Simply Amazing

29. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

No matter what your political views are you have to admit that what we saw last night was simply amazing and how fascinating that it fell on the 45^th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther’s King “I have a dream speech.” 

I was touched as I watched the TV go to thousands of homes across

America and restaurants and other places that had viewing parties.  It reminded me of seeing the movies where they showed how

America sat in front of their radios and TV’s as they listened to both the speeches of Dr. King and John F. Kennedy. 

Whether we are Republican, Democrat, or Independent, history was made last night and I am so proud to be an American.  Just so proud.  How Phenomenal.     

I looked up at God and had to ask “What does it all mean.”    The energy, the motivation, the togetherness that

America showed last night in the INVESCO stadium was amazing.  It reminds you of what being united looks like and even the scriptures teach that when the people are one, nothing that we imagined to do can be withheld from us.  UNITY. 

Calm down!!!   I am not using my daily devotional as a floor to solicit votes for any candidate but I am a black female that was touched by the events that took place on last night because it is historical for my race and our country.  One of the things that make

America great is the freedom to choose and to vote as your conscious guides you.      

I do feel that there was something spiritual in what took place last night.  How it will all play out, I have no idea but I feel as if something so “amazing” is in the atmosphere. 

So today, I will close this week out with a Psalm and we will pick up our Study on Tuesday since Monday is a holiday.   Have a safe holiday weekend and I’ll see you in web land on Tuesday. 

Psalm 133:1 “How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on

Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore. “ 

God Bless!!!!!!!!! 

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

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The Healthy and the Sick

28. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: Our text for today is:

Matthew 9:9 As Jesus went on from there, he saw a man named Matthew sitting at the tax collector’s booth. “Follow me,” he told him, and Matthew got up and followed him. 10 While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with him and his disciples. 11 When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and ’sinners’?” 12 On hearing this, Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick.

The text opens up with “as Jesus went on from there”.  This phrase refers to him healing the paralytic that the friends brought to him.  Here in our text, we have the story of how Matthew (one of the disciples) was chosen.  As you can see, Matthew was a tax collector.   Matthew was actually working, for he was sitting at his tax collector’s booth when Jesus approaches him and instructs him to follow him. 

Sometimes when I hear this sermon preached, I have often heard people say that when the disciples were summoned, they just stopped everything and followed Jesus.   One of the things that I always teach and you will continue to hear me teach is context. The bible is a unit of literature and one story cannot be interpreted in isolation of the whole.  You will discover that the disciples that were chosen had heard of the reputation of Jesus and God was preparing their hearts from the teachings and testimonies that they had experienced.  When Jesus calls them, often times the seed was already planted.

Evidently, after Jesus chose Matthew, he must have invited Jesus to dinner, for the text then teaches that while he was having dinner at the house of Matthew there were other sinners and tax collectors that joined them.In the ancient world, to be a tax collector was one of the most unpopular jobs you could do.  

The tax collectors abused the system and charged the people unfairly and overburdened people with taxes that sometimes they were not required by law to pay.  The tax collectors were hated by the people.   I often find it fascinating as I’m reading the scriptures of the people that Jesus chose to be his disciples and who he chose to help.  Many of these people are those that society has ignored, abandoned, hate and fear.  I can often find myself among them and I am humbled by the acts of his grace and mercy. 

When the Pharisees saw the company that Jesus was keeping they asked his disciples; “why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners” and when Jesus heard them he said it is not the healthy that need a doctor but the sick. 

I often think about how as Christians so many times our circle of acquaintances only includes people that are like us in our faiths and beliefs.  People often use the scripture “Be not unequally yoke with unbelievers for what fellowship does darkness have with light” as grounds to support not having any associations with “sinners.”    

One of the basic and most important missions of the gospel is to be a witness.  This concept is often loss within the agenda of the church and is greatly ignored in our own personal lives.   Encouraging each other as believers has its place but one of our reasons for being here is to tell others about the “hope” that we have and the God that we love and his son Jesus who can forgive sins and save souls. 

