TEXT: ‘ When He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee”’ (Matthew 21:10-11) THOUGHT: “This is!” Fact not fiction! Christians can have absolute confidence in these statements. In the Anglican Church when the Bible is read, the reader finishes with, “This is the Word of the Lord”. The congregation responds, “Thanks be to God”. What they are saying in reality is, “This is true, we believe it, are thankful for it, and are going to do it!” Mental assent is not enough, God’s Word has to change our lives. Paul commended the Thessalonian Christians who, ‘Became followers … of the Lord, having received the Word … and welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe’ (1 Thessalonians 2:6, 13). Do not make apologies for the Word of God. Read it, speak it, preach it and stand on it. If people do not like or agree with the Bible, you did not write. Let them talk to the Author themselves. Paul urged Timothy to, ‘Preach the Word! Be ready in season and out of season’...
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TEXT: ‘ When He had come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, “Who is this?” So the multitudes said, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth of Galilee”’ (Matthew 21:10-11) THOUGHT: “This is”. This two word phrase appears repeatedly in John’s first epistle. I am so pleased the Bible deals in certainties. It is fact, not fiction. What a shame much of today’s preaching only serves to create doubt, fear and condemnation, instead of enlightening and encouraging the listeners. The challenge to any preacher is simple. Would you want to listen to your sermon? Christians can have absolute confidence in the Bible, for it is God’s Word. We must read it; believe it; preach it; and then we will see it in action! “This is” is a declaration of truth. Pilate exclaimed, ‘What is truth?’(John 18:38). He lived in a world full of lies. God’s Word is the truth. Jesus is the Truth. The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of Truth. Today’s Teaching studies these “This Is” phrases found in 1 John. This Is Eternal Life – ‘And this is the promise that He has promised us—eternal life’ (I John 2:25) ‘And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His...
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TEXT: ‘But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our guilt and iniquities; the chastisement [needful to obtain] peace and well-being for us was upon Him, and with the stripes [that wounded] Him we are healed and made whole’(Isaiah 53:5 AMPC) THOUGHT: Saying I have been wounded by a rabbit can seem comical but I have lived with the scar for nearly sixty years. I held it too close to my face and its paw scratched my upper lip! The Bible reveals some interesting truths about being wounded and Today’s Teaching concentrates on four aspects. Hurt – ‘And one will say to him, ‘What are these wounds between your arms?’ Then he will answer, “Those with which I was wounded in the house of my friends”’ (Zechariah 13:6) The answer to the question is surprising, “In the house of my friends”. When the world wounds us, it’s not unexpected, but it hurts deeply when it’s by fellow-Christians or the ones we love. Hurts can be overcome when there is repentance, as forgiveness acts like a healing balm. When there is no remorse or even self-justification for wrong actions and words, the wounds cut deeper. It is possible to forgive, for Jesus did just that on the cross saying, ‘Father forgive them for they do not...
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TEXT: ‘Here is the main point: We have a High Priest who sat down in the place of honour beside the throne of the majestic God in heaven’ (Hebrews 8:1 NLT) THOUGHT: One of the mantras of Leadership Training is, “Keep the main point, the main point!” The writer of Hebrews urged his readers to do just that. For the Christian, the main point is always centred on Jesus Christ. Since the beginning of creation, there has always been a point of contact between God and man. It started in the Garden of Eden when God would come down to talk with Adam and Eve.1 Sin destroyed that relationship and since then God had to remain at a distance. Believers started building altars as a point of contact and called on the name of the Lord.2 When the Children of Israel came out of Egypt and wandered in the wilderness for forty years, God was with them in The Tabernacle.3 When they were settled in Canaan, King David wanted to build God a permanent resting place, a temple, although it was his son Solomon who actually built it.4 Finally came the church that Jesus is building, ‘On this rock I will build My church. The powers of hell will...
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TEXT: ‘There once was a man named Job who lived in the land of Uz. He was blameless—a man of complete integrity. He feared God and stayed away from evil’ (Job 1:1 NLT) THOUGHT: In this final part of “A Good Job!”, Today’s Teaching considers the outcome or end result. Who wins, God or Satan? God always has and always will. Job does have a happy ending. Some would say, “But what about the loss of his ten children? Possessions can be replaced but not life.” His children are in heaven and Job has joined them. Not re-united in a physical state but a spiritual one, where there is neither male nor female. The earthly relationships believers had with each other are replaced by a God-man marriage which is eternal. This is why Christians do not grieve like those who do not have this sure hope.1 This truth was referred to during the funeral of Prince Philip. Job’s Future In the midst of this awful trial, all Job saw ahead was continued pain, suffering and ultimately death, something he wanted to come quickly to put an end to his misery. God, however, had a glorious future in store to help compensate for the unjustified attacks by Satan. I want...
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