Acts 26: 17, 18. 1. Here Paul is telling his witness to king Agrippa about his heavenly vision. He also said to him about what Jesus told him to do. He said, I have delivered you from your people. Therefore l am sending you as a witness to tell about Me.
Today our Lord Jesus is telling us the same thing, l have delivered you from sins, curses and from sicknesses by cleansing you with My blood. Whether you live as a witness in your family, in your church, in your place where you live or in your society? Do you tell about Me , My words and about the miracles l did in your life as a witness to all who talk to you on your phone? We simply sing a song, “l have died for you. what have you done for Me?”
2. He said, They should turn from darkness to light. They should come from the power of darkness or satan to light. You should open their eyes
Today God is telling the same thing to us. They should turn from the darkness of sin, to Jesus, the sun of righteousness. They should obey the word of God , which is the light for our soul. If so their spiritual eyes will open.Today we should pray for our family, for our churches and for the perishing souls, to open their spiritual eyes and to live a witnessing life. Let us make the light of Jesus to shine in our life.
3. If so, they will receive forgiveness of sins and inheritance of the sanctified that is all spiritual blessings and Kingdom of heaven by faith. Yes, there will be great rejoicing in heaven , when a sinner is repenting.
4. Moreover, those who turn many into righteousness shall shine as the stars for ever and ever. Daniel 12:3
Yes, those who read this, let us submit ourselves to prayer and by our witnessing life, to open the spiritual eyes of many. Amen, Hallelujah.
❇️ They may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me Acts 26:18
❇️ Lord Jesus Christ told Paul the above truth that when people confess their sins by their faith in Christ they are forgiven and sanctified by their faith.
❇️ We recive forgiveness by God’s mercy when we plead the blood of Christ and confessing & renouncing our sins without concealing them (Pro.28:13)
❇️ He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification (Rom.4:25)
❇️ Apart from confessing and renouncing our sins in deeds we are also required to believe in our heart that God raised Jesus Christ from the dead for our justification and confess with our mouth Jesus is our Lord (saved) – Rom.10: 9 &10
❇️ In the light of the above truths our salvation involves the following steps as given below.
Confessing our sins with mouth ( Confession )
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Renouncing our sins in deeds ( Repentance )
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Believing the resurrection of our Lord (Justified)
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Confessing with mouth Jesus is our Lord (Saved)
✅ Insights learnt:
▪️ We are forgiven when we confess & repent of our sins in deeds
▪️ We are justified when we believe Lord’s resurrection
Apostle Paul writes about “the mystery of Christ), which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets: and the fellowship of the mystery, from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who created all things through Jesus Christ.
This mystery of the Age of Dispensation of Grace was revealed to Paul. We should understand what this dispensation is and how we can make use of this mystery for our benefits of eternity. For this we should study the Word of God dividing it properly according to the dispensations. The entire Bible is God breathed, which means inspired by the Holy Spirit, but written by men. The unity of theme and the quintessential message prove this authorship of the Holy Spirit.
God created man and blessed him to multiply and fill the earth. Genesis 1:28
After the flood He told Noah the same message, to multiply and fill the earth. Then He chose Abraham to reach the land which was set aside for him and his descendants. Israelites were delivered from the slavery of Egypt and they were brought to their Promised Land. God ruled them as their king.
But they wanted a human king as the gentiles had. God gave them kings, but they too deviated from the plan of God. He sent prophets to warn them and they didn’t listen to the prophets. Israelites were sent into exile and they suffered all afflictions because of their iniquities. Their land was devastated by the gentile kings. Jesus came to earth to establish His kingdom which is basically spiritual , the kingdom of God. His plan was to redeem His people, the Jewish people and wished that through them He could establish His kingdom on earth. They rejected their Messiah and killed Him.
