29. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our text today, Paul has begun his missionary journey spreading the gospel to the Gentiles.  This particular story is interesting in the fact that as they were traveling, they would stop in the synagogues on the Sabbath day to hear the scriptures read.  While they were there, the people asked to acknowledge or speak to the crowd.   This is what he had to say:

Acts 13:13 From Paphos, Paul and his companions sailed to Perga in Pamphylia, where John left them to return to Jerusalem. 14 From Perga they went on to Pisidian Antioch. On the Sabbath they entered the synagogue and sat down. 15 After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the synagogue rulers sent word to them, saying, “Brothers, if you have a message of encouragement for the people, please speak.” 16 Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said: “Men of Israel and you Gentiles who worship God, listen to me! 17 The God of the people of Israel chose our fathers; he made the people prosper during their stay in Egypt, with mighty power he led them out of that country, 18 he endured their conduct for about forty years in the desert, 19 he overthrew seven nations in Canaan and gave their land to his people as their inheritance. 20 All this took about 450 years. “After this, God gave them judges until the time of Samuel the prophet. 21 Then the people asked for a king, and he gave them Saul son of Kish, of the tribe of Benjamin, who ruled forty years. 22 After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: ‘I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.’ 23 “From this man’s descendants God has brought to Israel the Savior Jesus, as he promised. 24 Before the coming of Jesus, John preached repentance and baptism to all the people of Israel. 25 As John was completing his work, he said: ‘Who do you think I am? I am not that one. No, but he is coming after me, whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’ 26 “Brothers, children of Abraham, and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. 27 The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. 28 Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. 29 When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. 30 But God raised him from the dead, 31 and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. 32 “We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers 33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ” ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father. ‘ 34 The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: ” ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ 35 So it is stated elsewhere: ” ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ 36 “For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. 37 But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. 38 “Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. 39 Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. 40 Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 41 ” ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’ “

What I love about this story and the pattern that you will find throughout the New Testament documents is that when the apostles got up to speak, they repeated the story of salvation history, sometimes starting at Adam, at other times, Abraham, at other times David… etc.  In this text, Paul starts from the Egyptian experience. 

There preaching was always about Jesus.  A lot of the preaching that we hear today is about “getting or acquiring material things,” etc.  This type of preaching does not have the power to sustain and provide victorious living.  The gospel of Jesus Christ and the relationship that we can have with HIM is what changes lives and causes one to REPENT and live according to the scriptures. 

We are truly living in the last days where deception is at an all time high and the church has become weak because it is seeking after the creations instead of the creator and people are flocking to teachings that make them feel good instead having their hearts burn within as they taught the WORD OF GOD.

As I was reading Paul’s above sermon, my eyes got teary; for words are so powerful and life changing yet we rarely hear this story of his death, burial, resurrection being consistently preached in our churches.  

On Monday, we will study the people’s response to Paul’s message.  It is quite interesting.

Have a great weekend everyone.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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27. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

We begin chapter 13 today.  This story gives you an example of what the early followers of Christ did when someone was trying to hinder another from coming into the faith. 

Here is the story:

Acts 13:1 In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. 2 While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” 3 So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.

4 The two of them, sent on their way by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and sailed from there to Cyprus. 5 When they arrived at Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues. John was with them as their helper. 6 They traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus, 7 who was an attendant of the proconsul, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God. 8 But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith. 9 Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said, 10 “You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord? 11 Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun.” Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand. 12 When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord.

Don’t you just love it; the power and authority that they walked in daily.   They had phenomenal abilities to discern and they were confident that what they spoke, God would back them up.

Have a great weekend.  Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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26. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Our story picks up from where Peter miraculously escapes from prison and we will read what happens when Herod learns of the escape.

Here are the details of the story:

Acts 11:19 After Herod had a thorough search made for him and did not find him, he cross-examined the guards and ordered that they be executed. Then Herod went from Judea to Caesarea and stayed there a while. 20 He had been quarreling with the people of Tyre and Sidon; they now joined together and sought an audience with him. Having secured the support of Blastus, a trusted personal servant of the king, they asked for peace, because they depended on the king’s country for their food supply. 21 On the appointed day Herod, wearing his royal robes, sat on his throne and delivered a public address to the people. 22 They shouted, “This is the voice of a god, not of a man.” 23 Immediately, because Herod did not give praise to God, an angel of the Lord struck him down, and he was eaten by worms and died. 24 But the word of God continued to increase and spread. 25 When Barnabas and Saul had finished their mission, they returned from Jerusalem, taking with them John, also called Mark.

If you do any research at all you will find that history records that during King Herod’s sickness that lead to his death,  visible worms were eating his body away.   Of course, scholars have tried to indentify the disease/sickness that he had but the scriptures teach that because he did not acknowledge God, he was struck by an angel and worms ate his body which resulted in his death. 

