Luke 9:23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.”

 

Yesterday we learned that after the people heard Paul preach, many believed and were saved. They had heard the Good News of the Gospel of Christ. Actually, this was the best news they had ever heard and many sought after Paul and Barnabas to hear more. Now when the congregation had broken up, many of the Jews and devout proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas, who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the Grace of God. (Acts 13:43)

 

We need to draw attention to this Verse and spend a little time here. It says that Paul and Barnabas persuaded them to continue in the Grace of God. The Greek word for persuaded peitho. It means to convince by argument or to assent to evidence or authority. This is important because what it actually means is that Paul had the evidence (the Scriptures) to make his argument for Jesus being the Messiah. He laid out his case for Christ and backed it up with the Prophecies of Old which they all knew and believed.

 

But it wasn’t enough for them to believe it for that moment or day. Paul persuaded them to CONTINUE in the Grace of God. This means that their Salvation was something they carried with them all the time. Their Salvation through faith in Christ Crucified was to be their lifestyle just as Judaism had been for centuries.

 

Jesus said it like this: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” (Luke 9:23) Christianity is far more than a religion, belief structure, or a set of rules and regulations. Christianity is having a personal relationship with the Man, Christ Jesus, Who willingly gave His Life on the Cross of Calvary so that we may enjoy abundant life now and the Promise of spending all of eternity in Heaven with Him. This is the Grace of God which is defined as the Goodness of God bestowed upon undeserving people.

 

However, to have all this, we must deny ourselves, and follow Him every day, all day long. That is what Paul meant when he persuaded them to continue in the Grace of God. Contrary to what many people believe, Salvation is far more than having knowledge about Jesus, repeating a simple prayer, and being dunked in a tank of water.

 

Please allow me to persuade you by using the very Words of Jesus, to deny yourself, give up your desires, and continue (live your life every day) by the Grace of God. That means to live every moment as if Jesus were right there with you because He is through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

 

If you are truly Saved and born again, the Holy Spirit lives within you. He is always with you. The question is, are you always with Him?

 

Surrendering to the leading of the Holy Spirit will…...….turn the tide………..in your life.

 

Letting Him lead,         Doreen

 

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