Mega Power, Mega Grace

Megapoder, megagracia

Y la multitud de los que habían creído era de un corazón y un alma; y ninguno decía ser suyo propio nada de lo que poseía, sino que tenían todas las cosas en común. Y con gran poder los apóstoles daban testimonio de la resurrección del Señor Jesús, y abundante gracia era sobre todos ellos (Hechos 4:32-33).

En Hechos 2: 44-45 vimos el corazón compartido de la iglesia primitiva. Esos versículos nos dicen cómo compartían entre ellos e incluso vendían sus posesiones para ayudarse mutuamente. Eso era cierto de la iglesia cuando eran alrededor de 3.000. Ahora, el número de cristianos era mucho mayor y todavía tenían ese corazón compartido.

Mega Power, Mega Grace

Leemos de esta gran generosidad: la multitud de los que habían creído era de un corazón y un alma; y ninguno decía ser suyo propio nada de lo que poseía. Esto era cierto de la multitud, no solo de unos pocos. Por decirlo de una manera sencilla, consideraban a las personas más importantes que a las cosas. Esta unidad era una evidencia maravillosa de la obra del Espíritu de Dios entre ellos.

James Boice hizo una observación interesante sobre esta unidad en la iglesia primitiva. No era unidad de conformidad, donde todos son presionados para ser exactamente iguales. Esta unidad era algo más grande que eso; era la unidad del Espíritu de Dios, centrada en Jesús.

Debido a su unidad, tenían todas las cosas en común. Reconocían la propiedad de Dios de todo; todo le pertenecía a Dios y a su pueblo. Debido a que Dios había tocado sus vidas tan profundamente, les resultaba fácil compartir todas las cosas en común.

Era maravilloso ver la unidad y generosidad de estos primeros cristianos. ¡A todos les encantaría vivir en una comunidad como esa! Sin embargo, esos corazones centrados en Jesús también experimentaron algo más: con gran poder los apóstoles daban testimonio de la resurrección del Señor Jesús. Este gran poder era, paradójicamente, tanto el resultado como la raíz de su actitud unificada y generosa. Ponían a Dios en primer lugar, a las personas en segundo lugar y a las cosas materiales en un distante tercero.

También notamos que daban testimonio de la resurrección. Vemos el lugar central que ocupó la resurrección de Jesús en el mensaje de los primeros cristianos. Predicaban a un Jesús resucitado.

Leemos que abundante gracia era sobre todos ellos. La gracia es el favor de Dios. Sin sonar demasiado sentimentales, podemos decir que la gracia de Dios es Su sonrisa desde el cielo. Es el favor y la bondad de Dios para su pueblo. Aún mejor, esta no  era solo gracia – era una gran gracia. Un comentarista dice que, literalmente, esta era una megagracia. La frase gran poder puede entenderse como megapoder.

¿Notó usted para quién era esto? Leemos que esta megagracia era sobre todos ellos. No solo sobre unos pocos apóstoles especiales, sino sobre todos.

Hoy, enfóquese radicalmente en el Jesús resucitado. Reciba los dones de Su generosidad y espíritu de unidad. Luego, reciba Su megapoder y su megagracia. ¡Es para todos nosotros!

Haz clic aquí para el comentario de David de Hechos 4

A Giving Church

A Giving Church

Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, and laid them at the apostles’ feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need. (Acts 4:34-35)

Going through the early chapters of Acts, we are impressed by the many descriptions of the generosity and sharing of the first Christians. We read of the Christian community in Jerusalem that there was not anyone among them who lacked. No one starved or had no place to live, because the Christians took care of each other.

A Giving Church

That took some radical generosity: all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them. Among the 5,000 or so Christians in Jerusalem at that point, some were wealthy. These wealthy believers weren’t taxed into a program of income redistribution. Everyone gave generously and God provided. Remember that the Jerusalem Christians were largely made up of visitors who came as visitors on Pentecost – they were refugees from abroad and had special needs.

I keep noting that they did this among the community of Christians. We don’t read that they did it for everyone who lived in Jerusalem. Christians have a responsibility to take care of those who are fellow believers. We have the opportunity to help those outside the church, but I don’t think we have the responsibility. I just don’t see in the Scriptures where Christians are responsible to feed, clothe, and shelter everyone on earth. But we are called to take care of our own.

Among the believers, they distributed to each as anyone had need. Unfortunately, this generosity was soon abused. Later Paul taught regarding who should be helped and how they should be helped. Paul’s directions include:

– The church must discern who the truly needy are (1 Timothy 5:3).
– If one can work to support himself, he is not truly needy and must provide for his own needs (2 Thessalonians 3:10-12, 1 Timothy 5:8, 1 Thessalonians 4:11).
– If family can support a needy person, the church should not (1 Timothy 5:3-4).
– Those whom the church supports must make some return to the church (1 Timothy 5:5, 10).
– It is right for the church to examine moral conduct before supporting (1 Timothy 5:9-13).
– The support of the church should be for the most basic necessities of living (1 Timothy 6:8).

I think that today the church does a better job with this than most people give credit for. Of course, Christians can and should always do better and do more. But I can’t think of a single voluntary organization that does more to feed, clothe, and shelter their own and the poor of the world than the church.

Today, ask God if there is a believer in need that He wants you to help – and trust that if there is, the Holy Spirit will show you and guide you. Do it with the Biblical wisdom given by Paul and others – but do it!

Click here to read David’s commentary on Acts 4

Pastor, Can You Help Us?

Dear Pastor, Preacher, or Bible Teacher –

Many of you have shared with me how much you’ve been helped by using the Enduring Word commentary in your preaching and teaching ministry, and I wanted to take a moment and share how grateful I am for your encouragement.

I am also excited to share with you that the Enduring Word team has now completed translations of my New Testament commentary in the Arabic and Chinese (Simplified) languages, and the entire Bible commentary in Spanish.

I recently read that 95% of the world’s Christian pastors have no formal Bible training. Our heart at Enduring Word is to provide these leaders with the Enduring Word Bible commentary for free wherever the Lord opens the doors, particularly with leaders of the underground church – and, we want to ask for your help.

Can you help us connect with your missionary and Christian leader friends who teach in these languages worldwide so we can share the commentaries with them in their native tongue?

We are open to file sharing in any format that will help get the commentaries out in these languages. Any contact with these pastors, Christian workers, and ministries will be with absolute discretion to protect their safety and well-being. Accordingly, please contact Deven Berryhill at Enduring Word per the contact information given below, who is overseeing the global implementation. 

Thank you once again for your fellow service in the Gospel. As the Apostle Paul said many years ago to his ministry friends and colleagues: 

This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God.  2 Corinthians 9:12

With gratitude and appreciation,

David

 

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