20/04/2015 - APPROVED BY GOD

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But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 1 Thessalonians 2.4

The Lord made important declarations that concern us in Scriptures. He said that He received us as His children, which is very important (Jo 1.12); that our sins were forgiven and He does not remember them any longer (Jr 31.34); that we are His heirs and co-heirs with Jesus (Rm 8.17); that if we inhabited under His wings, we would rest under His shadow, and no harm would happen to us (Ps 91). However, one of the greatest things is this: that we have been approved by Him.

He approved us so that the Gospel, which is the power of God, would be entrusted to us. Now, His power is under our government and our will. Therefore, if we listen from His Word something that belongs to us, we do not need to wait any longer to take hold of it; it is simply enough to assume it by faith in the Name of Jesus. There is no reason to suffer or wait so that one day He might attend us, for we have already been blessed.

Now, we are ministers of the New Testament. Being so, if we find someone in suffering, we have the power to annihilate evil in the life of that person. If He sends us to any place, we go in order solve people’s problems. Therefore, there is no reason to pray all the time trying to convince the Lord to bless us. The responsibility is ours. If we do not speak, He cannot fulfill what He promised (Heb 10.23).

We must speak as He declares, and not as a normal man, who is captive to sin and dominated by the enemy. Our word must be always “yes, yes” and never “maybe”, “who knows”, or “I don’t know” (Mt 5.37). We know that we have gone from death to life and the power of the Lord operates in us. Therefore, there is no reason to fear or to falter (Jo 5.24). After all, the Father made Jesus inhabit us, and this is the hope of God’s glory (Col 1.27). It is never good to frustrate Him.

We do not have to please the men who do not believe in God or the fanatics of a creed. Our mission is to fulfill what He has given us to do: carry His power to those in need and oppressed. His order is that we may help those in suffering to find the path of joy. After all, the Omnipotent sent us to accomplish the same works that Jesus started to do (Is 61). We only have one option: to imitate the Master.

Always please the Lord, who loved you and revealed Himself to your heart. He called you to continue His work, and if you do not ready yourself, you will not please Him, which is not good. Be firm in your calling, for the Father will be with you wherever He sends you. Be brave and bold, for the Almighty will never leave you. As you follow the steps of Jesus, you will walk in a plain and straight path.

Remember that God proves your heart; therefore, whenever there is any proposal for you to sin, stand back! Do not allow your heart to examine such a possibility. If you let the devil use you, there will be no use out of it. The Lord can only use a person that He recreated in Christ, if he continues firm in the position that He placed him. Be wise, for it is better to walk with God.

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares