitation, inability to relax, feeling lonely, isolated or depressed, aches and pains, diarrhea or constipation, nausea, dizziness, chest pain, rapid heartbeat, eating too much or not enough, sleeping too much or not enough, social withdrawal, procrastination or neglect of responsibilities, increased alcohol, nicotine or drug consumption, and nervous habits such as pacing about, nail-biting and neck pains.

I think that one of the devil’s sharpest tools in his box is stress. It is what he uses to wear us down and make us ineffective, unhappy and tempted to throw in the towel.

Why was David so distressed?
1. His two wives were kidnapped and taken captive.
2. There was talk of stoning him
3. People were grieved
a. because they had lost everything they knew,
b. they had been in exile
c. their city had been destroyed by terrorists
d. their wives, sons and daughters were gone
e. They had wept until they had no more tears

What did David do about his stress?
There are many ways to deal with stress, (exercise, pill popping, diversion, meditation, aroma therapy, etc.) but David employed the best method...he encouraged himself in the Lord!

There wasn’t anyone else close by that was going to encourage him! Listen, people are busy. It is not that they don’t care, they do! People care. But we fail sometimes in praying for and encouraging one another. Don’t blame the other folks, just learn how to encourage yourself in the Lord. Then you won’t have to depend on others who forget, who get too busy, who neglect us sometimes.

1. He got into the Word - He wrote Psalms (blogged). The Word of God is alive, Heb. 4:12
2. He employed good, uplifting, music. He sang and played his instruments
3. He prayed (Repentance, wisdom, praise, complaint, trust, intercession, etc.)
4. He Talked things through (to the Lord). The typical Psalm; stated the problem, saw the Lord in that problem, trusted the Lord, praised the Lord.
5. He exhibited faith and trust – ours is based on what God has promised and what we have experienced in the past.
6. He took care of business. Go on and do what you have to do.
A few other things we can do when stressed…
7. Realize, this too shall pass.
8. Cast your care upon the Lord Mt 11:28-30, I Pet 5:7
9. Simplify your life, prioritize
10. Quit sinning. Sin is a drag because of the guilt and the consequence and causes great stress.

The Believers Were Stirred and the Place Was Shaken.

Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. 34 Neither was there any among them that lacked: for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold, 35 And laid them down at the apostles' feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need.

In this account, a notable miracle had occurred, thousands believed on Christ's name, great glory is given to God, the enemies of Jesus are left scratching their heads, fervent prayer was offered up, the Holy Ghost came down and the place was shaken.

Does this sound like anything you have experienced lately? In fact, when was the last time you were filled with the Holy Ghost? How long since you have been shaken by the Lord?

The status quo for many of us is a mundane Christianity without much excitement. We cherish our orthodoxy and cling to our mediocrity for fear someone may think we are off our rocker. Many professed believers take on the looks of the guy pictured above. Talk about "adorning the gospel"!

Orthodoxy loses nothing when we add a little Holy Ghost shaking and stirring to the mix.

If drab is what you grab, then stay with your dead faith. But if you want to add some life to your religion, start praising God even in the midst of your trials, praying like never before, asking God for some miracles, get filled with the Lord and speak His Word with boldness.

That will get you going on a whole new level of Christianity. Ask the Lord to shake the place where you are this week in prayer meeting. Beg Him to stir you from your religious lethargy into joy and rejoicing and revival.

We Need Another Whoosh

Act 2:2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.

This entering of the Spirit of God into their prayer meeting was:
Sudden - "suddenly"
Unexpected - Nothing was as it was before. There had been a crucifixion and resurrection. They had no idea what to expect next. Jesus, they knew, the Holy Spirit was another story.
Unprecedented - Nothing like this had ever transpired, but oh, what a welcome and needed event!
Powerful - "Mighty" It changed everything.
Complete - "It filled all the house where they were sitting" "They were all filled"

Unfortunately, many churches, many people within those churches, are content with the same old liturgical deadness. They are perfectly content with their song, song, prayer, song tradition, unwilling to allow the Spirit of God to bring His life-giving freshness to their services. How sad!

How long since you experienced the "whooshing" of the Holy Spirit in your church services? Perhaps it is time to get unified and pray, pray, pray for Him to move upon you!

The Beneficiary of the Book of Acts - Friend of God

Acts 1:1 The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, 2 Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen:
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:

The whole of the inspired Word of God contains a mere 66 books. And yet we find two of them written to this one man, Theophilus. Indeed, how blessed is he!

The Gospel of Luke is the former treatise mentioned here. Note Luke 1:3 for Dr. Luke's previous address to this blessed man.

This man, either a Greek or a Roman, is no doubt a student of Luke of which we know little else, only what these two verses reveal of him.

However, he was blessed with a good name which means "friend of God."

I am blessed by a secondary or spiritual interpretation of these verses which address these two books of the Word to Theophilus. That is that we who are blood-bought, born-again children of the Lord, are also called the friends of God (see Jn 15:15)

Therefore, the books of Luke and Acts are doubly meant for us as they were intended for all who would believe and for the friend of God.

Believe it!

Mar 16:11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them. 14 Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen. 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.

The disciples were having a belief problem. Numerous times Jesus told them that He must go to Jerusalem, suffer, die and rise again. He did just as He said. Now, as word comes to them, not once, but twice that He indeed was risen from the dead, they refuse to accept it.

You gotta know they were all wishing that this was all, somehow, a very bad dream, that it just wasn't so. These guys, who had witnessed with their own eyes, the Lord raising a young maid from the dead as well as Him stopping a funeral procession to bring a young man back to life, now refused to believe what they should have known was possible.

But still, they were too dull to get it...until Sunday night. He Who had walked on water to them saying, "Be not afraid" now walks through the wall to them saying, "Fear not!" He had to chide them for their unbelief.

However, in His very next directive He instructs them to go to the world and tell everyone else that He died and rose again and those that do believe will be saved.

They did what they were told, fully convinced and convincing that Jesus is alive.