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John 1:4-5 - In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. NASB
The people in this world who will accept Jesus as the Light of the world. He will give them spiritual Life. John 8:12 - Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." John 12:36 - "While you have the Light, believe in the Light, so that you may become sons of Light." It is Christmas time and for many this is known as a time to give gifts. I would like to encourage all of my readers, if you have not given yourself the gift of Life through Jesus Christ the Light of the world, now is the time. If you already have given yourself the gift of Life then by all means please share this gift with others, and as you share, remember this one thing:
One of the saddest things I have experienced in my life time is sharing the gospel with people and them not allowing the Light to shine into their life. I can remember equating this event to the lyrics of a song sung by the rock band known as the Eagles. The song was entitled "Already Gone." The lyrics are as follows: "Just remember this my girl when you look up in the sky You can see the stars and still not see the light, that's right." I could tell them about Jesus the Light, but they were not able to comprehend what I was saying. In other words, I was not able to lead them out of the darkness and into the Light. They could see the stars but they couldn't see the Light, Jesus Christ the One who made the stars.
Also, it is my prayer that anyone you shine the Light on will be led out of the darkness and will truly see the Light of the world, Jesus Christ. Think on These: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. Life is 10% what you make it and 90% how you take it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend.
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Acts 15:19 - "Therefore it is my judgment that we do not trouble those who are turning to God from among the Gentiles,…" NASU
Acts 15:1-2 - Some men came down from Judea and began teaching the brethren, "Unless you are circumcised according to the custom of Moses, you cannot be saved." And when Paul and Barnabas had great dissension and debate with them, the brethren determined that Paul and Barnabas and some others of them should go up to Jerusalem to the apostles and elders concerning this issue. Acts 15:5 - But some of the sect of the Pharisees who had believed stood up, saying, "It is necessary to circumcise them and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses." NASU Did you notice what that verse said? Some PHARISEES who had BELIEVED. WOW! The group that was antagonistic towards Jesus and His ministry now has some believers. BUT they were teaching in order for the Gentiles to become followers of Jesus Christ they must first become converts to Judaism. This would mean every Gentile male would have to be circumcised. Oh yeah, that is going to be really painful. Then they must observe all 600 plus laws of the Old Testament. Paul and Barnabas were trying to teach the Pharisees this isn't correct. The Gentiles don't have to become Jewish. They will be accepted by Jesus without circumcision and without obeying all of the Jewish laws. So both groups travel to Jerusalem to meet with the Apostles and see who is right.
Peter says the Gentiles don't have to become Jewish to be SAVED. Peter says God made no distinction between Jews and Gentiles. The cleansing of their (Gentiles) hearts would come by FAITH. What would their "faith" have been in? Their faith would have been in the fact Jesus Christ resurrected after His death. Our faith is to be in this same fact, Jesus Christ rose from the grave, He has exited the tomb and He is now reigning from Heaven.
Don't trouble people who are turning to God.
I also pray for you my readers to help people come to faith in Jesus Christ and not add any laws to God's Perfect Plan. Think On This: God Still Speaks To Those Who Take Time To Listen. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Hebrews 4:2 - “For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard.” NASB
So, let me ask you a very sincere heartfelt question. Do you have "faith" in the Gospel?
According to the Word of God here is the answer to that question from I Corin. 15:1-4: "Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, in which also you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,…"NASU This is the Gospel my friends: Jesus died for our sins; He was buried, and resurrected on the third day. When He died on that cross some very important spiritual things took place. Jesus' blood atoned for our sins and because of this atonement we can be seen in the eyes of God as JUSTIFIED. The word "Justified" means to be "Just as if I've never sinned".
I heard a preacher once ask this question, "Do you realize if you were the only person that ever sinned Jesus would have still come to the cross of Calvary and died for you?" Or are you on the side of the ones who have heard about Jesus death, burial and resurrection, but you can't accept those facts? Let me say this, "Heaven isn't for everyone. Heaven is for those who have FAITH in Jesus' death, burial and resurrection." Remember the Good News isn't the Good News for you if it is not believed.
Think On These: Facts do not cease to exist just because they are ignored. The hardest thing about facts is to face them. Fact is fact and feelings are feelings and never does the second change the first. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook Page, Twitter or Forwarding to a friend. Mt 10:24-28 - A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. 25 "It is enough for the disciple that he become like his teacher, and the slave like his master. If they have called the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more will they malign the members of his household!
26 "Therefore do not fear them, for there is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. 27 " What I tell you in the darkness, speak in the light; and what you hear whispered in your ear, proclaim upon the housetops. NASU
If we are going to be a "disciple" we won't have an attitude that elevates us above our teacher, Jesus. We will see Him as He is the Son of God. Now you might be thinking, "Well that is not too hard." But remember, when Jesus was teaching these lessons, a lot of people didn't believe He was God's Son the way we do. In fact, one of the first controversies about Jesus was whether He was of the same substance as God (Gk. -homoousian) or a similar substance to God (Gk.- homoiousian). This was discussed at the First Council of Nicea in AD 325. As disciples, we should always have an attitude that leads us to always learn as much as we can about Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, and become as much like Him as we possibly can. Are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus if it means you have to study God's Word so that you can be like your Teacher, Jesus?
Jesus and His disciples are teaching that He is the Son of God and His enemies are saying He is a god, alright. He is Beelzebul, the god of dung (dung is manure). As disciples of Jesus, we know they maligned our Teacher, and we will be maligned for our beliefs as well. Are you willing to be a disciple of Jesus if it means you will have people say evil things about you?
Can we do this? Yes, we can or He would not have commanded it. Jesus doesn't tell us to do things that are impossible. Don't give into fear. Everything Jesus taught will be revealed. It will be revealed that He truly is the Son of God. Now instead of being conquered by fear, be conquered by the desire to go everywhere and speak the truth about Jesus Christ. We are to speak in the light what we have heard. What have we heard? Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God, and He has come as the Lamb of God to take away the sins of the world. Think On These: If you are not afraid to face the music, you may someday lead the band. Courage is not the absence of fear, but the conquest of it. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Please feel free to Share this Pump Up with others by Sharing on Your Facebook page or Forwarding to a friend. |
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