DO YOU KNOW BERNICE? PONDER THIS: Not only is Bernice a name that is common in today’s modern society; it is a name that was common and yet unique to a king in New Testament times: a name by which he was incessantly obsessed. If you will notice in Acts chapters 25 and 26; she was never apart from him. Everywhere that Herod Agrippa went she was there. When he moved, she moved; when he sat she sat. Her reason for always being present with him was to guard him from being personally impacted by the message of the resurrected Christ. Ironically speaking; Bernice’s grip on Agrippa could have perhaps resulted from their knowledge of Herod Antipas and his illegitimate wife Herodias’ relationship which led to the beheading of John the Baptist because he spoke against it ...and thus the relationship between Herod Agrippa and Bernice was no better which kept Bernice suspecting any preacher of speaking against her relationship to Agrippa. Three times Bernice is mentioned between chapters 25 and 26 but only with reference to her being with Agrippa. She is silent and there is no record where she said anything. However ...it is somewhat apparent that there was some influence that she wielded over him not only because of the relationship between them; but because of what Agrippa said at the end of Paul’s presentation of the message of the risen Christ: “...almost” he said, “thou persuadest me to become a Christian.” “...Almost”? …Why the “almost”? This is why: ...“BERNICE”! She kept him within the confines of almost. The fact that Bernice is never recorded as speaking a word in this record where her name is mentioned reveals something that merits a great measure of attention. In as much as Bernice was once a living visible human being that existed silently in biblical times ...it would be safe to say that her spirit lives on today in many other ways that keep people on the border of “almost.” For example ...like one who sits hungry at a table ashamed to eat ...or one who senses a deep embedded desire but would dare not make it known for fear of disassociation or ridicule. Unspoken amen’s ...unresponsive worshipers ...fearful owners and witnesses of Christ and dodgers of His Truth ...all result from the presence of some Bernice that hinders the true self from its availability to the purpose and service of God while promoting another self that straddles pretentiously in the almost. I want to inform you today that Bernice is not the bad sister that she presents herself to be ...she’s a gambler, and her currency is her reputation for manipulating and controlling others. Her silence results from her fear of speaking because of her lack of reasoning for what she represents. If she were asked to present a discourse on her doctrine of silence ...she would remain the same because there is none ...only the mystic witchcraft that capture the minds and stammer the tongues of her victims. But she’s a pushover who lives in fear of her kingdom crossing the border of the almost. ...STAY WELL.
Posted on: Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:49:04 +0000
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