KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Chapters: II, III John, & Revelation 1-3
Message: To The Elect
Hello My Friend,
The Book of II John was written by John around 90 AD to the lady elect. John cautions believers to be faithful to the sound doctrine of Christ and warns them against apostasy. What we are to learn from the book is that we are not to fellowship with those who cause us to follow and live by the wrong doctrine. “If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” – 2 John 10,11.
Elect; Choose or select as an object of mercy or favor. Since Jesus looks to all who receive Him as their Saviour His bride, it is fitting that this letter would be addressed to the lady elect (body of Christ), those whom have obtained the mercy and favor of God through their faith in Christ. In this short letter, John gives the essentials of a personal walk with the Saviour and warns the lady elect about the many deceivers in the world.
“And this is love, that we walk after his commandments. This is the commandment, That, as ye have heard from the beginning, ye should walk in it. For many deceivers are entered into the world, who confess not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh. This is a deceiver and an antichrist. Look to yourselves, that we lose not those things which we have wrought, but that we receive a full reward. Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed: For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds.” – II John 1:6-11.
“that we lose not those things which we have wrought,” For the life of me I will never understand someone who says they are Christian and has no idea who Jesus is other than the man who died on the cross. We are saved by faith the second we believe in the immaculate birth, sinless death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, to save man from their sins, who is the only begotten Son of God. There is no other Gospel to live under or accept, and sadly, many, people have died and ended up in hell because they trusted their religion or some liar. We must believe solely on His finished work on the cross, not in our works, not in another person, if we are trusting any other way for our salvation we are not saved. The Book of III John was written to a man named Gaius, written around 90 AD also. The purpose of the letter was to commend Gaius for his faith and hard work, but also stop some people who were causing trouble in the church. What we are to learn from the book is that God wants His children to walk in His truths. “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” – III John 1:4.
“Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers; Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well: Because that for his name’s sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth. I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not. Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.” – III John 1:5-10.
“that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.” All the books in the Bible are inspired, meaning they were told by the Holy Spirit what to write, many times you can see that it is not the writer speaking, but God Himself, which is the case in this chapter. God finds great joy in seeing His children walking and living not only by faith, but obedience to Him. Our obedience is not to keep our salvation it is a means to show the truth of Christ to a lost and dying world, if we walk in the truth, He will shine through us. A person, saved or not, should be able to spot Christ in a believer, they may not know it is Christ at the time, but believe me, people know the difference between just a good person and one who walks with Christ. Never underestimate the power of God to use you in any situation that will bring the lost to Christ. And we come to the Book of Revelation, written about 94 AD, to the seven churches in Asia and all believers. The purpose of the book was to give assurance of Christ’s return and warn of His judgment. What we are to learn from the book is that God always does what He says, judgment is coming, and only those who’s names are are written in the Book of life will endure it.
“The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him, to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass; and he sent and signified it by his angel unto his servant John: Who bare record of the word of God, and of the testimony of Jesus Christ, and of all things that he saw. Blessed is he that readeth, and they that hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written therein: for the time is at hand. Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea.” – Revelation 1:1-3,7,11.
“and keep those things which are written therein:” I can understand that reading the Book of Revelation can be a bit overwhelming, I use to be afraid to read it because I feared the end of the world. However, as I grow in the Lord I am learning that many of my fears I were man made, hence I was only listening to what other people told me rather than what Jesus actually says will happen when He does return. We are truly blessed to have the truth right before us, and while we may not understand it all, we can find comfort through it knowing that we will be safe from it all. The seven churches are the Christian churches that stem from the churches of worship we know today, some did well while others not so much, and Jesus has something to say to all of them. Bare with me because there is a lot of Scripture here, but I want you to see how Jesus is referenced.
“Unto the angel of the church of Ephesus write; These things saith he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand, who walketh in the midst of the seven golden candlesticks; He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God. And unto the angel of the church in Smyrna write; These things saith the first and the last, which was dead, and is alive; He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death. And to the angel of the church in Pergamos write; These things saith he which hath the sharp sword with two edges; He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. And unto the angel of the church in Thyatira write; These things saith the Son of God, who hath his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet are like fine brass; And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” – Revelation 2:1-2,7-8,11-12,17-18,26-27.
“he that holdeth the seven stars in his right hand,”, “which was dead, and is alive;”, “he which hath the sharp sword with two edges;”, “his eyes like unto a flame of fire,” The seven stars are the religious leaders of the seven churches, and Jesus holds them all accountable for feeding the flock and keeping them in the knowledge and truths of Christ. When He returns He is not going to be the meek and mild Jesus He was when He came here the first time, but raging with fire in His eyes, He will not use a physical sword, but speak the Word of God. All who have receive Him will be alive, overcoming the second death, which is the soul and body being cast into the lake of fire, and we will feast on His bread, not literally eating His flesh, but feeding on His spoken Word. While Jesus addressed specific flaws in the church, the same applies to all, there comes a time that we all get weary in this life and lose our effectiveness in serving God. This is what Jesus is talking about, and warns us to get back to His first love before we stop serving Him all together.
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard, and hold fast, and repent. If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee. Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy. He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.” – Revelation 3:2-11.
“Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain,” More important than serving God is telling the lost about Christ, and unless we strengthen our walk with Him we are going to lose sight of the meaning of why God has called us to serve Him in the first place when life is thrown at us. This is why it is important that we not only serve God, but walk in His Spirit. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” – Galatians 5:16,17,22,23.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.” – Revelation 1:18.
Today’s Prayer: God, Thank you for Your Word that allows me to learn your truths, and live them. As I learn Your truths it is not always easy to forsake the things I have learned, lived, and loved in the world, but now that Your Son is in me, I don’t want them in me anymore. People, circumstances, and my own flesh are constantly against me, but I know I can win this battle because Christ lives in me. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me to grow in Your Word, and learn it, give me the strength to live it, and keep me loving every minute of serving You, even when my flesh wants to give up this fight. I know I can do all things through Christ, and through Him I can live a life that is pleasing to You, and will bring others to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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