King James Bible Study – [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.]
Date: Saturday, November 27, 2021
Chapters: Acts 17
Message: Endure Until The End
Hello My Friend,
As I was reading the chapters for today, I could not help, but think about the way I was treated in school and even as an adult early on. Every once in a while they would stop picking on me and pick on someone else, and for some reason I felt worse when they picked on them. I do not care who you are, no one deserves to be picked on for their weight, clothes, book smarts, or where they came from. I will tell you this, no one ever picked on anyone for the color of their skin. Kids do not see color, that comes from adults who treat the kids that way. And for years I struggled with who I was until I discovered something when I was about twenty years old, [Psalms 139:14 I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.]
Well, technically, I did not know that this verse existed when I was twenty, but what I was taught by a fitness trainer was that every body is different, and therefore, instead of trying to be what the next person looks like, just work on being healthy and you will be exactly who you are meant to be. That is what I did, and guess what? They stopped picking on me. You see, bullies do not pick on those who are strong, they pick on the weak and vulnerable, and the reason they pick on you has to do with the fact that they envy you. Now, add being a Christian to that and see what happens. They see that you are different than them, that are happy and blessed with who you are, and that drives their hatred even more. This is why Jesus warns us, [Mark 13:12-13 Now the brother shall betray the brother to death, and the father the son; and children shall rise up against their parents, and shall cause them to be put to death. 13 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake: but he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.]
The hatred that Jesus is referring to is not true Christians, He is referring to the religious who think they know God. As we continue in the reading of Acts, Paul and Silas find themselves in Thessalonica, they walked into a synagogue and caused quite a stir when they began using the Scriptures to show them that Jesus is the Christ that is in them. While many did believe, mainly Greeks, a few Jews did, but the envious Jews caused havoc.
[Acts 17:2-7 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.]
[took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort,] [Baser; idlers, loungers, the common sort, low, mean vulgar] I am sure that you have heard or even had them talk to you that way, shouting profanities, calling you names because you do not agree with them, even becoming violent. Jason, who may have been one of the seventy disciples that followed Christ while he was here was the target as well as his family because they hosted Paul and his companions. Did you notice what the key word as to why they attacked them? Envy. So what exactly does it mean to envy someone? [Envy; Pain, uneasiness, mortification or discontent excited by the sight of another’s superiority or success, accompanied with some degree of hatred, and often or usually with a desire or an effort to depreciate the person, and with pleasure in seeing him depressed.] Does that not sound like half of the country? Those who hate and bully us are actually the ones lusting over the things that we have, so much so that they take pleasure in seeing us when we are struggling. I can only imagine how ecstatic my supervisor was when her supervisor told me that I was suspended. How do you write on a resume that you lost your job (which I quit) because you gave out someones last name? You do not, and just praise God for getting you out of there, and trust that He has better plans. Jesus is always the better plan, and is always with us, even when we are hated, [Luke 21:14-15,17-19 Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer: 15 For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. 17 And ye shall be hated of all men for my name’s sake. 18 But there shall not an hair of your head perish. 19 In your patience possess ye your souls.]
Patience, that is another thing that we do not want as we do not want to wait for things to happen as we endure the pain and affliction that these bullies impose on us. And we want to be compensated for what we were put through, but in the end, it is not about us because we know where we are going. Well, if you know anything about Greek mythology, you will know that they have made up several Greek gods that they still follow today. Paul and Silas spent quite a bit of time in Greece, going into the synagogues, and on the streets, preaching the Gospel of Christ. Someone else followed them wherever they went, and that was the envious Jews. After they left Thessalonica, they were sent to Berea to peach the Gospel there.
[Acts 17:10-13 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so. 12 Therefore many of them believed; also of honourable women which were Greeks, and of men, not a few. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica had knowledge that the word of God was preached of Paul at Berea, they came thither also, and stirred up the people.]
[whether those things were so.] Do you see what was different with the people of Berea? They studied the Scriptures. It is very important that we actually get in the Word of God and study them as well, not just take the preachers or teachers word for it. Half of the things that I learned about Jesus through the Catholic religion were not at all who Jesus actually is. You know, I did not even know what the word Christian meant until I walked into a Baptist church, and this is exactly why I started my ministry, or rather, God lead me to start it, there are way too many religions calling themselves Christians when they have no clue what it means, [2 Timothy 3:16-17 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.]
