The 12 Disciples, Bible Study 04/21/10

The 12 Disciples

Synopsis of Bible Study 04/21/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

The apostles were the foundation of the Church. The apostles were sent out to establish churches. The apostles were called Disciples while they were working and being trained by God, but they became Apostles after they were sent to do the work that they were trained do. They were to start churches.

Revelation 21:14 says ¹⁴And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb. – The names of the 12 apostles are entrenched in walls of the New Jerusalem.

The 12 Disciples were 12 Jewish men who followed Jesus throughout his 3 yr ministry on earth.

11 of the 12 Disciples were from Galilee, except for one which was from Judea. This one from Judea was named Judas.

Some of the Disciples were married and some were not. Some sample scriptures are: Mark 1:29-31:²⁹And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  ³⁰But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. ³¹And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 1 Corinthians 9:3-6 says ³Mine answer to them that do examine me is this, ⁴Have we not power to eat and to drink? ⁵Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas? ⁶Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?

The 12 Disciples by name

1. Andrew
2. Bartholomew (Nathanael)
3. James (son of Zebedee)
4. James (the lesser or younger)
5. John (the son of Thunder, the Revelation)
6. Judas
7. Thaddeus (Jude)
8. Matthew
9. Peter (Cephas, Rock, Simon)
10. Phillip
11. Simon
12. Thomas (Doubting Thomas) He was a born a twin.

About the Disciples

First we will introduce you to a term called martyrdom. These were people who died for the cause of Jesus. All of the Disciples/Apostles were martyred in one way or another.  

Andrew

• He was a fisherman by occupation
• He was the brother of Peter and the son of Jonahs.
• He lived in Capernaum.
• He was a disciple of John the Baptist originally. (Mark 1:1 -18).
• He brought Peter to Jesus
• He was condemned to die on the cross.
• Andrew felt so unworthy to be crucified in the same fashion as Jesus, he requested to be crucified with an X-shaped cross.
• His Symbol: Two crossed fish in the shape of an X or the X shape
• Personality trait: Enthusiastic about Christ, Inquisitive, resourceful
• Life lesson: He felt that we should go out and eagerly share the good news about Jesus Christ

Bartholomew (Nathanael)

• Occupation was uncertain.
• He was the son of Talmai.
• Lived in Cannon Galilee.
• We think he was a Romanian Missionary.
• Many scholars think he came from royal blood. His name means son of Talmai. 2 Samuel 3:3 ³And his second, Chileab, of Abigail the wife of Nabal the Carmelite; and the third, Absalom the son of Maacah the daughter of Talmai king of Geshur; – Talmai was the king of Geshur whose daughter was Maacah which was the wife of David the Mother of Absalom.
• Nathanael was really Bartholomew’s first name. ( John 1:47 – Jesus referred to him as Nathanael)
• He died in India where he preached. He died by being fillet alive with knives.
• His symbol: 3 parallel knives.
• Personality traits: Skeptic, honest, and faithful. John 1:49: ⁴⁹Nathanael answered and saith unto him, Rabbi, thou art the Son of God; thou art the King of Israel.
• Life’s Lesson: Believers are called to test all things scripture and remain true to its principle.

James (son of Zebedee, son of Thunder, James the Elder or James the Great)

• His Occupation is a fisherman with his father and brother. Matthew 4:18-22 says ¹⁸And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. ¹⁹And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men. ²⁰And they straightway left their nets, and followed him. ²¹And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.  ²²And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
• He lived in Capernaum.
• He preached in Judea and Jerusalem. In AD44, he was beheaded by Herod. This task was done in public. Acts 12:1-2: ¹Now about that time Herod the king stretched forth his hands to vex certain of the church. ²And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
• He was the first of the 12 Disciples to die.
• His symbol: 3 shells (sign of his pilgrimage by the sea).
• Personality Trait: Vengeful and fiery, selfish, and conceited. He was committed to Christ and courageous to the end. Acts 12:2: ²And he killed James the brother of John with the sword.
• Also part of Jesus’ inner circle (consisting of Peter, James, and John)
• Life’s Lesson: Stand firm in the face of persecution.

James (the lesser or younger)

• Uncertain about his occupation.
• Brother of Jude.
• This is the James that wrote the Apostle of James.
• Strong character and committed.
•  This James died a horrible death. This James died by being sawed alive into pieces.
• His symbol: A saw.
• Personality Traits: Strong character, Committed.
• Life’s Lesson: He believed that all followers of Jesus can accomplish the work of God without being in the limelight.