His disciples when they had come together, after His resurrection , asked Him, saying, “Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?” Acts 1:16
His plan was to empower them with the Holy Spirit and spread the Gospel through His disciples. The Jewish people except a few rejected them. Those few believers got scattered and they spread the news that Jesus was their Christ but they were reluctant to accept Jesus as their Messiah. His plan of establishing his kingdom on earth could not be accomplished because of their unbelief. God caught Saul the main activist and persecutor of the followers of Christ. Saul’s conversion set the milestone for the dispensation of grace. He became the ambassador of Christ for the entire earth. He started preaching the gospel of reconciliation. which was made possible through faith in the crucifixion, death and resurrection of Jesus.
During the dispensation of law it was necessary to seek the Lord through works of law.
Now Law is removed for those who believe in His crucifixion and resurrection. “having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us.
And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross”. Colossians 2:14
Now all our iniquities are forgiven and wiped out. And now: For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, Philippians 3:20
How did we receive this citizenship of heaven? This is the mystery that was hidden in Him and is revealed to Paul. Paul had several encounters with Lord Jesus and we are the beneficiaries of this great mystery.
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,Ephesians 2:4-6
then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2
-What a great privilege we enjoy in this age of Grace. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him. I Thessalonians 5:9-10
Let us be established in Christ and live and grow in Him in order to be raptured to join Christ in heaven.
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, Thank You for the age of grace you have provided for us that we may enjoy the benefits of the sacrifice of Your Son Jesus. Help us to be established and grow in Him. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen
Hope in God is a hope that will never disappoint. But the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love. May your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you.
As for me, I will always have hope; I will praise you more and more. Hope is an optimistic state of mind that is based on an expectation of positive outcomes with respect to events and circumstances in one’s life or the world at large. As a verb, its definitions include: “expect with confidence” and “to cherish a desire with anticipation”.
Hope is a powerful emotion that can have a profound impact on an individual’s life as well as the world at large. It can inspire people to persevere through difficult times, pursue their dreams and goals, and have the strength and resilience to overcome challenges and setbacks.
Witnessing or experiencing acts of love, goodness, and kindness. Sense of competence. Positive feedback on an idea. Sense of progress toward a goal. Prayer comes in many forms: blessing, petition, thanksgiving, intercession, and praise. In tough and uncertain times, it can be difficult to look beyond what’s currently happening in your life and see the light at the end of the tunnel. It’s not a matter of solving or fixing the problem. Instead, it’s the confidence that God is with you and that He will carry you through somehow.
Whether you’re going through a big life change, a hard time for your family, or personal health concerns, an optimistic frame of mind can help you see a difficult challenge as an opportunity for gratitude.
When you’re feeling low, try to find the silver linings in your hardships. Your living hope rests securely on God’s grace. Hope is a reality to be recognized, not an attitude to be cultivated.
Hope is a Gift
A wonderful result of hope is delivered by the Holy Spirit of God. He gives us the power to hope and that is a demonstration of God’s love for us. Hope given by him works together to give us confidence, joy, peace, power, and love. That is a true gift!
Seven names of the holy spirit These names include the Helper, the Holy Spirit Who Is in You, a New Spirit, the Spirit of Grace, the Spirit of Glory, the Spirit of Supplication and, again,
My Witness. Jesus gives us hope. He came to suffer and forgive. He came to rescue and restore. He came to call, draw, and love those who without his grace would continue to live for themselves. He came, and because he did, there is hope that sinners can be redeemed, and the world can be renewed. The God-Kind-of-Hope is different. In the Bible, the Greek word for hope is Elpis, a joyful, confident expectation of good. When we believe in the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, we receive this kind of hope in our hearts. Remember, hope is joyful, confident, and expectant.
The phrase hope of Heaven highlights the benefits you can enjoy even while remaining on earth. This hope keeps you spiritually alive during dark times of adversity; it brightens your path and heightens your awareness of My Presence. My desire is that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
TESTIMONY
I have received the Love of Christ during my hard times in my first days of married life. I have faced so many financial pressures and mental problems. The God who called me and teach me to believe him in all the times. During a day of trouble, I was praying with cries and lamenting to God about my situation he immediately replies to me will you believe me or not.
I replied yes, my father I will, you are my hope in all my situation. I have come across so many tough situations in these twenty-five years after received the salvation. But the same words speaking with me till now
BELIEVE ME.