While sometimes it is not always heard much, there is an eternity and there is a destination for our souls called heaven or hell.  Once we come into the truth, then it is responsibility to share that truth with others.  

I have heard so many excuses as to why as Christians we do not witness.  We often say that the circle of people that I deal with at work, at home, at church, etc are the same  and they all know Jesus and if they don’t, I have already witnessed and they are not ready to accept Jesus yet.      While I know that in this busy world, this scenario is true for many of us, sometimes we have to take the time to put ourselves in other situations where we will meet other people who need to hear the message of the gospel.  It can be volunteering at a prison, or nursing home, or shelter, or joining community groups, or different societies and organizations where you will have opportunities to constantly meet different people.      I know …….  You may say I already have too much on my plate.   I have learned that sacrificing to help others can be one of the most beneficial things that we will ever do in life; not only does it help others but we usually end up getting more out of it than the people that we are helping.  It is so healing. So remember…….  In the words of Jesus, the healthy do not need a doctor but the sick do. God Bless!!!!!!!!! Don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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I Surrender All

27. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Most of you that have been following my daily devotionals know that every once in a while I will break away and share a song or a scripture that is in my heart.

I have been singing this song for the last couple of days.  It is an old and popular hymn.  I woke up singing it this morning again and I find myself humming it all throughout the day.I want to share it with you today and hope it gets in your heart and spirit as it is in mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
All to Him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust Him,
In His presence daily live.

I surrender all, I surrender all,
All to Thee, my blessèd Savior,
I surrender all.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Humbly at His feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine;
Let me feel the Holy Spirit,
Truly know that Thou art mine.

All to Jesus, I surrender;
Lord, I give myself to Thee;
Fill me with Thy love and power;
Let Thy blessing fall on me.

All to Jesus I surrender;
Now I feel the sacred flame.
O the joy of full salvation!
Glory, glory, to His Name!

God Bless!!!! 

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

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The Power to Forgive Sin

26. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:   

 

We are making progress; we are moving on into the 9^th chapter of Matthew.   Our text for today is: 

Matthew 9:1 Jesus stepped into a boat, crossed over and came to his own town. 2 Some men brought to him a paralytic, lying on a mat. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” 3 At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!” 4 Knowing their thoughts, Jesus said, “Why do you entertain evil thoughts in your hearts? 5 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 6 But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” Then he said to the paralytic, “Get up, take your mat and go home.” 7 And the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to men. (NIV) 

 

Hello, today our text reveals for the first time in our study the power that Jesus has to forgive sins.   So far, Jesus has established himself as a great teacher, a healer and has demonstrated the ability to cast out demons.     

Forgiveness of sin is the heart of the Christian message.  Our sins can be forgiven.  Jesus died for our sins.    The power to forgive sins is the most distinctive message of the gospel.   

When we started this study, we talked about the theme and message of the gospel of Matthew.  Matthew shows through a myriad of miracles the deity of Christ and the fulfillment of messianic prophecies.   

Thus far, Matthew has established the deity of Christ in the following three ways(1)  as being over the physical realm (waves and winds obey him) (2)  as being over the supernatural realm (demons are subject to him)(3)   and now being on the spiritual realm ( sins are forgiven by him).  

 

 

Our text today picks up with Jesus entering into a boat and returning to his home town.  We closed out yesterday with the story about the community of people asking Jesus to leave because of the healing of the demon possessed man.  Today, we see where he went after he was asked to leave that city.  Jesus went home.   Though Jesus was born in

Nazareth, earlier in Matthew we are told that Jesus moved to

Capernaum and established his home there.  In one of our remote accounts of that move, it actually states that Jesus was forced to leave

Nazareth because “he was a prophet without honor in his own home.”   

Today, I simply wanted to lay the foundation for this miracle and review some things about the goal of Matthew’s writing.  I try not to do too much info in one day because I want us all to remember the history and retain the story.  My strategy is to give out small bits at a time for memory sake. 

Tomorrow, we’ll get into this miracle.   Every so often, I invite you to review the old posts.  It is my desire that when we finish this book of Matthew that you will have a good foundation in both old and new testament theology. 