John (Son of Thunder, The revelator)  

• He was the son of Zebedee.
• Brother of James the Great.
• He was known as the beloved disciple.
• Occupation: Fisherman
• He was part of Jesus’ inner circle.
• He wrote the gospel of John as well as 1, 2, & 3 John. He also wrote Revelation.
• Asia Minor is where he preached. He was exiled to the aisle. Patmos. He was sent there to die a slow and painful death in exile.
• He wrote what he saw in a vision after being led by the spirit of the Lord (found in the book of Revelations)
• He was at the cross with Jesus. ‘
• He died a natural death. There was an attempt to poison him though.
• His Symbol: A snake around a cup is his symbol.
• Personality traits: He was vengeful, fiery, judgmental, selfish, bold, loving, and compassionate after the Pentecost. Acts 4:13. 1 John 4.

Judas

• He was the treasurer. John 12:5-06: ⁵Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? ⁶This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.
• Son of Simon. He lived in Judah.
• He betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver and hanged himself after that. Judas became the traitor.
• He is hard to understand. We wonder if his betrayal was preordained by God or was Judas a demoniac agent. As a demonic agent, we wonder about the suicide? Can one repent from that? As being preordained by God, did God allow this just to execute the plan.
• Was a violent Jewish Nationalist. He followed Jesus in hopes of promoting his own dreams. He used his position as treasurer often to negotiate.
• His symbol: A hangman’s noose or money purse with silver coins falling out.
• Personality Trait: Greedy, deceitful, treacherous, and remorseful.
• Life’s lesson: He believed that not all who claim to follow Jesus are faithful to him and his foals.

Thaddeus (Jude)

• He was the brother of James the younger.
• We know very little about him.
• He lived in Galilee. Assyria and Persia is where he preached.
• He died in Persia.
• Jerome called him Trinomious. This means a man with 3 names. Mark 3:18:¹⁸And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite,- Here he is called Thaddaeus. Matthew 10:3: ³Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; – Here is called Lebbaeus. Luke 6:16: ¹⁶And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor. – Here he is called Judas.
• He was characterized as a nationalist.
• Asked Jesus how he would manifest to the disciples and not the world. He made himself kno n as king rather than servant. – John 14:22-23:²²Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? ²³Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
• Jude was known for manifesting gifts of healing.
• He died at Ararat-He died by arrows.
• His symbol:  Ship, because he was a missionary thought to be a fisherman.
• Personality Traits: Inquisitive, Confused
• Life’s Lessons: Jesus will reveal truths to those who follow him

 

Mathew

• He was a Tax collector in Galilee. Matt 9:9
• Lived in Capernaum.
• He wrote the book of Matthew.
• He died in Ethiopia
• Jews hated tax collectors.
• He was the first one to bring them the gospel in the Hebrew language so that they could understand it.
• His symbol: 3 money bags (this was to remind us Matthew was a tax collector before being called to be a Disciple)
• We don’t know how he died. We know he died and was martyred, but we don’t know how. They think he might have been cut open and burned at the stake, but we are not sure.
• Personality Trait: Hospitable.
• Life’s Lesson:  Jesus Christ is for everyone even sinners and outcasts.

Peter (Cephas, Rock, Simon)

• He was as fisherman
• He was the son of Jonahs from Capernaum.
• He did evangelistic work among the Jews. He was crucified upside down. He asked to be turned upside down, because he didn’t think he was worthy to be crucified in the same manner as his savior. He was part of inner circle.
• It is believed that he wrote 1 & 2 Peter.
• Jesus called him Simon. He was like the chairman of the disciples.
• His symbol: An upside down Cross. Other symbols for Peter were 2 crossed keys representing him being given the keys to the kingdom. In fact the whole apostolic succession belief is based on Peter. If you look at a Pope’s garment, there is two keys crossed sown on it.
• Peter was the switch blade carrying disciple.
• Personality traits: Impulsive yet cowardly, hot tempered yet tenderhearted, insightful yet dense.
• He was courageous and solid after the Pentecost Experience.
• Life’s Lesson: He believed that God can forgive our sins and strengthen the faith of those who love him.

Phillip

• He preached in Perugia. .He died a martyr in a place called Hierapolis.
• He came from humble beginnings.
• He was a fisherman.
• The first 3 gospels record his name. In the gospel of John, Phillip becomes a living personality.
• Scholars wonder if he was the same Phillip that was ordained as a deacon. Phillip was the one that read to the Enoch and showed him away.
• He was hung and while doing so, he asked them not to wrap him up in linen and perfumes which was their form of embalming. He said he is not worthy of his body being treated the same way as Jesus’ body (his savior) was.
• His Symbol: Basket of bread loaves, because he was part of the feeding the multitude.
• Personality Traits: Practical, helpful, literal and confused. John 14:8

Simon

• He was called a Canaanite.
• He lived in Galilee.
• He died of some form of crucifixion, but not sure what.
• He was a nationalist very much into the law.
• He hated people that compromised with Rome.
• He had lots of faith. He was willing to share with the other disciples.
• His symbol: Fish laying on bible indicating that he was a fisherman who became a fisherman of men as a preacher.
• Personality Trait: Patriotic, loyal. Mark 3:18
• Life’s Lessons: He believed we should sacrifice politics to follow Jesus.

