27th Mar 26 | 16:08
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01 Acts 01 01-05 THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT 02 Acts 01 01 Our actions and our words, attest to Christ
📖 Acts 01:01-05
acts
Romans
02 – 05Jun2022 – *Our actions and our words, attest to Christ* - _Acts 01:01-05_ - THE PROMISE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT - Bible reading: _Malachi 2:4-7_
“Thank You, Lord Jesus, that our actions and our words have to be in harmony. Our life, in totality, must lift up Jesus. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.”
*_Acts 1:1 The former account I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach,_*
Jesus was attested by God. There was harmony in His actions and words. This was the life of Jesus both in public as well as in private.
This is how our life needs to be. We lift up Jesus through our actions as well as our words. We are always sowing seeds into the lives of people.
Teaching is what is happening through us in several ways. This is the work of the Holy Spirit in us.
What did Luke write, as he began the first letter to Theophilus?
_Luke 1:1-4 Inasmuch as many have taken in hand to set in order a narrative of those things which have been fulfilled among us,(2) just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word delivered them to us,(3) it seemed good to me also, having had perfect understanding of all things from the very first, to write to you an orderly account, most excellent Theophilus, (4) that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed._
Luke was emphasising that the message that he received, came from those who were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word. These were people who shared what they saw and they were those who obeyed God’s word. Luke confirms that he is a beneficiary of people, whose words and actions communicated, Jesus. He affirms that his life has changed and this is the certainty that he longs to bring into the life of Theophilus. This was the purpose of these two letters.
Luke wrote these two letters to one person, Theophilus. These were personal letters. *The question arises, whether the purpose for which Luke wrote these letters, was accomplished?* We have no mention of Theophilus anywhere else in the New Testament.
The answer is the fact that you and are transformed. We have been blessed because, these two letters, which should have remained in the custody of Theophilus, found their way into the New Testament canon. Therefore, the investment that Luke made into the life of Theophilus has borne fruit and continues to bear fruit in the lives of millions, over generations.
*Jesus, the seed, whom we sow into the lives of people, by both action and word, will surely bear results for eternity*.
*_Ezra 7:10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the LORD, and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel._*
Ezra sought to seek the Law of the Lord, keep it and teach it to people.
Our seeking has to be to let God’s word take root in us. Our actions must change because of His word taking root in us. This is what we teach or sow into the lives of people. This is sowing the seed of Jesus into the lives of others.
Jesus was always planting seeds of His word, into the lives of His disciples by His actions as well as His words.
_John 13:14-17 *If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. (15) For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you*. (16) Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. (17) If you know these things, *blessed are you if you do them*._
We represent Christ. We are sent by Him. He is the one who must be honoured. To represent Him, His actions and His words must be seen in us.
_Malachi 2:4-7 Then you shall know that I have sent this commandment to you, That My covenant with Levi may continue," Says the LORD of hosts. (5) "*My covenant was with him, one of life and peace, And I gave them to him that he might fear Me; So he feared Me And was reverent before My name.(6) The law of truth was in his mouth, And injustice was not found on his lips. He walked with Me in peace and equity, And turned many away from iniquity. (7) "For the lips of a priest should keep knowledge, And people should seek the law from his mouth; For he is the messenger of the LORD of hosts*._
We are messengers of the Lord. Our reverence to Him is what will enable us to turn many from iniquity. Our actions and our words attest to Christ.
This is possible in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. We must give ourselves to the Holy Spirit to be the kind of messengers that God has intended us to be.
*My confession*
```Jesus, I’m learning that the harmony of my actions and words is the seed of Jesus that is sown in the lives of people.```