TEXT: ‘This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn’t it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?’ – Luke 13:16 NLT THOUGHT: Only Luke’s gospel records the miracle of this woman being healed (13:10-17) but that does not lessen its significance. It gives a sobering insight into how Satan and religion work in opposition to the Christianity that God wants every person to enjoy. We will consider three key facts about this miraculous healing. The Restriction – ‘A woman who had been crippled by an evil spirit. She had been bent double for eighteen years and was unable to stand up straight’ For those who say there is no such thing as the devil and demons, this incident confirms the reality of demonic powers whose purpose is to steal, kill and destroy humanity, whereas the mission of Jesus is that we might have abundant life. How and why this woman ended up in this condition is not known, but Jesus revealed that the cause of it was a demon, a spirit of infirmity. One day she was able to stand up straight, the next day she was doubled over. She probably thought to herself, “I will rest...
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TEXT: ‘One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek’ – Psalm 27:4 THOUGHT: Jenny’s mother was staying with us recently celebrating her 93rd birthday. She has a goal to outlive her mother who died aged 95 years and 3 months. Having this goal enables her to still keep driving in order to care for her son and maintain her household. There is every expectation that she will reach her goal, especially as she nearly died of a heart attack shortly before her 90th birthday, but has made a remarkable recovery. Goals drive us on and help to maintain the direction we should be going in especially when the way forward becomes difficult. As the saying goes, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going!” The Bible records 4 challenging occasions concerning “One thing” One thing you lack – ‘One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross and follow Me’ – Mark 10:21 Jesus’ response to the rich young ruler was surprising since it was apparent that wealth meant he did not lack anything of this world’s goods. It’s not what you have got...
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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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