I'm Following Jesus – Page 1285 – 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: Sunday, October 18, 2020
Chapters: John 6
Message: This Is The Work of God

Hello My Friend,

What comes to mind when doing the work of God? Perhaps serving Him in the church, giving charity, or volunteering for someone who needs help. Well, all of those things are very good things, and are great for keeping us faithful, the work of God is actually not something we do, it is something we believe. You see, if we truly believe in and accept Jesus Christ as our Saviour, then all of the other things will come as we grow in our faith. Sadly, people are attending and serving in churches all over the world today, believing that their works are getting them into heaven. Our works will never get us into heaven, it is only our faith in Jesus Christ that will. [John 6:44-47 No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46 Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.]

[except the Father which hath sent me draw him:] Do you understand that we who are saved were drawn to Christ, the Son, because God, the Father, saw our faith in Him first? Do you realize how many churches are proclaiming Christ right now, but have know idea who He is? That number us astounding. They are certainly not learned of the Father because if they truly believed in Him, then they would believe all the Scriptures, and not just what they want to believe. Do you think that Jesus does not test our faith in Him before He saves us? Oh, yes He does. Jesus even tested the faith of the disciples, we find this through the Gospel of John who also gives an account to the five thousand being fed. Thousands of people followed Jesus and it was not because they believed the very Scriptures speaking of the Messiah was Him, they followed Him because of the all miracles.

[John 6:1-7 After these things Jesus went over the sea of Galilee, which is the sea of Tiberias. 2 And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased. 3 And Jesus went up into a mountain, and there he sat with his disciples. 4 And the passover, a feast of the Jews, was nigh. 5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? 6 And this he said to prove him: for he himself knew what he would do. 7 Philip answered him, Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little.]

[for he himself knew what he would do.] Jesus certainly does not need to ask us what to do for He already knows what He and we are going to do. This is the same reason why we are to pray ever day, God knows what we have need of, He just wants us to come to Him willingly for it. Well, Philip was thinking like we are all guilty of from time to time, all he saw what was in front of them. Nevertheless, Jesus did what He set out to do, and that was to use a couple of fish and a few loaves of bread to feed more than five thousand people.

[John 6:10-13 And Jesus said, Make the men sit down. Now there was much grass in the place. So the men sat down, in number about five thousand. 11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would. 12 When they were filled, he said unto his disciples, Gather up the fragments that remain, that nothing be lost. 13 Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.]

[which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.] Do you understand that the stronger our faith in Christ, the more we will receive from Him? Jesus always responds more to our faith. This is often why we are often put in positions where we are to ask each day for our daily bread. Let me tell you, as much as we are given just by the grace of God, imagine how much more we will receive by our faith in truly believing that He will supply our every need. I am proof, in fact, this week, that God supplies according to out faith, [Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.]

[But my God] Here are the key words right there, [My God]. We can thank God for His mercies as He gives rain to the just and unjust in order to see their faith, eventually mercies run out for those who are not saved, for those who are, He is our God, and He will supply because He knows our faith. The next day after Jesus fed the five thousand even more people were following Him, and He calls them out for who they really were.

[John 6:26-29 Jesus answered them and said, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Ye seek me, not because ye saw the miracles, but because ye did eat of the loaves, and were filled. 27 Labour not for the meat which perisheth, but for that meat which endureth unto everlasting life, which the Son of man shall give unto you: for him hath God the Father sealed. 28 Then said they unto him, What shall we do, that we might work the works of God? 29 Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.]

[that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.] This is the very work of God. If we do not believe in the entire Gospel of Christ, which His immaculate birth, and His sinless death, burial, and resurrection, to save all who receive Him by grace alone, and not of their works. Oh, and you must also believe that once you are saved you cannot lose your salvation. This is where many religions falter, they think the lose their salvation if they sin again and must accept Him every time. This is false, Christ died once to save us, we only need to ask Him once to save us, [Hebrews 9:27-28 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: 28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.]

[And as it is appointed unto men once to die,] Unfortunately, unless Christ returns anytime soon, we will all face the death of our flesh because that is the curse that was cast upon mankind because of sin. Now, our salvation does not mean that we will never sin again, nor that there are no consequence of sin, it does mean that God is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us from all sin when we confess and repent of it. What salvation does do is feed us with what we really need to sustain our souls when our flesh dies. Jesus goes on to explain how He is the bread of life that sustains our very soul.

[John 6:32-40 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33 For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34 Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36 But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37 All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38 For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39 And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40 And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.]

[and I will raise him up at the last day.] This means our soul will remain alive and be taken to heaven until Christ does return, and when He does we will resurrect, just like He did and live forever with Him, [I Thessalonians 4:16-17 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Your message is clear, [This is the work of God, that ye believe on him whom he hath sent.]. Thank You, for Your gift of eternal life though my faith in Your Son alone. There is absolutely nothing that I need to do to work for my salvation. I admit that my faith in Your supplying my every need after I got saved is not always the strongest, forgive me for trusting in my own works to sustain my flesh. It is so easy to lose sight of You when the bills pile up, the cupboards are bare, and the body is in pain. We think we need to do all this on our own, but You prove time and time again that You take care of us by our faith in You. Lord, lead me and guide me, give me each day my daily bread, and Your power to live by faith, and not faith by sight. Let me not live in fear or worry about tomorrow, rather trust that since You are the keeper of my soul, that You will supply me with everything I need. I ask these things in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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