31. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Welcome back from the weekend.  All last week, we have been studying about Paul’s trip to Jerusalem.  He had been warned time and time again by his co-laborers that there was great danger awaiting him at Jerusalem and he even made a farewell speak to the people at Ephesus knowing he would never see them again.  In our lesson on Friday, Paul had arrived at Jerusalem and the disciples there told him to follow the purification process with the other brothers so that the Jews would think that he was not opposed to the Jewish customs.  The Jews were upset because they felt Paul was speaking against their religious customs.   Our text picks up today after the purification process is over.

Here is our text:

Acts 21:27 When the seven days were nearly over, some Jews from the province of Asia saw Paul at the temple. They stirred up the whole crowd and seized him, 28 shouting, “Men of Israel, help us! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against our people and our law and this place. And besides, he has brought Greeks into the temple area and defiled this holy place.” 29 (They had previously seen Trophimus the Ephesian in the city with Paul and assumed that Paul had brought him into the temple area.) 30 The whole city was aroused, and the people came running from all directions. Seizing Paul, they dragged him from the temple, and immediately the gates were shut. 31 While they were trying to kill him, news reached the commander of the Roman troops that the whole city of Jerusalem was in an uproar. 32 He at once took some officers and soldiers and ran down to the crowd. When the rioters saw the commander and his soldiers, they stopped beating Paul. 33 The commander came up and arrested him and ordered him to be bound with two chains. Then he asked who he was and what he had done. 34 Some in the crowd shouted one thing and some another, and since the commander could not get at the truth because of the uproar, he ordered that Paul be taken into the barracks. 35 When Paul reached the steps, the violence of the mob was so great he had to be carried by the soldiers. 36 The crowd that followed kept shouting, “Away with him!”

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

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28. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

So sorry I didn’t post yesterday, but I spent the day with my friend whose has his own studio here in Atlanta and I was watching him masterly film episodes of a show that airs weekly here in Atlanta.  The man is just brilliant to me and I am so glad he is a part of my life.  I was not able to come close to a computer yesterday.

We last left off our story of Paul’s missionary journey with his co-laborers forbidding him to go to Jerusalem because of the impending danger there.   In today’s story, despite all the warnings, Paul travels to Jerusalem.

Here is our text:

Acts 21:17 When we arrived at Jerusalem, the brothers received us warmly. 18 The next day Paul and the rest of us went to see James, and all the elders were present. 19 Paul greeted them and reported in detail what God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry. 20 When they heard this, they praised God. Then they said to Paul: “You see, brother, how many thousands of Jews have believed, and all of them are zealous for the law. 21 They have been informed that you teach all the Jews who live among the Gentiles to turn away from Moses, telling them not to circumcise their children or live according to our customs. 22 What shall we do? They will certainly hear that you have come, 23 so do what we tell you. There are four men with us who have made a vow. 24 Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law. 25 As for the Gentile believers, we have written to them our decision that they should abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality.” 26 The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them.

On Monday, we will study what actually happens while Paul is in Jerusalem.  Have a great weekend.

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

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26. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In today’s lesson, we begin a new chapter and we learn about Paul’s voyage to Jerusalem and all the attempts by his fellow laborers to stop him because of the danger that would await him.

Here is our story:

Acts 21 :1 After we had torn ourselves away from them, we put out to sea and sailed straight to Cos. The next day we went to Rhodes and from there to Patara. 2 We found a ship crossing over to Phoenicia, went on board and set sail. 3 After sighting Cyprus and passing to the south of it, we sailed on to Syria. We landed at Tyre, where our ship was to unload its cargo. 4 Finding the disciples there, we stayed with them seven days. Through the Spirit they urged Paul not to go on to Jerusalem. 5 But when our time was up, we left and continued on our way. All the disciples and their wives and children accompanied us out of the city, and there on the beach we knelt to pray. 6 After saying good-by to each other, we went aboard the ship, and they returned home. 7 We continued our voyage from Tyre and landed at Ptolemais, where we greeted the brothers and stayed with them for a day. 8 Leaving the next day, we reached Caesarea and stayed at the house of Philip the evangelist, one of the Seven. 9 He had four unmarried daughters who prophesied. 10 After we had been there a number of days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. 11 Coming over to us, he took Paul’s belt, tied his own hands and feet with it and said, “The Holy Spirit says, ‘In this way the Jews of Jerusalem will bind the owner of this belt and will hand him over to the Gentiles.’ “ 12 When we heard this, we and the people there pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem. 13 Then Paul answered, “Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, “The Lord’s will be done.” 15 After this, we got ready and went up to Jerusalem. 16 Some of the disciples from Caesarea accompanied us and brought us to the home of Mnason, where we were to stay. He was a man from Cyprus and one of the early disciples.

