Philip

16. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: Let’s continue our study of the disciples. Our text is still the same, I will list it so you want have to look it up. 

Matthew 10:2 “These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him. Today we’re going to discuss Philip. The following text teaches that Philip was from Bethsaida the same town that Peter  and Andrew was first.  We first hear of his following Christ in John the 1^st chapter.  We are told that it is Philip that gets converted and then brings a man by the name of Nathaniel to Christ.  

John 1:43 The next day Jesus decided to leave for Galilee. Finding Philip, he said to him, “Follow me.” 44 Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of

Bethsaida. 45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote–Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 ”

Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?” Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here is a true Israelite, in whom there is nothing false.” 48 ”How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, “I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you.” 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, “You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You shall see greater things than that.” 51 He then added, “I tell you the truth, you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.”

The next text shows Philip as the disciple that asked Jesus to show them the Father and they would be satisfied.  Let’s look at Jesus’s response.

John 14:8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you are not just my own. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves. 

The next verse shows Philip being tested by Jesus as to how the multitudes of people were going to be fed.  Again, let’s see what happened. Matthew 9:14 Then John5 When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?” 6 He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do. 7 Philip answered him, “Eight months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each one to have a bite!” 8 Another of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, spoke up, 9 ”Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” 10 Jesus said, “Have the people sit down.” There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them. 11 Jesus then took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed to those who were seated as much as they wanted. He did the same with the fish. 12 When they had all had enough to eat, he said to his disciples, “Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted.”

Philip  was among the group that was gathered together in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

This is the last that we hear about the apostle Philip or the disciple of the Lord.  There is another man by the name of Philip whose begins his account in the book of Acts.  He is labeled as one of the seven.  He was named among the first seven deacons chosen in the church to attend to the needs of the people so that the disciples would not be distracted from preaching the gospel.  He is also referred to as Philip the evangelist and some have even confused him with the disciple Philip.  Let’s look briefly at the things that this Philip does.The next text teaches us that Philip(the evangelist) went down into a city called Samaria and he preached the gospel and caused Simon the sorcerer to be converted.

 Acts 8:5 “Those who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went. 5 Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there. 6 When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did, they all paid close attention to what he said. 7 With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many, and many paralytics and cripples were healed. 8 So there was great joy in that city. 9 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of

Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, 10 and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” 11 They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. 12 But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the

kingdom of

God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. 13 Simon himself believed and was baptized. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.

Philip(the evangelist) was miraculously taken up and sent to minister to the Ethiopian Eunuch.  This is the story.  

Acts 26 Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Go south to the road–the desert road–that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. This man had gone to

Jerusalem to worship, 28 and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the book of Isaiah the prophet. 29 The Spirit told Philip, “Go to that chariot and stay near it.” 30 Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. “Do you understand what you are reading?” Philip asked. 31 ”How can I,” he said, “unless someone explains it to me?” So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him. 32 The eunuch was reading this passage of Scripture: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter, and as a lamb before the shearer is silent, so he did not open his mouth. 33 In his humiliation he was deprived of justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.” 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?” 35 Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus. 36 As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, “Look, here is water. Why shouldn’t I be baptized?” 38 And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached

Caesarea.

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

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James and John

15. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Welcome back from the weekend!!    How bout the “Family that Preys”  Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!   So many emotions went through my mind as I was viewing that film and I will be returning to the theaters again, and again because there are still so many lines that I missed because of “audience interaction.”     You know how we can be.   I hope you saw all the levels of ministry that

Tyler was addressing.  How marvelous that he uses film for ministry.   IT WAS PHENOMENAL!!!!!!!!! 

We are still studying our disciples.  We have learned a little about Peter and Andrew, let’s continue our study today.  Remember, YOU WILL BE TESTED!!!!!!!  (lol)

Matthew 10:1 “He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.”

The next disciples mentioned are James and John which were the sons of Zebedee.  They first appear in the text in Matthew also:   

Matthew 4:18 “As Jesus was walking beside the

Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 ”Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. “

We see in the story above that James and John were also fisherman and they probably also knew Peter and Andrew for they all joined Jesus at the same time;  Peter and Andrew first and then John and James.   We know that John and James were identified as being in the boat with their father whose name was Zebedee and they left the family business to join Jesus.

James, John and Peter are the only disciples that get to witness the transfiguration.  Below is the story of this miraculous event.

