TEXT: ‘”Tell us, when will these things be? And what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” And Jesus answered and said to them, “Take heed that no one deceives you.”’ – Matthew 24:3-4 THOUGHT: Both Daniel and John heard and saw things about the end of this world as we know it, but they did not fully understand, nor were allowed to reveal a clearer picture of what will happen at that time. When Jesus taught His disciples about His second coming, they too tried to find out when it would take place, but Jesus was unable to reveal the date. 1 The Jehovah Witnesses and other cults have foolishly claimed to know that date of Christ’s literal return, but when that date came and went with no return, they had to hold their hands up and admit their error. Just as the birth of Jesus, although prophesied in the Old Testament, caught most people out as to where and when it would take place, so too it will be with His second coming. What can we learn from the prophecies of Daniel, John and others that will help us to be ready? If the fact that Jesus will return does...
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TEXT: ‘It is good to give thanks to the Lord’ – Psalm 92:1 THOUGHT: The Apostle Paul warned Timothy about an end-time generation that would be “unthankful”.1 People who demand their “rights” regardless of the costs involved, and do not appreciate what has been given to them. Today parents have much more difficulty training their children to say “thank you”, as well-mannered role models in the media are being rapidly replaced by those who are rude, grabbing, immoral, anything goes entertainers. Little wonder when children want to imitate them. I like to say grace before a meal for several reasons. It allows everyone to start eating at the same time, helping to prevent the preparer from sitting down to eat theirs when everyone else’s plate has been cleared. It reminds us to be thankful that we have something to eat when countless millions around the world live on empty stomachs. It also allows us to say thank you for the one who has prepared the meal. It’s amazing how much quicker it is to eat the meal than to prepare it. Our text reminds us it is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord. Is the God in heaven so insecure that it affects Him when people...
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TEXT: ‘For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen’ – Romans 11:36 THOUGHT: When God says, “All things,” He means, “All!” When reading Romans Chapter 8 recently, my attention was drawn to this phrase, “All things” which appears three times. These form the basis for Today’s Teaching. All things work together for good – v28 There are two provisos to this promise, lest people should think that just anyone is included in this statement. Firstly, it is for those who love God. Not just those with a belief in God, but those with a love for the one true God. Love can be inclusive, ‘For God so loved the world.’ 1 But it also can be exclusive, as the marriage vows indicate. “Will you love … forsaking all other?” Some wrongly assert that they can love God but include other gods as well. God is a jealous God and it grieves Him if you try to place others alongside Him. Secondly, it is for those who are the called according to His purpose. Jonah loved God and had been called to go to Nineveh to warn them of impending judgment. When he chose to disobey that call and head...
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TEXT: ‘I thank God that I speak in [unknown] tongues more than all of you’ – 1 Corinthians 14:18 Amplified Bible THOUGHT: It has been thrilling recently to see people in Engage Saltash church plant warming to the Baptism in the Holy Spirit and speaking with other tongues. Some of those had been disappointed in the past by not experiencing this miraculous phenomena when prayed for and ended up wrongly thinking God did not want them to receive. Others were the product of wrong teaching or ignorance in the churches they had previously attended. But by slowly studying the scriptures, doubt and disappointment was replaced by desire and then the delight of receiving the infilling of the Holy Spirit in the same way as the Bible promised it would happen! Paul, writing to the Pentecostal church in Corinth said, “I speak in tongues more than you all.” That could have meant he spoke with other tongues more than anyone else in the church or more than all of them put together! Why were they under-using the precious gift of tongues? Why was it so important to Paul? Far too many Christians receive the baptism with the Holy Spirit, speak with other tongues, but fail to continue to do so...
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Text: ‘So now he is here being comforted and you are in anguish’ – Luke 16:25 Living Bible Thought: Jesus used parables to illustrate and explain about the Kingdom of God, heaven, hell and life in general. Some are easier to understand than others but all are true and we ignore them at our peril. Such is the case with the parable of the Rich Man and Lazarus. 1 In life there will always be the have’s and the have not’s The latest survey reveals that the top 1% of the richest people in the world have more combined wealth than the other 99% put together. Jesus said, ‘For you have the poor with you always.’ 2 and ‘Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.’ 3 He also said, ‘How hard it is for those who trust in riches to enter the kingdom of God.’ 4 Yet there are many rich people who are true Christians in spite of their wealth and there are countless poor people who do not give God or Jesus a moment’s thought. It is not what you have in life that really matters, but what has you! One can have everything yet be generous and others with nothing yet are...
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Text: ‘Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body You have prepared for me. Then I said, Behold, I have come .. to do Your will, O God’ – Hebrews 10:5,7 Thought: Wherever I go I come across “unattached Christians”, those who are not regularly attending a local church. Usually there is a root cause for their non-attendance. In the parable of the Sower, Jesus gave several reasons as to why there was no commitment and therefore no fruit. Misunderstanding, offended, the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches and the desires for other things. 1 All are perfectly plausible, but none are valid! The text reveals that God has prepared a “body” for every Christian. Individually they are a new creation and have a new purpose – to do the will of God. Collectively, Christians are to gather together into local churches. We become the body of Christ and each Christian is a member of that body. God’s intention is that every Christian is a functioning member of a church. Naturally, if a member of my body can’t function effectively due to weakness, disease or paralysis, it causes a great strain on the rest of my body. So the non-attendance or non-functioning of Christians within...
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