DCLM Higher Everyday 27 February 2024 — The Obedience of Faith – Part 2
Topic: The Obedience of Faith – Part 2
Text: Acts 26:12-21
12Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,
14And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
15And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And he said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.
16But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee;
17Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,
18To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.
19Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:
20But shewed first unto them of Damascus, and at Jerusalem, and throughout all the coasts of Judaea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, and do works meet for repentance.
21For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me.
Key Verse: “Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).
Message
Yesterday we considered the obedience of Abraham to the call of God to relocate to an unknown destination. Today we are considering the obedience of Apostle Paul to the call of Jesus to faith and service. Paul is an example of the few people who got the call to ministry as soon as they received Jesus as Lord and Saviour. On knowing Jesus, Paul immediately asked Him, “Lord, what wilt thou have me to do?” (Acts 9:6). On the mission Jesus gave him, Paul was to later declare before king Agippa that he was not “disobedient to the heavenly vision.” Paul was ready to go to the Gentiles and to anybody to preach Christ as he was led by the Holy Ghost. Having exercised faith for his salvation, he was ready to help others to be saved. That was obedience of faith.
God wants all nations to come to the knowledge of the truth for ‘obedience of faith’ (Romans 16:26). We, as Christians, adults or youths, have key roles to play in bringing our peers, relatives and neighbours to Christ for the obedience of faith.
Quote: Ready to help others to be saved
Challenge: Are your loved ones in obedience of faith?
Prayer for today: Oh God, save my loved ones in Jesus’ name.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
