by David Brenneman
"Opening his mouth, Peter said: “I most certainly understand now that God is not one to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him. The word which He sent to the sons of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ (He is Lord of all)— you yourselves know the thing which took place throughout all Judea, starting from Galilee, after the baptism which John proclaimed. You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” Acts 10:34-43.
We're quickly approaching that time of year when it's both welcomed and rejected by people of this world. The message of the Gospel that begins with the birth of Jesus Christ. The thoughts of thanksgiving and the thoughts of gifts to men and women from God above are seen in this passage from the Bible.
People in various corners of the world point to various things in the Bible to say that God isn't for them. That if God won't accept them as they say they are, then, they want no part of Him or His salvation.
What most do not recognize in our day and age is the work of either the Spirit of God or the deeds of darkness done by demon possessed people.
In even this short testimony of Peter, we read of what oppression the Devil is doing to people.
The Scriptures are there to tell us not only how to live life, but, to show us what to be on the lookout for with regards to the enemy of God.
Satan's schemes begin with attempts at discrediting the Gospel message. But when the willing heart is open to that message, he is powerless to stop it. His next best defense is to get those who are saved either too busy or too scared to tell more people.
Look at the lives saved by Jesus in the Gospels. Look at the ones that were so demonically involved that it took the full direct authority of Jesus Christ to get them to leave someone. Look at the reality of demons written in the Book of Acts where those who weren't really Believers tried to cast them out and what became of them.
Demons are going to try to steal the message of the Gospel from anyone hearing it, reading it, or seeing it.
We like reading this passage:
"Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it." Hebrews 13:2.
Angels walk among us as well as Demons. Believe it that if we can entertain angels without knowing it, we can be face-to-face with demons without knowing it.
We're given Spiritual Armor for a reason. We learn discernment from the Spirit of God from God's Word. We need to be more active in prayer if we honestly believe that God does nothing but by the prayers of His people.
In our world, your world and mine, we need eyes that see. Many people will believe in the ability of a chair to bear their weight to sit in before they will believe the truth of the world around them as described by God's Word.
We need to be soldiers ready to face what the Spirit brings into our lives. We're not going to see a peaceful Earth. Regardless of what supposed plans of so-called peace that the world speaks to...it's all heading towards the events of the book of Revelation.
The truth of what Paul wrote in Romans 10..."But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes in Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, abounding in riches for all who call on Him; for “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:8-13.
Is that message, as is Peter's in what we read...that changes lives. It's what brings the right to be called Sons and Daughters of God. It's what seals us in the Spirit of God. It's what allows us the right to cry out to Jesus and know we have been heard.
To be blunt...our careers, in our eyes, are worthless in the Spiritual scheme of things. Our purpose is to fulfill God's plan for us in whatever respect that looks like. It's not to be our will being done on Earth, but His. Our lives are to be a testimony of the great things that God has done for us.
Even in the Great Tribulation that's on the horizon, even through those horrific years, the Gospel message will not be stopped.
People will still be saved in the Great Tribulation.
What are you doing to be a light in this world? Is your focus on your own wants and desires or on learning and doing what Jesus has you here for? You are not here by accident. You are here because in this exact point in time because you are the best person to complete the tasks that Jesus has need of being done. Just know you will face opposition. From within and from without. Your sin nature will try to shut you up. People around you will try to shut you down. We read of the charge in the Bible of pressing on towards that upward call in Christ Jesus.
To press on gives the idea of setting your feet as someone on the front lines, digging in each footstep to push your way forward. The winds and weather might hit but you keep moving forward.
Don't let people or situations rob you of the messages coming in the next few months. Jesus said we know not the day nor the hour of His return. Keep sharing the message, don't be surprised by the firey ordeals we face. Satan's a sore loser. He can try to influence the minds of Believers but he cannot possess a Believer. He isn't creative. He only does what has worked before. He has the ability to possess those who aren't saved.
Pray on, pray over, pray through whatever is coming in your today. Don't let the enemy of God steal your joy in the thanksgiving, the birth of Jesus, that the months to come will speak of.
Let the message of the Gospel still be heard, felt, and seen in your life.
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