"the sword of the Spirit". Not a ceremonial sword to be worn when on parade. The sword of the Spirit is a vital piece of the Christian's armour. It is the God-breathed Word of God which Jesus used to cut down the Devil's evil insinuations when tempted in the wilderness. It is the means whereby ... Read more
"Come to me". The wonder of the Gospel is not merely that we may come to the Lord, but that He invites us to do so. And the more wretched and unworthy a person feels, the more pressing is the invitation. Jesus came not to call righteous people: He came for sinners - the failures, ... Read more
"After seeking advice, the king made two golden calves". Seeking advice is commendable: seeking and taking the wrong advice is folly. Jeroboam was crowned king over Israel. He immediately felt he had a problem - if his subjects went up to Jerusalem to worship they might revert to Rehoboam, king of Judah. So he sought ... Read more
"I go … unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me". It was more important for the Apostle Paul to be led by the Spirit than that he should know what was going to happen to him. There are those who will not step forward until they have been given specific assurances about ... Read more
"His sister stood at a distance". There are times when we need to stand back and let God work. Human efforts to hide Moses had run out. Now it was time for God to act. But standing back doesn't mean out of sight. Miriam was watching to see what would happen to him. When God ... Read more
"neither cold nor hot". Lukewarm! Trying to be hot and cold at the same time, but succeeding only in making an insipid mixture admired by no one. This is the Spirit's complaint about the church in Laodicea and it is the Spirit's complaint about many today. In test cricket there is a second innings when ... Read more
"How precious also are your thoughts to me, O God". The important words to note here are 'thoughts to me' - that is, God's thoughts relating to the Psalmist. The word translated 'thought' is unique in the Old Testament. It conveys the meaning of 'association of ideas or plans', and it is the revealed idea ... Read more
"if the goodman of the house had known". We don't know when the Lord will return and so need to be ready. That He is coming He made quite clear with the words "I will come again". We need to be ready. Followers of Jesus all down the years have lived in expectancy of His ... Read more
"you do not know how miserable and pitiful you are! ". The church in Laodicea thought it was all right when in fact it was very spiritually sick. This wrong assessment arose from counting earthly instead of spiritual values. They failed to be spiritually minded and led by the Spirit. Miserable and pitiful is the ... Read more
"wash away your sins". Ananias encouraged Saul of Tarsus to be baptised and declare publicly what had happened to him. You begin by trusting in the secret of your own heart, but what you have done must be evidenced. Not to 'nail your colours to the mast' makes it easier to fall away when temptation, ... Read more