SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER: ALLELUIA!!! ALLELUIA!!! JESUS CHRIST IS RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD AND FOR ALL THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN HIM, THEY ALSO WILL BE RESURRECTED ON THE DAY OF HIS RETURN. ALLELUIA!!!!!!! WE ARE HEADING TOWARDS PENTACOST SUNDAY. ALLELUIA!!!
Keep on praying, this world is in great need of it. "Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
Presenting the sixth edition for 2006 of the WEEKLY DEVOTIONS:
EVANGELIZATION THROUGH TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS:
Do we walk our talk??? As CHRISTIANS do we bring people to Jesus Christ even amidst our trials and tribulations or is it only when we are in a good mood and feeling joyous. Do people see the Christ-like character of Jesus in us no matter what our circumstances may be. They may wonder what makes this person so different and how can we be more like Him who is living in us thus giving Glory to God. Let us look how Paul and Silas brought a jailer to Jesus Christ amidst a harsh trial.
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!"
The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"
They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. Acts 16:22-34
Jesus did not leave us alone. He sent the Advocate the Holy Spirit to help us:
But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment: in regard to sin, because men do not believe in me; in regard to righteousness, because I am going to the Father, where you can see me no longer; and in regard to judgment, because the prince of this world now stands condemned. John 16:7-11
When you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior and Lord of your life, the Holy Spirit comes to dwell within you. Among other things, He is there to reveal the will of God to you. Only the believer has the Spirit’s presence within, and we must have this inside help if we are going to follow the will of God. (Reference: Charles R. Swindoll, Five Meaningful Minutes A Day)
For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, because those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. Romans 8:13-14
Through faith in Jesus Christ and through the Holy Spirit He can still work miracles through us if we only let Him have His way with us and do His will. What Amazing Grace!!!
