King James Bible Study – [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.]
Date: Tuesday, November 23, 2021
Chapters: Acts 13-14
Message: The Words of Spirit And Life
Hello My Friend,
I will never forget the first time that I went soul winning outside the church and led someone to Christ. This was different than being with someone who witnessed to them or witnessing to them in church, I was so excited that I dropped the fliers that I was carrying and it was windy, trying to catch them from blowing away. That was actually what inspired me to start my ministry, and become more accountable in the Word. I did not want to be someone who just preached the Gospel, I wanted to be someone who was knowledgeable as well as obedient to God’s Word. Now, it has been well over eleven years since I began my ministry, I may get a little behind on what God has led me to teach in regards to what true Christianity is, but the Holy Spirit still gets me up every morning to read and study His Word so that I can minister what He teaches me onto you. It really is true what Jesus said about choosing you because, being the introvert that I am, I would have never done this on my own. [John 6:62-64 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? 63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. 64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.]
Yes, when Jesus chose His first twelve disciples, He was well aware of Judas and that he would betray Him, but that did not stop Him using him. Remember, God does use some vessels of dishonor to bring true believers to Christ. This was the case when God, through the Holy Spirit, sent Saul and Barnabas to Paphos. As we continue in the reading of Acts, Saul and Barnabas were still in Antioch when they were both led by the Holy Spirit to separate from them and go minister the Gospel elsewhere. They found themselves in Paphos, it was there that Greek Mythology was very prominent, in fact, they had a temple there for the goddess Venus. There are two islands which go by this name, both adjoining, and on the west side of the island of Cyprus. One is called Old Paphos, the other New Paphos, the old is probably the island here mentioned.
[Acts 13:2-8 As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them. 3 And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. 4 So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed unto Seleucia; and from thence they sailed to Cyprus. 5 And when they were at Salamis, they preached the word of God in the synagogues of the Jews: and they had also John to their minister. 6 And when they had gone through the isle unto Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Barjesus: 7 Which was with the deputy of the country, Sergius Paulus, a prudent man; who called for Barnabas and Saul, and desired to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith.]
[whose name was Barjesus:] Barjesus, who was actually Elymas, was one of those false prophets our Lord said He should arise, and deceive many; he pretended to foretell things to come, and practiced sorcery, and was given to magic arts. It was Sergius that called for Barnabas and Saul, who would now go by his Roman name, Paul, to preach the Gospel there. Apparently they were well aware that Barjesus was not a real prophet, but Sergius desired to hear the true Word of God, and got more than the Gospel preached to him.
[Acts 13:9-12 Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10 And said, O full of all subtilty and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? 11 And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. 12 Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord.]
[Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed,] The Holy Spirit will send us into some strange places sometimes to minister the Gospel, but this proves that it does no matter what religion or god people are brought up to believe in, Jesus will reach a true believer of God anywhere, [1 Timothy 1:15-16 This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. 16 Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.]
[Longsuffering; Bearing injuries or provocation for a long time; patient; not easily provoked.] We love it that God is longsuffering toward us, but we do not realize just how longsuffering we become toward those who are lost as well as those who are not aware of God’s Word. The Holy Spirit does something in us that enables us to be bold and preach the Gospel, even more when we are facing affliction or persecution. Paul and Barnabas went into a synagogue, and after hearing the Law read to the congregation, Paul stood up and used it to show them Jesus, who was promised to come through David.
[Acts 13:15-17,21-23 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying, Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on. 16 Then Paul stood up, and beckoning with his hand said, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:]
[which shall fulfil all my will.] David, was no different than any other true believer, he messed up many times in his walk with God, but God still knew that he was a man after His own heart. Paul gave them a history lesson from the time the Israelites left Egypt to the time of Jesus, stating that David, died having that same faith that we have today, and wrote several Psalms to prove it, which by the way, all the prophecies came true. He goes on to say why David was justified with that same faith and not his works as they believe.
[Acts 13:28-31,38-39,43 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain. 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from the dead: 31 And he was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 38 Be it known unto you therefore, men and brethren, that through this man is preached unto you the forgiveness of sins: 39 And by him all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses.43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.]
[persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.] It was right there that both Paul and Barnabas found out just how powerful preaching the Gospel is. They boldly preached Christ, and nothing stopped them, even though the envious Jews kept following them, causing havoc on them wherever they went.
[Acts 13:45-49 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. 46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region.]
[and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life,] You see, anytime a person rejects the Gospel and seeks other means for their salvation they are judging themselves unworthy of everlasting life. Salvation really has never been about works, it has always been about faith in God, when one has faith in God and wants Him in their life they will seek redemption, that was what the works did, the sacrifices and offerings from the Law of Moses brought temporary redemption. Those who are true believers do the works of Christ through their faith, and not out of obligation, [Romans 2:12-15 For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; 13 (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified. 14 For when the Gentiles, which have not the law, do by nature the things contained in the law, these, having not the law, are a law unto themselves: 15 Which shew the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and their thoughts the mean while accusing or else excusing one another;)]
Something incredible happens when we start serving the living God, Christ literally shines through us and people start seeing Him in us. Unfortunately there is one downfall to that, many unknowingly want to give us the glory for saving them, when it has nothing to do with us, as we are just His messengers. When in Lystra Paul and Barnabas came across a man who was crippled, seeing his faith in Jesus he touched him and yelled out for him to stand up. The people did not give God the glory, but gave it to Paul and Barnabas, believing them to be gods, and wanted to give sacrifices to them, but Paul quickly stopped them.
[Acts 14:13-18 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people. 14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out, 15 And saying, Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein: 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good, and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.]
[ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God,] This is what true repentance is, turn your mind away from the corruption that you were taught about religion and turn it to the Gospel of Christ. Oh, how foolish people are when they have no clue who Christ is, let alone God, and we who know the truth, should be soever grateful that Christ reached us, fully knowing that it certainly is not in our own doing that we serve the living God, [1 Corinthians 15:10-11 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 11 Therefore whether it were I or they, so we preach, and so ye believed.]
Let Us Pray: Jesus, Thank You for opening my eyes to the truth of the Gospel, and where my life was headed if I did not receive You as my Saviour. Now, I boldly proclaim my faith in You, and please forgive me where I have failed You on this. You are my Lord, and Saviour, I am nothing without You, and while there is absolutely nothing I could ever do to repay You for saving me from my life, my faithfulness to You will lead others to You, if only to show them that life without You is no life to live. I love You, Lord, and pray this in Your name, Jesus. Amen!
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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