435-Living by the Gospel#
(JP Text Group - shalom organized)
Dear family, peace in the Lord, welcome to your arrival. Today is Sunday, and we come before God's word to receive His supply.
The scripture to share today is from John 8:12, and the title of the sharing is: Living by the Gospel.
John 8:12:
12 Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life."
Let us pray together first
Heavenly Father, thank you and praise you. Thank you for preparing such a wonderful time for us. We come before you to receive your supply. As we begin a new week, we are willing to worship you first and receive strength to live. We believe this is a week where you help and supply us, where we experience your presence and power. We are willing to live by the Gospel. Please grant us such wisdom so that we can gain something from today’s sharing! Holy Spirit, renew our thoughts and minds, so that our lives can be in sync with your word, and we can know you more! In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.
The title of the sharing: Living by the Gospel
Many people think of the Gospel as something only for salvation, believing in Jesus for salvation. People refer to this as the Gospel. In fact, the Gospel is a general term; in Greek, it means good news. Can we say that after hearing the good news of salvation through Jesus, there is no more good news? We still need to live by the Gospel. Believing in Jesus is just the beginning of a new life; it is not difficult. Just believe and you are saved; it is very simple. The important thing is how to live, how to let the Gospel enter our lives. This is a lasting process that requires continuous receiving until the end of our lives. This is living by the Gospel.
Jesus said to them again, "I am the light of the world." We must follow Him, not just for one day, but continuously. Such a person will not walk in darkness but will have the light of life! You can say that this light of life not only saves you but also shows you how to walk in the light after being saved, to be victorious!
The first point of sharing: The Gospel starts with a person
Mark 1:1 says: The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
Is there a Gospel in the Old Testament? It does not mention this matter. When the New Testament mentions the Gospel, it starts with the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Therefore, we must be clear and tell those around us: The Gospel is not a doctrine, nor is it a theory, but good news about life, which relates to everyone!
There are many so-called Gospels in the world. For example, when a patient hears that the medicine they need has been invented, it seems like good news to them; this is good news. For instance, when some people get promoted, that is good news, but these good news cannot bring life to people.
There are many motivational success teachings in this world, various doctrines that teach people to do good. These are good and can lead people to live positively, having a certain positive effect, but they cannot give life. Only the Gospel, Jesus Christ, can give life because He is the source of life, and everything we have comes from Him!
In Christ, we possess the life of the Son of God. Receiving the Gospel is not just receiving a set of theories but life, a life filled with wisdom, power, authority, and glory. Everything you need is in Jesus Christ. We collectively refer to this as the Gospel, which is good news, and everything that comes from Jesus Christ is good news.
John 10:10: The thief comes only to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
The thief here refers to the devil, who is also in this world. What does he want to do? Steal, kill, and destroy. The devil's work is to take away life and destroy life; while Jesus came to give life! We cannot limit Jesus to just the matter of salvation. Many believers, after believing, no longer rely on the Gospel to live, but return to their previous state of life. When faced with issues, they first rely on their own efforts to solve them, and only when they cannot solve them do they think of calling on God. In their lives, Jesus Christ seems to be separated from them. Many people treat Jesus merely as a religion, only remembering Him when they feel sad or lost.
In fact, the Gospel encompasses our entire life. Every day can be lived by the Gospel. When we mention the Gospel, we cannot separate it from Jesus. Jesus came to give life to the sheep. We are His sheep. After receiving His life through Jesus, we have life more abundantly.
Why do all people in the world need Jesus? When we are born, our lives are different. Each person's path is not quite the same, and there is no method to follow. No one tells us how to walk accurately until we meet Jesus. He reveals the whole world, humanity, and all outcomes to us and tells us how to live in this world by relying on Him. This is good news, allowing you to be in this world but not belong to it, enabling you to live in this world while transcending it, unbound, freely enjoying His supply in Christ. This way of living is what we envy.
Through reading the Bible, we find that Jesus lived this way. He was in this world but did not belong to it; He received supplies from above. No matter what He encountered, He would not be disheartened or despairing because He believed His Father had the power and would surely help Him!
Therefore, Jesus's life was abundant and prosperous. He recorded His victories so that those who come later can see them. He wants to tell all who believe in the Gospel that this path is one you can walk. It is a new and living way, a path filled with abundant blessings. If you are willing, start by knowing Jesus. This is the Gospel; the Gospel starts with a person. Do not understand it as a doctrine or something you can find in a certain place; seek it from Jesus!
