King James Bible Study Devotional
Message Title: A New Creature
For: Monday November 29, 2010
Chapters: II Corinthians 5-8
Click Here to Read Them or Go to: http://www.imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-29

Details of Today's Chapters: The Tabernacle of God, living by faith, the ministry of reconciliation, believers and unbelievers not equally joined, Paul's ministry, the grace of God.

Hello My Friend/Guest,
When you accept Christ as your Savior, the Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” - II Corinthians 5:17. What this means is that even every ridiculous or stupid thing we ever did before we knew Christ has been wiped clean from our slate. We now have a second chance to do something amazing with our lives while we are still here on earth. Praise God! Of course, that means if we do want something amazing to happen we need to keep Christ with us always. “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10.

While we are not saved by our works, our works after we get saved determines the success we have as a Christian here on earth and even what we receive in heaven. Of course, we are going to get tried, of course, we are going to see some suffering, of course, we are going to lose some things, but imagine just how much we gain each time we endure those struggles. Paul said, “For we know that if our earthly house of this tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, an house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens...Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord. Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”- II Corinthians 5:1,7-10.

Believe it or not, but the second you get saved you become a dwelling place for God. We might have churches or buildings that we gather in to worship the Lord, but God is not within those four walls, God is within every saved person that brings Him in those walls. Imagine the power of God within those walls upon every person joining together? That is one great power of God. We are all going to have to face Christ one day for the things we have done even those who get saved, whether they be good or bad. “We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.) Giving no offence in any thing, that the ministry be not blamed: But in all things approving ourselves as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,..As sorrowful, yet alway rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” -II Corinthians 6:1-4,10.

Those receiving the grace of God in vain are those who have gotten saved, but never use that second chance to change their lives for God. They abuse the gift of their salvation as a way to do whatever they please knowing that they can still go to heaven. This will all backfire on them eventually, but those who use that second chance to turn their lives around while enduring trials are the ones who will truly prosper. “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” -James 1:12.

Did you ever wonder why a person living a wicked life seems to prosper and get away with things, while you struggle with so much? God knows your faithfulness, He knows that you are capable of doing what He asks you to do, therefore, He is going to keep you faithful by placing some struggles before you. “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 4:16,17.

Come judgment day your faithfulness is going to pay off, Jesus is going to show you how much you He appreciates all the hard work and suffering that you have been through. “Therefore, as ye abound in every thing, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and in all diligence, and in your love to us, see that ye abound in this grace also...For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” - II Corinthians 8:7,9.

What about the unfaithful? It might look as though they have everything they want and do whatever they want to get it, but God is not the one making them look like they are prospering, it is Satan. Satan will do anything he can to keep anyone from following God, especially a saved person. While he can not take a saved person to hell with him, he can keep them from seeing that they need God. However, God will show everyone that they need Him one way or another. “In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.” - I Corinthians 5:4,5.

Satan can mess with our flesh, but he can not mess with our spirit. “For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to gainsay nor resist. And ye shall be betrayed both by parents, and brethren, and kinsfolks, and friends; and some of you shall they cause to be put to death. And ye shall be hated of all men for my name's sake. But there shall not an hair of your head perish.” - Luke 21:15-18. Praise God!

Be blessed, enjoy the rest of your day/night and week.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina

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