Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recording Jesus

Matthew, Mark, Luke and John recording Jesus

BY Argie Simonis     

-[Matthew]
He was a tax collector and became one of the 12 desciples of Jesus after he received a personal call from the Lord (Mat.9:9). He used to be called Levi, but in the desciples' cycle he was called Matthew which means "gift of God". He spoke Aramaic, Greek and Hebrew, like most of the craftsmen of his time.
Due to his intimate relationship with Jesus he knew every detail for His life first hand. He wrote the gospel bearing his name possibly in Antioch of Syria around 50 A.D. He wrote it first in Aramaic for the sake of the Palestine churches to show them that Jesus fulfilled the Law and was the Messiah, and later he transfered it into Greek. 
This gospel was called "the greatest book of World Literature".
Great emphasis is given in the "Kingdom of Heaven" which occurs 33 times. Special emphasis is also given to the teaching ministry of Jesus.

-[Mark]

It is generaly agreed that the author of this book is John-Mark appearing in Acts 12:12. He was the son of Mary and church gatherings were taking place at his home (Acts 13:5,13). He acompanied Paul and Barnabas in Antioch in Syria (Acts 12:25) and later left them at Cyprus and return to Jerusalem (Acts 13:13). About 10 years later in 60 A.D. Mark was with Paul in Rome (2Tim. 4:11, Col. 4:10). Mark's close association with Peter is indicated in 1Peter 5:13, when Peter speaks of Mark as "my son" where we can assume that Peter led Markus to Jesus, making him his spiritual son. The gospel of Mark (although that Mark's name does not appear in the gospel) is one of the first manuscripts of the New Testament, written around 45 A.D. Many people believe that it was written after the persistance of the christians in Rome to record everything that Peter was describing according to his personal relationship with Jesus.
This is the shortest gospel among the four, with Mark focusing in facts and action more than themes and topics. The words "immediately" and "at once" occur more than 30 times.

-[Luke]
The author of this book is Luke, the only one of the 4 authors of the gospels that was not a Jew. He came from Antioch of Syria and he probably came into faith through Paul (Acts 11:19-21), whom he became a close associate. He followed Paul in all his missions and persecutions (imprisonment in Ceasaria, imprisonment in Rome) (Col.4:14, 2Tim.4:11). He died at the age of 84.
He was a well educated person, a doctor, and apart from this gospel (that was written in 63 A.D.) which is the longest of the 4 gospels,  he also wrote the book of Acts. These 2 books are devoted to a high status christian named Theofilus which in Greek means friend of God. Luke is considered to be the best and most accurate of the ancient historians, and gathered all his information from trustworthy people who were eye-witnesses and had direct knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Comparing Luke with the other gospels, we see that he focuses in presenting all the major facts of Jesus' life. That's why this book was recognised as the most complete representative account of the life of Jesus. 
The order of the events taking place is not neccesarily chronological, but in his writing he follows a definite plan and purpose. He is  interested in various classes of people. Many women are identified and have come to be known only through his account. Children receive more attention from Luke than the other gospel writers as well as the poor and the oppressed, especialy in the parables.
Jesus is described by Luke as an actual person in History who "came to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10)

-[John]

The author of this book is John, the beloved desciple of Jesus. Especially in the last 200 years this book was severely persecuted because it represents with great magnificence Jesus Christ exactly like He is: THE BLESSED SON OF GOD. 
The book was written around 85-90 A.D. probably in Ephesus and it was a great faith resource for the christians in the old days and today as well.
John was a Galilean fisherman when Jesus called him (Mark 1:19-20). He and his brother James followed Him and later they were given the name "sons of thunder" (Mark 3:17). The purpose of this gospel is that the reader might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through believing he might obtain life eternal (John 20:31).
John focuses in recording Jesus as "I AM" in His messages and the book reflects itself repeatidly that John eye-witnessed most of the events that he records. He also records 5 miracles not reported in the other gospels. 
As a desciple of Jesus he participated in the mission of the 12. He was present at the Lord's transfiguration making him one of the 3 that witnessed the devine revelation confirming Jesus as the Son of God. He was also present in the passion and resurrection of the Lord.
The purpose of the miracles John reports give evidence of Christ's supernatural power in areas of life that man was impotent. The word "believe" is strongly present and occures 98 times throughout this book and shows that Jesus provides salvation for "whoever believes in Him".

He is Risen!!!!

 Dear Friends,
we wish you to have a 
       Great 
Blessed Easter!!

Best wishes by
Peggy & Argie Simonis
             :)

Highlights from Peter- Useful lessons for us.

Highlights from Peter- Useful lessons for us.