John 20:30-31:
30 Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. 31 But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
In the four Gospels, we see that Jesus performed many miracles, but the records of these miracles are only part of it. Do not focus on the miracles but on the Lord who performs the miracles, which is Jesus Christ. The recording of these events is to help us understand the Gospel more and to follow Jesus with faith in our lives.
It is to let us believe in Jesus in everything, believing that Jesus is the Christ. What does Christ mean? The Anointed One, He is appointed by God, the Son of God. After believing in Him, you can receive the status of a Son of God and live by that status.
When you are on earth, you live by your name. Today, whether you are traveling or doing things, you need an identity. In a company, there are positions, which are related to our names. But in the spiritual realm, when you believe in Jesus, you become a Son of God, and you possess the life of Jesus Christ! If you do not know what kind of life and blessings Jesus has given you, you cannot live out the life of Jesus. What should you do? You need to read the Bible and see what kind of power and authority Jesus has. These are given to you by Jesus; this is your inheritance and the blessings God has given you.
The second point: The Gospel is a relationship
What kind of relationship? Since we mentioned good news, it not only means we have received the life of Jesus but also includes the intimate relationship established by the blood of Jesus. In Genesis, it mentions that the ancestor of humanity, Adam, sinned, and from then on, he was separated from God, entering into death, so that all descendants of Adam became sinners, facing death. Jesus came, replacing our life with His life, cleansing our sins with His blood, and restoring our relationship with the Father. Previously, we were enemies with God, so many people feared God, avoided Him, and were unwilling to believe in this Lord. But now it is different. The good news is that this relationship has been established through Jesus.
Romans 5:9-11:
9 Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! 10 For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! 11 Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
This passage clarifies our relationship with the Father. How is our relationship with the Father restored? By His blood, we are justified! Whose blood? Jesus's blood, because all people have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. The issue of sin needs to be resolved, and we cannot resolve it by ourselves.
Some people struggle to confess their sins before God, thinking that if they repent hard enough, God will forgive them! No, this is not the way to obtain forgiveness for sins. The wages of sin is death; only this way can sin be atoned for. If we die, how can we live by righteousness? We cannot live! So Jesus came, cleansing our sins with His blood, replacing our life with His death. Therefore, we do not need to die anymore because the Father has judged the punishment for our sins on Jesus. Thus, our sins have been judged.
After Jesus rose from the dead, we are now clothed in the robe of righteousness of Jesus, possessing the life of Jesus. This life is holy, righteous, and sinless. Do not say that you are sinless; no, you simply possess the life of Christ within you. This life is holy and pleasing to the Father. Because of this life within you, your relationship with the Father is restored. From then on, it is a father-son relationship, a permanent relationship, an intimate relationship. Through Jesus, we are spared from God's wrath.
Why does God get angry? Because God must punish sin; this is His righteousness. If our Father sees sin and does not punish it, turning a blind eye, then He is unjust. If there is a sin that has not been resolved, our Father cannot fully accept us. Therefore, Jesus has replaced all our sins, all our sins throughout our lives. Do you believe this? Because He has completely replaced it, we become the children of God, spared from God's wrath. What is our relationship now? An intimate relationship, a peaceful relationship.
Verse 10 says: For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!
What does it mean that we were enemies? Before believing in Jesus, our sins were exposed before God, and we were unwilling to listen to God's words, always living in violation of His words. Therefore, God’s anger towards humanity is normal. But the Son of God, Jesus, came into this world, which we call the Gospel. Through the death of the Son of God, we are reconciled to the Father. Thus, the Gospel is also a relationship, a reconciled relationship with the Father. Amen.
You must remember that because of Jesus, you are reconciled to God. You are now His child; He is your Father, and He loves you very much. With this relationship, we must rely on Jesus to be saved and to live. Amen. Since it is all done by Jesus, it means that the connection point between us and the Father is Jesus. This is why when you pray to the Father, you end by saying: In the name of the Lord Jesus! Because Jesus is the mediator, the connection line between us and the Father. If you remove this line, you cannot connect with the Father. Therefore, in our lives, we often need to meditate on what Jesus has done and how He is connected to the Father. We should connect in the same way; this is certainly correct. Amen.
