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Imprisoned, But Now Freed by the Mighty Hand of God's Power
In those days: The high priest rose up and all who were with him, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and filled with jealousy they arrested the apostles and put them in the common prison. But at night an angel of the Lord opened the prison doors and brought them out and said, "Go and stand in the temple and speak to the people all the words of this life. And when they heard this, they entered the temple at daybreak and taught. Now the high priest came and those who were with him and called together the council and all the Senate of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought. But when the officers came, they did not find them in the prison and they returned and reported," We found the prison securely looked and the senturies standing at the doors, but when we opened it we found no one inside. Now when the captain of the templeand the chief priests heard these words, they were much perplexed about them, wondering what this would come to. And someone came and told them, "The men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people. Then the captain with the officers went and brought them, but without violence, for they were afraid of being stoned by the people. (Acts 5:17-26)
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For Everyone Who does Evil hates the Light!
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the llight, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God." (John 3:16-21)
Opened to Faith in the Son of God... (Reflection)
He who is open to faith in the Son of God obtains salvation. He who refuses to believe and to love remains in death. He who does what is right joyfully enters into the forgiving, liberating and saving light of Christ. Opposition to Christ who is light is darkness and evil; staying faithful to him is light and goodness and truth. Christ demands a decision and a choice in clear terms either to accept him or to reject him. Acceptance becomes a progressive reception of grace and power; by rejection the present gets imprisoned in deaf and blind hostility.
Meditate on Psalm 42:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9
I will bless the Lord at all times,
praise of him is always in my mouth.
In the Lord my soul shall make its boast;
the humble shall hear and be glad.
Glorify the Lord with me;
together let us praise his name.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
from all my terrors he set me free.
Look towards him and be radiant;
let your faces not be abashed.
This lowly one called; the Lord heard,
and rescued him from all his distress.
The angel of the Lord is encamped
around those who fear him, to rescue them.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.
Blessed the man who seeks refuge in him.
Only in God can we be free, nothing in this world can give us freedom, peace except in God, his Son and in the Holy Spirit. The Angels are still at work in our time, if only we will commune with them, they are always there for us to help us live out our christian life and experience.
Good to hear from you pinheiroemmanuel, Thanks for sharing with Us!
..TH
@STEEMCHURCH
Amazing sermon....He who refuses to believe and to love remains in death. He who does what is right joyfully enters into the forgiving, liberating and saving light of Christ.
This is a great and loving message. God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God sent the Son into the world, not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through him. He who believes in him is not condemned; he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believe in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the llight, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does what is true comes to the light, that it may be clearly seen that his deeds have been wrought in God. He who is open to faith in the Son of God obtains salvation. He who refuses to believe and to love remains in death. He who does what is right joyfully enters into the forgiving, liberating and saving light of Christ. Opposition to Christ who is light is darkness and evil; staying faithful to him is light and goodness and truth. Thanks for sharing
This is the fourth time Paul uses the idea of living or walking in the ways of God. The practical fruit that he is calling the church of Ephesus to live by is rooted in the spiritual truths found in the first three chapters of Ephesians. In essence Paul is wanting the believers in Ephesus to live out their faith IN CHRIST in a manner worthy of the Gospel (Eph 4:1), not as the Gentiles (Eph 4:17), but to live in love imitating God (Eph 5:1-2).
Children of light
One of the problems believers faced in Ephesus is deception. Even though they were spiritually blessed new creations IN CHRIST and seated in heavenly places, their old nature was still clinging to them. That is why Paul spoke to them about learning to put-off sin and Satan and put-on Jesus Christ. Paul encourages them by saying, “you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light” (Eph 5:8).
Keep on with the great work sir... May God continue to favor you Sir.