I'm Following Jesus – Page 1267 – Mark 8:34 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.

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: Wednesday, October 28, 2020
Chapters: Luke 16-17
Message: Not of The World

Hello My Friend,

I have to given some extra praises to God today, if fact, it is all I have been doing since I got the news that I was hired for the job that I applied for. It is not the actual position, but it is the company, and I not only get the extra hours I need, I get paid weekly and for the extra time that it takes to drive to the stores I will be assigned to. Praise God! So, as I am reading the chapters for today, something Jesus said comes crashing to my mind, this is where He is praying to the Father just before His passion, [John 17:14-17 I have given them thy word; and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 15 I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil. 16 They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.]

[I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world,] We often wonder why Jesus places us in the midst of the world. Well, the truth is, the majority of people who get saved do not just decide they are going to go to church. We must go to them, and invite them, just as Jesus invited us. To explain this, Jesus gives a parable about a steward, which is another word for a manager, employed to work for a man who sold consumer goods. This manager was not too good at managing his bosses goods, a lot of people owed money, when his boss found out he was about to fire the manager, until he came up with a plan.

[Luke 16:1-3,5-6,8-9 And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. 2 And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. 3 Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. 5 So he called every one of his lord’s debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? 6 And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. 8 And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. 9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.]

[when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.] Okay, the majority of us who are employed are not fortunate to work in a Christian environment, we get to work for the man, in some of the most high traffic areas. This actually gives us the great opportunity to let them know about Jesus without even mutter one word of Scripture. Yesterday, I was talking with the recruiter on the phone, she asked me if I had a list of thing, I kept saying yes, and then blurted out, “Praise God.”, she giggled and replied, “I know right!” We are to never be ashamed of our faith, of course, one or two will be offended, but that comes with the territory. As Jesus was telling this story, some of the Pharisees were offended, this was only because they were covetous.

[Luke 16:14-18 And the Pharisees also, who were covetous, heard all these things: and they derided him. 15 And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God. 16 The law and the prophets were until John: since that time the kingdom of God is preached, and every man presseth into it. 17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass, than one tittle of the law to fail. 18 Whosoever putteth away his wife, and marrieth another, committeth adultery: and whosoever marrieth her that is put away from her husband committeth adultery.]

[Whosoever putteth away his wife,] Why did Jesus decide to blurt this out as He was talking about those self righteous fools who thought they were doing God a favor by upbraiding His Son? Well, a relationship with God is like a marriage between a man and a woman, you make a commitment with each other to remain together until death. People are too quick to get divorced these days, for the most ridiculous reasons, marriage is no longer a sacred institution. Do you know many people are filing for divorce since this pandemic? The same is true for the Church, people have left the Church is droves since the pandemic, it too is no longer a sacred institution. However, we who endure until the end, we who stick it out, stay with Jesus until death, we will never part. To explain this, Jesus gives a parable about a rich man and a poor man.

[Luke 16:19-23 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20 And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21 And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22 And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23 And in hell he lift up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.]

[And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table:] Remember when the Gentile woman went to Jesus, asking Him to cast the devil from her daughter? [Matthew 15:21-28] Those who refuse to believe in Christ and receive Him as their Saviour, it does not matter what family you came from or how much money you have, will die and be cast straight into hell. And I imagine the person they see standing right next to Jesus is the one they mistreated. Jesus goes to explain what happens to those who are in hell. The reason this mans sees Abraham has to do with him being identified as his father, who God promised to make a nation.

[Luke 16:24-31 And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25 But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26 And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27 Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28 For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29 Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30 And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.]

[that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house:] Each and every soul that is in hell right now is begging Jesus to send someone to their loved ones that are still alive in hopes that they will not have to be in such torment. To look up and see those up in heaven, must be the most torturous for them, even above the utter darkness, solitude, screaming voices, and pain they are in. [neither will they be persuaded,] Those who reject Jesus will never be persuaded to believe in Him, even if they saw someone come back to life. They are reprobates, beyond the hope of salvation. We must not confuse a reprobate with those who are just ignorant to the truth, if they truly believe in God, and want Him in their lives, they would follow His commands, which means believing the entire Gospel of Christ, not what they want to believe. And let me tell you, there will be more who reject Him than receive Him, we sadly find this to be true as Jesus heals ten men who had leprosy.

[Luke 17:11-19 And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. 14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. 15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, 16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. 17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.]

[but where are the nine?] The truth is, everyone who is cured, survives surgeries, recovers from some disease, are all from God, yet very few will actually acknowledge Jesus as their Saviour. Do you know how many people have recovered from Covid? That number is actually much higher than the deaths, and once they recover they are immune to it. So, this is not live a flu or cold, which is actually also a corona virus, it is more like the chicken pox or measles, which you become immune to after having recovered from it. The world wants to make you believe that there is no cure, there is no life after death, their faith, which is no faith in Christ, will send them straight to hell. Without Christ there is no life after death, and they will end up just like the rich man, begging for a drop of water, and is still being tormented in hell today, [Revelation 21:6-8 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. 7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.]

Today’s Prayer: Jesus, Once again, thank You, for taking my place on the cross and dying the death that I deserved. Because of my faith in what You did for me, I am saved from hell, and the torment that I rightfully deserve. My faith in You has made me whole, it does not matter if I have aches and pains right now, one day they will be no more, and I will be right there beside you. Amen! You send us out into the world, not to be of the world, but that we might be the ones to invite the world to come to You. We cannot and will not reach them all, but we can reach some, just by showing them who You are as we do our duty. Lord, Lead us and guide us, fill us with Your mercy, grace, protection from the worlds evils, give us Your strength, Your words, and Your Light to shine upon them, even if we reach just one, there will be rejoicing in heaven. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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