TEXT: ‘I had only heard about you before, but now I have seen you with my own eyes. I take back everything I said, and I sit in dust and ashes to show my repentance’ (Job 42:5-6 NLT)). It’s understandable when Christians want to quickly scan through the Book of Job in the bible or avoid reading it altogether. After all, many chapters of arguments between Job and his three friends do not make enjoyable reading, especially when Job is maintaining his innocence about God’s supposedly unfair treatment of him, and his friends are trying to make him out to be the worst of the worst, saying that was why trouble came in the first instance. As we read the end of the book, we discover both viewpoints were wrong. Yet, if you read through the Book of Job carefully, you will discover gold nuggets of truth hidden in the pages that really are worth finding! In Chapter 9, Job uses the phrase, “If I” five times and these form the basis for Today’s Teaching. It’s so important to have a correct perspective of God. Job didn’t because he thought God was the source of his trouble, when once He had been the source of his blessings. He didn’t...
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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,...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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