"he that is not against us is for us". The disciples came across someone casting out demons in the name of Jesus and they invited him to join them. He declined for a reason we are not told, and the disciples told him to cease. Jesus upbraided them for this. The disciples then and numerous ... Read more
"the Lamb shall overcome". John Baptist pointed to Jesus and cried 'Behold the Lamb of God Who takes away the sin of the world'. The Jews found it difficult to accept Isaiah's prophecy of a Suffering Messiah - they desired a triumphant king. At the conclusion of about three year's ministry Jesus was led as ... Read more
"Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? ". Some attempt to bring the Sovereign Lord down to our level, both in our address and our attitude. It is a familiarity that can breed contention if not contempt. The mistake can arise from the fact that Jesus mingled and ate and drank with ... Read more
"He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly". It comes down to the adage we all know yet patently fail to practice, namely that what we do today decides what we will have tomorrow. We try to believe that we can start afresh tomorrow. But when tomorrow comes we find we are building upon today ... Read more
"all Israel shouted with a great shout". It isn't the amount of noise we make that counts, but what we are doing that is important. The Israelites had been smitten in battle by the Philistines. So they fetched the ark of the covenant from Shiloh where it should be kept and brought it into the ... Read more
"God charges no one with wrongdoing". That was Job's opinion when trying to reason his way out of the distress that beset him. Job was commenting on the way that God had not yet preferred a charge for wrong-doing in the lives of those who seemed to go through life godlessly and free from restraint. ... Read more
"you shall be clothed with purple and have a chain of gold around your neck". Daniel was also promised a position as third ruler in the kingdom. But these were of no interest to Daniel. Belshazzar had the sentence of death hanging upon him: his kingdom that he promised to share with Daniel would be ... Read more
"Lord, remember me". What was there to remember about him? His life as a robber? It was not his transformed life since conversion - he had none. He could not move a muscle - he was pinned to the cross, yet he had as great a conversion as anyone. That any idea of Christ's kingdom ... Read more
"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy". It should be pointed out at once that this is not a promise for all who weep. It is for those who sow seeds of righteousness and water them with their tears. Seeing the need, they pray about it and do what they can to meet ... Read more
"I come to you in the name of the Lord". David with his stones and sling must have looked very vulnerable against the armour-clad giant, Goliath. Five smooth stones seemed little match for a coat of mail weighing 5,000 shekels of bronze. Yet, as in all of life's conflicts, appearances can be deceptive. The exchange ... Read more
"Repent, and believe in the gospel". Have we emphasised the need to have faith and believe in Christ at the expense of neglecting the first step of repentance? Jesus tells us to repent and believe. Believing without repenting may bring short-term blessing but it can make for disillusionment. All who would be saved need to ... Read more
"Your eyes ... will see the land that is very far off". This prophecy was given by Isaiah to the besieged inhabitants of Jerusalem where king Hezekiah and his suffering people longed for deliverance. It speaks prophetically to everyone who loves Jesus, of the land of heaven and God's eternal kingdom. When surrounded by the ... Read more
"If any man have ears to hear, let him hear". These words of Jesus make clear the responsibility everyman has to use his ears. There is more in life than material and financial gain and greater pursuits than pleasure, success, fame and amusement. The Word of God addresses a higher spiritual plane than any other ... Read more
p>"the Levites were sought out from where they lived and were brought to Jerusalem to celebrate joyfully the dedication with songs of thanksgiving and with the music of cymbals, harps and lyres". So it was in Nehemiah's day and so it should be today. Joyful Christians are always in demand - not only in worship ... Read more
"You created my inmost being". Most of us are prepared to acknowledge that God created the heavens and the earth. We pass lightly over the fact that He created us right to the very core or centre of our being. Recalling this truth will show us the folly of thinking we will confine the Lord ... Read more
"take heed to yourselves". All the signs that now adorn our highways are of little use unless the traveller heeds them. Likewise, good words of counsel God gives His children are only of use when put into practice. God promises to come into any life that seeks Him and bring blessing, but that life must ... Read more
"could sling a stone at a hair and not miss". One can imagine the practice session for these left-handed slingshots. Hairs strung out at various distances tested their accuracy and competence. We are told that they did not miss. It reflected their dedication and practice. Serving the Lord is not about choosing the easy option ... Read more