For the many people that are just joining me, all the old posts are available for your review and you can reference them at any time. 

Today, don’t forget the simple message of the gospel which is Jesus has the power to forgive sins.  You don’t have to walk in condemnation.  You cannot out sin the grace of God.  There is more grace than any amount of sin that you will ever do.  Yes there are consequences for our actions but one of them is not un-forgiveness.   Jesus has the power to forgive sin.   You hadn’t destroyed anything.   

I John 1: 8 “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.  

 

God Bless!!!!  

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

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Returning Home

25. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  Today I want to finish our story of the demon-possessed man from Luke’s account.    Let’s look at the text: 

33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ”Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.   

Last week we talked about the man’s nakedness being clothed and he has now been sitting at the feet of Jesus in the teacher/mentor position and he is in his right mind.  The people of the region were now afraid.  It is fascinating how they tolerated life with the demon possessed man and how they had learned to live with the crazy men that slept among the tombs but now that he is healed and in his right mind, the community is afraid. 

Let’s look at several reasons, why the community could have been afraid.  The text teaches that they wanted Jesus to leave as a matter of fact, they begged Jesus to leave.  Mark’s account teaches that there were about 2000 pigs that ended up being destroyed when the demons went into the swine.  Most scholars agree that the estimated loss of 2000 swine being killed was probably equal to at least $250,000.00  dollars.  Wow, instantly, Jesus hurt their economy by a quarter of a million dollars.    

In other cities, when miracles were done, the people would go back home and bring their lame, demon possessed and sick for Jesus to heal but in this particular city, they begged him to leave once they saw this miracle.  Could it be that making money was more important than saving souls.  Could it be, that they were fearful that any other miracles could have led to financial disaster also.  Could it be???  You know……… things that make you say uhmmm!!!!!  The community did not celebrate the deliverance of this man.  They did not celebrate that this man had been healed and could rejoin society.  They feared……..  and begged Jesus to get out of their country.  WOW!!!!!!!!!

Let’s return to the man.  The text teaches that when Jesus left, the man begged Jesus if he could go with him.  A lot of times after a powerful conference, or a powerful revival, or a powerful life changing experience with someone, it’s hard to leave.  You don’t want to return to life as usual.  You want to stay there where you felt safe, and healed and where you got built up again in life. Jesus instructs the man to go home and tell how much God has done for you.   

The departure is sad but to grow we must leave and put in practice what we have learned.    This story reminds me of how I felt this weekend in

California.  I was there doing a women’s conference and when I ended the service on Sunday, I did not want to leave the service.  I wanted to lie on the altar and just lay in God’s presence.  If I had not had a plane to catch, I would have done just that.   I would have stayed and just worshipped making peace with God.  I probably would still be on that alter.   

To all my friends in LA, let me say that I thoroughly enjoyed ministering at the conference and though it was hard to leave because I too wanted to stay under the healing power of God,  life does go on and we do have to return to our homes and tell others what great things God has done for us.    All is well,  Everything is safe,  Everything is as it should be. 

God Bless!!!!   

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

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Clothed and in my Right Mind

22. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Today, we are continuing our study from yesterday.  I will list the text again for your convenience.  

Matthew 8: 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 ”What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.  

Yesterday, we focused on a certain day…….   Today we want to cover some other aspects of this story.   This story appears two other times in the bible.  It has a remote context in both Mark and Luke.  What I mean by remote context is when the story is taught in another source outside of the original.   Studying the remote context can give you a full picture of what is happening.  The remote context often has information that is not found in the passage you are studying and when you study all sources it gives you a clearer picture of what happened.

Let me demonstrate this to you.   When you read this passage in Luke  it says the following; 

26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes, which is across the lake from

Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg you, don’t torture me!” 29 For Jesus had commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and had been driven by the demon into solitary places. 30 Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” “Legion,” he replied, because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had gone out, sitting at Jesus’ feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the demon-possessed man had been cured. 37 Then all the people of the region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 ”Return home and tell how much God has done for you.” So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus had done for him.  

