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: Sunday, May 05, 2024
Chapters: Psalm Chapter 15, 22-24, 47, 68
Message: Finding Christ Through Adversity
Hello My Friend,
As I was driving to the hospital with my husband Friday I started having this feeling of despair as he kept going on and on about my family. I literally told him that I was cursed and brought that curse on my family and now upon him too and that is why all these bad things are happening to all of us. When we become overwhelmed with affliction it is so easy to start blaming yourself or even worse bringing up something that happened years ago and telling yourself that that is the reason why God is so angry at you. Of course, after you have your little episode that is when that voice goes off in your head as says, “Enough already! What sins are you talking about, I do not remember them?” [Psalms 103:11-13 For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. 12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. 13 Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.]
I am so glad that my Father pities me as I fail Him more times than I can count and yet His is still great toward me. And I am not going to lie, I have been staring at this screen for an hour, I knew what God wanted me to say when I read the chapters, but the words are not coming out of my brain. How I deal with affliction is often dependent upon my faith, not in God, but in my own abilities. Of course, our faith in God is often the key to how well we deal with affliction, but our faith in our own abilities can often cause havoc on our faith in God. If He sees and doubt in us He will call us on it, just like Jesus said, [Matthew 6:30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?]
When affliction overwhelms us it can cause us to lose sight of what Christ did for us. This past Wednesday the person preaching at my church gave us a grim picture of what Jesus went through when He was scourged then crucified. It certainly opened my eyes and that is probably why I had my little episode as even at my best I feel I have failed God on so many levels. As we return to the reading of Psalms, we discover some amazing passages regarding Christ Himself, including some very familiar passages about His crucifixion well before He even came here in the flesh. It all begins with a passage about who actually does get saved.
[Psalms 15:1-5 A Psalm of David. LORD, who shall abide in thy tabernacle? who shall dwell in thy holy hill? 2 He that walketh uprightly, and worketh righteousness, and speaketh the truth in his heart. 3 He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. 4 In whose eyes a vile person is contemned; but he honoureth them that fear the LORD. He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not. 5 He that putteth not out his money to usury, nor taketh reward against the innocent. He that doeth these things shall never be moved.]
[who shall abide in thy tabernacle?] The Tabernacle is the place where the Holy Spirit dwells, and today He lives within every true believer who receives Christ as their Saviour. Their faith in Christ is solid, and it will never be moved because Christ will never be moved, [2 Timothy 2:19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.]
[In whose eyes a vile person is contemned;] [Contemned; Despised; scorned; slighted; neglected, or rejected with disdain.] The vile are the reprobates of the world, since they despise and reject God He does the same with them, and we should not be supporting them either, unless by some miracle they were to turn their heart to Christ, [Matthew 13:15 For this people’s heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.]
There are so many references to Jesus in the Old Testament that you really would have to be a fool not to believe that He is the Messiah. I mean, the prophecies concerning His virgin birth to even His crucifixion are literally word for word. David, had no clue when he wrote this Psalm that God was going to bring His Son into the world through the flesh through his lineage, but the prophecy concerning Him being on the cross is astounding.
[Psalms 22:1-8 To the chief Musician upon Aijeleth Shahar, A Psalm of David. My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring? 2 O my God, I cry in the daytime, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent. 3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel. 4 Our fathers trusted in thee: they trusted, and thou didst deliver them. 5 They cried unto thee, and were delivered: they trusted in thee, and were not confounded. 6 But I am a worm, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people. 7 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.]
[let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.] This was not the normal questions that we have when we are being afflicted and ask God why, this was their tempting God. These very words were said by the Jews concerning Christ, as he hung upon the cross. Nevertheless, each and every prophecy came to pass as it was written, [Matthew 27:43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.]
When Jesus hung there on the cross, He took every sin of every person with Him, and because God is holy and just, His own Father could not look at Him. Watch as He describes what it felt like hanging on the cross.
