God Never Forgets Your Works For Him
A Sermon Delivered on Wednesday evening, April 27th, 2020, byEvangelist PAUL ACQUAH, Live on MZ Radio London, UK Most Christians find themselves living between the “Every person, with no exception, will one day stand before God and give an account of his or her life. Some people might think; well, as long as I am going to heaven, that is enough! But simply hoping to get to heaven after death is a selfish motive that produces a selfish life. We should live for God and for His glory in response to His great love for us, and realize that we are alive for a purpose, and part of that purpose is for God to use us to help reconcile others to Him. Be conscious of a good God who gives you the grace to do good works, yet rewards you well when you use that grace! You see, many of the rewards God has for us are so great that it will take eternity to appreciate and enjoy them. The purpose of this message is to show you how God rewards you when you simply use the grace He has given you. You are so important to God. Purchased by the blood of Jesus, left on this Earth to live for Him. Christ’s coming was a surprise to many, His death and resurrection was a surprise, and what that means for us is also a surprise to many. God left us here to speak about His love and to demonstrate His love. We didn’t just get saved so we could make it to heaven. We represent Him on this earth, so He has put His spirit in us (I John 4:4, 13, 17). God has a plan for you, and it has to do with doing things in life that matter to Him. I just want to tell you that whatever you are doing, whether people appreciate you, whether they acknowledge your efforts, whether they celebrate what you’re doing or not, I want you to know that God appreciates you and that God sees everything that you do. You are important to God. He appreciates you, He will celebrate you, and so that’s what this message is about. Hebrews chapter 6:10-12 NIV says, God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them. 11 We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized. 12 We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised. The word ‘forget’ means to lose out of mind, or to no longer care for. It’s like out of sight out of mind. Sometimes when people are right there with you and they see what you’re doing, they can appreciate your effort, they can appreciate your service, but once they walk away from you, let’s say for a few weeks or a few months or maybe even a year, it’s like out of sight out of mind. They totally forget what you’ve done, they forget what you offer, they forget the contributions that you’ve made and so God is saying that you’ll never be out of sight, and out of mind with Him. He will never lose you out of His mind, that’s what He’s saying. It says God will always care about what you’ve done for His people and what you’ve done in His name. It doesn’t have to be this grand thing because the bible says whatever you do, do as if you are doing for the Lord. It could be every day you wake up, maybe as a single parent and you take care of your children, or maybe every day as a police officer you go and you risk your life for the community, or as a good citizen, you serve the people around you. It doesn’t have to be this huge thing where you’re on the world’s stage. If you’re touching one life at a time, if you’re making small deposits in people throughout the day, the bible says that God is not unjust to actually forget what you’ve done and to forget the difference that you’re making. So, people may be unjust and they may forget what you’ve done for them, but God will never forget, and He sees and appreciates everything you’ve done even if other people don’t see and appreciate. And so, what you don’t get from people, you get it from God. Sometimes you can serve people and be a blessing to people, and they can be ungrateful. For example, you can even raise your children and then when they reach their teenage years, they don’t appreciate how long you’ve been taking care of them and how far you’ve brought them. They get to that place where maybe they’re a little bit ungrateful and they may not appreciate you as a parent. So, it doesn’t matter where you are in life, all of us experience this in one form or another, where you give your all to someone, you give your all to something that you believe in or someone you believe in and you don’t feel it’s reciprocated. They don’t appreciate or even acknowledge what you’re doing. But what God is saying here is that, don’t worry if people don’t see and appreciate what you’re doing. Don’t let that stop your love, don’t let that diminish your love. Keep loving, keep serving, keep being a blessing because I see everything you do and at the end of the day the Bible tells us that everything we do, we do it as unto the Lord anyway. Always know that God recognizes you even when you feel alone, unseen, invisible, or you feel like nobody appreciates what you’re doing. You’re not invisible. God sees everything you do, and God celebrates and appreciates
Looking Back At Life Without Regrets