MY LIFE IS IN YOU, LORD MY STRENGTH IS IN YOU, LORD MY HOPE IS IN YOU, LORD IN YOU, ITS IN YOU.
Obadiah 1:17 But on Mount Zion there shall be deliverance, And there shall be holiness; The house of Jacob shall possess their possessions.
This verse indicates that for Jacob there’s a possession but two things must happen for that , one – he must go to Mount Zion and two – deliverance must happen.
“Deliver” occurs 594 times in the entire Bible, Genesis to Revelation and the word “deliverance” occurs, in KJV version – 41 times in entire Bible. This means this must be an important subject.
In Luke 4:18 Jesus says , “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.” So Jesus was telling that He has come to deliver those who are captive. In other words man can be held captive and not live the abundant life that God promised in John 10:10, in all facets of his life.
Just getting saved and going every Sunday to church won’t help. We know a lady who diligently went to church and yet she was bound, Luke 13:11 And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself. Until Jesus arrived on the scene and said,” Woman thou art loose” ( Luke 13:12) .
We may be saved and committed to church and its activities, yet we find patterns and cycles and barely any progress or maybe we got deliverance, few results and then we took it for granted all is well. The Bible says Matthew 12:46 This verse says the devil gets spirits more wicked than the former one.
(Luke 4:1-3) Jesus Himself was tempted, (Luke 1:3) So, will Satan spare us?
Romans 12:2And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
Apostle Paul tells that we should be transformed, which is done by renewing the mind. Transformation takes place as we read and study the word, as it sinks into our mind. Our mind is the battle field and it is in the mind that the enemy attacks. We may have negative thought patterns due to our past experiences, culture, etc. We have to bring down every negative thought pattern with the word of God as mentioned in 2 Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.
John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free. This verse means that “truth” and “deliverance’ are related. The truth for your every matter is in the Bible. So, we need to study the word and replace every negative thought with the word of God and what God as to say on the matter. This will lead to our victorious living in Jesus.
This is why the Lord commanded in Joshua 1:8 ,”This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” So the word has to be in our mouth, in our mind and we must also “do “it, then we shall prosper!!
“As they went, that he (Jesus) entered into certain village and certain woman named Martha received him into her house” (Luke 10:38)
Bethany was a town where Mary and her sister Martha lived. Their brother was Lazarus (John 11:11) Bethpage was a nearby village and these two places were close to Mount Olives. Jerusalem was two miles away from Bethany.
We understand that a family headed by a lady named Martha, welcomed Jesus in her home. She had a big heart to accept Jesus and his disciples. Revelation 3:20 says “I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears and opens the door, I will come into his house and eat with him and he will eat with me”. So it happened in Bethany.
Earlier in this chapter (Luke 10:1) we see that the Lord chose 70 men and sent them out, two by two to go ahead of him to every town and place where he himself was about to go. The end of the chapter states about Martha receiving Jesus. Probably this family was met earlier by his disciples and told about the visit of Jesus. Now, it was Martha’s responsibility, to give a feast to at least 15 persons including her family members. She was very enthusiastic about it. But, soon she was upset because her sister didn’t help her. Mary sat down at the feet of Jesus and was listening to his teachings. Martha took a bold step by telling Jesus about her Sister’s odd behaviour.
But Jesus answered “Martha, you are worried and troubled over many things (earthly). Mary had chosen the right thing (spiritual) and it will not be taken away from her”. (Luke 10:41) Martha invited Jesus to give a big feast. But, before that, Jesus gave a spiritual feast to all assembled there (as mount Sermon).
What we infer is that all homes should serve not only to give food for Physical growth and family wellbeing of the members, but also should serve as places to expand the kingdom of God. Martha promoted the first aspect. Maria promoted the second which was obviously greater than the first one.
Witness:
Missionaries in good old days provided soap, Comb and mirror to our ancestors, and then they preached the gospel to put us in an elevated place as we are today.
Prayer:
Jesus! Help us to use our homes as a place of worship and also as a place of hospitality. Amen.