That ends Chapter eleven.  Tomorrow, we will begin on Chapter twelve.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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25. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome back from the weekend.  In our text today, we see one of the famous stories where Peter escapes from prison. Herod has already had James, the brother of John killed and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he seized Peter but they were in the midst of the festival of unleaven bread or Passover and they held him in Prison being heavily guarded. God sends an angel to direct him out of the prison and to loose his chains and Peter returns to his comrades in the midst of them praying for his release.

Here are the details of the story:

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. 3 When he saw that this pleased the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Feast of Unleavened Bread. 4 After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 5 So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 6 The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 7 Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. 8 Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. 9 Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision. 10 They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. 11 Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I know without a doubt that the Lord sent his angel and rescued me from Herod’s clutches and from everything the Jewish people were anticipating.” 12 When this had dawned on him, he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying. 13 Peter knocked at the outer entrance, and a servant girl named Rhoda came to answer the door. 14 When she recognized Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed she ran back without opening it and exclaimed, “Peter is at the door!” 15 “You’re out of your mind,” they told her. When she kept insisting that it was so, they said, “It must be his angel.” 16 But Peter kept on knocking, and when they opened the door and saw him, they were astonished. 17 Peter motioned with his hand for them to be quiet and described how the Lord had brought him out of prison. “Tell James and the brothers about this,” he said, and then he left for another place. 18 In the morning, there was no small commotion among the soldiers as to what had become of Peter.

 Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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22. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our lesson today, we will see what the response was from the Jews that criticized Peter for going into the home of a Gentile and we will discover in what context we get the word Christian.  For the first time in our text, the followers of Christ will be called Christian. 

 Acts 11:18 When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, “So then, God has granted even the Gentiles repentance unto life.” 19 Now those who had been scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, telling the message only to Jews. 20 Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. 21 The Lord’s hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord. 22 News of this reached the ears of the church at Jerusalem, and they sent Barnabas to Antioch. 23 When he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. 24 He was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and faith, and a great number of people were brought to the Lord. 25 Then Barnabas went to Tarsus to look for Saul, 26 and when he found him, he brought him to Antioch. So for a whole year Barnabas and Saul met with the church and taught great numbers of people. The disciples were called Christians first at Antioch. 27 During this time some prophets came down from Jerusalem to Antioch. 28 One of them, named Agabus, stood up and through the Spirit predicted that a severe famine would spread over the entire Roman world. (This happened during the reign of Claudius.) 29 The disciples, each according to his ability, decided to provide help for the brothers living in Judea. 30 This they did, sending their gift to the elders by Barnabas and Saul.

I don’t know about you but I am enjoying reading the story of how the church was birthed.  It is so refreshing.   It is so convicting to see the efforts of the early Christians.   Wow…. We can do better.   We NEED to do better. 

Have a great weekend.  Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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21. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In our lesson today, Peter has to go and confront his fellow laborers in God and explain why he ate and fellowshipped in a Gentile home with him being a Jew.  His Jewish audience is concerned as to how he can justify the baptism of Cornelius.

Here is the story:

Acts 11: 1 And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God. 2 And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him, 3 Saying , Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised , and didst eat with them. 4 But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning , and expounded it by order unto them, saying , 5 I was in the city of Joppa praying : and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend , as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me: 6 Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes , I considered , and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. 7 And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise , Peter; slay and eat . 8 But I said , Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth. 9 But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed , that call not thou common . 10 And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven. 11 And, behold , immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was , sent from Caesarea unto me. 12 And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting . Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man’s house: 13 And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter; 14 Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved . 15 And as I began to speak , the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning. 16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said , John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost. 17 Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

Tomorrow, we will study the Jews response to Peter.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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20. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today in our lesson, we have the meeting between Cornelius and Peter.  Both of them have had visions from God and at this point neither of them knows why they are meeting except that it is God ordained. 

Here is our story: 

Acts 10:23 Then Peter invited the men into the house to be his guests. The next day Peter started out with them, and some of the brothers from Joppa went along. 24 The following day he arrived in Caesarea. Cornelius was expecting them and had called together his relatives and close friends. 25 As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. 26 But Peter made him get up. “Stand up,” he said, “I am only a man myself.” 27 Talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people. 28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with a Gentile or visit him. But God has shown me that I should not call any man impure or unclean. 29 So when I was sent for, I came without raising any objection. May I ask why you sent for me?” 30 Cornelius answered: “Four days ago I was in my house praying at this hour, at three in the afternoon. Suddenly a man in shining clothes stood before me 31 and said, ‘Cornelius, God has heard your prayer and remembered your gifts to the poor. 32 Send to Joppa for Simon who is called Peter. He is a guest in the home of Simon the tanner, who lives by the sea.’ 33 So I sent for you immediately, and it was good of you to come. Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” 34 Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right. 36 You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. 37 You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached– 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. 39 “We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a tree, 40 but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. 41 He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen–by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. 42 He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. 43 All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.” 44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on the Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Can anyone keep these people from being baptized with water? They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days.

This closes out chapter 10, we will begin on chapter 11 tomorrow. 

