WHAT WE CAN DO THROUGH CHRIST DESPITE THE
IMPOSSIBLE CONDITIONS OF GOD'S PEOPLE
·
Paul was in prison when he
spoke these encouraging words of God.
·
To Paul, in Jesus Christ,
all things are possible (Acts 16:25–32).
·
To Paul, it was no obstacle
to share the Gospel of Christ even while in prison. As long as there were lost
people around him, the Gospel of Christ was always an opportunity to share and
see souls saved.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ made
everything possible to share the Gospel of Christ when He said in John 9:4–5:
John 9:4–5 [4] I must
work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no
man can work.
[5] As long as I am in the world, I am the light
of the world.
·
The Jerusalem Church serves
as a great model of courageous soul-winning in their time (Acts 5:26–29):
(Acts 5:26–29) [26] Then
went the captain with the officers, and brought them without violence: for they
feared the people, lest they should have been stoned.
[27] And when they had brought them, they set them
before the council: and the high priest asked them,
[28] Saying, Did not we straitly command you that
ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with
your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
[29] Then Peter and the other apostles answered
and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
·
The brethren in Christ were
imprisoned earlier in Acts 5:17–21, yet they did not stop reaching out and
winning lost people at every available opportunity to share the Gospel of the
Lord Jesus Christ. Amen and amen!
1.
THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN LOVE THE UNLOVABLE AND WIN THEM TO HIM
As we
go out to win souls, we will inevitably encounter difficult, resistant, and
deeply flawed individuals. Christ gives us the supernatural love required to
reach them.
(2 Timothy 3:1–5) [1] This
know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
[2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves,
covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful,
unholy,
[3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers,
false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
[4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God;
[5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the
power thereof: from such turn away.
(1 Corinthians 9:19–22) [19] For
though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I
might gain the more.
[20] And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I
might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I
might gain them that are under the law;
[21] To them that are without law, as without law,
(being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain
them that are without law.
[22] To the weak became I as weak, that I might
gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save
some.
·
Paul took the Lord Jesus
Christ as his supreme model in glorifying God in his life (John 17:1–5).
·
Paul took the Lord Jesus
Christ as his model of servant-hood in order to be effective and fruitful in
soul-winning (1 Corinthians 9:19–22).
·
Paul followed the Lord’s
example in loving the Church (Ephesians 5:25–27):
(Ephesians 5:25–27) [25]
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave
himself for it;
[26] That he might sanctify and cleanse it with
the washing of water by the word,
[27] That he might present it to himself a
glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it
should be holy and without blemish.
2.
THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN LIVE A CHRIST-LIKE LIFE DESPITE OUR OLD NATURE
Though
we still battle the desires of the flesh and our old sinful nature, Christ
provides the grace and power to walk in righteousness rather than give in to
the flesh.
(Romans 7:14–21) [14] For we
know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.
[15] For that which I do I allow not: for what I
would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I.
[16] If then I do that which I would not, I
consent unto the law that it is good.
[17] Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin
that dwelleth in me.
[18] For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,)
dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that
which is good I find not.
[19] For the good that I would I do not: but the
evil which I would not, that I do.
[20] Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I
that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
·
Paul encouraged Christians
to live like Christ even while dwelling in our Adamic nature.
·
The Corinthian Church
patterned themselves after Christ in loving the lost with the love of Christ (2
Corinthians 5:14):
(2 Corinthians 5:14) For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we
thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
·
The Lord Jesus loved even
the most hardened criminal and won him to salvation.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ went
through Samaria specifically to witness to the Samaritan woman so she might be
saved.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ
called two fishermen in Mark 1:17–18, encouraging them to become fishers of men
rather than fishers of fish.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ
witnessed to Zacchaeus, the corrupt tax collector, who was then saved (Luke
19:8–10).
·
The Lord Jesus Christ
looked upon the multitude of lost people with compassion and shared the Gospel
with them (Matthew 9:36–38).
3.
THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN GIVE GENEROUSLY EVEN IN TIMES OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP
True,
sacrificial giving does not depend on our bank accounts, but on the condition
of our hearts. Through Christ, we can exhibit a spirit of generosity even in
times of deep poverty.
(2 Corinthians 8:1–5) [1]
Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the
churches of Macedonia;
[2] How that in a great trial of affliction the
abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their
liberality.
[3] For to their power, I bear record, yea, and
beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
[4] Praying us with much intreaty that we would
receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the
saints.
[5] And this they did, not as we hoped, but first
gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
·
Paul commended the
Corinthians for following the model of liberal giving (2 Corinthians 9:6–11):
(2 Corinthians 9:6–11) [6] But this I say, He which soweth sparingly
shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also
bountifully.
[7] Every man according as he purposeth in his
heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a
cheerful giver.
[8] And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to
every good work:
Acts 20:35 I have
showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and
to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to
give than to receive.
·
Paul offered great
encouragement to the Philippian believers (Philippians 4:15–19).
4. THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN REJOICE IN THE LORD AMIDST
TRIALS AND TRIBULATIONS
Suffering
and hardships are guaranteed in the Christian life. However, Christ fills our
hearts with a supernatural joy that defies our external circumstances.
(1 Peter 4:13–16) [13] But
rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his
glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
[14] If ye be reproached for the name of Christ,
happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their
part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
[15] But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or
as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.
[16] Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him
not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.
·
Even when members of the
Jerusalem Church were imprisoned and beaten by the authorities, they remained
steadfast and did not retaliate (Acts 5:17–29).
·
Believers in Antioch (and
scattered throughout the regions) experienced harassment from authorities, yet
they did not retaliate, choosing instead to follow the example of Christ (Acts
11:19–26).
·
We can do all things
through Christ who strengthens us, enabling us to remain faithful in serving
the Lord until He returns (1 Thessalonians 4:13–18).
5. THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN FORGIVE THOSE WHO HAVE WRONGED
US
Because
Christ has freely and completely forgiven us of our great sins, He gives us the
strength and the mandate to extend that same forgiveness to others.
(Matthew 6:14–15) [14] For if
ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
[15] But if ye forgive not men their trespasses,
neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.
(1 John 1:9–10) [9] If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
[10] If we say that we have not sinned, we make
him a liar, and his word is not in us.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ knows
the hearts of all His children. He knows we will inevitably face hurtful
actions or wrongs committed by others—whether fellow believers or the unsaved.
He prepares our hearts to extend forgiveness to all.
·
We forgive because the
greatest forgiveness we ever received was from the penalty of sin inherited
from Adam, granted through Christ’s death on the cross of Calvary, securing for
us eternal life (John 3:16):
(John 3:16) For God so
loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
6.
THROUGH CHRIST, WE CAN LIVE A HOLY LIFE IN A WICKED AND SINFUL WORLD
We are
surrounded by darkness, but we are not helpless. Through the power of the Holy
Spirit, we can answer God's call to be set apart and holy.
(1 Peter 1:15–16) [15] But as
he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
[16] Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am
holy.
·
The Lord Jesus Christ is
our perfect model for holy living in this wicked world.
·
Paul exhorted believers
with authority (1 Corinthians 11:1–2):
(1 Corinthians 11:1–2) [1] Be ye
followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
[2] Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember
me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
·
The early church took the
Lord Jesus Christ as their pattern for holy living as believers (1 Peter
1:15–16).
·
The Holy Spirit empowers
Christians to live like the Lord Jesus Christ in true holiness (John 16:13):
Howbeit
when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he
shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak:
and he will show you things to come.
- The Word of God is the ultimate
foundation for the holy living of every Christian (Joshua 1:8):
This
book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is
written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou
shalt have good success.
May
God bless you all always.
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