Haddington Elim Church: Recent Episodes
Haddington Elim Church
Today, we are looking at the passage in Exodus 19:16
So it came about on the third day, when it was morning, that there were thunder and lightning flashes and a thick cloud upon the mountain and a very loud trumpet sound, so that all the people who were in the camp trembled. 17 And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain.
18 Now Mount Sinai was all in smoke because the Lord descended upon it in fire; and its smoke ascended like the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mountain quaked violently. 19 When the sound of the trumpet grew louder and louder, Moses spoke and God answered him with thunder. 20 The Lord came down on Mount Sinai, to the top of the mountain; and the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up.
The whole nation saw the mountain on fire with God’s presence which was visible. They felt the earth shake with the fire of God’s presence. They may have smelled the smoke. They heard thunder and were all frightened. Moses bravely went into the unknown. No matter what your thoughts are of Moses, he wasn’t a coward.
We had taken the grandkids for a ‘walk’ the other day. I say walk, because at 3 and 2 years old, it became a ‘carry’ much more than a ‘walk'. When the going got tough, or they got tired, they wanted us to pick them up and carry them. It was a piggyback at times and the entire walk was mostly us trading off carrying them. We were discussing the reality of carrying someone. When you carry them, you bear the weight of their being. You walk a little more carefully. You find your steps a bit more laboured. Your body hurts as their weight begins to compound on yours.
This is what Jesus does for us. He Himself lifts us up. He bears the weight and pain in His body. Our love for our grandkids was given with every step. We didn’t set them down and leave them. Who would do that? We can sometimes make the error of thinking that God would leave us, when the truth is that He said He would NEVER LEAVE us nor FORSAKE us. It is a comfort to know that when we feel like we can’t go on, He Himself carries us, our burdens and our pain. He does that for US because He loves us.
All of creation is groaning and longing for redemption. At the Fall of man, the ground, the physical earth and creation, was cursed because of Adam. For every man, woman and child that has been born, they are born under this curse. Sin and death entered the human race. This wasn’t God’s plan or purpose. As we looked at the session this week at the Bible study on Tuesday, David Platt gave the purpose and reason for our creation. We are created to have fellowship with God and our purpose is to exalt Him in all the earth. Today we are looking at scripture and what the final outcome will be for ourselves and all creation. We await with eager anticipation for that great and glorious day.
David Walkinshaw brings this message about how God's desire is for unity in the body of Christ. Listen now to hear this message.
As we celebrate Pentecost Sunday, Pastor Samba Bindia reminds us that the Holy Spirit came after the disciples obeyed Jesus' command to wait in Jerusalem. It came suddenly. Listen now to hear this encouraging message.
As spring is underway, this is a time when farmers begin to cultivate their fields. The air is filled with the smells of fertiliser. Jesus shares this parable to a crowd and begins to discuss seed and sowing. Listen to hear what Jesus is saying to us today.
This week Pastor Gordon Allan brings the message. Sometimes in life we need a new view, a new perspective to see something better. For us, the lens we use can determine many factors. We view things in light of God's mercy. Listen today to be encouraged by this powerful message.
We are introduced to a woman who desperately needs a miracle from Jesus. What happens may surprise you!If you are having a difficult time, maybe where it seems like God is not hearing your prayers, this message is for you!
Be encouraged!
This week's message is by Elaine Berwick, and elder at Edinburgh Elim.
There was a man a few years ago who alleged he was the rightful monarch of England instead of Queen Elizabeth II. He claimed he was the true and rightful heir to the throne. To be the true and rightful heir, you must have the correct bloodline, pedigree or other verifiable proof. Anyone can make any claim that they want, but you must be able to substantiate it. There are tests that they can do to verify your claims.
There are many nations that can trace their royal families bloodlines back even to 55 generations.
Listen today to hear what the Bible has to say about those who put their faith in Jesus.
Luke Thomson brings this week's message. After Jesus rose from the dead, one of the disciples wasn't there when He appeared to the group, a man called Didymus. He is more well known as Doubting Thomas. Listen to the message today to hear how Jesus responds to the doubts that Thomas had. What happens will astound you!
Christians around the world celebrate today as Palm Sunday. This usually precedes Holy Week and is celebrated the week before the Resurrection. They get the name from the coming of Jesus into Jerusalem where everyone placed palm branches and coats on the ground as a sort of ‘red carpet’ welcome for His arrival. When I was growing up, many churches in America gave out palm branches on Palm Sunday. We would wave them during worship as a way of welcoming Him to the service. We also know this as the Triumphal Entry of Jesus entering Jerusalem prior to His crucifixion.
John 12:12 On the next day the large crowd who had come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem, 13 took the branches of the palm trees and went out to meet Him, and began to shout, “Hosanna! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord, even the King of Israel.” 14 Jesus, finding a young donkey, sat on it; as it is written, 15 “Fear not, daughter of Zion; behold, your King is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.” 16 These things His disciples did not understand at the first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things were written of Him, and that they had done these things to Him.
Jesus is the True King of Israel. In fact He’s the True King over all the earth. Jesus allows this public demonstration to fulfil the prophecies and scriptures. Usually He would not allow any public praise or even let the demons say Who He was. The people recognised that Jesus the King was coming to Jerusalem. They thought this was the time their Messiah would lead the revolt and deliver them from their bondage to Rome. “Hosanna” was shouted and means “save now!” They certainly wanted Jesus to save them now and lead an uprising. Here He is fulfilling Zechariah’s prophecy about the Messiah riding in on a donkey.
When Sheri broke her ankle, it didn’t take long before her calf muscle began to atrophy. We were quite surprised that the muscle deteriorated so quickly from her inability to use it. In just a few week’s time, there was a clear distinction between the two calves. Without the daily use, it lost mass and muscle quite quickly. It was a bit scary that that happened. To recover from muscle atrophy, you must rebuild your muscles. One way that someone builds their muscles is through discipline. From this root, we get the word Disciple. We need to have discipline in godly principles that will go far into eternity. Being fit physically has benefits but to be fit spiritually has long-lasting benefits for generations. Here, godliness is described as spiritual training. Listen further to hear this encouraging message.
One of the greatest areas that the enemy attacks us is in our minds. He always wants to go against the Truth of God's Word. Listen today as Sheri gives us the weapons that we fight with against this spiritual foe. May you be encouraged as you listen to this message.
This week we had guest speaker Ikhide Ehimiyein with us bringing this message. Here, he gives some practical application to keep intimacy with Jesus. Listen today to hear what you can do to draw closer to Jesus.
This week, Rachel Hogg brings the message. Hear her powerful testimony of God bringing her back to Christ just like the parable Jesus told in Luke 15. Be encouraged today if you have prodigals in your family. Never stop praying for them and trust God to call them home.
This week's message is from Gavin Lawson. He takes us through John 15:1-8 where Jesus tells us that we have to abide in Him to bear much fruit. It is important to grow deeper in your faith. Jesus gives us a few ways for this to happen. Listen to today's message to hear how we can do that.
For many of us, we have all been at an eye exam at some point in our lives. They do a number of tests and the ‘seeing eye chart’ with a series of letters arranged in various rows. Some people have perfect vision, some are nearsighted and some far. If we can’t see perfectly they may prescribe us corrective lenses. Our eyes may weaken over time and our once flawless vision may begin to dim. The same thing can happen to us spiritually speaking too. In this life, as the Apostle Paul said, we will see dimly as through a lens, but one day we will clearly see.
Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision [no redemptive revelation of God], the people are unrestrained, But happy (those who ·obey what they have been taught) is he who keeps the law.
We need to have vision and discernment. This only comes from the Holy Spirit. We can be deceived and even deceive ourselves. We need revelation from God and Who He is.
As a church we need to have a vision and mission. Vision is what you see for the future, Mission is what you do for that future to happen.
The last few weeks we have been talking about moving forward and the fact that God is doing something new. The Ancient of Days is always doing new things. To move forward in God, we need to forgive the past and take risks for the future. Without fear keeping us held back, we can press forward to what He’s asking us to do. We need to step forward in Him and not cling to the crutch of the past. Throw off anything that keeps you from running the race He’s set before you.
Have you ever considered that the impossible is made possible with God? He is God of the Impossible!
Impossible-Adjective; not able to occur, exist, or be done.
In other words, it is anything that is outside the realm of possibility. When we reach our absolute limits, that is where He starts. Time, space, distance, power or anything else is unlimited to Him. This can radically alter your current position and view of Him!
The Ancient of Days is always doing something new!
Being a new creation doesn’t mean that we are perfect. It means that we are changed and that we are in the process of being changed as we yield and obey God and His word.
Who can make us a new creation? God alone can do this for us. This isn’t just “turning over a new leaf” or “getting your act together.” The life of a new creation is not something God does for us but in us. He truly changes us from the inside out. We are made new.
Some of us carry pain, hurt, disappointment and are wounded with things from our past. Let us let the old things pass away. We need to remember that we are created anew in Christ. I am not in any way diminishing pain and hurt from the past. There comes a time where, as much as we can, we need to press forward and let God heal those things. He is the Healer of more than physical scars but emotional ones as well. He is our Helper helping us to press onward and upward. We are to lay all things before Him at the cross.
We have all been blessed with a new year. We can look forward to it or face it with dread. It really is up to us. Some people grab the bull by the horns and take opportunities head on or some watch them pass them by.
"Often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one that has been opened for us." ~ Helen Keller
"A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty." ~ Winston Churchill
One of the things people say at this time of year is that they’d like to make resolutions and a ‘fresh start’. We have an opportunity to make a fresh start or if we’re not careful, we can drag all the stuff from the previous years into it. Maybe we have developed bad habits or have been in a desert place, spiritually speaking. We can become completely consumed with wrong thinking or the belief that nothing will get better or change. We make ‘new year’s resolutions’ or things we are resolved to do. We have the choice to dwell on the past or press forward in Christ to all that He wants for us. We truly have more choices than we realise. It is up to us to choose how we live in 2024. We are responsible for our attitudes and behaviour.
Luke 2:1-7
Every 14 years, Rome took a census and each male had to return to the city of their birth to record his name, property, family and occupation. Because of the crowds that had to come for the census, there was no room for Mary and Joseph (and soon to be baby Jesus). While tradition says that the inn was a sort of hotel, we don’t know that for sure. We know that their journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem was about 80 miles over as many days as a week. Bethlehem means ‘House of Bread’ and the true bread came down from heaven as the manna had done all those years ago in the wilderness.
In any case, Jesus was born in some sort of barn-type place for animals. It seems to have been a stall or trough for feeding cattle. After Jesus was born, Mary His mother wrapped Him in cloths and laid Him in a manger. Later that same night, shepherds from nearby fields found Him just as the angels told them they would.
Have you ever had something really important to tell someone? Maybe the exciting news about expecting a child? Maybe about a promotion at work? How would you announce news so profound that it almost sounds unbelievable? How best would you communicate that news? What if it was never meant to be a secret? It was meant to be shared and shouted from the rooftops. The message you carried would radically change lives for the better. Would you remain silent?
John, the disciple that Jesus loved, had the task of documenting, in his account, the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Here is the long-awaited Messiah, in Israel, asking this young man to follow Him. He has met the most amazing Man to ever live, in the moment that God, the Creator of all, became a Man, in the flesh. Where do you start to write about this encounter, this Man, this Messiah that everyone in your country has waited hundreds, if not thousands of years for? This One Whom Isaiah had prophesied would come, is right here, right now.
You would probably start at the beginning. Usually that is a good place to start. John draws some parallels in his account like Genesis does starting at the beginning.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God.
This past week, we celebrated Thanksgiving (in America.) All those years ago, Pilgrims (Puritans) set out from Plymouth, England to find a place to worship God freely. After barely surviving the open seas and the harsh winter, they had a feast after their first harvest with the Native Americans who helped them, notably, Squanto. It was a time to give thanks to God for His providence in keeping them for all those months. It is celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November. It is a wonderful time to reflect on the provision of God and to be thankful for all He has done in our lives over the past year.
We all have much to be thankful for. May we have an attitude of gratitude. Our attitude is how we act, think, or reflects our state of mind. It also is how we carry ourselves. We often hear the expression ‘bad attitude.’ Whether good or bad, our attitude matters! Our gratitude is the state of being thankful, or thankfulness. Thus our attitude should be that of gratitude! Our conduct and interaction with people should be from a kind, humble, loving heart full of gratitude!
Daniel Chapter 3 tells us about the fiery trial of the three Jewish men. They were faced with an ultimatum. Bow and worship or die.
As far as they were concerned, they either would die in a furnace or God would intervene and rescue them. What they did know was that no matter what, they were not going to bow down to that image, the king or any other false god. They knew the true and living God. Even a 90-foot tall god of gold was fake compared to the real and living God. We need to know how to differentiate the real so that we’re not fooled, intimidated or enticed by the fake. One day, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord. Our knees should only bow to Him, not to any other.
How we see things matters. We can have a great perspective but be unable to focus. Likewise, we can have great focus but a lousy perspective. How should we live as followers of Christ? Listen today to be encouraged by the message.
In our turbulent world, we desperately need peace. As followers of Christ, we can have His peace working in our lives, even through the storms. Listen today for an encouraging message.
