29. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week is as follows:

Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Our text for today is:

Philippians 1:12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

If you recall from our study Paul is imprisoned at the time of this writing.  Can you imagine your pastor who you really love and trust and have been instrumental in your spiritual growth being imprisoned on a false charge?  Think about how your heart would ache for him.  Paul is letting the saints at Philippi who loves him dearly and he loves them know that what has happened to him is for the advancement of the gospel.  

He tells them that this present trouble will cause the gospel to be furthered.  He also indicates that already because of his chains, he has heard that brothers of the faith have come forward and are preaching the gospel with courage and without fear. 

While Paul is clear that some are taking the opportunity to preach Christ with an impure motive and to cause trouble for him while he is prison but his position is that the end result is that the gospel is being preached.   The gospel is going forward.  

Jesus is being preached and that keeps Paul encouraged. 

Think about what is happening in your life right now.   Could it be that whatever is happening to you is so that the gospel can be furthered?   Somebody is going to see Jesus in your situation.  Someone will know that Jesus is a healer.  Someone will know that Jesus can deliver.  Someone will experience the power and love of Christ through your situation.  It is not designed to kill you.  You are a part of something bigger than yourself.  It is so that the gospel can be furthered. 

What is this gospel?  It is the birth, life, death, burial, power and resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.    Someone is going to experience the power of God through your situation.   God is in control.  HE is not trying to destroy you nor hurt you but your journey will not only take you into the place that God wants you to go in him but others will also be blessed by your experience.  It is so that the gospel can be furthered. 

Whooh…………  I’m tearing….  God I love you…

Be encouraged everyone…  God is in control…  He has not abandoned us.  Stay prayerful.  Stay in HIS face and worship before him and find comfort in reading HIS word.    Things do get better.  Seasons CHANGE..

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

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28. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week is as follows:

Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Our text for today is:

Philippians 1:6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart; for whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ–to the glory and praise of God.  (NIV)

This text today has one of my favorite passages in it.  “Being confident of this very thing that he who begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Christ Jesus.”   Many scholars are divided on whether this verse is referring to ones predestination in Christ before the foundation of the world or whether it was encouraging the Philippian church  that the work of soul winning that they shared with Paul would go forth and be accomplished no matter what is happening.

Based on the context and the entire scheme of the bible, I am of the position to believe that it refers to our destiny in Christ before the foundation of the world.  I think it speaks to the fact that no matter how bad things get, whether the pain is self-induced or whether it is just a part of the process of life, this text encourages us that God will finish the work that he has started in us.  God’s grace and mercy will cover us and will work all things together for our good even though there may be major consequences for actions of sin, God will still complete the work that HE began in our lives.

This verse has always encouraged me because it is an example of the indescribable love of God.   God never gives up on us no matter how bad things get or no matter how rebellious we get.  A repentant heart will always get us back in the presence and in right standings with God.

Paul encourages the church that his prayer for them is that their love might abound more and more in knowledge and dept of insight.   Paul instructs us that the reason he prays for these two things is that they may be able to discern what is best and pure and blameless until the coming of Christ. 

Paul’s heart for this church is that they would grow in the word beyond surface knowledge so that it would transform their minds and heart to be able to make decisions for righteous living.

Please know that God has started a work in you.  It began at salvation and no matter what it looks like even with all our failures or successes, we are closer and closer each day in becoming all that God wants us to be.

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

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27. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Our scripture memory verse for the week is:

Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Today, we begin our study inside the book of Philippians.  Here is our text:

Philippians 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: 2 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

If you recall, Philippians is a letter written by Paul to the church at Philippi.   If you think about the letters that you write today, they normally have three major components; the greeting/intro; the body and the closing.   In our lesson today, we are looking at Paul’s introduction or greeting to the church. 

In this greeting, he identifies that the letter is coming from him though he mentions Timothy.  We know from reading the entirety of the letter that Paul is the sole author.   He identifies that the recipient of the letter is the church at Philippi but he also indicates that it is not just for the congregation but he also identifies the leadership at Philippi which he names as the Bishops and deacons.    Once he identifies who the sender and recipient is he then goes on to greet them with what has been established as the Christian greeting in the New Testament world; “Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.” 

Paul goes on to tell the church that he thanks God for them always as he prays.     I still believe in the power of prayer.  I have to be very careful when people ask me to pray for them and I commit to it.  Often times, we take it so light and casual that we don’t even remember to pray for the people that ask us.  What I have found that helps me is I have a prayer Photo album.   I request pictures or print them from the internet or write their names on a piece of paper and insert them in my album.  As I enter into my prayer time, I take the album with me and I turn the page and pray for everyone that is in it.  It helps me keep my commitment when someone asks me to pray.   I remember there was a time when people would request that I pray for them that I would instantly say something like “Lord Bless them, you know what they need” right after they said it (under my breath) so that I can say I honored my commitment.   I was quickly convicted by that method and instituted my prayer photo album as a remedy to that problem.  We need to pray for one another.  