A Sermon Delivered on Wednesday evening, March 30th, 2020, by Evangelist PAUL ACQUAH, Live on MZ Radio London, UK Most Christians find themselves living between the “regrets of yesterday” and the “worries of tomorrow”. Anyone familiar with the Scripture knows that this is not a part of God’s plan. In fact, the believer is to forget the past and press on without anxiety. You see, the not-so-good decisions in our lives can stay with us for years. And even after the effects have worn off, regrets can remain. It’s so easy to go back and relive memories that we aren’t proud of. And one of the biggest ways that Satan tries to get at us all is with regret. But thankfully, there are steps we can take to live without regrets. You can take solace in knowing your past does not define who you are or what God is going to do in your future. This is a message on maximising our time on earth by redeeming the time. You may ask, is it possible to live a life where you don’t have any regrets at the end? And the answer is, it’s possible. How do we do that? It’s about maximising the time that we have on this earth. And how do we maximise the time that we have on this earth? It is simply by redeeming the time. Redeeming the time is to take ownership of our time. It’s about not being distracted in life, but taking control of our time. That will enable you to live with no regrets. Let’s turn our Bibles to 2 Tim 4. I’m going to read verses 5 to 8. The apostle Paul writing to Timothy said: “5 But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near.7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:5-8). “The time for my departure is near”. So, here’s the thing nobody wants to hear – my life is being poured out, the time for my departure is near, my life has come to an end. The reality, however, is that we are all going to die one day. So, it’s not a question of if we’re going to die or when we’re going to die. The true thing that I want to address is how we die. In other words, what legacy are we leaving, what fruits are we leaving behind to impact our generation? When our time to pass from this life to the next life comes, will we have any regrets about how we lived? It’s possible to live for all of eternity, being proud of the life that we lived and being happy with the life that we lived. Paul reminds me of myself, and he reminds me of so many people because when it comes to the time for our departure, what will we do? What did Paul say? What did he do? Did he pray for more time? Paul didn’t pray for more time, He didn’t pray that he wanted more money, he didn’t pray for all of the things that we may think are necessary to chase after, what we call worldly success. When Paul was at the end of his life, the only thing he could say was, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. “Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day – and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing” (2 Tim. 4:6-8). If you were to be near the end of your life today, will you say I wished I had more time? When Paul was about to transfer from this life to the next one, the only thing on his heart was, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. I just want us to be able to meet our end, or transfer from this life to the next without wishing we have more time. And so, if there’s something that we need to do, we should do it today. If there’s someone that you love, and you haven’t told them that you love them, you should tell them you love them today. Tell them you believe in them today. Give them encouraging words today. If there’s someone that you need to forgive today, then forgive them today. Live every day like it’s your last day. That’s how you redeem the time. Live every moment to the maximum and maximize every moment you have in this life, because this life is precious and this life is not promised. We’re not going to live forever. We have a limited time on this earth. And therefore, something that’s limited is precious because it’s not unlimited – it’s not like you can just get more and more of it. There’s a set amount of time we have on this earth and that makes it precious, so we should live with our end in mind. We can look back at our lives and not have any regrets because we all have seasons of opportunities in this life. Why are some people living higher lives, and for others, life is a struggle after struggle? They are always crawling. You may be thinking, how come someone else’s life just seems to be going up high and headed to the top and I am always in a
You Can Experience And Operate in the supernatural
Have you ever wondered if the extraordinary power that Jesus wielded can be experienced by everyday believers? The concept of Christians experiencing and operating in the supernatural, akin to Jesus, is a profound and transformative aspect of faith that has captivated believers throughout the centuries. Rooted in the teachings and promises of the Bible, it is seen that followers of Christ are not only called to emulate his moral and ethical teachings but to also participate in the miraculous and supernatural dimensions of His ministry. From healing the sick and casting out demons to performing signs and wonders, the New Testament provides numerous accounts of Jesus’ miraculous works and extends the promise of these capabilities to His disciples and, by extension, to all believers. Faith in Jesus can open a door to a life filled with the supernatural. I want to invite believers to explore and embrace the extraordinary aspects of their spiritual journeys. Be blessed as you read! You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. This is how we know that we live in him and he in us: He has given us of his Spirit. In this world, we are like Jesus’. We are his workmanship, created to walk in good works. We are His ambassadors representing him in this world (see I John 4:4, 13, 17; Ephesians 2:10; 2 Corinthians 5:20). My friend, you can experience the supernatural and operate in the supernatural. God wants to work through you, but the workers are few. Christ is our model: He came to teach, preach and heal. We must do the same. 