Matthew 17:1 “After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves. 2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus”

James and John were given new names by Jesus.  They were called Boanerges, which means the “sons of thunder.” 

Mark 3:17 James son of Zebedee and his brother John (to them he gave the name Boanerges, which means Sons of Thunder);

Below is an insert from the story when Jesus raised up Jairus’s daughter from the dead.  Jesus dismisses everyone from the room except Peter, James, and John.  We see this happened above with the transfiguration.    So as you study you’ll see that among the twelve was an inner circle that consisted of Peter, James and John. 

Mark 5:37 He did not let anyone follow him except Peter, James and John the brother of James.

The following story shows the other ten disciples being angry James and John because they asked Jesus to be able to sit at his right hand in glory.  Let’s look at Jesus’s response to their request.

Mark 10: 35 Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.” 36 ”What do you want me to do for you?” he asked. 37 They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.” 38 ”You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with?” 39 ”We can,” they answered. Jesus said to them, “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with, 40 but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.” 41 When the ten heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.

Doing one of Jesus’ most difficult times, in the

garden of

Gethsemane, he takes the inner circle, Peter, James and John with him.  Let’s look at what he commands them to do.

Matthew 14: 32 “They went to a place called

Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” 33 He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. 34 ”My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,” he said to them. “Stay here and keep watch.” 

 

 

The text below identifies James and John as the fishing partners of Peter.

Luke 5:7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will catch men.”

James and John were apart of the group waiting in the upper room on the day of Pentecost.

Acts 1:13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.

The following text shows that James was killed in the persecution of the church under King Herod.

Acts 12:1 “It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. 2 He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword.”

Okay, I know this is a lot.  Don’t forget to take your notes!!!

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!! 

If you didn’t get a chance yet, make sure you go see this week Tyler Perry’s The Family that Preys”

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!

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

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Being Confident

12. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: You know that every once in a while when I am concentrating on a scripture that has touched my heart or really excited me, I break away from our study and just share it with you.

This is such a familiar text in the life of the church but it just really ministered to me this morning and continues to.

Phillipians 1:6 “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:”

The work has begun and the best is yet to come!!!! 

How amazing!!!!

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!! 

We’ll continue our study of the disciples on Monday. 

See you in the theaters this weekend as we watch Tyler Perry’s The Family that Preys”

God Bless!!!!!!!!!!

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

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Peter

11. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is still the same:

 1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew;

Today, we’re going to learn some things about Peter.  I’m going to give you a list of scriptures to develop some facts about Peter

Matthew 4:18 “As Jesus was walking beside the

Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen.”

This text teaches us that Peter and his brother Andrew were fishermen.

Matthew 8:14 “When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. 15 He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him”

From this text, we see that Peter was married, for Jesus healed his mother-in-law.  Now we don’t know if Peter’s wife was still alive because the text does not mention her.  Peter could have easily been a widow but we do know that he was married and he had a house.

Matthew 16:13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” 14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” 15 ”But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven.

This text teaches us that out of all of his disciples, Peter identifies Jesus as the Christ, the son of the living God.

Matthew 26:69 Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. 70 But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said. 71 Then he went out to the gateway, where another girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72 He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!” 73 After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” 74 Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. 75 Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

The text above teaches us that Peter denies Christ three times.

John 1:44 “Philip, like Andrew and Peter, was from the town of

Bethsaida.” 

This text teaches us that Peter and his brother Andrew were from the town of

Bethsaida. 

For time sake, we’ll just conclude with a summary.  Peter was among the 120 that were in the upper room and waiting for the coming of the Holy Ghost.  Peter was the one that preached the sermon on the day of Pentecost and the first three thousand believers were added to the church.  Peter was beaten and imprisoned for the gospel’s sake.  Peter was the first Jew to crossover and preaches the gospel to a gentile by the name of Cornelius. 

Okay, now at the end of this study on the disciples, I’m gonna give you a quiz and you’ll  have to email it back to me (lol),  so make sure you read to retain. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!   

God Bless!!!!!!!!!! 

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

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Andrew and Peter

10. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is:

1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew;

 Let’s learn a little bit about the disciples.  Today we will focus on Peter and his brother Andrew.   Did you even know that Peter had a brother?    In Scriptures, Peter is the more dominant character but it was actually his brother Andrew that introduced him to Jesus. 