So today, what I want you to take away from this lesson is prayer.   We have gotten away from spending time with God.   In my counseling of people, one of the basic questions that I ask first is how your prayer and word life is and most admit that it is basically non-existent.   My first step on helping them on their road to recovery in whatever situation they are going through is to tell them they have to commit to praying and meditating on God’s word.  So many times when the next counseling session comes around, I often find that they still didn’t take the time to find comfort, healing, strength, in prayer to our God.   Prayer is Power.  Prayer is strength.  Prayer keeps us victorious.  Prayer is the key to us living an abundant life in Christ yet it is rarely consistently practiced in the Christian home. 

Let’s start now.  Let’s pray.  Let’s get strong…  Let’s pray.  Let’s get victorious.  Let’s pray.  Let’s get healed.  Let’s pray.   PRAY…

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

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26. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone and Welcome Back from the weekend:

Our memory verse for the week is as follows:

Philippians 3: 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended : but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

The answers to Friday’s questions are as follows:

1.    What was Paul’s name before it was changed to Paul? Saul.

2.   Do the scriptures explain how Paul got his name change? No, we only see the change in the text.

3.   List at least two of the disciples that Paul partnered with? Barnabus, John Mark and Silas.

4.   What happened to make Paul convert to Christianity? The Lord Himself visited him on the road to Damascus and asked him why was he kicking against the pricks and he was converted.

5.   Was Paul ever blind? Yes temporarily.

6.   What is the most popular belief about how Paul died? He was killed during the Nero persecution. 

7.   What was Paul’s first miracle?  The impotent/crippled man at Lystra.

8.   What was the occasion for Paul to preach his first sermon?  They were in the synagogue and were asked to give words of encouragement.

9.   Paul was specifically called to minister to what group of people?  Gentiles

10.               What was Paul’s role when he was first introduced in the text? He was killing Christians on behalf of the Jewish faith. 

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

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23. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week is as follows:

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

We are finished with our fact finding info about Paul.  So Monday, we are ready to begin the study of Philippians.  Today, I want to do review questions.  I know you thought I forgot.   Lol..

1.    What was Paul’s name before it was changed to Paul?

2.   Do the scriptures explain how Paul got his name change?

3.   List at least two of the disciples that Paul partnered with?

4.   What happened to make Paul convert to Christianity?

5.   Was Paul ever blind?

6.   What is the most popular belief about how Paul died?

7.   What was Paul’s first miracle?

8.   What was the occasion for Paul to preach his first sermon?

9.   Paul was specifically called to minister to what group of people?

10.               What was Paul’s role when he was first introduced in the text?

Have a great weekend everyone.  I’ll post the answers on Monday and will begin to get into the verses of Philippians.

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

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22. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our memory verse for the week is as follows:

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

In today’s lesson, we will end with our last facts concerning Paul.  This reading simply deals with the information concerning his death.

Paul arrived in Jerusalem in 57 with a collection of money for the community there. Acts reports that he was warmly received. But Acts goes on to recount how he was interrogated by James for ‘teaching all the Jews living among the gentiles to forsake Moses, and that you tell them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs’.(Acts 21, 21) Paul underwent a purification ritual in order to give the Jews no grounds to bring accusations against him for not following their law. Paul however continued to preach against circumcision, Jewish dietary restrictions, and other requirements of the Torah. This made a final rift inevitable with the Jews.  Paul caused a stir when he appeared at the Temple, and he escaped being killed by the crowd by being taken into custody.  He was held as a prisoner for two years in Caesarea until a new governor reopened his case in 59. When accused of treason, he appealed to Caesar, claiming his right as a citizen of Rome to appear there before a proper court and to defend himself of the charges.

Acts recounts that on the way to Rome Paul was shipwrecked on “Melite” (Malta),^[Acts 28:1] where he was met by Publius^[Acts 28:7] and the islanders, who showed him “unusual kindness”.^[Acts 28:2] He arrived in Rome c 60 and spent two years under house arrest.^{[Acts 28:16]} All told, during his ministry the Apostle Paul spent roughly 5½ to 6 years as a prisoner or in prison.

Irenaeus of Lyons in the 2nd century believed that Peter and Paul had been the founders of the Church in Rome and had appointed Linus as succeeding bishop. Paul was not a bishop of Rome nor did he bring Christianity to Rome since there were already Christians in Rome when he arrived there (Acts 28:14-15). Also Paul wrote his letter to the church at Rome before he had visited Rome (Romans 1:1,7,11-13; 15:23-29). However, Paul would have played an important role in the life of the early church at Rome.

Neither the Bible nor other history says how or when Paul died. According to Christian tradition, Paul was beheaded in Rome during the reign of Nero around the mid-60s at Tre Fontane Abbey (English: Three Fountains Abbey).^[59] By comparison, tradition has Peter being crucified upside-down. Paul’s Roman citizenship accorded him the more merciful death by beheading.

In June 2009, Pope Benedict announced excavation results concerning the tomb of Paul at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls. The sarcophagus was not opened but was examined by means of a probe, which revealed pieces of incense, purple and blue linen, and small bone fragments. The bone was radiocarbon dated to the 1st or 2nd century. According to the Vatican, these findings were consistent with the traditional claim that the tomb is Paul’s. (taken from Wikipedia.)