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.” (Mathew 9:35-38). “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature” (Mark 16:15). It’s vital to recognize that our mission is crucial. When you realize that there’s a purpose for your life at this moment, it doesn’t matter if you know a lot or a little about God. What’s important is that you’re willing to share what you do know. So, can you go and preach what you know with power? This is why in verse 17 of Mark chapter 16 it says, 17 And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues; 18 they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.” If you are a believer in Christ, then you can experience the supernatural and operate in it as well. ‘In my name, they will cast out demons’. The name of Jesus gives us the victory over the forces of Satan. Perhaps you feel like you’re under the oppression of Satan. Jesus went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil because God was with him” (Acts 10:38). So, we have physical healing, healing from oppression, the name of Jesus, the power of Jesus, the life of Jesus, the character of Jesus, and the nature of Jesus. His heart is to set you free and lift you up. I want to tell you that you can experience the supernatural and operate in it as well. If you feel that there’s a spiritual reason for what you’re going through and believe that demonic forces are at work, I want to assure you that they’re afraid of you if you know who you are in Christ. If you submit to God, you can resist the devil, and he will flee. Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings (1 Peter 5:7-9). So, let me ask you a question: how much do you think demonic manifestations, forces, or spirits of infirmity are affecting you? You have the name of Jesus. There is no reason for any form of demonic activity in your life, house, or family. You have the name of Jesus. You have the love of God shared abroad in your heart. We are so equipped my friends, to operate in the supernatural and win in life. And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons. We have an unfair advantage over unbelievers and over the devil. He’s defeated. We have an unfair advantage, we have favour with God, and we have the name of Jesus that is above every name. So, do you have a revelation of the name? Do you understand the power of the name? Do you understand redemption in the sense that Jesus went through so much so that you could reign in life? For if, by the trespass of the one man, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive God’s abundant provision of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ! (Romans 5:17). Notice that you can reign in life. You might be facing some battles, and some battles require time, and I understand that. Some things happen instantly, while others take more time, but if you persist and continue to apply the power of the name and remain steadfast, you will reign in life. It
God Is Our Source
God is the Source by Evangelist Paul Acquah It is natural to seek stability and security in a world filled with uncertainty and constant changes. Many often look to external sources, such as careers, relationships, or material possessions, to fulfil their needs and provide a sense of well-being. However, there is a timeless truth that transcends the temporal nature of our earthly circumstances: God is the source. Looking through the Word of God, scripture after scripture proves that God is the source of everything we need. He is the perfect and on-time source for everything you could ever need or want. His supply never runs short. Although the world may offer temporary solutions and fleeting pleasures, God’s provision is everlasting. It transcends the limitations of time and circumstance. Therefore, be inspired to seek a deeper connection with God, to trust in His provision, and to live in the abundance of His grace. This article will help renew your mind to become fully persuaded that God is your Source. Your source is your Father in heaven, who never runs dry. When we talk about God as our source, you may ask what is a source? A source is a supplier of something that we cannot produce on our own. For example, there is a source of gas or electric power so I can cook. When it is dark, you can go to this small switch on the wall and flick it on, and then you have light in the house. This is because of the source of electricity entering your home. We have entertainment by clicking on a button while watching TV. Why? The source of power comes into your home. We can preserve our food in a fridge freezer and keep it cold. We can cook it on the stove all because there’s a source of power coming into our house, and we don’t even realise it in the day-to-day until there’s a storm and the power goes out. A storm comes into the area and knocks down some electric wires, so we do not have power and then we realise how much we need that power source in our lives. Our lives are filled with sources. A mobile phone is another source of information. This is because of the source of information technology in our phones. We don’t think about it until our battery dies or our phone freezes on us. We go to work, and we get paid and that allows us to pay for all the other sources in our lives. Sources make our lives easier, enjoyable, and more productive. However, the sources that we rely on are often subject to shortages and interruptions, and can be in limited supply at times. We rely on food sources, but if there is a period of drought, farmers do not have much produce. You’d go into a grocery store or the supermarket to get something and it wouldn’t be there because the source has run out. Don’t limit your finance and all these other sources to anything that you see. None of the so-called earthly sources are real sources; they are all channels. Your source is your heavenly father, who never runs dry. If you plug into His eternal supply, you will never run out. We need to consider the fact that it is the Lord almighty who is our source. If you really got a revelation of who it is that’s our father who has redeemed us, that would change the way you look at things and your expectations. Some people live their lives with such low expectations because they just feel like God is limited in what he can do, and so they look at other things as their source. The problem is that most people think they have to be their own source, or rely on another human to be their source for everything. Yes, God has equipped each and every one of us with talent and gifts. He’s placed in each of us the ability to do something of significance in this world. It is amazing