Faith Defines Infirmities – I'm Following Jesus

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, November 19, 2020
Chapters: Acts 3-5
Message: Faith Defines Infirmities

Hello My Friend,

[Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I am found, was blind, but now I see.] How sweet is the sound of grace? That amazing favor and good will toward God in that He saved your soul through your faith alone in Jesus Christ, and of no merit of your own. Amen! So, as I was driving, this fool cuts in front of me on the left while I was waiting at a red light while another fool on the right decided to cut in front of me on the right, both at the same time. Well, both of them, by the mercies of God managed to avoid hitting each other and me at the same time. I started thinking of all the people who died in car accidents over foolish drivers like that, and how many times has protected me, wondering to myself why God spared me when others He did not. Of course, God always has a reason for everything, one verse comes to mind right now, [John 9:3 Jesus answered, Neither hath this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.]

[works of God should be made manifest in him.] More often than we like, what we see as infirmities often play a huge part in our finding Christ. Many people get saved after something tragic happened to a loved one or even themselves. Faith plays as huge part in allowing the works of God to manifest through infirmities, take a person born with downs syndrome or cerebral palsy, while the world looks down on them, God looks up to them, and uses them, not to suffer, rather that He might be manifested through them, by their bringing others to Christ. Now, after the amazing day at Pentecost, the Apostles were ready to preach the Gospel, as Peter and John were walking up to the temple during the hour of prayer, a man, having been crippled from birth sat at the gate. He was a beggar who had people drop him off there every day, what he received was more than spare change.

[Acts 3:1-8,11 Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. 2 And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; 3 Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. 4 And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. 5 And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. 6 Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. 7 And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. 8 And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. 11 And as the lame man which was healed held Peter and John, all the people ran together unto them in the porch that is called Solomon’s, greatly wondering.]

[but such as I have give I thee:] That man’s faith in Christ is what not only cured him, it gave him eternal life. How do we know this? He went right up into the temple, praising God, and thanking Him for giving him what he always had hope in. You see, we can approach the infirmities of life in one of two ways, we can wallow in anger and die a miserable person, or we can find grace through Christ, and live with the hope of it being whole again. Of course, when all the people who saw this man daily at the gate standing next to Peter and John they were astounded and wondering what they did to cure this man. Well, Peter saw what was going on and spoke.

[Acts 3:12-16,19,25-26 And when Peter saw it, he answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof we are witnesses. 16 And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. 19 Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; 25 Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed. 26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.]

[And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong,] Well, if that is not a straight forward and blunt way of preaching the Gospel, I do not know what is. The Gospel is the death, burial and resurrection of Christ, we must have faith in all that He is in order to see Him manifest through our infirmities. Now, we do know that God does not miraculously cure everyone so that all believe in Christ, sometimes, He actually keeps them in their state so that their faith through them will bring others to Christ, [II Corinthians 12:8-10 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.]

[in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.] Do you know how many people God cures? All of them. While God uses doctors and scientists to find fixes and cures, He is the one who actually cures and heals them in hopes that they will acknowledge that. Sadly, very few do, [Luke 17:12,14–17,19 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: 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? 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.]

[thy faith hath made thee whole.] We can be in perfect health, but we are not made whole unless we have the Spirit of God in our souls. Now, the people hearing all this were starting to believe, but it did not take long for the ones who were responsible for Christ being crucified to try and stop them from talking about Him.

[Acts 4:1-4,7,9-12 And as they spake unto the people, the priests, and the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees, came upon them, 2 Being grieved that they taught the people, and preached through Jesus the resurrection from the dead. 3 And they laid hands on them, and put them in hold unto the next day: for it was now eventide. 4 Howbeit many of them which heard the word believed; and the number of the men was about five thousand. 7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this? 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.]

[or by what name, have ye done this?] They certainly could not deny the miracle as they too witnessed this man sitting at the gate, but they never expected to hear Christ’s name again. In fact, they communed together in a separate room and agreed to tell them that they were to never speak in the name of Jesus. That did not stop them, after they were released they went right back to preaching the Gospel, adding to the Church.

[Acts 4:23-24,27-29,31-32 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them. 24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. 29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.]

[but they had all things common.] This is why it is important that we are all likeminded, and of one language. Yes, we will have people of all races, and speaking different languages, but we need to all come together with the same speech if we want to see God manifest through them, [I Corinthians 14:4-5 He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. 5 I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying.]

[that the church may receive edifying.] It is not about making ourselves look good in the Church, it is about shining Christ through us so that others can see Him and get saved as well. Unfortunately, there are many in the church who serve Him and or appear to serve Him, and are only doing it to glorify themselves. Well, God pays attention to that, and they will regret what they have done. A great revival took place every where Peter and John went, people were literally selling their possessions and giving the money to the Apostles to help further their mission, while this was not necessary, it was merely an act of gratitude and thanks, but Ananias and his wife sold a piece of property and told Peter that they gave them the full price.

[Acts 4:35-37,5:1-5 And laid them down at the apostles’ feet: and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need. 36 And Joses, who by the apostles was surnamed Barnabas, (which is, being interpreted, The son of consolation,) a Levite, and of the country of Cyprus, 37 Having land, sold it, and brought the money, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 1 But a certain man named Ananias, with Sapphira his wife, sold a possession, 2 And kept back part of the price, his wife also being privy to it, and brought a certain part, and laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, Ananias, why hath Satan filled thine heart to lie to the Holy Ghost, and to keep back part of the price of the land? 4 Whiles it remained, was it not thine own? and after it was sold, was it not in thine own power? why hast thou conceived this thing in thine heart? thou hast not lied unto men, but unto God. 5 And Ananias hearing these words fell down, and gave up the ghost: and great fear came on all them that heard these things.]

[was it not in thine own power?] Many people, including a lot of preachers, will use these verses out of context, claiming that this is what happens if you do not give all of your tithe to the church. This was not the case, Ananias had the power to do as he wanted with his property, if he said he was only going to give a portion of the money then God would have been fine with that, but he lied. You see, one may be able to fool the people, but they cannot fool God, He will not be mocked, [Galatians 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.]

Today’s Prayer: God, Thank You for giving me life, and for giving me eternal life through my faith in the great sacrifice that You made in sending Your Son to save me. Not by my own works am I saved, but by His finished work on the cross. I can do nothing in this life that will ever have any value without Christ, but I can do all things through Christ who I am blessed by Your grace to have living in me. Thank You for your hedge of protection, and Your mercies and grace to keep me safe and also in using me through my own infirmities. I am a witness of the amazing life that can be lived while I am here, and the proof is just how much You have turned my life around since dedicating my life to You. Jesus, All I ask You for right now is for You to shine Your Light on me so that others can see You through me, and want to know how He can do the same for them. I pray this, in Your name, Jesus. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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