Today we are looking at rest. The bible speaks a lot about rest. Rest is mentioned from Genesis to Revelation. Jesus, while on earth, experienced everything the same as us. He was weary, hungry and thirsty. Jesus took time to rest. We all need time to rest and reset. As our Creator and the One Who made us, He gives us a weekly sabbath, He wants the land to rest, and for us to rely upon Him. God rested on the seventh day. We may not observe the Sabbath today but we should take 1 day to rest and do nothing or something fun.
Rest; to stop doing a particularactivity or stop being active for a period of time in order to relax and get back yourstrength: to lie or lean on something, or to put something on something else so that itsweight is supported: to remain in a particularstate or place: a period of silence between musicalnotes -like taking a breath. Sometimes we just need a breath, especially from God.
Matthew 11:28 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”
Pastor Gordon Allan shares this message encourage us that our prayers are powerful and effective, because we are the righteousness of God!
We are looking at James chapter 5 today. James 5:13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
1 Corinthians 3:11 For no man can lay a foundation other than the one which is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Every builder must follow these two rules:
Build on the right foundation as it determines the height, size, shape and strength of what the structure is. If we are wise, we will build upon the Rock, that way when storms rise and the wind howls against us, we will stand firm!
Build with the right materials. The materials used for construction matter! Bridges and skyscrapers need much sturdier materials than a doghouse. You must use the correct materials. There are countless examples of builders using inferior materials that have had catastrophic consequences. In zones where there are earthquakes, the materials and structure is much different than in other places. Precautions need to be taken so that the building can endure should a disaster happen.
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings, etc.
It may start with a vision for a structure or component like a bridge or skyscraper. The architect is the designer and creator of what they desire. They have the finished idea in mind before anyone starts breaking ground. There are many factors involved to bring the idea, the vision to reality. One of the ways that they bring this about are blueprints.
Acts 7:44-50 “There in the desert our forefather possessed the Tabernacle of witness made according to the pattern which Moses saw when God instructed him to build it. This Tabernacle was handed down to our forefathers, and they brought it here when the Gentiles were defeated under Joshua, for God drove them out as our ancestors advanced. Here it stayed until the time of David. David won the approval of God and prayed that he might find a habitation for the God of Jacob, even though it was not he but Solomon who actually built a house for him. Yet of course the most high does not live in man-made houses. As the prophet says, ‘Heaven is my throne. and earth is my footstool. What house will you build for me? says the Lord, or what is the place of my rest? Has my hand not made all these things?’
When Moses met with God, God gave him the blueprints for the Tabernacle and all the articles used for worship.
Matthew 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, He was asking His disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?”
Always take note when Jesus asks a question. He knows everything including our very thoughts and motives of our hearts. The disciples had seen large crowds following Jesus. They had witnessed miracles and healings. They undoubtedly would have heard the murmur from the crowds as to who they thought Jesus was. Jesus wasn’t having a moment of low self-esteem and needed reassurance. He was probing for much more. When God asks questions, there are the deepest answers He’s after. When He asked Adam, “Where are you?” He wasn’t looking for a geographical location. He was asking him where he was spiritually as he had fallen from his previous existence.
15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”
Here is the crux of the question. God has a way of putting a finger right on the heart. I know what others have said, but what about you?
The question can be posed to us as well today. Who do we say that He is?
Many times in life, we seek for mountain top experiences in God. We can have this idea that as we grow and mature in Him, it is like the continual ascent into glory. But the truth is that for every mile of climb, we slip and slide along the way. We get detoured. The road or path has washed away and the way forward is not clear. Sometimes the fog and mist comes in, making visibility impossible. Isaiah 46:4 Even to your old age I will be the same, and even to your greying years I will bear you!
I have done it, and I will carry you; and I will bear you and I will deliver you. Even to your old age, I am He.
To bear here in this context is to carry or even drag along. Even when our step begins to slow, He will carry us along to bring us home. This references a heavy burden that He assumes from us. It means to sustain; to endure-meaning that even when we can’t, He will carry us on, He will sustain us when all our strength is gone. It means also to aid, assist and to take/take away. He also lifts us up. He is the lifter of my head.
We all want the mountaintop, but once we reach it, we don’t stay there. The view is great but the fruitfulness comes from the valley.
On the way up, there were streams and lush green places. There were trees and life. The summit had no vegetation at all. In fact the last bit was all rocks and ugly. The valley is where the blessing lies.
Pastor Arwyn Cudlip brings the message this week. God tells us to be still and KNOW that He is God. Listen to this message and be encouraged!
When Jesus spoke with people, He used stories that the farmers and shepherds would understand. The Bible speaks a lot about roots and fruit. Listen to today's message to hear what the Holy Spirit is trying to cultivate into our lives. God's desire is that we bear fruit, fruit that will last and also that we will bear MUCH FRUIT.
This week I want to talk about being a servant and servanthood. Somehow this seems like it has become a topic that no one mentions in our modern churches. We live in a world that is very selfish at its heart. It encourages us to be the best, to be number one, to step on anyone or anything in our way to get to our objective or promote ourselves at others’ expense. As followers of Christ, our worldview is not dictated to BY the world, but always through the lens of Scripture. His ways are higher and not the world’s ways. He calls us to serve.
In Mark 9:35, Jesus is speaking and says this to the 12; Sitting down, He called the twelve and said to them, “If anyone wants to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.”
Here’s what the Greek definition is (doulos): one who gives himself up to another's will; those whose service is used by Christ in extending and advancing His cause among men;
devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interests.
This is the final in the Jeremiah series.
Jeremiah 39:6 Then the king of Babylon slew the sons of Zedekiah before his eyes at Riblah; the king of Babylon also slew all the nobles of Judah. 7 He then blinded Zedekiah’s eyes and bound him in fetters of bronze to bring him to Babylon.
Zedekiah was made an example of and watched in horror as his sons died. The nobles who had treated Jeremiah so poorly and wanted him dead, are now killed. Then they gouge out Zedekiah’s eyes, physically making him blind to coincide with his spiritual blindness. After all this, he is still taken captive to Babylon. His worst fears are proved true for rejecting God. This all could have been prevented by listening to the Word of God. Maybe instead of putting out his eyes, they should have cut off his ears for not listening.
8 The Chaldeans also burned with fire the king’s palace and the houses of the people, and they broke down the walls of Jerusalem.
What a terrible and sad day. No wonder Jeremiah wept. This would have to be one of the most horrible sights, to see your city destroyed with fire, the walls broken down and everyone taken captive to a foreign land.
Jeremiah was thinking that he was going to die in that miry place. He knew that God had promised that He would look after him, but it was probably a dank, dark, cold place without light and certainly without hope. God would not leave him there and raised up a deliverer, a non-Jewish man who took his own life in his hands and approached the king. He even calls the men out that did this to Jeremiah, and tells the king that they have acted wickedly. Usually not the kinds of words you say to the king who could also put you in the cistern too. The king probably didn’t want to do that to Jeremiah, but gave no resistance to them. He was spineless and seemed to have no opinion of his own. Maybe he is pointing out to the king that although they didn’t outright kill Jeremiah, he will still die of starvation or thirst and no matter what they try to tell their consciences, that is still murdering innocent blood. This sways the king.
Jeremiah was called to warn the people to repent and proclaim Jerusalem's coming destruction by invaders from the north, because Israel had forsaken God by worshipping Baal, idols and other gods, and burning their children as sacrifices. The nation had deviated so far from God that they had broken their covenant, causing God to withdraw His blessing and protection. Jeremiah was called to warn that the nation of Judah would suffer famine, conquest by a foreign nation, and to be taken into captivity in a strange land if they didn’t repent.
To better understand the extensive mercy of God, we need to look at the history and covenant that the people made before God and He to them. God had delivered them from their slavery in Egypt by sending them a deliverer, Moses. He drove out all the inhabitants of the land before them and fought on their behalf.
We are beginning a series on Jeremiah, the Prophet of God.
Jeremiah was a prophet in Judah. He prophesied to the nation of Israel for 40 years and spanned the reigns of five kings of Judah: Josiah, Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. He has one of the most well-known verses in the Bible, Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
This was written at a terrible time in Israel’s past. This is the context that this verse was written: Israel and Judah, divided kingdoms by this point, continued to sin against God. Although God sent many prophets, like Jeremiah and Isaiah, they refused to listen. God had let them know that if they refused to listen, repent and change their ways, they would be taken captive and their cities and their Temple would be destroyed. This was exactly what happened.
I saw a meme recently that said, “I’m already tired tomorrow.”
Many of us are tired and weary. Paul knew something about being weary. He travelled all over preaching the Gospel. He encountered tremendous persecution and had many enemies who wanted to kill him. As there was resistance to his message, it undoubtedly caused him weariness, both physically and spiritually. We looked last week at how he was sent out and filled with the Spirit to preach. With the Holy Spirit leading and empowering him, he could write these words in Galatians:
Galatians 6:9 And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage and faint.
Let us not become weary but be strengthened by HIM! He has overcome!
Our commission is to GO and make disciples.
In Acts 2, we saw how the Holy Spirit descended on each of them as tongues of fire. The birth of the Church brought excitement and danger. As each member was filled with the Spirit, they boldly confessed the risen Christ everywhere that they went. We find them earlier in the Book and at the end of Luke, hiding in an upper room with locked doors. After the Baptism in the Spirit, we see them proclaiming publicly that Christ was alive. The boldness and passion that they had was evident to all. Even when beaten for preaching Christ, they rejoiced that they could suffer for the Name.
Acts chapter 13 begins the transition from the focus of the ministry of Peter, to that of Saul, commonly called Paul. Strong persecution hit the Church and the believers, and they scattered far and wide with the Gospel. It wasn't long before the centre of ministry shifted from Jerusalem to Antioch.
Acts 13:2 While they were serving the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul (Paul) for the work to which I have called them.”
Matt 4:18 Now as Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, He saw two brothers, Simon who was called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 19 And He *said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” 20 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 21 Going on from there He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and He called them. 22 Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.
A number of the disciples were fishermen, going about their day when they heard this call, “Follow Me.” It says AT ONCE, immediately, they dropped their nets and followed Him. For many of them, it was their family business and only means for financial support. The call for each of us has always been, “follow Me.”
This week we have Pastor Gary Gibbs, Elim's Reach Director and head of church planting with us. He brings a powerful message on how we can be a disciple of Jesus. We are all called to be disciples and also to make disciples. Listen today to hear what it means to be a follower of Jesus in our modern society. We hope you are encouraged by this message.
Gary also has written a book called "The Discipleship Lifestyle": How disciples develop disciples.
It is available on Amazon if you'd like to pick up a copy.
Happy Father’s Day! To celebrate the occasion, I have a few ‘Dad jokes’ for you.
I was going to tell a time-travelling joke, but you guys didn’t like it.
"I'm reading a book about anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down!"
"Did you hear about the guy who invented the knock-knock joke? He won the 'no-bell' prize."
"A father carries pictures (in his wallet) where his $$$ used to be." -Steve Martin
Do you know who was the fattest knight at King Arthur’s round table? Sir Cumference.
"Dad, make me a sandwich!" DAD: "Poof, you’re a sandwich!”
Why does Snoop Dogg always carry an umbrella? Fo' Drizzle.
I told my wife she drew her eyebrows too high. She seemed surprised!
Lastly, the classic...Dad, I’m hungry! Hi hungry, I’m Dad!
The Christians from previous generations had a grit to them. They endured persecution, hardships, and hatred. They sacrificed everything they had and everything they knew. Many were killed for their faith. Many were imprisoned. Here in Scotland, there is a tremendous Christian heritage with the Covenanters and others. Some 19,000 Covenanters lost their lives for the Gospel in and around Edinburgh. They met in secret in the Pentland Hills.
We don’t have to look very far to see some of those things on the rise again. In fact, the last century has seen more Christians killed for their faith than at any previous point in history combined.
May we sing with the previous generations, I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back!
This week, missionary Sheryl Maatitawaer is with us. Hear how God called her from a teenager to follow His leading to Indonesia. We pray you are encouraged by her story.
If you would like more information about Sheryl and her mission, contact us at haddingtonelim@gmail.com
Today we are celebrating Pentecost Sunday. What does that mean?
The term Pentecost comes from the Greek (Pentēkostē) meaning "fiftieth". It refers to the festival celebrated on the fiftieth day after Passover, also known as the "Feast of Weeks".
Pentecostalism emphasises the work of the Holy Spirit and the direct experience of the presence of God by the believer.
We are Elim Pentecostal and that is taken from the Holy Spirit being poured out at Pentecost in Acts chapter 2.
We believe in the deity of the Holy Spirit who proceeds from the Father and the Son and the necessity of His work in conviction of sin, repentance, regeneration and sanctification, and that the believer is also promised an enduement of power as the gift of Christ through the baptism in the Holy Spirit with signs following. Through this enduement, the believer is empowered for fuller participation in the ministry of the Church, its worship, evangelism and service.
- We believe in the operation of the gifts of the Holy Spirit and the gifts of Christ in the Church today.
