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: Saturday, November 21, 2020
Chapters: Acts 11-12
Message: Preach The True Gospel
Hello My Friend,
Did you know that there are religions that teach people that you cannot get saved unless you are a particular color, race, or decent? This is exactly why religion and God do not mix. Yes, we are labeled as Baptists or whatever denomination we call ourselves, but that is not the same thing as religion. Religion always makes up their own rules, not God’s, and all it does send people to hell because they are preaching doctrine that they made up, not God. It is time that the true Christians to come out of hiding and preach the true Gospel, [II Timothy 4:2-5 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. 5 But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry.]
Jesus does not care what color, race, or decent you are, He cares about your soul, He died for every soul from Adam. Jesus went to the Jews first because He descended in the flesh from their descent, which means He came here born of a woman, in the flesh through David’s lineage. From the start, Jesus knew that the “religious” Jews would reject Him and that would be the time that the rest of the world come to know Him. It was not that no one else, but the Jews ever heard of the Almighty God, or that no one outside of a Jew followed God. It was that they were taught just like every other race, to follow their god, and had the assumption that God was only the God of the Jews or Hebrews. All of that changed when God led Peter to Cornelius, but when the other Apostles heard that Peter preached the Gospel to this stranger, they did not like it at all.
[Acts 11:1-6 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying, 5 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: 6 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.]
[But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning,] Peter already knew that there would be strife with the other Apostles over him teaching the Gospel to people other than the Jews. He was prepared to answer them the best and only way he could, and that was to tell them what he had witnessed. Peter goes on to explain what happened after his dream.
[Acts 11:11-18 And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved. 15 And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 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. 17 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? 18 When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.]
[And the Spirit bade me go with them,] When the Holy Spirit leads us to tell someone the Gospel, we must go. God does not pick favorites here, He knows when someone is ready to accept His Son, and if we do not comply, and they die without knowing Christ as their Saviour, we will be the ones who will be accountable to God, [Ezekiel 3:18-21 When I say unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 19 Yet if thou warn the wicked, and he turn not from his wickedness, nor from his wicked way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul. 20 Again, When a righteous man doth turn from his righteousness, and commit iniquity, and I lay a stumblingblock before him, he shall die: because thou hast not given him warning, he shall die in his sin, and his righteousness which he hath done shall not be remembered; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 21 Nevertheless if thou warn the righteous man, that the righteous sin not, and he doth not sin, he shall surely live, because he is warned; also thou hast delivered thy soul.]
[because thou hast not given him warning,] Do you see how it does not matter if we are good or bad, the Gospel is to be preached to all the Holy Spirit lead us to? You see, it is not about the flesh, it is about the soul. And let me tell you, we all have some wickedness inside of us, and those who are too proud or conceded to admit that, then their blood is upon their own head. While everyone has the opportunity to get saved, not everyone will accept Christ, and God knows that, which is why we are not held responsible for anyone who rejects Christ after we have told them about Him. Now, as the Apostles venture further out because they were being persecuted, many of them ended up in Antioch.
[Acts 11:19-22,25-26 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. 20 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. 21 And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord. 22 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. 25 Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul: 26 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.]
[And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.] This is when true believers started to be known as Christians. True Christians are not a religion, they are a body of those whom have accepted Christ as their Saviour and are witnesses to what Christ has done in their lives. They do not preach a watered down version of the Gospel, they preach the Gospel by living it themselves. We have nothing to worry about when we are led to tell someone the Gospel, Jesus is right there with us, and we might face some persecution, but it is better to suffer for Christ’s sake, [II Corinthians 4:5-6 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.]
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 participated 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 instead.
[Acts 12:1-8 Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. 2 And he killed James the brother of John with the sword. 3 And because he saw it pleased the Jews, he proceeded further to take Peter also. (Then were the days of unleavened bread.) 4 And when he had apprehended him, he put him in prison, and delivered him to four quaternions of soldiers to keep him; intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people. 5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him. 6 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. 7 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. 8 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.]
[intending after Easter to bring him forth to the people.] This is not the same Easter that we who celebrate the day Christ arose from the dead is, this is a pagan holiday, filled with disgusting sexual things, which is why true Christians refer to is as Resurrection Day. However, God would use this time to not only set Peter free, but judge Herod once and for all. The next day Herod was so furious that he had the guards killed, but that would be the last order he made.
[Acts 12:18-24 Now as soon as it was day, there was no small stir among the soldiers, what was become of Peter. 19 And when Herod had sought for him, and found him not, he examined the keepers, and commanded that they should be put to death. And he went down from Judaea to Caesarea, and there abode. 20 And Herod was highly displeased with them of Tyre and Sidon: but they came with one accord to him, and, having made Blastus the king’s chamberlain their friend, desired peace; because their country was nourished by the king’s country. 21 And upon a set day Herod, arrayed in royal apparel, sat upon his throne, and made an oration unto them. 22 And the people gave a shout, saying, It is the voice of a god, and not of a man. 23 And immediately the angel of the Lord smote him, because he gave not God the glory: and he was eaten of worms, and gave up the ghost. 24 But the word of God grew and multiplied.]
[But the word of God grew and multiplied.] 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. The truth is, if we are saved, He is always with us, even if we mess up a thousand times a day. We are not saved by righteousness, we are saved by grace through our faith alone in Jesus Christ. Therefore, any good that we do after we are saved is just to give glory to God for what He has done for us, and it is the best way to lead souls to Christ. [II Corinthians 5:6-10 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) 8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. 9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. 10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.]
Today’s Prayer: God, To think that You have given life to each and every one of us, and how so many reject You is astounding, and quite sad. There is nothing more comforting then to know that Your Son gives eternal 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 of the true Gospel to those who do not know You and even those who have fallen away from You. Shine through me, give me Your mercy, grace, compassion, peace, comfort, and hope through my struggles and keep showing me those subtle ways that let me know You are always with me. I love You Lord, and ask this in Your name, Jesus. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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