GRACE – God’s Divine Influence on our hearts and its Reflection in our Life – Part 5

There are 3 Ways that His Divine influence (Grace) are maximized in a believer’s life:

1. THE WORD OF GOD (review two weeks back ‘Now Matters’ to catch up on this one.)
2. THE HOLY SPIRIT – (review last weeks ‘Now Matters’ to catch up on this one)
3. THE CHURCH – The Church is given gifts to prepare us for the work of ministry.

It was with great power that the early Apostolic leaders testified to the resurrection of Jesus.

It was through spiritual gifts in the local church that believers were equipped to spread the Gospel. It may be difficult to wrap our mind around how God did this in the natural, but studying the Word brings clarity.

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and much grace was upon them all.

Acts 4:33  (NIV)

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us… 

Romans 12:6 (NIV)

There is saving grace (Ephesians 2:8) and there is living grace (II Peter 3:18). But there is also grace to minister. In the early church body collectively and individually there were gifts:

It was He (God) who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare  God’s people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up  until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. 

Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV)

It is through the grace (God’s divine influence and its reflection in our life) of God that the Gospel spread throughout the world. God’s divine influence was reflected in the lives of all believers. God confirmed the message of His grace through miraculous signs and wonders. 

But how did they do this? In previous ‘Now Matters’ devotions we explored the power of studying God’s Word and the fathering of the Holy Spirit so that God’s Grace can work in our lives. The early Church at large and individually did these two things.

The early Apostles also wrote letters to the believers as the Holy Spirit gave revelation to them,  of who they really were as born-again believers. The early believers read and re-read these letters. Many believers had no background in the history of God’s people nor of the Old Covenant. The gifts of the Holy Spirit in the Church leadership and followship was critical to the spreading of the Gospel. It took the Word, The Holy Spirit and the Church empowered gifts to change the world. It still does. It was God’s grace and truth in each believer that spread the gospel. As you continue to study the word Grace, I encourage you to include the definition of New Testament Grace: God’s Divine Influence and its Reflection in our Life!