[Psalms 22:14-19 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. 15 My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. 19 But be not thou far from me, O LORD: O my strength, haste thee to help me.]
[and thou hast brought me into the dust of death.] Hanging up there, in severe pain, hearing the two men beside Him asking Him to get them down, the fools below gambling for a piece of His clothing, while the hecklers tempted Him He knew that He was just a breath away from death. He felt all alone crying out to His Father, “Why have You forsaken me?” [Matthew 27:46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?]
Those of us who truly believe in Christ, while we will never fully comprehend, and thank God, we never have to, just how much pain He endured for them, come to Him without question. Christ, knows our heart, whether we truly believed or just believed in the moment, that is why each one of us will stand before Him and give an account to the life we lived after we are saved. The Psalm actually goes on to describe this.
[Psalms 22:25–31 My praise shall be of thee in the great congregation: I will pay my vows before them that fear him. 26 The meek shall eat and be satisfied: they shall praise the LORD that seek him: your heart shall live for ever. 27 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. 28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations. 29 All they that be fat upon earth shall eat and worship: all they that go down to the dust shall bow before him: and none can keep alive his own soul. 30 A seed shall serve him; it shall be accounted to the Lord for a generation. 31 They shall come, and shall declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born, that he hath done this.]
[declare his righteousness unto a people that shall be born,] This is referencing those who are born again. We must be born again, meaning be born of the flesh and of spirit in order to leave from this earth to the next, [John 3:5-8 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. 6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7 Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. 8 The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.]
Being born of water is referring to the spiritual baptism in which those who believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour are baptized with the Holy Spirit upon their faith in Him. If you have received Jesus Christ as your Saviour, then you were born twice, you were given a physical birth and a spiritual birth as God places His Spirit in your soul the second you receive His Son. Do you know how much power you have here on earth? You do not need to wait until you get to heaven to see Jesus do some amazing things in your life, He lives inside you. Are you afflicted and confused? Go to Jesus. David, did not even know that His name, but He knew that He is the LORD. Psalm 23 says it all.
[Psalms 23:1-6 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.]
[thou anointest my head with oil;] You are anointed by the blood of Christ, surely goodness and mercy shall follow you all the days of your life! Will every day be joyful? No. However, Jesus will help you find joy through all the pain. Let me tell you, when we embrace the power of Christ who is living in us, we do amazing things, and then you get even more blessed for acknowledging Him. How do we embrace that power? Prayer and reading His Word. Remember, this is His Living Word, and if you are saved, His Spirit is in you, then His words will come to life as we read them, [Romans 8:26-27 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.]
While it is not a requirement to live in a way that is pleasing to God for our salvation, it is what keeps us from moving away from Him. As long as we abide with Christ, meaning stick close to Him like glue, we will not be tempted to turn to sin in the first place. Salvation is in no way about our works, but our works after we are saved will bless us tremendously while we are here.
[Psalms 24:1-6 A Psalm of David. The earth is the LORD’S, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 2 For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods. 3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. 6 This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.]
[This is the generation of them that seek him,] There will come a day when people will seek Christ and not be able to find Him. So while He is able to be found right now the time to receive Him is now, [Isaiah 55:6-7 Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near: 7 Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.]
God has given us a gracious offer made of pardon, peace, and happiness even through affliction, but He only gives it to repentant sinners, upon their faith in the Gospel of Christ. All are invited to partake of God’s salvation provided through Christ. All the world’s wealth and pleasure cannot satisfy the soul, but God’s eternal salvation brings true life and peace. It is man’s wisdom, therefore, to seek Christ while He may be found, forsaking sin and awaiting the coming of our King.
[Psalms 24:7-10 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 8 Who is this King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. 9 Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in. 10 Who is this King of glory? The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah.]
[Who is this King of glory?] When Jesus does return He is not going to be the meek and mild person He was when He first got here, He is returning in all His glory as KING of kings, [Revelation 19:15-16 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. 16 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.]