A number of years ago, Steven Spielberg released a film called Schindler’s List. It was based on the true life story of Oskar Schindler. The film follows Oskar Schindler, a German industrialist who saved more than a thousand mostly Polish-Jewish refugees from the Holocaust by employing them in his factories during World War II. At the end of the film he finds himself regretting he had not saved more people. People are truly what’s important. Jesus came for people and we are in the people business. They inscribe a ring for him and it says, "Whoever saves one life saves the world entire." In the film, as the war is coming to an end, he resents his car, his gold pin, his watch and wasting money because it was lives that could have been saved. He weeps bitterly realising that lives were lost. I believe that it may be like that for us. One day will we weep over our ‘things’ when we realise how many lives could have been saved? We don’t want to look back one day at what could have been. May we live our lives for the Kingdom of God and not ourselves.
We are all called to obedience. We are all called to obey what God has asked us to do. Not everyone can go to the foreign mission field. We are called to a life of obedience.
Psalm 46:10 “Stop striving ( be still) and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”
“Be still” literally means “Take your hands off! Relax! We like to be ‘hands on’ people and manage our own lives, but God is God and we are His servants. Because God was allowed to be God, the victory was won. -Warren Wiersbe
I think that is how we should live as Christians and followers of Christ. We have the authority of Christ, Who has all power and authority in heaven and on earth. When we pray, share our faith, walk out our daily lives, we carry His anointing and authority. Just like a police officer has all the authority backing them in their assignment, we have The Authority of all things on our behalf.
Too often we live in fear when we should live in faith! To live in faith doesn’t mean you are not afraid. Police and emergency responders can be afraid, but they press forward anyway. David said, “What can man do to me?” Jesus said to fear the One who can send your soul to hell.”
We are looking at Exodus 16 today. After 400 years of slavery, Israel had just experienced the greatest miracle beyond their wildest imaginations. God Himself had hand-delivered them from the Egyptians! He heard their groaning under their slavery, abuse and sent them a deliverer, Moses. Moses had a miracle that preserved his own life (we looked at that a few weeks ago) and would be the instrument used by God to bring His people out of slavery. The miraculous was a daily occurance with them, but what do we read and hear most of the time coming from them? Praises? Thanksgiving? No. Grumbling and complaining. Be careful as it is highly contagious. They had a bad habit of always seeing the negative in every situation. God was working among them and they chose -it is a choice- to complain. We CAN have hearts of gratitude, if we choose to. It can be hard, but we can praise through difficulties and trials and pain.
This week, Pastor Arwyn Cudlip brings us this message from Revelation 1:5-6.
There are many ministries of the cross of Christ but today we are looking at: Christ loved us, Christ loosed us, and Christ lifted us.
Be encouraged today that you are loved dearly by our Saviour, Jesus!
The first Passover is recorded in Exodus 12:
Exodus 12:11-13 Now you shall eat it in this manner: with your loins girded, your sandals on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and you shall eat it in haste—it is the Lord’s Passover. 12 For I will go through the land of Egypt on that night, and will strike down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgments—I am the Lord. 13 The blood shall be a sign for you on the houses where you live; and when I see the blood I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you when I strike the land of Egypt.
"What did God see when he passed over the Israelites' houses? He saw the blood of the lamb.'" The blood on the doorposts was a symbolic nod to Jesus’ death on the cross. It is His shed blood that covers and protects us. It is our atonement, once and for all time. God sees the blood of the lamb over us and we are spared from death.
Listen today to hear what happens next.
The Bible speaks a lot about the final week and days of Jesus’ life on Earth. We know that He is eternal and existed long before He came to earth as the baby in the manger. He is alive forevermore! The tomb could not hold Him nor death keep Him. He is the resurrection and the life! As we look into His final week of His life, there is much that we can learn. This event is significant as it is the last week of Jesus’ life on earth.
Luke 18:31 Then He took the twelve aside and said to them, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and all things which are written through the prophets about the Son of Man will be accomplished. 32 For He will be handed over to the Gentiles, and will be mocked and mistreated and spit upon, 33 and after they have scourged Him, they will kill Him; and the third day He will rise again.” 34 But the disciples understood none of these things, and the meaning of this statement was hidden from them, and they did not comprehend the things that were said.
Although Jesus told His disciples these things, they didn’t register. For the Jewish nation, they had waited for 400+ years for Messiah to come. Jesus performed many miracles while He was with them. They had asked Him many times to disclose if He was Messiah. This event that we’re looking at today assured everyone that He was. This event is recorded in all four Gospels. Our Bibles call it ‘The Triumphal Entry’ when Jesus entered Jerusalem.
This week we celebrate Mother's Day in the U.K.
"Jumper, n.: garment worn by a child when its mother is feeling chilly." -Ambrose Bierce
A mother is a person who, seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie. —Tenneva Jordan
An ounce of mother is worth a pound of priest. – Rudyard Kipling
There are few things more powerful than the faithful prayers of a righteous mother. -Boyd K. Packer
Many years ago, a greeting card company offered free cards to inmates from a prison to send to mothers on Mother’s Day. Nearly all the prisoners took the offer and sent cards to their mothers. So the greeting card company was somewhat encouraged by the success and they decided that they would then make the same offer when Father’s Day came around. They offered free cards to send to fathers on Father’s Day, and they had very few takers.
There is something special about mums. Dads are great, but mums are superheroes.
As we are approaching the time of year celebrating Passover, the Gospels tell the story of the last week of Jesus’ life on Earth. Jesus would have one last meal with His disciples right before the Passover. After that, Jesus was arrested and brought before various leaders who were trying to have Him killed. Pilate interrogates Jesus and seems to want to release Him. There was a custom each year where they released a prisoner before the feast. Right before He was crucified, we are introduced to a man called Barabbas. We have not heard his name before this and he enters the drama unfolding before the whole assembly gathered at Pilate’s palace.
It is interesting to note that although he determines that Jesus is innocent, he still will have Him whipped and beaten. It’s as if he’s telling the people, He is innocent but a good beating will straighten Him out and you’ll be happy enough with that. He never expects that the crowd would want to have Jesus killed. He washes his hands in their presence to signify that he is not part of their plan. In the other Gospels, it says that he knew they brought in Jesus out of spite.
Luke 23:18 But they cried out all together, saying, “Away with this man, and release for us Barabbas!” 19 (He was one who had been thrown into prison for an insurrection made in the city, and for murder.) 20 Pilate, wanting to release Jesus, addressed them again,
Don’t miss this detail. Although probably cruel and heartless, Pilate doesn’t want to kill an innocent man. He wants to set Him free but gives in to the crowd.
Pastor Gordon Allan from Edinburgh Elim brings the message today. We are looking at Acts Chapter 3 where Peter and John speak to the paralysed man, commanding him to get up. There are many times in our lives where God interrupts our schedules. In those instances, we need to just shred them and do what He is asking us to do. We are called to be obedient and faithful.
This week's episode starts off with an amazing testimony of one of our congregants being healed by God from Multiple Sclerosis. The message is by Pastor Steve Aiken who encourages us to take risks for God. I've heard it said that faith is spelled R-I-S-K. We hope you are encouraged by this week's service. If you would like a copy pf the sermon notes, please email: office@haddintonelimchurch.com.
When we read the Bible, we can ask ourselves, is this a promise? A warning? What are the principles? Is this a command to follow? A revelation of God’s character? What is God saying through the passage? The information God gives is important as it is His word on how to live. The Creator knows best how we should live.
Nearing the end of his life, Joshua addressed the nation, andhe gave very important instructions about the land they had entered. The people that were there had worshipped idols and every false and wicked thing. The Israelites were to worship God and only Him. They were told specifically to not marry the people that remained (who were to be killed in the first place) because they would lead them to worship idols that were the same gods that they were told not to worship. (worship: The reverent love and devotion accorded to deity, an idol, or a sacred object. The ceremonies, prayers, or other religious forms by which this love is expressed.)
Two of the Ten Commandments were about this very thing:
Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before Me.”
4 “You shall not make for yourself an idol, or any likeness of what is in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the water under the earth. 5 You shall not worship them or serve them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, on the third and the fourth generations of those who hate Me,”
22 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘You yourselves have seen that I have spoken to you from heaven. 23 You shall not make other gods besides Me; gods of silver or gods of gold, you shall not make for yourselves.
Always take note when God says something several times! It is important! God knew that this would be a snare and trap for His people.
What an amazing conversion of Saul! He was a fearful foe to contend with. Even Ananias was concerned that Paul might bring him harm. God tells him that He has chosen Paul to be His voice to the Gentiles, leaders and Jews. Even though he wrote most of the New Testament, Paul would say later on in his life that he was the chief of sinners. His salvation is a great encouragement to any lost sinner, as Paul, who was arresting people could be saved, anyone could. For he discovered on that road to Damascus that he was a lost sinner in danger of judgement from God. Like each and every one of us, he needed a Saviour. Jesus personally revealed Himself as the One who Paul was persecuting. This had to come as quite a shock that this Jesus he had heard about was alive! In lieu of all his learning and memorisation of the Law, he was spiritually blind. He needed God to reveal the spiritual to him. Like many, he stumbled over the Cross of Christ. (1 Corinthians 1: 23 AMP We preach Christ (the Messiah) crucified, [preaching which] to the Jews is a scandal and an offensive stumbling block [that springs a snare or trap], and to the Gentiles it is absurd and utterly unphilosophical nonsense). Even today, many can’t get past the cross. There is no other way to salvation. He is the only way given for us to be saved. Many think their own righteousness will be sufficient. Like Paul they think their religion or works (what they do ‘for’ God) will be enough.
In chapter 3 of Philippians, Paul is speaking of his pedigree. He says that if there is any chance of gaining heaven by fleshly works, he could have had a valid argument. He kept the Law, he was extremely zealous for God. But when He came to an encounter with Jesus, everything changed.
If you have never come to Christ, one encounter with the Living Christ will change you forever.
Today is your day!
As I had mentioned a few weeks ago, businesses like Five Guys, do one thing and do it well, and they have fared well against those who try to do many things, some, poorly. The athletes who focus on one discipline do well. When you have many focuses or are striving for multiple things at once, you can be unfocussed in your objective. We can’t look forward and backward simultaneously or we’ll crash. For this new year, we have two main areas of focus as a church. We want to strengthen the local church and make disciples. We want a body of believers being raised up and released to minister in their gifts and calling.
Many times in life, we can get entangled in the cares and struggles in this life.
Listen today to hear what Paul has to say about this.
Last week we looked at Jesus feeding 5,000 men. The truth is that it could easily have been 10-20,000. This miracle was told in all four Gospels. The little boy, who brought his lunch, got to be a part of one of the many miracles of Jesus! Andrew, who brought the boy, not sure if that could even be a solution, got to be a part of the miracle too.
When we bring what we have to Jesus, we may see the unprecedented. The outcome was beyond anyone’s guess, but Jesus knew beforehand what He was going to do.
John 6:26 Jesus answered them and said, “Truly, truly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.
The crowds continue to follow Jesus. They were following Him initially because they saw healings and signs. Note:Don’t be looking for signs. (Matt 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.) We must just look unto Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. They wanted ‘to see to believe’.
“Faith that is based on signs alone and not the Truth of God’s Word can lead us astray.” -Warren Wiersbe
This message starts with a few pictures that one of our parishioners, Helen, had during our week of fasting and prayer for you to hear in the first 5 minutes. Imagine that Richard Branson (or any other billionaire) asked you to partner with them in any business venture. Imagine if with all their wealth and power they needed YOU! What would you think? How would you feel?We have the Almighty God, Creator of heaven and earth that wants to partner with us! He can do anything yet wants us to join together with Him to accomplish His will in the earth.
Jesus selected the twelve. Twelve men. They were common men, working class dudes. They were not the scholars or the elite. Most were fishermen. They all could have said no, but they followed Him. What an amazing 3.5 years that must have been! The disciples would go on to change the world for Christ in His name and power.When we bring what we have to Jesus, He is able to do much more than we could ask, think, or imagine.
Elim's Four priorities are: Making Disciples, Developing Leaders, Growing Churches and Reaching Nations.
As part of the Elim movement, we , as Haddington Elim Church, are focussing on Making Disciples and Growing Churches. As a church plant, our desire has been to make disciples and to build His Church. This year these two will be our two main goals. As I mentioned last week, it will take all of us, each doing their part to achieve God’s purposes. Like a conductor in an orchestra who has a wide variety of musical instruments all working harmoniously together, we move to Jesus’ directions. He is in charge and He will build His Church. As we stay in step with Him and tuned together in harmony, He will make beautiful music through us, so to speak.
Have you ever met someone who could look at something and see it's potential? There are some who could look at a rubbish pile and see a beautiful garden, or others who could look at a scrap heap and see a classic car. God sees our potential within each of us. He has created us unique and diverse. He has placed gifts within each of us to collectively reach our world for Christ. Listen to today's message to see what may keep us from reaching our full potential in Christ.
Between the closing words of Malachi to the opening words of Matthew, 400 years passed without a Word from the Lord. 400 years with ‘radio silence’ from God. Some exciting preparations took place during that time of "silence". The world scene had changed as Rome had taken over Israel and became the major world power. We had the prophecies of Isaiah and the other prophets that spoke of the future Messiah, but no glimpse of the promises…..Last week we looked at the silence being broken by the cries of a baby.
