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, November 27, 2024
Chapters: Acts Chapter 17
Message: Moved With Envy
Hello My Friend,
Happy Thanksgiving Eve to all my American friends, this is what I believe is the beginning of the Christmas season. Out of all the holiday’s Thanksgiving is my favorite because it is not about receiving any gifts, it is about giving and being thankful for what God had blessed us with. I admit that I have been guilty of not being thankful for what God had blessed me with, and it did cause some problems. Sadly, this nation is becoming less thankful as they bypass Thanksgiving for Friendsgiving, want nothing to do with God, and attempt to make themselves feel better by giving to charity and showing their “love” of all these cultures, yet do not dare talk to them about Jesus. I was reminded of this passage.
[Romans 1:22-25 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.]
Let me tell you, even Santa Claus is not in the picture anymore and seen as some criminal. In fact, the movie world has released a movie making a mockery out of the beloved Christmas pageant portraying the birth of Jesus and out of Santa by turning him into Satan. Then as I was reading the chapter for today it occurred to me why all these things are going on, it is pure envy, [1 Timothy 6:3-4 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings,]
I looked up the definition for the word envy and this is what came up, [Pain, uneasiness, or discontent directed by the sight of another’s superiority or success, accompanied with some degree of hatred, and often with a desire to depreciate the person, and with pleasure in seeing them fall.] Boy, is that not the truth! When we are not thankful we tend to be ungrateful of what we have and want more, that is when temptation creeps in and if we are not careful begin to desire what others have, and become envious of them as well.
As we return to the reading of Acts, we learn that Paul and Silas were making their way through Greece, they had been visiting synagogues, showing them Christ through the Old Testament Scriptures and within three weeks many would be converted, but that did not sit so well with the unbelieving Jews. While in Thessalonica, some moved with envy, caused havoc one particular family.
[Acts 17:1-5 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 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.]
[moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows] [Baser; Vulgar] These were people in the market, who sat and sold things, squandering away their time, not caring to work, and were mean spirited and envious of those who were successful. They could easily be gathered together, as the unbelieving Jews searched for those they could hire to cause a ruckus. They had a deep hatred toward Paul and Silas as well as the family of a convert named Jason for their not only converting, but encouraging others to follow Christ. Since they could not actually charge them with breaking any laws, they turned to politics.
[Acts 17:6-9 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. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.]
[And when they had taken security of Jason,] The government did their own investigation and discovered that it was all a lie and they had no intention of overthrowing Caesar as king so they let the go. However, due to the ill nature of the ones who were moved with envy, the new converts immediately set Paul and Silas away where they found themselves in a town in Macedonia called Berea.
[Acts 17:11-13,15 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. 15 And they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens: and receiving a commandment unto Silas and Timotheus for to come to him with all speed, they departed.]
[they that conducted Paul brought him unto Athens:] Athens, the city of the gods, was well known for its Greek mythology, but they were a melting pot of religions much like we are here in America today. While Paul, was waiting for Silas and Timothy he notices all the statues and idols, one in particular an altar that had a sign on it that read, “TO THE UNKNOWN GOD.” This prompted Paul to speak.
[Acts 17:18-20 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.]
[thou bringest certain strange things to our ears:] To a world that cries “Peace, Love, and Tolerance” of all religions and cultures it is definitely strange to hear words like, “Repent!”, “Redeem!”, and “Restore!” when it seems perfectly natural to speak profanities all day long, live immorally, and believe any other doctrine in an attempt to see life beyond this life. The truth is, all mankind is born with the knowledge of God, but the majority want to believe in their version of Him, which God sees fit to allow, but with caution.
[Romans 1:19-21 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: 21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.]
Do you see how it all starts? [they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful] Do not let the world fool you, they may not believe in hell, but they know God exists and have some kind of hope in Him, the problem is they have no clue what they are believing in. It is like this, [Titus 1:10-11 For there are many unruly and vain talkers and deceivers, specially they of the circumcision: 11 Whose mouths must be stopped, who subvert whole houses, teaching things which they ought not, for filthy lucre’s sake.]
The only thing that these fools who start these false religions do is send people to hell with them one; because they have no clue who God is and two; there is a lot of money to be made off those who believe them. So, Paul, stands in the center of town, a place called Mars’ Hill and starts to explain what this strange doctrine was, the very first thing he recognizes is that they were superstitious.
[Acts 17:22-25 Then Paul stood in the midst of Mars’ hill, and said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. 23 For as I passed by, and beheld your devotions, I found an altar with this inscription, TO THE UNKNOWN GOD. Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you. 24 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;]
[I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious.] [Superstition; False religion; False worship; Extreme and unnecessary scruples in religious observance of religious rites not commanded; Belief in the direct agency of superior powers in certain extraordinary or singular events, or in omens and prognostics. Scruples; Hesitation from the difficulty of determining what is right or expedient;]
You see, this is what happens when there are too many options and opinions for that matter of God. It is like going down the aisle in the grocery store looking for bread and having twenty options to choose from. Of course, we are going to hesitate when there are so many enticing options, and what ends up happening is that since we often choose by sight we grab something that turns out was not good for us. There is only one option to God and that is Jesus Christ, [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.]
[Whom therefore ye ignorantly worship, him declare I unto you.] So, they wanted to know who the UNKNOWN GOD is, but the truth is, they were like the majority of those who worship God today, plain ignorant because they only want to worship the god they believe Him to be. What they are doing is creating God in their own image rather than learning who He truly is and conforming to His ways. In fact, they do not want to conform to His ways at all, [2 Timothy 4:3-4 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.]
Those who sincerely and honestly want God in their lives will seek Him and find His through Christ, this is what Paul is trying to convey to them. The one and only true God is easy to find if they would just understand that He is the living God and not some statue, [Acts 17:27-30 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. 29 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:]
[like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art] You see, this has been the problem from the very beginning, the world has no clue that God is a living God, not to mention the Creator of all things, and actually wants a one on one relationship with every one who believes in Him. The very two most important commandments written are these and for all who believe in Him to still follow today, [Deuteronomy 5:6-8 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. 7 Thou shalt have none other gods before me. 8 Thou shalt not make thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the waters beneath the earth:]
No one in hell right now is there because God wanted them there, in fact, if they could they would be telling you of the many opportunities they had to learn of Him, before they became reprobates. You know, the problem is not that the majority of people do not believe in a sovereign power, it is that people want to see proof of God’s existence, and while they play their games, they fail to realize that God is everywhere. In fact, He is in every believer. Paul, attempts to explain this.
[Acts 17:31-34 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.]
[he will judge the world in righteousness by that man] There it is right there, they can envy us all we want, but we know where we are going, and when they face Jesus they will be sorry that they did, [John 5:25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Acts 17:31 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.]
Today’s Prayer: God, You give all a choice on how to live, and even who to worship. If we are going to choose You, then we are to worship You as You have instructed us to do so, 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. Keep me from the basers of this world and show me how to reach those who seek Your Son. Fill me with Your mercy, grace, and power to discern the truth from the lies myself and put Your shield of protection around me should I be encounters by the basers. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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