TOPIC: GRACE IS AVAILABLE NOW

TEXT: Acts 15:12-22(NKJV)

15:12. Then all the multitude kept silent and listened to Barnabas and Paul declaring how many miracles and wonders God had worked through them among the Gentiles.

15:13. And after they had become silent, James answered, saying, “Men [and] brethren, listen to me:

15:14. “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name.

15:15. “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written:

15:16. ‘After this I will return and will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up.

15:17. So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.’

15:18. “Known to God from eternity are all His works.

15:19. “Therefore I judge that we should not trouble those from among the Gentiles who are turning to God,

15:20. “but that we write to them to abstain from things polluted by idols, [from] sexual immorality, [from] things strangled, and [from] blood.

15:21. “For Moses has had throughout many generations those who preach him in every city, being read in the synagogues every Sabbath.”

15:22. Then it pleased the apostles and elders, with the whole church, to send chosen men of their own company to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas, [namely,] Judas who was also named Barsabas, and Silas, leading men among the brethren.

STUDY: 

Today is the Feast of St. James of Jerusalem. He was the brother of our Lord (Mark 6:3), yet Jesus’ brothers didn’t initially believe in him or accept his ministry (John 7:5). James believed only after the resurrection-when Jesus showed himself to him. That was enough to convert him. James realized that he had been wrong all along. He later became a leader in the church at Jerusalem, so much so that Paul referred to him as a pillar of the church. God used James to do a lot for his church in Jerusalem. 

James contributed a lot towards the resolution of the controversial issue at the Jerusalem Council. His leadership was steady, mature, and based on Scripture. James’ story shows what God’s grace can do in a person’s life. It can take an unbeliever and turn them into a devoted servant of the Lord as it did to James (from doubting Jesus to leading the most influential church in Jerusalem and guiding and defending God’s people with God’s Word). Are you bothered by the fact that people you love don’t believe in the Lord yet? If Jesus did it for James, He will do it for them too. Only let your knees be bent in prayer on their behalf. Pray that they will be saved while God’s grace lasts.

PRAYER: 

Dear Lord, please rescue the unbelieving and the perishing by the same grace you extended to James, Amen!

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