15. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

In our text today, we learn of how John the Baptist was killed.   Our context is when Jesus is returning from his hometown after they showed him no honor and he was not able to perform many miracles there.   

Here is the text:

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard the reports about Jesus, 2 and he said to his attendants, “This is John the Baptist; he has risen from the dead! That is why miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 Now Herod had arrested John and bound him and put him in prison because of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 for John had been saying to him: “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 Herod wanted to kill John, but he was afraid of the people, because they considered him a prophet. 6 On Herod’s birthday the daughter of Herodias danced for them and pleased Herod so much 7 that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she asked. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me here on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” 9 The king was distressed, but because of his oaths and his dinner guests, he ordered that her request be granted 10 and had John beheaded in the prison. 11 His head was brought in on a platter and given to the girl, who carried it to her mother. 12 John’s disciples came and took his body and buried it. Then they went and told Jesus.

 While our text is self explanatory, there is one point that I want to emphasize.  In the ancient world when a ruler or king made an oath, he was bound to him.   Herod had made an oath in the presence of his officials and witnesses that if Herodias danced for him that he would give her whatever she asked.     

The text said that the king was distressed.  Herod was very upset and concerned about killing John the Baptist but because of the oath, he had to honor his word.   While we do know that Herod wanted John dead he feared the reaction of the people for they considered him to be a prophet. 

The mother who prompted the request for the head of John the Baptist was upset with him for telling her that she the wife of Herod’s brother and did not belong to Herod.   From the moment he said it, she held hatred in her heart towards him. 

After John was killed, his disciples took the body and buried it and then they went and told Jesus.  Tomorrow, we will discuss the reaction of Jesus when he heard the news of John’s death. 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

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

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

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12. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is:

Matthew 13:53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 ”Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, “Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor.” 58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

 In our discussion today, Jesus has finished his series of parables concerning the “kingdom of heaven”   and he returns to his home town and begin teaching in the synagogue.   His hometown people were amazed at his wisdom but because they had grown up with him and knew his mother and father and siblings they could not accept his anointing, authority or the office he walked in.   They would not accept him as the “son of God” but reduced him to being just “the carpenter’s son.”  This text does give us some insight into the family members of Jesus.  We know that his brothers are named James, Joseph, Simon and Judas and he has sisters which are unnamed in this text.   

Because the community knew Jesus they questioned where he could have gotten all this wisdom and knowledge from and they took offense at him.  The text teaches that Jesus did not do many miracles in his hometown because of  their lack of faith and because they honored him not as a prophet.    Jesus teaches that a prophet has no honor in his own hometown.   One of the most difficult things with embracing the anointing and gifts of men and women of God is the familiarity factor.   People can become too familiar with spiritual leaders to the point where we start doubting their abilities and questioning their talents.    This type of mindset limits what you can receive from them. 

Sometimes we can be in situations where we are the major hindrances to our blessings because of how we view our leaders.   They can become so common to us that we start to neglect the words of God that is coming from their lips to provide healing for our souls.    Jesus was known at this point in history as a miracle worker.  He had cast out demons, raised the dead, and healed the sick countless times but in his hometown they doubted and because of lack of faith he could not perform many miracles. 

Just a quick note today for us all to analyze the relationships of the people of God that speak into our lives and how we view them.   Our blessing could be right in front of us and we could be too familiar with it to recognize that they are the ones God is using at this season in our lives.    Stay encouraged!!!! 

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

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

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11. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Our text for today is: 

Matthew 13: 44 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field. 45 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: 46 Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it. 47 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a net, that was cast into the sea, and gathered of every kind: 48 Which, when it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into vessels, but cast the bad away. 49 So shall it be at the end of the world: the angels shall come forth, and sever the wicked from among the just, 50 And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 51 Jesus saith unto them, Have ye understood all these things? They say unto him, Yea, Lord. 52 Then said he unto them, Therefore every scribe which is instructed unto the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man that is an householder, which bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old.

 In our discussion today, Jesus concludes his “the kingdom of heaven is like…. Speeches.”   The first two above that deal with the pearl and the field show how precious and valuable the

Our salvation is priceless and nothing on this earth is as fulfilling, absolutely nothing. 

The last parable talks about the net.  Jesus explains that the kingdom is like a net that catches all types of fish and then it is brought to the shore and the good is separated from the bad.  So it shall be at the end of the world, the angels will come and separate the wicked from the just.    

Jesus continues to instruct us to allow all things to grow together and God will do the separating.  Our jobs are to live the gospel and witness to others about our faith.  God will do the rest.  One will plant; another water and God will give the increase.   Sometimes we take on way too much responsibility as to who belongs in the kingdom and who does not.  That decision is solely up to God.   God will work all things out, it’s all in his hands. 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

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

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

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10. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello: 

Last time we discussed the book of Matthew, we talked about the kingdom of heaven being compared to a mustard seed.  Today in our lesson Jesus gives a quick parable about the kingdom of heaven being like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.  The point is the same as his previous parables showing how the good and bad of the kingdom get mixed in together and once it is mixed in it should not be taken out but God will do the separating in the end.   

Here is our text: 

Matthew 13:33 He told them still another parable: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all through the dough.” 34 Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: “I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world.”  

