All of mankind has problems! The Gospel is the answer!
"... as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts." I Thessalonians 2:4
Every believer has been entrusted with the Gospel of God's Grace. Jesus as you know gave us all what we call the great comission! "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature..." Mark 16:15
God has taken confidence in us and has trusted us with His Good News. People all around us need to know that Jesus has already paid the price for their sin on the cross and has paved the way for them to spend eternity with Him in Heaven!
The Gospel is laid out for us plainly in I Corinthians 15:1-5...
"Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, 2 by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
3 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, 4 and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, 5 and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve."
Here we see the Gospel laid out... Jesus died for all mankinds sins, He was buried, He rose again the third day, and He was seen... This is the Gospel we need to share with the lost people around us!
We are sinners, He died for our sins, but He conquered the grave and rose the third day!
Learn this Gospel! It is the answer to all mankinds problems!
study: Matthew 28, II Corinthians 5:12-17
apply: Memorize the Gospel Paul laid out in I Corinthians 15:3-5 and be ready to share it with someone as the Lord leads you...
We serve a powerful God! He is so powerful that He can change anyone's life for the better!
"...and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God..." I Thessalonians 1:9b
Paul was acknowledging how the Thessalonians came to Christ. They who once served idols are now serving the true and living God. Paul was admiring how they had so followed the apostles and their example that they were turning heads in Macedonia and Achaia. Their faith was abounding and contagious that people were talking about their faith!
Look at the power of God in this chapter... God using His people to lead others to Christ! God and His power changed the hearts of these people from their idol worship to Worshipping Him!
Look what the power of God can do through you, Look what the power of God can do for the lost!
Know that God is powerful and is in the business of changing lives on a daily basis. How is He working on you and your life? How is He working through you to reach others for His glory?
study: read I Thessalonians 1:1-10
apply: rely on God's power today!
As we look unto Jesus understand that at one point He was looking unto you...
"looking unto Jesus the Author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrew 12:2
Jesus is the author and finisher of our faith. He is the writer of our lives as we walk out our lives with Him. Notice here in scripture Jesus endured the cross, but why? '... for the joy set before Him.' Well, what was that joy? What was it that got him though the suffering? What compelled him to remain on a cross fastened by nails? What drove Him to endure the sneers and the jeers of the soldiers who laughed at Him and gambled for His clothes? What was it that made the God of the universe endure such humility?
The answer is YOU!
YOU were the joy set before Him!
study: Hebrews 12:1-2
apply: remember when times get tough or weary, He thought of you on the cross, you were and are His Joy
These three things remain faith, hope and love. Which is the greatest? LOVE!
This is what we learn form I Corinthians 13:13... "and now abide faith hope and love, these three: but the greatest of these is love."
Interestingly enough we find these three, this triplet of grace, in Colossians 1:3-5...
"We give thanks to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of your love for all the saints; 5 because of the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, of which you heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel..."
The Colossians were known for being champions of the triplet of grace...
First, they were known for their faith in Christ Jesus. Matter of fact they heard about their faith, therefore they must have been truly living it to the extent that others were talking baout it! Know that is the kind of faith we all need to have, a contagious faith!
Secondly, they heard of their love for all the saints. Their must have been actions of love in order for the people to talk about it! People don't just talk about the love of other people unless they truly see it! Is the love of God being manifested through you?
Finally, we learn the hope that they have is in heaven, not on earth! They did not live the way they lived for any other reason but to win the prize of being with Jesus in heaven!
study: Colossians 1:1-8, Matthew 7:7-12
apply: Ask God to display the triplet of grace in your life today... seek Him in how He may use you in these things and knock till He opens the door of direction for you!
Paul ends his letter to the Philippians with a prayer extending grace! Is grace with you?
"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen." Philippians 4:23
When we read Peter's 2nd letter at the very end he writes, " grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (II Peter 3:18)
Grace is yours for the taking! Matter of fact I suggest that you look at God's grace as a never ending pool that you swim in! As you continue in God's Grace you realize how deep and vast it is! Not only is it unfathomable but it is yours for the taking and the growing! Know you have been saved by grace and that you can grow in the grace of Jesus! Grace is given for your growth in Him not for a license to not be like Him! So grow Grow GROW! Become more like your Savior by Grace!
He loves you so much and has such plans for you out of the pool of grace!
So dive in and get to know the grace of God that is ever with you, embrace God's grace!
As you grow in grace, you will grow in your relationship with Him and reflect His character!
study: Ephesians 2:8-10, II Corinthians 12
apply: acknowledge God's grace today as you walk with Him!
