John 3: 1-7
When we think of the great historic doctrines of the Christian faith—in particular, those that fall under the broader umbrella of “Soteriology” (the study of salvation), seated in their midst must surely be the glorious doctrine of Regeneration. In the days of Popish pomp and rule, it was the doctrine of Justification that was heralded and championed by the Reformers. Rome had for a millennium, hoodwinked the masses under a false system of works, masquerading as grace. The Reformers said NO!! Man is not justified in the sight of God by human achievement—he’ll never work his way to heaven; the only way he’ll ever get there is by the grace of God alone, through faith alone apart from human merit.
In this our day, it is the doctrine of regeneration that so desperately needs to be rediscovered and heralded from every pulpit in the land. For many, becoming a Christian is nothing more than joining a Church and having one’s name inscribed on a roll call of membership. I’ve known people, near and dear to me who called themselves Christians because they were made wet with water; yet when I looked for visible fruits of life, I found none! What saith the Lord Jesus Christ? “Ye must be born again” (Jn. 3:7).
1 Samuel 15:16-17
Nothing (I believe) so moves the heart of our Heavenly Father more than humility. Consider with me, a verse found in Isaiah 57. “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Is. 57:15). Like a magnet pulled with force towards a lump of rusty iron, it readily passes by the gold and the silver (it’s unattracted by them); so our God is drawn towards humility.
In this sermon, we survey the lives of those whom God had called and used, and we note the downfall of some, who though pride fell from their former standing. May we every sense our need for God and in His lifting up of our position, let us remain in a place of humility.
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!!
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.
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.
1 Kings 21:1-16
Where the fear of God is absent from among the people of God, there you will find a breeding ground for every wicked sin. It may begin as a soggy marsh, but it will end in a sewer of running evil!! “Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD (to the false prophets who bolstered Israel in their sins), and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD. Do not I fill heaven and earth? saith the LORD” (Jer. 23:23-24).
This sermon is an exhortation for the Body Christ to return again to a healthy fear of God, not least in our treatment of others. The God who sees, will not hold those guiltless who destroy His people with their evil deeds—He shall exact their mangled bodies at their hands. May God have mercy in bringing a people to repentance.
Genesis 15:1-6
As one dear brother said to me not so long ago, “You can’t have faith on the other side of the fence”, you can only have it on this side of the promise! Once the promise has materialised into its physical reality, faith has done its work and there’s no longer need for it!
It seems that as we go on in this Christian walk, God takes us up to every increasing cliff heights, and as we stand at the precipice looking down at the sheer drop beneath us, we hear the voice of God saying jump, with the full assurance of faith that as we do, He will bear us up with eagles wings and perform that which He said He would! In this sermon, we follow the journey of faith in the life of Abraham and take great encouragement for our souls. What God did for him; he can do for us!
James 1:1-4
To the natural mind suffering and tribulation are concepts that run counter opposite to joy. How possibly can discomfort, pain, and suffering exist in the same sentence as rejoice? Yet, in a number of places in the New Testament, the child of God is exhorted to rejoice in the midst of their suffering! How is this possible? Why is this exhortation given?
In this sermon, we seek to provide a biblical answer to the above questions and look intently at the role of tribulation in the proving and perfecting of Christian faith.
Ephesians 4:31-32
So many in the earth begin life as bubbling happy youngsters, not a care in the world, unaware of the big bad world that they’re about to enter! Yet, by the time they’ve reached their 30’s and 40’s, that youthful optimism has pretty much been blown out of the water and aged cynicism has begun to set in. Naivety has given way to suspicion and by the time they reach their later years, full-blown pessimism has pretty much taken over every thought. As a Christian, I don’t ever want to become a cynic let alone a pessimist! Yet, as the years pass so also do the offences committed against us. The challenge facing every one of us as believers is to not allow our hearts to become hard so as to lose the tenderness.
This sermon digs into the Word of God and presents to the believer, the grace and power that is in Christ which allows us to overcome the sins of resentment, bitterness, and unforgiveness.