They Gave Themselves First To The Lord

2 Corinthians 8:1,3-5 - And now, brothers and sisters, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches…For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. And they exceeded our expectations: They gave themselves first of all to the Lord, and then by the will of God also to us.


2 Corinthians 12:9 - But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Application:

· Contributing to the needs of others is made possible by God’s undeserved gifts in my life
· Giving myself to the Lord is the true principle of my giving. Am I giving myself to the Lord?
· Human weakness provides the ideal opportunity for the display of divine power

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Now

Philippians 1:4-6 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 16:30-32, 34 - He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house…The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Acts 28:28 - "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Conclusions:

• The apostles’ teaching included all that Jesus Himself taught, especially the gospel, which was centered in His death, burial and resurrection
• The apostles’ teaching was a unique teaching in that it came from God and was clothed with the authority conferred on the apostles
• Today the apostles’ teaching is available in the books of the New Testament
• The fellowship is the corporate fellowship of believers in worship
• The breaking of bread is the Lord’s supper
• Acts emphasizes the importance of prayer in the Christian life—private as well as public
• The jailer had heard that Paul and Silas were preachers of a way of salvation
• Now with the earthquake and his own near death, the jailer wanted to know about the way
• Believe in the Lord Jesus is a concise statement of the way of salvation
• Paul and Silas explained the gospel more thoroughly to the jailer and to all the other members of his household, and they all believed in Christ and were saved
• Filled with joy is the consistent consequence of conversion, regardless of circumstances
• God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles is the main thought of the book of Acts
• The gospel is meant for all
• Paul was a chosen vessel to carry the message to Gentiles as well as to Jews

Application:

• Have you devoted yourself to prayer?
• Are you filled with joy about your conversion?
• Have you devoted yourself to God's Word?
• Have you devoted yourself to fellowship of believers in worship?
• Have you devoted yourself to the Lord's Supper?
• Have you listened to God's salvation?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible