His Workmanship

21. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Those of you that log in daily know that when a scripture really ministers to me then I break away from my study and share it with me.  For the last couple of days, I have been quoting this scripture. 

Ephesians 2:10  “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.   

The word workmanship comes from a Greek word which means fabric, product, to be molded and shaped.   That is just so powerful to me.  We are God’s fabric; to be cut, molded shaped, formed into a product; a masterpiece, special, unique, and individual. 

The text continues with “unto good works.”  We are God’s fabric being shaped unto good works which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. 

I hope that this ministers to you as it has been a source of healing, comfort, and joy these past couple of days. 

We are his workmanship; his fabric.  All we have to do is surrender to the work. 

Have a Great Weekend!! 

 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Understand

20. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Today, we are discussing the interpretation that Jesus gave concerning the parable of the sower.  It is a very popular parable in the life of the church but I’m asking you to read it carefully today and try to analyze where you are or see if you can identify yourself in it.  I just finished reading it and it encouraged me so, I immediately shook off this “haunting” thought in the back of my head that was trying to bring worry on and I decided to hear the word, understand it and bring increase in my life.    Read below and you’ll see what I mean.   

Our text is: 

Matthew 13:18 ”Listen then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.”  

 

In this parable, you will see that what is key is people hearing the word and understanding it.   UNDERSTANDING.  

Let’s look at the first scenario.  In this example, the person mentions matches the sower who scattered seed and some fell along the path and the birds came and ate it up.  This is the person who hears the word and does not understand it and the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their heart.   A seed was planted in their heart but because there was no understanding as to what to do with it then the evil one snatched it  and made it unfruitful. 

The second scenario is the seed that fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil and sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow but when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root.   This is the person who receives God’s word  with joy but because they have no foundation or not rooted in anything or haven’t made any commitment to the things of God, they only last for a while and when trouble or persecution comes because of the word they quickly fall away because they were never really committed. 

The third scenario is the seed that fell among thorns and the thorns grew up and choked the plant.  This is the person that hears the world but the worries of life and the deceitfulness of riches chokes the word and makes it unfruitful.   

The last scenario is seed that is planted and fell on good soil where it produced a crop a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown.    This is the person that heard the word, and understands it and acts on it and gets an increase in their life of more than what they received. 

This is just so refreshing and powerful to me.  Understanding is key.  If we really understand the word and how powerful it is and how effective it can be if implemented then we would experience phenomenal returns. 

 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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Why Speak In Parables?

19. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

We are in the 13^th chapter of Matthew  (Yeah!!!!!) 

 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 13: 1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables, saying: “A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. 7 Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop–a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He who has ears, let him hear.” 10 The disciples came to him and asked, “Why do you speak to the people in parables?” 11 He replied, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: “‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ 16 But blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.  

Today, we study a very popular parable in the life of the church.  Also, in today’s lesson, we learn why Jesus spoke in parables. 

The text teaches that Jesus speaks in parables so that the people who are not supposed to receive the knowledge of the kingdom will not be able to understand less they believe the gospel and be converted. 

This statement along with others has raised a lot of controversy in church history.  Most of the controversy stems over the Armenian and Calvinist view points.   Calvinists believe that there are an elect people that God has chosen from the foundation of the world and those are the ones that will be saved.  Armenians believe that because God knew which decision each person would make then God labeled the elect according to what He foresaw each person would do.   For Calvinist, the decision is entirely up to God and for Armenians the decision is up to the individual.   

It is an ongoing debate and the church is divided over it.  Personally, I believe that the scriptures are clear as to which position we should embrace, however I will not engage in that debate at this time. 

It is interesting as to why Jesus spoke in parables.  Most people don’t really know, they think it was simply a story telling device of the day and Jesus was embracing it.   Jesus was clear as to what his mission was and was strategic in accomplishing it.   

Read over the parable today and tomorrow, we look at what Jesus says the interpretation is.      

Stay encouraged!!!! 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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True Family

18. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today we close out Matthew 12.  We are making progress. 

Here is our text. 