Let’s look at this story:

John 1:29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! 30 This is the one I meant when I said, ‘A man who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.’ 31 I myself did not know him, but the reason I came baptizing with water was that he might be revealed to Israel.” 32 Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. 33 I would not have known him, except that the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is he who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ 34 I have seen and I testify that this is the Son of God.” 35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!” 37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means Teacher), “where are you staying?” 39 ”Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus. 41 The first thing Andrew did was to find his brother Simon and tell him, “We have found the Messiah” (that is, the Christ). 42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter).

As you can see in this story with John the Baptist, Andrew was originally a follower of John the Baptist.  Andrew had been taught from John about Jesus and how that they were simply preparing the way for him.    John saw Jesus in the presence of Andrew one day and identified Jesus as the long awaited Messiah and Andrew begin to follow Jesus.  After Andrew spends some time with Jesus, he is convinced that Jesus is the Messiah and goes and tells his brother Peter that they have found the Messiah and Andrew is the one that brings Peter to Jesus.

It is amazing how Andrew first travels with John and then becomes a follower of Jesus but yet his brother will become the more popular disciple though Andrew appeared to be the more spiritual for Peter was brought into the “game” later. 

Often in ministry, there can be much jealousy and fighting for positions.  Sometimes we feel faithfulness and longevity of time should guarantee us certain positions over against others.  It is sometimes very difficult to see others come in and “appear” to supersede us or be more in front than we are and it often leads to conflict and tension. 

I love this story because it shows that though Andrew was the one that had been trained by John and Andrew is the one that encounters Jesus first and Andrew is the one that introduces Peter to Jesus there is no evidence in the scripture that Andrew had a problem with Peter’s fame and popularity over against his.

Sometimes God has us in places just to be the witness to the one that will be in the forefront and we may be the support system for that person and we may have to live in their shadows.  Spreading the gospel is a team effort.  Everyone has their part.   We should not worry who gets the credit as long as God gets the glory.   All of us have different roles and each role is just as important as the other whether we’re out front or the support system.  We all matter and we’re all important. 

Fighting amongst ourselves is simply a distraction that holds up “kingdom business.” 

This story also helps us understand that despite what is often preached; Peter just didn’t stop everything and follow Jesus.  In some of the remote accounts, you have stories that say he saw Peter fishing and said come and follow me and they stopped everything and followed Jesus.   While this statement of course is true, Peter was being taught all along by his brother Andrew about Jesus from the ministry of John the Baptist and after Andrew was convinced that Jesus was the messiah, he brought Peter to Jesus. 

Tomorrow, we’ll talk about Peter.

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

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The Twelve

9. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

 

 

We are making progress; we are moving on into the 10th chapter of Matthew.   Our text for today is:

 

Matthew 10:1 He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness. 2 These are the names of the twelve apostles: first, Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; 3 Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus; 4 Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him

 

Today, our new chapter opens up with revealing to us for the first time the names of the twelve disciples.

 

Let’s do something different today.  Here is your homework (lol).  Memorize the names of Jesus 12 disciples.  You would be surprised at how many people do not know them. 

 

Tomorrow, in our text they are given their mission and we’ll go into detail as to what they were instructed to do.

 

 

 

God Bless!!!!

 

 

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

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The Harvest is Plentiful

8. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Welcome back from the weekend.

Before I get started, I just want to encourage everyone to go see
”Tyler Perry’s the Family that Preys” this weekend.  The first weekend is so important.    You are going to love it, it has a powerful message.    You know that’s my boy!!!!!!!!!   And I know he’s yours too because many of you were referred to my site because of him so let’s pack the theaters this weekend in support and be encouraged by yet another one of his masterpieces. 

 Today, we are going to finish the 9^th chapter of Matthew.  Our text for today is:

Matthew 9: 32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.” 35 Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. 36 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. 37 Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. 38 Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

The text opens up with “while they were going out.”  This statement refers to the blind men that he had just healed from our previous lessons.    As the blind men were leaving with their sight they brought to him a demon possessed man and when Jesus drove the demon out the crowd was amazed and acknowledged that “nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.”   This miracle however started controversy and the Pharisees accused him of being associated with the “prince of demons.”    In other words, they refused to give “glory to God” for the miracle that had transpired but instead gave credit to Satan.

Matthew concludes this chapter with establishing Jesus as a miracle worker, a healer, a forgiver of sins, able to drive out demons and one who taught with authority.   All these were attributes of God.    While it was not strange to see exorcists practicing and miracles happening, the level that Jesus did them on and the power to forgive sin established him as a Deity and not just an average miracle worker.   Jesus’ power was unlimited for remember in the ship the disciples even proclaimed “what manner of man is this that even the winds and waves will obey him.”

Our text today ends with showing how Jesus had compassion on the multitude and viewed them as a sheep without a shepherd and as he viewed the helplessness, he made a statement to his disciples that the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few and he instructed them to ask the God of the harvest to send out workers to his field.

I have been in a major leadership position in the church world  for over 20 years and I have seen people come in the church time and time  again and seek positions and even seen them leave if they felt they could not get a position or they felt that their talents were not being acknowledged or used by the ministry.    This was not just in my local ministry but I saw the same issues in my travels.    

This was the scripture that I always used to encourage people that there is so much work to do in the field (outside the church doors) that none of us should complain that our talents are being wasted or ignored.   Gathering together on Sundays and bible study nights are to equip us to go out and do the work of the ministry.

Early in the game, before I was ever ordained as a minister, I use to volunteer at the nursing homes on Sunday after church.  I would just go and visit and sometimes read bible verses to the patients or bring music for them to listen to or carry them up to chapel and help out the nurse’s aids.   Later, I started preaching at some of their services and then I got involved in the prison ministry and I  have been a volunteer chaplain for over ten years at one of our local women’s prison.   

We use to go out on the weekend in neighborhoods that were often abandoned by our society and just ask people if we could pray with them for whatever needs they had.  This would often result in us witnessing to them about Jesus and week after week after week we watched so many people get saved and turn their lives over to God.     Even when they didn’t want to hear about Jesus, just being in those streets allowing us to pray with them touched so many of their hearts because they knew that someone genuinely cared about their concerns and we listened to their voice.   After a while, they knew us by name and they anticipated our coming.  

There  are shelters, boys and girls organizations, battered women organizations, community programs, tutorial programs for kids, community centers for senior citizens and the list goes on and on and on as to where we can volunteer and get involved and began to exercise the gifts that are dormant on the inside of us just crying out to be used.

Many of us even sense a feeling of un-fulfillment in life because we know that there are gifts inside of us and skills that are longing to be used and exposed. 

The harvest is plentiful.  There are plenty of opportunities that exist, there is no shortage of people that need help or need to know Jesus.

What is your passion?  What is the thing that is easy for you to do and that when you’re doing it, you feel most fulfilled and it doesn’t feel like work but it feels like living and not existing.   

That skill that you have makes you unique and nobody can take it away from you or can do it with your anointing because it is a gift from God.     My Archbishop used to tell me that 90% of the people that I need to meet to get me to my destiny, I haven’t met them yet  and over the years I have discovered it to be true.   You still have people to meet and you never know where you’ll run into them but what is sure is that they probably want be knocking on your door, you have to get out and get involved. You can’t meet them on the couch and closed up in your own little world of just going to work and then going home.  Do something different and you’ll get different results.

Life is waiting for you, you are in control, change is in your hands and the timing is all up to you.   

Let me be clear, when I say you are in control, I am not taking away from the sovereign nature of God, but I am simply saying that a whole of stuff that we are tolerating and allowing in our lives, we can change by changing the way we think, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, meeting new people, letting go of bad relationships, volunteering and using our talents and skills to help someone else which ultimately strengthens us, etc. 

The scriptures clearly teach that whatosover a man soweth that shall he also reap.  Some of the stuff we’re reaping is because of what we have sowed and we can change our outcome by beginning to sow different things. 

 Sowing and reaping is a universal principle, what you put out there comes back. 

I always say that “Life is not living unless you’re giving.”  

My prayer today is that the God of the harvest would send forth workers into the field and that we would all do better and have compassion and get involved.     Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!   God Bless!!!!!!!!!! 

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

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Do you believe?

5. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is:

Matthew 9:27 “As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, calling out, “Have mercy on us, Son of David!” 28 When he had gone indoors, the blind men came to him, and he asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” “Yes, Lord,” they replied. 29 Then he touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith will it be done to you”; 30 and their sight was restored. Jesus warned them sternly, “See that no one knows about this.” 31 But they went out and spread the news about him all over that region.”

As you can see our texts lately have been one miracle after the next.  If you’re following the study of Matthew then you know that Jesus was first established as a teacher and then it was established that he has the power to forgive sins and now he is being established as a miracle worker.   

