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Today is Wednesday November 17, 2010 and we are continuing our reading through the Bible. Today's message comes from the Book of Acts, chapters 23-25. In these chapters we will read about, Paul standing before the religious rulers in Jerusalem, the Jews plot to have Paul killed, Paul is sent to Caesarea, the to Rome, where he goes before Festus, and his appeal to Caesar. If you would like to read today's chapters along with us here online you can Click Here to read them or copy & paste this link onto your browser: imfollowingjesus.com/bible-november-17 All Scripture quoted comes from the King James Version.

Today's Message: In God We Trust
Amazingly you can look around anywhere and see that God's presence is known, I was watching tv last night, they were in a court room and behind the judge was the inscription, “In God we trust”, in fact, the same inscription is printed on US money as well, but do we really trust Him? Many say they do, but what god are they putting their trust in. It is easy to say that I believe in God, but, we all have to ask ourselves this question. Am I believing in the God that is or the god that man says is? There is a difference, it's much easier to believe and follow the laws and regulations of what man believes God to be than simply following God's truths. “Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened..And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.” - Romans 1:21,23.

You know, the funny thing is that God makes it simple, believe in my Son and I will take care of you and even give you eternal life, yet man makes it complicated by adding all these rules along with it. They enforce things like, you must get baptized, must pay money, must join my church, must get people to join my church, must remain good, must confess your sins to a priest, etc. Can I tell you that none of these things get you to heaven? The only way to get to heaven is by admitting that you are a sinner, believing in Jesus Christ, and asking Him to save you. “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” - Romans 10:9,10.

This is not something new, this is what Paul preached during his ministry and what he was arrested for in Jerusalem. In fact, Paul was transferred from one country to another in hopes that the Jews would convince one of these leaders that he needed to die for telling people about Jesus. As he stood before the religious leaders in Jerusalem he noticed one thing. “But when Paul perceived that the one part were Sadducees, and the other Pharisees, he cried out in the council, Men and brethren, I am a Pharisee, the son of a Pharisee: of the hope and resurrection of the dead I am called in question. And when he had so said, there arose a dissension between the Pharisees and the Sadducees: and the multitude was divided. For the Sadducees say that there is no resurrection, neither angel, nor spirit: but the Pharisees confess both. And there arose a great cry: and the scribes that were of the Pharisees' part arose, and strove, saying, We find no evil in this man: but if a spirit or an angel hath spoken to him, let us not fight against God. And when there arose a great dissension, the chief captain, fearing lest Paul should have been pulled in pieces of them, commanded the soldiers to go down, and to take him by force from among them, and to bring him into the castle. And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” - Acts 23:6-11.

Here are these two different religious groups divided among one another, both believed in God, but one did not believe in the resurrection and the other did. Religion has nothing to do with God's Word, it's all about using bits and pieces of it in order to create their own set of rules and laws in how they want people to worship them. Sadly, many churches will claim that they know who Jesus is, but they are just as lost as the rest of the world. It was religious people that killed Jesus and still today they literally kill and send thousands of people to hell. None of us want to admit this fact, but it is the truth. “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” -Revelation 20:14,15.

It was believed to be that Paul's fate was in the hands of these men, but little did they know that God was with him and that he was in control of Paul's fate. No matter where Paul went he was somehow allowed to speak in his defense, he never stopped confessing that he followed God and His Word and no fault was found in him by the rulers. “But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men.” -24:14-16. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” - Romans 6:23.

Paul lived by the Scriptures and it was by doing so that he knew the truth and also trusted in the hope of God to get him through every one of the circumstances he faced. He knew who God was and he was not about to compromise his beliefs in order to save his life, he knew that his life was saved already because he knew who God was and even if he died he would be right there with Him in heaven. We should all have the same confidence that Paul had and if we have accept Christ as our Savior we can. “For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.” - I Timothy 4:10.

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

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