Matthew 12:46 “While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” 48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”  

 

Today in our text, Jesus makes a bold and it can appear to be uncaring statement for his family.    Let’s look at the text closer.    

Jesus had just finished his discourse with the Pharisees concerning the demon possessed man that was healed, blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (the unforgivable sin), the signs of the time, the testimonies of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba and then the issue with the demons returning to a house that is clean but unoccupied and comparing it to this wicked generation. 

 

After he finishes, his mother and brothers have been standing outside waiting to see him and Jesus then makes the bold statement that his family are those who do the will of his Father and he points to his disciples as being his immediate family. 

We know that Jesus was concerned for his family.  When he was dying on the cross he entrusts the care of his mother to his beloved disciple John.   Jesus was emphasizing that if family members do not share the same values that you have and same mission concerning the things of God then your spiritual family actually becomes more important.  It does not mean that you neglect your family, the bible is clear that we should honor our father and our mother and that doesn’t mean with our lips but with our resources also.  We are to take care of our parents. 

 

We do not change or alter our belief system based on family influence.  I know that personally in my life, I have 13 brothers and sisters and I am really close to only a couple of them and those are the ones who share my convictions and passion for God and work together in the ministry with me.    I’m not saying that the others do not have strong convictions for God because some of them do but we do not work in the ministry together as I do with the siblings I mentioned above.    

There are some people in my church family who I am way closer to than some of my brothers and sisters.   Jesus is simply saying that family is people who are committed to carrying out the will of God.     A lot of times we let pressure from our unsaved relatives including moms and dads cause us to do things which we know are compromising to the faith.   We are not obligated to anyone who causes us to disobey or stray away from God’s word. 

 

Stay encouraged!!! 

God Bless!!!!!!!  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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An Empty House

17. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

We are still studying the same text from last week.  Here it is again for your review.

 Matthew 12:38 “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of

Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 43 ”When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”

  Last week, we talked about the examples of Jonah and the Queen of Sheba.  In each case Jesus was saying that on the Day of Judgment, their testimony would condemn this current generation because they repented at the preaching of Jonah and one is greater than Jonah is here (which was Jesus) and the Queen of Sheba came from afar to hear the wisdom of Solomon and one  greater than Solomon is here.   In summary, Jesus was saying that people of old made great sacrifices and repented from the preaching of men whose status does not even come close to that of Jesus.   Jesus is now on the scene and his teachings are challenged, questioned, ignored and even at times considered blasphemous and people of old will be more tolerable on the day of judgment than the ones who actually experienced the true teachings of Jesus whether personally or through God’s word.    Jesus closes this scenario with what happens when a demon is cast out of a person and that person doesn’t replace it with spiritual truths.     The opening of this story started with the healing of the demon possessed man and now Jesus instructs that when demons are casts out they immediately look for another place to inhabit and when they find none they say to themselves that they will return to the house that they left and when they find that house clean and unoccupied, they take with them seven other demons more wicked than itself and the state of that man is worst than it was initially. 

Jesus closes by using this analogy to show that this is how this wicked generation is.    People are healed and delivered by the power of God and if they do not embrace the God of their healing then other spirits come in and the condition of that person is worst off than their beginning before they needed the healing/deliverance.    Jesus closes with saying “this is how it will be with this wicked generation.” I know that I have emphasized this a million times, but here again, it shows the importance of having a word and a prayer life.   We must stay rooted and grounded in God’s word so that we can recognize false doctrines and unclean spirits for in the last days, scriptures predict that many will fall away from the faith and go after seducing and strange doctrines.   If we stay connected to God through a consistent word life and prayer life we will never fall into that trap. 

Stay encouraged!!!! All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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The Queen of Sheba

14. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

We are still studying the same text from yesterday.  Here it is again for your review.

 Matthew 12:38 “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 43 ”When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”  

Yesterday, as we studied the text, the issue was that the Pharisees wanted Jesus to give them a miraculous sign and Jesus said none would be given except for the sign of Jonah.  We looked at the story of Jonah on yesterday and saw exactly what Jesus was referring.    Jesus also uses the story of Jonah to indicate that the Ninevehites (the people that Jonah preached to) at judgment would condemn this current generation because they repented at the preaching of Jonah and one is greater than Jonah is here (which was Jesus) and the current generation refused to repent. Our study today deals with the second example that he gives.  It is the story of the Queen of Sheba and Solomon.   Let’s look at the story from the Old Testament. 

