TEXT: ‘Looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith’ (Hebrews 12:2) THOUGHT: Elijah asked Elisha what he wanted. “A double portion” was his reply.1 Elijah said, “If you see me when I go you will have it”. From that moment, Elisha never let Elijah out of his sight, and as a result received that double portion. Hundreds of years later, the disciples were staring up at Jesus as He ascended into heaven.2 Two angels suddenly appeared and asked, ‘Why are you gazing up into heaven?’ I wonder if those disciples were thinking of Elisha. Jesus had promised them power from on high through the baptism of the Holy Spirit and that they would go on to even do greater works than Jesus did.3 So they kept looking expecting to receive, and they did just ten days later!4 Direction What direction are you looking in, Godward or man-ward? ‘I look up to the mountains;does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains’ (Psalm 121:1-2 MSG). What is your need? What are you wanting help for? Who do you believe will be the source of supply? Is it the doctor, banker, employer or God? The Bible says, ‘Look and live’...
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TEXT: ‘Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Ephesians 5:20) THOUGHT: As this pandemic continues and lockdown measures, instead of being further eased, have remained or even been re-imposed, one could be forgiven for thinking, “What is there to be thankful about?” With millions of views on what the Government should or should not have done reacting to Covid-19, it’s little wonder that many feel they have much to complain about, especially when experiencing the loss of a loved one, employment, holidays and personal liberty. Yet our text urges us to, ‘Give thanks always for all things’. The same message was sent to the Thessalonian Christians, ‘In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you’ (1 Thessalonians 5:18). The church at Philippi was reminded, ‘Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done’ (Philippians 4:6 NLT). Certainly life was not easy at that time, especially with the added problem of persecution for being a Christian, but the importance of being thankful today is the same as it was back then. Today’s Teaching highlights four reasons why thankfulness is so...
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TEXT: ‘For with God nothing is ever impossible and no word from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfilment’ (Luke 1:37 AMPC) THOUGHT: In the Bible, God asks this question, ‘Can a mother forget her nursing child? Can she feel no love for the child she has borne?’ (Isaiah 49:15 NLT). Unfortunately, as many have experienced, mothers do suddenly leave home, never to be seen again. God is not like that. ‘But even if that were possible, I would not forget you! See, I have written your name on the palms of my hands’. In other words, whatever He is doing, there is always the reminder that He is doing it for us! It is impossible that God could ever forget us, for He has promised never to leave us nor forsake us.1 Today’s Teaching considers four scriptures about “Impossible”. May they lift our spirits during this pandemic and encourage us to expect greater things from the God we have put our trust in! It is Impossible for God to Lie ‘He has given us both his promise and his oath, two things we can completely count on, for it is impossible for God to tell a lie’ (Hebrews 6:18 TLB) We can lie and most of us are very good...
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TEXT: ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10) THOUGHT: The Kingdom of God is revealed on earth in two ways. The Kingdom that now is – spiritually, and the one that is to come – literally. We are to pray for the latter to happen, but we live according to the spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God until then. Part 1 was about how a person has to be born again to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God and the barriers they may encounter to stop them from doing that. Part 2 focused on the priority we must give the Kingdom of God and how its power is available for evangelism and everyday living. Part 3 looks at the illustrations Jesus used to describe the Kingdom of God and how through preaching the message is spread throughout the world. 5. The Parables about the Kingdom of God Jesus taught many parables. Although Matthew’s gospel refers to “The Kingdom of Heaven”, this study will look at six scriptures that include the phrase, “The Kingdom of God”. Jesus wanted His disciples to understand each parable. ‘You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven’ (Matthew 6:10) THOUGHT: The Kingdom of God is revealed on earth in two ways. The Kingdom that now is – spiritually, and the one that is to come – literally. We are to pray for the latter to happen, but we live according to the spiritual principles of the Kingdom of God until that takes place. In Part 1, we studied how a person has to be born again to become a citizen of the Kingdom of God. 1 Also the many barriers that must be overcome, such as ignorance about the Kingdom of God, personal wealth, education, wrong lifestyles and having a form of religious behaviour, but not having a personal relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Part 2 focuses on what place we give the Kingdom of God in our lives, and the power of that Kingdom in evangelism and everyday living. 3. The Position the Kingdom of God demands in our lives It should take priority – ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’ (Matthew 6:33). When the disciples were worried about meeting the needs of everyday living, Jesus said, ‘Seek first the Kingdom of God’ and everything else would be taken...
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