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: Thursday, October 17, 2019
Chapters: Mark 6, Luke 9
Message: The Churches Of The Saints
Hello My Friend,
There is a proposal going on in Florida to have it a requirement that public schools teach the Bible. While I am all for a Bible class, I do not think it should be a requirement. First of all, this is no longer a Christian nation, people from all sorts of religions will partition for the requirement of their religion to be taught. Second, there are way too many versions written about the Bible itself, which are only one mans view of what they believe the Bible says. And third, no religion can be forced upon anyone, if God cannot force someone to read His Word, man cannot. In fact, one woman who is for this, commented that it is necessary because Christianity is too complex, stating that you need several versions of the Bible in order to understand it. Let me tell you, God is simple, man is the one who complicates Him, even religion cannot get Him right, and that is the very reason why He would be against this. “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” – 1 Corinthians 14:33.
“as in all churches of the saints.” Here is the key right here, the saints. Saints are not a bunch of dead people who were recognized by the Catholic church as being all righteous. They are actually the living believers of Jesus Christ. If you believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, that He did all this to save you, a sinner, from death and hell, are a trusting in Him alone to save you from death and hell, and asked Him to save you then you are a saint (I Corinthians 1:2). And the way, you are no longer dead, you alive, meaning your soul is alive. “And he said to them all, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: but whosoever will lose his life for my sake, the same shall save it. For whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words, of him shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he shall come in his own glory, and in his Father’s, and of the holy angels. But I tell you of a truth, there be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the kingdom of God.” – Luke 9:23-27.
“but whosoever will lose his life for my sake,” I was going to wait until the end of this message to use this Scripture, but that is not how God wants me to do it, so, here we go. This does not mean that we will physically die in order to be saved. This means that we no longer are trusting in our self works to save us, rather His finished work on the cross. You see, this is the first time the disciples were hearing this, up until this point, they were teaching the parables that Jesus had taught them. Mark and Luke also tell of Jesus sending the disciples out in the streets in the cities and towns preaching of the Kingdom of God.
“Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece. And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them. And they departed, and went through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing every where.” – Luke 9:1-6.
“and gave them power and authority over all devils,” Keep in mind that what Jesus was doing here was instilling the peoples trust in the disciples being one of His, Jesus gives all His saints power and authority over the devil. Remember, the devil can afflict our body, but he cannot touch our soul, it belongs to Jesus, and we have the power in us to tell the devil to back off (Mark 8:33). The disciples, called apostles, gathered together with Jesus to tell them all they had done. The reason they were called apostles is because they were the first Christians to preach the Gospel after His ascension being a witness to what had taken place. There are no apostles today, we who serve Him today are called disciples Although Paul became an apostle when he did not walk with Jesus at this time, it was Jesus who appeared to him, and converted him (Acts 8).
“And the apostles gathered themselves together unto Jesus, and told him all things, both what they had done, and what they had taught. And he said unto them, Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while: for there were many coming and going, and they had no leisure so much as to eat. And they departed into a desert place by ship privately. And the people saw them departing, and many knew him, and ran afoot thither out of all cities, and outwent them, and came together unto him. And Jesus, when he came out, saw much people, and was moved with compassion toward them, because they were as sheep not having a shepherd: and he began to teach them many things.” – Mark 6:30-34.
“because they were as sheep not having a shepherd:” All who do not know Christ as their Saviour, but know of Him are sheep having no shepherd. Now, both Mark and Luke tell of Jesus feeding the five thousand. After they ate, Jesus sent the people away, and the disciples too, while He went up to a mountain to pray. Mark also gives the testimony of Jesus walking on the water, but watch how he tells it.
“And when even was come, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and he alone on the land. And he saw them toiling in rowing; for the wind was contrary unto them: and about the fourth watch of the night he cometh unto them, walking upon the sea, and would have passed by them. But when they saw him walking upon the sea, they supposed it had been a spirit, and cried out: For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he talked with them, and saith unto them, Be of good cheer: it is I; be not afraid. And he went up unto them into the ship; and the wind ceased: and they were sore amazed in themselves beyond measure, and wondered. For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened.” – Mark 6:47-52.
“and would have passed by them.” How many people see Jesus coming toward them through their storms of life, but He just passes them by? You would be surprised to discover how many do let Him just pass by. Do you know why He passes them by? The do not cry out to Him. If we want Jesus to save us, we cannot just sit there and let Him come to us, while He is right there, He will not unless cry out to Him. I asked my church kids, “If someone handed you a gift, would it be yours unless you take it?” They all agreed, and these are kids ten and under, that if you want the gift you have to take it. Jesus has the gift of eternal life for you, the only way He will give it to you is if you take it (Romans 6:23, Romans 10:9-10). Think about it, the disciples were out teaching this message that Jesus has been teaching them, but not all of them believed it. He asked them a question.
“And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples were with him: and he asked them, saying, Whom say the people that I am? They answering said, John the Baptist; but some say, Elias; and others say, that one of the old prophets is risen again. He said unto them, But whom say ye that I am? Peter answering said, The Christ of God. And he straitly charged them, and commanded them to tell no man that thing; Saying, The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be slain, and be raised the third day. And they were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying.” – Luke 9:18-22,43-45.
“Let these sayings sink down into your ears:” They surely did not understand, and were afraid to ask Him. Later on they would come to understand all this once He arose and got pass the shock of all that had taken place. Remember, what I had said in the beginning, Jesus gives His saints power and authority over the devil. Luke records the testimony of the man, desperate for help for his son, having gone to the disciples first. “And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not. And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither. And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.” – Luke 9:38-42.
“how long shall I be with you,” Do you have sight by see faith, or see by faith sight? After Jesus arose, Thomas would not believe that it was Him until he put his finger in the holes of that the nails pierced through His body. Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.” (John 20:29). When you, by faith receive Jesus Christ as your Saviour, you lose the life you once had because you are given a new life, one with Christ in your soul. Jesus changes us from a dead soul to one that is alive, remember, you are alive in Christ. “For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” – Romans 6:10-11.
Today’s Prayer: Jesus, There is not a day that goes by where I do not wonder why You chose me to be one of Yours, I mess up every day, yet You continue to use me to tell the world about You. The greatest miracle You ever did in me is save me from the pits of hell, but You did much more than that, You saved me from the pain I could have inflicted from my dead soul. I am a living soul because of my faith in You alone. I do not always understand You, and I do not know why You need me so, but I do know that I need You every second of every day because my flesh is weak and You are my only strength. When I am sad, You are my joy, when I fall, You pick me up, when I cry, You dry the tears, You are always faithful to me, and I am sorry for the times I let You pass by when I thought I could get by on my own. In Your name Jesus, I pray. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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