when we are functioning in our gifts and using our talents to be productive in this world. However, when we strictly rely on our own gifts, talents, abilities, and ourselves as sources, we have limitations. This is because we can only do so much on our own, because there are seasons of life when our human sources have a shortage or an eruption, something outside of our control. Maybe you lost your job, and you can’t find another one. Perhaps you are going through a painful life season, a loss of a loved one, a bad medical report, or a hard or painful divorce. Maybe something is going on with your children or your parents and all of a sudden, your control of your source is limited. There’s a shortage; it’s gone now, what can you do? The sources are subject to shortages and interruptions and can be in limited supply, but not when you rely on God as the source of your supply. When you put your trust and security into something bigger than yourself, like God, it cannot be taken from you. Your job shouldn’t be your source. It’s a blessing, but it’s not your source; God is your source. Your wife and husband, as much of a blessing as they are – and you cannot picture your life without them – but they are not your source of security, happiness, love, and joy. They are not your source. A man or woman could never be your source of true happiness, and they will always fall short. Your children, as much as you love them, cannot be your source of joy. God is your source of joy. As much as you rely on your parents and love them and they look out for you and they’re there for you, it’s a blessing, but they cannot be your source. God is the source of your supply and
We Are Called To Touch The World
Throughout the ages, God has consistently called His people to be a light unto the nations; a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are not meant to merely exist within the confines of our own communities but to boldly proclaim the good news of salvation and to touch the lives of those around us with the hope and love of Christ. As a Christian, you are called to be an agent of change, to be God’s hands and feet, bringing hope, compassion, and healing to those in need. It’s a calling that demands courage, sacrifice, and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone. And it requires you to embrace the same mindset that Christ embodied – a heart that is moved by the suffering of others and a desire to see lives transformed by the power of the Gospel. Be reminded that you and I are in this world for such a time as this, and be encouraged to heed to God’s clarion call to impact the world. Believers are here for the world. We are in this world but not of it. We are here to bring Christ to our world, letting Christ work within us and through us. Jesus praying for believers in John 17 said “Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth. 18 As You sent Me into the world, I also have sent them into the world.” And in John 20:21-22, Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” We represent Christ as his ambassadors and because of that, we have a reason to be in this world. We don’t have to let things happening around us or the things happening in government, society, schools, etc., distract us. Neither should we place our hope in these things. Our hope must come from understanding our position in Christ Jesus and the purpose for our existence on this earth. The Bible discusses the importance of light, with Jesus referring to salt and light and emphasizing the need to not conceal a bright light. In Matthew 5:13-15, Christ makes the profound statement that believers are salt and light. 13“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavour, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men. 14 “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. This directive is notable for its aim to touch the world and bring glory to God. We are therefore placed in this world for such a time like this. Believers of all ages should focus on letting their light shine in this dark world to bring glory to God. Sadly, however, today believers remain broadly uninfluential in many areas of society. In contrast, historically, the early believers influenced society right after they received the Holy Spirit. The unbelievers said, ‘Oh, these people are filling Jerusalem with their doctrine,’ “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us!” (Acts 5:28). How is it possible that believers are concealing their light in this era? Is it because we don’t know who we are and what we have? In fact, it says here in 2 Corinthians 5:17 that “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new”. The word behold means stop, consider, look upon, ponder and make it your own. So, it says “behold,” which means to stop, realize, consider, and ponder this, and make it your own, because the new has come. You’re no longer of this world, which grants you the ability to connect with and influence it uniquely. Believe that you can still touch the world irrespective of what’s going on around you. Colossians 2:9-10 says “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.” This is talking about Jesus. In Him dwells the fullness of God. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. The fullness of the Kingdom, the power, the might, and the ability are all in Jesus, and it says you are complete in him. That means because of Jesus you have been made complete in him who is the head of all principalities and Powers. Therefore, no matter what is going on in the world, you are in Christ who is over everything. This doesn’t mean that lost people still don’t do lost things, rather, it means that the truth and the spirit of God in you have the ability to rise above those things. You need to have the right attitude and perspective and not be like everyone else, whining about everything. Instead, say to yourself, “No, I’m going to stand up in my relationship with God. I will let the spirit of God motivate me and stop focusing on the flesh, but instead look at the spirit, so that I can have a word in due season.” You’re at the right place at the right time with the right word. Why? It’s because you have a living relationship with the Living God. This tells you that you have the absolute world-changing power that lives in you. I’ve met many people