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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19. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

I am back on the scene.  

We left off with the story of Cornelius and how his prayer and alms had come up before God as a memorial.   Cornelius had a dream and was instructed to send men to Joppa to bring Simon Peter to him.  Here is that story:

Acts 10:9 About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. 10 He became hungry and wanted something to eat, and while the meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. 11 He saw heaven opened and something like a large sheet being let down to earth by its four corners. 12 It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air. 13 Then a voice told him, “Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.” 14 “Surely not, Lord!” Peter replied. “I have never eaten anything impure or unclean.” 15 The voice spoke to him a second time, “Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.” 16 This happened three times, and immediately the sheet was taken back to heaven. 17 While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon’s house was and stopped at the gate. 18 They called out, asking if Simon who was known as Peter was staying there. 19 While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Simon, three men are looking for you. 20 So get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them.” 21 Peter went down and said to the men, “I’m the one you’re looking for. Why have you come?” 22 The men replied, “We have come from Cornelius the centurion. He is a righteous and God-fearing man, who is respected by all the Jewish people. A holy angel told him to have you come to his house so that he could hear what you have to say.”

Our text opens with Peter having a vision.  This is significant in the fact that Cornelius was a Gentile and the Jews considered them to be outcasts from the faith and unclean.   Up until this point, the faith had been shared among the Jews and now God is telling people to embrace this Gentile centurion.  God first prepares Peter by showing him a dream of animals that the Jews were not suppose to use as food yet God in the vision tells him to kill and eat and Peter instantly responds by saying that he would not eat anything that is impure.  God tells him to not call anything un-pure which he has declared pure and Peter is awakened not knowing the meaning of the vision yet thinking it about it when he is instructed to go to house of Cornelius.

Tomorrow, we will discuss their meeting. 

Big shout out to Bev from England and her daughter.  It was so great meeting you in New Jersey.   You are such a beautiful woman.  Please tell Nikki, I said hello and your friends.  It was so great seeing you.  I still can’t believe you traveled so far to see TP, he was really touched.

Stay encouraged everyone and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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12. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Sorry for not posting on yesterday but I am on the road.  Will be back home on tomorrow.   Today has one of my favorite stories in it.  Here is the text:

Acts 10:1 At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion in what was known as the Italian Regiment. 2 He and all his family were devout and God-fearing; he gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly. 3 One day at about three in the afternoon he had a vision. He distinctly saw an angel of God, who came to him and said, “Cornelius!” 4 Cornelius stared at him in fear. “What is it, Lord?” he asked. The angel answered, “Your prayers and gifts to the poor have come up as a memorial offering before God. 5 Now send men to Joppa to bring back a man named Simon who is called Peter. 6 He is staying with Simon the tanner, whose house is by the sea.” 7 When the angel who spoke to him had gone, Cornelius called two of his servants and a devout soldier who was one of his attendants. 8 He told them everything that had happened and sent them to Joppa.

Cornelius is the first Gentile to be converted to the faith.  The text says that he was a centurion.   A centurion was a professional officer in the Roman army who normally controlled one hundred men.  He was a Roman official yet drawn to the true and living God.  Most Roman soldiers were not sympathetic to the poor and definitely didn’t pray to the “God of the Jews.” 

One day he has  a vision and recognizes that it was from the Lord.  God tells him that his giving and his prayers are not in vain and they have come up as a memorial before God. 

Wow…  “Be not weary in well doing, in due season…….”   Don’t get discouraged with your prayer  life and giving.  It is not in vain.   God will remember and reward.

His instructions were to send for Peter which will be very problematic for Peter is a Jew and there was usually hostility between the Romans and the Jews.  Tomorrow, we will discuss the encounter.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily. 

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8. October 2010 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today, we close out Chapter nine.   This chapter contains two miracles that were done by the hands of Peter.  They are the stories of Aeneas and Dorcas.  Here is our text:

Acts 9:32 As Peter traveled about the country, he went to visit the saints in Lydda. 33 There he found a man named Aeneas, a paralytic who had been bedridden for eight years. 34 “Aeneas,” Peter said to him, “Jesus Christ heals you. Get up and take care of your mat.” Immediately Aeneas got up. 35 All those who lived in Lydda and Sharon saw him and turned to the Lord. 36 In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (which, when translated, is Dorcas ), who was always doing good and helping the poor. 37 About that time she became sick and died, and her body was washed and placed in an upstairs room. 38 Lydda was near Joppa; so when the disciples heard that Peter was in Lydda, they sent two men to him and urged him, “Please come at once!” 39 Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them. 40 Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up. 41 He took her by the hand and helped her to her feet. Then he called the believers and the widows and presented her to them alive. 42 This became known all over Joppa, and many people believed in the Lord. 43 Peter stayed in Joppa for some time with a tanner named Simon.

Have a great weekend everyone.   We’ll start chapter ten on Monday.

Stay encouraged and don’t forget to pray and read God’s word daily.

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