I Kings 10: 1 “When the queen of Sheba heard about the fame of Solomon and his relation to the name of the Lord, she came to test him with hard questions. 2 Arriving at Jerusalem with a very great caravan–with camels carrying spices, large quantities of gold, and precious stones–she came to Solomon and talked with him about all that she had on her mind. 3 Solomon answered all her questions; nothing was too hard for the king to explain to her. 4 When the queen of

Sheba saw all the wisdom of Solomon and the palace he had built, 5 the food on his table, the seating of his officials, the attending servants in their robes, his cupbearers, and the burnt offerings he made at the temple of the Lord, she was overwhelmed. 6 She said to the king, “The report I heard in my own country about your achievements and your wisdom is true. 7 But I did not believe these things until I came and saw with my own eyes. Indeed, not even half was told me; in wisdom and wealth you have far exceeded the report I heard. 8 How happy your men must be! How happy your officials, who continually stand before you and hear your wisdom! 9 Praise be to the Lord your God, who has delighted in you and placed you on the throne of

Israel. Because of the Lord’s eternal love for

Israel, he has made you king, to maintain justice and righteousness.” 10 And she gave the king 120 talents of gold, large quantities of spices, and precious stones. Never again were so many spices brought in as those the queen of

Sheba gave to King Solomon. 11 (Hiram’s ships brought gold from Ophir; and from there they brought great cargoes of almugwood and precious stones. 12 The king used the almugwood to make supports for the temple of the Lord and for the royal palace, and to make harps and lyres for the musicians. So much almugwood has never been imported or seen since that day.) 13 King Solomon gave the queen of

Sheba all she desired and asked for, besides what he had given her out of his royal bounty. Then she left and returned with her retinue to her own country.”  

This particular story shows the determination of a Queen who left her throne and literally risk her life by taking a journey all the way from Ethiopia to Israel carrying a phenomenal amount of wealth to present to Solomon all because she wanted to hear about the God of Solomon. Jesus uses this story to say that this Queen’s testimony of her making  the sacrifice to travel to hear the wisdom of Solomon’s will condemn the current generation at judgment for one greater than Solomon is here (He was referring to himself).    These stories clearly show us the sacrifices that people made to discover the truth and we have the truth today written in a book and most Christians fail to study it consistently to discover its phenomenal truths and the liberty that it can bring.   

On Monday, we will put all of our research together and finish this passage. 

Have a great weekend!!! 

Stay encouraged. 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be.

 Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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The Sign of Jonah

13. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 12:38 “Then some of the Pharisees and teachers of the law said to him, “Teacher, we want to see a miraculous sign from you.” 39 He answered, “A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah. 40 For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. 41 The men of

Nineveh will stand up at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for they repented at the preaching of Jonah, and now one greater than Jonah is here. 42 The Queen of the South will rise at the judgment with this generation and condemn it; for she came from the ends of the earth to listen to Solomon’s wisdom, and now one greater than Solomon is here. 43 ”When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. 44 Then it says, ‘I will return to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. 45 Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation.”  

Again our text for today flows out of the same context that we have been discussing all week. The healing of a demon possessed boy by Jesus and the claims made by the Pharisees that it was of the devil and Jesus indicated that their accusations were blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

Our text today opens with the Pharisees asking for a sign.  It is fascinating that after they had just experienced a miracle that they would ask for a “miraculous sign.”   Jesus responds that this evil and adulterous generation would never receive any type of sign except that of the prophet Jonah. 

This particular sign has been quoted and used all throughout church history concerning the death and resurrection of our Lord.  Let’s go back to the Old Testament today and study this story. 