 

As you can see Matthew is a more abbreviated version of the story.  From Luke we know that his name is Legion.  Luke’s account says that it was one demon-possessed man that met Jesus while Matthew says two (that’s a whole different topic).  Luke’s account teaches us that after Jesus cast out the demons and when the town came out to see what was done they found the man sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.  Luke’s account also tells us that when Jesus got ready to leave, the man in whom the demons were cast out of begged Jesus to go with him but Jesus instructed him to stay and return to his home and show how great things God hath done unto him. 

Luke closes his account with the man going out and publishing throughout the whole city the great things that Jesus had done for him. 

Okay,  the end of my “how to study the bible session.”  I was simply trying to show you how studying the remote contexts can give you a complete picture of what really happened. 

Today, I want to focus on a couple of details that Luke gives us which Matthew doesn’t.  The first one is after Jesus cast out the demons, the text says that he was found sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. 

I remember when I was a little girl being reared in the Baptist church, I use to hear the older mothers and deacons of the church get up and testify that they thanked God that they woke up this morning “clothed in their right mind.”    They simply meant that they thanked God that even in their old age, they still had the soundness of their own mind and it also meant that they were so glad that they had discovered the truth of the gospel which was “right thinking” or being in their “right mind.”   

When I became an adult and when I came across this story for the first time, I laughed.   I was not laughing at those men and women in that small country town where I was born that used it because they were innocence and sincere about what they were thanking God for.  I laughed because for the first time, I found out where they got the saying. 

In this text, it was not saying that the man was clothed in his right mind it was saying that the demon possessed man had originally approached Jesus naked and his nakedness was now covered and Jesus had even restored his mind. 

Let’s look at a couple of things.  The text says he was sitting at the feet of Jesus.  In the ancient world, this was a phrase to denote the mentor/student or the teacher/student relationship.   What I love about this is that Jesus did not just cast the demons out of this man and set him free.  He started training him on how to think again.  I often wonder when I read this text how awesome it would have been if the scriptures would have revealed the private lessons that were given to this man to restore his mind but even though we didn’t have a glimpse into that conversation, in speculation, it was probably similar to what he taught in the sermon on the mount for I know that in my own personal study of that sermon I felt like for the first time in my life, I understood what God required of me and how to meet those requirements.  It was life changing and mind renewing. 

Jesus restored him.   We can only imagine the torment that this man must have gone through all these years being possessed by this devil. He had to learn how to live again, How to trust again, how to function in society again and how to let go of all the mental and emotional problems that came from being demon possessed.   I have no idea what it must feel like to not have control of your mind.  The closest I could ever come to even imagining would be the times that my mind has been consumed with so much negativity, fear, confusion, frustration, pain, failures, and helplessness to the point that I once wanted to commit suicide because the mental pain was just too intense. 

But GOD!!!!!!!!!!!!!   Oh……..  I thank you.    God I love ya.  Freedom in you.   My mind is free.  As the old folks use to say I woke up this morning clothed and in my right mind. 

On Monday, we’ll finish our story but what I want us all to take away from this is that the teachings of the bible or the word of God is so transforming and so powerful that no matter what we are battling mentally and emotionally, it has the power right now to “put us in our right minds” or get us thinking how God would want us to think. 

 

Have a great weekend.  See you on Monday for the conclusion of the matter, there is still some fascinating facts to uncover. 

 

 

God Bless. 

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

 

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On a Certain Day

21. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 8: 28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 ”What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?” 30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.” 32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.  

Our text today has some fascinating facts in it.   For those of you who have been following this Matthew study know that earlier in this chapter when Jesus saw the crowds, he instructed his disciples to get a boat and go to the other side.  During this trip, is when “without warning” a storm came and the winds and waves beat against the small boat to the point where the disciples thought they were going to die and they cried out for Jesus to save them.   Jesus rebukes the winds and the waves and the disciples are amazed and they cry out; “What manner of man is this that even the winds and waves will obey him. 

