KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Saturday, November 19, 2016
Chapters: Acts 6-8
Message: Building The Body Of Christ
Hello My Friend,
The body of Christ, we are not theologians, who think they know more about the Word of God than God, we are not religious leaders who think they are the only ones who know the way to heaven, and we are not religions who think their way is the only way. We are a mix of sinners, yes sinners, saved by the grace of God through our faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” – I Corinthians 6:9-11.
You will have to excuse me as I put the Bible reading schedule together, I am following the order of events and do not realize until I am reading the chapters that one should be placed with another so it would make better sense, so some of the chapters overlap and are used two days. I believe God did that for a reason because it brought to my attention what I overlooked yesterday. As the Christian church began to flourish with only the apostles doing the work of Christ the people started feeling neglected and fussed at the apostles for not being there to help them. The apostles came up with a solution, they needed godly, saved souls to be in charge to help the people and community so they can do their work. The apostles chose Stephen to head up the church and put things in order.
“And in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplied, there arose a murmuring of the Grecians against the Hebrews, because their widows were neglected in the daily ministration. Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables. Wherefore, brethren, look ye out among you seven men of honest report, full of the Holy Ghost and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business. But we will give ourselves continually to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. And the saying pleased the whole multitude: and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Ghost, and Philip, and Prochorus, and Nicanor, and Timon, and Parmenas, and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch:” – Acts 6:1-5.
“It is not reason that we should leave the word of God,” As much as we think we are capable of doing everything ourselves, we simply cannot, and that includes the pastors and leaders of the church. This is why the church needs faithful godly, saved, witnesses, ministers, Sunday school teachers, ushers, treasures, door greeters, prayer warriors, church members, tithers, and even house keepers. Together, we can build Christ’s church and be there to help bring those lost souls to Christ. “So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.” – Romans 12:5-8.
Stephen got started right away, and it was exactly what the church needed, people were getting helped and saved in record numbers. Of course, this did not go over too well with the Jews when they heard about so many people receiving Christ. They captured Stephen, making up all sorts of accusations about him. “And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and miracles among the people. Then there arose certain of the synagogue, which is called the synagogue of the Libertines, and Cyrenians, and Alexandrians, and of them of Cilicia and of Asia, disputing with Stephen. And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the spirit by which he spake. Then they suborned men, which said, We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses, and against God. And they stirred up the people, and the elders, and the scribes, and came upon him, and caught him, and brought him to the council,” – Acts 6:8-12.
“We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses,” Since they accused him of blaspheming words Moses spoke, Stephen explained exactly what Moses wrote, from Abraham to the time they rejected God and spent forty years in the wilderness. He finishes his speech by upbraiding them for refusing to believe in Christ, knowing it has been written about Him all throughout the Scriptures. “Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,” – Acts 7:51-57.
“they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.” Can you imagine this, they were so angry at him that they began biting him? They killed Stephen because he spoke the truth, he became the first person to be martyred for standing up to those who falsely accused him. As the body of Christ we are going to get falsely accused, many times because the people believe the accusers because it is all they know, I grew up Catholic, and still today I catch myself following those traditions. Saul, a Pharisee did what he was taught, and started persecuting Christians, he followed orders because he thought it was the right thing to do.
“And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them.” – Acts 8:1-5.
“and haling men and women committed them to prison.” Can you imagine getting arrested for preaching the Gospel? Well, it is coming, and already is happening in many countries. As the Body of Christ, we have a voice and we need to use that voice, wisely and in the power of the Holy Spirit so it can be heard. Nothing happens when we just sit around and pray about something happening, we must come together, build each other up, not tear each other down. Why do you think the US is going crazy with protests over the election? Christians actually got to the polls and voted. We have a loud voice when we come together as one, the world and false religion does not like that, they will do anything to stop Christians from speaking out, but we just have to speak louder. “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” – I Peter 4:16-17.
“that obey not the gospel of God?” Speaking of them who do not obey, we come to a man named Simon, he was a magician in Samaria. Phillip, having dispersed with the other apostles, began preaching the Gospel in the Gentile nations, when Simon saw people get saved and healed he immediately appealed to Phillip, and received Christ, but at that time, since the Gospel was only preached to the Jews before then, the Holy Spirit had not fell upon them yet. Peter and John joined Philip, prayed to God and all of a sudden all who were saved received the Holy Spirit, all except Simon. He immediately runs over to the apostles.
“Saying, Give me also this power, that on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee. For I perceive that thou art in the gall of bitterness, and in the bond of iniquity. Then answered Simon, and said, Pray ye to the Lord for me, that none of these things which ye have spoken come upon me.” – Acts 8:19-24.
“because thou hast thought that the gift of God may be purchased with money.” Did you know that there are religions who think that they have to buy the salvation of someone who is already dead? Salvation can never be bought because Christ paid for it with His life, no one can receive the Holy Spirit and get saved without Christ, no ifs, ands, or buts about it. “Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.” – Acts 20:28.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized? And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.” – Acts 8:36-37.
Today’s Prayer: God, I cannot ever forget the love and mercy that You showed me when You brought me up out of the pit I was in and gave me a new beginning. No suffering can compare to what I would receive had I not put my faith and trust in Your Son to save me. It is only by Your power that I am what I am today and even though I am going through some struggles I know You are with me, and You will see me through them as I stand by faith in You. Lord, as part of the body of Christ, lead me and guide me, show me where You want me to be and let me serve You with love, mercy, grace, and boldness, never being ashamed to be one with Christ. I love You, Lord and pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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