BY Argie Simonis         

Ιn my previous post I have been sharing from Matthew 14:22-32  where the desciples were sailing in the midst of a storm and Jesus came to them walking on the sea and saved them. Here is the summary and some highlights of this story:

- Be positioned for a miracle. Do what God called you to do and don't quit no matter what.

- Call out and put a demand on the Lord. Seek God with all that you have.

- Start expecting the supernatural. In Mark 6:52 their heart was hardened and they were overwhelmed by the miracle instead of expecting it.

- There has to be faith in some degree from our part in order to see the miraculous power of God. Start taking steps of faith. For example, when you are facing a financial crisis and the money you have is not enough to support you anyway, you have to use that money as a seed for the Kingdom of God if you want to see the supernatural. Faith is seeing things with your heart that you can't see with your eyes. Remember the people of Israel when they crossed the red sea? It is easy to praise God on the other side of the sea when your enemies are destroyed and you are safe, but faith is to praise God before you see the result.

- The way Peter asked Jesus to call him to walk on the water, didn't give Jesus much of a choise to deny him. He didn't ask Him "if you want, or if it is in your will call me to come to you", but he said "If it is you, command me to come". The point of this is that many times we ask God the wrong or stupid questions. When you are in the midst of an important decision and ask God for direction or answer and you give Him options, just make sure that appart from your A and B option (that is according to your understanding) you must also consider a C option: none of the above. The Lord may lead you to an option that you never thought of before!

Before Peter could walk on the water, he had to come out of the boat. The boat represents the natural and the "safe" environment we are in. Many people are afraid to do anything different than everybody else is doing. They are afraid to break from the pack. 
The rest of the desciples refused to leave the relative safety of the boat. If you believe there is something more why don't you just take a step of faith and step out from your comfort zone? If what you have been doing is not working, why are you so resistant in someone coming and presenting something new?

If you believe God and try to do something, even if you don't make it 100%, at least you'll taste a measure of it. Many people are afraid to take a step further, wasting their life away doing something they don't like. Don't stay in the boat! No risk, no reward.

In 1Kings 17:1 we see Elijah goes to king Ahab and declares drout. That takes courage. He put his life on stake. The Lord then sent His supply in brook Cherith where He said Elijah to go, not at the place he was at that moment. If he didn't follow God's direction he would have starved to death.

You may be praying to walk on water, but you are afraid to take a step out of the boat. People are praying for supernatural healings, but still they are afraid to take a step and go out to people, pray for them and speak faith into their heart. You want the result but you are afraid of the rejection of people.

Trusting God is risky. 
"But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him." (Hebrews 11:6)

It is safer to walk on the water trusting God than to stay in the relative safety of the boat that was about to sink. 

What did the winds and waves had to do with Peter walking on water? If you try to live in the natural, you may be a nice, kind cute powerless lifeless person.

Now notice that when Peter's attention went off Jesus, he didn't immediatly start to sink, but he begun to sink. Likewise, we don't get immediately out of faith and we don't get immediately into it. You have to build it, cultivate it. It takes a while. There are signs when we begin to loose our faith, and when you start recognising these signs you can stop the process before you totaly sink. When you see those signs yoy deal with it and get back to the top.

Sin doesn't come as a seizure. It has to be conceived and acted out.
"Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death." (James 1:15)

The most likely time to allow unbelief and doubt into your heart is not when you are in a crisis, but when you are in good time. When things look relatively nice, no storms on the horizon, that's when the most people take their eyes from Jesus. Like Peter, Jesus didn't run towards him. He just stretched His arm to catch him. That means that Peter has already walked a distance towards Jesus, and at the moment he came close to Him and felt safe, he took his eyes off Him and started to sink.  You can tell what a person is like when being in pressure, but you can also tell when everything looks good, because that's the time that most people have a tendancy not to seek the Lord any more. History shows that when the church was prospering, that was the time that it most failed.

Jesus called Peter "man of little faith", but still he walked on water! You don't need "big" faith to see miracles!
"...for truly I say to you, If you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. (Mat. 17:20)

The problem with Peter was not his little faith but
"... why did you doubt? (Mat. 14:31)

The reason that Jesus' desciples couldn't cast the demon out in Matthew 17:18-20 was not their small faith, but their unbelief. In Rom. 12:3 we see that God has given to all of us THE measure of faith. Our reasoning works against that. There is a knowledge problem:
"That the communication of your faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus." (Philemon. 1:6)

and there is an unbelief problem as well:
"Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
And Jesus said to them, Because of your unbelief...(Mat. 17:19-20)

Unbelief comes the same way faith comes:
"So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." (Rom. 10:17)

Likewise, unbelief comes from hearing all things contrary to the Word. Some people are really plugged into this world. We don't need more faith than we already have. What we need is less unbelief and doubt. Our generation is exposed to unbelief like no other in the history of this planet and this is hintering our faith. The reason we fail is because we are taking our focus off Jesus. If you want to be a water walker and experience the miracoulus in your life you must do what Peter didn't do. Keep yοur focus onto Jesus and don't allow all these trash around you to take your eyes off Him.

