TEXT: ‘Tomorrow is the New Moon and you will be missed because your seat will be empty’ – 1 Samuel 20:18 THOUGHT: I want to change the text to read, “Tomorrow is the New Year and you will be missed because your seat will be empty.” Where should you be tomorrow? Will your seat be empty because you will not be where you should be? The Person who is missing David was not going to be at the feast because his life was in danger due to King Saul’s jealousy and uncontrollable mood swings. Maybe that’s true for you or perhaps it will be because of a disagreement, debt and money issues, or your marriage is heading for divorce because you will be in someone else’s house and not your own. Perhaps it’s just that you are too busy with work or some other activity so that those who love you the most are now resigned to seeing an empty chair! The person or people who are expecting you to turn up Have you considered their feelings if your seat is empty? What about their disappointment, even anger and tears when they have gone to so much trouble to make the day special? Many relationships end simply because one...
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TEXT: ‘But no one has ever been able to tame the tongue. It is evil and uncontrollable, full of deadly poison. We use it to give thanks to our Lord and Father and also to curse other people, who are created in the likeness of God. Words of thanksgiving and cursing pour out from the same mouth. My friends, this should not happen!’ – James 3:8-10 THOUGHT: One of the more distasteful and disturbing trends in modern society is the widespread use of swear words in films and television, particularly what is called the “F” word. The media claim they are only reflecting modern lifestyles, although a quick survey, will I am sure, reveal this is not the case and its use in everyday life is over-exaggerated. Recently the BBC has allowed standards to slip again, allowing the word “Hell” to be used in reporting and interviews, when once it was forbidden and edited out. Of course, all the other media outlets follow suit. Listening to a local Radio Station recently, one of the presenters used the word “Hell” several times, even surprising his co-presenter. This caused me to act and I sent in an email to complain about it. To my surprise I received a reply almost immediately from the...
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TEXT: ‘But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you’– 1 Thessalonians 4:9-11 THOUGHT: The Book of Chronicles records that the army of Issachar joined forces with David because, ‘They had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do.’ 1 This helped the other tribal armies to get behind David and make him King of Israel after the death of King Saul. When you do not know what to do, you will often find there is someone who does! In Part 1, we saw Paul urge the Thessalonian Christians to serve the living God, to wait for return of His Son, and to be aware of the wrath to come. In the same epistle, Paul exhorts the believers to do four more key things. To love one another – ‘for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another’ Love for...
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TEXT: ‘For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come’ – 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10 THOUGHT: A rich young ruler asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” 1 The Philippian Jailer asked Paul a similar question, “What must I do to be saved?” 2 There is something we can and must do to be saved, “Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.” But there are things we need to do once we become a Christian. Paul was writing to the new Christians in Thessalonica. They had turned to God from idolatry. They had believed in gods out of fear, worship and tradition. Becoming Christians now meant they believed there is only one true God. The problem with Western Society is not with idolatry as much as having no belief in a God at all. This makes it all the more difficult for someone to be saved. Thank God for the work of the Holy Spirit who helps people to realise the sin of not believing...
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TEXT: ‘One thing I know: that though I was blind, now I see’ – John 9:25 THOUGHT: In a previous Today’s Teaching, this miracle was looked at in more depth. http://box2340.temp.domains/~recovfz7/parents-what-are-you-saying/ This teaching concentrates on four things that were opened. Opened Eyes It is very interesting to see Jesus doing the same miracle in different ways. Blind Bartimaeus received his sight as Jesus spoke to him. This man had clay smeared on his eyes and was told to go and wash it off in the pool of Siloam. John Chapter 8 gives an insight as to why Jesus did it this way. The Jews threatened to stone Jesus and another miracle would only aggravate things, so by the time the blind man returned with perfect eyesight, Jesus was long gone. To get your miracle it is so important to be obedient to God’s voice. This man could have argued with Jesus, “I want to be healed in the same way as Bartimaeus was. Why don’t you just speak out my healing?” Instead he allowed Jesus to do it His way and his obedience was rewarded with perfect sight! Opened Mouth This miracle produced a stir. First the crowd did not believe that this was the same blind man. New...
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