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Salvation, Joy, Victory

Jesus is the way of salvation, joy and victory. Jesus is the way of salvation – Concerning “the Name of Jesus Christ”, Peter tells us that “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved” ( Acts 4:10 , 12 ). Jesus is the way of joy – Jesus tells us, “In the world, you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” ( John 16:33 ). Jesus is the way of victory – Paul gives to us this word of encouragement: “Thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” ( 1 Corinthians 15:57 ).
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Our Own Words? or God's Word?

“Since we have heard that some who went out from us have troubled you with words, unsettling your souls… Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words… Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord” ( Acts 15:24 , 32 , 35 ). There was a problem. There needed to be a response. Whenever God’s people are being “troubled” and “unsettled” by those who speak their own “words” rather than the Word of the Lord, what are we to do? We must pray that God will raise up “prophets” who will preach the Gospel and teach the Word of God, strengthening the faith of God’s people and leading them into a closer walk with God.

The Holy Spirit Leads Us In The Way Of Victory.

John 15:20 , 26 , 16:13–15 , 33 , Rom 12:2 , 2 Tim 3:12 , 1 John 5:4–5 Jesus was ‘persecuted’. We will be ‘persecuted’ - ‘all who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted’ ( John 15:20 ; 2 Timothy 3:12 ). We have no guarantee that life will be easy. In all our difficulties, ‘the Spirit of truth’ directs our attention to Jesus our Saviour ( John 15:26 ; 16:13-15 ). Whatever our problems, we draw encouragement from Jesus’ words: ‘In the world you have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world’ ( John 16:33 ). Here, we have realism and faith. The world is trying to squeeze us into its own mould ( Romans 12:2 ). Sometimes, we feel like faith is slipping away. Sometimes, we feel like giving up. What are we to say to all this? ‘Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?’ - This is our faith’ ( 1 John 5:4-5 ).

Do You Love God?

Jesus was speaking to men who practised a very high-brow kind of religion. As far as they were concerned, they did all the right things. They regarded themselves as the people of God. From this high vantage-point of religious observance, these men became proud and arrogant. They looked down on others. Rather than looking deeply into their own sinful hearts and confessing their own sin to God, these men were preoccupied with outward appearances and insisted on passing judgment on the lives of others. Although these men had plenty of religion, Jesus hit the nail on the head when He said to them: "But I know that you have not the love of God within you" ( John 5:42 ). Jesus' words, in  John 5:42 , begin with the word, "But." Jesus is saying to these proud, religious men, "I know all about your religion, all about your religious traditions, all about the power and the glory of your religion, all about your knowledge of the Scriptures, but there is something ...

Making Decisions? or Making Disciples?

“Some time later Paul said to Barnabas, ‘Let us go back and visit the believers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing.’” ( Acts 15:36 ).  We begin with making decisions – but we don’t end there. We must go on from there to making disciples. Making a decision for Christ is just the beginning. Growing into a disciple of Christ – this is God’s calling for the whole of our life’s journey.

We grow as disciples as we build our lives on the truth of God.

We grow as disciples as we build our lives on the truth of God. Jesus emphasizes this point very strongly in John 15:7 - “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you will, and it shall be done for you.” If we are to grow in prayer , we must build our faith and our lives upon God’s Word - “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love” ( John 15:10 ). If we are to grow in love , we must build a living faith on the teaching of God’s Word -”These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” ( John 15:11 ). If we are to grow in joy , we muse feed upon the Word of the Lord, letting His teaching form the rock-solid foundation for our lives. When we build on the truth of God, going on with the Lord day-by-day, we will be true disciples. In the presence of the Lord, each of us must answer honestly the searching question: What kind of disciple a...