A Sacrifice

31. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 12: 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 17 This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: 18 ”Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations. 19 He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets. 20 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory. 21 In his name the nations will put their hope.” 

 

The text opens up with “Aware of this.”  In case you’re just joining us, you’ll have to read the prior lessons to fully understand the context.   The reference is to the fact that when the Pharisees saw Jesus heal a man with a withered hand on the sabbath, they accused him of being in violation of the sabbath laws and they began their plot to kill him.   

Jesus, being “aware of this” leaves that place with a following for the text says that the multitude followed him and they brought their sick to be healed.     

The text then explains an old testament prophecy concerning Jesus found in the book of Isaiah.   In this prophecy, my favorite lines are where it says; “Till he leads justice to victory and in his name the nations will put their hope.” 

Those lines are just so powerful to me.   The nations will put their hope in him.     

Monday, our text will begin to take us to some more of the miracles that Jesus did.  I love studying his miracles.   

Let me just say, that on yesterday I did early voting and I waited over three hours to vote and it was simply wonderful.  I got in the line at 6:30a.m. thinking I would be one of the first ones to vote when the polls open at 8:30 but hundreds were already there before me. 

I watched generations of people stand in line to cast their vote.  Whatever your political persuasion is, I have to just take this time out to encourage you to vote for the candidate of your choice. 

I have to tell you this story.   Recently, one of my family members shared with me a story about my mother’s sister that I did not know.  My mom died a couple of years ago and when I learn little stories like this, I regret not taking the time to “pick her brain” more and learn the rich history and experiences she shared. 

I never knew my mother’s sister because she died at an early age before I was born.  I just found out last Sunday that she died during the 60’s in one of the “sit ins” in

Philadelphia. 

My mother was always adamant about exercising her right to vote in honor of the death of her sister and the sacrifice that she made in order for us to have equal rights.  For the first time in my voting history, I have a new perspective and appreciation when I cast my ballot for the candidate of my choice. 

When I hit the button that said “Cast your ballot” I was teary eyed remembering both my mom and her sister and their struggles and sacrifices.  It was pretty overwhelming. 

I looked at the long lines and I know that they are anticipating eight or more hours of waiting on Election Day, but think about it.  All we have to do is stand in line, so many died for us to be able to stand in line. 

  I have such a new appreciation for voting than ever before and because of the times.    

Sometimes, when I’m praying or worshipping God, I also think of the sacrifice that Jesus made and it becomes so personal to me and it’s become overwhelming knowing that God loves us so much that he would send his only begotten son that all who would believe on him would have eternal life. 

 

 

 

Have a great weekend. 

Stay encouraged. 

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

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Sabbath Part III

30. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

 

Our text for today is as follows: 

Matthew 12:6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus. 15 Aware of this, Jesus withdrew from that place. Many followed him, and he healed all their sick, 16 warning them not to tell who he was. 

Today, Jesus gives another example as to why it is necessary to do acts of mercy and compassion on the Sabbath.   In our text above, Jesus clearly indicates to the ones that are challenging him that what he requires is mercy and not sacrifice.   

The religious leaders allowed work to be done on the Sabbath as long as it had to do with offering sacrifices up to God. Jesus is clear that God would rather have preferred that people show acts of mercy rather than sacrifice.   This statement is so powerful to me.     

Too often, we get caught up in the “politics” of church when all God really asks is that we be kind to one another and show compassion even at the expense of violating a  man made interpretation of the law.  The spirit of the law concerning the Sabbath never meant for it to exclude acts of mercy and compassion.   

You will see in our text that from that time forward, the Pharisees begin their plot to kill Jesus over this “violation” of the Sabbath. 

 

Stay encouraged. 

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

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The Sabbath Part II

29. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

 

We are still on the following text: 

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread–which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 

Yesterday, we looked at the example of David and his eating of the bread that was designated for use only by the priests and today we will talk about the priests.   While we will not look at any particular story because there are many, I will give you a summary of what Jesus was referring to. 

