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Word from Scotland
by Sandy Shaw
In Acts Chapters 3 and 4, where Peter and John heal that lame man in the Name of Jesus Christ and preach that Jesus is Risen from the dead, they are imprisoned, put on trial, threatened, refuse to compromise their calling in Christ, and are released and return to the waiting Fellowship, where all those present launch out in prayer.
What had they been thinking? What went through the minds of the believers in Jesus, when they learned that both Peter and John were in prison?
It was now against the law to preach in the Name of Jesus, so they prayed in the Name of Jesus, and we see how God responded to these disciples praying. What will happen if that becomes the law where you live?
In Acts 4:32, there is a unity in that fellowship, where all who believed in Jesus were willing and prepared to share. That is a tremendous miracle too.
They shared what they had, and went on powerfully testifying to the truth that Jesus Christ was Risen from the dead and alive. How often do you share your testimony in a responsible gracious way?
MUCH GRACE was with them ALL.
There was selling and sharing, and the leadership handled all this. God was pouring His Love into them, and His Power upon them. There is a purity in The Church at this time, just as at Creation there was a purity. Sadly, such qualities of purity did not last all that long, because of the enemy of God.
These people were so grateful for what Jesus had done for them that they have this desire in their hearts to give. The grace of God we have in our hearts will be reflected to some extent in our generosity. They want to show their love, and when we give to GOD normally we give through men.
You hear people say, "O I've always supported The Church". No, we don't support The Church. The Church supports us. We come into the fellowship to be supported, but in our being supported we are also supporting and ministering to others. That is why these times together are so important.
When we come together we are reminded too that we are not out there working away on our own.
In these final two verses of Chapter 4, we hear of a man called Barnabas, which means "son of encouragement". His actual name was Joseph, but he was always going around encouraging people and so was nicknamed, "Barnie"!
He had been forgiven by Jesus; saved, cleansed, baptised and born again, and now he would go around the others encouraging them. Are you a believer who is forever going around encouraging others? He sold a field, brought the money and laid it down at the apostle's feet. Great grace produces great generosity. Having met Jesus Christ, he set an example, which others followed.
Our God continues to look for men who have met Jesus Christ, to rise up and set an example which others can safely follow. Are you one of these men?
People do follow. They either follow a good example or a bad example. In Christ, we can set before people the finest possible example to follow in the whole world. God offers His Best and then says, "Share it".
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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