The time of Jesus's birth was at God's appointed time. It was God that brought it to fulfilment. Nothing could bring it about 1 millisecond before God said so, and nothing could delay it. During this time, He rearranged the scenes of history, much like a stage crew rearranges the sets after the curtain has been drawn, and when the curtain rises again there is an entirely new scene.
"When the time had fully come, God sent forth His Son." Now was the time!
There were more than 300 prophecies concerning the arrival of the Messiah. When would He come? For 400 years, there is silence between the Old and New Testaments. When the New Testament begins, it starts with a genealogy. Some people love that stuff. A bit of a strange way to start a book.
Although most of us skip over this list of names, it is really important to show that Jesus was also a part of history and that everything prepared the way for His birth. God rules and overrules everything so that it comes into alignment for the purpose of bringing Jesus into the world. The silence of 400 years is about to be broken by a fragile baby’s cry.
The sound that separates all history is the cry of a baby. This isn’t a battle cry of Rome being overthrown. There is no trumpet from the sky. This is a humble way to enter the world especially when you are the Creator of all things! A baby is quite helpless and vulnerable, but this is how God came in the flesh.
Listen today to see how the Good News of Jesus Christ is for everyone.
Today I want us to think about this: who can I encourage? Someone may be ready to throw in the towel and quit. Who can you encourage today? Some have a wonderful gift to encourage others and build them up. We need encouragement more than ever before. Many times in life, if we’re honest, we can find ourselves discouraged. There are times in life where we are let down and disappointed. Things have not gone as we hoped or planned. In our walk with Christ, we are constantly assaulted by the enemy of our souls who’s whole purpose is to steal, kill and destroy and wants to keep us discouraged.
One of the fastest keys to stopping discouragement coming against you is to give thanks. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Jesus fought the devil with these words…’it is written.’ As I mentioned last week, we need to know what the Bible says. It is our offensive weapon against the tactics and schemes of the enemy. Sometimes there is no one else to encourage us and we need to be like David where it says he encouraged himself in the Lord.
Encouragement is very important. We may not know how vital this expression of love is for God’s people. In one sense, encouragement is like oxygen in the life of a church. It keeps things going like a glass of cool water on a hot day. Never underestimate this gift and its ability to lift up another brother or sister in Christ! One word of encouragement can make all the difference!
Paul, who was known as Saul, was a man who was out to destroy this new group which became known as Christians. He had them arrested and was even complicit in the stoning of the first martyr, Stephen. He had a supernatural conversion on the road to Damascus, where he came into contact with the risen Christ. He went from hunting down Christians to being one of the most influential Christians in his day. He was the main writer, inspired by the Holy Spirit, of the New Testament and suffered greatly for the cause of Christ. He travelled on missionary journeys planting churches and encouraging believers. He was well versed in the Mosaic Law and was firmly grounded in Scripture. He used his background in scripture and his experience as a missionary to write the Epistles that we have today to the churches around this region. He was an amazing man.
Paul was made aware of Gnosticism in that region, where it fused religion and philosophy, teaching that matter is evil and spirit is good. This was becoming a danger to the newly planted churches and the reason for this letter to the Colossians.
Here Paul emphasises the pre-eminence of Jesus, as first and foremost, also warning against legalism, which restricted what foods or drinks one could have, religious feast days, and circumcision. For a man with a shepherd’s heart, he was quite aware of the dangerous wolves trying to infiltrate this new flock.
As Humans, we all have tendencies to forget things. As you get older, that tendency goes up a lot. We make grocery lists because we forget why we went to the shops, we make ourselves diary reminders, as we could forget things. Sometimes we enter a new room and forget why we went in there or to the first floor without remembering what it was that we were after. Have you ever seen where someone ties a string on their finger as a reminder? We can set alerts on our phones to help us remember, too. I recently went into the store and forgot what I was after…
The Bible speaks much about remembering things. (more than 200X) Joshua, as he led the people across the Jordan River, had the men take 12 stones to make a memorial there to honour what miraculous event God provided and to make memorials for future generations.
Joshua 4:6 This shall be a sign among you; when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘That the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
When millionaires were asked years ago, how much money is enough? You want to guess their answer? A little bit more. Some were bold enough to say much more. Some people long for and desire more than enough. Forrest Gump knew you only needed so much money to live on, the rest was just for showing off. One of the 10 Commandments is Thou shalt not covet. Coveting is dangerous as it is a greedy desire to have more. We all are in danger of covetousness, and we must protect ourselves from it. We are told in Scripture to guard our heart. Jesus is telling us that a man’s life is not in what we own or from our possessions. Some of the wealthiest people are the most miserable people. Like Ebenezer Scrooge, they don’t have any enjoyment out of life.
Then He told them a parable, (A simple story illustrating a moral or religious lesson.) in Luke chapter 12 starting at verse 15. Listen today to hear what Jesus has to say about this.
As we know Him more, we should be growing in our faith and trust, enabling us to trust Him with all of our lives. He knows us and loves us. We should know Him and trust Him. Cast all your cares on Him for He cares for you.
Jesus has some things to say to us about the cure for anxiety.
Matthew 6:25 “For this reason I say to you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) what you shall eat or what you shall drink; or about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent] than clothing?
Anxiety is an emotion that is characterised by inner turmoil and includes feelings of dread over anticipated events whether real or imagined.
Do you think that this is the way God would want you to live?
Listen today to hear what Jesus says about this subject.
At times in our lives we can find ourselves afraid. We shouldn't live in fear. There is One that is mentioned in the Bible that we should fear, and that is God alone. He has the authority to send our souls to hell. Jaaziel Soles brings this powerful message today. Listen now to hear how we should live our lives in today's world.
Every modern car is fitted with warning lights on the dashboard. You may not know that, but they are, and if they’re functioning properly, they can save you from major repairs/ breakdowns. They should cycle through at start up and go off unless there is an issue that needs addressed.
Mum used to have this old car where virtually every single dash light was on, but my uncle painted over them. Ignorance is bliss it would seem. She knew the car well, and although it gave her every warning it could, she chose to cover them up and carry on. What did the car know anyway?
Listen today and hear how God gives us spiritual warning lights that should help us in life.
The last few weeks we have been looking at hope. It is vitally important in the life of a believer. Hope is the anchor for our soul. Sometimes what we place our hope in can be the difference between enduring or being lost. Many put their hope in their savings, investments, wealth, military, defences or might. Many times in all history the thing that people put their hope in has come crashing down. Think about the walls of Jericho. They had their hopes in their high, impenetrable walls. Against God, they were rubble. Egypt had all its hopes in its military might. It was the superpower of the day. Against God, they were washed up, literally. Those who had their hope in their wealth have seen many stock market crashes over the years. The 1929 crash, which brought on the Great Depression lasted 10 years and saw many people broken, more than just financially. Where do we place our hope? We should place our hope in God. See, where we place our hope is paramount. It is key whether we suffer loss or stand on the Rock, unmoveable. The heroes of the faith placed their hope in God. They trusted Him to see them through some difficult situations. Many times what they faced seemed hopeless except for God coming through for them.
Has God come through for you in your life? Listen today to be encouraged by the life of David.
Last week we began to look at hope. Such an important thing, especially in the life of a believer. It is defined as the desire and search for a future good, difficult but not impossible to attain with God's help; to look forward to with desire and reasonable confidence; to believe, desire, or trust someone (or something) on which expectations are centered;
Opposite is: despair - the feeling that everything is wrong and nothing will turn out well;
“It’s always something, to know you’ve done the most you could. But, don’t leave off hoping, or it’s of no use doing anything. Hope, hope to the last!” —Charles Dickens.
We will be in Luke 23 today.
Imagine you are there as Jesus is arrested. The Garden was dark and lit with torches. There are soldiers, Roman soldiers, armed and coming to arrest your Master. Peter tries to take a swing with a sword to fend them off but misses and cuts off someone’s ear. After all, he was a fisherman, not a warrior. You have left everything to follow this Jesus. He is and has been everything you have placed your hope in. You have been with Him and seen many miracles at His hand. You even saw Him raise people from the dead. But tonight, everything is about to change. Jesus has been talking about going away. You are feeling a deep sadness that you just can’t explain. Now He is arrested. He is shackled and led away. You look to the others to see what to do but everyone has run off. If they’re arresting Him, I must be next.
When the darkest of nights comes, listen today to find hope in Him!
Hope is a powerful thing. It keeps us steadfast when faced with discouragement and helps us endure during difficult times. Hope can come in many different ways. It could be through worship, God’s Word, or even by listening to amazing stories of inspiration. The Bible says that hope is the anchor for our soul. Life has many storms that rage against us and it is quite a reassuring picture that our soul is anchored in the storm. Hope helps us stand on the solid rock of Christ all throughout life’s shifting sands.
Hebrews 11:1 AMPC Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
Faith and hope go hand in hand. Faith is the assurance of what we HOPE for.
The Bible is filled with hope. Hope is so vitally important in the life of a believer. We need never give in to despair as our Saviour, Jesus Christ has overcome!
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg is taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week six of a six week series.
This week's Overview:
Part 1: Revelation 20 Millennial Reign of Christ, Satan's Doom (Gog Magog War)
Part 2: Revelation 20 Great White Throne Judgement
Part 3: Revelation 21 New Heavens and a New Earth
Part 4: Revelation 22 The Seven Blessings of Revelation
You can check out Rachel's website here: newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
Today we will be looking at Judges 7. After Israel had taken the land and Joshua had died, they began to fall into a pattern of disobeying God, crying out for help and God sending Judges to rise up and help them. Moses and Joshua had told them that if they fall away from God and begin to worship the gods of the nations that were driven out before them, that the consequences would be catastrophic. They just couldn’t stay consistent in obeying and following God. Everyone did what they thought was right in their own eyes.
Gideon is God’s instrument picked by God to deliver His people at this time. We meet him hiding from the Midianites and threshing wheat in a winepress. He gets a visitation from an Angel of the Lord.
6:1 Then the sons of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord; and the Lord gave them into the hands of Midian seven years. Notice that it was their disobedience that brought this trouble on them, never was it God who forsook them.
Listen now to hear the outcome.
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg is taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week five of a six week series.
This week's Overview:
Part 1: Revelation 15 and 16 Seven Angels with Seven Bowls
Part 3: Revelation 17 and 18 Woman on the Beast
Part 3: Revelation 19 Rider on the White Horse
Part 4: Revelation 19 Battle of Jerusalem (Armageddon)
You can check out Rachel's website here: newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
In today's message, we are looking at the confrontation between the teenage boy, David, and the mighty warrior from Gath, Goliath.
Upon hearing his boast, David has righteous indignation that this man would dare to defy the army of God.
1 Samuel 17:26 Then David said to the men who were standing by him, “What will be done for the man who kills this Philistine and rids Israel of the disgrace? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he has dared to defy the armies of the living God?” 27 The people answered him in agreement with this statement, saying, “This is what will be done for the man who kills him.”
David recognises that Goliath has defied the army of God. Israel had a history of overcoming insurmountable odds with God fighting on their behalf. They just had the Prophet Samuel with them recently and should have had faith in God. All the promises were known to them. God was their God. He has proved to Israel time and again that He is their living God that fights for them. He is our God, too, and He changes not! His promises are still kept today. We hope you are encouraged by this week's message.
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg is taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week four of a six week series.
You can check out Rachel's website here: newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
This week, Rachel takes us through chapters 12- 14.
Part 1 Revelation 12 The Woman and the Dragon
Part 2 Revelation 13 The Two Beasts, the Mark, and Image of the Beast
Part 3 Revelation 14 Three Angels and the Harvest of the Earth
Often in our Christian walk, we forget that we are in a war. It is not a popular subject today. The hymns of the past usually had choruses like ‘Onward Christian soldiers, marching as to war. With the cross of Jesus going on before. Christ the royal Master leads against the foe; forward into battle See His banners go.’
The previous generations knew that following Christ would be constant battles. There is a real enemy that wants to steal, kill and destroy our lives, families, and everything that God is doing in us. He wants to rob our futures and have us live in fear.
Although God had given them the land, as soon as the Jordan was crossed, there were to be battles everywhere they went. May we not think that we don’t have to fight after coming to Christ. In fact the heat gets turned up and the attacks are unrelenting. Know this: we fight from victory, not for victory! Jesus has defeated every spiritual enemy. He defeated satan in the wilderness and at the cross. He also was victorious over death and has ascended to the right hand of God. “If God is for us, who can be against us?”
We are marching onward to take the land!
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg is taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week three of a six week series.
You can check out Rachel's website here: https://newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
This week Rachel takes us through Revelation Chapters 7-11
Part 1 The 144,000
Part 2 The 7th and final seal and the first 6 trumpets
Part 3 The Angel and the Scroll
Part 4 A Future Temple and the Two Witnesses
Part 5 The 7th and final Trumpet
In Genesis 18, Abraham, the father of faith, has had a meeting with God. His nephew, Lot, has been living in a place that God has revealed He is about to destroy. Abraham asks God, for the sake of the elect, if 50 righteous people live there, would You still destroy it? God says that He would not but the conversation whittles down to 10. If 10 righteous people live there, would God spare the city? God says He would. Lot has his wife, 2 daughters and they are both engaged to be married. The Lot family was 6. Could 4 more people be found? He only needed 10. Alas, not even 10 could be found, so judgement from God is coming. God, ever filled with mercy, sent angels to rescue Lot and his family.
