5
Theme: THE IMPORTANCE OF THE WORD OF GOD
Text: “And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.” – Acts 14:21, 22.
Comment: Once one makes the decision to be on the Lord’s side and is serious with the faith, the devil marks the person as an enemy that should be harassed, humiliated, and killed. St. Paul stated in another letter, this time to the Corinthians, said that when they were in Macedonia, they had no rest, “but we were troubled on every side; without were fightings, within were fears”. He disclosed however that God Almighty comforted them in an unusual way, that was by the coming of Titus and the gladdening news he brought. (2 Corinthians 7:5-7) On the night our Lord was to be arrested all the disciples forsook him and fled but he carried on. (Mark 14:27, 50) In the heat of his agony that night, he prayed God Almighty to remove the cup from him, “nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done”. The Bible says an angel appeared to him from heaven, to strengthen him. – Luke 22:42, 43.
When these temptations arise we need to pray God for strength to continue in the faith. Said St. Paul, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” -1 Corinthians 10:13.