Thomas (Doubting Thomas)

• He was born a twin.
• He was also known as Didymus. John 20:24
• Hey labored in Persia and India.
• He died in a place called Mount Saint Thomas in India.
• His Hebrew name was Thomas and his Greek name was Didymus.
• Sometimes they called him Judas.
• This Thomas appeared at the raising of Lazarus from the dead.
• He was in upper room when Jesus appeared with the disciples. Thomas was the one that said he didn’t know the way. He is known as doubting Thomas. He was the one that said he was not going to believe that Christ had risen until he saw the nail prints in his hand.
• He died in India and with the spears.
• His Symbol: A group spears, stones and arrows
• Personality Trait: Inquisitive, doubtful, courageous, faithful.

Other interesting facts

What happened to Mark and Luke? Why weren’t they mentioned? Mark was not a walking disciple of Jesus. He was actually a disciple of Peter. Luke of Antioch was physician and he became a disciple of the Apostle Paul. Luke served the Lord unmarried, without children, and filled with the Holy Ghost. He died at the age 84.

If you walk by our Antioch location, know that the colors represent the tribes of Israel. The tribes are engraved on plaques on the ground under the pillars. Inside the atrium of our Antioch location, the twelve disciples are listed on the ceiling.-+

He chose me, Sermon 04/18/10

He chose me

Synopsis of Sermon 04/18/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

There are moments in all our lives where we begin reflecting over our life itself. It’s in those moments of reflection that we come to places of introspection. We begin to evaluate the games we have played and we realize that God must have more for us. We begin to grow up. When we were as a child, we thought as a child and understood as a child, but when we became men (mature), we put away childish things. In this moment we realized how different we really were. You no longer want to play games. Unfortunately the folk you played games with, didn’t get the memo that you are done playing. What happens is we begin to feel uncomfortable in contexts where we used to be comfortable. We actually become nauseated and agitated by certain realities. You know this is true because God has greatness on our life. God is calling us back to what he has chosen us to do, and the devil is working overtime to try and derail us, because we are aware of what God is going to do in our lives. What God is going to do in your life is not because you are so good or because of your connections. It is because he has chosen you in spite of you. Some of you sense the shifting right now. Don’t whine about the fact that people don’t want to be with you anymore. Know that God has something great for you. There is a call on your life.

There is a revelation in being chosen.  John 15:15 says ¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

      I.            Progressed beyond the peripheral

1. Many of us have a surface relationship with Jesus. In other words, we simply show up to show up. Our relationship with Jesus has to be an authentic one. John 15:1 says ¹I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman. – Jesus says he wants us to be clear about our connection with him.
   1. Connection – Jesus wants to be connected to you.
   2. Concern - John 15:2 says ²Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. – God is concerned that we be productive.
   3. Cleansing – John 15:3 says ³Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.- God cleanses us.
   4. Commitment – John 15:4 says ⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me. – God is committed to us.
   5. There is a Consequence of not providing fruit – John 15:5-6 says ⁵I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. ⁶If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
   6. God has a covenant with you. John 15:7 says ⁷If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.-do what he says he will do.
   7. Confirmation – We need confirmation of our discipleship. John 15:8 says ⁸Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.- To show people we are connected to God, we should produce fruit.
   8. Relationship-Our relationship with God must be at a place and with such a connection, it is personal.
   9. Personal- Our relationship with God must be hinged on experience based knowledge. We know him based on what he is for us.
   10. Progressive – You can’t be connected to God and not be progressive. Anyone connected to God can’t be trifling. You get agitated with people who are stagnant.
   11. Productive- This means there is fruit in everything you put your hand to. The result of healthy relationship is revelation. Jesus says he is no longer going to call us servants. He is going to call us friends. John 15:15 says ¹⁵Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. Ex – Many of us give folk relationship without the relationship being healthy. The problem is we reveal too much, before we see if the relationship can handle it. As a result, then they start treating us different. People should have to qualify for revelation. We must say to our self, a person must qualify to really get to know us.
2. In Chapter 14 Jesus told the disciples not to let their hear be troubled. In Chapter 15, Jesus told them that he would no longer call them servants. Instead he told them he would call them friends.
3. We have to get rid of the peripheral and say Lord I want revelation! Whatever God has to take us through, we have to be willing to go though.
4. How does God prepare us?
   1. We have to have character in temptation. In Matthew 4 Jesus was being tempted, but he knew how to handle it (Garden of Gethsemane)
   2. Consistency in every task- You have to finish what you start. God can’t trust us with revelation, if he can’t trust us to finish the assignment.
   3. Convictions during trials-What do you believe about God when the bottom falls out. What you going through, we can tell that you are with the Lord. There are others that will drop out as soon as trouble comes. We have made up in our mind that all things work together for them that love the Lord and who are called according to his purpose. We refuse to look like what we are going through!