Think About Your Eternal Home
Think about your destination after you die. Everybody has an eternal home. Where is yours? Remember that death is just a translation from this earth. In our daily lives, consumed by the immediate and the tangible, it’s easy to lose sight of the eternal perspective. Yet, the Bible consistently calls us to lift our eyes beyond the horizon of this temporal world. Scriptures offer profound insights into the nature of life after death, providing a framework for understanding our eternal destiny. A vivid picture of two primary destinations; heaven and hell, is painted in the scriptures. These destinations are not merely abstract concepts, but are depicted as real and significant, carrying eternal implications for every individual. Central to this biblical narrative is the promise of eternal life with God in heaven for those who place their faith in Jesus Christ, contrasted with eternal separation from God in hell for those who reject Him. It is important that we consider how this heavenly perspective should transform our earthly lives as we contemplate our eternal home. So, how should the promise of eternity with God shape our priorities, decisions, and relationships today? This article explores scriptures to gain a deeper understanding of eternal realities and choices that lead to our final home, offering both a sobering and hopeful perspective on our ultimate destiny. In John 14, Jesus said to his disciples: “My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. My father’s “house” refers to his residence or dwelling. Jesus is simply saying that in heaven there are many dwelling places, and he is preparing one for us. Our experience in heaven will be beyond our expectations (remember Ephesians 3:20). The fact that we will be with Jesus makes it even more exciting if you think about it. This is because nothing will compare with being with the one who loved us and died for us. Let me remind you of the story of the rich man and Lazarus that Jesus told in Luke 16.19-21 “There once was a rich man, expensively dressed in the latest fashions, wasting his days in conspicuous consumption. A poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, had been dumped on his doorstep. All he lived for was to get a meal from scraps off the rich man’s table. His best friends were the dogs who came and licked his sores. 22-24 “Then he died, this poor man, and was taken up by the angels to the lap of Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell and in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham in the distance and Lazarus in his lap. He called out, ‘Father Abraham, mercy! Have mercy! Send Lazarus to dip his finger in water to cool my tongue. I’m in agony in this fire.’ 25-26 “But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that in your lifetime you got the good things and Lazarus the bad things. It’s not like that here. Here he’s consoled and you’re tormented. Besides, in all these matters there is a huge chasm set between us so that no one can go from us to you even if he wanted to, nor can anyone cross over from you to us.’ 27-28 “The rich man said, ‘Then let me ask you, Father: Send him to the house of my father where I have five brothers, so he can tell them the score and warn them so they won’t end up here in this place of torment.’ 29 “Abraham answered, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets to tell them the score. Let them listen to them.’ 30 “‘I know, Father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but they’re not listening. If someone came back to them from the dead, they would change their ways.’ 31 “Abraham replied, ‘If they won’t listen to Moses and the Prophets, they’re not going to be convinced by someone who rises from the dead.’” ” It’s important to consider how having a heavenly perspective should transform your earthly life as you contemplate your eternal home. “ To be clothed in purple and fine linen is to wear the clothing of kings and live in the luxuries of this world. The rich man lived comfortably and lacked nothing every day of his life. He never thought of losing his riches or suffering in some unforeseen way. His expectations did not include eternity. The day of death comes to all people. Lazarus’ life of suffering had come to an end. The days of pain, hunger, begging, and struggling for existence were over. Jesus tells us that Lazarus, the beggar, “was carried away by the angels into Abraham’s lap.” Lazarus is seen in Abraham’s lap being comforted after a long life of pain and hardship. Lazarus has now gained the ultimate prize or reward for a life of faith. Jesus said that the rich man, on the other hand, “was buried.” There were no angels to carry him away. The text of scripture simply said that he died. The tables had now turned in the realm of eternity. While Lazarus was the suffering beggar in the world and the rich man basked in the comforts of luxury. It is now the rich man who is poor and Lazarus is the one rich in comfort. The rich man is now begging, and Lazarus is in the comfort of Abraham’s bosom. This story also shows that the people God honours are not necessarily the same people the world honours (Luke 16:15). This rich man had a beautiful home, fancy clothes, and the best of everything. He had it all, but he never showed the beggar any mercy. When he died, I guarantee you he had a fancy funeral. Thousands of people may have gathered, all talking about how great his accomplishments were. Yet the Bible says only that he was buried, left to rot in the grave. On the
What are the benefits of salvation?
