Acts – Page 93 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Chapters: Acts 23-25
Message: Being Reproached For Christ

Hello My Friend,

When we first decide after we are saved to live our lives with Christ we do not realize the impact He would have on our lives, but as we walked with Him, He grew on us, and turned us into something unimaginable. We are testimonies, declarations of the living God living inside of us, and let me tell you the world does notice. Dedicating our lives to Christ is going to bring some opposition because not everyone will accept our faith, even many loved ones, but the things we go through, the trials we endure, as Christians they are not based on mere chance, they are allowed by God so we can get through them with Him and show the world who Christ truly is. “If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.” – I Peter 4:14.

“but on your part he is glorified.” There is no better testimony of someone who once rejected Christ and turned Christian than Paul, and this is why Jesus used Paul, to be glorified through such an amazing transformation. And let me tell you, the ones who fear our change the most are the very people that claim they love God. Now, Paul is standing before the Sanhedrin council, a board of men that ran the affairs of the temple, enforcing the Law of Moses, which by they way, none of them followed. Half of the men were Pharisee’s, the other were Sadducees. Of course, with this mix of men there were bound to be disagreements, and that is exactly what Paul used to cause a division among them as he stood before them, giving his testimony.

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day. And the high priest Ananias commanded them that stood by him to smite him on the mouth. Then said Paul unto him, God shall smite thee, thou whited wall: for sittest thou to judge me after the law, and commandest me to be smitten contrary to the law? And they that stood by said, Revilest thou God’s high priest? Then said Paul, I wist not, brethren, that he was the high priest: for it is written, Thou shalt not speak evil of the ruler of thy people. But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question.” – Acts 23:1-6.

“God shall smite thee,” People are quick to judge us because we follow Christ, I do not know how many times I have heard someone say, “I thought you were a Christian.” when I do not do or agree with what they are doing. Do I have the right to condemn them? No. God will do it Himself. I do have a right to stand up for my actions. By the way, wrong actions cannot be justified by ignoring that they are wrong to begin with. Likewise, convincing ourselves that something we are doing wrong is right does not make it right either. “God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.” – I Corinthians 1:9,10.

The Jews were determined to find someone who would testify against Paul so he could be sentenced to death, they even made a vow not to eat until he was dead. The interesting thing, no matter where Paul went he was able to speak in his defense, and he never stopped professing His faith in Christ. Now, since the council could not legally find anything to accuse him of they sent him to Felix, the governor and even though he believed that Paul did nothing wrong, because it pleased the Jews he kept him locked up, and was imprisoned for two years.

“And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix’ room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.” – Acts 24:22-27.

“He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul,” Paul said, in one of his testimonies, that he came up to Jerusalem to bring money and offerings, Felix thought that since he had not been in Jerusalem that long he could get his friends and family to buy his freedom using that money. Since this plan did not work and he did not want to deal with the council, he left Paul in the jail. Now, with a new governor in office preparations were being made for another hearing, not in order to sentence him, he still was not charged with a crime, but to figure out what to do with him, or rather to gratify their curiosity.

“And when they had been there many days, Festus declared Paul’s cause unto the king, saying, There is a certain man left in bonds by Felix: About whom, when I was at Jerusalem, the chief priests and the elders of the Jews informed me, desiring to have judgment against him. Against whom when the accusers stood up, they brought none accusation of such things as I supposed: But had certain questions against him of their own superstition, and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive. And because I doubted of such manner of questions, I asked him whether he would go to Jerusalem, and there be judged of these matters. But when Paul had appealed to be reserved unto the hearing of Augustus, I commanded him to be kept till I might send him to Caesar. Then Agrippa said unto Festus, I would also hear the man myself. To morrow, said he, thou shalt hear him.” – Acts 25:14,15,18-22.

“and of one Jesus, which was dead, whom Paul affirmed to be alive.” Festus may have heard the stories of Jesus, but could not grasp the concept that a man could die and come back to life. The world, and sadly, many so called Christian religions believed that Jesus died, but not that He resurrected. We must believe that He was born of a virgin, died a sinless death, was buried, and three days later resurrected. This is the Gospel we need to believe, anything else and we are not a testimony for Christ. We are to live by faith, yes, human reasoning this is impossible, but with God nothing is impossible. We who believe in His death, burial, and resurrection, and have personally received Him as our Saviour will one day resurrect ourselves, but believe it by faith. “And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.” – I Corinthians 15:14-17,22.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” – Acts 23:11.

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, It is sometimes hard to comprehend just what You did for us, and how easy it is for us to not only be saved from hell, but be one of Your own. As we grow closer to You we literally are transformed into something into the likeness of You. While we will never be perfect until we reach heaven or You return, we do have You to guide and keep us in the right direction. We are testimonies of what it is like to have the living God living inside of us, let us do what is pleasing to You, not live in fear of what man can do to us, and be the example You need us to be to reach others for You. In Your name Jesus, Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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