   II.            Purpose has been preordained

John 15:16 says ¹⁶Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

1. Many people go through life not knowing what their purpose really is. Many people have no fulfillment because they are not connected with their destiny. God wants us to produce fruit. Remember we didn’t choose him, he chose us. This is nothing new, Jeremiah 1:4-5 says ⁴Then the word of the LORD came unto me, saying, ⁵Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee, and I ordained thee a prophet unto the nations. – You will never know your purpose by trying to live on the surface. The best indicator you can have to let you know if you are doing what you are supposed to be doing is having peace. We have to wake up every day knowing we are doing what we are supposed to do. God created us to solve a problem and if we don’t know what we are supposed to do, then we are part of that problem. Romans 8:29 says ²⁹For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. – God knew it; he called me to it, qualified me for it, and then he blessed me in it! He used the bad, the good, and the ugly in us and used it as a thread to draw a greater fabric of your life together. Ex - Bishop explains that we are looking at a grown man (in him) that they said had a learning disorder. When he was little, he said he stayed in trouble in school. He could not sit down and could not be quit. They thought something was wrong with him. One teacher in the 6th grade knew what to do with him. Now this same hyper young man is able to preach 4 – 5 services to you today. God will take all the stuff that makes you who you are and use it. God will take all of you and anoint you. God chooses imperfect people, because he has no perfect people to choose from.
2. God chose us for his glory.
   1. God affirmed us -Every day we wake up, we know we are validated, because he has his hand on us. That thing he performed in us, he will perform until the day of Jesus Christ.
   2. God wants you to live in Abundance – God don’t want us to live in a state of struggle. We have to know we are above and not the beneath. God wants you to know that you are the head and not the tail! He wants you to know who you are.
   3. Abundance shall abide – John 15:16b says … and that your fruit should remain: …Know that our blessing is not seasonal. It will remain with us. Post this on your refrigerator and on your Facebook status. Your blessing should be recession proof. Psalm 92:14 says ¹⁴They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; – The older we get the better we will get!

III.            Pray on the promise

John 15:16c says … that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

1. When you have a relationship with God, and you have been pre ordained, just pray in the Jesus’ name. Pray in Jesus name or it is like sending a letter without a stamp. In the Greek whatsoever and whosever is the same word. This means that whatever God gives us cannot be separated from who he is. He give joy, because he is joy! He gives peace, because he is peace!
2. We have to ask it:
   1. Word – We must stay in bounds. We have a right to everything that is in this word.
   2. Will - His will is in his word. If it is in the word, it is in his will.
   3. Work- We ask it, because it in his will, then we get it, and then get out of the way to allow God to work.
3. After you ask it, know God will manifest it. You got to pray and believe that it is already done. We will give him glory on credit, before it manifests. This is a lay away praise. Just like when we lay something away and put a little money on it from time to time before we get it, we have to do the same with the thing we are waiting on God to manifest for us. We go look at what we are hoping for and then we put a little praise on it from time to time, before God actually manifests it. Just like verse 16c says, whatever you ask the God for, in Jesus name, he will give it to you. Ex – There was a baby girl crying in the kitchen. The Dad asked what she wanted. The little girl continued to cry. Daddy got on one knee to get on the little girls level and asks her the question again. Finally the baby girl says she wants some cake. Dad asked her what he said about her whining. She repeated that he told her to use her words. So the Dad asked what did she want and the baby girl says she wanted some cake. Daddy sliced the cake, put whip cream on top, and then he put some ice-cream on the side. Now notice, she asked for cake and she received cake, ship cream, and ice-cream on the side. The lesson here is if we use our words, God will give to us exceedingly and abundantly above all we ask for. We must use our words.

The 12 tribes of Israel Part II, Bible Study 04/14/10

The 12 tribes of Israel Part II

Synopsis of bible study 4/14/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker III

Imagine Jacob in his old age laying on his death bed and he decides to call all 12 of his sons in to talk to them, because he wants to say something to them before he died. Genesis 49:1-2 says ¹And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. ²Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Jacob’s prophecy

The word of a patriarch meant something back in the bible days (particularly at the time of death). It was supposed to set the tone for things that were to come.