You need to know that this connection is not something you earn; it is because our Father saw the suffering of humanity and sent His only beloved Son, Jesus, into this world to restore this relationship. If you believe, you are a child of God, and this relationship is fulfilled in you. From now on, our Father will take responsibility for you. Whenever you pray to Him, He will listen. This is a relationship. Under this relationship, you should not be fearful or anxious; you should be joyful, peaceful, and fearless!
Of course, you must not go to extremes. Many people say: Since Jesus has reconciled my relationship with the Father, I am a beloved child of God, and this relationship will not change. Can I do whatever I want? If someone has this assumption and thought, they need to seriously consider why Jesus saved you. Do you think that past life was good? You are saved by relying on Jesus, but do you want to return to the past way of living?
This is like the prodigal son mentioned in Luke 15. After he squandered his inheritance, he had to work for someone else to feed pigs to survive. Even then, he could not live. One day, he returned to his father's house, and his father accepted him and restored his identity. Would the prodigal son want to go back to living in the pigsty from then on? No, he would not!
Recognizing the blessings Jesus has given you and the wonderful relationship you have with the Father, you will not return to the state of living without faith. If someone wants to go back, it indicates they still do not understand the Gospel and need to re-understand what the Gospel is, to re-understand Jesus and the redemptive work He accomplished on the cross. Amen. When a person understands this relationship and the value of Jesus, no one will consider the Gospel cheap, and no one will indulge themselves in Christ.
Verse 11: Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
When you understand the Gospel, your life is not painful or depressed, but joyful! Some say they believe in Jesus but do not feel joy. You need to understand the Gospel. Start from the beginning and think about why you believe in Jesus and what Jesus has done for you. You might say He hasn’t done much. Look at what the Bible records about what Jesus has done for others. Those were people in need, and Jesus gave them life and changed their lives. Those people were no longer the same!
We are reconciled to the Father through the blood of Jesus. This is just the beginning. Receiving the life of Jesus is also just the beginning. God wants to use this relationship to restore your identity, to let you know you are a child of God, so that in the rest of your life, you live with the identity of a Son of God. No matter what you encounter, know that you have a Father in heaven who will help you, supply you, and support you with His righteous right hand! Thus, your life will often be filled with joy. Amen.
Galatians 4:4-7:
4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba, Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
What does this mean? The end of humanity has only one destination: the land of death. But God does not want people to die; this is not God's intention. When the time was fulfilled, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law. Why was He born under the law? Because all humanity lives under the law. Some may ask: You often say living under the law, what does that mean? Living under the law refers to being under the law of Moses. God also has His law. Anyone who violates God's law faces death. Humanity is born under the law. If you do not know, read the Ten Commandments to understand what God's law is like.
Under the requirements of the Ten Commandments, no one can follow them, so all humanity is condemned with no way out, only death. Jesus came to solve this problem, to redeem those of us who are under the law. Only by being redeemed can we escape the curse of the law and enter into life. Since it is redemption, there must be a price to pay. Jesus used His body and His life as the price to redeem us. From then on, we have the status of the Son of God. Amen. Remember, you are not under the law but under grace. You are different from the world. Amen.
People under the law have a characteristic of being self-centered. Perhaps people do not know what the Ten Commandments are, but they can see that the state of life of humanity is self-centered. Everything is planned for themselves. Isn’t this very common? Whenever their life is threatened or their interests are conflicted, many people's true nature reveals itself.
Jesus is not like this. Jesus came into this world willing for others to receive life. He is willing to give His life to accomplish the good of others. Is there anyone in the world like Jesus? Some people can slightly do a bit of selflessness, but once they give their life, they have nothing left. Jesus is different; He gives us His life, and He still has life. Therefore, we need to give this life of Jesus to the world. Amen. When we give this life of Jesus to the world, they become children of God. Hallelujah! So in Christ, our state of life will change. We are no longer self-centered but Christ-centered. Amen.
Because Jesus redeemed you from under the law, your relationship with the Father is a father-son relationship, not a master-servant relationship under the Old Testament law. Amen. A father-son relationship means He is a loving Father, and you are His beloved son. When you believe in Jesus, the Holy Spirit enters your heart. From then on, you are no longer a slave but a son.
