December 14, 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: Monday, December 14, 2020
Chapters: Acts 26-28
Message: Chosen By Christ

Hello My Friend,

As I was reading the chapters for today, this passage stuck out, [Acts 26:16-18 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee, 18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.]

There really is nothing more exciting and scary than to see Jesus or hear Him speak to you and tell you that He has a purpose for you. I will never forget the day that He told me, “Get up! I did not bring you here to leave this way!” I had lost everything I worked hard for, was angry, depressed, ashamed, and vengeful, and it was a severe allergic reaction that caused Him to speak to me that way. We have this tendency to think that Jesus cannot use us, that we are so far gone that He has no purpose for us, but to get saved. However, this is the devil speaking, Jesus will take the vilest of sinners and use them for His purpose. Why? The best testimony is someone that Jesus has chosen Himself, [John 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.]

When we personally accept Christ as our Saviour, and allow Him to live in and through us, we are a witness that He is true. Remember, we are a witness that we overcame not only the world, but the devil too, and as a witness we ought to be excited to give our testimony. As Paul stands before king Agrippa he was excited to give his testimony, how he got saved and was told by Jesus that he be a witness.

[Acts 26:21-25,28,29,32 For these causes the Jews caught me in the temple, and went about to kill me. 22 Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great, saying none other things than those which the prophets and Moses did say should come: 23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles. 24 And as he thus spake for himself, Festus said with a loud voice, Paul, thou art beside thyself; much learning doth make thee mad. 25 But he said, I am not mad, most noble Festus; but speak forth the words of truth and soberness. 28 Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian. 29 And Paul said, I would to God, that not only thou, but also all that hear me this day, were both almost, and altogether such as I am, except these bonds. 32 Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar.]

[much learning doth make thee mad.] It is certainly true that too much learning does make one crazy, sometimes to the point that we lose sight of something so simple. The Gospel is simple, believe in the sinless death, burial, and resurrection of the only begotten Son of God, confess that you are a sinner, and ask Him to save you. It is that simple, and there is noting maddening about believing that Jesus died two thousand years ago to save all who believe in Him, [1 John 5:10-12 He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life.]

Something happens when we become a witness, we find ourselves being directed by the Holy Spirit when and where to preach the Gospel. And let me tell you, He can teach us how to reach someone wherever we are. While Paul thought he was to die in Jerusalem, Jesus told him that he must go to Rome and preach the Gospel there, and while I am sure that God never intended for Paul to go there as a prisoner, king Agrippa, who was ready to release him, granted his wish to appeal to Caesar and was now on a prison ship with two hundred seventy-six men headed for Rome. God used this opportunity to show Christ to the men on the ship as they are in the midst of a hurricane for days. Paul ensures the men that God is with them and that they would survive as long as they stayed on the ship.

[Acts 27:30-37 And as the shipmen were about to flee out of the ship, when they had let down the boat into the sea, under colour as though they would have cast anchors out of the foreship, 31 Paul said to the centurion and to the soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. 32 Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. 33 And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. 34 Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you. 35 And when he had thus spoken, he took bread, and gave thanks to God in presence of them all: and when he had broken it, he began to eat. 36 Then were they all of good cheer, and they also took some meat. 37 And we were in all in the ship two hundred threescore and sixteen souls.]

[Except these abide in the ship,] Jesus is the ship that we must be on in order to be saved, if we do not abide in Him we will not be saved. What are we saved from? Death, hell, and the lake of fire. Think about it this way, what do you have to lose? Do you want to believe that when you die it is over, that your body or ashes are just placed in a box and buried somewhere? Or do you want to have hope that all of the pain and suffering you put up with in this life leads to a better life, one that has no more pain, no more suffering, no more death? Whether we believe or not, we must receive Christ if we want to be saved from what is much worse to come. The choice us ours, [Isaiah 25:8 He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.]

Paul never lost his faith in God being right there with him, he witnessed the Gospel to anyone the Holy Spirit led him to no matter what he was going through. One of the main reasons why God allows tragedy in our lives is to remind us that He is always with us. While the ship tore apart and everyone ended up in the water, not one person lost their life, many getting saved themselves. Paul finally arrived in Rome, while he still remained a prisoner, he had his own place to live for two years in order to minister to the people, many getting saved themselves.

[Acts 28:23-28,30-31 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening. 24 And some believed the things which were spoken, and some believed not. 25 And when they agreed not among themselves, they departed, after that Paul had spoken one word, Well spake the Holy Ghost by Esaias the prophet unto our fathers, 26 Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: 27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. 28 Be it known therefore unto you, that the salvation of God is sent unto the Gentiles, and that they will hear it. 30 And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, 31 Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.]

[no man forbidding him.] Jesus would use Paul for two years in Rome, preaching the Gospel, until the day of his death. Jesus will give us the power, wisdom, and words to speak about Him, wherever we are, we just have to be the willing vessel He needs because the harvest truly is plenteous. We may not always understand where Jesus takes us, and sometimes we do face persecution for our faith, many have died defending their faith, but we live, even upon our death, because we have Jesus in us. Praise God! [Philippians 1:20-21 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Thank You for saving my life, You did the hard part when You died on the cross for me, my part was easy, all I had to do was believe in You. Thank You for seeing something in me that I never saw in myself, You have a purpose for me, and for that I am forever thankful, grateful, and humble as I know I am only who I am because of what You have done in my life. Lord, forgive me for my frustrations as I go through this challenge You have me in, I know that You love me and have a purpose for what I am going through. Give me Your power and strength to stay in the ship, moving slow and steady by faith. Lift up my spirits, restore unto me the joy of my salvation, so that I may be of good cheer as I endure this, and become a greater witness wherever you send me. Help me to remove all the obstacles that keep me from hearing You, and let me not fear what man can do to me, but trust what You have done for me. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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