If you watch closely at the miracles you will see that they happen different ways.  In one instance the friends bring a paralytic to Jesus and Jesus heals them based on the friends’ faith, at other times the parents bring a request on behalf of their children and are asked if they believe and one answer has been, Lord I believe, but help my unbelief.   Another situation is the woman with the issue of blood whose faith healed her and in the case today, Jesus ask the blind men if they believe that he was able to do it and the text says that according to their faith it was done unto them.

I bring this to your attention because so often I hear in the body of Christ, formulas for healing and miracles.  Often times when people get healed they turn their testimony into a formula that if you do this or that then it shall happen to you for after all God is no respecter of persons.  Sound familiar? 

Then when we do what they say and if the miracle does not occur we are often told that it was because we didn’t believe for if we truly had faith then what you desired would have happened.   This is dangerous theology.   God deals with people in different ways.  Our destinies are different and God aligns things towards that “expected end.”   

For Jeremiah 29:11 says  “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”

Just because something happened for someone else it does not guarantee that God will deal with you that same way especially when it comes to healings and miracles.    I have personally been in situations where I have seen God raise up people off their sick beds and others have died.

We still have to believe God and quote his word in our situations but when we have done all that we can do, the rest is in the hands of God and we must bow to the sovereign will of God no matter what the outcome.

So today the Question is:  “Do you believe that I am able to do this.”    Somehow that is so powerful and comforting to me.  If we ask that question today in our situation and if the answer is yes then you should have just got strengthened and encouraged. 

Hopelessness comes when you don’t think God or anyone else can help you in your circumstances and you can’t see your way out.    

Do you believe that God is able to do this?    Oh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  I believe. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!   

Have a great weekend and I’ll see you Monday in text land.   

God Bless!!!!!!!!!! 

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

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On the Way

4. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

We’re still studying the following text:

 Matthew 9:18 While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

Yesterday, I closed with indicating that it was a risk for the woman with the issue of blood to even be in the crowds and to be so bold as to touch Jesus. 

The text teaches that she had an issue of blood for twelve years. Let’s go back to the book of Leviticus and look at what happened to women who had an issue of blood past their normal menstrual period.

Leviticus 15:25 ”‘When a woman has a discharge of blood for many days at a time other than her monthly period or has a discharge that continues beyond her period, she will be unclean as long as she has the discharge, just as in the days of her period. 26 Any bed she lies on while her discharge continues will be unclean, as is her bed during her monthly period, and anything she sits on will be unclean, as during her period. 27 Whoever touches them will be unclean; he must wash his clothes and bathe with water, and he will be unclean till evening. 28 ”‘When she is cleansed from her discharge, she must count off seven days, and after that she will be ceremonially clean. 29 On the eighth day she must take two doves or two young pigeons and bring them to the priest at the entrance to the Tent of Meeting. 30 The priest is to sacrifice one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering. In this way he will make atonement for her before the Lord for the uncleanness of her discharge. 31 ”‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place, which is among them.’”

As you can see from our Leviticus passage the woman was considered unclean and could not go into the temple nor was she supposed to be around people and she definitely was not suppose to “touch” anyone for anyone that she touched would  also be considered unclean. 

The woman could have easily been stoned for her appearance in the crowd and especially for reaching out to purposely touch someone.   If you read the story in its remote context you will see that when Jesus asked “who touched me” the woman was afraid to reveal her identity. 

Remember from yesterday, Jesus said that her faith healed her.  With the details added today, you can see better how strong this woman’s faith was.  She was willing to risk her very life because she believed that if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be made whole. 

Hebrews teaches that faith is the substance of things hoped for and the evidence of things not seen.   This woman knew that she would be healed if she encountered Jesus.  She saw her wholeness before it happened.

A friend of mine always tells me along with his many fans that you have to see yourself in a better place and you have to imagine yourself there and it will happen.   Just as I was teaching on yesterday, it starts with the mind first and then we must work towards turning those thoughts into reality. 

Our text then continues with the story that we first started with which was the healing of the ruler’s daughter.  When Jesus gets to the house, he sees the flute players and the noisy crowd and says that the child is sleeping and not dead.   This response causes the crowd to laugh in scorn and Jesus puts out all the unbelievers. 