It’s so important to understand the benefits of salvation because sometimes I run across Christians who don’t seem to have experienced any change in their lives. But we should be experiencing change from the moment we were saved. There should be something going on, so let’s refresh ourselves in this and see what it’s about. For you to experience the benefits of salvation, you must understand the gospel because the gospel and the power that it carries releases the benefits of salvation in our lives. The gospel itself is God’s power. The understanding of the birth, death, burial, resurrection of Jesus Christ, and of being born again to become a new creation are all part of the gospel. So, there are benefits of salvation that we should notice as we accept the Lord as our saviour. As we believe in the Lord and begin our Christian Walk, we should be noticing something different in our lives and the way we conduct our lives. The term “salvation” has become so familiar to Christians that the true meaning and understanding have been lost. Salvation is much more than just being born again. This refers to every benefit that the believer is entitled to, through Jesus. Salvation means much more than just forgiveness of sins; it includes healing, prosperity, and deliverance in every area of our lives. Therefore, if we are not experiencing the abundance that Jesus provided for us in any area of our lives, then we are having a problem understanding what salvation truly entails. The truths of the gospel are not commonly preached or understood in many churches. This is the reason so many Christians are not walking in all the benefits of their salvation. They don’t have the power of the gospel working in them. The word ‘salvation’ needs to be explained because today salvation has been cheapened from what it originally meant to be. The word salvation as used in the bible is not limited to forgiveness of sins. It includes forgiveness of sins, but it’s much more than that. Most churches today use the word salvation and forgiveness of sins interchangeably. Yes, salvation includes forgiveness of sins, but as I said earlier, it also includes prosperity, healing, and deliverance. Everything that was purchased for us by Jesus is a part of what salvation produces, Only in Christ can we find true happiness and peace in this life. Salvation is not just an insurance policy; it is the way to experience the supernatural life and goodness of God in our daily lives here and now. Salvation is something that was done and completed in the past yet continues to have present results. God’s grace has already provided all spiritual blessings in Christ (Ephesians 1:3), and our faith reaches out to God and receives the benefits (Romans 5:2). Putting faith in what God has already provided by grace is the key to victorious Christian living. Jesus paid it all. It’s not based on my performance; it’s based on my faith in what he did. Salvation is the gift of God unto the forgiveness of sins, the healing of your body, your prosperity, joy, peace, deliverance, emotional stability, and many more. But for some Christians, this seems a radical thought to them that healing has been purchased through Jesus for them just as much as forgiveness of sins. Prosperity has been purchased for them just as much as forgiveness of sins. Deliverance from oppression, depression, fear, anxiety, anger, have been purchased for you through what Jesus did. You don’t have to do something else to earn them. They aren’t addition to salvation, They’re integral part of salvation. Jesus wants you healed, delivered, set free, prospered, just as much as he wants you forgiven of sins. And it’s the gospel that releases that power of salvation for healing, deliverance, joy, peace, and forgiveness of sins. Mix what God has done with faith (Hebrews 4:2). And faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
How do you get saved?
