TEXT: ‘O Lord, I pray, please let Your ear be attentive to the prayer of Your servant, and to the prayer of Your servants who desire to fear Your name; and let Your servant prosper this day, I pray, and grant him mercy in the sight of this man.” For I was the king’s cupbearer’ (Nehemiah 1:11). It’s very easy to say, “I know there’s a problem, but what can I do?” A more positive response changes the emphasis slightly to, ‘What can I do?” As we head into 2024, the challenge is, “Who or what will I influence for good during the year?” The example of Nehemiah is an inspiration to us all. Today’s Teaching highlights four things that will help us to be more effective. 1. We can’t change everything, but we can change something This is why the Bible says, ‘Having gifts (faculties, talents, qualities) that differ according to the grace given us, let us use them’ (Romans 12:6 AMPC). We will not respond in the same way because we are all different, but we can all respond to something. World news can overwhelm us, but it can also inspire us. The report about Jerusalem greatly distressed Nehemiah, but it also set him praying. He thought,...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Psalm 121:1-2). “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. Today’s Teaching focusses on six occasions when He did that, to discover what we can learn and then imitate. In Part 1, we considered Multiplication – when Jesus fed the 5000; Compassion – when He saw the multitudes as they really were; and Resurrection – when He demonstrated He had power over death. Part 2 studies three more times when it is recorded, “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. 4. Intercession – ‘Jesus spoke these words, lifted up His eyes to heaven, and said: “Father, the hour has come. Glorify Your Son, that Your Son also may glorify You’ (John 17:1) A. Lift up your eyes when no one can help you Lift up your eyes to the One who loves you, cares for you and can keep you. ‘Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy’ (Jude 1:24). Jehoshaphat prayed, ‘For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You’ (2 Chronicles...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘I will lift up my eyes to the hills – from whence comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.’ (Psalm 121:1-2). Eyesight is wonderful, but like many other things in life, we usually fail to appreciate the blessing of sight until we start wearing glasses, or worse still end up blind. I used to be able to spot the golf ball on the green up to 200 yards away, but now, due to the early stages of cataracts, it’s much more difficult to see the ball until I am a lot closer. Reading John’s gospel, I was struck by the phrase, “Jesus lifted up His eyes”. Today’s Teaching focusses on six occasions when He did that, to discover what we can learn and then imitate. 1. Multiplication – ‘Then Jesus lifted up His eyes, and seeing a great multitude coming toward Him, He said to Philip, “Where shall we buy bread, that these may eat?”’ (John 6:5) ‘When He had taken the five loaves and the two fish, He looked up to heaven, blessed and broke the loaves, and gave them to His disciples’ (Mark 6:41). When what we have isn’t enough, let’s lift up our eyes to the One who can multiply, El Shaddai – the God who is more...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘For the Lord your God is a consuming fire; He is a jealous (impassioned) God [demanding what is rightfully and uniquely His]’ (Deuteronomy 4:24 AMP). On cold, winter nights, it’s comforting to warm oneself around the fire, especially if it’s wood or coal. What a difference a real fire makes. Fire has an eternal aspect in that when it’s kept going, it will never go out of its own accord. Proverbs says, ‘The fire never says, “Enough”’ (Proverbs 30:16). Recent wildfires around the world bear testament to this truth. Today’s Teaching highlights what the Bible has to say about fire. 1. Fire of Compromise – ‘Now when they had kindled a fire in the midst of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat among them. And a certain servant girl, seeing him as he sat by the fire, looked intently at him and said, “This man was also with Him.” But he denied Him, saying, “Woman, I do not know Him.”’ (Luke 22:55-57). Jesus had been arrested and brought before the High Priest. Peter followed at a distance to see what would happen. As he warmed himself by the fire, a servant girl challenged him, that he was a disciple. When Peter denied it three times, the cock crew and Jesus...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 1:7). The Apostle Paul used this greeting many times when writing to churches and individuals. We often use the words “Jesus” and “Christ”, but Today’s Teaching looks at Jesus as “Lord!” The more we understand this, the more we will reverence Him and benefit from His name. 1. Lord – His Position: ‘These will make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb will overcome them, for He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and those who are with Him are called, chosen, and faithful’ (Revelation 17:14). World leaders such as Putin and Biden appear to be mighty and able to do what they want, but Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and that includes them. This is why Jesus was able to resist, when during the temptation in the wilderness, Satan offered Him leadership of the world’s kingdoms. All He had to do was bow down and worship (See Luke 4:5-8). Jesus was able to refuse because it was already His. He is King of kings and Lord of lords, past, present and future! It’s a tragedy when churches and Christians...
Learn More
TEXT: ‘So David rose early in the morning, left the sheep with a keeper, and took the things and went as Jesse had commanded him. And he came to the camp as the army was going out to the fight and shouting for the battle’ (1 Samuel 17:20). David and Goliath is probably one of the best known Bible Stories, that even non-Christians have heard about. Today’s Teaching looks at some of the background to this amazing duel that only lasted a few minutes. 1. There was shouting but no fighting The army was going out to fight and shouted for the battle. The Children of Israel were lined up in battle formation against the Philistines but there was no actual fighting. Indeed, when Goliath started shouting, the Israeli soldiers fled from him terrified. When David challenged their lack of action, his brother turned on him (See v28). Church can be a bit like this. We do our preaching, singing and shouting on a Sunday, in a place where there’s no enemy, only fellow believers. When it’s time to go out into the world with the gospel, we allow the fear of the enemy to stop us in our tracks. Christians usually find it easy to talk about anything but Jesus...
Learn More
Recent Comments