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Bethesda Shalom

Bethesda Shalom , "House of Mercy and Peace". A small independent Bible believing Church located in Wolverhampton, England; endeavouring to hold fast to truth and stand fast in love by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
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Now displaying: 2019

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Dec 14, 2019

Revelation 20:1-6

When the disciples asked Jesus; “...Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6), what did they mean?  If one was to ask such a question today in the vast majority of the theological colleges across the Western world, one would receive an answer that would be far from adequate in explaining the true nature of the disciple’s inquiry.  You see, for many today, the concept of a millennial kingdom does not even figure into their eschatological thinking.  For the amillennialist, the future kingdom of God is the present kingdom of God, and any hope of a golden age of righteousness and peace upon the earth is certainly not realised in some distant event, but in the last 2000 years of Church history as the gospel has been being preached in all the world.  For the postmillennialist, they would acknowledge a coming golden era of some arbitrary length, but they would argue that this “millennium” of triumphalism will be ushered in by the Church and not the Lord Jesus at His Coming!  Both groups would undoubtedly, deny that God has any future purposes for Israel during this time, which runs totally contrary to what the disciples thought when putting the question to Jesus, “...Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?”    

In this teaching, we examine the position of premillennialism in light of Revelation 20:1-6, and try to understand the role of the Church and the place of Israel in this coming future kingdom, over which shall rule Messiah at His Second Coming.

Dec 2, 2019

Ephesians 4:17-32

There are some Christians who never mention the name of our adversary, for fear of giving him undue attention.  You’ve all heard I’m sure, the well-meaning sentiments of a dear soul that has said in their enthusiasm; “I don’t give HIM any glory by even mentioning his name!”.  Now I do understand the thinking behind such a statement, but the question is, is it Biblical?  I was a teacher for a number of years, and when a pupil was playing the fool in class—seeking for attention and would-be followers—I usually didn’t give them the satisfaction of playing their game by bringing “undue attention” to them.  Instead, I would choose at times to employ the strategy of “ignorance”, and sure enough, they soon got tired of the show when they saw that they were not getting the crowd they’d hoped for!  However, what if, that pupil was to pull out a knife, am I still going to play dumb?  It’s one thing to have an irritant in the class, and quite another to have a potential murderer!!  The Bible doesn’t portray the devil as an irritant (far from it!!). Jesus called him a “murderer” in Jn. 8:44, and identified him as the “wicked one” in Mt. 13:19.  Peter tells us that he’s a “roaring lion”, roaming about, seeking whom he may devour! (1 Pet. 5:8).

It is imperative that we understand the wiles of our enemy and prepare ourselves for the day of his attack in order that we might not give him any place! 

Dec 1, 2019

Revelation 19:11-21

All that has gone before us in past chapters, is preparing us for the one pinnacle, supreme event that is to appear in this chapter, namely the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  The single greatest event in history without exception, to which the prophets of old bore witness, was Messiah’s first coming. The single greatest event to take place after this, to which again, the prophets of old bore witness, is Messiah’s Second Coming!  It is for this momentous event, that all of nature and history awaits, not least those of us called and chosen in Him! 

In this twenty-ninth teaching part, we look at this fascinating topic and its timing.  Come, Lord Jesus, Maranatha!

Nov 25, 2019

The Father’s Pruning Shears – Paul M. Williams

John 15:1-6

On a traditional vine that has been trained, there is a main with thick horizontal branches coming off from the trunk.  All along the branches, at regular intervals are knuckles (spurs), out of which grow pencil-like stems called canes.  It is on these canes that the grapes will grow; however, grapes will only grow on canes that are one year old which means there is a need for pruning every single season to remove the old wood. It’s been said that grapevines are probably pruned more extensively and more aggressively than any other crop.  When farmers prune, they remove the majority of wood produced the previous season – up to 90 percent is pruned away!!  Last year’s season of fresh long canes (of many feet) will be trimmed right back to several inches and the older canes bearing the fruit which grew the season before that (i.e. those that are now two years old) are completely removed from the branch!  As one walked by at pruning season, the untrained eye would think that a massacre had taken place!  Heaps of old cane lies strewn along the floor in mounts and the poor plant looks barren — from a distance, all one can see is a trunk and branches!  Yet to the trained eye, the job has been well-done in order that the branches might go on to bring forth more fruit!! 

