King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: Stand Fast In Faith
Date: Sunday November 27, 2011
Chapters: I Corinthians 14-16
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-27
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

As Christian's we are taught to respect the views of others, while we do not have to agree, we are to respect their beliefs. It really does no good to argue with them anyway as they are set in their ways, just as we are, and they will not budge no matter how much we try to convince them, unless they draw that conclusion on their own. My nephew is a very picky eater, he will eat things that you would never imagine as long as he decided he wants to try it on his own, but tell him to try it and he automatically thinks it's disgusting and will not touch it. I think we are all that way in some form, tell us to do something and we immediately want to rebel, especially if we know it is something good for us. People are going to believe what they want, even if it is not true, but as long as we keep the truth in us we guard ourselves from being corrupted and believing their lies.

“This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:.That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” - Ephesians 4:17,18,22-24.

Once in a while someone will ask me to compare a book with my Bible, I never read books about the Bible other than perhaps the history of it. I know my Bible, and while I do read some commentaries from like minded individuals, I know they are human and can make mistakes in how they interpret a passage, just as I do at times. You see, no matter how many times we read His Word, we always interpret a passage a different way, sometimes it can be wrong. God designed the Bible that way so we learn it a little at a time and as we grow in His Word we learn that we did, in fact, interpret that particular passage wrong. I have read the Bible through for four years so far and every year I learn something new. God's Word was not meant to be read one time and you have it all figured out, it's meant to be read daily. Why? So we understand it. Think about it, when you first picked up a Bible didn't it seem like Greek to you? As you read it you learned and understood it as the Holy Spirit gives you that understanding. Paul encourages those who do speak of God's Word to speak it clearly.

“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...So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? for ye shall speak into the air...If any man speak in an unknown tongue, let it be by two, or at the most by three, and that by course; and let one interpret. But if there be no interpreter, let him keep silence in the church; and let him speak to himself, and to God...For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.” -I Corinthians 14:2-4,9,27,28,33.

It drives me crazy when people, who know how to speak English start speaking in another language with you standing right there. I understand if the person they are talking to does not understand English, and they are interpreting what you are saying, but it is so rude to carry on a conversation in a foreign language with someone else and being left standing there wondering what they are talking about, and I tell you what, the first thing you think is that they are talking about you, especially if they are laughing. God is not that way, He wants us to be able to understand clearly what He is saying, He doesn't leave anyone out of the conversation, that is why He enlists preachers, teachers, and evangelists to help interpret His Word. “And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:” - Ephesians 4:11,12.

Why does God use only certain people to teach His Word? While many so called professors and theologians will tell you that they know the Bible, they have no clue what they are reading. For one, you must be saved, and the majority of those who wise men are not saved. Two, it is the Holy Spirit that teaches truth and God only gives the power of the Holy Spirit to those who are saved. Therefore, God must use people who know the truth to teach the truth. If all of us that knew the truth kept it to ourselves there would be a lot more people in hell because when we die we would take the truth with us and no one would be getting saved. Paul addresses some saved Christian's who were preaching against the resurrection.

“Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:..Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there be no resurrection of the dead, then is Christ not risen: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. Yea, and we are found false witnesses of God; because we have testified of God that he raised up Christ: whom he raised not up, if so be that the dead rise not. For if the dead rise not, then is not Christ raised: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. Then they also which are fallen asleep in Christ are perished.” -I Corinthians 15:1-4,12-18.

If we do not speak the truth to others, we are leaving it up to the human mind and their own reasoning to learn about God. Let me tell you, there is nothing more scarier than a saved person, who used their own reasoning, to figure out God's Word instead of God's. Your mind will come up with all kinds of corrupted interpretations if you left it up to you. I was talking to someone the other day trying to convince me that I am not saved because Jesus said, “Only those who endure to the end will be saved.” When I quoted, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” they tried to discredit my ability to understand the Bible. That was the end of that conversation. That is why people are welcome to believe what they want and why God only wants us to associate with likeminded Christian's. Before Paul ended his letter to the Corinthians he encouraged them to keep living the truth in faith.

“Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity...That ye submit yourselves unto such, and to every one that helpeth with us, and laboureth...For they have refreshed my spirit and yours: therefore acknowledge ye them that are such...All the brethren greet you. Greet ye one another with an holy kiss...If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.” -I Corinthians 16:13,14,16,18,20,22-24.

The phrase Anathema Maranatha means, cursed, for the Lord is coming, Paul is saying that if anyone does not want to get saved, let them receive the curse, for the Lord is coming. Jesus is coming, whether people accept or reject Him, those who reject Him are under the curse, which is death and hell. If you have spoken the truth and it was rejected, don't worry about it, they are not rejecting you, they are rejecting Jesus, you did your part, you spoke the truth, if they do not want to believe it then it is their decision. You can try to warn people, but they ultimately must make the decision to accept or reject Christ into their lives. All we can do for those who refuse to accept Him is pray that their hearts would be open to accept the truth before it is too late. “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live.” - John 5:24,25.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Everywhere I go I run into people trying to get me to fall away from You, they tempt me, try me, doubt me, but I know the truth. Lord, keep me in Your Word, never let me cease from praying, help me to learn Your truths so I can withstand what is actually Satan's attempt to keep me from telling them to others. Lead me and guide me, give me Your power, wisdom, mercy, and grace to get through another day standing fast in my faith of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who is my Savior and lives inside of me. In Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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