One Accord and Crucial Aspects of the Book of Acts
Message Six
Grace in Acts
THE EXTRACT OF THE OUTLINES
Scripture Reading:
Eph. 2:7 That He might display in the ages to come the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Acts 4:33 And with great power the apostles gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.
13:43 …to remain in the grace of God.
I. We need to know, experience, and enjoy the grace of God—Eph. 2:7, 1 Cor. 15:10: (Monday)
A. According to the New Testament, grace is actually what God is to us for our enjoyment—John 1:16-17.
B. The New Testament reveals that grace is not primarily God’s work for us; grace is rather The Triune God Himself dispensed into our being for our experience and enjoyment—John 1:17.
C. Grace came through Jesus Christ; this indicates that grace is a person—John 1:17.
D. The personification of grace is God Himself; Paul realized this, saying, It is not I, but the grace of God which was with me—1 Cor. 15:10.
E. Grace is this God in His Son Jesus Christ becoming our portion for us to enjoy all that He is—John 1:16-17.
F. Grace is not merely Christ Himself, but the acting Christ, the working Christ, the reigning Christ, the convincing Christ, the conquering Christ, the saving Christ, and the uplifting Christ—1 Cor. 15:10.
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G. As believers in Christ, we need to experience the grace of the Lord revealed in the New Testament: (Tuesday)
1. To have faith and love through the Lord’s abundant grace—1 Tim. 1:14.
2. To enter into and stand in the superabundant grace of God—Rom. 5:2a.
3. To enjoy eternal comfort and good hope in grace—2 Thes. 2:16.
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4. To reign in life through receiving the superabundant grace and the gift of the abundant grace of righteousness—grace reigning unto eternal life—Rom. 5:17b, 21b. (Wednesday)
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II. We need to see the grace in the Book of Acts—4:33, 11:23, 13:43: (Thursday)
A. With great power the apostles gave testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all—4:33.
B. Paul and Barnabas spoke to them and exhorted them to remain in the grace of God—13:43.
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C. They stayed a considerable time, speaking boldly in the Lord, testifying to the word of His grace—14:3. (Friday)
D. “They had been committed to the grace of God for the work which they had completed”—v. 26.
E. “But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are”—15:11.
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F. “But Paul chose Silas and went out, having been committed by the brothers to the grace of the Lord”—Acts 15:40. (Saturday)
G. And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are saints—20:32.
OPENING WORD OF THE PROPHESYING MEETING
Reading the verses in each day.
Reading the main points in the outlines.
Pray-reading the verses:
1 Tim. 1:14 And the grace of our Lord superabounded with faith and love in Christ Jesus.
Acts 14:3 Therefore they spent a considerable amount of time speaking with boldness in the Lord, who testified to the word of His grace…
20:32 And now I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified.
Word of Appetizer
What is grace?
According to the New Testament, grace is actually what God is to us for our enjoyment. The New Testament reveals that grace is mainly not the work God does for us; grace is the Triune God Himself dispensed into our being and experienced as our enjoyment.
Grace came through Jesus Christ (John 1:17); this indicates that grace is a person. Grace is God in His Son Jesus Christ to be our portion so that we may enjoy all that He is. Grace is not merely Christ Himself; it is also Christ moving, Christ working, Christ reigning, Christ convincing, Christ subduing, Christ saving, and Christ uplifting.
Spiritual Burden
We need to know, experience, and enjoy the grace of God. As believers in Christ, we need to experience the grace of the Lord as revealed in the New Testament. Having faith and love through the Lord’s superabounding grace. Coming forward with boldness to the throne of grace to find grace for timely help. Experiencing the perfecting of the Lord’s sufficient grace, Christ’s overshadowing power, in our weakness. Reigning in life by receiving the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness—grace reigning unto eternal life.
Concluding Word of the Prophesying Meeting
The Revelation of the Truth
We need to know, experience, and enjoy the grace of God. The New Testament reveals that grace is mainly not the work God does for us; grace is the Triune God Himself dispensed into our being and experienced as our enjoyment.
We need to see grace in Acts. “With great power the apostles gave testimony of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all”. “We believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus we are saved in the same way also as they are”. “I commit you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who have been sanctified”.
The Experience of Life
As believers in Christ, we need to experience the grace of the Lord as revealed in the New Testament. Having faith and love through the Lord’s superabounding grace. Having obtained access into and standing in God’s abounding grace. Coming forward with boldness to the throne of grace to find grace for timely help. Constantly enjoying God’s multiplying grace. Experiencing the perfecting of the Lord’s sufficient grace, Christ’s overshadowing power, in our weakness. Being perfected, established, strengthened, and grounded by God’s all grace after having suffered.
Practice and Application
Carrying out the stewardship of the grace of God entrusted by Him—dispensing to people the riches of Christ as the grace of God. In our living, speaking words for building up and thus giving grace to people.
Reigning in life by receiving the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness—grace reigning unto eternal life. All the believers having grace upon them and the church being built up; the grace received by the believers being visible.
PROPHESYING TOPICS—TWELVE TOPICS PER WEEK
Day 1
T1 Grace is actually what God is to us for our enjoyment (Eph. 2:7, 1 Cor. 15:10)
(Please illustrate that grace is mainly not the work God does for us; grace is the Triune God Himself experienced as our enjoyment.)
T2 We can reign in life by grace (Rom. 5:17)
(Please illustrate that to reign is to conquer, subdue, and rule over Satan, the world, sin, the flesh, ourselves, and all the environmental circumstances. )
Day 2
T1 Through faith we receive the Lord, and through love we enjoy the Lord whom we have received (1 Tim. 1:14, 2 Cor. 9:8)
(Please illustrate with Darby as an example that the Lord Himself as grace coming into us to become our faith and love.)
T2 The believers’ experience of the grace in God’s economy (1) (Rom. 5:2a)
(Please illustrate that the believers’ experience of the grace in God’s economy enables them to obtain access into and stand in God’s grace.)
Day 3
T1 The believers’ experience of the grace in God’s economy (2) (1 Tim. 1:14, 2 Cor. 9:8)
(Please illustrate that the believers’ experience of the grace in God’s economy is the experience of the perfecting of the Lord’s sufficient grace.)
T2 When we return to our spirit, we stand in grace (Eph. 3:2, 4:29)
(Please illustrate that in the church life, when all the believers have grace upon them, the church will be built up.)
Day 4
T1 God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (1 Pet. 5:5)
(Please illustrate that if we are proud, God will reject us. If we are humble, God will give us grace.)
T2 We need to continue in the grace (Acts 13:43)
(Please illustrate that the grace in 13:43 is a compound formed of a number of elements.)
Day 5
T1 Grace is the Triune God becoming life and everything to us (Acts 14:3, 26)
(Please illustrate that the grace that motivated him and operated in him was a living person.)
T2 The Lord’s grace existed already in the Old Testament (Gen. 3:15)
(Please illustrate with examples that some examples of the word of the Lord’s grace found in the Old Testament.)
Day 6
T1 Paul committed the believers to God and to the word of His grace (Acts 15:40, 20:32)
(Please illustrate what the function of the word of God’s grace. )
T2 Christ is the portion allotted to the saints as their inheritance (Col. 1:12)
(Please illustrate that we do not work for an inheritance; we receive it.)
