Grace IX - Now Is The Acceptable Time

Visible Grace

Acts 11:19 Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

I have heard some people say that God will protect you in all circumstances.  In truth, there are times when God will give you the wisdom to run and hide.  God CAN protect you in all circumstances but His purpose for your life is as different as there are people in the world.  Only He knows what He chooses for you.  When Stephen declared his vision to the Jews and they chose to stone him to death, it was a defining moment in the church and in Saul, soon to be Apostle Paul’s life.  The church fled Jerusalem and in so doing brought the word of the Messiah away from the center of Judaism and released it to all the world.

They traveled hundreds of miles and still kept the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the Jews alone.  It was a troubling mindset of the Jews, even the born again Jews, that Jesus came for the Gentiles alone.  Even in Grecian towns they stayed in the Jewish neighborhoods.  This is something to consider.  Who do you preach to?  Do you stay among your own kind or do you do like scripture says and go into ALL THE WORLD?  If not, perhaps you can ask God to open your eyes to new opportunities and reach a far greater audience.

 Acts 11:20 And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

Sometimes we are too close to something to see clearly.  The Jews had always been a closed society, they called the other nations ‘dogs’ and worse.  In their mind, God would raise up a great leader and he would slay those other nations.  In God’s mind He would raise up a great deliverer and slay the sin that so easily besets all mankind.  Whenever you believe you have God in a box that defines Him completely, remember, there is no box large enough to contain our God.  Like millions of others throughout the years, when these gentile men and women heard the true Word of God they grabbed hold of it and were saved.

Acts 11:22 Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. 23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

The born again Jewish saints in Jerusalem must have been beside themselves when the first reports of gentile Christians got back to them.  I’m quite sure that more than a few were incensed over this act.  I suppose a few reminded them that Moses had warned them that God would go to a people who were no people to drive the Jews to jealousy (Romans 10:19).  Though that was a bitter pill to swallow, they chose to send Barnabas to travel to Antioch to see what was happening.  The next verse shows how grace can be quite visible.

Scripture says that Barnabas SAW their grace.  What visible manifestation caused him to see the grace of God?  The most apparent would have been the number of gentiles crying out to God for salvation.  No man comes to God unless the Holy Spirit draws them.  The next may well have been seeing them speak in other tongues, the sick being healed and delivered.  God usually performs more miracles among those who feel unworthy and grateful for all they have than among those who feel they have arrived at some perfect state of holiness. 

Once he observed the lepers cleansed, the sick healed, new saints speaking in tongues and prophetic words going forth Barnabas was ready to go home and bring his good report.  Even later when he traveled with Paul, Barnabas was more gracious.  It took time for Paul to overcome his Pharisaical upbringing.  When Mark got scared and ran away, Paul would no longer travel with him.  Barnabas took Mark under his wing and worked with him.  Later, Paul saw the change and chose to work with Mark again.  We are all expected to grow.

Acts 11:24 For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

I like verse 24.  Barnabas was a good man, full of the Holy Ghost and full of faith.  He wasn’t so full of himself that he could not see God at work.  I believe that God often reaches out to someone who we are uncomfortable ministering to.  He then has to find someone else to do the work because we are at home feeling uncomfortable.  Barnabas had no such qualms.  He was full of the Holy Ghost and faith and recognized the grace of God when he SAW it.  He chose to lend a hand and many were added to the Lord.  His continued work with Mark caused Mark to became a man of great faith that even Paul recognized.

Grace To Hear Truth

Acts 13:38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.

By grace through faith ye are saved (Ephesians 2:8).  It is the gift of God and that gift was our Lord and Savior dying on the cross for you and being reborn.  The Jews did not kill Jesus.  You did.  Your sins condemned Him to death just as surely as you are reading this right now.  So did mine and everyone else on earth.  The idea that His death was a crime committed by a people or group is ridiculous.  His death was a heroic accomplishment.  He threw Himself on an eternal hand grenade just to save our souls.  The Jews have suffered for 2000 years for failing to recognize their savior.  How much worse will our punishment be if we do not accept His free gift.

I have heard various groups of sinners (homosexuals, drunks, gluttons, child abusers, etc.) claim that the grace of God through Jesus is sufficient to forgive their sins and cleanse them from all unrighteousness.  This is absolutely true.  Jesus came to save all those people and if they will but accept the free gift of God in Christ Jesus they will be saved.  What He did not do was to free them from repentance.  That responsibility came before Christ.  John the Baptist came before Jesus and proclaimed, “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand (Matthew 3:1-3).” 