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

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25. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

In our text today, Paul is determined to go on to Jerusalem with hopes of reaching there before the celebration of Pentecost.  But he knows that danger awaits him there.   In this speech below, he says good-bye, for he knows that he will never see these people again.   Please read slowly.  It is touching to hear what a man will say to people that he knows he will never see again because of his forth coming death.

Here is our story:

Accts 20: 13 We went on ahead to the ship and sailed for Assos, where we were going to take Paul aboard. He had made this arrangement because he was going there on foot. 14 When he met us at Assos, we took him aboard and went on to Mitylene. 15 The next day we set sail from there and arrived off Kios. The day after that we crossed over to Samos, and on the following day arrived at Miletus. 16 Paul had decided to sail past Ephesus to avoid spending time in the province of Asia, for he was in a hurry to reach Jerusalem, if possible, by the day of Pentecost. 17 From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church.

18 When they arrived, he said to them: “You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. 19 I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews. 20 You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house.

21 I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus. 22 “And now, compelled by the Spirit, I am going to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there. 23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me. 24 However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me–the task of testifying to the gospel of God’s grace. 25 “Now I know that none of you among whom I have gone about preaching the kingdom will ever see me again. 26 Therefore, I declare to you today that I am innocent of the blood of all men. 27 For I have not hesitated to proclaim to you the whole will of God.

28 Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. 29 I know that after I leave, savage wolves will come in among you and will not spare the flock. 30 Even from your own number men will arise and distort the truth in order to draw away disciples after them.

31 So be on your guard! Remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears. 32 “Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified. 33 I have not coveted anyone’s silver or gold or clothing. 34 You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions.

35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

36 When he had said this, he knelt down with all of them and prayed. 37 They all wept as they embraced him and kissed him. 38 What grieved them most was his statement that they would never see his face again. Then they accompanied him to the ship. 

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

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24. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Welcome back from the weekend.  In today’s lesson, we see another miracle by the hands of Paul.  In this particular story, Paul has been preaching for a long time and one of the people that were sitting high in the balcony fell off and died.  Here is the story:

Acts 20: 7 On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight. 8 There were many lamps in the upstairs room where we were meeting. 9 Seated in a window was a young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul talked on and on. When he was sound asleep, he fell to the ground from the third story and was picked up dead. 10 Paul went down, threw himself on the young man and put his arms around him. “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “He’s alive!” 11 Then he went upstairs again and broke bread and ate. After talking until daylight, he left. 12 The people took the young man home alive and were greatly comforted.

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

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21. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

Today we start the 20^th chapter of Acts.  We left off yesterday with there being uproar in the city because of the craftsmen whose trade was in jeopardy because Paul and his disciples were preaching that there were no gods made from men’s hands.  These men made their living from creating images of the goddess Diana which was the God of the Ephesians.  Today’s lesson picks up with after the uproar was over.

Here is our text:

Acts 20: 1 When the uproar had ended, Paul sent for the disciples and, after encouraging them, said good-by and set out for Macedonia. 2 He traveled through that area, speaking many words of encouragement to the people, and finally arrived in Greece, 3 where he stayed three months. Because the Jews made a plot against him just as he was about to sail for Syria, he decided to go back through Macedonia. 4 He was accompanied by Sopater son of Pyrrhus from Berea, Aristarchus and Secundus from Thessalonica, Gaius from Derbe, Timothy also, and Tychicus and Trophimus from the province of Asia. 5 These men went on ahead and waited for us at Troas. 6 But we sailed from Philippi after the Feast of Unleavened Bread, and five days later joined the others at Troas, where we stayed seven days.