Reuben

• In the text today, Jacob looks at Reuben first: Rueben was the Jacob’s firstborn son. Reuben means to see. His mother was Leah. In Genesis 49:3-4 Jacob says ³Reuben, thou art my firstborn, my might, and the beginning of my strength, the excellency of dignity, and the excellency of power: ⁴Unstable as water, thou shalt not excel; because thou wentest up to thy father’s bed; then defiledst thou it: he went up to my couch. – In other words, Jacob felt he had it going on when he had Rueben, but Reuben slept with his father’s concubine. Reuben means to see so Jacob was like saying, “I saw you “when Rueben slept with his father’s concubine Bilhah.
• In Genesis 42:37-39 says ³⁷And Reuben spake unto his father, saying, Slay my two sons, if I bring him not to thee: deliver him into my hand, and I will bring him to thee again. ³⁸And he said, My son shall not go down with you; for his brother is dead, and he is left alone: if mischief befall him by the way in the which ye go, then shall ye bring down my gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. – Everyone thought Joseph was dead. When they were they were about to leave, Jacob didn’t want Benjamin to go with them, because Benjamin was the youngest. Jacob was already hurt by the alleged death of Joseph and Jacob knew he could not stand it if Benjamin had died. Reuben says to his father Jacob that he would take care of Benjamin while they were on their trip. Who was Reuben to say he would take care of Benjamin for his father, when he had slept with his father’s concubine? Even though Rueben had done this, there was one thing good about Rueben that is worthy of note. When Joseph’s brothers wanted to kill him, Rueben was the one that told them not to kill him. He suggests that they instead Joseph him in the pit.

Simeon & Levi

• Jacob looks at Simeon and Levi and they were called in together. They were like two peas in a pod. Genesis 49:5-7 says ⁵Simeon and Levi are brethren; instruments of cruelty are in their habitations. ⁶O my soul, come not thou into their secret; unto their assembly, mine honour, be not thou united: for in their anger they slew a man, and in their selfwill they digged down a wall. ⁷Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel. -  Jacob later called Israel, tells Simeon and Levi (his 2^nd and 3^rd son) that they were instruments of cruelty. Just to bring you up to date, in Genesis 34, Dinah was raped by a man named Shechem. Though he raped her, he loved her. He broke a lot of laws with this act. First of all, the law said a man should never touch a woman without permission of the father. Shechem father’s name was Hamor. After Shechem raped Dinah, Shechem went to Hamor and told him that he loved her and wanted to marry her. Hamor goes to talk to Jacob on Hamor’s behalf. Hamor assured Jacob that he would pay any size dowry that was required. Simeon and Levi knew what Shechem had done to their sister, so they took their swords and killed all the males in their city. They killed Shechem and Hamor too. It upset Jacob so much that he scolded the both of them on his death bed.
• Simeon means to hear. Look at play on names. When Hamor is talking to Jacob about Shechem gaining Dinah’s hand in marriage, Simeon hears from the field what Hamor is requesting on Shechem’s behalf.
• Simeon in his family eventually lived in Cannon.

Levi

• Levi was the leader of the Levites. The Levites were part of the temple worship. /Exodus 32:26-29 says ²⁶Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the LORD’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him. ²⁷And he said unto them, Thus saith the LORD God of Israel, Put every man his sword by his side, and go in and out from gate to gate throughout the camp, and slay every man his brother, and every man his companion, and every man his neighbour. ²⁸And the children of Levi did according to the word of Moses: and there fell of the people that day about three thousand men. ²⁹For Moses had said, Consecrate yourselves today to the LORD, even every man upon his son, and upon his brother; that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day. – When Aaron had the golden calves made, it was the Levites who were known for not wanting to worship the golden calf.
• Levi and Simeon almost killed the whole city over what they did with Dinah.
• Levi was involved in the plot to sell his brother Joseph into slavery.

Judah

• Remember that when Jacob (Israel) was speaking to his sons, he was not just speaking to his sons individually. Jacob was speaking to the potential of generations to come. He is speaking 100 and 1000 yrs into the future. Jacob was speaking to their seed. Implied in the language of the prophecy is the hint that Jacob is making reference to someone we might know.
• Genesis 49:8-12 says ⁸Judah, thou art he whom thy brethren shall praise: thy hand shall be in the neck of thine enemies; thy father’s children shall bow down before thee. ⁹Judah is a lion’s whelp: from the prey, my son, thou art gone up: he stooped down, he couched as a lion, and as an old lion; who shall rouse him up? ¹⁰The sceptre shall not depart from Judah, nor a lawgiver from between his feet, until Shiloh come; and unto him shall the gathering of the people be. ¹¹Binding his foal unto the vine, and his ass’s colt unto the choice vine; he washed his garments in wine, and his clothes in the blood of grapes: ¹²His eyes shall be red with wine, and his teeth white with milk.- Basically this scripture is saying eventually every knee shall bow and every tongue will confess.
• Judah became the spokesperson for his father Jacob when they went to Egypt.
• Judah married Shua a Canaanite women. Judah had another mother named Tamar that gave him twin sons.