Our responsibility PRIOR to salvation is to acknowledge our sins and to repent of them before asking Jesus into our heart.  God…in His grace…will often accept our repentance on credit and save us while we are still in our sin.  What I mean by this is that we are supposed to understand which parts of our lifestyle is a sin and seek God’s forgiveness for that lifestyle before we try to get a ‘golden parachute’ of salvation that will get us to heaven after we kill ourselves with sin. 

God is never mocked by man (Galatians 6:7).  You can’t ‘sneak one past Him.’  He sees all and knows all.  The only thing that will set you free is the TRUTH and unlike the fictional Santa Claus, God really does know when you’ve been bad or good.  These days you hear all the time that God is too loving to send anyone to Hell.  God does not wish anyone to die in sin and go to Hell but He respects your right and decisions to do so.  On the day of Judgment He will not allow you to claim ‘temporary insanity’ and send you to purgatory until you straighten up.  There is no such place and God has either written your name in His book or not.  If He has not then you are lost…period.

NOW is the acceptable time (right now while you are thinking about it and He is calling to you), NOW is the day of YOUR salvation, (not after you’ve sinned just a bit more).  You might not have another ten years of His grace to get your act together.  I know someone who died so suddenly that he didn’t even have the time to try and get out of the way.  He certainly did not have time to ask for forgiveness. 

Fortunately he was saved. 

A well known actor died this week in a horrible car accident.  From all accounts he was a good and gracious man who did wonderful things for many people.  His death was a terrible blow to those who knew him.  He left a young daughter behind who he loved very much.  His death was quick and violent.  It is unlikely that he had time or even thought of accepting Christ as savior during that moment.  Was he saved?  I hope so.  If not, all his good deeds will not matter at all on judgment day (Isaiah 64:6).  Nothing we do will matter unless Christ is in our hearts.  Why are Christians saved?  Because when He knocked we answered and said, “Yes Lord, come into my heart (Revelation 3:20).”

God doesn’t come to you AFTER death and ask for your heart.  He is asking now.  NOW is the acceptable time, not tomorrow.  Tomorrow is not promised to you.

Acts 13:40 Beware therefore, lest that come upon you, which is spoken of in the prophets; 41 Behold, ye despisers, and wonder, and perish: for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe, though a man declare it unto you (Habakkuk 1:5).

This warning is to all but has a particular understanding to Israel.  The Northern Kingdom of ten tribes who chose to abandon God were utterly ground into the dust by Assyria and destroyed.  There was nothing left.  Had there been no men and women from those tribes who moved South to Judah’s territory, a majority of the twelve tribes would have ceased.  Fortunately those who feared God from every tribe fled to Jerusalem so they could worship the true God. 

Today God brings the same warnings to Israel and the rest of the world.  Believe in God or die.  Trust in Him or be destroyed.  Most of Israel today do not believe in the God of their history.  They have no natural resources or particular wealth to draw other nations to them.  There is no reason for China or Russia to one day choose to conquer Israel.  They have no oil reserves or material wealth to speak of, nevertheless these nations WILL come.  God Himself will place hooks on their jaws and draw them to a final conflict (Ezekiel 38).

It has never happened but it will happen.  Once again God warns us and also Israel; NOW is the acceptable time, NOW is the day of your salvation. 

Acts 13:42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next Sabbath.

Paul and Barnabas preached to the Jews until this time.  Paul loved Israel with every fiber of his being.  He was grieved and filled with sorrow at his own ignorance in the past and Israel’s continued ignorance.  He recognized that God was behind this move for their refusal to recognize their King.  They thought they knew who he was, that illegitimate child of Mary, that laughable ‘Son of God.’  In their mocking they sealed their own bondage for two thousand years.  God would go to the Gentiles.  At the same time the Gentiles were drawn by this hope of salvation and assurance.  They rejoiced in Christ Jesus and begged to hear about the Son of God.

Acts 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.

At this moment the Jews were still curious.  Many of them and those of other nations who sought the God of Israel followed after Barnabas and Paul.  Persecution was beginning.  The road was becoming more difficult.  In spite of these challenges, men and women who desired the truth besought them to continue to teach and preach in the incomparable grace of God.  When you walk in grace, sensitive people can recognize that grace.  It tells them that no matter how ill received the message might seem, it is the right message.  His grace marks the speaker and gives life to his words.

