Bernarda
About two years ago, I had biblestudies with Bernarda in her house in Cot. She would gather local teenagers who were struggling with drugs and alcohol addictions, and we would study the bible together. Her brother Enrique, also helped with teaching the word to them as well.
That summer. we had a team down for the week and we all decided that we would have all the group members give their personal testimonies of how Jesus had changed their lives. The testimonies were well received because many were similar stories of drug and alcohol abuse. A person might not believe that God exists but its hard to deny the personal testimony of how Jesus has changed ones life.
After all had given their testimonies we had a time of prayer. Bernarda raised her hand and told the group of her battle with stomach cancer. The group from the U.S. decided to lay hands of Bernarda and pray for divine healing for her. later that week, the group an I returned to Bernarda's home in Cot to check on her. She told us that the swelling in her stomach had gone down. At the end of that week the group of missionaries from the U.S. returned to their country and I made my weekly visit to Bernarda's house. Bernarda was bubbling with joy as she was eager to tell me something. She told me that when she went to her doctor, after the group layed hands on her and prayed, that her doctor said that her stomach cancer was completely gone.
Enrique and I were overjoyed upon hearing that God had done a miracle in her life. We thought for sure after this miracle she would beleive in Jesus as her one and only mediator and Savior. However, that wasn't the case here.
Enrique and I also would teach the word of God in front of a group of about 70 persons that were former alcoholics and druggies in the fellowship hall of the Catholic Church in Cot. This meeting was headed up by Bernarda and happened once a month. When bernarda was in front of the group with the microphone in hand, she told how she had been healed from the stomach cancer and she gave thanks to all the catholic attendees for their prayers that led to her healing.
When I heard this I turned and looked at Enrique and he just shook his head in disbelief. This bothered both of us because we know who the Catholics pray to. Bernarda had just given credit for her healing to Mary. Enrique and I decided to not go back to Bernarda's home but this decision was based off of other things as well.
Two years went by and I had just been told by a person that she didn't want to receive any more bible studies. I left her house and went to the library in Cot to donate some books when I saw Bernarda at the entrance. She asked me why we had not returned to her house. I asked her if I could speak frankly and she said yes. I told her of what she had done when she gave Mary the credit for her healing and not God. She lowered her head and was very repentant and began telling how God had been working in her life over the last 2 years. She wanted to receive bible studies once again. We decided that these studies would be with her alone.
Enrique has returned with me to help with the Bible studies. The second study was on how Jesus Christ already existed before Mary gave birth to Him. This is one of the most important studies you can have with a Catholic because most of them don't know the bible and think that Mary started the life of Jesus upon giving birth to Him. Therefore, they believe that Mary is co-redeemer with Christ and intercessor of prayers. You can see how this would be your thinking if it was true that Jesus was created by Mary. But we all know that this is not true because Jesus always has existed.
That summer. we had a team down for the week and we all decided that we would have all the group members give their personal testimonies of how Jesus had changed their lives. The testimonies were well received because many were similar stories of drug and alcohol abuse. A person might not believe that God exists but its hard to deny the personal testimony of how Jesus has changed ones life.
After all had given their testimonies we had a time of prayer. Bernarda raised her hand and told the group of her battle with stomach cancer. The group from the U.S. decided to lay hands of Bernarda and pray for divine healing for her. later that week, the group an I returned to Bernarda's home in Cot to check on her. She told us that the swelling in her stomach had gone down. At the end of that week the group of missionaries from the U.S. returned to their country and I made my weekly visit to Bernarda's house. Bernarda was bubbling with joy as she was eager to tell me something. She told me that when she went to her doctor, after the group layed hands on her and prayed, that her doctor said that her stomach cancer was completely gone.
Enrique and I were overjoyed upon hearing that God had done a miracle in her life. We thought for sure after this miracle she would beleive in Jesus as her one and only mediator and Savior. However, that wasn't the case here.
Enrique and I also would teach the word of God in front of a group of about 70 persons that were former alcoholics and druggies in the fellowship hall of the Catholic Church in Cot. This meeting was headed up by Bernarda and happened once a month. When bernarda was in front of the group with the microphone in hand, she told how she had been healed from the stomach cancer and she gave thanks to all the catholic attendees for their prayers that led to her healing.
When I heard this I turned and looked at Enrique and he just shook his head in disbelief. This bothered both of us because we know who the Catholics pray to. Bernarda had just given credit for her healing to Mary. Enrique and I decided to not go back to Bernarda's home but this decision was based off of other things as well.
Two years went by and I had just been told by a person that she didn't want to receive any more bible studies. I left her house and went to the library in Cot to donate some books when I saw Bernarda at the entrance. She asked me why we had not returned to her house. I asked her if I could speak frankly and she said yes. I told her of what she had done when she gave Mary the credit for her healing and not God. She lowered her head and was very repentant and began telling how God had been working in her life over the last 2 years. She wanted to receive bible studies once again. We decided that these studies would be with her alone.
Enrique has returned with me to help with the Bible studies. The second study was on how Jesus Christ already existed before Mary gave birth to Him. This is one of the most important studies you can have with a Catholic because most of them don't know the bible and think that Mary started the life of Jesus upon giving birth to Him. Therefore, they believe that Mary is co-redeemer with Christ and intercessor of prayers. You can see how this would be your thinking if it was true that Jesus was created by Mary. But we all know that this is not true because Jesus always has existed.
Juan 17:3-5
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
I Peter 1:18-21
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
John 1:1-3 ; 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
3 And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. 4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. 5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.
I Peter 1:18-21
18 For you know that you were redeemed from your empty way of life inherited from the fathers, not with perishable things like silver or gold, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without defect or blemish. 20 He was chosen before the foundation of the world but was revealed at the end of the times for you 21 who through Him are believers in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.
John 1:1-3 ; 14
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The bible teaches in Juan 1 that Jesus already existed in the beginning before the earth, stars, planets, animals, humans etc. And we are told that everything was created by Him. Therefore we know that when Mary was on earth almost 4000 yrs after everything was created that she had nothing to do with creating Jesus. With that information, we can logically conclude that she isn't a savior nor a intercessor along with other verses of the bible that only point to one Savior and Intercessor.
Once we had given that bible study along with many more verses, Bernarda told us that she no longer believed in Mary as her savior or mediator and was praying to and trusting in Jesus alone for her salvation. Bernarda is taking notes on our bible studies because she wants to share the gospel with the young people who come to her house for guidance.
We are excited for what God is doing in Bernarda's life so please pray for her and Enrique and I as we continue this discipleship process.
Once we had given that bible study along with many more verses, Bernarda told us that she no longer believed in Mary as her savior or mediator and was praying to and trusting in Jesus alone for her salvation. Bernarda is taking notes on our bible studies because she wants to share the gospel with the young people who come to her house for guidance.
We are excited for what God is doing in Bernarda's life so please pray for her and Enrique and I as we continue this discipleship process.