I'm Following Jesus – Page 1229 – Mark 8:34 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.

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: Sunday, December 13, 2020
Chapters: Acts 23-25
Message: You Are A Testimony

Hello My Friend,

Testimony; A solemn declaration or affirmation made for the purpose of establishing or proving some fact. As Christians, we may not physically see our Lord, Jesus Christ, but He surely is seen in the lives of those who walk with Him daily. When we first get saved we really have no idea the impact that Christ has upon our lives, but as we grow in Him we discover that He literally turns our lives upside down. We are new creatures, and become testimonies, declarations of the living God living inside of us. Amen! And let me tell you, the world notices, and it will cause a great division between it and you, even family and friends. Why? We are no longer one of them.

[2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. 18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.]

There is no better testimony of someone who once rejected Christ than Paul, he use to capture Christians and watched them be executed for their faith. Once he got saved and dedicated his life to Christ, he became the apostle to the Gentiles. This is why Jesus used Paul, so that He could be glorified through such an amazing transformation. And let me tell you, the ones who fear our change the most are the very people that claim they love God. Now, Paul is standing before the Sanhedrin council, a board of men that ran the affairs of the temple, enforcing the Law of Moses, which by they way, none of them followed. Half of the men were Pharisee’s, the other were Sadducee’s. Of course, with this mix of religion, there were bound to be disagreements, and that is exactly what Paul used to cause a division among them as he stood before them.

[Acts 23:6-11 But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. 7 And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. 8 For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. 9 And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees’ part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. 10 And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. 11 And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.]

[And the night following the Lord stood by him,] We may not realize it, but Jesus stands beside us through every decision we make concerning Him. We may not always make the right decisions, but when God has a plan for us He will make it happen one way or another, [Philippians 2:13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.]

Now, the Jews were determined to find someone who would testify against Paul so he could be sentenced to death, they even made a vow not to eat until he was dead. The interesting thing, no matter where Paul went he was able to speak in his defense, and he never stopped professing His faith. The council could not legally find anything to accuse him of so they sent him to Felix, the governor, and even though he believed that Paul did nothing wrong, because it pleased the Jews, he kept him locked up, and he was imprisoned for two years. Paul stands before Felix, this time knowing that Jesus was with him, pleading his case.

[Acts 24:10-13,24-27 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.]

[He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul,] Paul said, in one of his testimonies, that he came up to Jerusalem to bring money and offerings, Felix thought that since he had not been in Jerusalem that long he could get his friends and family to buy his freedom using that money. Since this plan did not work and he did not want to deal with the council, he left Paul in the jail. Being a testimony means knowing who God is, and as we grow closer to Him, living through the example of Christ, it is not being ashamed to proclaim Christ, even if that meant it could cost you your life. Now, with a new governor in office preparations were being made for another hearing, not to sentence him, but to figure out what to do with him, or rather to gratify their curiosity.

[Acts 25:14-15,18-21 And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: 15 About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. 18 Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: 19 But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. 20 And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. 21 But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar.]

[whom Paul affirmed to be alive.] Festus may have heard the stories of Jesus, but could not grasp the concept that a man could die and come back to life. The world, and sadly, many Christ based religions believe that He died, but not that He resurrected. We cannot be a testimony of Christ if we do not believe the Gospel, and that is the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Think about it, why would Christ die just to be the sacrifice when animals were enough? This is the Gospel we need to believe, anything else and we are not a testimony of Christ, [1 Corinthians 15:12-14,57-58 Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? 13 But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: 14 And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, It is sometimes hard to comprehend just what You did for us, and how easy it is for us to not only be saved from hell, but become one of Your very own. As we grow closer to You we literally are transformed into something into the likeness of You. While we will never be perfect until we reach heaven or You return, and give us our new bodies, we do have You to guide and keep us faithful until You do. We are testimonies of what it is like to have the living God living inside of us, let us do what is pleasing to You, not live in fear of what man can do to us, but be the example You need us to be to reach others for You. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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