PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Luke 24:44-49
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“Forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations.” (Luke 24:47)
The root word for ‘forgiveness’ means being released or delivered.
In my experience, most christians think about being forgiven of our guilt.
What about the idea that we have been set free from Satan, sin and death.
One almost gets the impression that Jesus is our insurance for sinning.
The message our world needs is not just forgiveness, we need freedom from sin.
We need to know the power of his resurrection new life in us.
That power gives us the hope and strength to resist sin, and live new lives.
We are not just forgiven sinners, we are renewed saints, filled with the Spirit.
The Spirit of Jesus in me actually helps me to change the way I live.
This is a message our world needs, as we struggle in the grip of Satan, sin and death.
We can enter the battle each day equipped with spiritual armour, able to win!
We can resist the devil so that he flees from us, saying NO to sin and YES to goodness.
If we only preach forgiveness in the narrow sense, we leave people stuck in their sin.
Preach the WHOLE gospel: forgiveness, freedom and the fullness of the Spirit in us!
PRAYER
Lord, in our struggle against sin, we need more than forgiveness. We need help to not sin. Help us to experience the WHOLE message of salvation, and to show and share that with others!
“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures”. Jesus opened up my mind and he gave me the gift of the HS. Now I read the scriptures differently – sometimes I need help discerning and understanding – that’s why the gift of the spirit is so important. Lord, keep my mind open to learn. Help me to be rooted in your spirit as I read scriptures and as I experience life!
Empowered.
Jesus opened their minds so that they understood His word. They were His witnesses to all that had happened. They could share because they experienced the Lord.
And yet they were not totally enabled until His Spirit was sent upon them. Jesus empowers. Jesus gives the vision. Jesus equips. They were totally dependent upon Him and His Word. And so I must I. I too need His help, His presence, His Spirit in my life in order to serve Him.
I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord;
No tender voice like Thine can peace afford.
Refrain:
I need Thee, oh, I need Thee;
Every hour I need Thee;
Oh, bless me now, my Savior,
I come to Thee.
I need Thee every hour, stay Thou nearby;
Temptations lose their pow’r when Thou art nigh.
I need Thee every hour, in joy or pain;
Come quickly and abide, or life is vain.
I need Thee every hour; teach me Thy will;
And Thy rich promises in me fulfill.
I need Thee every hour, most Holy One;
Oh, make me Thine indeed, Thou blessed Son.