The Old Testament mentions many servants of God who were very fearful of God. That was under the law. The New Testament, which records those who are in a father-son relationship with the Father after Jesus's death and resurrection, is a relationship of love. Amen. A relationship of love means you can pray to the Father about anything you encounter. It does not matter if you say it wrong, if the order is incorrect, or if your posture in prayer is not right. God looks at your heart. Amen.
Just like you love your son very much, when your son talks to you, do you particularly care about his posture? Do you particularly care if his logic is very coherent? These things are not important. What is important? You love this son. Even if this son talks to you in a disjointed manner, you love him, so you are willing to listen to him. Our relationship with the Father should be like this. This is good news. Amen. Therefore, no matter what you encounter, you can pray to this Father anytime and anywhere. He can hear you and will guide you on the victorious path ahead.
But is being a son the end? No, the Father’s love for you is not just like this. It also includes being heirs of God. What does this mean? It means that from now on, you are heirs of God. Since it mentions heirs, it must also mention the issue of inheritance. This means God will bless what you do, making you abundant and having more than enough. Amen. He will make many people envy what you do, and you can also become a help to others. Amen.
Colossians 1:17-22:
17 He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. 18 And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. 19 For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, 20 and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. 21 Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. 22 But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation.
This passage tells all who believe in Jesus that you are blessed. Amen. The Gospel not only saves us but also tells us that we are a blessed group of people. The one you believe in, Jesus, is not only a Jew but also the Lord who created all things.
He is before all things; what does this mean? The world you can see with your eyes and the microscopic world you cannot see are all created by Jesus! In him all things hold together; what does this mean? This God still upholds all things by His power today. Everything operates in such order. The earth revolves around the sun, the seasons change distinctly, and these things are controlled by a Creator who has never made a mistake. Since our Lord can manage all things, it also includes all the problems we encounter in our lives. God can still solve them!
He is also the head of the body, the church. Why is the church mentioned here? Because since the Gospel and good news are mentioned, there is a temporary supply on earth, which is the church. In the church, we must exalt Jesus Christ and center on Jesus Christ, conveying the message of life. The church is not a building; it is a group of people who have been redeemed by Jesus. The place where they gather is the church, and Jesus is the head of the church. Amen. Therefore, we must let Jesus have the supremacy in everything. To have supremacy, we should know what it means for Jesus to have supremacy.
Some people say: Why should I do this? What is the good news of the Gospel? When you are willing to let Jesus have supremacy in your life and are willing to act according to Jesus's words in everything, you will be blessed. By believing in Jesus, you receive the life of Jesus and can inherit all the blessings of Jesus, which are already prepared for you.
How can you obtain these? You need to act according to what Jesus said. But many times, we do not know how to apply this. First, you need to let Jesus have supremacy. When you do this, think about how to glorify Jesus and how to manifest the glory of Christ!
When people do not believe in Jesus, everything they do may be for their own benefit or greater fame. But we are different; we exalt Jesus's name and give glory to Jesus. Doing things and dealing with people according to this principle is to let Jesus have supremacy. Amen.
Let me give a very practical example. Take children going to school, for instance. Many parents hope their children can achieve good grades and rank at the top of the class. But how many parents have thought about why they want their children to be at the top? Most parents probably think it is for face value or for their children's future.
But if you put Jesus first and let Jesus have supremacy in your heart, you will do it because this is God's inheritance. You are just managing it on His behalf, willing to give Christ's love to them, encouraging them to live out the likeness of Christ. With this heart, you hope your child excels, but not for your own glory, but to manifest Christ's glory more. You will be at ease regarding your child.
Many parents see their children perform poorly and go crazy. They fear their children will not succeed in the future and wonder how they will live and establish themselves in society. But we are different. The same situation, when Jesus has supremacy in your heart, you know God will guide them on a different path, a blessed path. God is responsible.
What can we do now? Do our best to teach them the truth, give them love to the best of our ability, and love them as Jesus loves us. Hallelujah! This way, our hearts will not fluctuate because you know the Father loves them too. Hallelujah! This is one example; others can be inferred similarly.
Why let Jesus have supremacy? Because this is the path to victory. The Father is pleased to have all fullness dwell in Him. Now you understand, right? When you put Jesus first, everything you do is for Jesus, to glorify Christ. Naturally, you will be in abundance because everything you need is in Christ. Amen.