Stay blessed!

Women 2gether With Jesus - "F.R.E.E.D.O.M." Jesus' Victory On The Cross!

"F.R.E.E.D.O.M." Jesus' Victory On The Cross!

Isaiah 61:1 "The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound."

- Jesus

FEAR has no right in our lives. Jesus paid so we will be FREE!

WELCOME to the "Women 2gether with Jesus" to pray with us to BREAK every fear in your life!

Let God change your life! Bring your friends to experience the presence of God.

It's an english-norwegian meeting, and a place for all women, all ages, all denominations. 

Don't miss it!! ♥

We rend at Zion church , Meiergata 24 Bryne 4347

Date: Saturday on the 26th at 19.00 

Preecher: Peggy Spyrou Simonis

FIND US :
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https://www.facebook.com/groups/Womens.ministry.no/

"2gether with Jesus" our page on Fb: 

www.facebook.com/TogetherWithJesus

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http://2getherwithjesus.blogspot.no/

How do I walk on water?

How do I walk on water?

BY Argie Simonis         

One of the things that really fascinates me with the Bible is that when reading the 4 gospels is like watching the life of Jesus been recorded by 4 cameras shooting from 4 different angles! In this message I'll be sharing from Matthew 14:22-32, where the desciples were sailing in the midst of a storm and Jesus came to them walking on water and saved them.

Before I get any further, I want to point out a few things. This story is also mentioned in Mark chapter 6 and in John chapter 6 as well but notice this: Only Matthew records Peter walking on water to Jesus (Mat. 14:29), only Mark records that Jesus would have passed them and wouldn't help them if they haven't called out (Mark 6:45-51) and only John records that when Jesus went on the boat they were immediately translated to the other side of the sea (John 6:16-21). Putting all this information together you can get a better understanding of the story.

In Matthew 14:22-32 Peter actually walked on water towards Jesus! Today we may not need to literally walk on water, but this miraculous event can demonstrate how we believe God for things and how we respond to Him. 

It is interesting when we see in Matthew 14:22 Jesus compeling (in other words forcing) His desciples to get into the boat. This means that there was a kind of resistance from them. You see, most of them were fishermen and they could read the weather, so they probably saw the storm coming and didn't want to get into the boat. 

"And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went to them, walking on the sea." (Mat. 14:25)

The fourth watch of the night is between 03:00' and 06:00'. They started sailing around sunset (around 18:00'). So at that point after at least of 9 hours of sailing, they have been just half way across the sea of Galilea. I did some research and I found out that it is around a 2 miles distance and it takes just 2 hours to cross that sea with good weather conditions! To their credit, instead of turning the boat around and head back to the shore, they still obeyed the Lord. If you want to be a water walker, if you really want to experience the miraculous, overcome obstacles and see God come through you, you have to position yourself for a miracle. The desciples could have lean to their own understanding and abandom their goal because their life was on stake. 

The reason that many people miss the miraculous in their life is because they primarely concern about themselves, leaning onto their own understanding and not following what God told them to do. If you really want to see the miraculous in your life, you must keep on doing what God told you to do even when facing a storm and things start to look bad. Just picture a dog with a bone. It clamps it and never let it go! Even if it doesn't make sense and everybody tells you to quit, you have to keep on doing what God told you to do. Simple and profound! 

This is the only time mentioned in the Bible that someone else walks on water (except Jesus). Wouldn't you like to have a testimony like this in the area of finances, healing, job etc.? Start taking risks then, step out and obey God. Put yourself into a position for a miracle!

There is a reason that Jesus came walking on water and there is a reason that Peter walked on water. God is never late. He may not appear as fast as we expect or the way we want Him to, but He always comes.

"For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance." (Rom. 11:29)

Don't quit! If God has called you to do something there is always a way to get out from the place you are right now and get back on track on the original plan of God for your life. It is like the GPS. It always re-calculates your course even if you made a wrong turn and gets you back on the right course. If you missed it, repent and ask God to show you how to get back on the right track. And when He shows you, stay there and keep on pressing to that direction.

In Mark 6:45-51 we see that Jesus would have passed them if they didn't cry out to Him. People think that their problem is so big that not even God can help them. They miss to experience the miraculous in their life because they don't cry out to God for His intervention. 