Jonah 1:1 “The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 ”Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” 3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord. 4 Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. 5 All the sailors were afraid and each cried out to his own god. And they threw the cargo into the sea to lighten the ship. But Jonah had gone below deck, where he lay down and fell into a deep sleep. 6 The captain went to him and said, “How can you sleep? Get up and call on your god! Maybe he will take notice of us, and we will not perish.” 7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come, let us cast lots to find out who is responsible for this calamity.” They cast lots and the lot fell on Jonah. 8 So they asked him, “Tell us, who is responsible for making all this trouble for us? What do you do? Where do you come from? What is your country? From what people are you?” 9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” 10 This terrified them and they asked, “What have you done?” (They knew he was running away from the Lord, because he had already told them so.) 11 The sea was getting rougher and rougher. So they asked him, “What should we do to you to make the sea calm down for us?” 12 ”Pick me up and throw me into the sea,” he replied, “and it will become calm. I know that it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you.” 13 Instead, the men did their best to row back to land. But they could not, for the sea grew even wilder than before. 14 Then they cried to the Lord, “O Lord, please do not let us die for taking this man’s life. Do not hold us accountable for killing an innocent man, for you, O Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm. 16 At this the men greatly feared the Lord, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows to him. 17 But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was inside the fish three days and three nights. Jonah 2:1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. 2 He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. 3 You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. 4 I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ 5 The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. 6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 ”When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 8 ”Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. 9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.” 10 And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

New International

 

 

Tomorrow, our text makes a reference to the Queen of

Sheba, so we’ll look at that reference on tomorrow.  As many of you know by now, my style of teaching is whenever there is a reference to anything I go and look up the original story and then reach the final conclusion.  It helps to be able to accurately teach the intention of the author. 

Stay encouraged. 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be. 

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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Good & Evil Fruit

12. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 12:33 ”Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36 But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”  

 

Our text for today flows out of yesterday’s context.   The issue on the floor yesterday was the Pharisees claiming that the healing of a demon possessed boy by Jesus was of the devil and Jesus indicated that their accusations were blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. 

After this incidence Jesus uses the analogy of a good tree and a bad tree to describe the nature of people who could say something or be so evil. 

Jesus teaches us in this analogy that if a tree is made bad only bad things can come from it and nothing good at all and vice versa, make a tree good and its fruit will be good.  Jesus called this Pharisaic group vipers (snakes) indicating that they were evil to the bone and could never say anything good.  It takes an evil person from the heart to really in their minds see a miracle and know that it is a true miracle and rather give glory to God pronounce that it is a work of the devil.   I’m talking about a genuine proven miracle not tricks or falsehoods.   

Jesus goes on to say that a good man brings good things out of the good that is stored up in him.  

Jesus closes out this analogy by warning us that on the day of judgment, we will have to give account of every careless word that we have spoken.  Our words will either acquit or condemn us.   

So let me close with this text from Philippians and all of us can do better with the loose things that come out of our mouths.  Let’s us be quick to hear and slow to speak.   

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 

Whatever we think on will be what comes out of our mouth. 

Stay encouraged. 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be. 

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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The Unforgivable Sin

11. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Today, we will return our study on the book of Matthew. You may want to scan back to the last couple of lessons just to refresh your memory of the flow.

Our text today has a major controversial statement in it. The bible teaches that there is one sin and one sin only that a person can never be forgiven of. That sin is called “blasphemy against the Holy Spirit..” Christians have often asked me because of some of the things that they have said against God in their “crazy” seasons are they guilty of this sin and have genuinely felt nervous about their salvation.

Today, we will look at the context in which this “unforgivable” sin was created.

Here is our text:

Matthew 12: 22 Then they brought him a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, and Jesus healed him, so that he could both talk and see. 23 All the people were astonished and said, “Could this be the Son of David?” 24 But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “It is only by Beelzebub, the prince of demons, that this fellow drives out demons.” 25 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand. 26 If Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then can his kingdom stand? 27 And if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your people drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 28 But if I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. 29 “Or again, how can anyone enter a strong man’s house and carry off his possessions unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can rob his house. 30 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters. 31 And so I tell you, every sin and blasphemy will be forgiven men, but the blasphemy against the Spirit will not be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the age to come.

As you can see in the context, the issue on the table is that Jesus had just healed a demon possessed man and the Pharisees made claims that this healing was done by Beelzebub, the prince of demons.

