BandM

‘Moses whom they refused’. These words are taken from Stephen's sermon - recorded at length in the Acts of the Apostles, no doubt to give a lead to preachers in all generations. The Children of Israel did refuse Moses when he acted impetuously in slaying an Egyptian and no doubt he thought he had lost ... Read more

<b>"be strong in the Lord".</b>  Only in the Lord will you find strength to carry the campaign of life to a successful conclusion. Here are some of the strengths available to you in the Lord: power to resist the Devil and to stand firm in the face of temptation, power to witness to His saving ... Read more

<b>"Lord, I want to see".</b> If you realise something is missing in your life… If your quest for a purpose has not yet been fulfilled… Should it be that you feel there is something more than you have at present - a spiritual dimension that you know nothing of… When all the reasoning you can ... Read more

<b>"I will do whatever you say". </b> Naomi was a godly woman who suffered great personal sorrow and loss and in the process of time her loss was compensated by one of her daughters-in-law, Ruth.  Ruth shone because of her unwavering devotion to Naomi. She chose caring for Naomi before going back to her own ... Read more

<b>"I am not worthy".</b>  The centurion had an opinion of himself that would be rather out of fashion today. He acknowledged he was an unworthy sinner in God's sight; he knew he was a transgressor and felt morally unfit before Jesus. Popular thinking today would never demand that you stoop so low as this. It ... Read more

<b>"Serve the Lord with gladness".</b>  There are times when this reminder is timely: When asked to do something we would not choose. When the job in hand calls for special grace. When we go for a long period without any obvious result. When our lamp burns low or we are asked to donate the last ... Read more

<b>"the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed".</b>  The deputy was astonished to find a statement of belief that was supported by a miracle. It was the Lord working, confirming His word with signs following, as Mark says at the end of his Gospel. Saul, at the beginning of his ministry, rebuked Elymas the ... Read more

<b>"Hezekiah spoke encouragingly to all the Levites".</b>  People need encouragement and God's work needs "encouragers". There is a lot of lethargy and half-heartedness and folk need encouraging to begin working. Note that it was the Levites, or priestly tribe, that Hezekiah encouraged. They led the people in worship and they needed encouragement.  They were not ... Read more

<b>"Master, all these have I observed from my youth".</b>  Maximum attendance, paying full attention, committing to memory the Law and the Commandments and applying this to every aspect of his life was not enough. Perfect in all but one point is to be imperfect. The young ruler's perfection in so much made him very conscious ... Read more

<b>"and there was no more sea".</b>  In several chapters in Revelation sea is mentioned: chapter 4 describes a sea of glass, like crystal before the throne. Ch.5 every creature in the sea crying blessing and glory unto the Lamb. Ch.7 the wind was not to blow on the sea and an angel was given permission ... Read more

<b>"most of them did not even know why they had come".</b>  They were just carried along with the crowd and found themselves in the amphitheatre crying, 'Great is Artemis of Ephesus' for two hours on end. (This was the demonstration orchestrated to oppose the Apostle Paul.) People today don't know why they do a lot ... Read more

<b>"the Lord your God is gracious and merciful".</b>  All who come to God in true humility and repentance find grace and mercy. It is when we acknowledge we deserve punishment from Him we may find mercy. God's graciousness calls on His mercy. Under Hezekiah Israel needed to put right the evil that had permeated the ... Read more

<b>"You must be born again".</b>  From Jesus' words to Nicodemus, credit for the following was not enough: - Seeking counsel from Jesus - Deep respect for the Person and ministry of Jesus - Religious upbringing - High office in the church - a Pharisee - Exemplary public life as a leader of his nation - ... Read more

<b>"Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me".</b>  Paul had his disappointments. He wrote the words from prison in Rome. Demas had forsaken him and become enticed away from the faith, returning to Thessalonica. His faithful companions, Crescens and Titus, had now left him for Galatia and Dalmatia respectively. Alexander, perhaps the one supporting ... Read more

<b>"Nympha and the church in her house". </b> We owe it to recent translation to tell us that this name applied to a lady and not a man. Yet we know nothing more about her except that if you know anything about the believers in Colosse you would know there was a gathering in Nympha's ... Read more

<b>"Serve the Lord your God".</b>  Hezekiah's reign marked a reformation in Jerusalem and a reinstatement of the offices of the temple. He told his people that they had a responsibility to serve the Lord. It is a message that needs telling today. Hezekiah's message was for all the people. By their consecration and dedication, all ... Read more

<b>"not willing"</b> - unwilling to unseat pride and to exalt the Lord God. - unwilling to lose one's life to find a greater. - unwilling to take up a cross, which in reality is easier than the yoke already worn. - unwilling to step out of line from the giddy throng and to step into ... Read more

