Phil さんのプロフィールFear Not, Just Believe. ...フォトブログリストその他  |  ツール ヘルプ |
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2005/04/23 Putting yourself on the line to help others. Sharing your belief with others, expecting nothing in return.Hope you are having a good weekend. Today's reading comes from Acts
9:26-43, Joshua 5:2-6:27, and Job 23.
In Acts, we see Barnabas take a bold step to help and encourage
Saul in order that he would be accepted by the disciples in Jerusalem who had
seen him trying to prosecute their brothers not long before.
26 Back in Jerusalem he tried to join the
disciples, but they were all afraid of him. They didn't trust him one
bit. 27 Then
Barnabas took him under his wing. He introduced him to the apostles and stood up
for him, told them how Saul had seen and spoken to the Master on the Damascus
Road and how in Damascus itself he had laid his life on the line with his bold
preaching in Jesus' name. 28 After
that he was accepted as one of them, going in and out of Jerusalem with no
questions asked, uninhibited as he preached in the Master's name.
The disciples after having accepted Saul, also stepped up to help
him escape from those who were trying to murder him.
29 But then he ran afoul of a group called
Hellenists - he had been engaged in a running argument with them - who plotted
his murder. 30 When his friends learned of the plot, they
got him out of town, took him to Caesarea, and then shipped him off to Tarsus.
31 Things calmed down after that and the
church had smooth sailing for a while. All over the country - Judea, Samaria,
Galilee - the church grew. They were permeated with a deep sense of reverence
for God. The Holy Spirit was with them, strengthening them. They prospered
wonderfully.
We see that Peter also went out to meet and seek others in their
point of need, doing miracles in the name of Jesus.
First in Lydda:
32 Peter
went off on a mission to visit all the churches. In the course of his travels he
arrived in Lydda and met with the believers there. 33 He came across a man - his name was Aeneas
- who had been in bed eight years paralyzed. 34 Peter said, "Aeneas, Jesus Christ heals
you. Get up and make your bed!" And he did it - jumped right out of bed. 35 Everybody who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw
him walking around and woke up to the fact that God was alive and active among
them.
Secondly in Joppa:
36 Down the road a way in Joppa
there was a disciple named Tabitha, "Gazelle" in our language. She was
well-known for doing good and helping out. 37 During the time Peter was in the area she
became sick and died. Her friends prepared her body for burial and put her in a
cool room. 38 Some of the disciples had heard that Peter
was visiting in nearby Lydda and sent two men to ask if he would be so kind as
to come over. 39 Peter got right up and went with them. They
took him into the room where Tabitha's body was laid out. Her old friends, most
of them widows, were in the room mourning. They showed Peter pieces of clothing
the Gazelle had made while she was with them. 40 Peter put the widows all out of the room.
He knelt and prayed. Then he spoke directly to the body: "Tabitha, get up."
41 He took her hand and helped her up. Then he
called in the believers and widows, and presented her to them alive. 42 When this became known all over Joppa, many
put their trust in the Master. 43 Peter stayed on a long time in Joppa as a
guest of Simon the Tanner.
God has put Himself on the line for you and for me. He loves us so much
that He sent His son to teach us the way, to be a innocent sacrifice that the
gap between us and God because of our ways could be closed. Jesus died on the
cross that you and I can now have access to God. It is through the blood of
Jesus that we are freed from sin. It is by the blood of Jesus that we have
direct access to God, without need of a mediator. It is by the blood of Jesus
and the authority of Jesus that we are able to see miracles performed in Jesus'
name today. Changed lives, Changed hearts, Changed minds. It is by Jesus'
stripes we are healed.
Do you have a relationship with God? Have you met this Jesus, my Lord and
Savior? Do you believe in Him? Have you ever wondered about God? Ever wondered
about what your relationship with Him is supposed to be like? Are you in a place
where you would like to better understand what your response to God should be?
My pastor and friend is a great person who is available to speak to you, as am
I. He can be reached at pastor.andy@ecaonline.org. You can
post a response on my space if you would like me and other Christians to come
along side you.
Here is a bit more detail though:
Knowing your sins are forgiven and you are ready for heaven is as simple as
the following steps:
A. Admit you have sinned..... "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23) "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us" (1 John 1:8). B. Believe in Jesus..... "For God so loved the world, that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life" (John 3:16). C. Confess and leave your sin..... "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9). You might want to use the following prayer as a guide: Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I'm a sinner, and I'm sorry for my sin. Thank You for dying on the Cross for me. Please forgive me of my sin, and accept me as Your child. I desire to live for You, Jesus. Amen. Congratulations on becoming a part of God's forever family. Obviously this is only a first step. Should you like to know more about your decision please contact us or visit www.powertochange.com. トラックバック (1 件)この記事のトラックバックの URL は次のとおりです。 http://from-2005-to-eternity.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!1D77DCB42F21CE9C!926.trak この記事を参照しているブログ
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