TEXT: ‘Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver Him to you?” And they counted out to him thirty pieces of silver’ (Matthew 26:14-15). Judas betrayed Jesus for just 30 pieces of silver! I wonder what his starting price was before it was whittled down by the chief priests, who would never pay more than they had to? Consider the parents of the man born blind that Jesus healed (See John chapter 9). They had cared for him for years. What would they have paid for their son to see for the first time? General Naaman the leper came to Israel with, ‘Gifts of $20,000 in silver, $60,000 in gold, and ten suits of clothing’ (2 Kings 5:5 TLB). That’s how much he valued the prophet who could heal him. Mary anointed the feet of Jesus with very costly fragrant oil in appreciation of what Jesus had done by raising her brother Lazarus from the dead (See John 12:1-8). The critical disciples valued her gift at a year’s wages. Think for one minute about an impossible situation you or someone you love is facing. If it was possible, what would you be willing to pay...
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TEXT: ‘You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror’ (James 2:19 NLT). Satan, also called the devil, is viewed sometimes as a fun character, a figment of the imagination or a powerful supernatural being, depending on what a person believes. Jesus referred to him as the prince or ruler of this world (See John 14:30), but he is nothing in comparison with the God who created him, this world and everything in it! Many Christians live in fear of the devil when they do not need to. Today’s Teaching will help them not to, as we look at several things Satan does not want Christians to know that he knows. 1. Satan knows who Jesus really is – ‘If you are the Son of God’ (Luke 4:9). Satan was tempting Jesus to do something spectacular in order to gain the world’s attention. He certainly knows who Jesus is, because Jesus created him. Wherever Jesus went demons would cry out, ‘I know who You are’ (Luke 4:34, 41). They knew He was the Christ, God’s only Son. The world doesn’t know who Jesus really is and Satan wants to keep it that...
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TEXT: ‘Let not your heart envy sinners, but continue in the reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord all the day long’ (Proverbs 23:17 AMPC). The Bible says, ‘The fear of man brings a snare’ (Proverbs 29:25). How many of us have experienced that in some form or another? The Book of Proverbs also mentions another fear, “The Fear of the Lord” several times. These references show what godly fear can achieve, working in us and for us. ‘Then you will understand what it means to fear the Lord, and you will gain knowledge of God’ (Proverbs 2:5 NLT). Hopefully, Today’s Teaching will help us to do just that. The “Fear” mentioned means reverential awe, recognising God for who He is and what He stands for. Jesus taught us to pray on this basis, ‘Our Father in heaven, we honour your holy name’ (Matthew 6:9 TLB). 1. The Fear of the Lord is Informative A. It’s the beginning of knowledge – ‘The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge’ (Proverbs 1:7) Man wants to know about anything and everything, but often fails to include God in that quest. ‘Then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God’ (Proverbs 2:5). Godly fear helps us to discover what God is...
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TEXT: ‘Therefore, to you who believe, He is precious’ (1 Peter 2:7). The Apostle Peter had started working life as a rugged fisherman, so it’s perhaps surprising he used words like “precious” in his epistles. Today’s Teaching studies them to see what we can learn. In J R Tolkien’s book, “The Lord of the Rings”, Smigel called the ring, “My precious”. He couldn’t bear to live without it and did everything possible to get it back. In the end he perished, falling down into the raging fire trying to retrieve his precious ring. Surely this incident confirms the words of Jesus, ‘Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also’ (Matthew 6:21). Who or what is precious to you? Are you doing what Jesus encourages everyone to do and store up treasure in heaven? 1. Precious Faith – ‘Simon Peter a servant and an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to you which have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ’ (2 Peter 1:1 GNV). ‘That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honour, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ’ (1 Peter 1:7). How foolish to just...
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TEXT: ‘For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. 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 1:8-10). The genuineness of the Thessalonians’ faith was revealed by the things they did which caused Paul, Silas and Timothy to rejoice that their labours in pioneering the church had not been in vain. This fledgling church not only stood the test of time but actively sought to share their faith within the surrounding communities and beyond. In our text, four times the word “To” is used and this helps us to understand why their faith was so real. 1. To God – ‘How you turned to God from idols’ This was a true reflection of repentance. We turn from something to someone. They turned to God from idolatry. Greek mythology was widespread but the conquering Roman Empire brought their own gods. People would have...
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