Dan

• Dan means judge. Genesis 49:16 says ¹⁶Dan shall judge his people, as one of the tribes of Israel. – When Rachael was convinced that she couldn’t’  have a child, she cried that the Lord had judged her.
• Jacob had a son by Bilhah, Rachael’s servant. When you think about the tribe of Daniel, think about legal matters or about Judges. Genesis 30:5 says ⁵And Bilhah conceived, and bare Jacob a son.

Naphtali

• Jacob told Naphtali that he was a like a running dear. Genesis 49:21 says ²¹Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words.
• Basically When Rachel’s made servant had Naphtali, Rachel said she wrestled with her sister, because Naphtali was birth out of a cat fight. Genesis 30:8 says ⁸And Rachel said, With great wrestlings have I wrestled with my sister, and I have prevailed: and she called his name Naphtali.

Gad

• Gad means troop. Genesis 49:19 says ¹⁹Gad, a troop shall overcome him: but he shall overcome at the last. -  Jacob told Gad that he will have troops that overcome him, but in the end, he overcomes them all.
• Gad had seven sons. Jacob says raiders will raid him and it will look like he won’t win, but in the end, he will come out on top.

Asher

• Asher means happy. Genesis 49:20 says ²⁰Out of Asher his bread shall be fat, and he shall yield royal dainties. – Jacob told Asher that he will have the best food and provide Kings with delights. All the Kings will come for Asher for their dainties and the best of everything.
• Asher had 4 sons and 1 daughter.

Issachar

• Jacob says to Issachar, “You work like a slave”. Genesis 49:14-15 says ¹⁴Issachar is a strong ass couching down between two burdens: ¹⁵And he saw that rest was good, and the land that it was pleasant; and bowed his shoulder to bear, and became a servant unto tribute. –Jacob told Issachar that he was a hard worker. The children of Issachar were known of being men of great learning. They understood the seasons (spiritually). If you were to ask them about the earthquakes that have been happening in today’s times, they would probably be ones that could say what God is saying through the earthquakes.

Zebulun

• Zebulun was the place where the ships would come. Genesis 49:13 says ¹³Zebulun shall dwell at the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon. – Jacob says Zebulun would be located by the sea. It would be a harbor for ships. This is in Genesis, but there is a time period between Genesis and Exodus. When the children of Israel first went in Egypt, they went as welcomed guests. If you understand Egypt geographically, you know that it is in Southern Africa. The way the tribe of Zebulun is located by the water, is what made it an advanced civilization. Things could travel quicker by boat than by foot in that day. Zebulun protected those ships that went through their harbors. In fact it was Deborah spoke of Zebulun and Naphtali in Judges 5:18 when she says ¹⁸Zebulun and Naphtali were a people that jeoparded their lives unto the death in the high places of the field. – They would fight to the end, because they had something to protect.

Joseph

• Joseph (1562-1452 B.C.E. (which means before the Common Era)). When Jacob got to Joseph in Genesis 49:22 he told him ²²Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall: – Jacob says that Joseph would be like a fruitful vine planted by a wall. Do you remember in Psalm 1:3 when it says ³And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. – When it said that you shall be planted by the river it means this; the water symbolized the anointing. Wherever the anointing is flowing, you will be growing. Jacob says to Joseph that he is a tree planted by water. He warns that there will be people who are going to try to put up a wall around us to limit our potential. Jacob tells Joseph that because he is by water, he will be able to flow and grow over the wall.
• Jacob warns that Joseph will have haters. An Archer never pulls back on the bow, unless it has a bull’s eye in sight. Jacob warns that everywhere Joseph goes, he will be shot at. Genesis 49:23 says ²³The archers have sorely grieved him, and shot at him, and hated him:
• Jacob tells Joseph that the more they hated on him, the stronger he got. Genesis 49:24: ²⁴But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob; (from thence is the shepherd, the stone of Israel:)
• Jacob further tells Joseph that all of what he went through was worth it because the blessing the father gave him was greater than he gave anyone else. All Joseph has to do is walk in it. Genesis 49:25 says ²⁵Even by the God of thy father, who shall help thee; and by the Almighty, who shall bless thee with blessings of heaven above, blessings of the deep that lieth under, blessings of the breasts, and of the womb:
• Joseph had 2 sons who were named Ephraim and Manasseh. Note: Study Chapters 37-50 to find out more about the life of Joseph.