God wants everyone to be saved.“This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4 who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth” (1 Timothy 2:3-4). And how do you receive salvation? By confessing with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and believing in your heart that God raised him from the dead and you shall be saved. The Philippian Jailer came to Paul and Silas and said what must I do to be saved? The jailer asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household” (Acts 16: 30-31). Paul didn’t say well, confess your sins, ask God to forgive you, and that’s what a lot of people tell you to do. What would happen if you forgot a sin? Does that mean it’s not under the blood? And that it wasn’t forgiven? No, you don’t confess your sins, you must admit that you are a sinner and that you need salvation. You have to come to that realization that if you don’t turn from trying to save yourself then you can’t truly make Jesus your saviour. So, there is an acknowledgment that you are a sinner, but you don’t confess your sins, you don’t have to mention every single sin. Paul told the Philippian Jailer that believe on the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved and your house. Jesus has done everything, but you must put faith in him and him alone. It can’t be faith in him plus faith in yourself. You must trust Jesus alone. So, if you will confess with your mouth that Jesus is your Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved (Romans 10:9). It would be a shame for you to stand before God and say well, Iwent to church, and I did all these things but that’s not what salvation is. If you can imagine somehow or another you and meand other people standing before God and God says what makes you worthy to enter Heaven. If you start saying, I went to church, I paid my tithe, I lived a good life. If you give any of those answers you would go straight to hell. The only answer that will get you into heaven is, when he says what makes you worthy? You would have to say nothing that I’ve done but what Jesus has done. Jesus Is my saviour I put faith in a saviour and he’s the one I am trusting. If you trust in any of these other things, I’m not saying that you don’t go to church and that you don’t live a good life, but if that’s where your trust is, instead of in a saviour, you’re going to hell. You need to put faith in a saviour and there’re many people reading this today who agree with what I’ve said, and you have done it and you are born again but you don’t clearly understand this and you can’t explain it to other people. You need to meditate on these things so that you can clearly present this to other people. You are a witness for the Lord, you are the only Bible some people are ever going to read and so you need to be able to know these truths and understand them and explain them. You really need to not only experience salvation, but you need to get to where you can give an answer and explain salvation. First Peter chapter 3 verse 15 says sanctify [e]the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; We need to have our lives seasoned with salt and be ready to give an answer of the hope of the calling that lies within us. You need to understand it yourself and you need to be able to explain it. Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More
Are there many ways to Heaven?
There’s so much confusion about this and there’re people who think that there’re many ways to Heaven. Jesus said specifically of himself in John CH 14: 6. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me. There aren’t multiple paths to God. There aren’t many ways to heaven. Some people say well, all paths lead to God. That’s a total lie, it’s a deception, it’s not the truth. Jesus is the only way to the father. If there was any other way to have salvation, God would not have gone to the expense, or to the effort to hurt, and the pain that he suffered to become a man and live among us and then suffer our sin and our punishment in his own body. “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed” (1Peter 2:24). The only reason he did that is because there was no other way. And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among people by which we must be saved [for God has provided the world no alternative for salvation]” (Acts 4:12 AMP). It doesn’t matter how good you think you are; you aren’t good enough to earn salvation and go to Heaven. The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.Romans 6:23 says, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in[b] Christ Jesus our Lord”. There’s a payment that comes for our ungodliness. There’re people who don’t hear these things and there’re so many people who are comparing themselves with other people and thinking that comparative to other people, I’m a relatively good person. You must understand that other people are not your standard. Jesus is your standard and if you aren’t as perfect as Jesus is, then you need a saviour. You need to recognise that it’s not about you being good and doing good. You just need to come to the end of yourself and say, ‘oh God have mercy on me a sinner’. You need to call out and put faith in what Jesus did. You even need to go beyond just asking God to save you and asking for mercy. You need to believe that he’s already paid for your sins and done everything that’s necessary. All you must do is just sign your name to this deal. Jesus has already come and signed his name to it and paid for your sins. All that is needed is your cooperation by putting faith in Jesus and when you do that you become a brand-new creature. Jesus even said that therewill be many people who will come and say ‘Lord, Lord, haven’t we lived a good life, haven’t we done this, haven’t we done that’, and he’s going to say depart from me you workers of iniquity I never knew you. Here’s what Jesus said in Mathew 7: 21-23; 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your nameperform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ The Bible says in Romans chapter 10:9 that “if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. That’s more than just saying those words, but if it’s from your heart,and with your mouth you say Jesus I make you my Lord, Iturn my life over, I trust you and you look to Jesus and you believe that he paid for your sins, you will be saved.. Jesus has already paid for your sins; He is the only way to heaven. So, if you will confess that with your mouth and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead you shall be saved and have right standing with the Lord. That’s the promise of Romans chapter 10 verse 9 and it’s really that simple. Evangelist Paul AcquahPaul Acquah is the founder of Christ Is All Ministries (CIAM), an evangelical ministry meeting the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of people. He is passionate about seeing people transformed by the Word of God and making heaven more crowded! Read More