One of the priest’s jobs was to take the sacrifice from the people and kill it, burn it, offer it up, etc which required manual labor to be done on the Sabbath.  The Sabbath day was not exempt from offering up sacrifices to God; as a matter of fact it was one of the main days for worship.    In preparation for worship, the priests had to prepare the sacrifices needed which included work not normally allowed on the Sabbath.   The Jews had interpreted the 4^th commandment too strictly. 

Let’s look at the 4^th commandments. 

Exodus 20:8 ”Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. 11 For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.   

Jesus instructed them that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.  It was a day of rest and worship but acts of mercy and compassion are allowed.   

 

Tomorrow, we will continue our study of the Sabbath as Jesus gets into more detail about this day and what it was created for. 

 

Stay encouraged. 

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

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The Sabbath

28. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Here is our text. 

Matthew 12:1 At that time Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. 2 When the Pharisees saw this, they said to him, “Look! Your disciples are doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath.” 3 He answered, “Haven’t you read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4 He entered the house of God, and he and his companions ate the consecrated bread–which was not lawful for them to do, but only for the priests. 5 Or haven’t you read in the Law that on the Sabbath the priests in the temple desecrate the day and yet are innocent? 6 I tell you that one greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. 

 

Today in our text, Jesus uses two Old Testament references to show the religious leaders that he is not the first to do things on the Sabbath if needed.  The examples include an incidence with David and the priests and they were viewed as innocent.  

Let’s look at the story of David concerning the Sabbath and tomorrow we will do the one with the priests. 

Here is the text: 

I Samuel 21:1 David went to Nob, to Ahimelech the priest. Ahimelech trembled when he met him, and asked, “Why are you alone? Why is no one with you?” 2 David answered Ahimelech the priest, “The king charged me with a certain matter and said to me, ‘No one is to know anything about your mission and your instructions.’ As for my men, I have told them to meet me at a certain place. 3 Now then, what do you have on hand? Give me five loaves of bread, or whatever you can find.” 4 But the priest answered David, “I don’t have any ordinary bread on hand; however, there is some consecrated bread here–provided the men have kept themselves from women.” 5 David replied, “Indeed women have been kept from us, as usual whenever I set out. The men’s things are holy even on missions that are not holy. How much more so today!” 6 So the priest gave him the consecrated bread, since there was no bread there except the bread of the Presence that had been removed from before the Lord and replaced by hot bread on the day it was taken away.  

In this particular context, David was running from Saul.   Saul was trying to kill him so technically David wasn’t on a mission from the King, he was actually running for his life and was hungry.  As you can see in the text, it was not lawful for any man to have this bread; it was to be used only by the priests. 

 

 

Okay, when I do historical context, I try not to give you too much information because I want you to remember everything because we will tie it all together at the end. 

Tomorrow, we will continue with the references that Jesus made from the Old Testament and then we will learn about what where the laws of the Sabbath so we can understand the claims that the religious leaders made towards Jesus. 

 

Stay encouraged!!! 

God Bless!!!!!!! 

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

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Live Today

27. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Yesterday, I taught on this text.   We have covered it before but it really ministered to me on yesterday and again on today. 

It is a famous scripture that is quoted often in the history of the church and we have discussed it before but today I just want to share it with you again. 

Here is the text: 

Matthew 6:31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.  

 

In this text Jesus instructs us not to worry.   Worrying is absolutely useless.  At its best it can do nothing and at its worst it can cause major health problems often leading to death. Doctors agree that one of the leading causes of heart attacks, strokes, mental illnesses, etc  is stress which is simply another word for worrying. 

As Christians, this is not an attribute that we should be apart of our character or life.   Yes, I know it is very difficult not to worry and it is a major battle that we must overcome in the mind.    

I believe that if Jesus told us not to do it then it possible to reach a state where we live in peace and not worry no matter what happens around us.   

Jesus tells us it is the people without God (Gentiles) that seek after and worry about provisions, wealth, and excess.    

