December 2, 2020 – I'm Following Jesus

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: Wednesday, December 02, 2020
Chapters: I Corinthians 9-11
Message: Spiritual Food

Hello My Friend,

You would not believe how many churches are closing their doors during this pandemic, and not just because of the mandates, they have literally shut down completely. In fact, churches have been closing their doors in record numbers before the pandemic. Churches that close their doors often come as a result when all the burden of the church is placed on a small number of people, who by the way, are not being fed with the spiritual food they need. We can teach and serve God all we want, but that is not the same thing as being fed the spiritual food that we need that keeps our spirit nourished so that our flesh does not start to lust for the junk food of the world. There are just as many pastors that fall into sin as there are members because they are not being fed spiritually. Jesus said, [Matthew 4:4b It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.]

Temptation comes when we are so focused on the needs of our flesh that we neglect the needs of our spirit. I will be the first to admit that it did not help one bit that my church was closed down for three months during the pandemic. I may be in the Word of God every day, but I too need to be fed spiritually, and it does not matter if they were live streaming a message every week, it is not the same thing. Unless we are physically unable to walk into a church, we need that discipline to not only avoid temptation, but to also hold us accountable when we are not in church. The church at Corinth had more problems than condoning a man who had married his father’s wife, it was good at preaching the Gospel, but not so good at living it.

[1 Corinthians 9:14,16-19,22-23 Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel. 16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel! 17 For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me. 18 What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel. 19 For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. 22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.]

[For if I do this thing willingly,] Everything we do for God needs to be done willingly, especially when it comes to preaching the Gospel, we are speaking on behalf of Christ, therefore, we are to not only believe in, but to live the Gospel as well. What does it mean to live the Gospel? We are to live in a way that shines Christ upon us and glorifies God no matter where He places us. We are not perfect, and holier than thou, in fact, we are very imperfect and mess up every day, but we are faithful, seeking mercy, grace, and forgiveness from God every day, [1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.]

[that I might by all means save some.] We are to never think that the things we do for God are for our own glory, we are blessed in our willingness to serve Him, but also in our willingness to admit that we need Him every waking second of the day. We must see ourselves as though we are reprobates, even though we are not, in order to understand that we must be fed with Christ daily to keep ourselves from seeking food for our flesh, [2 Corinthians 13:5-7 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates? 6 But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates. 7 Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.]

Paul reminds the Corinthians and all of us, that Christ has always been here, even when the Israelites walked the desert for forty years. It was during that time that God did separate the believers from the reprobates.

[1 Corinthians 10:1-10 Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; 2 And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea; 3 And did all eat the same spiritual meat; 4 And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. 6 Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. 7 Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. 9 Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. 10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.]

[to the intent we should not lust after evil things,] This is why God gave us His Word with all these testimonies of what happens when people have tempted Him and not lived to tell about it. As saved, born again Christians, are we living our lives as a reflection of Christ or just hanging on by the thread of our salvation? As I have said before, people ought to see Christ in us, even if there is no mention of Him at all. I can honestly say that there have been times when my reflection of Christ was minimal, if seen at all. Thankfully, His grace abounds, praise God! Let me tell you, the number one reason that we starve our spirit and start lusting after evil things to begin with is that we stop giving God the glory for everything, [1 Corinthians 10:29-31 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man’s conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.]

If all we do is focus on the needs of our flesh, we are going to starve our spirit, then it does not matter if we go to church and serve God every service, our spirit dies, not the Holy Spirit, but our own spirit. Do you know how there are some people who only come to church for the food or someone they are friends with? They never come otherwise. Paul fusses at the Corinthians for paying more attention to their flesh, and cautions them on partaking of the spiritual food so carelessly.

[1 Corinthians 11:20-26 When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord’s supper. 21 For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. 22 What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. 23 For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: 24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. 25 After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. 26 For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.]

[this is not to eat the Lord’s supper.] While food and fellowship is great and encouraged, we must understand that church is the place we come to for spiritual food. When all we do is come for the things that please our flesh we are not going to be fed the spiritual food we need for our spirit to strive, [Galatians 5:16-18 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.]

[ye do shew the Lord’s death till he come.] You do not have to partake of the Lord’s Supper in a church service to remind yourself of what Christ did for you and that you are a part of His body and blood. Everytime you eat, give thanks to God, and keep reminding yourself that you belong to Christ and what He has done for you, [Ephesians 5:18-20 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;]

Today’s Prayer: God, I want to thank You for Your goodness in supplying all my needs. You certainly have blessed me with blessings such as food, clothing, shelter, jobs, but You also shower me with spiritual blessings as You allow me to serve You. More important than serving You is feeding my spirit with the food that is needed to keep me serving You. It does no good for me to serve you when I am not willing to be served myself. Lord, I want my testimony to be an example of Your life changing, all sufficient, and all sustaining food of mercy, grace, and love to all who need to know Your Son. Lead me and guide me, make me who You need me to be to lead others to Your Son, let me accept and acknowledge all Your blessings, and let me forever praise You and give You the glory for all things in my life, for You are good even when the blessings come through tears. I love You Lord, and pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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