In The Power of God

King James Daily Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: In The Power of God
Date: Thursday November 24, 2011
Chapters: I Corinthians 1-4
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-24
All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Hello My Friend,

“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:” - I Peter 1:3-7.

The true Christian’s hope of eternal life and a glorious inheritance through the precious sacrifice and resurrection of Christ, is a hope that quickens them to service, supports them in every trial of faith, and conducts them in a way of holiness to heaven. We are going to be tried for our faith, people who are not living their lives for God are determined to see a true Christian fall, it is only in the power of God that we can know the truth, live by it, endure the constant temptations, and be honored by Christ when we stand before Him.

The Book of I Corinthians is the forty-sixth book of the Bible, the seventh book of the New Testament, and contains sixteen chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to the believers and Corinth, the timeline for this letter is 59AD. The purpose of the book was to address the problems that have been brought to Paul's attention concerning a division between the Corinthian believers. What we are to learn from the book is that Jesus Christ our risen Lord is the Head and Body working though His people by the Holy Spirit. “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” -I Corinthians 2:12.

This epistle (letter) was written to rebuke some disorderly conduct, of which the apostle had been made aware of and to give advice as to some points whereon his judgment was requested by the Corinthians. Paul spent nearly two years at Corinth, where he preached with great success and was the instrument of converting many people, who by him were formed into a church state, consisting both of Jews and Gentiles. The peace of this church was disturbed by false teachers, who undermined the influence of the apostle and now the church has split causing much strife. Now, Paul is trying to put an end to the confusion and debate.

“Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment...For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men.” - I Corinthians 1:10,18-25.

Many churches and homes have been divided because people are not joined together with the same mind and judgment. There is only one Gospel and that is the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, Paul had been bred up in Jewish learning, but the plain preaching of a crucified Jesus, was more powerful than all the oratory and philosophy he learned of the heathen world. Christ crucified is the foundation of all our hopes, the fountain of all our joys, and by His death and resurrection we live. The preaching of salvation for lost sinners by the sufferings and death of the Son of God, if explained and faithfully applied, appears foolish to those in the way to destruction. The sensual, the covetous, the proud, and ambitious, alike see the Gospel as something that opposes their favorite pursuits. But those who receive the Gospel gladly are enlightened by the Spirit of God, see more of God's wisdom and power in the doctrine of Christ crucified, than in all His other works. If not for the blood we would still be bringing animal sacrifices to a priest in hopes to be saved. “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.

Paul had one focus after he was converted to Christianity, preaching the Gospel to anyone and everyone. He did not give long lectures or tell people how to live their lives, he told them how to have eternal life. It was only in the power of God that he was able to speak bold, simple, truth, he did not depend on his own reasoning to preach Jesus he depended solely upon God's reasoning.

“And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God...But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.” - I Corinthians 2:1-5,9-12.

When we do not know Christ we will never understand God, these theological scholars think they have the Bible all figured out, but they really have no clue as to what the truth is. When we accept Jesus as our Savior we receive the Holy Spirit in us, that means He indwells in you and helps you to have a mind like Christ. The Spirit of God nudges at us our entire lives, but to truly know God, to truly know His Word, and to understand His truths is by knowing and accepting Christ. It is only in the power of God that we can see the things that God freely gives to us. He loves us, He sent His Son to die for us, what more can He do to show His love, but to be the Almighty God that He always has been. When we love Him back there is nothing that He will not do for us.

“For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” - I Corinthians 3:9-15.

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
Lord, it's not always easy being a Christian, sometimes it is so hard to do the right thing when I am constantly facing temptation and corrupted people who would find joy in seeing me fall. It is only by Your power that I am able to stand. Lord, give Your power, help me to depend solely upon Your reasoning and not my own to remain faithful to You as I walk through this fire. I love You, Lord and ask this in Jesus' name. Amen.

God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Happy Thanksgiving to my American Readers
Christina

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