What is fascinating about this passage is the last line which says Jesus is uttering things which have been hidden from since the creation of the world.   In other words things that Jesus is revealing in parables are things that have been hidden until now.  This statement by itself has me fascinated about studying the parables.   To know that in them Jesus is revealing things which have been hidden from creation and are now being revealed through parables has me intrigued each time I run across a parable. 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

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

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

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9. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

I just returned home from Texas, and we experienced the victory there.  Many of you may have been following the news and know why I was there. 

Thank you for your support.   I am so grateful for what the Lord has done.

I will return to my study on Matthew on tomorrow.

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8. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning: 

I’m headed back to

The text for today finds us in the story of Hannah after the Lord has remembered her and she has her son.  She names the child Samuel who means; I have asked him of the Lord.”    Hannah promised the Lord that if HE would give her a male son that she would lend him to the Lord all the days of his life.   

At this point in our story, Hannah has weaned the child and she gathers a sacrifice together and she takes the child to the house of God to be turned over to the priest Eli to be raised up as a “servant for God.”   

The following text is from the prayer that Hannah prayed as she offered up Samuel. 

I Samuel 2:9 “ He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail. 10 The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them:” 

I was so touched by this part of the prayer.  It shows that God will keep us from falling and that no matter how powerful the enemy appears to be, it is not by strength that man prevails.  God is in charge.  That is just so comforting to me.   

No matter how great things are stacked up against you, God determines the outcome. 

Stay encouraged!!!! 

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

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

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5. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

I wish I could share with you what happened yesterday, with the word that the Lord gave me earlier that morning about :  and when they saw him; “they fell down and worshipped.”  Maybe when my reason for being in Texas is all over, I will share it with you.   I will say that the Lord gave me that scripture early that morning and it became my “saving grace” for the things which I would face on that day. 

 Today, I would like to share with you just a Psalm of Praise, because my word that I am living in right now is worship.   So I entitled this blog, “Worship Again.”

Be Blessed with the reading of this Psalm:

Psalm 9:19 Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight. 20 Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

 Stay encouraged and Have a wonderful weekend.  

I’ll see you on Monday.  Don’t forget to pray and read God’s Word daily.

Bernice

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4. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Good Morning:

I am having an amazing week here in Texas.  God has really been refreshing me and even allowing me to deal with some personal emotions that I honestly thought I was over and have resurfaced.

I would like to share with you a scripture that the Lord lead me to this morning through a friend.  It is Matthew 28:17.   “And when thy saw him, they worshipped him.”

 This scripture means the world to me this morning.    All week the Lord has been speaking to me about worship and how when you get a word from the Lord, worship will keep it fresh, and keep it alive in  your heart until the manifestation. 

Today, the Lord tells me again to worship through a friend. 

Today, I am sharing this powerful tool of worship with you.  I know you probably already know the power of worship, but I just want to encourage you to “fall down and worship” and allow the Lord to minister to your desires, hurts, needs, frustrations and to secure your heart with his love and his plan for your life.   

 His plan for us is so wonderful and it will come to pass no matter where we are in life.

So today, take time and worship.   I realize that we’re off our Matthew study, but those of you that have been following this devotional know that there are times when I shift when I want to share with you some intimate things that the Lord is doing in my life .

 Without going into details, this is an intimate moment for me and I love that the Lord is requiring me to “Fall down and worship.”

Be encouraged!!!!!!!!!!!

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

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3. December 2008 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

 I am currently in Texas and had difficulty getting my daily devotional up the last couple of days.  

 I know that we are currently doing the study of Matthew, but for the past couple of days, I have been doing a study on the book of Samuel.  I am in the 1st chapter, which covers the story of the circumstances of the birth of Samuel. 

The story talks about a man by the name of Elkanah and his wife Hannah who was barren.  Hannah’s name means favor but everything but favor was happening to her.  She desperately wanted children and also wanted the reproach associated from barreness from off her life.  It was believed that if a woman was barren then it was a sign of disfavor from God. 

 Elkanah has another wife by the name of Penninah who is able to have children and she is a constant vexation to Hannah as a reminder of what can not happen in her life.  The bible says that Penninah tortures her to the point of tears and loss of apetite. 

One day Hannah decides to go to the temple and pray to God that He would remember her and cause her to have a male son and in return, she would dedicate the child back to the Lord.  The text says that she is praying with bitterness of soul and her lips are moving but nothing is coming out of her mouth.

 Eli, the priest is there and he accusses  Hannah of being drunk because he sees her lips moving but nothing is coming out of her mouth.

 Hannah, tells Eli, that she is not a daughter of Belial but that she is simply in pain over her situation and is praying out of a sorrowful spirit and has simply poured out her soul to the Lord.

 Eli, responds with this verse, that has really blessed me.  

I Samuel 1:17 ” Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace; and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.

I simply want to encourage someone today to Go in peace.  God will grant thee thy petition according to his will.  Go in peace.  Be at peace today.  Relax, take a deep breath.   It’s so okay. 

Please be encouraged.   This is so heavy on my heart, and I believe that the Lord is speaking peace to your situation.

All is well, Everything is Safe and Everything is As it Should be.

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

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