Acts 13:44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

God’s anointing and God’s grace drew all who would come to hear the truth.  It appeared that the entire city came to hear His Word.  I can well imagine the wonder experienced by the leader of the Synagogue when men and women, Jew and Gentile, all the city arrived to hear the words of life that Paul preached.  He may have ordered the windows be opened and extra stools brought in so even more might hear the message.  How sad that just a short time later the Jews would shut their ears and close their hearts to the truth.  God had found them unworthy for a season because they denied their king (Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34).  The Holy Spirit ceased His powerful call.  God’s grace had changed its focus to the Gentiles. 

Grace To Do Wonders

Acts 14:1 And it came to pass in Iconium, that they went both together into the synagogue of the Jews, and so spake, that a great multitude both of the Jews and also of the Greeks believed.

At this time Paul and Barnabas were a marvelous team and traveled throughout the land bringing God’s word to others.  This must have been quite a change for Paul.  As a Pharisee he would have rather never spoken to anyone but the Jewish people.  His experience with Christ has opened up his heart and let him know that Jesus is no respecter of persons.  Because of his understanding of God’s love and grace to ALL who believe, the Jew first and also the Greeks, Paul preached with equal fervor to both.

This great grace was made evident by the number of people who rushed forward to accept Christ as savior.  Sadly, their very success in winning souls stirred up the jealous Jews who still waited for the conquering hero to come and deliver them from the Romans.  They would never accept deliverance from sin and an evil heart.  That was not their purpose and they would not accept it from God.  Their attitude bound them away from God for two thousand years.

Acts 14:2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

The Jewish people can never say that God did not give them an opportunity to receive their Messiah.  Paul, the writer of three quarters of our New Testament, begged, argued and pleaded with the Jews to study the scriptures to see if Jesus truly was the Messiah.  Sadly, most of them had firmly set their hearts to disbelieve anything Paul or any others had to say. 

Growing up in Christ I have gone from one level of ignorance to another slightly less ignorant level.  We all walk in a certain level of ignorance in Christ because it is impossible for us to know Him fully.  That said, it is incumbent upon us to serve Him with full fervor and power with what knowledge we do possess.  The important thing is for us to grow, not from ignorance to revelation but from truth to truth.  Paul fully believed he knew the truth of who Jesus was and what His disciples were.  In his mind they were heretics and liars.  It wasn’t until Jesus apprehended him on the road that he realized the magnitude of his mistake and began his journey into truth.

Truth is knowing something that is and will continue to be correct in all circumstances within the limits of its understanding.  You can be absolutely right about a small truth and be ignorant of a larger truth that is but one idea away.  The beauty of truth is that you can walk from a faith in one truth to a faith in another truth without having or knowing all truths.  We will never have all truth while we live on this earth in these bodies.  One day perhaps, but for now it is our honor and responsibility to grow from faith to faith and truth to truth. 

The unbelieving Jews stood fast on what they believed without even considering Paul’s argument for Jesus as Messiah.  It didn’t matter if his arguments were clear, concise and right because their fear and anger refused to allow them to hear it.  They were incapable of hearing what he said so even though it was true, it was a lie to them.  This forced them to deny any request to consider the truth.  If it did not fit in the box they were comfortable with then it had to be rejected.  Fear refused reason and they failed.

Sadly, in their fear and anger they became unbending in their assault upon Christians.  They refused to even acknowledge Paul’s arguments.  God made them deaf to truth.

Acts 14:3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

In spite of the difficulty they faced, the Christians continued to speak boldly and with power.  How bold are we today?  Paul and Barnabas stayed there for a long period of time in spite of all the attacks.  It’s not like today where there may be a church or synagogue on every corner.  These towns might have only had one church and both Christians and Jews came to debate the law and scripture.  Remember, back then there was only one book and it was the Hebrew scriptures. 

It says that signs and wonders were done by their hands.  Muslims are not often won by words and discussions.  What wins them is God moving in power and miracles.  When God heals a sick child by the hand of a Christian it is a powerful experience that is difficult to explain any other way.  Entire families have converted to Christianity because of the miraculous move of God.

Acts 14:4 But the multitude of the city was divided: and part held with the Jews, and part with the apostles.

This in itself is not a problem.  God told us to preach His word; to go out to the highways and hedges and bring His Word to the nations (Matthew 28:19).  Paul said it best, 1 Corinthians 3:6, “I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.”  Your responsibility is not to make someone believe.  Your responsibility is to know God’s Word well; to be a journeyman and not an apprentice.  You must know God’s doctrine and as much as possible, why His doctrine is true.  Once you have planted a seed, God will send others to water and eventually He will reap the harvest.  Those who choose to separate from God’s final truth will eventually whither unless and until they choose to accept His truth.  One day the Jews will come to know Jesus as Messiah.