<b>"a new thing".</b>  Life is ever advancing and God is in the vanguard. The gospel message spread all over the world because its messengers were prepared to do something new - they crossed the sea to carry it to the unknown. There are mighty victories to be won in the Name of the Lord as ... Read more

<b>"upholding all things by the word of his power".</b>  Those who do not know the Lord do not believe His word and cannot appreciate how mighty a word it is. He speaks and it is done, whether the creation of the universe or the stilling of a turbulent sea on which the disciples journeyed. His ... Read more

<b>"lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven".</b>  The financial world is continually bombarding us with details both of interest rates and where we may expect a greater return on our money. And most of us spend an inordinately large amount of our time earning or spending money. The Bible gives the last word on advice ... Read more

<b>"Holiness Unto The Lord".</b>  As a doctrine, holiness has become obscured in the present climate: as a way of life it has practically disappeared. Past generations may have collected dead wood, but in trying to be rid of it, to say that the Christian may do whatever is standard behaviour in the world, is not ... Read more

<b>"speak evil of no man".</b> There is something good in all the brethren. They may not think or do just as you do but it is as likely that you are mistaken on some things as they are. Any fool can stir the mud but it is those who seek the best out of others ... Read more

<b>"Come and hear".</b>  God expects some movement on the part of the sinner. The redeemed ones may set out their case attractively but it is of no use if folk do not come. The call of the gospel message is centred around this activity. Whether far away or near, the direction is the same - ... Read more

<b>"they had argued about who was the greatest".</b>  It was an argument among themselves - Jesus had to ask His disciples what it was they were arguing about. We might easily be disappointed with them for indulging in such petty behaviour - as though to be among the chosen twelve was not enough, each wanted ... Read more

<b>"my people have forgotten me".</b>  The People of Israel repeatedly turned away from the Lord. The same easily happens when God blesses and it may easily happen to us. As we read elsewhere "Let him that stands take heed, lest he fall!" God's blessings can make us complacent so we forsake the worship and service ... Read more

<b>"and they received the Holy Spirit". </b> It was not enough for the new believers in Samaria to receive the Word of God brought to them by Philip the Evangelist. Not enough for them to feel and be happy. All should be happy when they experience sin forgiven and peace with God. They needed the ... Read more

<b>"Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? "</b>.  God loves to do new things in the lives of His people. Sometimes we get confused and disappointed because we do not appreciate God's time schedule. He may alert us to what is going to happen sometime ... Read more

<b>"Are you greater than our father Jacob … ? ".</b>  Yes, Jesus is greater than all who have gone before. Pile the achievements from the great ones of history and you have not begun to equal what the Lord has done. Greater because no one else left heaven to come to earth and be our ... Read more

<b>"Be not afraid of their faces".</b>  The Lord repeated these words to Jeremiah at the outset of his ministry and He would repeat them to every disciple who goes forward to serve the Lord. A look at the faces of his hearers can frighten the most eloquent preacher. The servants of the Lord must draw ... Read more

<b>"the children of Israel … had feared other gods".</b>  They could only do this because they stopped fearing or worshipping the Lord Jehovah. It happened after a number of evil kings had ruled in Israel and the nation was carried captive into Assyria. You cannot worship other gods unless you turn away from the Lord ... Read more

<b>"until". </b> Jesus used this little word with great effect. In the days of Noah they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage UNTIL the day Noah entered the ark. Jesus told us in His parable that God allows wheat and tares (good and evil) to grow together UNTIL harvest. The Psalmist realised ... Read more

<b>"The Prince of Peace".</b>  This name is experienced when you receive the forgiveness of sin and peace with God that He offers. The heathen rage and the nations engage in war as the Psalmist said. National peace is an illusive goal. To understand this title we must look at the conflict between good and evil ... Read more

"king Ahaz … saw an altar that was at Damascus". He journeyed to Damascus to visit the king of Assyria whose help he had sought in resisting armed incursions from the king of Israel and from the Syrians. While in Damascus he saw an altar which he liked so much that he sent the pattern ... Read more

"the clay was marred in his hands”. Marred or imperfect clay did not matter when it was still in the hands of the potter. The prophet described the Master Potter remaking the vessel, not doing a repair. God does not patch up those who put themselves in His hand, He makes them anew. Anyone in ... Read more

"Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you”. Peter's third answer was to the effect that Jesus already knew the answer: he did love Jesus. It was not that Jesus should know but that Peter should know, that the question was asked three times. What the Lord had done and was yet ... Read more