God’s Call through the Gospel Message
The book of Acts is about the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus. “… and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
The book of Acts is about the furtherance of the Gospel of Jesus. “… and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).
There are many people in our lives with whom we become acquainted. However, one must be cautious that those we spend the most time with have a true knowledge of Jesus and a love for God’s Word. We are to understand that words alone do not make one a child of God.
When Jesus came, He did not take away the importance of the Old Testament Law and Prophets; instead, He fulfilled them. This means He completed them, or made them completely perfect. “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill” (Matthew 5:17).
God’s people were in bondage in Egypt (they were slaves). However, God heard them cry out and rose up a mighty deliverer, Moses. Moses appeared before Pharaoh and told him, “Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Let my people go …” (Exodus 5:1). Pharaoh’s response? “… I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go” (Exodus 5:2).
One cannot fully explain just who Jesus is in a brief summary. However, the Bible tells who Jesus is from the beginning through to the end. Nevertheless, for a brief sampling, read the following verses.
Jacob’s family moved to Egypt to be with Joseph. Before he died, he blessed each of his sons. When he came to Judah, he not only blessed him, but also made a prophecy concerning his descendants.
A Christian must learn how to live as a Christian.
Paul encouraged people who had given their hearts and lives to Jesus, Christians, to understand the importance of living a life in a pleasing manner. “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service” (Romans 12:1). What does this mean?
“Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.” (Matthew 24:42)
In some of Jesus’ final teachings to His disciples, He gave them a specific warning that we must heed today.
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11).
God called many prophets in the Old Testament to go and declare His Word to the people. These men mostly went, regardless of what happened to them.
“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me” (Revelation 3:20).
Something has happened in my lifetime. When I was a young person growing up in church, everything was about Jesus.
“16. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17).
What amazing words!
While living in the garden and tending it, God gave only one command to Adam and Eve – do not eat of the fruit of one particular tree in the garden. “16. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17. But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).
Satan then entered the picture in the form of a serpent.
Remember what every Christian should have already learned about Satan: when he became proud, wanting to be greater than God, he became God’s enemy (see Isaiah 14:12-16).
Jehoshaphat was a good king. When he became king, he eliminated idol worship. He then strengthened the cities of Judah – physically and spiritually.
Have you ever made a wrong turn in traffic? Did you lose time with that error? Could you potentially become lost? If you have a GPS system that helps you find your way, it is much easier to stay on the chosen path. Moreover, if you make a wrong turn along the way, you may hear a voice say something like, “Wrong turn; recalculating your route.”
The book of Joel tells of the Day of the Lord (see Joel 2:1-3). Many believe that this book is the key to understanding much of prophecy concerning the coming day mentioned by Jesus to His disciples before He left them on earth (see Matthew 24). A day that has not yet come.
Today, not many people take time to study the Old Testament Scriptures. They are old, you know! It is all in the past. Who needs to know what happened hundreds of years ago?
The sin of Adam (disobedience of God) separated all of God’s creation from fellowship with God. Adam and Eve immediately recognized that they were naked. They were no longer covered by the glory from God.
What would happen if you were faced with a generation of young people, most of which were never taught to love the Lord or obey His commands?
Noah was a man who lived in a very wicked world. Remember how God described it in Genesis. “And GOD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Genesis 6:5). Because of this great wickedness, God planned to destroy it all.
In the life of King Hezekiah, we can read of a hope for someone whose family does not know of God or the things of God. Remember, King Hezekiah was the son of a terrible king of Judah, King Ahaz.
Have you ever been afraid of doing something? Perhaps you were afraid of going to a new place or job, a terrible storm, or maybe just telling someone about Jesus. It would be good to understand that when Christians walk with God in the ways the Bible teaches, God will be with us. We should not be afraid of anything.
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.” Ecclesiastes 12:13
Can you name any of God’s commandments? Without knowing what God’s commandments are, people would never understand they have sinned.
Back in the Garden of Eden, when man disobeyed God’s command, disobedience separated man from God. This was the beginning of sin and death. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned” (Romans 5:12).
There were times in the Old Testament that we saw God warn a people that he would send complete and utter destruction upon them because they were against God’s people and because of their wickedness (remember Nineveh in the book of Nahum). They saw complete physical destruction.
As Christians living in this world, we are to be prepared for the dangerous journey that is the Christian life. We are warned to not be beguiled by people who are not true Christians. Some of them may desire to lead you off the true path into darkness and despair. Be careful whose company you keep!
“Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.” 1 Timothy 4:12
We can remember back to some of Jesus’ Disciples. They recorded for us their eyewitness accounts of Jesus’ life. They understood the importance of just who Jesus is. They realized the importance of recording the life of Jesus.
