King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Faith With Power
Date: Thursday December 08, 2011
Chapters: The Book of II Thessalonians
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://thesaviorjesuschrist.com/bible-reading-december-08
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

The word faith means to trust, to believe, to talk yourself into believing that God will make something happen or bring something to pass. God is a, believe by faith and not by sight, God, while He does not need our faith in Him for Him to make things happen, without faith we cannot even get His attention. Now, our faith in God goes up and down like a roller coaster, sometimes it is up really high and we have no doubt that God can bring it to pass. Likewise, it can get so low that we question why God even brought such things in our lives. While the faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains, at times, we need to have faith with power to crush the mountains. “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” - Romans 15:13. The key to having faith with power is allowing the Holy Spirit to abide in us and guide us in our walk with Christ, whether everything is going fine or falling apart, we need constant communication with God. He lives inside of every believer, so, He is always there, but if we never talk to Him how can we expect to see God do anything in our lives.

The Book of II Thessalonians is the fourteenth book of the New Testament, fifty-third book of the Bible and contains three chapters. The author of this epistle (letter) is Paul and it was written to the church at Thessalonica, this was the second letter written to them by Paul shortly after the first as a means to correct some confusion going around regarding the first. The time he wrote the letter was approximately 54AD. The purpose of the letter was to instruct believers awaiting for the return of Jesus and to encourage them to endure tribulations with Him. What we are to learn from the book is that it is important to teach and live by the sound doctrine of the entire Bible. “Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.” - II Thessalonians 2:15.

In his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul gives them some encouragement and instruction on how to handle the tribulation they were facing. There were some people still causing confusion and strife in the church, Paul begins his letter praising them for their faith and patience through their tribulation, which means severe affliction or persecution because of their faith. “We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth; So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer: Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you;..Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” -II Thessalonians 1:3-6,11,12.

We are reminded of something amazing here, Jesus is with every believer through the power of God, who is the Holy Spirit. The word recompense means to reward or pay back, so, our faith in God increases as we allow Christ to glorify us through our tribulation, which in return we are rewarded for patiently enduring them with Christ until they come to pass. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” -Hebrews 11:6. Incidentally, those who cause tribulation will also be recompensed with tribulation themselves so, we need not worry about them because God is taking care of them Himself.

Sometimes tribulation arises as a result of our lack of faith, but often it is a result of our increase of faith. Yes, the more our faith in God increases the more tribulation we face, which actually tells us that we are on the right track. We need to be careful of how we handle tribulation, if it seems too easy to get out of it's probably not God helping us out. And while we all would love the quick and easy way out of our situations, the only thing that leads to is more tribulation. The culprit is Satan and he will do anything, even if that means he has to pretend he is God. Paul explains this further.

“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God...For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved...But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” -II Thessalonians 2:3,4,7-10,13.

Satan, the son of perdition (eternal death) was one of God's archangels, he was cast out of the Kingdom of God when he exalted himself above God. Now, he rules the earth, but I guarantee he is not sitting on his throne awaiting the day Christ returns because he knows his fate. “And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.” - Revelation 20:10. However, that will not stop him from using any means to cause as much tribulation as he can in Christ's believers. Jesus said, “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.” - Matthew 24:24. Why? To keep us from telling others about Christ.

There are so many people who have received Christ thinking that all of their troubles would go away immediately, but then reject Him when nothing changes, having done nothing to acknowledge God in the first place, other than complain that nothing is changing. God does not work that way, we may be forgiven, but we cannot expect Him to change things overnight. No one gets into the situations they have gotten into overnight, so, they cannot expect to get out of them overnight either. What we can expect is a faithful God, full of mercy and grace, willing to help us endure our tribulations with patience as we increase our faith and trust in Him by communicating with Him. That is faith with power. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” - Romans 5:3-5.

Believe it or not, God has chosen you to go through your tribulation. Why? He wants you to be His witness that a wonderful life can be achieved by trusting in His Son and remaining faithful to Him regardless of your situation, whether it is caused by your own doing or Satan's. God loves you and wants the best for you, but you must have faith and be willing to trust Him first, no matter what you are going through. “But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil. And we have confidence in the Lord touching you, that ye both do and will do the things which we command you. And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ.” -II Thessalonians 3:3-5.

Faith with the power of the Holy Spirit backing you up will never fail, “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 8:35-39. Praise God!

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, I will admit that I am not always thrilled by the tribulations you send my way, it seems as though the second I get over one problem another arises. I will not always understand this, but I do understand that You are with me, that You are growing me, and that You are strengthening my faith and trust in You through every trial, every tear, and every fear. Thank You for everything You do for me, I know nothing that I go through is in vain and has a purpose. I love You Lord and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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