King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: God's Voice
Date: Saturday October 15, 2011
Chapters: Mark 6-7
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-october-15

Hello My Friend/Guest,

“Follow after charity, and desire spiritual gifts, but rather that ye may prophesy. For he that speaketh in an unknown tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit he speaketh mysteries. But he that prophesieth speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort. He that speaketh in an unknown tongue edifieth himself; but he that prophesieth edifieth the church. I would that ye all spake with tongues, but rather that ye prophesied: for greater is he that prophesieth than he that speaketh with tongues, except he interpret, that the church may receive edifying...For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” - I Corinthians 14:1-5,33.

All throughout the Bible you will read about God choosing specific people to speak for Him, also known as prophets. A prophet is a believer, someone who has a personal relationship with God, and someone that He trusts to tell others word for word what He wants others to know. It is an honor to be chosen of God to be His voice, since the world has no clue who God is it is important that He choose the right people to the job. The word edification means to enlighten or educate and the word exhortation means to inspire or encourage. God is not the author of confusion, He does not want anyone to speak on His behalf using some unknown mumbo jumbo that you cannot understand. He wants clear understanding in ones own language by those who believe the Gospel, speak the truth, encourage and inspire others living in the truth, and are a comfort to others.

Did you ever notice that you face more opposition from family and friends when you choose to live your life for Christ than from complete strangers? Did you ever notice that it is much harder to convince a family member or friend to live for Christ than a stranger? I knock doors on Thursday nights, minister to complete strangers at my church, and here online, but cannot get one of my family members outside my house or old friends to live their lives for Christ. It is astounding, but not surprising, Jesus explains that He too faced opposition from His own.

“And he went out from thence, and came into his own country; and his disciples follow him. And when the sabbath day was come, he began to teach in the synagogue: and many hearing him were astonished, saying, From whence hath this man these things? and what wisdom is this which is given unto him, that even such mighty works are wrought by his hands? Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him. But Jesus, said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house. And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.” - Mark 6:1-5.

Regardless of whether or not we grew up in a Christian home, people we grew up with or worked with see us as ordinary sinful people, in which, we are, but the difference between us and them is Christ. Those who walk with Christ acknowledge that they too are sinners, but are trusting in Jesus Christ for forgiveness and their salvation. Those who do not walk with Christ take offense to those who do as if they are telling them that they better than them, such is the case when Jesus tried to teach the the Gospel in His home town. So, why is a prophet without honor by family and friends? People that live in sin are actually being convicted when they are around those who live right, so, naturally they react in a negative way. “But have renounced the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor handling the word of God deceitfully; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience in the sight of God...For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ... While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.” - II Corinthians 4:2,6,18.

You know what the most astounding thing is? You can talk about God all day long and no one will become offended, but the second a person talks about Jesus it is if you pointed a gun at them. I asked a young man what he was basing his belief that he was going to heaven on. His response, he whined, “I don't want to into this right now.” Why is it so hard to talk about Jesus? Jesus is a threat because everyone knows who Jesus is, regardless of whether or not they know Him personally, they know He has something to do with the One and only living God. Jesus explains this as religious leaders were questioning why the disciples were not following the tradition of the elders.

“Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.”- Mark 7:5-9.

The key term to watch out for is, “according to the tradition of the elders”, these were laws made up by men, not God and Jesus called them on it. People make the mistake of thinking that if they remove part of God's Word from the equation and make up their own set of rules from bits and pieces of it that their sinful lives will look as though they are justified in God's eyes through their works. What they fail to realize is that no one is justified by their works. “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.” - Galatians 2:16.

If you have been saved you are God's voice, that means you are going to face some challenges as a Christian, if you do nothing beyond salvation you will face challenges, the more you grow as a Christian the more challenges you will face. You are going to face some opposition as well as criticism and even ridicule from time to time, even from fellow Christians. However, our decision to stand for Jesus and keep growing through our strength in Him makes all the opposition worthwhile. You are honored and blessed by God. “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, To an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, Who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.” - I Peter 1:3-9.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,

Lord, I want to be Your voice, to be a witness and a testimony of the wondrous life that You have given me since I have chosen to live my life through Your Son. I know I will face challenges, but I will endure them in the end, always looking to the blessed hope of eternity with You. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power to know Your truths, to teach them, and to encourage others by them. I love You, Lord and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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