King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Gifts From God
Date: Saturday November 26, 2011
Chapters: I Corinthians 10-13
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-26
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

Many people, even babes in Christ, which are those who have been saved, but not quite sure what all that means yet, think that when Jesus came to earth as a baby that He was created then. The truth is, Jesus has always been since God created the world, it was just at that time that He became God in the flesh. Paul explains to the Jews that Jesus already was among their fathers and how they rejected Him back then as well.

“Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea; And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;.And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ. But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness. Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents. Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer. Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.” -I Corinthians 10:1,2,5-11.

The Jews, by a miracle, were led through the Red Sea, by God Himself, where the pursuing Egyptians were drowned after they safely passed. It was to them a typical baptism. The manna on which they were fed was a type of Christ crucified, the Bread which came down from heaven, was the bread of life. Christ is the Rock on which the Christian church is built and of the streams of living water that all believers drink, and are refreshed. “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world...He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.” - John 6:51,7:38.

The Lord's Supper or taking communion is an observance that many churches participate in, it consists of a piece of bread or a wafer and some grape juice, in which the congregation does in remembrance of Christ dying on the cross. This is not representing the bread as the actual body of Jesus, nor the juice the blood, it is a reenactment of Jesus breaking bread and passing the cup to all His disciples, they were to regularly observe this as a remembrance of what Jesus had done. The Corinthians distorted this observance by first, including it in with a normal feast, and second, were denying the poor to partake of the observance. Paul got news concerning this and gave them a harsh warning.

“When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper. For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken. What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not. For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me. For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord. But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.” - I Corinthians 11:20-29.

The Lord’s supper is a memorial of His finished atonement, a parable of His present fellowship with His own and a prophecy of His second coming. These outward signs express the new covenant in Christ, His body broken, His blood shed, the benefits which flow from His death and sacrifice. His blood is the seal and sanction of all the privileges of the new covenant. The ordinances of Christ are very solemn and if they do not do our souls good, will cause much harm and suffering if we partake of them without a sincere heart. A soul saved cannot be denied heaven, but it will endure much suffering in the flesh if it continues living a wicked life. “For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth. If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons.” - Hebrews 12:6-8.

The Body of Christ in the world is for the service for, and manifestation of Christ, and the Body is to serve the Head, whose Body we are. The gifts and graces of the members of the Body greatly differ, but are freely given of God through the Holy Spirit. The Corinthians were arguing whether or not their serving God was more significant than others. Paul explains that all who are saved are members of the Body of Christ and play a part in serving Him.

“Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant. Ye know that ye were Gentiles, carried away unto these dumb idols, even as ye were led. Wherefore I give you to understand, that no man speaking by the Spirit of God calleth Jesus accursed: and that no man can say that Jesus is the Lord, but by the Holy Ghost. Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit...For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ. For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit. For the body is not one member, but many...And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.” - I Corinthians 12:1-4,12-14.

When most people hear the word charity they think of one thing only, giving money or something they no longer need anymore. The word charity means, to show love, benevolence, and good will. It's that disposition of the heart which inclines a person to think favorably of others, and to do them good. In a theological sense, this includes a supreme love to God, and universal good will to men. Of all the skills and talents that God gives us, of all the possessions He gives us. Of everything that God blesses us with, nothing is more joyous to Him than for us to use our blessings to love Him with all our heart and show that love to others by blessing them as He blessed us.

“And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.” - I Corinthians 13:3-8.

Since all the spiritual gifts in the members of the Body of Christ proceed from the Holy Spirit that indwells in them, no member may boast against another, and no member, however insignificant, may consider themselves unessential, but is equally obligated to be yielded to the Spirit. Whether a person is gifted by God to provide one service or many we are all significant to God, no one is left out, yet no one is irreplaceable, we are merely stewards sent to do the work He called us to do at the time we are doing it. “Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful...We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised...For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power.” -I Corinthians 4:1,2,10,20.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, I want to thank You for Your goodness in supplying for all my needs. Certainly You’ve blessed me with physical blessings such as food, clothing, shelter. You also shower me with spiritual blessings as You place godly men and women in my path who revere Your holy name and honor You with their lives. They live above reproach and serve as examples of those who have overcome the world! Lord, just as You brought these dear brothers and sisters into my life for a season, I pray that I, too, will make a positive difference for those who are presently watching my life. I want my testimony to be an example of Your life-changing, all-sufficient, and all-sustaining grace. I love You Lord, and pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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