Jesus will not return until the very last soul to believe in Him gets saved before the tribulation starts, even He does not know the hour when He will return as the Father has blocked that from His knowing it. When He does return, we will know it, because we will hear the trumpet sound.
[Psalms 47:1-7 To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the LORD most high is terrible; he is a great King over all the earth. 3 He shall subdue the people under us, and the nations under our feet. 4 He shall choose our inheritance for us, the excellency of Jacob whom he loved. Selah. 5 God is gone up with a shout, the LORD with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. 7 For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.]
[the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.] There is a great passage and reminder that I keep close with me, especially in this day and age, [1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.] Praise God!
And do not be offended or surprised to see dear friends, church members, or even loved ones turn on you, as many will flee as you get closer to Jesus. However, keep on praising Him and do not worry about them because Jesus will help you get through the mocking and persecution you are going to face. God, abundantly blesses those who trust in His salvation, but keep in mind, anyone who has been abusing God’s good mercies and grace with no intention of changing will suffer for it in this life unless they repent.
[Psalms 68:1-7 To the chief Musician, A Psalm or Song of David. Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. 3 But let the righteous be glad; let them rejoice before God: yea, let them exceedingly rejoice. 4 Sing unto God, sing praises to his name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him. 5 A father of the fatherless, and a judge of the widows, is God in his holy habitation. 6 God setteth the solitary in families: he bringeth out those which are bound with chains: but the rebellious dwell in a dry land. 7 O God, when thou wentest forth before thy people, when thou didst march through the wilderness; Selah:]
[extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH,] JAH, short for Jehovah, shows Him to be the most High, self-existent Being, the immutable and everlasting “I AM” which is, and was, and is to come again. By this name He reveals Himself as the God of salvation, who manifests the power of His mercy toward all those who accept Him in faith, and rejoice before Him, [Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.]
God abundantly blesses those who trust in His salvation, but keep in mind, anyone who has been abusing God’s good mercies and graces with no intention of changing will suffer for it in this life unless they repent or He has to take them home sooner for suffering in it.
[Psalms 68:16-21 Why leap ye, ye high hills? this is the hill which God desireth to dwell in; yea, the LORD will dwell in it for ever. 17 The chariots of God are twenty thousand, even thousands of angels: the Lord is among them, as in Sinai, in the holy place. 18 Thou hast ascended on high, thou hast led captivity captive: thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also, that the LORD God might dwell among them. 19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah. 20 He that is our God is the God of salvation; and unto GOD the Lord belong the issues from death. 21 But God shall wound the head of his enemies, and the hairy scalp of such an one as goeth on still in his trespasses.]
[thou hast received gifts for men; yea, for the rebellious also,] Since God sends the rain on the just and unjust He will give the unrepentant several opportunities to receive Him before He has closed that door, [Luke 13:25 When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are:]
Jesus Christ Revealed/Magnified: [Psalms 22:7-8 All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head, saying, 8 He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.]
Today’s Prayer: God, Life gets weary sometimes for the adversity I face, so weary that it takes a toll on my soul, I feel it suffocating as I try to live my life pleasing You and everyone else around me too. You are the only one who can restore my soul, who can bring it back to life, to feel passion and compassion in all that I do. You are also the only one to get me through every bit of adversity I am faced with, and to keep me from being moved in the first place. Lord, Lead me and guide me, keep the joy of my salvation overflowing on everyone that crosses my path. Fill me with Your love, joy, mercies and grace, and give rest to my soul as You always do. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
Are You 100% Sure You Are Going To Heaven?: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/ready-to-follow-jesus/
Receive The KJB Daily Devotions In Your Email: http://eepurl.com/2WMzT
Read Previous Devotions: https://imfollowingjesus.com/Biblestudy/
Read The Bible: http://kingjamesbible.imfollowingjesus.com/
Visit I’m Following Jesus: http://imfollowingjesus.com/index.html
Like I’m Following Jesus On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/byhisstrength
Copyright © 2024 I’m Following Jesus, All rights reserved.