The Biblical Path of Life

Tag: Preach

  • A New Life Pleasing God

    “So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.”

    Acts 19:20

    The following is an excerpt from The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Two, Lesson 10:

    “… God allowed Paul to heal people and eliminate evil spirits. With this came people who tried to do the same things. ‘13. Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying, We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth. 14. And there were seven sons of one Sceva, a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15. And the evil spirit answered and said, Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye? 16. And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. 17. And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified‘ (Acts 19:13-17). Vagabond means ‘ones who just wander.’ Exorcists means ‘one who binds by an oath; generally one who by incantation professes to expel demons.’ These men, seven of which were sons of the chief priest, used incantations, professing to cast out demons. Nevertheless, see that even the demons recognized that these men did not know Jesus (for Jesus was not in their hearts). When they tried to cast out the demons, those demons jumped on them, ‘so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.‘ God used this to magnify the name of Jesus. ‘And many that believed came, and confessed, and shewed their deeds‘ (Acts 19:18). Deeds means ‘an act, practice; works; meaning conduct.’ This caused many to recognize that they were living in a lifestyle that opposed the preaching of Jesus. What did the people do about it? ‘Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver‘ (Acts 19:19). Curious arts means ‘a standard term for magic or black arts; pointing to the lengthy and various rituals involved in incantation ceremonies and the precision with which they were performed.’ The people understood that they must eliminate theses wicked things from their lives. Once they did, read what followed. ‘So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed’ (Acts 19:20). Many people were saved, and God’s Word was spread.

    Paul continued his journey…

    A Deeper Path: See some things we just cannot help but notice. God has always called people to turn from their sin toward Him. ‘If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land‘ (2 Chronicles 7:14). Theses were encouraging words for God’s people in King Solomon’s day.

    God has always warned His people to avoid sin and people who sin. ‘14. Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away. 16. For they sleep not, except they have done mischief; and their sleep is taken away, unless they cause some to fall. 17. For they eat the bread of wickedness, and drink the wine of violence. 18. But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day. 19. The way of the wicked is as darkness: they know not at what they stumble’ (Proverbs 4:14-19). God wants people to live a just life, not a wicked life. God also gave the following warning. ‘23. Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life … 27. Turn not to the right hand nor to the left: remove thy foot from evil’ (Proverbs 4:23, 27). It is important to protect each heart – for what is placed in each individual’s heart will come out in that person’s life. Avoid wickedness and evil.

    As God allowed Paul to do many miracles and cast out evil spirits, there appeared a copycat: one who appeared to be able to do the same thing, until the evil spirit declared these men were false and jumped upon them. We, too, must be careful that something that has the appearance of good is not just a form of godliness, denying the power of Jesus (for these men had never known Jesus themselves). ‘Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away‘ (2 Timothy 3:5). Christians are to be cautious and check out and know for certain if that something is truly from God.

    There is something else important to recognize. Once one becomes a Christian and begins to follow the Lord, that person must forsake all of the things of their past life. When Jesus called his disciples, they forsook all to follow Him. ‘And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him’ (Luke 5:11). When the people in Ephesus believed in Jesus and confessed Him as their Lord, they had to remove their “deeds” from their sinful past. Remember what we read in Acts 19:19: ‘Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.‘ It did not matter to them the monetary cost. They wanted to live a new life pleasing God.”

    Have you trusted in Christ, forsaking the things of your past life to live a new life in Christ, following Him?

    What to do to trust in Christ.

    The Biblical Path of Life – Year Three, Quarter Two

  • Jesus, the Only Salvation

    “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
    Acts 4:12

    Paul heard of some troubles in the church at Corinth. He then wrote a letter to the Corinthians (the book of 1 Corinthians in the New Testament Bible). He addressed them as the fellow Christians, saved by grace, which they were. He also wanted to remind them of something. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord” (1 Corinthians 1:9). No matter what problems Christians may have, God is faithful to those who are called by Him.

    Paul had heard of the factions and discord that was troubling the church at Corinth. “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10). It was not good to have factions or discord in the church. These had caused contentions in the church. The first problem Paul addressed concerned the Believers who had been saved under different leaders ministries. They were making an issue out of something that should not have been a cause for division. “12. Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ. 13. Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?” (1 Corinthians 1:12-13). Can you readily recognize the problem Paul pointed out? The people were choosing to follow a man instead of God. They were divided because some had been saved under the teaching of Paul, some under the teaching of Apollos, and even some of them under the teaching of Peter (Cephas). Only one group was correct – the group that declared, “and I of Christ.” All, who are Believers, are saved by Jesus Christ. “10. Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead …12. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:10, 12).

     The Believers in Corinth had neglected the foundational truth Paul (and even Apollos and Peter) had taught – “the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:4). It was not by the preacher or teacher that one was saved, it was by the Gospel message of Jesus. The people had forgotten that salvation (deliverance from the penalty of sin) was only through Jesus, and instead they were fighting amongst themselves over their favorite teacher, emphasizing the one who had baptized them. This caused divisions. There was to be unity. For when the people were divided, they did not do what they were supposed to do. Because they were so busy fighting, they were not growing in their Christian life. The people were not reaching out, teaching people about Jesus. Not only that, but they were to teach the new Believers how to live that new life in Christ. These things were to be the primary functions of the church.

    The people in the church at Corinth had turned the focus from the Gospel message of Jesus to the baptism by one of God’s servants. Paul dealt with this issue. “17. For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. 18. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1:17-18).

    Paul wanted to remind the people of something important: it was not the messenger who presented the Gospel message that was to be remembered (“not with wisdom of words”), but it was the message that was to be remembered. Paul taught Jesus in simple language that anyone could understand. By the world’s standards (“to them that perish”), this is foolish, for the better the orator, the more likely people will be enticed to do as the speaker teaches. Nevertheless, Paul wanted them to understand this is not the way to bring someone to Christ. For when people are saved, it is not the great speaker, but “it is the power of God.” Only God has the ability to save souls. “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe” (1 Corinthians 1:21). God does not operate by the world’s wisdom. God chose to use people to declare the Gospel message to other people, introducing them to the only way to be saved. “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6). The Gospel message of Jesus is the only way in which one can be saved.    

    Have you chosen to follow man instead of God?

    Or

    Are you growing in your Christian life and telling others about Jesus?