Jesus said, "Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in My Name, He may give it you." (John 15:16)
Peter opened his mouth, and said, "Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that fears Him, and works righteousness, is accepted with Him. The Word which God sent unto the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (He is Lord of all:) that Word, I say, ye know, which was published throughout all Judæa, and began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with Him." (Acts 10:34-38)
In both Jesus' teachings, and the instructions of the apostles, we begin to understand that there is no respecter of persons within the body of Christ church. Indeed, as the scriptures dictate, we who believe in the Lord Jesus by faith, and are seeking Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength are all equal -- chosen by our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ to serve Him.
This is not to suggest that the Lord does not bestow spiritual gifts upon those who believe so that we can flow through to one another, but rather that He has specifically designed the body of Christ so that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can be effectively proclaimed as a consequence of the members of His church working together in one accord. In fact, this is an essential part of His body of Christ church mission and mandate.
Scripturally, this one accord is specifically displayed on the day of Pentecost, the same day that the apostles' doctrine was established, and the first 3,000 souls saved. (Acts 2:36-47) Therein, not one was without which offers a clear example of how we are to love one another, and to also support one another, once we have received the gift. What is the gift? Let's look at Acts 2:38, wherein Peter standing with the eleven responded to the question -- "What must we do?"
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Apostle Paul further elaborates on these points in II Corinthians 8:
"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
This is not to suggest that the Lord does not bestow spiritual gifts upon those who believe so that we can flow through to one another, but rather that He has specifically designed the body of Christ so that the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ can be effectively proclaimed as a consequence of the members of His church working together in one accord. In fact, this is an essential part of His body of Christ church mission and mandate.
Scripturally, this one accord is specifically displayed on the day of Pentecost, the same day that the apostles' doctrine was established, and the first 3,000 souls saved. (Acts 2:36-47) Therein, not one was without which offers a clear example of how we are to love one another, and to also support one another, once we have received the gift. What is the gift? Let's look at Acts 2:38, wherein Peter standing with the eleven responded to the question -- "What must we do?"
Then Peter said unto them, "Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the Name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost." (Acts 2:38)
Apostle Paul further elaborates on these points in II Corinthians 8:
"Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia; how that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality. For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves; praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God. Insomuch that we desired Titus, that as he had begun, so he would also finish in you the same grace also. Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also.
I speak not by commandment, but by occasion of the forwardness of others, and to prove the sincerity of your love. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that ye through His poverty might be rich.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: BUT BY AN EQUALITY that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: THAT THERE MAY BE AN EQUALITY: as it is written, he that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
And herein I give my advice: for this is expedient for you, who have begun before, not only to do, but also to be forward a year ago. Now therefore perform the doing of it; that as there was a readiness to will, so there may be a performance also out of that which ye have. For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not. For I mean not that other men be eased, and ye burdened: BUT BY AN EQUALITY that now at this time your abundance may be a supply for their want, that their abundance also may be a supply for your want: THAT THERE MAY BE AN EQUALITY: as it is written, he that had gathered much had nothing over; and he that had gathered little had no lack.
But thanks be to God, which put the same earnest care into the heart of Titus for you. For indeed he accepted the exhortation; but being more forward, of his own accord he went unto you. And we have sent with him the brother, whose praise is in the gospel throughout all the churches; and not that only, but who was also chosen of the churches to travel with us with this grace, which is administered by us to the glory of the same Lord, and declaration of your ready mind: avoiding this, that no man should blame us in this abundance which is administered by us: providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you. Whether any do inquire of Titus, he is my partner and fellow helper concerning you: or our brethren be inquired of, they are the messengers of the churches, and the glory of Christ. Wherefore shew ye to them, and before the churches, the proof of your love, and of our boasting on your behalf." (II Corinthians 8:1-24)
We have so much to be thankful for, but more specifically, the love of our Lord God and Saviour Jesus the Christ, who willingly paid the price for our sins once and for all. As we can attest, His love for us was so abundant that He willingly became the second Adam (the Lord from heaven!) so that we could become beloved in Him. And, in so doing, He did not create the hierarchies and the hoops that this world forces us to jump through before being deemed a success. Instead, the Lord called us into His love, and from therein, when our hearts change toward Him, and we are water baptized in His precious holy Name -- the Name of the Lord Jesus -- our hearts desire only more of Him.
Yes, indeed, He becomes our all in all! Meditate on these things on this blessed day that the Lord hath made for you and I. Stand in the offering plate.
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