I love this next statement.  Jesus instructs us that our heavenly father knows that we have need of all these things.  He knows we have need.  God is not trying to deny us anything, He knows what we have need of but He does instruct us not to be obsessed or distracted with our wants, desires, and needs. 

 

Then the text clearly tells us what to do.  If we are not to worry then what are we to do? 

Jesus then tells us to seek the

kingdom of

God first and all those things (that the Gentiles pursue) will be added unto us. 

Jesus then closes with again instructing us “not to worry” about tomorrow just live today.  Tomorrow will take care of itself.   It does not mean that we are not to plan ahead.  There is a difference between planning ahead and worrying. 

Live in this moment.  Enjoy this hour, this day.  Reconcile with your family and friends, for none of us know what tomorrow will bring.     

Please continue to pray for Jennifer Hudson and her family as they are experiencing this tragedy.   

Tomorrow we will continue our study on the book of Matthew. 

Stay encouraged. 

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

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All Things are Possible

24. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

We have ended our study on John the Baptist, since this is Friday, I won’t begin another Study.  On Monday, our text will take us into a study of the Sabbath. 

Today, I want to leave you with this simple and popular scripture.  It really blessed me today. 

Matthew 19:26 “Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

All things are possible; they really are if we just can believe.

 

Have a wonderful weekend.

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

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

 

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

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Rest for Our Souls

23. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. 26 Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure. 27 ”All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 ”Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

  

Jesus closes out his comments about John the Baptist and about trying to please a generation by a prayer to God.  Jesus is thanking God that the truth has been hidden from the wise and the learned.   Scholars argue that Jesus makes this comment because their hearts were not humble and sincere enough to have this knowledge and do the right thing with it. 

Jesus closes with saying that God has committed all things to him and He will reveal them to the chosen and then I love the last part where He instructs us to come to him, all of us who are weary and burdened and He will give us rest for He is gentle and humble in heart and we will find rest for our souls. 

Yes!!!!!!!!  Rest for our souls.   In the midst of a failing economy and a major political decision about to take place in literally days we can find rest for our souls in Christ. 

For all my American friends that log in daily, please do advance voting for the candidate of your choice.  We must engage in the process this year, it is so critical and our vote does matter.   

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

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

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

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Be True to Yourself

22. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 11:16 ”To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: 17 ”‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ 18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and “sinners.’” But wisdom is proved right by her actions.” 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 ”Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you,

Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and

Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and

Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you,

Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in

Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for

Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.”  

Our text today is still dealing with John the Baptist.   Jesus is commenting on how you can not please people.   Jesus was saying that people will always be critical no matter how much you try to conform to what they want. 

In the case of John the Baptist, he says that John came neither eating nor drinking but was modest in his diet and lived a very disciplined and kosher lifestyle and they said that he had a demon.  Jesus came eating and drinking and they labeled him as a glutton and a drunkard.   Jesus was saying: people don’t know what they want.  They will never be satisfied even if you conform to what they want, they will always demand more. 

Jesus says wisdom is proved right by her actions.  Jesus closes out by denouncing the cities in which miracles had been performed in saying that the cities such as Tyre and Sidon and Sodom and Gomorrah will be more tolerable on the day of Judgment for if those same miracles had been done in those cities, then they would have repented.   

So what can we learn from our text today.  Be yourself.  You can’t please people.  We all have to be true to God and ourselves.  When you start conforming, people will continue to demand more and it will never be enough.  One day, you will wake up and not know who you are because you tried to please everybody and in that you sometimes loose yourself. 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

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

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

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No Greater

21. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Here is our text. 

Matthew 11:7 As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. 9 Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: “‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’ 11 I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. 12 From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. 13 For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. 14 And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. 15 He who has ears, let him hear.

Today, we have the thoughts of Jesus concerning John the Baptist.  Jesus describes that John’s life was that of a humble beginning yet he is clear that among those born of women, there has risen none greater than John the Baptist.  Jesus again confirms that John was indeed the one who was to prepare the way for him and he also settles a major controversial issue in the New Testament.  Let’s look at that controversy. The Old Testament book of Malachi closes out with the following. 

Malachi 4:5 ”See, I will send you the prophet Elijah before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. 6 He will turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers; or else I will come and strike the land with a curse  This close of the Old Testament predicts that before the coming of Jesus, the prophet Elijah would be sent to the people.  The Pharisees and Sadducees even asked John the Baptist was he the Elijah that was to come and John said no.  This caused great controversy and even made it hard for the religious leaders to accept the ministry of John the Baptist.   The New Testament leaders were looking for the prophet Elijah to personally appear again.   Let’s look at the account of the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist to his parents and it will help to clear up this controversy for us. 

Luke 1:5 In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron. 6 Both of them were upright in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commandments and regulations blamelessly. 7 But they had no children, because Elizabeth was barren; and they were both well along in years. 8 Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God, 9 he was chosen by lot, according to the custom of the priesthood, to go into the temple of the Lord and burn incense. 10 And when the time for the burning of incense came, all the assembled worshipers were praying outside. 11 Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense. 12 When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear. 13 But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to give him the name John. 14 He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth, 15 for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even from birth. 16 Many of the people of

Israel will he bring back to the Lord their God. 17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”   

As you can see John the Baptist would come in the spirit and power of Elijah and this is the fulfillment of the Malachi passage.   Jesus himself also confirms this in our text by saying “If you can accept it, he is the Elijah that was to come.”   There still raises the issue as to why would John not admit that he was Elijah.   The answer is actually simple.  Scholars argue that they were asking if John was Elijah reincarnated and John wasn’t.  John came in the spirit and power of Elijah but he was not the original Elijah returning from the dead.  Okay, enough for today, tomorrow we will continue our study on what Jesus taught on John the Baptist. 

Stay encouraged!!! God Bless!!!!!!! 

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

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Are You the One?

20. October 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 11:1 “After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of

Galilee. 2 When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples 3 to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?” 4 Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5 The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”  

Our text today deals with John the Baptist.   Jesus had begun to make a reputation for himself.  He had finished his infamous “Sermon on the Mount” and had established himself as a teacher which was quite different from the existing scholars.  Jesus was known as one who taught with authority.   He had also been established as a miracle worker, as one who cast out demons and was gaining popularity and now he had given that same power and authority to his disciples.  

 

If you remember from our earlier chapters in Matthew, Jesus did not begin his ministry until John the Baptist was imprisoned so the two of them never competed.  When Jesus came on the scene John the Baptist said “I must decrease, so that He may increase.”   

In our text John has heard of the popularity of Jesus and sends his disciples to ask him is He the one or should we expect someone else.   This statement has raised much controversy in the theological realm.   At the Baptism of Jesus it was witnessed by John how the heavens opened up and a voice cried out and said “this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased.”  John was the one who told Andrew( the brother of Pete and one of the disciples of John) that Jesus was the Christ and the one that he was preparing the way for and the long awaited Messiah. 

Now at this point in John’s life he appears to be unsure.  Some scholars argue that it could be because John is now in prison and may have expected Jesus to do something to deliver him from the bonds of prison, others claim that John wanted to make sure before he died that he had not missed God in his claiming that Jesus was the one and other theories also exist on this matter.  The text is silent concerning the answer so any answer would simply be speculation.  What we are sure of is that John wanted to hear it directly from the mouth of Jesus. 

Jesus responds to John’s answers not with a direct reply but to tell John the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are healed, the deaf hear, the dead is raised and the good news is being preached to the poor.   Maybe Jesus was appealing to the works of God to assure John for if Jesus had just said yes without emphasizing the powerful works (that could have only been done of God), John may have still had doubts.   

In other words Jesus was saying, John, everything that the scriptures said I would be doing, I am.   Jesus closes this response with saying; “Blessed is the man who does not fall away because of me.”   Blessed is the person that is not intimidated by the unpopularity and suffering that often comes with standing for Christ. 

Tomorrow, we will see what Jesus has to say about John the Baptist and his life.  It is really fascinating. 

 

Stay encouraged!!!!!!!!

 

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

 

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

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