James – Page 7 – I'm Following Jesus

KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Wednesday, November 21, 2018
Chapters: Acts 11-12
Message: The Hand Of God Is With You

Hello My Friend,

I do not tell this story often because whenever I do people look at me like I am crazy, but God has been telling me to talk about it for the past couple of days so, here it goes. When I first moved to Florida I stayed with my dad, stepmother, and brothers, and it was not the ideal place to be. I shared a room with my little brother, and one night as I laid there with my eyes closed I felt something move the bed, I opened my eyes and saw someone standing right between the two beds, and it was no one that lived there or a stranger, I really thought I must have been imagining things. My brother who I thought was sleeping later told the same story, and I told that story to no one. And now that I have a relationship with Christ I am convinced that it was an angel. People will tell you that God does not do the same things today that He did back that, but I will tell you that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever, and when He has a message to give He will do it one way or another. “Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. 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.” – Hebrews 13:8-9.

“For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace;” I really had no idea where God was taking me with this message until I saw this verse. We as Christians have a job to do, we did not volunteer, although He does want us to accept it willingly, we were drafted for it. What is the job? Tell people about Christ. I spent the good part of the day yesterday and early this morning questioning every decision I made in the past twenty-one days, that was when I made a vow to remove anything negative from my life that was causing my spirit to drag down and keep me from being effective for God. Let me tell you, the second you start to remove all the junk from your life and replace it with God’s treasures you discover you are on the devil’s most wanted list. I read this quote that said, “If you live the Bible the devil flees.” This is not true, he will do everything he can to try and stop you from preaching Christ. No, he does not mess with us all the time because God has a say in all this, but he has his seasons with us, and let me tell you, if he is not messing with you then you better check and see if you are doing our job right. We read how God showed Peter that the Gospel was to be preached to all, well, when the other apostles got word that Peter was preaching to the Gentiles it caused an uproar, so Peter retold the story of how God showed him through a vision that the Gospel is for all to hear and choose to believe.

“And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat. But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common. Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God? When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” – Acts 11:1-9,16-18.

“Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.” Granted repentance unto life. Now, that is an understatement. That means all who believe in and receive Christ as their Saviour are forgiven for life, eternal life that is. The Gentiles were known as the heathens, the ones rejected by God and enjoying the pleasures of the world with no blatant amount of morality, this coming from the Jews who rejected every command God gave for the most part. The truth is, we are all heathens, meaning we are all sinners who enjoy the pleasures of the world, some just a little more than others, and we all need Jesus. This has always been the case, and if you read through the Old Testament and even the testimony of Jesus you would see that He gave all the opportunity to turn to Him. God never wanted only one nation of people to know and accept His Son, He wants all. “Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified.” – Romans 2:9-13.

“But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good,” There is one good thing about staying faithful to God and obeying His calling, we will receive the glory, honor, and peace that only Jesus can give. Let me tell you, while we may face opposition in every direction when we choose Christ over the world, we will never feel the hand of God more upon us. News of the death of Stephen traveled far, this led many of the disciples and apostles to leave Israel, many going into Greece. Again, they were only speaking to the Jews at this point.

“Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phenice, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only. And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Grecians, preaching the Lord Jesus. And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord. Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” – Acts 11:19-26.

“And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” This is the term that unites all believers of the Gospel, we are not Jews or Gentiles, we are Christ believers. That terms brings to question all of the religions who call themselves Christians, but have no clue what that means. Christ’s hand is upon all who receive Him as their Saviour, there is no task or person that cannot be reached, just look at Paul (Saul), he witnessed and participating in Christians being executed, but Jesus got to Him and used him to be the best evangelist of all. Now, when Herod got word that people were being saved he wanted to quickly put a stop to it, but he was not alone, those wicked Jews wanted to stop them as well, he captures and executes James, when he find out that he was greatly praised by the Jews for killing him, and wanting to be praised more, he set his sights on Peter, captures him, and would have executed him, but jailed him as they were celebrating their pagan holiday, Easter.

“Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. And when Herod would have brought him forth, the same night Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains: and the keepers before the door kept the prison. And, behold, the angel of the Lord came upon him, and a light shined in the prison: and he smote Peter on the side, and raised him up, saying, Arise up quickly. And his chains fell off from his hands. And the angel said unto him, Gird thyself, and bind on thy sandals. And so he did. And he saith unto him, Cast thy garment about thee, and follow me. And he went out, and followed him; and wist not that it was true which was done by the angel; but thought he saw a vision. When they were past the first and the second ward, they came unto the iron gate that leadeth unto the city; which opened to them of his own accord: and they went out, and passed on through one street; and forthwith the angel departed from him. And when Peter was come to himself, he said, Now I know of a surety, that the Lord hath sent his angel, and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation of the people of the Jews.” – Acts 12:5-11.

“and hath delivered me out of the hand of Herod,” At first, Peter thought he was dreaming, until he realized he was outside of the jail. Sometimes we have a hard time believing in miracles, or even that God is right there among us, helping us endure some of the most frightening challenges, but the truth is, He is always with us. Sometimes He literally shows Himself to us, and I believe that with all of my heart He showed me through that angel that He was watching over me. Sadly, it was not until several years later that I returned to Jesus, but His hand was always on me. Sometimes we have to face some suffering in order to see God, but He is always with us, and right there for us, even death cannot separate us. “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39.

Jesus Christ Magnified: “Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?” – Acts 11:17.

Today’s Prayer: God, There is nothing more comforting then to know that Your Son gives life to all who believe in and receive Him. I am a witness to the amazing transformation taking place by receiving Christ into my soul. Lord, let me be a witness and a testimony to those who do not know You and even those who have fallen away from You. Shine through me, give me peace, comfort, and hope through my struggles and keep showing me that You are always with me. I love You Lord, and ask this in Jesus’ name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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