15th Sep 26 | 04:00
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Demonstrating God’s salvation
📖 Acts 11:01-18
20 – Wed16Oct2024 – *Demonstrating God’s salvation* - _Acts 11:01-18_ – PETER’S EXPLANATION – _Psalms 149:06-09_
_Acts 11:13-14 And he told us how he had seen an angel standing in his house, who said to him, 'Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon whose surname is Peter, (14) who will tell you words by which *you and all your household will be saved*.'_
To be saved brings about a great change in how we live our lives. As people who are saved, we are to be those who demonstrate the character and nature of God in the world. _Isaiah 61:8-9 "For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery for burnt offering; I will direct their work in truth, And *will make with them an everlasting covenant. (9) Their descendants shall be known among the Gentiles, And their offspring among the people. All who see them shall acknowledge them, That they are the posterity whom the LORD has blessed*."_
As those who are saved, we are to be known to be the posterity of the Lord. This was what the Israelites were chosen to be. _Deuteronomy 7:6 “For you are a holy people to the LORD your God; the LORD your God has chosen you to be a people for Himself, a special treasure above all the peoples on the face of the earth._ / _Deuteronomy 26:18-19 Also today the LORD has proclaimed you to be His special people, just as He promised you, that you should keep all His commandments, (19) and that He will set you high above all nations which He has made, in praise, in name, and in honor, and that you may be a holy people to the LORD your God, just as He has spoken."_
This is who we are to be as His church. _I Peter 2:9-10 But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; (10) who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy._
We live in a world where there is unrighteousness and injustice. It is in this context that the Lord sends us as a people to proclaim His glory through us. _Zechariah 8:16-17 These are the things you shall do: Speak each man the truth to his neighbor; *Give judgment in your gates for truth, justice, and peace*; (17) Let none of you think evil in your heart against your neighbor; And do not love a false oath. For all these are things that I hate,' Says the LORD."_
*Our salvation experience is not just a spiritual awakening but a practical reality in everyday life situations.* This is where our distinction ought to stand out. Whereas, we too look jaded and faded in a world where compromises are the norm. Our lives should be so markedly different that people must see our lives and glorify our heavenly Father. _Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven._
We ought to give judgment in our gates for truth, justice and peace. Today, if we should make godly judgments in our gates, we must occupy positions of decision-making authority. To occupy decision-making positions, we must qualify ourselves to hold those positions of responsibility. These are the things that concern the heart of God.
We are pushing for personal betterment and well-being, but we are not seeing our lives from the eyes of God. Those of us who have made it to the decision-making levels seem more anxious to survive than to bring about truth, justice and peace in our circles of responsibility. The devil has clobbered us with frightening pressure from different quarters that we are not able to think of what the Lord has intended for us.
Our usual refrain is, “My circumstances are very difficult” / “It is not possible, in my situation, to be a disciple of Christ” By speaking these words, we have affirmed to ourselves that it is not possible to demonstrate salvation.
We have therefore opted for a two-compartment solution to life. One is the sacred compartment that comprises our Sunday or church or mission-related activities. The other compartment is our secular compartment. This is our Monday to Saturday activities. Here we live in a survival mode, but not to bring truth, justice and peace to our places of responsibility and authority.
There are some of us, who use our workplaces to do evangelism, but our commitment to truth, justice and peace is lukewarm. They are hindrances for the Gospel, not a bridge.
We must see our lives, entirely, as sacred. There is only one compartment in which we live, which is our life before God. In all that we do, we bring Him glory. _I Corinthians 10:31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God._
To bring truth, justice and peace, we will have to go against the rulers of darkness. We therefore confront the authorities of evil. _Psalms 149:6-9 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, (7) To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; (8) To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; (9) To execute on them the written judgment—This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!_
```This is the effect of our salvation. Do we see ourselves in this light?```
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