TEXT: ‘Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power’ (2 Thessalonians 1:11) Preachers often say, “God is good”, to which the congregation replies, “All the time!” It’s important to keep this in mind, for it’s easy to allow the pressures and problems of life distort the truth that God is good. His goodness is the entry point for salvation, for the Bible says, ‘Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?’ (Romans 2:4). How thankful we are when God opens our eyes to see our need of Jesus. Today’s Teaching focusses on how God’s goodness can benefit. 1. Learn to show appreciation – ‘Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!’ (Psalm 105:15, 21, 31) Think how often we complain, when the least thing goes wrong, or even if the weather doesn’t fit into our plans. How much more contented our lives would be if we were more thankful. It would brighten our countenance and boost our health for, ‘A cheerful disposition is good for your...
Learn MoreTEXT: ‘And then he told them, “You are to go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone, everywhere’ (Mark 16:15 TLB) What did the apostles need to get going and start evangelising the world? Acts chapter 1 reveals four things that really helped them to obey Jesus’ great commission: Proof, Promise, Prayer and Power. We are no different, so what helped them will help us too. Proof ‘Until the day in which He was taken up, after He through the Holy Spirit had given commandments to the apostles whom He had chosen, to whom He also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs’ (Acts 1:2-3) Understandably, the disciples took some convincing having seen Jesus’ death and burial. What would it have taken for you to be sure it really was Jesus who had risen from the dead? The disciples were very sceptical of reports Jesus was alive. 1. The women’s testimonies did not convince them – ‘Their words seemed to them like idle tales and they did not believe them’ (Luke 24:11). ‘Later He appeared to the eleven as they sat at the table; and He rebuked their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He...
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TEXT: ‘If you had known Me, you would have known My Father also; and from now on you know Him and have seen Him’ (John 14:7) When the disciples wanted to know what God the Father was really like, Jesus said a remarkable thing, ‘He who has seen Me has seen the Father’ (John 14:9). So to understand who the Father is, all we have to do is study the life of Jesus. Millions throughout the world have a “god” that’s nothing more than an idol, with hands that cannot hold anything, ears that cannot hear anything, mouths that cannot say anything, and feet that cannot walk anywhere. Thank God, the Christian does not believe in a God like that! Millions more have no faith in God at all and therefore have no hope. Such are plunging headlong into a lost eternity without even a thought as to what happens after they die. Note that Romans 15:4 reveals we get patience or endurance and comfort through the scriptures. God is the same as He is revealed in the Bible. Mankind has all sorts of ideas of God, but it’s what the Bible says that counts, and it is the final authority on the matter. That is why Jesus said,...
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TEXT: ‘Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain; and it did not rain on the land for three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain, and the earth produced its fruit’ (James 5:17-18) Today’s Teaching focusses on prayer, a subject of interest to Christians who wonder, “How can I be more effective when praying?” There are three things I want to highlight from our text. 1. The Person – ‘Elijah was a man with a nature like ours [with the same physical, mental, and spiritual limitations and shortcomings]’ (James 5:17 AMP). The previous verse says, ‘The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results’ (James 5:16 NLT). This statement can discourage us from praying, for we know only too well our personal weaknesses and failures. We need instead, to focus on the word “righteous”, as that will give us confidence to come boldly to the throne of grace. Righteousness that is not dependent on us to achieve, other than to believe what God has said is true, ‘For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Corinthians 5:21)....
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TEXT: ‘Let us bring the ark of our God back to us, for we have not inquired at it since the days of Saul.” Then all the assembly said that they would do so, for the thing was right in the eyes of all the people’ (1 Chronicles 13:3-4) David’s heart desire was to bring the Ark of the Covenant (the symbol of God’s presence) to Jerusalem. Years earlier the Israelites had lost a battle and the Ark had been taken captive by the Philistines, who soon discovered the God of Israel could look after Himself (see 1 Samuel 4:1 – 7:2). To stop the plagues and safeguard the nation against further calamity, the Philistines sent the Ark back to Beth Shemesh. Tragedy struck the inhabitants when they looked inside the Ark and several died for their lack of reverence. Panic-stricken, the people invited the citizens of Kirjath Jearim to come, take the Ark and look after it. It was from here that David and all Israel came to transport the Ark to Jerusalem. A carnival atmosphere ensued as the Ark was put on a new cart, as the Philistines had done. Arriving at Chidon’s threshing floor, the oxen stumbled and Uzza put out his hand to steady the Ark....
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