KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, November 22, 2017
Chapters: Acts 13-14
Message: Spotting Wolves
Hello My Friend,
Jesus said, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.” – Matthew 7:15. There use to be a time when if a person said that they were a Christian that it meant something, even those who were of the world knew that if they said they were a Christian they could trust them to work for them. Today, that is not the case, in fact, Christians are frowned upon, and while some just hate us because we follow the Bible as truth, the majority of them hate us because they have been burned by someone who said they were a Christian. You see, many who claim to be a Christian are not, and since the world has no idea (even though they ought to) who a true Christian is, they hate all of us. We will never please the world, but we can live in a way that pleases God so that the true Christ is shone through us, and that is what it is all about. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” – Matthew 5:16.
False prophets have been around since God created life itself, even some to the angels thought themselves above God and took it upon themselves to mimic Him in an effort to overtake Him. Sooner or later all who use God’s or Jesus’s name for their own personal gain will find out the hard way that they will suffer for it. Paul paired up with Barnabas and they began traveling through Greece preaching the Gospel when they came across a false prophet named Barjesus, of all names, who was actually Elymas, he sought them to know more from the Word of God in order to capture them, but God used it to His advantage.
“And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.” – Acts 13:6-12.
“Then the deputy, when he saw what was done,” It often takes another persons afflictions and pain for one to see the truth about Jesus and believe in Him. That’s why it is important for us to remain true Christians, in doing so we not only are able to confront those who falsely accuse us, we can be witnesses to many others. We are the example, and yes, the world hates our example because we follow Christ, but we must keep living by faith and not become stagnant or afraid to express our faith. Yes, there are times when we have to remain silent, but the Holy Spirit tells us when it is time to speak up, as we listen to Him, we will not fear what man can do to us, and we will boldly proclaim that Jesus is ours. And that is exactly what Paul and Barnabas did, Paul actually began speaking in the synagogues, after they spoke the very Scriptures that showed Christ was in them.
“Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent. For they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not, nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. But God raised him from the dead: Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” – Acts 13:26-30,38-39,46-47.
“and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,” You see, anytime a person rejects the Gospel and seeks other means for their salvation they are judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Salvation really has never been about works, it has always been about faith in God, when one has faith in God and wants Him in their life they will seek redemption, that was what the works did, the sacrifices and offerings from the Law of Moses brought temporary redemption. However, Christ made redemption permanent on the cross, through the law of Moses, redemption was constantly needed, but through the law of grace redemption is permanent as He became the one and only sacrifice necessary for permanent redemption. “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us. For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, sanctifieth to the purifying of the flesh: How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” – Hebrews 9:12-14.
Something incredible happens when we start serving the living God, Christ literally shines through us and people start seeing the true Christian in us. Unfortunately there is one downfall to that, many unknowingly want to give us the glory for saving them, when it has nothing to do with us, we are just the messengers. When in Lystra Paul and Barnabas came across a man who was cripples, seeing his faith in Jesus he touched him and yelled out for him to stand up. The people did not give God the glory, but thought to make Paul and Barnabas gods, bu Paul quickly stopped them, showing them that there were not god, it was God that healed the man not them.
“And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked: The same heard Paul speak: who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed, Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked. And when the people saw what Paul had done, they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. And they called Barnabas, Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker. Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein:” – Acts 14:8-15.
“and perceiving that he had faith to be healed,” You see, none of these people that were healed believed that it was Paul, Barnabas, or any of the other apostles touch that healed them, they were fully trusting in Jesus. No one can be saved or healed if it is not in their own will to do so. Okay, Jesus is the great physician, and He physically heals many unbelievers in hopes that they will see Him and willingly call upon Him as their Saviour. However, it all comes down to our own willingness to believe, you see, we all have the gift of freewill, and that includes how we handle the things that are handed to us, including sickness and disease, if we, by faith believe that God will heal us than we have a better chance of avoiding premature death, but it we have no faith than we are giving up our will to survive in this life and the next. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” – Hebrews 11:6.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth.” – Acts 13:47.
Today’s Prayer: God, We don’t have to go far to see that there is a war against Christians, especially by those who even call themselves Christians. You warned us that since we are not of the world we are going to face persecution, but You also gave us a promise that You will never leave nor forsake us. Lord, as we draw closer to Your return, lead us and guide us, protect us from the enemy, and give us the strength and courage we need to boldly proclaim our faith in You. Let us not be afraid and never stop being the example You need us to be to win a lost soul. Keep us in Your mercy and grace, and give us Your power to get through this life as we await the day we get to be with You. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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