The angels tell them to not look back, but Lot's wife looked back and turned into a pillar of salt.
As followers of Christ, may we not look back to the old life Jesus has delivered us from!
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg is taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week two of a six week series.
You can check out Rachel's website here: https://newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
Friends, today is the day to move forward! We are looking at the faith of the Nation and not just one person. To move forward would take everyone’s faith working together to trust God. They saw what unbelief could do, now was the time for full faith in their God. The spies giving their report was the match needed to their petrol of faith. God was personally going to go with them, before them, and bring them victory.
Last week we looked at the courageous faith of Rahab in trusting God, Jehovah, unknown to her, to take over all of Canaan. She showed amazing faith putting everything on the line for the 2 spies. She and all her family were saved by their faith in the God of Israel and not faith in the scarlet rope.
After 40 years of wandering and waiting, God has spoken to Joshua and told him that it is now time to move forward. The memory of Egypt and seemingly endless wandering in the wilderness are over. They are now going to enter and possess the land promised to Abraham. 40 years prior, Joshua and Caleb had said, “Let us go at once to take the land for we are able to possess it.”( by faith in God) The people said, ‘we’re not able’ ( unbelief in God and only looking to their own ability) and lost 40 years, all dying in the wilderness in their unbelief.
In our weekly Bible study series, Rachel Hogg will be taking us through the Book of Revelation. This final Book of the Bible is very important to understand for the times we are currently living in. This is week one of a six week series.
You can check out Rachel's website here: https://newhorizonministries.uk
If you would like a study guide or the notes to any of the Bible study, you can email: office@haddingtonelimchurch.com and request them or find them on Rachels website.
We encourage you to subscribe so that you won't miss any new episodes.
Rahab may not be the first name that comes to mind when discussing courageous faith. She actually does.
There is a difference between belief and faith. We can believe FOR something or have faith IN Someone(Jesus). Faith is not having all the evidence but putting action to firm belief.
Hebrews 11:1 (AMPC) Now faith is the assurance (the confirmation, the title deed) of the things [we] hope for, being the proof of things [we] do not see and the conviction of their reality [faith perceiving as real fact what is not revealed to the senses].
She put action to her faith, believing that the Hebrew God was real and the True Living God, enough so that she took the risk.
We could all learn a lesson from her. She risked everything for faith in this previously unknown God of the Hebrews based solely on what she heard about Him.
Romans 10:17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.
You treat something differently when you know it’s worth.
Do you know that you are extremely valuable? The majority live as though their life doesn’t matter, or that they are worthless. This is an absolute lie of the enemy. You are valuable and you are loved dearly. We are made in HIS LIKENESS!
We need to understand how God sees us. We cannot accurately value ourselves until we know how God sees and values us.
God loves us because it’s Who He is- not what we do. He sees those who have accepted Christ as His sons and daughters, members of His family and joint-heirs with Christ. As He said over Jesus, ‘this is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased’, He says that over you too!
Listen now to hear what God thinks about you.
See it’s one thing to think that God loves us. There are some people that are loveable. Someone like Mother Teresa, I mean no one has ever said anything bad about her. Of course God loves her! We can often think and agree that God loves other people, but do we think or KNOW God loves me? There is a difference between general knowledge and personal knowledge. People generally may know a celebrity (at least who they are, whether sport or movie star) and don’t actually know them. People may know about Him, but God wants us to know Him and to be absolutely sure that God loves us!
Know this today, God loves YOU!
Today we are looking at the root issue.
The thing with getting rid of weeds is that although they have ugly spiny tops, their roots go down deep and need to be fully removed before you are rid of them. They have a vast root system that is hard to fully remove. The top tears away easily but without removing the root, you end up with the same ugly weed growing right back ruining your beautiful garden. This also is how things can be in our hearts if we’re not careful. The Bible says that it is the wellspring of life and to guard it above all else!
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. 15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; 16 that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.
This is a heart issue that we must deal with at all costs!
Has anyone ever gotten lost?
I went down to Malvern for a conference with the leadership of Elim. It was in a place I had never been. Although I mapped out where I was to go after I got off the train, and had both Google maps and Apple maps loaded on my phone, I found myself lost. I could have carried on the way I was going and gotten lost even more, or I needed to assess where I was.
“To know where you are going, you first must know where you are.”
Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
We need to also be seeking the lost and pointing them to Christ.
In John 11 we read about Lazarus. When Lazarus got sick, Jesus delayed His coming to heal him and Lazarus died. It seemed as if God was late. The story doesn't end there, however, and the impossible becomes possible with Jesus. If you have ever wondered if God is late, listen today for this encouraging message from Samba.
It was July 4, 1776 that the 13 colonies declared their independence from Britain. Independence is a wonderful privilege but can also be a weakness. Paul had founded the church at Corinth and not long after, there began to be divisions within. He addresses the issues with them and how, we, as followers of Christ, need unity. We need each other all working together to fulfil the Great Commission!
Today we are looking at one of the most well known and beloved Psalms, Psalm 23. David, a shepherd for years, tells us that the Lord is his shepherd. Listen to today's message to be encouraged by this wonderful Psalm.
Mark 1:16-18 (Amplified)
16 And passing along the shore of the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon [Peter] and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net [to and fro] in the sea, for they were fishermen.
No sooner has Jesus began His ministry, He starts by calling men to follow Him. He moves from Nazareth to the Galilee region settling in Capernaum and finds fishermen to be the ones that He calls first. We would think that He’s going to the rabbis, religious leaders, the learned, the educated, the scholars to be His disciples, but no He selects (after praying all night), regular, ordinary men. Working class men who were at their jobs when called. Jesus chose these men not for who or what they were, but for what Jesus could do through them. He does the same with us. He sees in us that which we often cannot see. He calls forth things that are not as though they are. He sees our tremendous potential.
There are times in our lives where we walk a lonely road and face fiery trials. God is working to bring out the Christlike character that He desires in our lives. Sometimes, like gold smelted in the furnace, heat is needed to skim off the dross and release the purest gold. Listen today to this encouraging message to be reminded that we are never alone.
Today we celebrate Pentecost Sunday where the Holy Spirit was poured out to the 120 believers gathered in the upper room. It is recorded in Acts chapter 2. Listen to the message to see how the Holy Spirit is still moving and working today in the lives of believers.
We live in an uncertain world. If we have learned anything over the past few years, nothing is certain. Every single thing we could place our trust in has been shaken. Even our very freedoms that here in the west we take for granted were taken away. In our fallen world, we have seen bedrocks crumble. Things like the family unit, that just a generation or two ago seemed a sure thing, have fallen by the wayside in divorce and broken homes. Financial institutions were safe places to invest and save for the future, only to see retirements gone in a day. Life savings wiped out. Our jobs that just recently were secure and lifelong, are now just a phone call away from unemployment. For some, their businesses have taken a devastating turn where everything looked green and flourishing. Now I’m not getting you on a downer here. I just want to point out that almost everything that we could trust or hope in has failed us at one time or another. But God.
Isaiah 40:31 Yet those who wait for the Lord Will gain new strength; They will mount up with wings like eagles, They will run and not get tired, They will walk and not become weary.
Our God is faithful to us forevermore. He is the absolute bedrock and sure foundation on which our lives are to be built. On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand!
Pastor Gordon Allan brings this inspiring word this week. If you are ever in distress or feeling afraid, know that we can trust in the Lord our God! Be encouraged by this week's message!
Samba Bindia brings this timely word today. No matter what you are facing in life, God will always be a help in time of trouble. Be encouraged by the message. God is your deliverer!
This week, Jaaziel Solles brings this encouraging word for us today. A call to remember that God is in control. If you feel discouraged or afraid, our prayer is that this message will strengthen your faith and bring you hope.
Jesus has just cast a demon out of a man that was mute. The people begin to demand a sign from Him. He said to them that the only sign they shall be given is the sign of the Prophet Jonah.
Luke 11:30 For just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation.
Jonah became a sign to Nineveh, just as Jesus would be a sign to this generation. After three days and nights of being in the belly of a great fish, Jonah emerged alive and left the tomb of the fish’s belly.
Of all the things He could have said or did, this is the sign that Jesus promised. The sign of Jonah. To His hearers, they would all know the exact story and prophet He spoke of. They would know that Jonah was in a fish for three days and nights. Jesus Himself is THE sign, both to His generation and to ours; we are to believe in Him, not a sign or looking for a sign. He supersedes any other sign. He is the culmination of all we could ever hope! We need not look for any other sign or one to come. It has all been fulfilled in Him and by Him.
This podcast concludes with a song written and performed by our very own Al Berg.
This is the conclusion to the series 'The Road to the Cross'. Many times in life, we pay a price for something that, in the end, wasn't worth much. To Jesus, the price He paid on the cross was worth it all. He paid that price for you and for me. Listen now to today's message to hear about His plan for salvation.
In part 2 of our series, 'The Road to the Cross', we are looking at the lonely road that Jesus walked for our salvation. He was abandoned by His followers and betrayed by a close friend. If you have ever felt lonely or alone, today's message will encourage you. Listen now to hear about the road to the cross.
We are starting a new series called 'The Road to the Cross' with part one, 'The Road to suffering.' Luke 22 starts off with the events of Passover and concludes with the arrest of Jesus. Listen today to hear how His suffering made the way for our salvation.
Jaaziel looks at the story of Hannah found in 1 Samuel 1. She was ridiculed by her rival for being barren but didn't let anything deter her from seeking God.
Hear how her prayer to God, and her faithfulness to her vow she made changed Israel for decades. God answers her prayer and the Prophet Samuel is born. Listen to today's encouraging message and what God is saying to you through this story.
This week, Pastor Gordon Allan, lead Pastor of Edinburgh Elim, brings the sermon. We are called to be salt and light and to be the herald of His Good News to all the world. Listen now to hear how we can be people that bring good news of salvation to everyone we encounter. 2 Corinthians 3:2 says: You are our letter, written in our hearts, known and read by all men; 3being manifested that you are a letter of Christ, cared for by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.
Last week we looked at how the 12 spies went into the land. It was a good land God told them to go in and possess, but they had this idea to spy it out first. One representative from each tribe was chosen to check out the land. 10 brought back a negative report while Joshua and Caleb implored the people to go in and possess it right then. Unbelief and discouragement spread rapidly throughout the whole of the camp until everyone wept all night. They wept because they accused God of leading them out of Egypt to die in the wilderness at the hands of these formidable giants. They actually were upset because they would rather have died in Egypt as slaves or in the wilderness than to follow God! When we focus on ourselves and our circumstances, our perspective gets skewed and we act and react and say ridiculous things. Their initial murmuring began on the very night they left Egypt when they were sure that Pharaoh’s army would catch up and kill them. They continued to complain against God for water, food, and meat and even Moses just wanted to die rather than hear their complaining anymore.
The whole assembly wept all night because of something caused by their own unbelief! They wouldn’t admit their own failure to trust and obey God, but instead decided to choose a new leader who would take them back to Egypt. This is outright rebellion against God.
In Numbers 13, spies are sent into the new land that God was giving Israel. It was their raised voices complaining about the bondage of Egypt that came before God and had Him act on their behalf. Their crying out about their mistreatment at the hands of the Egyptians is what started their rescue. Here they are complaining against God! We can make the same mistake! May we be careful about our complaints!! God hears! Let us be careful!
This is the very thing the enemy tries to do in our lives! He (the accuser) wants us to accuse God of what he is trying to do. God rescued them and was carefully leading them through the wilderness. He has rescued us and is carefully guiding us. He is the Good Shepherd making us lie down in green pastures and still waters. Instead, satan has them accusing God to His face that He has nefarious purposes and had brought them there to die. They also accuse God of letting their wives and kids be harmed. Jesus said He would never leave us NOR forsake us. They believed the lie, the lie that we believe; God has brought us this far but will leave us in a pinch. When we get into trouble, He won’t be there. That is a lie! These are times where we need to know the word and to declare the word. Like Jesus said in His temptation in the wilderness, “IT IS WRITTEN!” He showed us how you make it through the wilderness!
Jaaziel shares with us this week about David's Mighty Men found in 2 Samuel 23:8-12 and how the Church today needs to be brave in spite of anything it faces. His men had courage to face the enemy, attachment to God's Word, and defended the essentials. Listen now to be encouraged!
*we had some audio difficulties this week so please forgive us
In Romans chapter 7, Paul has been going over what he wants to do, he finds himself, instead, doing the things he hates. He says that the sin within him is causing it. He calls it the conflict of two natures. The spirit and the flesh at war with each other. No matter how hard he fought to keep the law, he found himself falling short time and again. But Christ has set us free! Free from the law and sin and eternal death.