"... you have not, because you ask not." (James 4:2)

God knows our needs, but does not automaticaly supply them. I may not understand all the reasons that someone does not receive, but I can tell you that God wants a relationship with us. He wants us to ask, to correspond, to be in a relationship with Him. In 1Peter 2:24 we read that by His stripes we are healed, but you have to believe it, open up your heart and receive it in order for that healing to manifest. 

In Ephesians 1:3 we read that God has already blessed us but you have to ask and receive these things. 

"Give us this day our daily bread." (Matthew 6:11)

God wants a relationship with us. Ιf you don't pursue the things of God, you won't get them. They will not happen automaticaly. 

"Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you: 

For every one that asks receives; and he that seeks finds; and to him that knocks it shall be opened." (Mat. 7:7-8)

It takes some effort from our part. We have to believe in Him for the answer we need, but still many people when in crisis the first thing to do is to seek first their doctor, their lawyer, their banker or even other spiritual solutions that substitute God. 

If you want to see the miraculous in your life, you have to trust God and place a demand upon Him!

In Exodus 3:2-4 we read about Moses and the burning bush. When God saw Moses turning to the bush, then He called him with an audible voice. If God wanted to have Moses attention, why didn't He call Him with an audible voice? God reveals Himself in subtle ways, but if you are not a person who are looking for Him and beleiving in Him, you can miss Him. If the desciples were so consumed with themselves, they could have missed their deliverance! 

In a previous post I wrote about the hardness of heart (which I encourage you to read), I get deeper into Mark 6:52: "For they considered not the miracle of the loaves: for their heart was hardened."

They shouldn't have been overwhelmed. They should have been expecting for Jesus to appear. Many people are so focused and used to live in the natural, that they don't even expect anything supernatural to take place in their life. There is nothing wrong with the natural when it is in it's proper place. But you need to go beyond the natural in a crisis situation and expect the supernatural. If your life is not supernatural, it is superficial. 

Why didn't Jesus just stopped the storm and take their problem away? Before you see your deliverance, you must first take a step of faith. He asked them to be of good cheer before the storm ceased. He told them not to be afraid when there was every reason to be afraid. We can see the same example in Luke 7:12-15 when Jesus resurrects the widow's son. First He told her to weep not. Why didn't He just raise her son?

There must always be a response of faith. There must be something present in us in order for Him to flow through us. 

"Now to him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us. (Εph. 3:20)

There must be a response of faith. "But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him." (Hebrews 11:6)

If God was automaticaly solving all our problems, all people would be healed, prosperous and saved today. If you feel like drawning, it is time for you to exhibit some faith and praise Him! 

Next week I will make a summary of this message and I will mention some lessons from Peter's attitude that will be very useful if we apply them in our daily life. Don't miss it.

God bless you all!

Unlocking mysteries of Heaven -The parable of the sower - part 4

Unlocking mysteries of Heaven -The parable of the sower - part 4 

BY Argie Simonis          

In my 2 previous messages I have been sharing about the parable of the sower from Mark 4:3-20.

I have divided the parable into 4 parts, each one for every condition of the heart and I have covered the first 3 conditions. Before you read this 4th and final part I encourage you to read the previous 3 so you can have a better understanding of the story.

"And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirty times, some sixty, and some an hundred." Mark. 4:20

The seed of the Word has always the same potential to bring 100% fruit and it will work the same for all. The 30, 60 and 100 has to do with commitment. The type of ground that brought forth the more fruit was the one with the less stones, weeds etc. It is not your abilities but the Word that changes you and makes you be productive and bring fruit 100%. You have to be God dependant and not lean to your own abilities.

In 1Cor. 1:26-29 we see how God has chosen the foolish to shame the wise.
Even if you think that you are good enough, strong enough, that you don't really need God because you can manage all by yourself just fine, there will come a day sooner or later that you will eventually need Him because you are getting older and weaker. It is a shame for a person to crash and burn and to be in a crisis situation before they realise they need God and need to depend on Him. Do not let your relatively good life you have today deceive you thinking that it's ok and it is not that serious. 

If you get help from God in a crisis situation that is going to be because of a miracle and not because of a blessing of God's Word since you have not been planting the seed into your heart. You can receive a miracle as a gift but if you plant the Word in your heart, meditate on it day an night, I guarantee you it will produce the miracle you need! 

In Matthew 7:24-27 we read about the man who builds his house on the rock, but you have to remember that you can't built it in the midst of a hurricane!

All the promises in the Word will produce what you need. God hasn't failed on us. We sometimes fail in planting the seed into our heart. There is a seed in the Word for everything that you need.

Amen!