Our text today picks up when the boat lands on the other side.  Look at who Jesus’ welcoming committee is:  two demon possessed men that were so violent that no one could pass that way.  This is so fascinating to me.  Out of all the places that Jesus could have landed on that shore, He goes to a place where no one dares to travel because there lives two men among the tombs (graveyard) where demons have made their home and society had written them off.   In Luke’s account it tells us that this man met Jesus naked and bound with chains and had been driven into the wilderness by the demon that possessed him.  In Mark’s account it teaches that this man would scream aloud daily cutting himself with stones and no man could tame him.    Both Mark and Luke identified the man’s name as Legion (because many devils were entered into him).   

 

I love this text because it shows that even if we have love ones or relatives or we ourselves are in situations where we are deemed useless by society and are inwardly tormented by our own demons (which may be many), Jesus still finds us.    Have you ever been in situations or have seen situations where it just seemed hopeless.   

You ever hear people say things like “They will never change, “They will never become anything,  “they are too far gone, “it’s hopeless”.    We don’t see those people as having a heart for God or they are so controlled by their addictions and habits and their traumas from the past that we feel that this is the way it will always be for they are viewed as beyond help. 

God can reach out to us even when our minds are controlled by other things and it seems that we don’t even have the ability to seek him.  These demon possessed men were not seeking after Jesus.  Jesus went to them.   The demons were so many and had such control over them that later in Luke’s account it teaches that Jesus had restored his mind.   His mind ……  He had lost his mind…..    His ability to reason, his ability to function, to be in control, to understand, to get his life back.   For everything starts with the mind.  As long as we have control of our minds, no one can hurt us, no one can make us feel inferior, no one can tell us that we will never be nothing, because in our minds, is the ability to dream, to see ourselves in a different place…..  living the life we’ve imagined and being all that God has designed for us to be.    It all starts with the mind.   Even the scriptures teach that there must first be a “renewing of the mind.”   This man had lost his MIND!!!!!!!!!! 

Even in our daily walk, longevity of time has a way of making us believe that God is not going to answer and God is not going to help, and this is the life that I’m doomed to  but I am hear to announce today that Jesus can find us wherever we are.  As a matter of fact if you read this text from Luke’s account (8:22-39) It says “Now it came to pass on a certain day;”      Oh!!!!!!!!!!!  I have to take a pause here and breathe……….   On a certain day..   That is a biblical term that means it was planned.   There is an end to our issues……  There is an end in sight.   On a certain day, Jesus went into a ship with his disciples and he said to them, “Let us go over unto the other side of the lake.”   

Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!   I can’t breathe.     I love God so.   On a certain day.  There is a planned season scheduled for us, and it’s closer than we’ve imagined.   On a certain day.     This was not a coincidence.  Jesus was purposeful and led by God in all his decisions.    In the midst of his busy schedule, when the crowds demanded his attention, when his popularity was at his height, Jesus left it all, to go to a place where he would be met by two naked demon possessed men to let them know that it was their time. 

Okay,  I have to calm down.   I think I’ll stop here and tomorrow we will pick up the story.   On a certain day……    

 

Be encouraged,   I can’t wait to show you how this story ends.   Soooooooooooooo  Powerful. 

 

God Bless. 

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

 

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Help My Unbelief

20. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:   

I was studying this morning and was moved by this story.  It is found in the book of Mark.  I know we are suppose to be in the book of Matthew but somehow I was drawn to this particular story. 

Mark 9:14 When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. 15 As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him. 16 ”What are you arguing with them about?” he asked. 17 A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. 18 Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.” 19 ”O unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.” 20 So they brought him. When the spirit saw Jesus, it immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth. 21 Jesus asked the boy’s father, “How long has he been like this?” “From childhood,” he answered. 22 ”It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” 23 ”‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for him who believes.” 24 Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” 

The part of this story that touched my heart today was verses 23-24.   The father asks Jesus if you can do anything take pity and help.  Jesus repeated “if you can?” as if to question the man’s faith and then he goes on to say that “everything is possible for him who believes.”  The man stated to Jesus that he believes but help his unbelief. The man was asking Jesus to help him with his doubts.  The man indicated that he believed but it was not a perfect belief and that in the midst of him believing there was doubt that he was wrestling with. 