Romans 8 Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
To condemn: To pronounce judgement against; sentence; To judge or declare to be unfit for use or consumption, usually by official order: condemn an old building; To force (someone) to experience, endure, or do something: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it" (George Santayana); To lend credence to or provide evidence for an adverse judgement against. To accuse, have disapproval for.
This doesn't say that we have no mistakes, or no failures, or no sins. Christians do fail, make mistakes and sin. Even some fathers of the faith failed. Abraham lied about his wife, calling her his sister, twice. David committed adultery and had her husband killed. Moses killed an Egyptian. Peter tried to kill a man and cut off his ear (his aim was bad) and denied the Lord thrice. They did face consequences because of their sins but not condemnation.
Today we are looking at John 3 and we meet a man called Nicodemus.
He was a Pharisee and lived by the absolute strictest rules. (Conflicts between Pharisees and Sadducees took place often, especially regarding the resurrection of the dead) and a member of the Sanhedrin (who were appointed to sit in a tribunal as judges in the Land of Israel like the Supreme Court.) He is the leading teacher of the Jews, and Rabbi of Israel. He is genuine in his desire for spiritual truth. (Like the rich young ruler from last week’s message). He comes to Jesus at night, not particularly not to be seen, but possibly not to be interrupted. He uses the words ‘we’ indicating that Nicodemus was representing or speaking on behalf of other religious leaders as well. He has questions about Jesus that have no doubt perplexed the other leaders. They recognise that there is no way that Jesus could do the miraculous things unless God was with Him. He addresses Jesus as Rabbi, very respectful, but also knows that none of them have trained Him. He says that they KNOW He has come from God as a Teacher.
Jesus saw the spiritual hunger in this man and got right to the point. He does the same with us.
Jesus had travelled far and wide across Israel healing and restoring many, but in our message today, a young man comes up to Him and leaves worse than when he came. This is rare because after encounters with Jesus, people were in much better condition. Some even brought back from the dead! He is known as the rich young ruler. He had tremendous potential. He is courteous and has spiritual questions that motivate him to run up to Jesus. He had everything going for him, but after this encounter, he is completely deflated. Many people wrongly believed then and still believe today that God will weigh your good and bad deeds, and if the good outweighs the bad, you will get into heaven. Listen today to hear what happens next!
The Rich Young Ruler
Mark 10:17 As He was setting out on a journey, a man ran up to Him and knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Today we are looking at Ephesians 6. In Ephesus, Paul had experienced a riot there and death threats over its worship of the goddess diana. (as told in Acts 19: 21-41). He wrote this letter 10 years later, nearing the end of his life and wanted to encourage this church that he had planted. As he was chained to soldiers in Rome, he used military imagery at times. Here, he builds on the idea of armour. As he personally experienced on his various missionary travels, we are in a spiritual war. If you didn’t know that, or if you’ve forgotten, we are fighting for our very lives. But I do have good news. If you are a follower of Christ, we win! The Armour of God Ephesians 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might.
Here are some instructions: be strong in the Lord, and the strength of His might. Right from the start, we realise that we don’t have the strength nor the might on our own! Our enemy is much stronger than us and very crafty. To fight this battle, we need help from God. He is unlimited in power and strength! He provides everything that we need at all times.
We have been looking at How should we live as Christians these last few weeks. Today we are continuing with instructions from Paul found in Philippians 2. Paul was used mightily by God in planting churches. To sum up what Paul is saying here: Your disagreements are showing that there is a spiritual problem in your fellowship that isn’t going to be solved by rules or threats, but only by our hearts being made right with God and each other. His letter resonates today and admonishes us with this:
Be LikeChrist
Last week, we looked at how we should live in this world. We looked at Colossians 3 and how we are to take off things and also to put on love. Many of our troubles we face are not that different from the first century Christians. Today we are continuing to look at how we should live. Paul points out that in the life of the Christian, what we believe helps determine how we behave. Doctrine and duty go together. By our daily lives, we show if we trust God’s word, or not. If we have a right relationship with God, then we will have a right relationship with people, especially those in the family of God.
Romans 12 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice (devoted, consecrated), acceptable to God, which is your (rational, intelligent) spiritual (act) service of worship.
With a new year upon us, and as followers of Christ, how should we live in a troubled world? Paul gives us practical ways in Colossians 3. Listen today to hear how we should live our lives for His glory.
Enjoy the scripture readings and story from our carol service. The story is called "My Christmas Miracle" by Taylor Caldwell. Christmas has many memories for many people. Some filled with joy. Some have heavy hearts. Our hope is that you are encouraged as Jesus, our Emmanuel -God WITH us, is near to you this year and that you know that you are NEVER ALONE! He has come and reigns forevermore! He is WITH you and is FOR you! Every blessing to you and your families this Christmas!
This week we look at the visit of the wise men. These men saw a star that announced the birth of the King of the Jews. This baby was unlike any other ever born! Joseph didn’t beget Jesus. He came through an earthly mother but was born of the Holy Spirit. The Old Testament gave this criteria: the Messiah would be born of a woman, of the seed of Abraham, through the tribe of Judah, and from the family of David. Jesus is the only One Who can prove His divinity and heredity! It then moves to the birth of Jesus, which was prophesied some 700 years before by Isaiah. Mary’s son was called Jesus, the Christ, with three specific names assigned to Him. Jesus was the Greek form of Joshua ‘Jehovah is salvation’. There were many boys called Jesus at that time, but not any referenced as’ the Christ’. Christ means ‘anointed’ and is the Greek equivalent of Messiah. He is Jesus the Messiah; Jesus is human name, Christ is His official title, and Emmanuel describes Who He is- God with us!!
This past week, many of you know that we had our Mums come for a visit. For anyone that has hosted an event or had family or company visit, there are many things you have to do to prepare for their arrival. We were excited as we began to get everything ready for their visit. I tidied the leaf-blown garden. Sheri made up the beds and we did the shopping for treats our mums would enjoy. We were so excited as we thought of the time we would have with them. As we cleaned, fluffed pillows, and anything else we could think of, our hearts were looking forward to seeing them. Jesus, our Saviour has been preparing a place for us for more than 2,000 years! He said I go to prepare a place for you, and where I am, you will be! Imagine the excitement as He looks forward to our arrival!
People around the world celebrate the birth of Jesus. Many decorate their houses and trees as we see the preparation being made for the arrival of not only an important guest, but THE most important arrival in all history! We're looking at Matthew chapter 3 today. May this message encourage and challenge you to prepare to make room for the Saviour!
We see many times in Scripture where the expression used is ‘ sacrifice of praise.’ It can truly be a sacrifice to praise God or be thankful when life is difficult. David said ‘will I give to the Lord that which cost me nothing?’ He knew that there was a cost to offering God praise and thanksgiving. Now when things are going well, it can seem easy to be thankful, but it is in the tough times that it gets hard. This is where it does become a sacrifice. We have to yield, to humble ourselves before God, declaring that He is good. David encouraged his own soul to worship the Lord. This Psalm gives us the keys and steps to offering praises to God and also for us to be accepted. Listen today to find the key to unlocking your song of praise.
Today, Pastor Gordon Allan, senior leader of Edinburgh Elim, shares some of the keys that the Apostle Paul found during his life. Although facing closed doors at times, he learned the secret, and that it was through prayer that locked hearts can come to faith in Christ. Listen today to hear this week's encouraging message.
We all go through various transitions in life. Many people do not like change but it comes whether or not we like it. There is One Who is steadfast and changes not! The Almighty, the Ancient of days. He is immovable, unshakeable and rules forevermore! What a comfort to know that whatever we may face in life, He is already there. He knows all things and upholds us with His mighty hand. As transitions happen, there are times that are hard, times we feel like giving up. There may even be times we do give up, but what an amazing God we serve! He is steadfast and faithful.
Listen today to be encouraged by this week's message.
If you knew that in a day or two, that it would be your last days on earth, what would you do or be doing? Take a moment to think about that. Would you go to a holiday destination? Would you spend it with your family? Your words would carry tremendous weight as you choose them carefully. You might even want to record them or have them written down for the future generation. Today we are looking at John 17, which is recorded as the longest prayer of Jesus. We have Jesus’ last days on earth written and can you guess what He is doing? He is praying! He's including us in His prayer. Listen today to hear what is on Jesus' mind days before His death, burial, and resurrection.
As we started this series, ‘What in the world is going on?’ we began to look at the final Book of the Bible, Revelation. We have just scratched the surface of this amazing book. We looked at Jesus opening the seven seals on the scroll. There are calamities of unprecedented proportions unleashed as each is opened. Here is our question: How will it end? That has been man’s question for centuries! Listen today to hear the conclusion and hope in Jesus Christ!
We looked at the seven seals and saw them opened one by one. When the seventh seal was finally broken, the end did not immediately come. It set in motion seven trumpets that would sound upon the earth.
From the seals to the trumpets to the bowls, the judgments increase in intensity.
The scroll has finally been opened completely, and all of God’s glorious plan is unfolding. There seems to be a shift in focus, as he saw many events in heaven, but here he begins to describe events happening on earth. Let’s look at what John describes:
As we have started this series, ‘What in the World is Going on?’ These chapters in Revelation are very deep and I am barely scratching the surface at the magnitude of all that is happening. Many theologians have studied Revelation over the years. Even now we still don’t fully know or comprehend everything that is contained within. Bible prophecy is not to scare you but to prepare you. If you’re scared, you’re not prepared!
We pick up today in chapter 7 immediately after the thoughts of the end of chapter 6. The Lamb has opened 6 of the seven seals with catastrophic consequences thus far. Today we are looking at the events recorded in chapter 7. The number 7 is usually acquainted with perfection and completion as God created everything in 7 days. As we continue in Revelation, there are 7 seals, 7 trumpets, & 7 bowls.
Last week we looked at the scroll in God’s hand and how only Jesus – the Lamb – was able to break the seals of this scroll and read it. All events taking place on earth are the sovereign direction of God.
If the scroll contains the completion of history, then the opening of the seals must happen before the scroll is read. The full completion will happen in Revelation 19. As the first four seals are opened, we see each represented by a rider on a horse.
This book is written to encourage believers in every age of history. God’s character and His kingdom principles are being revealed. He tells us what is going to happen and warns us of what is to come. He also encourages us to endure until He completes His plan. We will look at John’s vision here. There are 2 things to notice. He is giving testimony to what he is seeing and hearing. A witness in court testifies to what they’ve seen and heard. We are called to be a witness to testify to what we have seen and heard God doing in our lives. Listen now to hear what is to come!
We are starting a new series I’ve called “What in the World is Going On?”
The last 18 months have seemed to propel things rapidly toward what appears like the end of all days. You may have even asked this question out loud. There is a worldwide change that has been happening. Where do we place our trust in turbulent times? Where do we turn when things get tough? As followers of Christ, we have been given a glimpse into His plan that is unfolding before our eyes. We will be looking at the last Book of the Bible, Revelation Chapter 5.
Today we are looking at John 11.
Here in John, we are introduced to a family with three siblings, Mary, Martha, and Lazarus. This is the same Mary who anoints His feet and wiped them with her hair in chapter 12. In chapter 10, Jesus says to the listening crowd that He and the Father are One, revealing His Deity. The Jews picked up stones to kill Him for blasphemy. Jesus and His disciples left the area as their lives were in danger.
As Jesus was away, He received a message from the sisters that Lazarus was very ill. Jesus does not leave immediately, in fact He stays on a couple of days. By the time the messenger had arrived, Lazarus had died.
Jesus is the Master of every situation and knows exactly what is about to transpire. Listen now to hear what happens.
Dry bones are not only dead; they have been dead a long time. They have laid there and been bleached by the sun. Bones are what remains when life is gone. They are the residue of what was once there, a vast army that died. When something has been dead this long, we can give up hope it will ever live again. Maybe you have some dreams that have died a long time ago?
Ezekiel 37:3 Then He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” And I answered, “Lord God, You Yourself know.” When God asks a question, it’s not a trick question to trip us up, but one that we should be honest with the answer as He already knows all things. Also pay special attention to what He is asking.
One could hope that someone who recently died might somehow be resuscitated. No one would believe that scattered, dry and sun-scorched, detached bones might live. These bones were as dead as dead could be! Wisely, Ezekiel answers God’s question with the only one that he could, saying “O Lord GOD, You know.”
Today we are looking at 1 Kings 11:(28-40) We are introduced to a young man called Jeroboam and the opportunity of a lifetime God presented to him.
Although leading His people from Egypt with an outstretched arm, God had been rejected by the people as their King and Shepherd when they asked the Prophet Samuel for a king to be like the other nations around them. God had called them out of the other nations and commanded them to be separate. They were called to be an example to all the nations around that there was a true and living God in Israel and to bring salvation to the world. We are also called to separate ourselves from the world. Listen today to hear what happened to Solomon and Jeroboam.
Remember that with Moses and then Joshua, God had made great promises to the nation if they would obey Him and keep His commandments. There were also warnings if they disobeyed. God had explicitly told them to not intermarry with the people who would be in the land that He was driving out before them. The people there worshipped other gods and would cause Israel to sin.
Proverbs 4:23 Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flow the springs of life.
