King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Confidence in Christ
Date: Thursday November 17, 2011
Chapters: Acts 23-25
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-17
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

“Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:..For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.” - Romans 1:3,4,20-25.

Ask anyone if they believe in God and you will find that the majority of people do believe in God, well, they may believe in a form of God anyway. The reason I say a form of God is because it's much easier to believe in a man made god than in God Himself. The difference, a man made god is one that creates God in an image they perceive Him as. It's much easier to believe and follow the laws and regulations of what man believes God to be than simply following God's truths. You know, the funny thing is that God makes it simple, He says, “Believe in my Son and I will take care of you and even give you eternal life.” yet man makes it complicated by adding all these rules along with it. They enforce things like, you must get baptized, must pay money, must join my church, must get people to join my church, must remain good, must confess your sins to a priest, etc. Can I tell you that none of these things get you to heaven? The only way to get to heaven is by admitting that you are a sinner, believing in Jesus Christ, and asking Him to save you.

This is not new news, it has been before Jesus even came in the flesh, this is what Paul has been preaching during his ministry and why he now being tried in Jerusalem. In fact, he was transferred from Jerusalem and sent to one country after another in hopes that the Jews would convince just one of these foreign rulers that he needed to die for telling people about Jesus. Paul stood before the Sadducees and Pharisees to represent himself, his defense was his personal testimony.

“And Paul, earnestly beholding the council, said, Men and brethren, I have lived in all good conscience before God until this day... But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.“ - Acts 23:1,6-11.

Here are two different religious groups divided among one another, both believed in God, but one did not believe in the resurrection and the other did. It was believed to be that Paul's fate was in the hands of these men, but little did they know that Jesus was with him the whole time and that He was in control of Paul's fate, not them. Jesus is always with His believers, no matter what we are going through, even if we caused the affliction we are facing. God is always in control of our fate, He will stop at nothing to see us accomplish the tasks He has given us. “Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. Seeing ye have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently: Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” - I Peter 1:21-23.

The unbelieving Jews were determined to find someone who would testify that Paul committed a crime. However, no matter where Paul went he was somehow allowed to speak in his defense, he never stopped confessing that he followed God and His Word and no fault was found in him by any of the rulers.

“And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” -Acts 24:9-16.

Paul lived by the Scriptures and it was by doing so that he knew the truth and also trusted in the hope of God to get him through every one of the circumstances he faced. He knew who God was and he was not about to compromise his beliefs in order to save his life, he knew that his life was saved already because he knew who God was and even if he died he would be right there with Him in heaven. All who are saved can join Paul in saying, “According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” - Philippians 1:20,21.

We should all have the same confidence that Paul had when he was faced with adversity, if we have accepted Christ as our Savior we can endure all things through Christ. Then, we can join Paul in saying, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” - Galatians 2:20. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, today we search our own hearts and ask, “Are we ashamed to bear Your name? Do we really know You in whom we believe? Do we fully believe that You are able to keep Your promises?” God, reveal to us the things that need our attention so we can fully gain confidence in Christ Jesus our Lord in all that we do . To live in Christ and to die is gain when we get to see our Lord face to face in heaven one day. Show me the way, Lord, help me to endure my afflictions without taking my eyes off you. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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