Benjamin

• Genesis 49:27 says ²⁷Benjamin shall ravin as a wolf: in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil. – Benjamin is selfless. Jacob told Benjamin that he will always be the one that goes out and bless others. Remember it was Joseph that sabotaged Benjamin’s sack by putting silver in it.
• Jacob tells Benjamin that he shares with everyone.
•  Jacob reminds Benjamin that he hunts like a wolf in the day, but shares it all at night.

 

Why are we learning this? Everything we are learning right now is setting a foundation for something we are going to learn later. We are going to study deeper on these foundations. Bishop explains he is trying to get us to want to study the tribes for ourselves. We need to know who comes from these tribes. We need to know what transpired. This makes us understand how things played out. They run like a thread through the bible, but they knot up in the book of Revelation. When we teach on the apocalypse, it will bring this all into focus.

A Testimony on trial, Sermon 04/11/10

A Testimony on trail

Synopsis of sermon 4/11/10

Delivered by Bishop Walker

Text: Acts 4:13-14 – ¹³Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it.

One of the tenants of an authentic relationship with Jesus Christ is moral persuasion. When your convictions are authentic, it is easy to talk about Christ to anyone that you encounter. It is not a forced action, particularly when you have benefited from his mercy and grace. The problem is we have allowed our testimonies to be hindered by a society that alienates and criticizes those that have a passion for the things of God. A world full of idolism and other things makes us not fit in. People try to call you a religious fanatic. It is funny though that people never ever call you a demonic fanatic. It is only when you get saved that people think something is wrong with you. In Acts 1:8 says⁸But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

In Acts 3, we meet at a gate called Beautiful. The Bible says there was man sitting there who had been lame since his mother’s womb. When he asked Peter and John for alms they said silver and gold have they not but such as they have, they would give to him.

Later in the book, we find that the people were terrified about the boldness of Peter & John. Peter and John were brought in to interrogate them. Be warned that this will happen to you too. People are frightened by your testimony. The truth is God has been too good for us not to say anything about it. Know that every scheme of the enemy is an attempt to mute your testimony. Why is this?  

Because our testimony is:

1. Evangelistic- You don’t have to quote scripture or anything. All you have to do is just tell what God has done for you.

2. It edifies- Telling what God has done for you can help others.

3. It empowers-Reminds us and others what God can do in our lives.

In the text, Peter and John were arrested and now their testimony is on trial. The devil wants to know if there is some validity and consistency in your testimony. The people in the text perceived that because Peter and John were bold with their testimony, they were unlearned.

      I.            Proof you’ve been with the master

1. We are evidence. The people in the text concluded that because of their boldness of Peter and John about Jesus, they must be unlearned. People think because you are educated, you shouldn’t act that way others do when giving praise to God. People feel you should be more dignified with your praise. People look at you when you dance in church, because they don’t think you should act like this. They think the more educated you are, the more dignified you should be. Instead of being fishers of men, they want to be keepers of the aquarium. Just because people may be from another place, don’t mean they don’t have any sense. We know you may have a PHD degree or some other degree, but so do we! We have a PHD degree too. It means we praise- him -daily.
2. There is evidence you have been with the Master:
   1. Mindset – Your conviction is tied to your mindset. Our mind has been transformed. We have to get to a point where we have our Spirit over our mind.
   2. Morality – Ministry is born out of morality. We have to realize that our life is not our own. God uses us to get a blessing to others. The people in the text were convinced that Peter and John had been with Jesus. Ex-When you go to the barber shop or the grocery store, there is evidence that you been there. How then can you leave church without evidence that you have been there?
   3. Demeanor-Your demeanor becomes different. This in some evidence that you been with master. We’ve got peace and joy and we don’t act a fool when things don’t go our way, because we have been with the master.
   4. Dedication- We become passionate about sharing Christ with others.
   5. Disciples- We can tell by observing you that you have been with the master. The greatest evidence that shows you have been with Jesus is your anointing. Luke 4:18 says ¹⁸The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, – You can’t run from the anointing. You can’t even backslide because of the oil (anointing) that is on you. Ex-When you are anointed, people say will say you don’t belong when you go where you don’t belong. If there is anything you ought to thank God for, it is his anointing.