Our text reveals that Paul left the city and spent some time encouraging his disciples.  You will often find that they encouraged one another because of the constant fight they endured daily with preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  They themselves had to be replenished and strengthened in the things of the faith.

He arrives in Greece and spends three months there.  While he was in Greece, the Jews plotted against him and Paul decides to change his plans and instead of sailing to Syria, he goes back to Macedonia.  If you remember, weeks ago we studied about the famous “Macedonia call” and how Paul ended up in that city.  He returns there with his disciples and joins them as they went ahead of him to the city of Troas where he stays seven days.

Have a great weekend everyone.

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

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20. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In today’s lessons we learn that Paul is attacked in the city of Ephesus for his preaching.  Ephesus was known for its worship of the goddess Diana.   The New living translation calls her Artermis. Craftsman made their living by building idols of Diana and were erected and sold throughout the city.  Paul came in preaching that there were no gods made from hands and the city was in an uproar. 

Here is the story:

Acts 19: 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. 24 A silversmith named Demetrius, who made silver shrines of Artemis, brought in no little business for the craftsmen. 25 He called them together, along with the workmen in related trades, and said: “Men, you know we receive a good income from this business. 26 And you see and hear how this fellow Paul has convinced and led astray large numbers of people here in Ephesus and in practically the whole province of Asia. He says that man-made gods are no gods at all. 27 There is danger not only that our trade will lose its good name, but also that the temple of the great goddess Artemis will be discredited, and the goddess herself, who is worshiped throughout the province of Asia and the world, will be robbed of her divine majesty.” 28 When they heard this, they were furious and began shouting: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 29 Soon the whole city was in an uproar. The people seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Paul’s traveling companions from Macedonia, and rushed as one man into the theater. 30 Paul wanted to appear before the crowd, but the disciples would not let him. 31 Even some of the officials of the province, friends of Paul, sent him a message begging him not to venture into the theater. 32 The assembly was in confusion: Some were shouting one thing, some another. Most of the people did not even know why they were there. 33 The Jews pushed Alexander to the front, and some of the crowd shouted instructions to him. He motioned for silence in order to make a defense before the people. 34 But when they realized he was a Jew, they all shouted in unison for about two hours: “Great is Artemis of the Ephesians!” 35 The city clerk quieted the crowd and said: “Men of Ephesus, doesn’t all the world know that the city of Ephesus is the guardian of the temple of the great Artemis and of her image, which fell from heaven? 36 Therefore, since these facts are undeniable, you ought to be quiet and not do anything rash. 37 You have brought these men here, though they have neither robbed temples nor blasphemed our goddess. 38 If, then, Demetrius and his fellow craftsmen have a grievance against anybody, the courts are open and there are proconsuls. They can press charges. 39 If there is anything further you want to bring up, it must be settled in a legal assembly. 40 As it is, we are in danger of being charged with rioting because of today’s events. In that case we would not be able to account for this commotion, since there is no reason for it.” 41 After he had said this, he dismissed the assembly.

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

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19. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone: 

In today’s lessons it shows how powerful Paul was in terms of his healing abilities.  His abilities were so envied that some vagabond Jews/exorcists decided to mimic what Paul was doing.   Here is the story:

Acts 19:11 And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them. 13 Then certain of the vagabond Jews, exorcists, took upon them to call over them which had evil spirits the name of the Lord Jesus, saying , We adjure you by Jesus whom Paul preacheth . 14 And there were seven sons of one Sceva , a Jew, and chief of the priests, which did so. 15 And the evil spirit answered and said , Jesus I know , and Paul I know ; but who are ye? 16 And the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, and overcame them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded . 17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified . 18 And many that believed came , and confessed , and shewed their deeds. 19 Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together , and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed .

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

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18. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello:

Welcome back from the weekend.  I hope those of you in the states had a wonderful Dr. Martin Luther King Day on yesterday.  What a difference that man made in our lives.   What a phenomenal and selfless sacrifice for the greater good.     

Today we will begin the 19^th chapter of Acts:  Here is our story:

Acts 19:1 And it came to pass , that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them , Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed ? And they said unto him , We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized ? And they said , Unto John’s baptism.

4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is , on Christ Jesus.

5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied . 7 And all the men were about twelve.

8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God. 9 But when divers were hardened , and believed not , but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus. 10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. Our text today raises some interesting issues about the Holy Ghost.  Depending on your denominational background, some denominations teach that you must speak in tongues to have the Holy Ghost and they used this scripture as their proof text.  Some will go as far to say that if you don’t speak in tongues then you are not saved.  This scripture has also been used to support second baptisms.

The issue in the text though is not salvation for Paul clearly addresses them as believers.  The issue is the fullness of the gospel message.  These were disciples of John and they were baptized under John’s message of repentance.  John was dead and they were continuing to teach John’s message of repentance.    Paul explains to them that John taught that they should repent and believe on the one that would come after him.  It appears that the text is suggesting that they never confessed Jesus as their Lord and Savior and never received him in to their lives.   They believed in the message of Jesus through John but never took the steps to accept Jesus as their Lord and Savior.  John never baptized in the name of Jesus but unto repentance. 

If you believe that God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit are one as the scripture teaches then when we accept Jesus Christ into our lives, we accept the Holy Spirit/Ghost into our hearts.   In the early church it is true that the early believers would speak in tongues and prophesy at the point of their conversion but we also know that later on in the bible, we learn that speaking in tongues is a gift and is never associated with being required for salvation.   We do not know the exact details of what Paul taught them but it is clear that he re-baptized them this time in the name of Jesus and he laid his hands upon them and the Holy Ghost came upon them and they began to speak in tongues and prophesy.

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

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17. January 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Hello Everyone:

Those of you that follow me know that I don’t post on holidays.   In America, we are honoring and celebrating the life of Dr. King.

Here are 10 of his most famous quotes:

1. “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” — From a letter written in a Birmingham Jail in April 1963.

2.  “I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.” — From his speech “I Have A Dream” delivered at The Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, 1963.

3.  “Our scientific power has outrun our spiritual power. We have guided missiles and misguided men.” — From 1963’s “Strength to Love”

4.  “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” — From “Strength to Love”.

5.  “I submit to you that if a man hasn’t discovered something he will die for, he isn’t fit to live.” — From a speech given in Detroit in June, 1963.

6.  “Courage is an inner resolution to go forward despite obstacles; Cowardice is submissive surrender to circumstances. Courage breeds creativity; Cowardice represses fear and is mastered by it.  Cowardice asks the question, is it safe?  Expediency ask the question, is it politic? Vanity asks the question, is it popular? But conscience ask the question, is it right? And there comes a time when we must take a position that is neither safe, nor politic, nor popular, but one must take it because it is right.”

7.  “From every mountainside, let freedom ring. When we let freedom ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God’s children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, “Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!” — From his speech “I Have A Dream” delivered at The Lincoln Memorial, Washington DC, 1963.

8.  “On the one hand we are called to play the good Samaritan on life’s roadside; but that will be only an initial act. One day we must come to see that the whole Jericho road must be transformed so that men and women will not be constantly beaten and robbed as they make their journey on life’s highway. True compassion is more than flinging a coin to a beggar; it is not haphazard and superficial. It comes to see that an edifice which produces beggars needs restructuring.” — From a sermon delivered at Riverside Church.

9.  ““Whatever your life’s work is, do it well.”

10.  “I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the promised land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know tonight that we as a people will get to the promised land. So I’m happy tonight. I’m not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man.” — From a speech delivered in Memphis on April 3, 1968. King was assassinated the next day.

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

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