Solomon wrote these wise words but didn’t heed them. Guarding our heart is OUR RESPONSIBILITY!!
If we're not careful we can begin to have a divided heart toward God.
Listen to the message today to see what happened to Solomon.
Don’t compromise with the enemy! He will always take more than you bargained for! The Bible says that satan is a liar and the father of lies! You can not trust him.
Do we compromise with the enemy? Will we give in to his demands? The battle was the Lord’s but Ahab didn’t think he could win, so he gave up. Are we offering our families and treasures? Would we even put up a fight? Are we sure we cannot win? The Bible tells us to not be ignorant of his devices or schemes. It says of satan, that he has come but to steal, kill, and destroy. His M.O. is our total destruction. Should we be compromising with him? Don’t make ANY concessions with him or for him! His destruction is foretold and secure; he will burn for all eternity in the lake of fire. Our future is eternally secure in Christ. He is our destiny! Never give up the eternal for the temporary!
The Bible says faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.
Faith goes up against a giant with a sling and some stones. It is powerful and that is why the enemy tries so hard to cause fear, anxiety, worry, stress and discouragement. If you let fear dictate things in your life, you will remain stuck right where you are. Unbelief asks ‘how can this be?’ Faith asks ‘how shall this be?
Listen to today's message to hear how the gift of faith enables you to trust God against all circumstances.
This week we are looking at faith. What is it and where does it fit into the life of a believer? Is it important?
As I mentioned, faith is mentioned in the Bible more than 450X. We use the term faith to describe our Christianity (I am a person of faith, fighting for our faith etc) but it is much more than adhering to a doctrine or religious affiliation.
“Faith does not operate in the realm of the possible. There is no glory for God in that which is humanly possible. Faith begins where man's power ends.” -George Muller.
Hebrews 10:38 But the just shall live by faith; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him. The just shall live by faith. It is of high importance in the daily life of a believer!
Listen today to hear how you can live in faith.
We are starting a new series over the next few weeks. We will be looking at things like faith, fear, and how we as Christians respond, live, and allow or disallow these things to be at work in our lives. The Bible speaks a lot about fear.
Faith and fear are diametrically opposed. They are more than opposites. They work to nullify each other. We will be looking specifically into how these fit into the life of the believer and how we respond to them.
Listen to today's message now to hear what the Bible says about this.
In today's message, Jaaziel Marcelo shares about how the presence of Jesus in our lives transforms us in a way no one else could. The storm that the disciples encountered transformed into calm. There was a man blind man who cried out for Jesus to have mercy on him. The crowd shouted at him to keep quiet, but he shouted louder. In the face of pressure, increase action-keep praying! Listen now to hear this encouraging message and allow the presence of Jesus to transform your life.
In John chapter 6, we meet a boy who willingly gives his lunch to Jesus. Our smallest efforts are multiplied in the hands of Christ. A wee boy brought all he had to the King, and the King of all kings gave all He had to humanity! What happened next, no one could have ever guessed. Listen today as Pastor Gordon Allan brings this message about us bringing what we have to Jesus and stepping back and letting Him take it further then we could ever believe!
We have freedom in Christ!
The Bible has a lot to say about freedom. Israel had been slaves in Egypt for 400 years and God delivered them by breaking the yoke of their oppressors. God had told them after this amazing deliverance to obey His commandments but if they refused, they would be taken away back into captivity. Sadly this had happened several times in Israel's history. Paul uses the picture of a yoke to symbolise bondage. Farmers use yokes to control oxen because they would never willingly serve if they were free.
Galatians 5 In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].
Listen to hear today's message!
When we come to faith in Christ, we are added to the family of God and become members of His Household. Listen to the message today and hear how Paul addressed this to the Church in Ephesus.
Ephesians 2:12 remember that at that time you were separated from Christ [excluded from any relationship with Him], alienated from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise [with no share in the sacred Messianic promise and without knowledge of God’s covenants], having no hope [in His promise] and [living] in the world without God. 13 But now [at this very moment] in Christ Jesus you who once were [so very] far away [from God] have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
At one time, we all were without God, without hope and without peace, but thanks be to God that we heard and received the message of the cross!
19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens [outsiders without rights of citizenship], but you are fellow citizens with the saints (God’s people), and are [members] of God’s household,
There is a more substantial identity that goes far deeper than simply the personality we have or the place we’re from.
Whatever the colour of our passports, if we’re a Christian, then our nationality doesn’t define us. Jesus does.
Philippians 3 puts it like this: 17 Brothers and sisters, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. 18 For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even as I weep, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ, 19 whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who have their minds on earthly things. 20 But our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; 21 who will transform the body of our lowly condition into conformity with His glorious body, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.
“But, our citizenship is in Heaven.” When we are born again, that defines us now and should transform our lives. Listen to today's message and hear the benefits to becoming a citizen of heaven.
The Cross of Christ changed everything! The Apostle Paul is addressing the church in Corinth. It had become just like the city it was in with no distinction between what happened in the church and in the city. It had become polluted with every vice that the world offered. There were clear factions and divisions developing in leadership. He addresses the various issues going on and we can see his discourse in 1 Corinthians 1. How would you begin to bring health and balance to this church? He starts by reminding them that we are called to be holy (Belonging to, derived from, or associated with Divine power; sacred.) in Jesus, that we are set apart by God (sanctified-Made holy; consecrated; set apart for sacred services), and called to fellowship (unity). He reminds them that there is One Saviour and One body and One baptism that they all were part of connecting us to Christ. Then he took them to the cross.
We are celebrating Father's Day! Today we honour all dads, step-dads, grandparents, uncles and men who have answered the call to be a dad! You're the best!
Years ago, Hallmark Greeting Cards volunteered to go to a prison and allow the inmates
to send Mother's Day cards to their mothers for free. They were overwhelmed by the
response and had to extend the offer another day to accommodate the inmate's requests.
The card company offered to do the same arrangement for Father's Day. To the company's surprise, not a single inmate requested a card to send to their dad. That spoke volumes!
Fathers are very important in the life and development of their children!
“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.” –Theodore Hesburgh
Listen today to see how Jesus showed us the Father.
Think of something valuable that you lost. Car keys, driver’s licence, wallet/purse, wedding ring?
When you find something that you lost, it brings a huge exhale!
Think of a time when you were lost. How did you feel? Being lost can be a bit fun at first, but if you are lost in a bad part of town, it can be very dangerous.
I think almost all of us, if we’ve lived long enough, have been lost at a time or another. Maybe on holiday or a new city, we’ve taken the proverbial ‘wrong turn’ and found ourselves lost. We’ve even been lost with a Sat Nav and map. If you have ever been lost, there is great comfort if you know that someone is looking for you.
We are looking at the story of the lost coin in Luke 15:8-10
Jesus is addressing the various religious leaders here because they are offended and outraged that He is eating and socialising with ‘known sinners.’ He tells a series of parables with similar points: lost, found, and rejoicing. The first parable is about one sheep in 100 that goes missing. Here Jesus tells another parable about a lost coin. The religious leaders were not at all interested in the lost. They couldn’t be bothered with lost people. If we are not careful, we can also lose our regard for the lost.
Genesis chapter 50 is an incredible passage in the Bible that shows how God is at work even though circumstances are pointing to the contrary. In life, we face many things that are hard.
Genesis 50:15 When Joseph’s brethren saw that their father was dead, they said, Perhaps now Joseph will hate us and will pay us back for all the evil we did to him.
The brothers were afraid that Joseph would turn on them after their father’s death. They had thought that he was holding back his wrath while Dad was alive. This was very possible. Here, they admit all the evil which they did. What they worried about was justice. They feared righteous retribution or revenge. Joseph, with his high position in Egypt, was certainly able to make this happen and be justified to do so.
What happens is something only God could do. Here we see the Sovereign hand of God at work even though every circumstance says different.
Listen now to hear the outcome!
Acts Chapter 2 changed everything for the followers of Jesus. 50 Days prior, Peter and the others had fled when Jesus was arrested and here, in chapter 2, we see him boldly addressing a crowd where 3,000 people come to faith in one day. As we begin to resume services, we are praying for God to continue to give us power from on high.
Jesus gave this Revelation to John to show him the events that would soon take place.
We are looking at chapters 1-3 of Revelation today. Sheri brings this powerful word on the different characteristics of Jesus Christ as revealed in the letters to the seven churches. Listen now and hear how Jesus is everything that we need and knows everything that we face. He is concerned and aware of every trouble we face. We hope you are encouraged by this week's message.
I am going to talk about a well, a fountain and a meeting that happened near this well. One location and one of the most powerful encounters in history: Jesus and the Samaritan woman.
So let’s read in the gospel of John, chapter 4 from verse 4.
This well was dug in the rock. Do you have any idea of the difficulty of this type of excavation for that time? Look how interesting it is: digging a well could be considered an act of faith at that time. Even more so when it was dug in the rock. Who could have imagined that water could be extracted from the rock? Only God could have directed Jacob in this regard. Can you imagine this scene? Jacob was a sheep farmer. He necessarily needed water to raise his sheep, his livestock. He bought land outside the city, started to dig a well. Then he was faced with the rock. He could have given up but the voice of God said: Continue! Do not give up! Persevere! You will get it! You will achieve what you need! I'm with you! Hallelujah!
Last week we looked at how Paul and team were on the way to the place of prayer, minding their own business, and they were met head-on by a demon-possessed girl. He casts the demon out of her and then they find themselves arrested, beaten, and placed into the inner dungeon.
Listen now to hear what amazing things transpired in the inner dungeon.
Notice that they had obeyed God’s leading to go to Macedonia. They are not found complaining and grumbling about the trouble that has come on them. May we learn well the lesson to give thanks to God in EVERY circumstance!
Paul would write Philippians 4:11 AMP Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.
This is from someone who lived through some very difficult times and kept his witness for Christ. May we learn this in our own lives.
Last week we looked at how Apostle Paul was seeking God’s direction on his second missionary journey. He had made his plans and was going to reach new places for the Kingdom. He found himself forbidden by the Holy Spirit from going east. He prays for open doors to preach the gospel. He has a vision in the night of a man calling to him for help. Paul immediately sets off to go there. Sometimes in life, we think that when we obey God, and are following His leading, that our lives will be cake. That is simply not always true. In today’s message, we are looking at what difficulties Paul encountered while obeying God and His direction. Friends, there is a real enemy who doesn’t want the Gospel preached. He will hinder you at every turn. He will use a variety of ways to discourage, confuse, thwart, and attack you.
Was this the end of their witness in Philippi? What happens next will shock you! God had other plans. Join us next week as we continue to see how this concludes.
Acts 16, we find Paul at a crossroad in his ministry. It may be well worth noting that even apostles were not always clear to God’s will for their lives. Even the Apostle Paul didn’t know what lay ahead. He prayed, fasted, and fully relied on the Holy Spirit to lead and guide him. That is what our lives should look like today. We need to pray, trust in God and be led by the Holy Spirit. There are times in our lives where we fast and spend time seeking God’s will especially during important decisions that lie ahead. None of us know what tomorrow holds, but like the old adage, we know Who holds the future.
There are many examples of this phrase in the bible. Jesus talked about a lost coin, a lost sheep, and a lost son. We all like sheep have gone astray. We were all once lost. Think about a time in your life when you were lost. Maybe as a child you got separated in the shop. Being lost is a terrible feeling. If you have ever been lost, it can cause panic inducing feelings. The idea that you don’t know where you are is frightening. Even more scary than that, is that there could be unknown dangers when you are lost. Today we have sat-navs, and maps available on our phones, but even those can’t prevent us from getting lost. When you are lost, it can be a great comfort to know that someone is looking for you. Jesus has come to seek and save the lost. Listen to today's message to find out how we are found.
In Judges 6, we are introduced a judge, Gideon. He comes on the scene, threshing wheat in secret because the Midianites would steal their grain. They had been suffering at their hands for the past 7 years. Imagine you planted a garden and every time you were ready to get a harvest, someone would come and take all your produce. They would leave you with no food for your family and cause terrible harm to you and your animals. This is what has been happening to Gideon and the Israelites. They are crying out to God for help. God answers, first with a prophet, and then Himself!!
After years of humiliation, fruitless labour, poverty, and domination by an oppressive power, Israel finally cried out to God. Prayer was their last resort instead of their first resource. If we are not careful, we can do the same things. Do we go to God first or pray as an afterthought? Listen today to see how God chooses this man and uses him for His glory.
Today Jaaziel Marcelo shares out of John 5:1-9 where Jesus performs a miracle to a man who was paralysed for 38 years. The man was looking for someone to stir the water for healing, but instead met the Living Water! Listen to today's message to find encouragement in whatever situation you find yourself. Jesus specialises in difficult situations.
Today we celebrate Mums. Mums are like superheroes and do have super powers. We are looking at Exodus chapter 2 and how Jochebed, the mother of Moses, hid her baby from the deadly decree of Pharaoh. We hope you enjoy this week's message.
We are starting a new series I’ve called, “The Last, The Least, and the Lost.” The Bible is filled with stories of those who could fall into one or more of these categories. In fact it is for the lost that Jesus came, to the least of these, to the forgotten, the outcasts, the downtrodden, the down and out and the broken. He is calling out to all who would listen. He has come to bring freedom to the captive and prisoner and to take upon Himself the sin of the world.
