Christina – Page 1670 – 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, October 09, 2019
Chapters: Luke 6, Matthew 5
Message: Why Call Me Lord?

Hello My Friend,

Sometimes, I can relate to what Jesus must have felt when He walked the earth, thousands of people walking around Him, yet very few accepted Him for who He is. And there was always someone attempting to find some fault in Him, many using Him in the process. Well, Jesus knew exactly who His true friends and enemies were, even though many called Him Lord. He has a question for them, and He has the same question for all call Him Lord, but do not do the things He says.

“And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.” – Luke 6:46-49.

“and the ruin of that house was great.” There are tons people who proclaim Christ, some are even saved, and yet live the life of heathens, justifying their actions by their salvation. And a good majority of those who bear the name “Christian” are not even saved. And yet, they still call Him Lord. Those who use the name of Christ to get ahead in the world will have a huge awakening when they see Him face to face. The Pharisees prided themselves on their job well done in the temple as well as on the streets, and for their knowledge of the Law. Luke 6, gives us a little more insight into Jesus dealing with the Pharisees as they lecture and question Him about Him and His disciples “working” on Sabbath days.

“And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.” – Luke 6:6-11.

“that they might find an accusation against him.” You see, they had no intention of believing on Him, and they did not want the people believing on Him either as in doing so they would lose out on all the fame and fortune they received for deceiving them all those years. Even though Jesus did have His disciples, they were still getting use to all they were seeing as well, and if they hated Jesus, they hated them too just for being with Him. Jesus did what He did always did in the night when the crowds were all gone, He went up into a mountain and prayed to His Father. The disciples followed Him, and are mentioned by name.

“And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles; Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew, Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes, And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. And he came down with them, and stood in the plain, and the company of his disciples, and a great multitude of people out of all Judaea and Jerusalem, and from the sea coast of Tyre and Sidon, which came to hear him, and to be healed of their diseases;” – Luke 6:12-17.

“(whom he also named Peter,)” Do you see how Jesus renames you? We all have a new name that Jesus gives us, the second we receive Him as Saviour, Friend (John 15:15). Jesus might have had twelve disciples with Him twenty-four seven for three and a half years, in fact, He had many more, but He had a closer relationship with Peter and John. Now, with all the people there, Jesus looks at His disciples and begins to teach them what it means to be blessed. “And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” – Matthew 5:2-8.

“Blessed are the pure in heart:” Only the pure in heart see God for they see Him through His Son. The pure in heart believe every word of God to be true, and while they may not understand everything within it, they do understand that life is only through the Saviour. Let me tell you, We will be hated for our faith, even until the day God brings us home, but we have much more awaiting us, and once we get to heaven, all of the suffering we face will be forgotten (Isaiah 25:8, Revelation 21:14). As for those who are not pure in heart, well, they will have their own reward.

“Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man’s sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. But woe unto you that are rich! for ye have received your consolation. Woe unto you that are full! for ye shall hunger. Woe unto you that laugh now! for ye shall mourn and weep. Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” – Luke 6:22-26.

“or ye have received your consolation.” Those who are too rich to see how poor they are in the Spirit, and those who are too full to see how much their soul is starving in the Spirit, have already received their reward. We are in a time where evil is considered good and good is evil. If we follow Christ and represent Him in any way it is considered evil, and in some cases a hate crime. We must realize that once we receive Christ not one hair on our heads gets touched without Him knowing about it, and if it does He will make sure they are punished for their crime. You know, Jesus tells us how to get even with our enemies.

“But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” – Luke 6:27-28,32-36,39-40.

“Love your enemies,” Say what? The love Jesus speaks of here is something that can only be done through Him. A white woman, thinking she was walking into her own apartment saw a black man in it, and when he approached her she shot him, and he died. Well, this was a horrible accident, but because they are of a different color they want to paint it as a race issue. The woman was sentenced to ten years in prison, the family of the man who died actually went up to her, hugged her, said they forgave her, and did not really want her to be in prison. Do you know the hate that was spread by society toward the family because they forgave her? An evil and corrupt society wants to paint Christians and the world against each other, the blind leading blind, but we do not have to stoop to their level or be bullied into taking their side. We have to understand that this is not about us, it is about Jesus. We are going to be hated because we choose Him, there is a time to fight, but we fight His way, not ours. Jesus reminds us that we are the light of the earth, the only ones who can show Jesus alive through our actions.

“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:16-20.

“That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees,” These were the richest, most religious, and influential men in all of Israel, who prided themselves on their good works. What Jesus is saying here is that there is no amount of righteousness that can save us on our own. Serving God and following a bunch of religious rules has nothing to do with our salvation, we must receive Christ as our Saviour for that. Our good works has nothing to do with our salvation, but has everything to do with our thankfulness and gratitude for the sacrifice Jesus made in giving His life to save us. “Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” – Romans 3:22-24.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, You know my heart, my thoughts, and even my actions before I do them. I know that I am who I am today because of what You did for me on Calvary. I am not the creature I was when You picked me up out of the hole I was in, but You are not done with me yet. You have much work more for me to do, not that I might keep my salvation, but that You might be seen through me. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me the strength that only You can give me to be more like You and less like me. Let me be the disciple You need me to be, a witness and testimony for those who need You, and even those who have lost their way. Show me how to love my enemy, to do good to those who use and hate me, as for I know what will be by reward when my life on earth is over. In Your name, Jesus, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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