Is there any reason to be downcast? Actually,there are two reasons.If we are unbelievers there would be a reason or if we were converted and continue to live in sin.Except for these two conditions there is never a reason to be downcast for everything else could be brought to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving (Phil.4:6)and through all our times, difficulty and trials we exercise faith in the power and love of God.
Put your hope in God(Ps.43:5)Please remember there never a time when we cannot hope in God whatever our need or difficulty.Even when our situation appears impossible our work is to trust God,our hope will not be in vain and the Lord’s own timing will help.
Our work is to lay out petitions before Him and to wait for his guidance and call in His mercy He gives us what He thinks is right for us.Let us ask for grace to wait patiently until it pleases Him to do it in His own time.
For I will get to praise him.(Ps 43.5)More prayers,more exercising our faith and more patient waiting leads to blessings.I have found it to be true in many times so my brother’s and sisters keep on praying seeking God’s will in every thing you do.
How can a sacrifice which is offered in the sacrificial altar be living? Romans 12:1 tells that we should offer our bodies as a living sacrifice which is considered to be true and proper worship.
Romans 12:2 NIV instructs further “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” Romans 12:2
We should know who God is, and that we cannot please God with offerings or with our riches or actions like singing and dancing. He is the creator and everything belongs to Him. In Psalms 50 we read : “I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, and the cattle on a thousand hills” .
He doesn’t need anything from us. He wants us to be grateful to Him for His abundant mercy towards us. He wants us to love Him and trust Him for every need. Psalms 50:9-10 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ.
He forgave us all our sins, Colossians 2:13 Circumcision was symbolic of removing all impurities of the flesh of every Israelite . They were given commandments to be obeyed in flesh, which actually was to keep them flawless. They failed to comprehend the essence of law. On the contrary they added more rites and rituals to the laws which became their tradition. Their sins and impurities were imputed on the animals which were slaughtered in place of humans. They failed to understand the meaning of such sacrifices. Their hearts were far from the Lord who was with them throughout.
In the fullness of time Jesus, the Son of God came as the blemishless lamb and sacrificed Himself in place of every human who believes in His redemptive plan. God’s plan was to redeem man through faith by grace. Circumcision of heart is the prerequisite of this plan. Jesus sacrificed Himself in our place and so we have to believe Him and trust Him for our salvation. Our good actions can’t save us. Once we are born in Christ we have to live in the newness of life.
The old man is crucified with Him. Paul says: “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Romans 12:1
This means we should not go back to the old ways of sin. We should surrender ourselves to the will of God, to be completely guided by the Holy Spirit. Our fleshly desires are to be removed totally. We are free from rules like:- “Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!”? These rules, which have to do with things that are all destined to perish with use, are based on merely human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence. Colossians 2:21-23 .
True worship is leading a holy life according to the instructions given by the Lord. Worship does not promote legalism. Worship comes from a heart which is full of gratitude to the Lord. Not only that, worship should come out of a repentant and contrite heart. Such a heart is the living sacrifice acceptable unto the Lord. As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving. Colossians 2:6-7 NKJV
Prayer
Thank you Lord for redeeming us from our old worldly ways. Help us to surrender our body as a living sacrifice before You Lord. Help us to lead Godly lives and be away from sin. Give us a contrite and repentant heart whenever the Holy Spirit reminds us of sin.Fill us with love and gratitude for your abundant mercy. Thank you Lord. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen. Amen
For all flesh is as grass, and all the glory of man as the flower of grass. The grass withereth, and the flower thereof falleth away.” 1 Peter 1:24
“All flesh is grass, and all the goodliness thereof is as the flower of the field.”Isaiah 40:6
Let’s have a look at ourselves-from head to toe; are we any different from other human beings? If yes in what respect? skin colour, features, height, weight etc give us a separate identity in this world but in substance we are like other human being created in His image. We chase for a name, fame, prosperity and boast of our achievements in this World without realising that our glory will fade like a leaf and the riches and honours of this world which we cloak ourselves with are like the shadow wherein the Light of the Word do not penetrate unless we take off the cloak of falsity and put on the robe of truth and His righteousness.