"But who do you say that I am? ". Jesus was interested in what Peter thought. It is easy to be influenced by the opinion of the majority. Democracy is based upon accepting the voice of the majority. But when it comes to receiving and trusting Christ it is accepting a minority verdict and a ... Read more
p>"a new song". The wise man in Ecclesiastes wrote that there is nothing new under the sun - knowing this saves a lot of running 'to and fro' after every so-called 'new' thing. But he was not conversant with the Psalmist who spoke of a new song in his mouth, even praise to the Lord. ... Read more
"they did not pursue it through faith, but as if it were based on works". The subject is righteousness before God:- the Apostle Paul is describing the Israelites who sought to attain to that position by keeping the Law. There are those today who see keeping the law as the way to attain righteousness. Many ... Read more
"O give thanks unto the Lord". Everything a man has is from the Lord. The Lord made us and in every breath we take the Lord sustains us. All that brings true pleasure and delight to our heart is provided by Him. The blessing of friends and loved ones is part of His loving care. ... Read more
"So I prayed to the God of heaven". Nehemiah embarked upon a course that could have ended in his dismissal from royal service under Artaxerxes the Persian king. He allowed his concern for the plight of his people hundreds of miles away in Jerusalem to affect his countenance and thereby his behaviour as the king's ... Read more
"by chance". This is the reason given for a priest to be passing by when a man lay robbed and wounded by the roadside. The Levite who passed by was the same. Both men declined the opportunity to help. "By chance" or "so it happened" are descriptions we give when we did not plan it ... Read more
"would you wait …? ". The prospect was for Ruth or Orpah to wait while their mother-in-law found a husband, bore him children who grew to become their husbands. It was never a serious proposition! Yet many are waiting for what is equally unlikely to happen. Because of an isolated instance, or a daydream or ... Read more
"for there was joy in Israel". This was because they (Israel) had a godly leader. When the leader is appointed by the Lord, joy in one form or another is the experience of those so led. The way all kinds of men swore allegiance to David from every corner of the kingdom was a joy ... Read more
"some of them became obstinate, they refused to believe". No matter how attractive the gospel message or how illustrious those who preach it, those who do not respond to it are likely to be hardened by it. The Church of Jesus Christ has grown through those who have responded, not on the doubters and dissenters. ... Read more
"our Lord Jesus Christ". Three wonderful truths about our Lord Jesus Christ: 1. He gave Himself for our sins - unbelievably good news when you realise the way sin drags us down and that we were of ourselves helpless to do anything about it. 2. That He might deliver us from this present evil world ... Read more
"The Lord needs it". Whether by prior arrangement or not, this colt was available for the Lord to use and bring glory to God as He rode into Jerusalem. It provided more than a means of transport and served to illustrate the servant-hood of Christ. It had never been ridden before but bore the Lord ... Read more
"you will not always have me". Jesus defended Mary's action saying that pouring perfume upon His head as He sat at table in a home in Bethany was a beautiful thing to do. All could enjoy the fragrance. She had taken the opportunity when it was presented to her. The criticism that the perfume could ... Read more
"Neither do I condemn you". It is unfortunate that modern scholarship has removed the incident of the woman taken in adultery from some modern translations. However, many of us preached on it with great blessing before most of these versions were published. The marvellous thing is that Jesus did not condemn the adulteress. She feared ... Read more
"as thy days, so shall thy strength be". So it is not a matter of how long your strength will last, but that God will give you strength enough for today. The Lord gives us life a day at a time - you may plan for tomorrow and if those plans work out, look to ... Read more
"they made ready the passover". Some preparation is needed if we are to glean the most from special occasions. (On some occasions, of course, the Lord does delight to bless by surprise.) Jesus told His disciples to make ready the passover, nominating the place where they were to meet, and they did so. If we ... Read more
"he was reckoned among the transgressors". What do we learn from this description of the Son of God? First, things are not always as they appear. A glance towards Golgotha on that fateful day may have given the impression of three criminals being crucified. Closer examination shows One to be the Son of God. Secondly, ... Read more
"he was buried". The burial of Christ completes His death. It was not just an act of kindness; it was confirmation that the act of atonement had truly happened. The wages of sin had been paid. The wrath of God had been appeased. The work of Christ had been completed. The enemies of God had ... Read more
"But Christ has indeed been raised from the dead". Doubt it or argue against it, you cannot change the reality of what took place on that first Resurrection Sunday. What a glorious 'but' this is! It makes an eternal difference. Christ was raised 'out from amongst the dead' and one day we shall rise 'out ... Read more