Verse 20: And through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross.
If you are willing to let Jesus have supremacy, your relationship with all things will be reconciled. Many people fail because they do not succeed in their endeavors, as if everything is against them. But if you let Jesus have supremacy, all things obey Jesus. If all things are reconciled with Jesus, then if you obey Jesus Christ, will not all things obey you? Isn’t it much easier to succeed in doing things?
Letting Jesus have supremacy is very important. This is the Gospel. The world also seeks a path to success, but most use the experiences, lessons, and experiences of successful people from the past. What do we use? We use Jesus's method. We do what Jesus does. Hallelujah!
Knowing that we are now the beloved children of God, we should do what pleases the Father. First, you must know your identity. Remember your identity firmly. When we did not believe, we were separated from God, evil in our hearts, and enemies of God. Now it is different. Because of Jesus, you have been reconciled to the Father. In the Father’s eyes, you are holy, without blemish, and free from accusation.
Some may say, "Am I really that good? I don’t feel that good." No, you must think this way: Jesus has given you His life, placed it within you. You are such an existence! If you always think of yourself as filthy, corrupt, and a failure, how can you live out victory? Today, see what the scripture says about you. Believe that because of Jesus, you are holy, without blemish, and free from accusation. You will be willing to act according to the Father’s words. Hallelujah!
The third point: Living by the Gospel
John 8:26-29:
26 I have much to say about you and to judge, but he who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him." 27 They did not understand that he was telling them about his Father. 28 So Jesus said, "When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he and that I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me. 29 The one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what pleases him."
Many people say: Jesus is the Son of God, so He is victorious in everything and successful. Are you the Son of God? It seems so, right? Don’t just seem; you are the Son of God! Because of Jesus, you are holy, righteous, and blameless in the eyes of God. In this regard, you are the same as Jesus. Amen. Do not doubt this.
So why did Jesus succeed in everything? Look at what this passage says: Jesus was sent by the Father. How did He do things? "I declare to the world what I have heard from him." What does this mean? It means that all of Jesus's words are what the Father told Him to say. Everything Jesus did was what the Father told Him to do. He did not do anything on His own, so He was victorious in everything.
Why do many believers still fail in some things? Because they are doing things by their own ability. If you do things by Jesus, you will be victorious in everything! Of course, people have weaknesses. It is impossible to say that every day and in every matter, they do things by Jesus. Some say: I don’t even know how to do things by Jesus! Actually, it is very simple. Read the Bible more. The Bible has many principles for dealing with people and matters. Just follow these principles! Jesus's words are not difficult to understand; even children can understand them. Amen.
However, many people read these words but do not believe. It is not that they do not believe in God, but in some methods of dealing with life, many do not believe, so they cannot be victorious. Jesus is different. In everything He said and did, every word and action was directed by the Father, so He was victorious.
Many believers are victorious in some matters because they followed Jesus's words. Some people violate God's words and fail. It does not matter if you fail; what does it mean? Turn back to God, look again at what God’s words say, and then act according to God’s words. You will still experience victory. Amen. This is living by the Gospel.
1 Corinthians 15:1-2:
1 Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. 2 By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.
Since Jesus did what pleased the Father in everything, you should do the same. Look at Paul’s encouragement to the Corinthians: I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received. This indicates that he is addressing believers, those who have already believed and received the Gospel.
You stand firm by this Gospel. Many people are weak and fall in life because they do not stand firm by the Gospel. They may rely on what a certain pastor said, on the experiences of predecessors, or even on the testimonies of others to stand firm. These cannot last long. You should stand firm by the Gospel as Paul said!
Is standing firm the end? No, standing firm also requires continuing to do things. You cannot believe what some people say: Once saved, we do not need to do anything, just wait for blessings to fall from heaven! This is impossible! How should believers live? Stand firm by the Gospel.
Verse 2 says: By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you.
What does it mean to believe in vain? It means: I believe what you say. I know the Father sent Jesus into the world to shed His blood on the cross for my sins! They know all this, but it is very likely that they believe in vain, meaning they only believe without action. This is believing in vain. It is not that they do not believe; they do believe but have never acted on what they believe. They have not lived by the Gospel. This is the problem many believers face today. The Gospel is the Gospel, and life is life; they are disconnected. As a result, they often fail in life, as if the Gospel does not work, and they begin to doubt whether the Word works. The Word must work; you need to connect them, or else it is believing in vain.