Charm is deceitful and beauty fades, (Prov 31:30) but we all long for it and chase it all through our lives.
Everything under the Sun is temporal (Eccl:1:14), the men, the beast, the nature, the universe, the heaven and the earth, everything will pass away except His word. (Matt 24:35, Mark 13:31, Luke 21:33)
God of all Flesh, our maker, made everything good as He said in Genesis 1, Everything was just perfect but when the tempter tested the evil of our heart, the visual appeal made us loose the paradise and we, the beloved of our Lord sensed our nakedness before Him. The immortality was taken away and we had to embrace the mortal and fragile flesh. God sees us in our true condition and therefore he calls us flesh which will die like grass.
How should we perceive this world then? Through which lens should we see our lives? Nothing except the Word of God.
“For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life” Galatians 6:8,”
‘Rejoice’ as the word says as while we are flesh He is our God and in the fragility of our flesh, He is the one, who will quicken His spirit.
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.”John 6:63
Inspite of being in the flesh, though the unfailing grace of God brought through the sacrifice of His son Lord Jesus Christ, we are born again not of corruptible but of incorruptible seed (1Peter 2:23).
The Harvest of the Flesh will harvest the souls longing for Him. We, believers in the Lord Jesus, after leaving our mortal bodies, will be with Him till eternity. Let us put on the new man created for His Glory to dispel the darkness of this world and spreading the light of His Word.
When I first ever experience of the fragility of the flesh after loosing my loved ones, I wondered not knowing Christ what for we are in this world? And after coming into His light, the battle is on to go on in this world and shine for His glory.
May we all walk not in the flesh but in the Spirit and do only what is pleasing to our Father in heaven. In Jesus name, Amen
“ Who is wise,and he shall understand these things? Prudent, and he shall know them?for the ways of the Lord are right, and the just shall walk in them; but the transgressors shall fall there in”. Hosea14:9
The righteous who believe and trust in God are wise and have good discernment ,as the Word says. Those who disbelieve and rebels against the Word,Jesus, shall fall therein.The ways of the Lord are absolutely right, so walk in them. Every step we take in our life, we have to discern whether it is right in the eyes of the Lord. Otherwise we are similar to the beasts of the wild that live according to the instinct. If we don’t have the wisdom to understand ask the Holy Spirit. Judgement will come to those who refuse to repent.
Romans 2:9 says “Tribulation and anguish upon every soul of man that doeth evil”. The arrogant and rebellious think he knows what is best for himself. The righteous go through the path of humility and obedience. When we are spiritually wise and discerning we receive a double portion of anointing and blessing.Though we stumble and fall seven times, we will rise on the wings, the Lord provides us in faith.
Proverbs 24:26 says “ For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again; but the wicked shall fall into mischief “.
Hosea 4:6 says “For want of knowledge, lives are destroyed “.This knowledge is not the knowledge of man that causes us to rebel and stumble against God. This knowledge cut our flesh and liberate our spirit like a double edged sword.
Spiritual wisdom and understanding and discernment are different from worldly wisdom and understanding. Spiritual wisdom enables us to discern and know the ways of God, to understand Scripture and apply it in all aspects of our lives always.King Solomon was not bestowed with spiritual wisdom but with worldly wisdom for he asked God for that only( 1Kings3:1– 15). If he had spiritual wisdom, he would not have departed from the ways of God. Towards the end of his life he found that worldly wisdom is vain and futile.
We need this spiritual wisdom .
James1:5 says”Ask for wisdom and He will give it generously”. Wealth and glory faded with time and perished but the wisdom that the Lord gives us does not fade or perish. Even if we stumble or fall into sin or error, the Lord will enable us to return to His ways.
Jeremiah 31:16 says “……..your children will return from their captivity “. Spiritually wise knows their priority in life and do not depart from the Word.They focus on doing God’s will always.They don’t worry about the future and not swayed away by circumstances or adverse happenings for they place their trust and security in the Lord.
Dear Lord, we do not want to swayed away from you for worldly pleasures, power, money and fame . Help us find our way home to you, come back to you and trust only in you. In Jesus name I pray,Amen.
