One Gospel

"When we demand we alter the gospel, we stand firm."

DON'T COMPROMISE the gospel. When the apostles traveled across the then-known world, they spread one gospel. Jesus came to earth. He lived. He healed. He delivered. He died for people. He rose again. The Holy Spirit fell at Pentecost. They didn't have sects or differing doctrines. All of them from Peter to Paul preached the same thing.

COMPROMISE. n. settlement of differences by arbitration or by consent reached by mutual concessions

Where strife entered the church or where ungodliness reared itself, where questions arose about behaviors, they turned the church back to the gospel. Jesus lived. Jesus loved. Jesus saves.

They were uncompromising. Paul preached to his jailers, to a group of unsaved sailors, to the authorities in Rome. Peter spoke to Gentiles, to Jews, to men and women. He spoke healing to a man who had sat at the Gate Beautiful for years. The man was a fixture. Everyone knew of him.

Minister Dutch Sheets pointed out the word Beautiful means "right time." Jesus had walked past the lame man. Yet the "right time" at the Right-Time Gate was that day when Peter and John said, "Rise and walk."

The religious leaders rebuked them. How dare you heal that man! Never use the name of Jesus again. What did they do? They gathered with the church and prayed a life-altering prayer. Grant with all boldness that we speak thy name, stretching forth thy hand to heal.

Nothing has changed from that day. When this world demands our compromise, when people not under the gospel demand we alter the gospel, we stand firm. Jesus was. Jesus is. Jesus is coming. For whosoever of any culture, any nation, no matter how big their sin, He forgives, He redeems, and He heals.

God anointed Jesus of Nazareth to go about doing good, healing all those who are oppressed of the devil. Through you and me. We live. We believe. We love. We lay hands on the sick. We anoint them with oil. We take a stand against ungodliness and refuse to turn around.

“Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.” (Acts 4:13-14)

“And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.” (Acts 4:18-19)

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Suzanne D. Williams, Author
www.suzannedwilliams.com
www.feelgoodromance.com