The Acts of the Apostles ch16 vs25 – 40.
This passage has a picture of one man in total despair on
the verge of taking his own life – and there was one person who could save his
life.
The speaker told of an American television series in
which a girl gave 13 reasons why she took her own life.
The series glamorised death, and had the attitude that life
was only as valuable as you think it is.
The speaker was asked by his work colleague – not a
Christian – to give reasons why not to take your own life…he replied with
the reasons as one who IS living as a Christian:
Whilst acknowledging that life can still be difficult as a
Christian, and certainly not always sugar – coated, we have great reasons to be happy
and enjoying life –
Take out “world” and put your own personal name in… YOU are
loved! The all – powerful God who has the whole world in His hands, loves YOU,
and valued YOU enough to give His Son, The Lord Jesus Christ, as a sacrifice to
pay the price of your sins on Calvary’s Cross! Christ willingly laid down His
life, giving His blood by which we can be saved through repentance and faith in
Him and His work on the Cross. Amazing love, grace and mercy!
b) You
were created by God… this has given us a real and lasting purpose in life – to bring The Lord
glory. We were made in God’s image and that brings us joy!
c) Jeremiah
ch29 vs11 – “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to
prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”.
Although at times we may feel despair - like Elijah and Jonah, The Lord’s plans are
always for our benefit.
d) The
God of the Old Testament is the same as the New…
Deuteronomy ch31 vs6 – “Be strong
and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the Lord thy God,
he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee”.
All the way through, God is for
His people, and it is the same with you –
“… that we are the children of
God: and if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint – heirs with Christ;
if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together”. –
Romans ch8 vs16 – 17.
We are never alone, The Lord is
always with us and for us!
e) Forgiven!... 1st
John ch1 vs9 – “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness”.
We may continue – like Paul – to
have a battle within us concerning sin, but we have the victory… The Lord Jesus
Christ has once forever paid the price of our sins in His own blood - past,
present and future!
Romans ch5 vs1 – “Therefore being
justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”.
Dear reader, maybe are you not saved yet? Nothing you might have
done in your past or present should stop you from coming to know The Lord Jesus
Christ as your personal Saviour tonight. The words from tonight’s passage were
spoken by Paul – “the chief of sinners” – who was now proclaiming “Believe on
the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved”!
One thief on the cross knew he had done wrong and getting
what he deserved, but he asked of Jesus Christ “Jesus, Lord, remember me when
thou comest into thy kingdom”.
If you will come in repentance and faith, confessing your
sins and asking Him into your heart and life as your Lord and Saviour, He WILL
forgive!
f) God
is faithful! – 1st Corinthians ch10 vs13
g) We have a wonderful Saviour who
cares! – 1st Peter ch5 vs7 - “Casting all your care upon him; for he
careth for you”.
He is ever listening and attentive to our needs.
h) “I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which
thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye”. – Psalm ch32 vs8.
He always has His loving eye on you! Almighty God is as
mindful of you as He is of anyone else!
i) We are comforted!... “Who comforteth us in all our
tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by
the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God”. – 2nd
Corinthians ch1 vs4.
In humility, ask God for your needs – He knows what is best
for you…
“Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find;
knock, and it shall be opened unto you”. – Matthew’s Gospel ch7 vs7.
Our Salvation is the same – we come to Jesus humbly, as a
sinner – like this jailor did.
It is nothing of ourselves.
l)
God dwells with us!...
“Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy
Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God,? You are not your own”. – 1st
Corinthians ch6 vs19.
Every moment He is with us here, until we are either taken home to be in Heaven with The Lord following the end of our Earthly life - or if He returns before that time to gather all His own people unto Himself in that holy City above.
Life is precious - and happiest when it is lived with The Lord Jesus Christ in your heart and life!
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