Pam Padgett ... teacher
After the apostles
were filled with the Holy Spirit, they began to speak boldly about
Jesus, and many were healed by them as well. They were imprisoned
because of these things, but an angel of God brought them out of the
prison and gave them instruction to speak in the temple all the words of this life ...
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all they
that were with him, (which is the sect of the Sadducees,) and were
filled with indignation, 18 And laid their hands on the apostles, and
put them in the common prison. 19 But the angel of the Lord by night
opened the prison doors, and brought them forth, and said, 20 Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life. 21 And when they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. ....
As I read that they were instructed to speak the words of "this life", I
thought of how our life after we are born of the Spirit of God is a
different life than we had before. We believe and trust in the blood of Jesus paying for our
sins and come to see our own works as
worthless. We are given the Holy Spirit living in us,
teaching us, guiding us, and leading us in the ways of God, continually
conforming us to the image of Jesus. Whereas we may have not considered
what was right in the sight of God before, doing what HE wants us to do
becomes important to us. Rather than seeking our lives in this world, we try to simply
turn to God and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit with each matter,
knowing that nothing of this world can compare to being with God for
eternity. None of this is by our will or efforts, but by the power of God.
Paul spoke of how, when we were walking according to this
world, God in His great mercy and love has given us the gift of
salvation by grace through faith, giving us life in Jesus ...
Ephesians 2:1 And you hath he quickened who were dead
in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to
the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the
air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:3 Among
whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our
flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by
nature the children of wrath, even as others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love
wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened
us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us
up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ
Jesus:7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of
his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace
are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves:it is the gift
of God:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his
workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath
before ordained that we should walk in them.
Each person who has been born again of the Spirit of God has been given a new life by God.
This is not of ourselves, but by the grace and mercy of God through
faith.
Galatians 2:20 I am crucified with Christ:nevertheless I live; yet not
I, but Christ liveth in me:and the life which I now live in the flesh I
live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for
me.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new
creature:old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new.
Considering the amazing way God has worked in our lives, giving us a new life, causes joy and thanksgiving toward God.