And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them. And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles’ feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need. Acts 4:32-35.
They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Acts 2:42.
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise, the fruit of lips that confess His name. And do not neglect to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. Hebrews 13:15-16.
Today your LORD (יהוה) God (אלהים) says:
Great grace was upon them all. That is the way I describe the first community of believers. Abundant, overflowing grace. You can determine how much grace is pouring into your life. My grace is unlimited, grace on top of grace, like the waves of the sea, and each time the wave rolls in it is also drawing you more and more into Me as each new wave flows into your life and pulls you back into the huge, deep sea of grace, more and more grace.
As we continue our series on the surpassing riches of grace, we arrive at Life Lesson No. 3: GREAT Grace.
Let us look at what those were doing who had great grace, not just a trickle but a flood—they had opened the floodgates of Heaven so I could pour out a blessing that was more than they could contain, so much so that it flowed out into the lives of others and miracles, signs, and wonders were the ordinary of their days. Even those upon whom Peter’s shadow fell as he walked by got healed. And when Philip, who was not one of the twelve, went to Samaria all the lame were being healed and demons cast out. The people were so excited they were taking Jesus as Lord with joy.
The early believers upon whom all this grace was pouring from My throne of grace were of one mind and one heart, they were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread (communion), and to prayer, Acts 2:42, but there was one thing more they were all doing that made the grace flow in ever increasing measure: they were generous givers. They sold their possessions, laid the proceeds at the disciples’ feet, with one purpose—that there would not be one needy person among them. Those who had land and houses were selling their property and possessions and sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Acts 2:45.
And this generosity of giving continued, when a famine was predicted that would affect the believers in Jerusalem, all the grateful converts who had heard the good news because of those who first heard it sent a more than generous offering to take care of their needs. And My grace flowed on them too.
Grace comes in ever greater measure from giving, but particularly giving into the household of faith, to Kingdom work that spreads the good news of Jesus and to your brothers and sisters in Christ who are in need. I give you seed to sow and bread to eat. It is time you learned the grace of giving, that is the power of sowing seed into the Kingdom. Not just wildly giving your seed and bread to the dogs (unbelievers) but to the children (believers in Christ Jesus as Lord). My Son told you it is not right to give the children’s bread to the dogs, but when that woman worshipped Him as Lord she entered the blessing of Abraham, which is righteousness by faith, and she received the grace of healing for her daughter. Grace upon grace comes through Jesus to those who are believers in Him. And Jesus was a giver, from His fullness you have all received, grace upon grace. For you know the grace of your Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich. 2 Corinthians 8:9.
I am the God of grace and I am generous. I so loved the world I gave you My only begotten Son that all who believe in Him shall never perish but shall have eternal life with Me forever. I did not send Him to condemn you but to save you. That is grace. Unmerited favor because of who I AM. I AM love and I give grace, which you take by faith. And true faith in Me your El Shaddai, your source of abundance, the One who provides for all your needs, makes you generous like Me. I love a cheerful giver. And I so loved you, the Church, that I gave you the Holy Spirit! The Spirit of grace who gives you grace gifts (endowments) for the benefit of all.
My Kingdom is one of giving and receiving, sowing and reaping, seed, time, and harvest. I liken My Word to seed that I sow into the earth and into your hearts. And any farmer knows that the abundance and type of harvest he receives depends on the amount and quality of the seed he sows. Understand this principal about grace, for giving is a work of grace: he who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one of you must do just as he has purposed in his heart, not grudgingly or under compulsion, for I love a cheerful giver. And I am able to make ALL GRACE ABOUND to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed. 2 Corinthians 9:6-8. Giving brings grace, abounding grace. As it is written, “He scattered abroad, he gave to the poor, his righteousness endures forever; his horn will be exalted in honor.” Psalm 112:9.
I supply seed to the sower and bread for food. 2 Corinthians 9:10. For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it bear and sprout and furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My Word be which goes forth from My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it. Isaiah 55: 10-11.
If you become generous in giving into the work of the Kingdom and the household of faith, I will supply you with and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through you will produce thanksgiving to My glory for your obedience to your confession of the gospel of Christ and for the liberality of your contribution to all. And those who have received from our generosity, by prayer on your behalf, yearn for you because of the surpassing grace of God in you. And when you have a need they can give back to you as you have given to them. This is an indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:10-15.
When grace appears, which it has in the person of Jesus, bringing salvation to all men, grace teaches you to live godly lives and be zealous to do good deeds. Titus 2:11-14. And among those good deeds is caring for and loving one another who are in the Body of Christ. And that will identify My followers, their love for one another. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices I am pleased. Hebrews 13:16. This was so important in the early church that Paul told those who were idle or who had been stealing to work so that they would have something to give to others. He knew that the best way to grow is to sow. In fact, Paul explained that when the apostles approved his mission to the Gentiles, they only asked him to remember one thing—to help the poor, which was the very thing he was eager to do. “And recognizing the grace that I had been given, James, Cephas, and John—those reputed to be pillars—gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship, so that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. They only asked us to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do.” Galatians 2:9-10.
Do you remember when I told Moses about My grace project for the Israelites in the desert after I redeemed them from slavery? I spoke to Moses, saying, “Tell the sons of Israel to raise an offering for Me; from every man whose heart moves him you shall raise My offering. This is the contribution which you are to raise from them: gold, silver and bronze, blue, purple and scarlet material, fine linen, goat hair, rams’ skins dyed red, badger skins, acacia wood, oil for lighting, spices for the anointing oil and for the fragrant incense, onyx stones and setting stones for the ephod and for the breastpiece. Let them construct a sanctuary for Me, that I may dwell among them. According to all that I am going to show you, as the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furniture, just so you shall construct it.” Exodus 25:1-9. And the hearts of the people were moved and they gave so much that Moses finally had to stop them from giving more.
I want you to see something here. I gave to them the riches of Egypt, each one from their Egyptian neighbor, when they marched out of Egypt the night of the Passover. I showed them favor. But do you see what I was doing? I was giving them seed for sowing into the most significant project of their lives. Why was this project so significant, why was it a free will grace offering, not like the tithe, but freely to be determined and given to building of My house among them? Because what they would reap from their seed was the forgiveness by the covering of their sins through the sacrifices I taught them to offer on the bronze altar of that tabernacle (all shadows of which Jesus is the substance) (types fulfilled and paid in full in Jesus), the intercession of the High Priest at the mercy seat for the forgiveness, protection and prosperity of the nation, and having My presence over the mercy seat in the Holy of Holies traveling with them and dwelling among them to protect them, lead them, keep them, and speak to them. Over My tabernacle hovered the cloud of My presence (of My glory) and in the night you could see in it the pillar of fire. And I had them camp around My presence in the heart of the camp with the tribes encamped in the shape of a cross—the sign of grace. Yes, I give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.
There should not be a needy one among you in your church.
Grace comes from giving. I have even shown you this in tithes and offerings. I tell you to try it and I will open the floodgates of heaven for you and pour out a blessing you cannot contain but must share. And I will rebuke the destroyer off you and your families lives and goods.
Grace is a wonderful thing, it is My life pouring into you, and I am generous. When you give to the poor, you lend to Me and I will reward you. And when you give to the poor, I deliver you off your sickbed. And I also tell you I give you strong bones when you give to the poor. But some of you find it hard to give and that may be why you are finding it so hard to live. Think about that.
I love you. I want great grace to be on you all. Sow something, if you want to grow something. But watch where you are sowing, make it fertile ground.