How can you avoid believing in vain? Hold firmly to this Gospel. What does holding firmly to the Gospel mean? It means believing in your heart and living it out persistently. If you fail this time, do not doubt; continue to live by the Gospel. Many people start to doubt after three failures. This shows they have not held firmly.
You must hold firmly to what I preached to you, and you will be saved by this Gospel. What does this salvation mean? It is not entering the kingdom of heaven because Paul’s audience were believers who had already been saved and entered the kingdom of heaven. What does the later part mean? It means being victorious in everything and seeing the power of God’s salvation. Amen!
For example, if your body is sick, holding firmly to God’s promises through declaration, and being healed from sickness is salvation; if you fail in a certain matter and cannot turn it around, holding firmly to God’s words and acting will lead to victory. This is salvation. Here, salvation mainly refers to victory. Amen.
Let’s look at the last passage, Philippians 4:8-9:
8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.
The Gospel that Paul preached to us is very balanced. Many people only focus on justification by faith and salvation by faith, on how many blessings we have in Christ. If you do not have the latter part, it is very difficult to experience the greatness, wonder, and grace of God in your life. It is not that you do not know grace; you know it, but many cannot experience it. The balanced part also includes what? Doing! Therefore, the latter part of all of Paul’s letters will definitely mention: You must live out what you believe, hold firmly to what you believe, and act!
Many people take an extreme view and say: Whenever you mention doing things, it is the law! No, this is not the law. This is living out what you believe. This is a very important part of the Gospel. We must experience the power of the Gospel in our lives. It must enter our lives. How does it enter our lives? By our faith and actions, we let the Gospel enter our lives. Amen.
Look at what Paul says: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. And you must put these things into practice.
This statement should not be difficult for everyone to understand. True, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, good virtues—these things you must do. For example, if you see a brother in need, help him. Provide practical help. Do not just shout slogans: God will bless you! Or if you see people around you need encouragement or comfort, you must act practically. Do not just stay at the verbal level; you must take action.
How does the world define success? Many people think having money equals success. This is not success. True success is measured by how many people you help out of difficulties and problems. The more people you help, the more successful you are. Amen. For example, when an elderly person gets on the bus, we give up our seat. This is a virtuous act. Others may not do it, but we do. Therefore, these small acts can reflect whether we bring the Gospel into our lives.
Many people in this last generation are afraid of being deceived, and their love has grown cold because of the increase of lawlessness. But we cannot become indifferent because of the increase of lawlessness. You must act wisely.
For example, if you see an elderly person fall on the road, should you help them? Some say: You cannot help; what if they frame you? You might lose everything! You should help, but do it wisely. You can record with your phone from a distance and then go over and ask, "Did you fall by yourself? Do you need my help?" Record it. Even if a problem arises one day, you can show this recording, and the issue will be resolved, and you have done a good deed.
Of course, not everyone is a fraud waiting for you. But when doing things, you must be wise. Although the last generation may become increasingly evil, the wisdom God gives us far exceeds this evil. You still need to think about what is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. You must think about these things and act like Jesus. Hallelujah!
You must put these things into practice, and the God of peace will be with you. What does this mean? You will experience God’s power, experience His victory, and have beautiful testimonies. You will have more and more faith in God. This is the Gospel entering your life. Amen. Therefore, the Gospel is not an empty phrase or a slogan, but a real power from God that gives us strength and inspiration to experience Him. Amen. May all brothers and sisters experience His wonders in the new week. Hallelujah!
Let us pray together
Heavenly Father, we thank and praise you. Thank you for comforting and encouraging us through such words. We not only need to be saved by the Gospel but also to live by the Gospel! May the power of Jesus Christ enter my life, allowing me to experience Him more. Holy Spirit, grant me wisdom, guide me on the path I should take, and give me wise eyes to see the mysteries of many things. Help me not to be hurt when helping others and to have wisdom when comforting others! Thank you and praise the Lord. Thank you, Father, for such wonderful blessings and supplies. I believe that this week I will surely experience your wonders. All glory be to you. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, we pray, Amen.