King James Bible Study – [And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. – Mark 8:34]
Date: Friday, April 26, 2024
Chapters: Psalms Chapter 73, 77-78
Message: Proven Faith
Hello My Friend,
I need to apologize for being a day behind on getting these out, there is so much going on at home. Praise God, that I am up and have no headache and the vertigo that I have been getting for a week now is at a minimum. My mom is still in the hospital, they are waiting for a bed and hopefully she will be transferred to the rehab center this weekend. I do not have to tell you that sometimes the cares of this life can be so overwhelming that we do not know which way to turn, we literally have nowhere to go, but to God. Believe it or not, God, wants us to come to Him with everything that we are going through, not just the things that we cannot get through on our own, but the things that we can do as well.
[Philippians 4:4-7 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.]
I just spent forty-five minutes looking up verses related to God our Father and the suffering that we face as being His children and it brought me to tears. Each verse I read not only reminded me of how fortunate I am that Christ is my Saviour, it also reminds me of just how much mercy and grace He has for me even when I fail Him. There is only one way to become a child of God and that is through ones faith in the Gospel of Christ and this also includes those whom were here before He came here in the flesh and gave His life for them as well.
[Galatians 3:6-7,13-14 Even as Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness. 7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham. 13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: 14 That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Jesus Christ; that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.]
Abraham, was not the only one to believe this, the Old Testament is full of people who believed the same promise, even Job knew that he had a Redeemer even before Abraham came on the scene, [Job 19:25-26 For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: 26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God:]
What a powerful statement! Our flesh is nothing but dust and when it gives out it will return to the same dust that God used to formed it with, [Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.]
Well, at least for a little while until Jesus returns and yet we shall see God in the flesh, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]
Oh wow! I did not know where God was taking me with this and I will tell you this, reading the Psalms has a way of bring everything to heart. It is actually the Holy Spirit in us that reminds us of all these things, especially when we feel as though we are all alone and not even God is helping us. As we take a pause from 1 Chronicles we are reminded from the Psalms that God is in control and no matter how bad we think we have it, just remember where those whom have never accepted Christ will be.
[Psalms 73:1-7 A Psalm of Asaph. Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean heart. 2 But as for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped. 3 For I was envious at the foolish, when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. 4 For there are no bands in their death: but their strength is firm. 5 They are not in trouble as other men; neither are they plagued like other men. 6 Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment. 7 Their eyes stand out with fatness: they have more than heart could wish.]
[my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped.] How many times have you felt like giving up? How many times have you cried out to God asking Him why to how much more will He allow us to suffer? How many times have you asked God why you are suffering when the wicked get everything they want? The people of Israel are not only believing Jews, they are also believing Gentiles, and while adversity is something that we all will face we must not forget that it all leads us to eternal life with Christ, [Romans 2:9-13 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; 10 But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: 11 For there is no respect of persons with God. 12 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.]
Do you see that? It is not those who hear the Gospel that are justified, it is those who live it that are justified before God. I am not going to lie nor do I need to say this, but it is not always easy living the Gospel, which basically means that we live our lives through Christ through thick and thin. If Christ suffered we will suffer, and not necessarily because of our faith in Christ, but rather our faithfulness to Him. Jesus, said it this way, [John 15:20-21 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. 21 But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not him that sent me.] So, while the wicked bask in their glory we are left only to wonder when the suffering will ever end. Well, the psalmist goes on to remind himself and us that they already have their reward so to speak.
[Psalms 73:12-19 Behold, these are the ungodly, who prosper in the world; they increase in riches. 13 Verily I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocency. 14 For all the day long have I been plagued, and chastened every morning. 15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children. 16 When I thought to know this, it was too painful for me; 17 Until I went into the sanctuary of God; then understood I their end. 18 Surely thou didst set them in slippery places: thou castedst them down into destruction. 19 How are they brought into desolation, as in a moment! they are utterly consumed with terrors.]
[I should offend against the generation of thy children.] We are living in a day and age that we are afraid to say anything in fear of offending someone. Well, let me tell you, I for one am tired of refraining myself from speaking up our of fear that I will offend one of these fools. Of course, we cannot talk to a fool as they will never listen, but we have every right to speak of the name of Jesus as they have every right to speak of their god. They are digging their own graves, and yes, sometimes it is too painful for us to comprehend, but we have a merciful and forgiving Father who will be with us for eternity.
[Psalms 73:21-28 Thus my heart was grieved, and I was pricked in my reins. 22 So foolish was I, and ignorant: I was as a beast before thee. 23 Nevertheless I am continually with thee: thou hast holden me by my right hand. 24 Thou shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory. 25 Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. 26 My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever. 27 For, lo, they that are far from thee shall perish: thou hast destroyed all them that go a whoring from thee. 28 But it is good for me to draw near to God: I have put my trust in the Lord GOD, that I may declare all thy works.]
