Romans 1:9-11
In the closing chapter of the Book of Acts, we learn that Paul was placed under house arrest for two years in the city of Rome while awaiting trial at the Court of Caesar. No longer being able to be with those he so loved, he was compelled instead to write to them from his place of imprisonment, exhorting and encouraging them in the faith. The letters that he wrote during this time of imprisonment are called the prison letters of Paul. There are four of them in number — Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and the tiny letter to Philemon. In all four Epistles, Paul speaks of his chains for Jesus Christ. For now, Paul’s travelling journeys were curtailed, but his ministry of prayer was not! What he could no longer do in person, he could do via proxy by means of prayer!! You see, the heart of Paul was not only to plant Churches but to see those Churches blossoming. Paul’s business was not only the saving of souls but the discipling of those same souls unto maturity! Thus, to this end, he gave himself to prayer that the Churches he so loved might be established in the faith.
Matthew 13:44
The Parables of the Kingdom are among some of the finest parables given by our Lord in all that He spoke. The Jewish people of His day looked for a kingdom that was coming in power and a king ruling on a physical throne in a physical location. The King had indeed come into their midst bringing with Him a kingdom of power, yet this kingdom was one that was to be established in the hearts of men!
This sermon takes a look at these kingdom parables and in particular, the Parable of the Hidden Treasure. May the Lord stir our hearts and may we meet Him again with passion and zeal, reviving our first-love love for Jesus our King!!
John 14:1-3
Pastor Jason Wright delivers a very timely word, straight from the Bible, relating to the need in this perilous hour for every believer to have an upper room in their life. A time where we can draw away from the many voices to hear from God.
May you be encouraged by this much-needed message.
Luke 22:31-34
You’d be forgiven for thinking that the title of this morning’s sermon is a message straight out of a motivational handbook; you’ll be pleased to know it’s not!!
This sermon offers a word of hope to those who have failed the Lord through sin and who are struggling to come back. By looking at Peter’s denial and subsequent restoration, we can find great comfort in the compassionate mercies of God. The same Saviour who restored Peter, can and will restore us if we would but only come to Him.
Matthew 25:1-13
In this sermon, we examine the Parable of the Ten Virgins and in so doing find that there are those who are going to be ready when the Lord returns to collect His bride, and those who are not going to be ready! Getting ready for the Second Coming of the Lord is not something that we can prepare for when He comes, we must be prepared for when He comes.
May the Lord speak to each one of us on this matter of preparedness.
Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 3)
In deciding to translate the Bible from one language to another, two questions must lie at the heart of the translation process. #1, Accuracy and #2, Readability. On one hand, one wants a translation that is as accurate and as close to the original languages as possible while at the same time being readable. You may be thinking, why are we discussing Bible translations in a study looking at how to better interpret the Bible? Isn’t the Bible just the Bible? It is, but as will be demonstrated, one can make use of a range of different translations of the Bible in order to make better sense of the Bible.
In this third teaching part, we explore the various translations available to the student of God’s word and the pros and cons of each.
Download teaching notes (pdf)
https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/2b_Basic_Tools_for_Bible_Interpretation_Pt2.pdf
Acts 21:1-15
From the very inception of Paul’s call to faith, there on that dusty Damascene road; this former persecutor of those who followed the Way was himself shown by the Lord “...how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:16). The legacy of this man’s life was nothing short of faithfulness unto the Lord. He was sold out to Christ with a one-track mind to finish the course appointed him.
During his third missionary journey, Paul received a number of prophetic warnings from multiple sources, all confirming the same thing that bonds and afflictions awaited him upon his return to Jerusalem. Many pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem so as to spare him from the danger that awaited him there. Paul’s response was decisive and final…he’d purposed to go up to Jerusalem and to there finish the course appointed Him by the Lord! May the Lord grant us such faithful unswerving conviction to ever do what is right by our God no matter what the cost!
Matthew 6:25-34
Some things I find in life are easier said than done. As human beings, we’re generally better at giving advice than we are at taking it! How many times have we heard the saying (and no doubt probably said it ourselves), “What’s the point in worrying? It won’t change anything...”, and yet we continue right on worrying! What is worry but a manifestation of fear on account of uncertainty?
In this sermon, we dig into the Scriptures and allow the Word of God to generate faith by looking at the great providential hand of God towards His children. What have we to fear, if God be for us? Let us cast our cares upon Him and bring our burdens to the Lord in prayer, finding in place of worry, a place of sweet relief.
Matthew 14:23
Could it be that corporate prayer is so lacking in the Church today because God’s people have not first been found in private prayer? It is my conviction and that also of the Scriptures; God’s people ought to have an appetite for prayer. I say appetite because it’s not a laborious thing. Is it laborious to eat? If you’ve no taste buds...ye.! But God has given us a wonderful pallet so that we can enjoy the many tastes and flavours, so that even though we must eat, we want to eat, and the whole experience is a most enjoyable one!! Tell me, have you an appetite for prayer? There is much instruction in the New Testament concerning praying for others; if we care enough for others, we’ll pray enough for others. Yet private prayer is much more than a list of names and needs. Prayer is personal and as such, when you and I go into our closets and shut the door, the most intimate exchange ought to take place in fellowship with God as we bear the secrets of our hearts to our heavenly Father, aided by the help of the Holy Spirit. May the Lord stir our hearts to get alone from the business of this world and to spend time with Him in prayer.
Nehemiah 9:1-3
In Nehemiah’s day, the children of Israel did something that is seldom is heard today – they confessed their sins to God. Yet in their confession, they did not attempt to apportion blame to another, but rather, they owned responsibility for their sin and ascribe greatness to God in His chastening hand of judgment!! The true mark of sincere and genuine confession is the absence of excuses and if the bedrock of confession is faulty, then repentance upon which it rests will also be faulty and no true fruit will follow. May God help us to get a hold on the heart of true confession, that we might return again to Him in true repentance.