King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: On Trial For God
Date: Wednesday November 16, 2011
Chapters: Acts 20-22
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-16
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

“Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters. Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God?” -I Peter 4:12-17.

The word will is defined as a personal choice, a desire, when a person chooses to live in the will of God they are saying that they are making a personal choice to live their lives as God would have them live them. When we are up in heaven we will always be in God's will so we might as well get use to it now. It's not always easy following the will of God, we are going to face lots of temptations, trials, suffering, and make a lot of mistakes, but God is always with us and as we endure these trials with Him we can be sure that our greater reward awaits us in the Kingdom of God for eternity.

No matter what Paul was going through he did everything that the Holy Spirit led him to do, if it meant that he was going to suffer he gladly accepted the challenge and went whatever God called him to go. However, Paul was not perfect and we find that even he did not listen to the warnings the Holy Spirit was telling him about going to Jerusalem. See, Paul had this idea that he was to suffer in Jerusalem as Jesus did, God did not want him to go back there, He even used others to help him understand, but he was determined to go there. Along the way he stopped in Miletus and spoke to the elders of the church from Ephesus.

“For Paul had determined to sail by Ephesus, because he would not spend the time in Asia: for he hasted, if it were possible for him, to be at Jerusalem the day of Pentecost. And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” - Acts 20:16-24.

Paul did not know what was going to happen to him when he arrived in Jerusalem, he was well aware that there would be some affliction and he was joyful about it. He encouraged the elders to keep preaching the Gospel and reminded them that Christ paid for their lives as well with His blood. Even when we expect persecution and affliction, the love of Christ gives us the strength to proceed and endure the suffering. “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” - I Peter 5:10.


When trying to do the will of God we are always going to get opposition, this could come from God or Satan, but if what we are trying to do lines up with the Word of God than it will come to pass as it should. Likewise, if we are trying to do things out of the will of God we are going to get opposition from God, God tries His best to keep us from making those wrong decisions so we do not have to suffer any more than we have to. However, He will not stop us if we are determined to go where we need to go, even if it is unintentional. Paul continued his journey to Jerusalem, he ran into a man named Agabua, a prophet who urged him not to continue on his journey. “And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.” - Acts 21:11-14.

Paul was willing to accept that he may die in Jerusalem saying, “The will of the Lord be done.” He truly thought that it was in the will of God that he might die in Jerusalem. While we can not know what the future holds even throughout the day, we can be joyful knowing that one thing in our future does hold true and that is being in the Kingdom of God. “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.” - I Corinthians 6:9-11.

When Paul did arrive in Jerusalem he did get captured and suffered some grief, but he did not die there, it was not in God's will that he die there. One amazing thing about God is that even when we get out of His will His grace is enough to get us back in it. He only allows us to go so far out of His will before He nudges back in the right direction. While Paul went through much suffering in and out of God's will, none of it can compare to the suffering that Jesus endured as He shed His blood to save us. Jesus died for all with joy, He took on the sin debt that every living soul owed by giving His life for them. He bore much pain, humiliation, and suffering so we do not have to spend eternity in hell. “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.” -Romans 5:8,9.
Although Christ died for all He will not give eternal life to anyone unless they ask Him to save them. That is God's will for everyone, but sadly, very few will allow Him to choose His will for them. It takes a strong person to follow the will of God, but we do not have to gather the strength ourselves. Paul knew where his strength came from and that is what enabled him to endure the suffering that he encountered, even when he got out of the will of God. Our strength comes from Christ, and Christ alone, no matter what we are going through 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, although I try to follow Your will I know that there are times in my life where I am going to be out of it, but I also know that Your grace is good enough to get me back in it. Lord, lead me and guide me, help me make the right decisions and help me understand when You are simply trying to tell me that I need to stop what I have determined in my own will to do. I know I can do and endure all things through Christ, who lives in me, when I seek You with all my heart. I love You Lord and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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