   II.            Presence of a miracle

1. They had a meeting about Paul and John. Just like this, there are some people having a meeting about you and your testimony. Acts 4:14-15 says ¹⁴And beholding the man which was healed standing with them, they could say nothing against it. ¹⁵But when they had commanded them to go aside out of the council, they conferred among themselves,
2.  Everybody sees what’s going on. In the midst of their skepticism, the Jews could not deny that there was a miracle among them (Peter and John). Acts 4:16 says ¹⁶Saying, What shall we do to these men? for that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.- When Jesus died, they tried to challenge his resurrection. This miracle among them could not be denied. There was a man standing beside Peter and John every where they went.
3. What was the miracle? Acts 3:1-9 -¹Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. ²And a certain man lame from his mother’s womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; ³Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked an alms. ⁴And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. ⁵And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. ⁶Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. ⁷And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ankle bones received strength. ⁸And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God. ⁹And all the people saw him walking and praising God:
   1. This same man who was lame since the womb follows Peter and John everywhere they go as a miracle in their midst. They could not deny that this man was lame since birth, but now could walk. Just like this, people can’t deny is there is a miracle in your midst. They can’t deny that you are present. You are the miracle. Ex- Somebody right now is at the brink of foreclosure, but they are still in their house! Somebody thought they wouldn’t get a job, but they did! In our lesson, the man that was lame shows up and keeps standing. If you will notice in the scripture, the man never says anything. When you know you are miracle, just showing up is enough!
4. What was God’s greatest miracle? You are sitting next to him. You can’t deny a notable miracle has taken place. We are God’s greatest miracle. In the scripture, the people wanted to manipulate Peter and John’s praise. Just like this, Satan wants to manipulate our praise, but we can’t!

III.            Praise cannot be manipulated

Acts 4:17-19 says ¹⁷But that it spread no further among the people, let us straitly threaten them, that they speak henceforth to no man in this name. ¹⁸And they called them, and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.¹⁹But Peter and John answered and said unto them, Whether it be right in the sight of God to hearken unto you more than unto God, judge ye.

1. Peter said, the last time they told him to manipulate his praise, he denied Jesus 3 times. He wasn’t going to allow his praise to be manipulated anymore! Acts 4:20 says ²⁰For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.
2. For we got the can’t help-its. We can’t help but to tell the things we have seen and heard. When we get our job, we can say we thank God for it, but we better not say anything about Jesus. You can say you are lucky, but you better not say anything about thanking Jesus. What is it about Jesus’ name that people dislike so much? It is because demons tremble at his name! When you say his name, things happen in the earth realm. His name is a nuisance to religion, but necessary in relationship. Every day we wake up we need Jesus name. When things are going bad and we don’t know what to say, we simply say Jesus!
3. People don’t want your testimony to be spoken. Ex-There was a woman that was 87 years old. She had a grandson she was raising, because her daughter was on drugs and his father was in jail. Her son-and-law had been killed. This grandmother was a praying grandmother. The grandson had got caught up in gangs and even had gotten shot, but grandma was determined to get him graduated from High School. One day she got the letter saying he was going to be graduating. She was so overjoyed to hear this. She got her Usher’s outfit out and ironed it. She even got out her biggest Easter hat and her white gloves. The boy was going to finish High School at the top of his class, despite all he had been through. Grandma.

On the day of the graduation, Grandma made her way to the school and despite her arthritis, she mad her way to the top rafters. She came in giving God the praise. Before the commencement exercises began, the principle came to the microphone and asked that everyone hold their applause to the end so they could applaud with everyone at the same time. The Grandma was thinking about all she had gone through with this boy. The boy’s last name was Williams, so as you know the W’s was the last to be called up for diplomas. She kept yelling out, “Jesus!” every time a few names were called. After they got around to the C’s the Principle comes to microphone again and ask that they remember to hold their applause to the end. See he was talking to her (Grandma), even though he addressed everyone. As they resumed the commencement exercises, Grandma just couldn’t hold it. She kept saying “Jesus, Glory!” The Principal finally sent Security over to where Grandma was sitting hoping this would quiet Grandma down; still Grandma could not hold her peace. Finally one of the Security Guards asked Grandma what was this all about. Grandma begins to tell the Security Guard how she worked two jobs helping to get her grandson through High School and keeping him away from drugs and gangs. The next thing you know, the Security Guard started crying also. The other Security Guard was tripping, because of his colleague’s show of emotion. He tells his colleague that it was bad enough that she could not control herself without him joining in the disruption. The point is, testimony will change people. When Grandma’s grandson came up to get his diploma, the Grandmother came down the steps and stood up front giving God the glory. There is power in your testimony!

Now just to prove it, think about how good God has been to you and try to hold your praise! Can you do it? Your testimony is on trail! There is power in your testimony.