As you read the following verse, think of your favorite Bible teacher. “Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting you in remembrance” (2 Peter 1:13). The word tabernacle means “the body as a frail tenement of the soul”; stir you up means “of the mind; to excite.” The job of a good teacher (in their frailty), is to stir up their students (excite them) by putting them in remembrance (to help them remember the heroes of our faith).
Solomon was an exceedingly wise man. He was a very wealthy man. This was all because when God asked him what he wanted, Solomon asked for wisdom of God to rule His people. God then gave him wisdom and wealth beyond measure.
A Christian is to understand that God’s Word is the Bible. Christians have Bibles and know they are important to have, but one cannot forget the importance of knowing what the Bible says. It was written for Christians. It is imperative that every Christian learn how to use the Bible correctly. In order to realize the best way to apply God’s Word, one must first know it.
If you ask someone who their favorite Bible character is, many will reply, “David!” Almost everyone has heard of David and Goliath. However, there is so much more to the life of David than one mighty victory when he was a young.
An amazing event took place at Philippi while Paul and Silas were there. They were falsely accused, beaten and thrown in prison. The jailer was instructed to keep them safe.
“For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.” Romans 1:17
Have you ever been afraid?
One cannot help but remember back to an event that took place in the Bible. Jesus had been going about preaching and healing many.
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Galatians 6:7
If you read the history of Israel (the Northern Kingdom) in the Old Testament, keep in mind that none of the kings of Israel was considered good because they led Israel to sin against God.
We often hear how important it is to confess our sins, seeking forgiveness. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). However, have you ever thought about how this is even possible? It may be easy to say the words, but what does it take to be really forgiven?
There is much fear in the world today. I have never known a time when so many people are afraid of almost everything. Today is a day of uncertainty. One hears of earthquakes, fires, hurricanes, illnesses, the downfall of the economy, rumors of wars, and so many other things of which to be afraid.
Why should one not be afraid?
There are countless people who believe there are “many” ways to get to heaven. We can see this evidenced in numerous religions out there that promise eternal life in heaven. These religions (and personal opinions) give false hope of eternal life because they do not teach there is only One way; Jesus.
Why do some people believe in Jesus, becoming a Christian, and others do not?
God gives each person the choice to believe or to not believe.
Naaman healed of leprosy is a very familiar event that happened in the Old Testament. In Bible times, leprosy was much like a death sentence. There was no known cure. However, have you ever considered a great lesson that can be understood from this event?
God sent a man named Amos to deliver an important message to the people of Israel. The people were living contrary to the Word of God, worshiping idols, and were practicing an empty religion. Amos asked them an important question: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
There was a man who was instructed in the ways of the Lord. He knew the Bible. He was a great speaker when he taught things from the Bible. He instructed many people of the correct ways to live according to the principles laid out in God’s Word.
There should be a definite contrast in the hearts and lives of Christians compared with those who have not yet believed in Jesus. Christians have a great confidence (a hope) as we live in this lost world. On the other hand, the lost (those apart from Christ) may be fearful as they live in this world. What makes the difference?
Many words of wisdom are recorded in the book of Proverbs. What can happen when these words are revealed and subsequently applied to lives?
What does it mean when someone says that God loves you?
Paul was zealous for God. He was a Pharisee of the Pharisees (this means he was very religious!). Paul knew God’s Word – better than most people.
Everyone understands the difference between light and dark. They are opposites. In one, you can see clearly, in the other you cannot. In the darkness, much can be hidden and unseen.
Jacob (also named Israel) had twelve sons that would become the twelve tribes of Israel. One of Jacob’s sons was, Joseph. Joseph was the eleventh son and the last to be born to Jacob before he returned to the land promised to Abraham and Isaac. Joseph was a godly young man in spite of adverse circumstances in his life.
Asaph was one of the writers of the Psalms. See what he recognized: “Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart” (Psalm 73:1).
Wisdom is the major theme of the book of Proverbs, and King Solomon wrote much of it. If you remember, shortly after Solomon became king, God came to him in a dream.
No one talks about the wrath of God anymore. What exactly is the wrath of God?
Does the world seem like it is a very dark place these days? There is so much unrest and wickedness in the world today; it feels as if there is little hope for a peaceful future.
Who in this world doesn’t want to be blessed (means happy)? The Bible clearly helps us understand how to be blessed.
There are many people in this world that have no sense of their lost condition, yet they “join” in on the Christian life enticed by the hope of a glorious future of blessings in this life and in Heaven to come. However, the correct motivation must be the reason for the journey we call the Christian life.
Have you ever wondered what God has for your life, or how to find out?
What is the most important thing a Christian can do?
The most important thing a Christian can do is to know God’s Word.
Job is known as a patient man (see James 5:11: “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy”). When Satan presented himself before God, take note of what God said about Job:
Jesus gave the example of four different ways the Word of God may or may not be received in one’s heart and life (in the parable of the seed planted in the four different soils in Matthew 13). Look at one of those ways. We can understand that some hear the Word, but that it falls upon the stony ground and Satan snatches it away.
Have you ever had an urgency to do something? What drove that urgency?
For those who belong to the Lord, that urgency should come from Him.
Have you ever heard something that scared you? I mean really scared you?! What do you think of the following? “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him” (John 3:36).
Have you ever tried to play a game with someone without reading the instructions? Was there arguing over unknown rules? Was it a peaceful game or was there much disagreement? Was it any fun?
Saul was the first king of Israel. He looked (physically) like a good king. However, his true nature was soon revealed. The most devastating thing that happened with King Saul was that he chose to do what he wanted to do instead of obeying God’s Word.
Have you ever done something in secret, thinking that no one saw you? Have you ever thought something unkind about someone?
Solomon was a very wise man. When King Solomon asked God to give him an understanding heart to judge God’s people, God gave him great wisdom.
God has revealed himself gradually through the years. “1. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2. Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son …” (Hebrews 1:1-2a). From these verses, we can understand the incremental and progressive manner in which God disclosed Himself up until the appearance of His Son, Jesus.
Have you ever found yourself in a place where you did not know what to do, or even where to go? What did you do about it?
In today’s world, it is not very popular to obey God.
Many people do not believe that the commandments written in the Bible are all that important for our lives today. However,
Have you ever had an appointment that changed the course of your life? What about a missed opportunity that you can never go back to correct?
David is one of the most famous men in the Bible. God chose him when he was young to be the future king of His people. Although King Saul chased David wanting to kill him, David followed God, and God took care of him.
In the Old Testament, God often reminded His people what He expected of them. Before they were led into the land God promised to them, see what He told them: “Ye shall not do after all the things that we do here this day, every man whatsoever is right in his own eyes”
The most important thing a Christian can do is to seek after God. God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son to die upon the cross – just so we could have a relationship with Him! All we must do is to love Him enough to seek after Him.
Everyone knows John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” This is undoubtedly the greatest gift anyone could receive.
At some point in one’s life, a person become cognizant that there is something off – that they may be a good person, but that it isn’t enough in the grand scheme of things. They begin to recognize sin.
Have you ever had someone make fun of you, or laugh, at you because you have chosen to live a Christian life? Have you especially noticed it when you attempt to tell someone about Jesus?
One cannot help but remember a very strange event that happened in the Old Testament. There was a man of God sent to King Jeroboam to warn him not to practice the false religion that he was establishing.
There is so much going on in the world today – good and evil. With all the many choices of things to see and do, things vying to take one’s time, we are to be very careful of what we allow into our hearts and lives. We should not only protect our hearts, but also be aware of the kind of wisdom that we allow into our hearts. Why? The things that we allow into our hearts and minds are…
There seems to be much confusion in the world today about good works. In order to understand what the Bible teaches, one must have the right questions. Who is Jesus Christ, and why did He come? “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). God showed His love by sending Jesus to die, paying the penalty for sin, while I was yet a sinner. “5. Not by works…
Timothy was a great Christian and Paul’s faithful friend. Although Timothy’s mother and grandmother had taught him about Jesus, Paul had led Timothy to Jesus (taught him more about Jesus and how to be saved). Paul watched Timothy grow in his Christian faith. Paul wrote a letter of encouragement to Timothy. After reminding him of his salvation, he encouraged him to step up to the task God had placed before him. Timothy was not to be ashamed of the Gospel…
Jesus taught what many call “The Sermon on the Mount.” In that sermon He taught the character qualities of the kingdom He would establish. The things He taught the people were many practical ways to live. As He came toward the end of this sermon, He presented a choice. Jesus always gives each person a choice that must be made. No one else can make that choice. However, Jesus encouraged the right choice. “13. Enter ye in at the strait…
Have you ever been discouraged in your Christian walk and feel like you are standing for the truth of God’s Word on your own? Have you shared the Gospel message with someone only to have the offer of Salvation rejected? Does that mean it is pointless to continue living a life pleasing to the Lord? No! This world is a dark place (and becoming darker by the day!), but we are to be a light in this world. Paul wrote…
Have you ever had a troubling dream? Did you wonder just what it meant and why it disturbed you so? Often times in this world there is so much going on, one does not have a moment of peace or quiet to think. One is relegated to the time between sleep and the waking hours to ponder life. Even then, many are plagued by the “to do’s” for tomorrow. It is then that God may intervene with a troubling dream….
Watch this video–it could be the turning point in your life!
Take six minutes to watch this video. It could change your life!
We live in a world where it isn’t very popular to hunger and thirst after righteousness.
Have you noticed that the world has changed? Did you also notice that things are not as they once were?