King
James Bible Daily Devotion – Learning
Scripture One Day At A Time
Date: Thursday,
November 12, 2015
Chapters: Acts 7-8
https://imfollowingjesus.com/Bible-Reading-316.html
Message
Title: Living
With Christ Through Trials

Hello My Friend,

With
all the trials and tribulations that come from being a Christian,
there truly is no other life to live. Let me tell you, when we belong
to Christ we are not a friend of the world, and the world will call
us out in a second. The more we live with Christ the more we will be
persecuted by the world, but remember this, you shine, you are the
light that gives hope to others as Christ shines through you. It's
all about following the will of God and believing in His promises,
after all, we have nothing to be worried about, if our flesh goes to
sleep we will wake up with Jesus. “But I
would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which
are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also
which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.” - 1
Thessalonians 4:13,14.

“concerning
them which are asleep,” A saved soul dwells in the body of
the person that it is living in, but when that body dies or in our
case goes to sleep our soul is taken up to heaven with Jesus. A soul
that does not know Jesus is cast into hell to await a more
excruciating eternal death when Jesus returns to judge everyone. The
Holy Spirit does some amazing things in us when we allow Him to work
in us, but we also face some trials when we do. Stephen
a true, born again Holy Spirit filled man of God, chosen along with
six other men to head up the first Christian church in Antioch, was
great at preaching the Gospel. He lead so many to the
Lord, but this did not go well with the religious leaders because
the people were turning away from them. Now
he stands before the council to plead his case and interestingly,
instead of defending himself he gave them a history lesson about
Israel, including delivering Jesus to the Gentiles upon His death.

“Then said the
high priest, Are these things so? And he said, Men, brethren, and
fathers, hearken; The God of glory appeared unto our father Abraham,
when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charran, And said unto
him, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and come into
the land which I shall shew thee. Which also our fathers that came
after brought in with Jesus into the possession of the Gentiles, whom
God drave out before the face of our fathers, unto the days of David;
Who found favour before God, and desired to find a tabernacle for the
God of Jacob. But Solomon built him an house. Howbeit the most High
dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet, Heaven
is my throne, and earth is my footstool: what house will ye build me?
saith the Lord: or what is the place of my rest? Hath not my hand
made all these things? Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and
ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do
ye. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and
they gnashed on him with their teeth.” - Acts
7:1-3,45-51,54.

“they were cut to
the heart,” These men were literally biting him and beating
on him, it was the only way they could stop him. They killed Stephen
that day, and did it out of pure hatred of their own convictions.
Conviction cuts straight to the heart, and sadly we are the targets
because we are right there at the time. I remember the first time I
went soul winning, the very first door I was yelled at. The man was
not mad at me, he was bitter and angry over his life or past and I
happened to be the one he went off on. It's personal to us, it's
personal to God, it's Him that they are mad at. Jesus said, if they
welcome us great, if not, move on and go to the next door, it's not
us they have to face, but Jesus. “And
whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart. And
whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake
off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.”
- Luke 9:4,5.

Many times people believe a false religion
because it's all they know, I grew up Catholic, and still today I
catch myself following those traditions I was taught. Saul, was a
Pharisee and did what he was taught, including persecuting
Christians, he followed orders because he thought it was the right
thing to do. Meanwhile, Philip, wondering if they would come after
him too went into Samaria and continued preaching the Gospel there,
introducing Christ to the Gentiles and leading many to the Lord,
including a sorcerer named Simon.

“And
Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a
great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they
were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and
Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his
burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made
havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and
women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered
abroad went every where preaching the word. Then Philip went down to
the city of Samaria, and preached Christ unto them. And the people
with one accord gave heed unto those things which Philip spake,
hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. Then Simon himself
believed also: and when he was baptized, he continued with Philip,
and wondered, beholding the miracles and signs which were done.”
- Acts 8:1-6,13.

“he continued
with Philip,” I mention Simon because we must realize that
not everyone or religion that claims to know Christ is true. Simon
was the first heretic in the Christian Church, the first to claim his
fellowship with Christ, but was never actually saved. He followed
Philip with the intent to figure out all the miracles being made and
was found out when Peter and John showed up.

“Now
when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had
received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John: Who,
when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive
the Holy Ghost: (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only
they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.) Then laid they
their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost. And when Simon
saw that through laying on of the apostles' hands the Holy Ghost was
given, he offered them money, Saying, Give me also this power, that
on whomsoever I lay hands, he may receive the Holy Ghost. But Peter
said unto him, Thy money perish with thee, because thou hast thought
that the gift of God may be purchased with money. Thou hast neither
part nor lot in this matter: for thy heart is not right in the sight
of God. Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if
perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.” -
Acts 8:14-22.

“for thy heart is
not right in the sight of God.” We may appear to know
Christ, but God knows the heart of each and every person that truly
accepts and believes in His Son. These people were not filled with
the Holy Spirit by any special power that the Apostles had, it was
their faith that filled them with Him. Salvation cannot be bought, it
cannot be sold, and that is because it was already bought and paid
for by Jesus, who died in our place for our sins. You can ask Jesus
to save you and be baptized many times, but it doesn't work that way,
you must believe in what Jesus is saving you from, and it only takes
one time to ask Him. I am proof that, I asked Jesus to come into my
heart many times, I was even baptized as a baby, but none of that
saved me. It was only when I was presented with the Gospel and
understood what Jesus did for me that I truly repented and received
Him as my Saviour. “Even the righteousness of
God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that
believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come
short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace
through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:” - Romans
3:22-24.

Today's Prayer:
God, I cannot ever forget the love and mercy that You showed me when
You brought me up out of the pit I was in and gave me a new
beginning. No suffering can compare to what I would receive had I not
put my faith and trust in Your Son to save me. It is only by Your
power that I am what I am today and even though I am going through
some struggles I know You are with me, and You will see me through
them as I stand by my faith in You. I love You, Lord and pray in
Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,

Christina

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