<p><b>"everlasting life". </b> The desire we have to live is clear evidence that death is foreign to our make-up. Yet the moment we are born it has been said that we begin to die. Death and the after-life are topics rarely mentioned - so, folk are quite ignorant of what lies beyond the grave. But ... Read more
<p><b>"be filled with the Spirit". </b> Only possible if there is an emptiness first - 'swept and garnished' is now a glorious experience through the atoning work of Christ. Those who walk in the Spirit do not fulfil the lust of the flesh. The flesh wars against the Spirit anyway, but the victory Christ gives ... Read more
<p><b>"supposing he had been dead". </b> Those Satan-inspired fellows made a great mistake when they left Paul for dead, after stoning him. He got up out of the dust and blazed the Gospel trail all the way to Rome. Look at some of Satan's other grave errors. He assumed Jesus was finished when he had ... Read more
<p><b>"Observe the commands of the Lord your God". </b> We consult a road map when taking a journey and pay attention to signposts erected en route. We read the instruction manual for a new piece of equipment. Why is it then that most people take little or no time to find out what God has ... Read more
"the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit". Those who are born of the Spirit must exhibit the life of the Spirit. In this chapter the Apostle Paul makes it clear that there are numerous ways in which the Spirit may be seen in a life. All have one purpose - ... Read more
"I can see that you are a prophet". We like to think that this is the conclusion reached by all who spent time with Jesus. The way He spoke, His miracles, His very presence was different from any other. But if all we see is a prophet or mouthpiece of the voice of God we ... Read more
"we had sailed slowly many days". Though the leisurely days of sail are long since past for the necessary journeys of life, we do find ourselves in a backwater sometimes and with no power to get out of it quickly. Sickness, sorrow, working for someone else are some of the situations beyond our control. Missed ... Read more
"This news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country". This news has now reached every country and been translated into almost every known language and dialect. The Authorised Version uses the word 'rumour' - a word that graphically describes the way men and women gossiped the news - 'Have you heard' they would ... Read more
"As I was with Moses, so I will be with you". We have a wealth of testimony upon which we can draw for assessing any situation in which we find ourselves. The Lord has been guiding and blessing His people all down the centuries. When tempted to ask whether the Lord will come to our ... Read more
"go and learn". Some things cannot be appreciated all at once - the truth of them has to sink in or be wrought out in everyday life. Christian faith is an experience not a theorem. Its truth must be taught as a precept but one that needs to be put into practice. Jesus could raise ... Read more