Acts 15:36-41, Commended by the Grace of God

Paul and Barnabas had a contentious situation over John Mark.  They split, and both went their way in the service of Christ.  We are not told about Barnabas’ ministry.  He never comes up again in the NT, although we do find that John Mark eventually became very useful to Paul in ministry (2 Tim. 4:11), suggesting that Barnabas might have had some good ministry with him.

What we know about Paul is that he was sent by the Antioch Church, with Silas, to continue his missionary work.  But not until they commended him to the grace of God.  Are you, am I, commended by the grace of God for ministry?  They had so commended him before his first journey (Ac. 14:26).  And Paul so commended others to ministry (Ac. 20:32)  This is an absolute necessity. 

·       Rom. 12:3-8: Paul spoke out of the reservoir of the grace of God.  He was exercising his “gift,” often called a “spiritual gift” but much more properly called a “grace” gift.  The word is “charisma,” and has the word grace (charis) in it.  It is literally a “thing of grace.”  In this passage he reminds us that all believers have a piece of God’s grace in the form of a gift, and our service for Christ will be empowered by God’s grace as we use the gift.

·       1 Cor. 15:1-11: Again, Paul spoke, preaching the gospel, out of the grace of God.  Paul considered himself the least of the apostles, yet what he was he said was by the grace of God.  “By the grace of God I am what I am.”  Paul said he worked harder than all the other apostles, yet this was not bragging but an acknowledgement that, “the grace of God was with me.”  If we are not commended to the grace of God then service for Christ becomes self-centered.

·       1 Tim. 4:12-16: Paul encouraged Timothy with several bits of advice.  But at the center was this: “Do not neglect the gift that is in you.”  Again, “charisma.”  It was the gift that Timothy had received.  Being commended to God’s grace would make it possible for Timothy not to let people despise him in his youth. 

·       2 Tim. 1:3-7: Timothy’s family background was helpful for him.  But the key to continuing ministry was to, “stir up the gift of God which is in you.”  Charisma.  Through prayer, personal study, personal growth in the grace and knowledge of Christ, Timothy could continue to serve out of God’s grace.

·       1 Pt. 4:10-11: If you are a believer in Christ, you have a gift (Rom. 12 above).  If you have a gift (charisma) then you are to minister “as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”  It is manifold.  It comes with many encouragements, many varieties in ministry.  Some involve speaking, some involve service.  But all involve the grace of God.

Your brothers and sisters in Christ (the local church) are used by our Lord, through their acknowledgement of how he has gifted us, and by their prayers, to commend us to the grace of God!  Don’t serve the Lord without it.