Jesus responds to their claims first very logically by stating that if Satan is trying to advance his kingdom on this earth then why would he be casting out demons? The casting out of demons on Satan’s behalf would decrease his army not increase so that argument from the Pharisees makes no sense. The people saw the miracle and asked could he be “the son of David” but the Pharisees made claims that he was acting on behalf of Satan.

Jesus then states that a kingdom divided against itself can not stand. If he were of Satan’s kingdom then he would be divided against Satan and therefore the kingdom would eventually fall. Jesus also says that a household that divided against itself will also be ruin. In both these cases, the importance of oneness and unity is needed to advance a kingdom whether good or bad. The power is in unity.

Jesus then makes a powerful declaration. He states that if he then drives demons out by the Spirit of God then the kingdom of God has come upon you. Jesus also states that he who is not with him is against him and those who do not gather with him scatters.

It is out of this context that the statement is made. The issue was that they saw the miracles of God and it clearly was a miracle and act of the Holy Spirit for Satan would not be working against himself by healing and delivering and casting out demons so it is clear that this act was done by the Spirit of God. The Pharisees attributed it to the work of the devil.

Jesus is clear in the text and says that anyone can say anything against the son of man and it will be forgiven but “blasphemy” against the Holy Spirit which is attributing the works of God to the devil will never be forgiven.

This is the Strong’s Concordance definition of the word blasphemy.

1. slander, detraction, speech injurious, to another’s good name
2. impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty

The issue is that when it is clear that a miracle has occurred credit should be given to God and not attributed to Satan. When you go around making claims that it is the work of the devil when Satan would never heal, deliver, set free, cast out demons, etc because it would divide his kingdom and not advance it then you have now begun impious and reproachful speech injurious to divine majesty. In other words, you are speaking against the power of God and giving credit to the devil.

I hope this has helped the many people who have struggled with this statement about the sin that will never be forgiven.

It is even fascinating how Jesus says that the things that are said about him will be forgiven. Many of us know that the world speaks very harshly concerning Jesus and the claims that are made about him through God’s word.

Jesus teaches us in this story that all that can be forgiven but giving credit to the devil when it should go to God is another matter.

Stay encouraged!!!!

All is well, Everything is safe and Everything is as it should be.

God Bless!!!!

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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Arise and Worship

10. November 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

Hello, I am back.   I arrived on this morning.  Again, let me thank all of you for the kind emails and the prayers.  I am honored to know that so many people from all over the world are tuning in daily to study the word of God with me.  

 I know that we are off our study a little bit but thank you for allowing me to just praise God on last week and thanks for all who joined in with me. 

A major chapter of my life has ended and I look forward to a new one beginning. 

God is sovereign and we must all bow to his sovereign will no matter how difficult it can be at times. 

This loss has encouraged me to study harder and to master the field of hermeneutics (the science of interpretation) so that I can always clearly render the right interpretation of scripture. 

I look forward to continuing to share my love for studying God’s word with you.    

Today, I would like to leave you with the sermon text that was preached at Archbishop Wilbert McKinley’s home going.   

Here is the text:   

II Samuel 12:15 After Nathan had gone home, the Lord struck the child that Uriah’s wife had borne to David, and he became ill. 16 David pleaded with God for the child. He fasted and went into his house and spent the nights lying on the ground. 17 The elders of his household stood beside him to get him up from the ground, but he refused, and he would not eat any food with them. 18 On the seventh day the child died. David’s servants were afraid to tell him that the child was dead, for they thought, “While the child was still living, we spoke to David but he would not listen to us. How can we tell him the child is dead? He may do something desperate.” 19 David noticed that his servants were whispering among themselves and he realized the child was dead. “Is the child dead?” he asked. “Yes,” they replied, “he is dead.” 20 Then David got up from the ground. After he had washed, put on lotions and changed his clothes, he went into the house of the Lord and worshiped. 

 

 

The focus of the story is that after major tragedy or loss then we are to ”Arise” and “worship our God.”   

Stay encouraged. 

All is well, everything is safe, and everything is as it should be. 

 

Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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