[My flesh and my heart faileth:] I will admit that my flesh and heart fails me more times than I care to count, so foolish was I and ignorant and yet my Father never leaves nor forsakes me. This is what suffering does, it draws us nearer to God. Do you know how many people have returned to God, found Christ, and saw God for the first time in years through all this? You would probably be astounded by a large number. We cannot let what we are going through right now cause us to forget what God has done for us so many times before. God is always with His faithful, and we do ourselves a disservice when think otherwise.
[Psalms 77:1-10 To the chief Musician, to Jeduthun, A Psalm of Asaph. I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and he gave ear unto me. 2 In the day of my trouble I sought the Lord: my sore ran in the night, and ceased not: my soul refused to be comforted. 3 I remembered God, and was troubled: I complained, and my spirit was overwhelmed. Selah. 4 Thou holdest mine eyes waking: I am so troubled that I cannot speak. 5 I have considered the days of old, the years of ancient times. 6 I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search. 7 Will the Lord cast off for ever? and will he be favourable no more? 8 Is his mercy clean gone for ever? doth his promise fail for evermore? 9 Hath God forgotten to be gracious? hath he in anger shut up his tender mercies? Selah. 10 And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High.]
[my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart:] It is often in those moments when we are all alone, laying in bed that all our cares just seem to bring all sorts of crazy things to mind. More than we care to admit, it is disbelief that often becomes our infirmity. Jesus, said this to the man who desperately wanted and evil spirit to be removed from his son, [Mark 9:23-24 Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth. 24 And straightway the father of the child cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.]
[And I said, This is my infirmity:] Did you ever tell yourself that you deserve the pain you are facing? While I do not pray this as often as I should, I do ask God to help my unbelief as we all should. It is not as though we do not believe God can do all things, sometimes we feel as though God will not do it for us because things that we are not proud of. Well, God, does not work that way, if He did then we would not be here. Our infirmities also remind us that we are nothing in this flesh, but we can do all things through Christ for He is our example.
[1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: 23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously: 24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. 25 For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls.]
Wow! The Shepherd and Bishop of our souls! Jesus, suffered the most pain that anyone on this earth should or has ever suffered and yet lives to not only to show us that not only through His stripes does our soul heal, but our minds, bodies, and spirits as well, [1 Peter 1:18-21 Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.]
Wow! Think about it, God was well aware of what was going to happen as soon as He created the earth, even the very things that we are dealing with today. Sometimes, well to be honest, I have been doing it a lot lately, I start wondering that if I had just made that “one” decision where would I be right now. Well, if we start to question that “one” decision we will start questioning them all. Truth be told, we may think that we have made some unwise decisions that led to our suffering, which can be a factor, but God has intercepted more that we realize through those unwise decisions. You see, pain, and suffering is what actually tenders our heart, God already knows our heart, but this is what gets us to see it for ourselves. If there is anything we ought to be learning about faith and hope it is how God judged Egypt before they let Israel go free. Psalm 78, is a reminder of that.
[Psalms 78:1-7 Maschil of Asaph. Give ear, O my people, to my law: incline your ears to the words of my mouth. 2 I will open my mouth in a parable: I will utter dark sayings of old: 3 Which we have heard and known, and our fathers have told us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, shewing to the generation to come the praises of the LORD, and his strength, and his wonderful works that he hath done. 5 For he established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children: 6 That the generation to come might know them, even the children which should be born; who should arise and declare them to their children: 7 That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments:]
[a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel,] God, did not give His Word to the fools, He did not give it to the wicked, He did not give it to religious, He gave it to the God fearing people whom have hope, faith, and trust in Him, no matter the amount that they have. Jesus said this, [Luke 17:6 And the Lord said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye might say unto this sycamine tree, Be thou plucked up by the root, and be thou planted in the sea; and it should obey you.]
We do not need a lot of faith, but then again I always say that our faith is like a roller coaster ride, I will add that it is one of those roller coasters that turn you upside down and dangle your feet in the air, and sometimes plunge straight to the bottom. The afflictions we face do one of two things to our faith, they will either increase or decrease it, but keep in mind that God will prove our faith, whether it is the mustard seed faith or no faith at all. The psalmist goes on to point out all the miraculous things that God had done to prove to Israel that He was among them and yet they constantly provoked Him.
[Psalms 78:12-20 Marvellous things did he in the sight of their fathers, in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 He divided the sea, and caused them to pass through; and he made the waters to stand as an heap. 14 In the daytime also he led them with a cloud, and all the night with a light of fire. 15 He clave the rocks in the wilderness, and gave them drink as out of the great depths. 16 He brought streams also out of the rock, and caused waters to run down like rivers. 17 And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High in the wilderness. 18 And they tempted God in their heart by asking meat for their lust. 19 Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? 20 Behold, he smote the rock, that the waters gushed out, and the streams overflowed; can he give bread also? can he provide flesh for his people?]