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

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21. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

In today’s lesson, we discover the first attempt to kill Paul through stoning and his destinations that he traveled which he states was the beginning of him opening the doors to the gentiles.

Here is our text:

Acts 14:19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead . 20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up , and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe. 21 And when they had preached the gospel to that city, and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, 22 Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

23 And when they had ordained them elders in every church, and had prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord, on whom they believed .

24 And after they had passed throughout Pisidia, they came to Pamphylia. 25 And when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down into Attalia: 26 And thence sailed to Antioch, from whence they had been recommended to the grace of God for the work which they fulfilled . 27 And when they were come , and had gathered the church together , they rehearsed all that God had done with them, and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles.  28 And there they abode long time with the disciples.  

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

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20. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our father and from the Lord Jesus Christ:

Our scripture memory verse for the week is: 

Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Yesterday, I forgot to put in the body of our lesson that we were reading the conclusion of Paul’s first sermon.  In today’s reading,  you will encounter Paul’s first miracle.

Here is our text:

Acts 14:5 And when there was an assault made both of the Gentiles, and also of the Jews with their rulers, to use them despitefully , and to stone them, 6 They were ware of it, and fled unto Lystra and Derbe, cities of Lycaonia, and unto the region that lieth round about: 7 And there they preached the gospel . 8 And there sat a certain man at Lystra, impotent in his feet, being a cripple from his mother’s womb, who never had walked : 9 The same heard Paul speak : who stedfastly beholding him, and perceiving that he had faith to be healed , 10 Said with a loud voice, Stand upright on thy feet. And he leaped and walked . 11 And when the people saw what Paul had done , they lifted up their voices, saying in the speech of Lycaonia, The gods are come down to us in the likeness of men. 12 And they called Barnabas , Jupiter; and Paul, Mercurius, because he was the chief speaker.

13 Then the priest of Jupiter, which was before their city, brought oxen and garlands unto the gates, and would have done sacrifice with the people.

14 Which when the apostles, Barnabas and Paul, heard of, they rent their clothes, and ran in among the people, crying out , 15 And saying , Sirs, why do ye these things? We also are men of like passions with you, and preach unto you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God, which made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all things that are therein : 16 Who in times past suffered all nations to walk in their own ways. 17 Nevertheless he left not himself without witness, in that he did good , and gave us rain from heaven, and fruitful seasons, filling our hearts with food and gladness. 18 And with these sayings scarce restrained they the people, that they had not done sacrifice unto them.

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

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19. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our scripture memory verse for the week is:  Philippians 3:10 “That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

Here is our text:

Acts 13:41 Behold , ye despisers, and wonder , and perish : for I work a work in your days, a work which ye shall in no wise believe , though a man declare it unto you. 42 And when the Jews were gone out of the synagogue, the Gentiles besought that these words might be preached to them the next sabbath. 43 Now when the congregation was broken up , many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God. 44 And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God. 45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming .   

46 Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold , and said , It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you , and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo , we turn to the Gentiles. 47 For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth. 48 And when the Gentiles heard this , they were glad , and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed . 49 And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. 50 But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. 51 But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. 52 And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost.

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

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16. September 2011 by Bernice Davis.

Grace and Peace be unto you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hello Everyone:

Our scripture memory verse for the week is:  Philippians 2: 5 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow , of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

In today’s lesson, you get to hear the first speech/sermons by Paul. 

Here is our text:

Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and sat down . 15 And after the reading of the law and the prophets the rulers of the synagogue sent unto them, saying , Ye men and brethren, if ye have any word of exhortation for the people, say on . 16 Then Paul stood up , and beckoning with his hand said , Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience . 17 The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.

18 And

about the time of forty years suffered he their manners in the wilderness. 19 And when he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Chanaan, he divided their land to them by lot . 20 And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony , and said , I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.

23 Of

this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus: 24 When John had first preached before his coming the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. 25 And as John fulfilled his course, he said , Whom think ye that I am ? I am not he. But, behold , there cometh one after me, whose shoes of his feet I am not worthy to loose . 26 Men and brethren, children of the stock of Abraham, and whosoever among you feareth God, to you is the word of this salvation sent .

27 For

they that dwell at Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they knew him not , nor yet the voices of the prophets which are read every sabbath day, they have fulfilled them in condemning him. 28 And though they found no cause of death in him, yet desired they Pilate that he should be slain . 29 And when they had fulfilled all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree, and laid him in a sepulchre. 30 But God raised him from the dead:

31 And he

was seen many days of them which came up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are his witnesses unto the people. 32 And we declare unto you glad tidings , how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, 33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again ; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

34 And

as concerning that he raised him up from the dead, now no more to return to corruption, he said on this wise , I will give you the sure mercies of David. 35 Wherefore he saith also in another psalm, Thou shalt not suffer thine Holy One to see corruption. 36 For David, after he had served his own generation by the will of God, fell on sleep , and was laid unto his fathers, and saw corruption: