8th Jun 26 | 14:45
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The Benediction
📖 Acts 15:28-29
Acts 15 - Series 2/Episode 20 - Sun, 26th Apr 2026 - The Benediction - Acts 15:22-35 - THE ANNOUNCEMENT - Jude 01:24-25
Acts 15:28-29 For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things: (29) that you abstain from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality. If you keep yourselves from these, you will do well. Farewell.
The Gentile believers were instructed that if they would abstain from these four things specified by the Jerusalem Council, they would do well. This was a benediction with which the Jerusalem Council blessed the Gentile believers.
II Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Become complete. Be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. / Jude 1:24-25 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, (25) To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
What is the Lord's blessing for each of us, and for us as the body of Christ? He is bringing about wholeness and completeness. Ephesians 4:13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
We must give ourselves completely to this blessing of God in us, which is to make us complete. Completeness is only possible in Christ. Giving ourselves to this blessing of completeness in us is by choice, but the enablement and empowerment are by His grace. God's grace cannot be appropriated if we are not willing.
Even in this matter of making our choice to be made complete in Christ, the Lord strengthens us. Philippians 2:13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. Thus, we can give no excuses to God for our inability to be made whole and complete.
Let's always keep in mind that this journey of completeness is for us, both individually and as the church. I suspect that many of us have given up on being made complete as the church. We are prepared to consider our individual and personal journey to wholeness in Christ, but the wholeness of the church is something that we do not venture into. Let us apply this principle also to the church, by faith, that God works in us both to will and to do His good pleasure. Let us not be dismayed. The Lord is able to do what seems impossible in our eyes.
The process that the Lord uses to bring about wholeness and completeness in us is through trials. James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. (4) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The tests that we go through in our lives are to strengthen our faith in God. I Peter 1:6-7 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, (7) that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,
It is our faith in God, which is much more precious than gold that perishes, though tested by fire. Our faith in God is made increasingly wonderful, enabling us to give praise, honour, and glory to God. This is what the Lord is doing in us through the trials and tests that the Lord allows into our lives.
How do we explain faith in God? I Peter 1:8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, When we go through trying circumstances, where we do not see or feel the presence of God, we choose to rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory. This is faith in God.
The end of our faith is the salvation of our souls or the fullness of life in our souls. I Peter 1:9 receiving the end of your faith-the salvation of your souls.
As individuals and as the church, we must give ourselves to God to build us in our faith in Him through the tests and trials that He allows into our lives. The testing of our faith produces patience in us. Patience needs to have its complete work so that we will be perfect and complete.
Through all of this, the Lord is building perseverance, leading to character in us. Romans 5:3-4 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; (4) and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
Perseverance or patience is what discipline is all about. Disciplining is necessary for producing righteousness in us. Hebrew 12:11 Now, discipline always seems painful rather than pleasant at the time, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it. (NRSV)
This is the blessing of God for His people.
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