Often times we find ourselves believing that God can do something but wrestling with doubts as to will God do it for us.  We may trust God for our eternal security but would we struggle with trusting him if we suddenly lost our jobs or wanting to open up our own business, or needed healing, etc.     

We believe that God is able but we often doubt will God intervene on our behalf.    My prayer today is that God would help our unbelief.    Every area that we are weak in concerning our faith, let’s pray today that God helps any doubts we may have and that God would strengthen us through his word. 

For Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God. 

Lord I believe, but help my unbelief. 

God Bless!!!!  

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

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When God says

19. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:   

 

I woke up this morning quoting this verse and I can’t get it out of my head so I thought I would share it with you this morning. 

Isaiah 55:10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 12 You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you, and all the trees of the field will clap their hands 

There is a word on our lives and no matter how things look or how long it is taking for your God given dreams to manifest, the text teaches that if God said it , He will bring it to pass.  Just like rain and snow comes down from heaven with the intent of it is to water the earth, you will never see a snow flake or a rain drop leap up from the earth and return back to heaven, so is the word of God.  God’s word will not return unto him empty, but it shall accomplish the thing HE sent it to do.  It cannot fail.  It will accomplish the desires of God and achieved its purpose. 

What a comforting fact.   Nothing is loss.  Our mistakes, our failures are not powerful enough to interfere with the plan of God.  We do not have to walk in condemnation.  Yes there are consequences for our actions and sins but God does promise to work everything together for our good.  We may have to learn some hard lessons from our disobedience but the plan of God will prevail. 

 

God Bless!!!!  

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

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Without Warning

18. August 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: Welcome back from the weekend.  Today’s lesson has a familiar story.   It is the episode with Jesus and his disciples out on the sea and a storm arises and the disciples are afraid. 

Here is the text: Matthew 8:18 When Jesus saw the crowd around him, he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20 Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” 21 Another disciple said to him, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” 22 But Jesus told him, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead.” 23 Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. 24 Without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. 25 The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” 26 He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!”

When I am reading the bible, I always look at the biblical material and ask myself what Jesus would want us to take away from this text today.     There are several things that we can learn from this passage of scripture.  I think all of us will agree that incased in life are its share of storms.  While this incidence was a real live physical storm, the underlying issues of faithlessness and not trusting are still applicable to us today.    

Let’s look at verse 24- the text says that without warning, a furious storm came up on the lake.   The text seems to imply that the normal signs of a storm such as dark clouds, a change in the temperature, winds, etc did not occur.  The storm appears to have just come out of no-where.  These are usually the worst ones to handle because we get no warning.   You start your day out normal as usual and all of a sudden before you return home our whole lives can change instantly without warning;  the storms of life.   

During this storm, Jesus was sleeping. That is so powerful to me.  When you are filled with destiny and purpose you can sleep in the midst of a storm because nothing will happen that God does not allow and if something does occur then it all fits in the plan of God for our lives. For all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose. 

I do understand that this was early in Jesus’ ministry and maybe the disciples still were not convinced that Jesus was the son of God and the long awaited Messiah.  Clearly his reputation of teaching and miracles had preceded him and whatever the disciples were thinking, Jesus must have demonstrated enough in their presence for them to come to the right conclusions for he clearly labels them as having “little faith.”     

God has revealed so much to us in his word and in our personal experiences with him yet each time we go through something we cry out as if God does not see our suffering.  The issue is not crying out, for God is our father and we can go to him with everything but the issue is to cry out in disbelief or without faith. 

The bible teaches us in Phillipians 4:6-7 “ Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

The disciples had seen the miracles, they had experienced his teaching, they had watched him cast out demons and yet were concerned when they were in their first storm together. 

They must have believed that Jesus had the power to do something for they awoke him and said “Lord save us” but evidently they were not convinced of the extent of his power for after Jesus rebuked the winds and waves, they cried “what manner of man is this that even the winds and waves obey him.” Whatever situation you’re going through, whatever storms you suddenly find yourself in, Jesus is right there with you; in the boat (in the storm).   We are safe.  Everything is as it should be, all is well. 

Just believe and Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

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

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