THE ACTS October 2013 English | Page 19

There is no place to the notion that miracles that happened during the time of Jesus will not take place now. Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”John 14:12. And thus, He calls us as his brethren. We also have the same authority that Jesus had. God is ready to use us to comfort others by doing miracles through us like Jesus. Phil 4:6 – Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. We should not be anxious about anything. We should believe that God is the God of all comfort. We should lift everything upto Him in prayer and supplication, in His presence. It may be a matter of a rupee or a crore, we should not be anxious. Whether it is a cold or AIDS we should not worry. We should have a peaceful life and pray with faith. We will be delivered from all our problems. The faith we have in Christ Jesus will bring us victory. Let us see how people went through this ordeal of suffering. 1Thess 3: 2-4 – And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. Generally, every problem drives a human being to focus on being depressed. In such circumstances, God desires to make us stand firm and steadfast. During these problems, the tempter comes and keeps testing us with words, saying that we are finished! Our reports are not normal. The tempter does not have a quality of comforting or relieving people by saying that there is hope. He makes people get confused by speaking lies. He makes us feel inferior to the others around us and he makes us feel terrible about ourself. We should speak the words of Victory! Receive the comfort by listening to the sermons on victory. And pray, looking persistently at God. Phil 1:21 – For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Here, Paul says that for him to die is gain and to live is Christ. A doubt arises in believers like us at times, that can we die while facing problems though we are leading a faith filled life? However, Paul says in the following verse: Phil 1:22 – But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. “But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour” which indicates that we are called specially to live, to see our generations, to share the gospel and to save souls. Christ gives life. Paul says that, in view of the fact that the work of Christ is to make us live, he takes the authority to decide whether to live or die. Death, which Paul feared, was brought down under his feet. Paul says that he can resolve to die but he will not. He boasts about the overtaking power that he has over life and death, through the life giving Spirit of Christ, with faith. Therefore, no natural calamities like, floods, earthquakes or anything can overtake us. We will win over everything through faith. Phil 1:23 – For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: Paul says that he has a desire Ѽ