[And they sinned yet more against him by provoking the most High] You see, these little miracles though our sin are reminder of God’s mercy in that He does not give us the punishment that we deserve, they are also a stepping point to true repentance. In other words, we are to learn from our wrong decisions and not go back, and while those who are true in their faith will fall back from time to time and eventually repent, those who are not will turn away from God. The psalmist goes on to point out that they never trusted in God’s salvation.
[Psalms 78:22-25,29-32 Because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation: 23 Though he had commanded the clouds from above, and opened the doors of heaven, 24 And had rained down manna upon them to eat, and had given them of the corn of heaven. 25 Man did eat angels’ food: he sent them meat to the full. 29 So they did eat, and were well filled: for he gave them their own desire; 30 They were not estranged from their lust. But while their meat was yet in their mouths, 31 The wrath of God came upon them, and slew the fattest of them, and smote down the chosen men of Israel. 32 For all this they sinned still, and believed not for his wondrous works.]
[But while their meat was yet in their mouths,] This reminds me of what Jesus said, [Matthew 15:8-9 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.] True believers will have doubts, they will have fears, they will sin, they will sometimes dangle on the edge of their salvation, but Jesus will never let go of them, [John 10:27-29 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: 28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.]
This is why I believe that no true believer will ever renounce their faith in Christ for He will never let them go. Do you know why? God, remembers that we are but flesh. And here is another reason, true believers remember that Jesus is their Rock, [Psalms 78:35-41 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer. 36 Nevertheless they did flatter him with their mouth, and they lied unto him with their tongues. 37 For their heart was not right with him, neither were they stedfast in his covenant. 38 But he, being full of compassion, forgave their iniquity, and destroyed them not: yea, many a time turned he his anger away, and did not stir up all his wrath. 39 For he remembered that they were but flesh; a wind that passeth away, and cometh not again. 40 How oft did they provoke him in the wilderness, and grieve him in the desert! 41 Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.]
[For he remembered that they were but flesh;] Our flesh gets us into more trouble than we care to admit, I cannot tell you just how many times I am reminded that I fail God all day long. Just yesterday, after God had rid my body of all the junk that I had been putting into it I ate some mini tacos that were probably laden with all sorts of preservatives and gluten and my body was sure to let me know that a soon as I ate them. Yes, I have to learn my lesson the hard way and let me tell you just how sad it is that here in America animal food is more nutritious than people food, nonetheless, God’s mercy does endure because we are but flesh. We must also remember that Jesus has purchased every soul, but He will only save those who come to Him. If there is any sect of people who ought to know this it is the Israelites as God had struck Egypt with the ten plagues.
[Psalms 78:51-58 And smote all the firstborn in Egypt; the chief of their strength in the tabernacles of Ham: 52 But made his own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in the wilderness like a flock. 53 And he led them on safely, so that they feared not: but the sea overwhelmed their enemies. 54 And he brought them to the border of his sanctuary, even to this mountain, which his right hand had purchased. 55 He cast out the heathen also before them, and divided them an inheritance by line, and made the tribes of Israel to dwell in their tents. 56 Yet they tempted and provoked the most high God, and kept not his testimonies: 57 But turned back, and dealt unfaithfully like their fathers: they were turned aside like a deceitful bow. 58 For they provoked him to anger with their high places, and moved him to jealousy with their graven images.]
[which his right hand had purchased.] You do know that Jesus Christ purchased your soul? Yes, you were bought with a price, and that price was His life. It is time we stop feeling sorry for ourselves, stop living in fear, stop blaming others for our problems, and start living again. We are saved, born again Christians, and if you are not, the time is right now to accept Him as Saviour, [1 Corinthians 7:22-24 For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord’s freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ’s servant. 23 Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. 24 Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Psalms 78:35 And they remembered that God was their rock, and the high God their redeemer.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You are very clear to us that salvation only comes from our believing in and receiving Your Son, and that nothing we do can renounce it. You are also very clear that as a nation of Your people, You want Your people to be living in a way that reflects Your Son so that others can come to know Him too. You also want us to trust You and be reminded that You are always with us, and what will come to the end of those who refuse to accept Your Son. Lord, Lead us, guide us, give us Your power, mercy, grace, wisdom, strength, and courage to step up and be one nation under Christ. Help us be bold and declare Your Son in a dark world, overshadowed by Satan. Put Your hedge of protection around us and keep us safe from those who will attempt to stop us, and let us not become weary in well doing. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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