I swear that the closer I get to Jesus, the more foolish the world looks. And let me tell you, these are the very people who cry equality, diversity, and peace for all, but in all actuality what they really only mean is that it only applies for those who think exactly like them. Now, when Paul and Silas got to Athens, it was a strange sight, the Holy Spirit moved them to preach the Gospel there when they found themselves in the mythology capital of the world.
[Acts 17:16-21 Now while Paul waited for them at Athens, his spirit was stirred in him, when he saw the city wholly given to idolatry. 17 Therefore disputed he in the synagogue with the Jews, and with the devout persons, and in the market daily with them that met with him. 18 Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection. 19 And they took him, and brought him unto Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine, whereof thou speakest, is? 20 For thou bringest certain strange things to our ears: we would know therefore what these things mean. 21 (For all the Athenians and strangers which were there spent their time in nothing else, but either to tell, or to hear some new thing.)]
[He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods:] Speaking of babblers and strange gods, these were the very people who believed that there are several ways to heaven. Areopagus (Mars Hill), was the bench on which a judge and his associates would sit for administering justice, and it was famous for the justice and impartiality of its decisions. The Epicureans believed there was no God, that the world happened of mere chance, and that the soul and body died together. Sound familiar? This is similar to evolution. The Stoics believed that matter was eternal and that all things were governed by fate, that virtue and godliness was its own sufficient reward, and vice its own sufficient punishment. This is similar to Buddhist beliefs. The Athenians prided themselves on their gods and goddesses, they had statutes everywhere depicting these images. You know, the problem is not that the majority of people do not believe in a sovereign power, it is that they want to see proof of God’s existence, and while they make up their statues to the UNKNOWN GOD, but fail to realize that God is everywhere. Paul goes on to tell them who God really is.
[Acts 17:24-28 God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25 Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26 And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28 For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring.]
[if haply they might feel after him, and find him,] It is truly incredible to me that of the billions of people on the earth only a fraction of them understand who God is and worship Him as such. The only thing that religion does is create a god that they are worshiping. If they honestly wanted God in their lives and all the blessings that come with it, then they would follow the Word of God as it is written and not make up all these versions that remove the truth. And let me tell you, they can make up their own versions of the Bible and cut out what they do not want to accept as truth, but that does not change the fact that it is true, and His Word will never change, [Hebrews 13:8-9 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.]
God never changes, no matter how many versions they come up with that remove His truths more and more. So, quit adding things to the Gospel, quit attempting to silence God, and quit distorting His Word, and saying that it comes from Him. God will not be mocked nor stand for those who are using His name to teach their lies and becoming rich off them. I have said it before, and I will say it until the day God brings me home, ignorance saves no one, and Paul confirms this.
[Acts 17:29-34 Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device. 30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31 Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32 And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter. 33 So Paul departed from among them. 34 Howbeit certain men clave unto him, and believed: among the which was Dionysius the Areopagite, and a woman named Damaris, and others with them.]
[judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained;] It is so easy for people to accept that there are gods for every season and creature that God has created, but so hard for them to accept that there is actually only one way to God and that is through Jesus. Nevertheless, if people are going to trust the lies over the truth, then so be it, unless they repent of this nonsense, then they will be in hell, and it is Jesus they will stand before. And as for we who do believe, and will endure every bully that Satan send us, we will live with Jesus forever, [2 Timothy 2:10-13 Therefore I endure all things for the elect’s sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. 11 It is a faithful saying: For if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him: 12 If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us: 13 If we believe not, yet he abideth faithful: he cannot deny himself.]
Let Us Pray: God, You give all a choice on how they live, and even who they worship. If we are going to choose You, then we are to worship You as You have chosen, and that is first by accepting and receiving Your Son as our Saviour. Lord, I choose Your Son, and I choose to worship You as You have taught us through Your Word. Lead me and guide me as I study Your Word and put it into practice, teaching those who are unknowing of the truth. Fill me with Your mercy, grace, wisdom, and power to discern the truth from the lies. Put Your hedge of protection around me, shield me from the bullies, and if they confront me, give me the knowledge and direction I need to withstand them. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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