When you are believing God for a miracle it is important to separate yourself from the doubters because they will drain your faith.  It is difficult to have a miracle occur in an atmosphere of unbelief.  Jesus asks the crowd to leave the room and in the remote text it says that he takes a couple of his disciples in with him along with the parents and raises the child from the dead.  

What I love about this story is that you never know when your deliverance or miracle will take place.  For the woman with the issue of blood, she wasn’t even the focal point.  Jesus was on a mission to do something else and “on the way” she got her miracle.   You just never know, you may not be on the agenda but it still could be your day even though it appears that you weren’t on the schedule.     

Things can change suddenly.  You can go to bed one way and wake up totally different.  It happened for Joseph and David and many others.  One day Joseph was in the prison and the next day he was second in command in all

Egypt.  One day David was in the fields as a shepherd boy attending his flock and the next day he was anointed King of

Israel. 

There is a new day coming and in that new day comes fulfillment of dreams and promises and it could happen at any time.

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!! 

God Bless!!!!!!!!!! 

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

 

 

 

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Faith

3. September 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is:

Matthew 9:18 While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, “My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live.” 19 Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples. 20 Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak. 21 She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.” 22 Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed from that moment. 23 When Jesus entered the ruler’s house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, 24 he said, “Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep.” But they laughed at him. 25 After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. 26 News of this spread through all that region.

Today has one of my favorite miracles and one of the most popular in the bible; the story of the woman with the issue of blood. If you read this story in its remote account you will find much more details.    Matthew has a shortened version.  I hope you remember what we mean by remote account.  

The text teaches that “while he was saying this”.  If you remember from yesterday the thing that he was saying was the analogy that he gave about the garment and the wine concerning the issue of why his disciples did not fast.

So, while he was talking a man comes up to him and says that his daughter is dead but he knows that she will live again if Jesus lays hands on her.  Jesus agrees and while they are going to his house, the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years comes through the crowd and touches the hem of his garment believing that the touch will make her whole.

So as she believed so as it happened to her.  Jesus turned to the woman and said your faith has healed you. 

Your faith has healed you.  Let’s talk a little bit about faith today.  As you can see from the text, Jesus tells the woman that her faith in God had the ability to give her the healing that she desired. 

Our faith is so important yet we often neglect doing what is necessary to guard it and keep it strong.  Faith has to be fed.  Scriptures teach that faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.  (Romans 10:17)

We have to protect the things that we allow ourselves to hear and be exposed to.   Have you ever been around negative people that have nothing positive to say and everything is doom and gloom and at the end of the day, you feel as if they have sucked the very life out of you.   One of the first steps in strengthening our faith is to monitor what we hear. 

A few years ago, I allowed myself to sink into this deep depression.  I would only do the bare minimum for existence which included getting up and going to work.  During this time, food and TV became a comfort to me and both had terrible side affects.  I gained a tremendous amount of weight and I became addicted to lifetime TV.   During this season, lifetime TV had program after program that dealt with nothing but depressing issues such as failed marriages, adultery, deceit, tragedies, etc.   My husband would constantly tell me that watching this type of TV would not make me feel better nor add any edification to my life.

As soon as I got up off that couch and starting working out and reading the word again and listening and surrounding myself with positive influences, I was able to get myself out of that depression.   It was quite humbling to realize that all along, I had the key to change my situation.   

I did a women’s conference a couple of weeks ago in California and after one of the services, one of the ladies came up to me and said that after that service she realized that all this time she had been in prison and had the keys in her hand to get out.  I took the analogy a bit further by telling her that if she had the keys in her hands then it meant that she unlocked the door and walked in that prison and locked herself her in and was always in control of getting out. 

No matter where you are in life, we have the power right now to turn things around with a thought change.    Thinking positive, surrounding ourselves with positive influences, exercising, volunteering in our communities which gives us such self fulfillment and reading God’s word are all small steps that we can begin to take to increase our quality of life.    Everything begins with a thought but you must act on those thoughts for results to manifest.

Take small steps.  A lot of times when we make up our minds to change our situation, we set our goals too high and when we don’t reach them we fall back into depression.   Try smaller steps and watch the results pour in. 

This woman believed that if she could just touch the hem of his garment, she would be made whole and she risked her life to do it.Tomorrow, we will talk about why it was such a risk and we will pick up the story about the man whose daughter had died for this healing of the woman was on the way to take care of the daughter. 

Be encouraged.  Feed your faith!!!!!!!!!! 

God Bless 

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

 

 

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