Jesus said that He is the True Vine, we are the branches and His Father is the husbandman.  Without the Father’s pruning in our lives, (the trials and afflictions that He allows to come upon us), we would reach a ceiling in our spiritual lives.  It is not the Father’s will that we should be diminished in fruit and so He prunes us that we might bear more fruit!! 

Nov 18, 2019

Matthew 23:25-28

I’m sure that you’ve heard of the cat with nine lives – so the old English proverb goes, “For three he plays, for three he strays, and for the last three he stays".  One news story reported how that a cat in the US city of Boston survived a fall from a 19-storey window, only bruising her chest!  It’s one thing to talk with lightness about the nine proverbial lives of the kitty, but the man with two lives, is no joking matter – multitudes of Churches up and down the land are plagued by this blight.  As one understands correctly the title of this sermon; the man with two lives has nothing whatsoever to do with the concept of staying alive, but instead, speaks of duplicity, of feigned living, of hypocrisy and two-facedness. 

In this featured sermon, we look at the lives of the Scribes and Pharisees and in so doing, we discover the nature of their hypocrisy.  This is a very searching and challenging sermon, yet one that is most needful if we are to really go on with the Lord.  May God give us grace to be honest before Him, that we might be found sincere in our worship of Him. 

Nov 16, 2019

Revelation 19:1-10

A heard is cry coming from heaven; “...the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready”.  This, to the Western mind, seems strange language upon first sight.  In what sense are we to understand this seeming conundrum?  How can the Church be identified as the wife of Christ before the marriage?  In order to understand this, we must understand marriage in the context of Jewish culture.  In this 28th teaching part, we turn our attention to this great marriage supper and the need for the bride of Christ to make herself ready for her Bridegroom’s coming! 

Nov 11, 2019

Isaiah 26:3

The Christian soldier is never stationary in His efforts to hold the ground of victory taken for Christ in His life.  He knows full well, that yesterday’s victories could well turn to tomorrow’s defeat.  We are in a war and this is no time for lightness, nor is it time to be found sleeping at the post of duty.  The Word of God charges us to take to arm us for the fight, the whole armour of God that we might be able to withstand in the evil day of Satan’s special assault!  Of all the armoury listed in that great chapter of the epistle to the Ephesians, there’s one piece of the armour that is distinguished from the rest “Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked” (Eph. 6:16). 

This sermon is an exhortation to faith!  An exhortation to not allow the lies of the enemy to penetrate our minds.  God has promised to keep those in perfect peace, whose mind are stayed on Him, because they have placed their trust in the Lord!! 

Nov 3, 2019

Revelation 18

“Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen”. The thought of it!! The unthinkable has taken place!!  In one hour, her judgment has come and the great city which once ruled over nations has fallen from her height of prominence and now has become the habitation of devils and every foul spirit. 

In this eighteenth chapter, we explore the fall of this great city and reflect upon its sudden ruin.

Oct 12, 2019

Revelation 17

We have mention made for the first time in Revelation, of a great whore who sits upon many waters.  Arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, she is being carried along by the beast of Revelation 13.  Written upon her forehead is a number of names and John saw the woman drunk with the blood of the Saints.  Who is this woman and why is she depicted in this way?  What is her relationship to the beast and why is she counted as a harlot?  All of these questions and others besides, we endeavour to answer in this teaching part as we look at the imagery of the woman and the beast she is sat upon.

Oct 7, 2019

Psalm 130:3-4

There are many ways to look upon a masterpiece of art.  Each angle seems to shed a new perspective, as differing tones and hews are brought into fresh view with every studious stare.  Far greater than any piece of art is the splendour of Almighty God—His many attributes leave a pause for wonder as man tries with his finite mind, to grasp after Him who is eternal!

Of all the attributes, there’s one attribute that holds a special place in my heart, for I know what manner of man I was, and even now after tasting of eternal life, how great a debtor daily I still am!  What is this attribute?  It is the mercy of God!  “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Having been shown such great mercy by God, what manner of people ought we the children of God now to be? A people full of mercy towards others!  How ready are you to forgive another who has wronged you? How willing are you to extend mercy?  In the passing of judgment upon others, how much of it is mixed with mercy?  May the Lord search all our hearts and bring us to place of greater mercy.  

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