King David was last in his family. In fact he was so far down on the list, when the Prophet Samuel came to meet the sons of Jesse, he wasn’t even included. To have a Prophet come to your home was a huge deal! David wasn’t even considered as a representation of the sons.
If you have ever felt overlooked, left out, or last in any circumstance, this message is for you!
You are exactly who He is looking for. You are chosen to be a witness of this magnificent God and His love. You are chosen to carry the message of the Gospel, to go and make disciples. You are not last nor an afterthought. You were chosen before the foundation of the world!
Have you ever noticed or observed that it seems like those who are wicked don’t have the troubles of life? Today we are looking at Psalm 73, where Asaph, a chief worship leader of David, finds himself troubled by a similar thing. He looks around at the people and nation and has a conundrum. He can’t reconcile within himself this idea that the wicked seemed to have a great life without troubles, while those who walk closely with God have trouble, strife, hardships, anxieties, worries and cares. Have you ever felt that way? If so, you are not alone. Listen to today's message how Asaph made sense of it all.
Today we are looking at Psalm 37. David wrote this late in his life and may have been thinking about passing on wisdom to Solomon to lead the people. After having many trials and triumphs, sufferings and setbacks in his life, David encouraged Solomon and the people to believe God’s promises and wait for God. This Psalm looks at the age-old question that we all may face at one time or another: Why does the righteous suffer and the wicked seem to prosper?
Spurgeon called it "The great riddle of the prosperity of the wicked and the affliction of the righteous".
Have you ever felt that way? It seems like people who have no regard for God are seemingly free from the problems of life. Have you ever thought that? Is this true? Find out in today's message.
Luke Thomson, Edinburgh Elim's Youth and Ministry Support Worker, brings our message today out of Philippians 1. Paul, the writer of this Epistle is imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, but uses his time to encourage and strengthen the Church and the other Christians. This message will encourage and challenge you to live your life to honour Jesus.
This Holy Bible that we have is not just any book. It is not an ancient book with out-of-date ideas from a long time ago. It is not only current, but tells what is to come. This is God’s Word.
We believe the Bible, as originally given, to be without error, the fully inspired and infallible Word of God and the supreme and final authority in all matters of faith and conduct.
I want to encourage you today. This works. This is Truth and this is life. This is God's Word.
The disciples find themselves in the middle of the sea when a violent storm takes them by surprise. The Master is asleep in the boat. Although the storm raged, they had Jesus in the boat with them. He had said that they were going to the other side. If you are encountering a storm in your life, my prayer is that you are encouraged by this week's message.
We have just come through one of the toughest years in modern history. Seems surreal that something microscopic could plunge the entire world into lockdown. Almost everyone has been affected in some way or another and may have asked these questions at one point: Where is God? Does He care what is going on in my life? Why does God allow these things to happen?
What do we do when we feel overwhelmed? Where do we turn? If your answer is God and His word, you are correct! We can take solace in the Bible.
He knows what you are going through! He cares about your struggles and hurts. His ear is attentive to your cries. Knowing that God is for you will help strengthen your trust in Him during times of hardship and the unknown. Since God is for us, WHO can be against us? Jesus said that in this world we would have troubles, but to take heart -He has overcome the world!
We have recently watched the last few Avengers films. I won’t disclose any spoilers, so don’t worry. Now you may be asking where have I been? I think the last film I had seen was Avengers Assemble.
I made an observation watching these films. Think of every film, tv show or book you’ve read that includes not only a villain, but a supervillain. Seemingly every evil villain seeks power, control, worship, riches, and/or immortality. As we watched this supervillain, Thanos, desiring to rule the universe, he was after 6 Infinity Stones that would give him ultimate power. Many villains are after power. They yearn for control over everyone else.
Every supervillain has evil intent. Of course that is to contrast the superhero who is portrayed to be pure in heart and who is very sacrificial with their own lives. He lives for the greater good of everyone else.
Here is my observation: God actually HAS ultimate power in the universe. He is the Creator of all things. He doesn’t need to snap His fingers or gather infinity stones together.
We know that the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and can accomplish much.
There are things that we can do that actually hinder God answering our prayers. Just the thought that we can be the hindrance or cause for delaying our own prayers is alarming!
Let’s not allow anything to hinder our prayers and stand in the way of our relationship with God. May this year be the year of answered prayers in your life, ministry and family.
We have been blessed with a new year. We can look forward to it or face it with dread. We can make a fresh start or if we’re not careful, we can drag all the stuff from 2020 into it. One of the things people say at this time of year is that they’d like to make a ‘fresh start’. If we’re honest, sometimes we all need a fresh start. We can lose our focus. We can become completely consumed with wrong thinking. We make ‘new year’s resolutions’ or things we are determined to do.
The Bible speaks a lot about new things.
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature ; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.
Some of us carry pain, hurt, disappointment and are wounded with things from our past. Let us let the old things pass away. We need to remember
that we are created anew in Christ.
Isaiah 43:18-19 “Do not call to mind the former things, or ponder things of the past. 19 “Behold, I will do something new, Now it will spring forth; Will you not be aware of it? I will even make a roadway in the wilderness, Rivers in the desert."
Revelation 21:5 And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new .” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.”
We had a wonderful time gathering together to celebrate Christmas. This was recorded live Sunday evening, 13th December, 2020. Worship by Fiona Crow and scripture readings by the launch team. Special thanks to Southland Christian Church for the telling of the Christmas story by children.
In 2008, a Baby Jesus was stolen from First United Methodist Church’s Nativity in
Kittanning, Pennsylvania and replaced with a pumpkin and newspaper headline read,
‘Missing Jesus’. Even though many countries and people celebrate Christmas, they are
missing Jesus the whole time. It has become less and less about cherishing the birth of
Jesus, and more about gifts, trees, santa, and cheesy films. In the majority of homes
that celebrate Christmas, Jesus is missing. Some give no thought to what the idea of
Christmas even is. Sort of like celebrating President George Washington’s birthday
without even believing that he was real or ever even born. Jesus is missing. Not that He
is misplaced, but that He is missing from the hearts of men.
Jeremiah 29:12-14 Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will
listen to you. 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your
heart. 14 I will be found by you,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will restore your fortunes and
will gather you from all the nations and from all the places where I have driven you,’
declares the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into
exile.’
Today we are looking at Matthew chapter 2 and the birth of Jesus the Christ.
Between the closing words of Malachi to the opening words of Matthew, 400 years passed without a Word from the Lord.
400 years with ‘radio silence’ from God. We had the prophecies of Isaiah and the other prophets that spoke of the future, but no glimpse of the promises…..
Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold, a virgin will
be with child and bear a son, and she will call His name Immanuel. (God with us)
Isa 9:1 Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those in distress. In the past He humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future He will honour the Way to the Sea, beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles:
2 The people who walk in darkness will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, the light will shine on them.
6 For a child will be born unto us, a son will be given to us; and the government will rest on His shoulders; and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor , Mighty God , Eternal Father , Prince of Peace . 7 There will be no end to the increase of His government or of peace, On the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and righteousness from then on and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will accomplish this.
….until...the ‘silence’ of God was broken with the cries of a baby!!
James Glass, new regional superintendent for Elim in Scotland, shares today out of Jeremiah 29. We hope you are encouraged by this week's message.
The last few weeks we have been looking at what I’ve called ‘beautiful exchanges’ that God gives to us. We looked at beauty for ashes, life for death, hope for hopelessness, strength for weakness, and peace for anxiety. If you happened to miss any of the previous weeks, you can catch up with all our podcasts. This week we will conclude this series with Grace and Mercy for wrath and judgment. You see the Bible says that it is appointed unto man once to die, and then the judgment. We all will stand in judgment before God. The Bible says we will have to give an account of even every idle word we speak. We will be held accountable for our deeds. Here is the best news you may hear today or ever, if we have received Jesus Christ as Saviour, and have confessed that He is Lord, we are saved from the wrath of God and judgment. The blood of Christ has cleansed us from all unrighteousness!
Exodus 20:6 But showing mercy and steadfast love to a thousand generations of those who love Me and keep My commandments.
James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Grace and mercy for wrath and judgment---We all have sinned and transgressed God’s Divine law. For that, we are deserving of wrath and God’s righteous judgment. John 3:36 And he who believes in (has faith in, clings to, relies on) the Son has (now possesses) eternal life. But whoever disobeys (is unbelieving toward, refuses to trust in, disregards, is not subject to) the Son will never see (experience) life, but [instead] the wrath of God abides on him. [God’s displeasure remains on him; His indignation hangs over him continually.
King Ahab has married a woman, Jezebel, a pagan priestess, who leads him and the nation astray to follow her pagan gods.(Just like God said would happen). Israel has been worshipping these gods against all warnings and explicit commands of God and their promises to serve God alone. They together have brought disaster upon Israel. Ahab is a wicked king that has no desire to serve Israel’s God. Under his rule, Israel has fallen very far from God.
God has raised up a Prophet, Elijah to be His spokesman to Israel to bring them back to Him. With the showdown of the false prophets of Baal on Carmel, God has proved thru Elijah that He alone is God. God answered with fire from heaven. God has withheld rain for 3 ½ years, which was something He said He would do in times of sin against Him. Then Elijah prays and God gives rain, again showing the people that He alone is God and has power over nature. He proves time and again that He is God. He has done that in our lives too. Will we choose to serve and worship God?
We are continuing our series on ‘the beautiful exchange’ this week, looking at how God gives us ‘Peace for Anxiety’.
Webster’s Dictionary defines “peace” as freedom from war or discord… an undisturbed state of mind… the absence of mental conflict… the presence of serenity and tranquillity. The meaning of the biblical word peace— shalom points to wholeness, completeness and soundness. Peace can bring health, well-being, security, as well as mean the absence of war. Peace is a condition of freedom from either internal or external strife; it is a comprehensive and valued gift from God. Jesus came to bring spiritual peace with God to us. The gospel is the “gospel of peace”— Jesus is our peace. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a Child is born, to us a Son is given; and the government shall be upon His shoulder, and His name shall be called Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father [of Eternity], Prince of Peace.
Anxiety, on the other hand, is a feeling of unease, such as worry or fear, that can be mild or severe. Everyone has feelings of anxiety at some point in their life.
Proverbs 12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but an encouraging word makes it glad.
It can be a problem for many believers although many verses in Scripture encourage us to “cast our cares upon the Lord” 1 Peter 5:7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.
Listen now to see how the Peace of God changes our lives.
These last few weeks we have been looking at some beautiful exchanges that God gives us. He gives us Beauty for Ashes, Life for Death,Hope for Hopelessness, and today we are looking at Strength for Weakness. Compared to Almighty God, we are unquestioningly weak. Have you ever tried to stand against waves of the ocean as they come crashing in? You realise how weak you are compared to the roar of the sea. God created that! Sometimes in life and as followers of Christ, we can feel weak and timid. The Holy Spirit took 11 scared, weak, and timid followers and changed the world! Good news today, if you feel weak or afraid, He gives strength for our weakness!
Judges 6 we are introduced to a man named Gideon. For seven years, Israel had been under constant terror from Midian. They raided Israel’s lands. They took or destroyed their crops, took their livestock, and they killed people. They were such a threat that the people would hide from them. They would have to work in some hidden place, because if not, they would be raided. We find Gideon threshing wheat in secret. He’s doing it in order to save it from the Midianites. He has an amazing encounter with an Angel of God. Gideon is called to lead Israel to fight against the Midianites.
“The angel of the Lord who appeared to him said to him, ‘The Lord is with you, O valiant warrior.’” Now, that surely got a chuckle out of him. O valiant warrior – he is anything but a valiant warrior! He is hiding so his wheat won’t be stolen. Join us today and we hope you are encouraged by this message.
We have been looking at some things I’ve dubbed ‘beautiful exchanges’ that are found throughout the Bible. Last week we looked at how God gives us life for death. Today we are looking at how God gives us hope for our utter hopelessness. We all can be overcome by feelings of hopelessness at times. Moving into a place of hope is vital.
Proverbs 13:12 Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire is fulfilled, it is a tree of life.
Hebrews 6:19 [Now] we have this [hope] as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul [it cannot slip and it cannot break down under whoever steps out upon it—a hope] that reaches farther and enters into [the very certainty of the Presence] within the veil,
The Bible says that Hope is the anchor for our soul. We need hope! We are going to be looking at Mark chapter 5 today at 2 seemingly hopeless situations that occurred. Join us today.
Last time we looked at how God exchanged beauty for ashes. What an incredible God we serve! Today we are looking at how God exchanges death for life. We are looking at more beautiful exchanges that take place as we place our trust in God.
1 Peter 3: 18 For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit,
He has given Himself, the innocent for the guilty. How could we ever fully understand and appreciate this beautiful exchange? It completely boggles the mind! He is righteous completely, and exchanges Himself with us, the unrighteous. And why? To bring us to God. Although He suffered death, God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things. His death brought us life in Him! This is an incredible GIFT of God!
Today we are looking at 1 Kings 18 and how the Prophet Elijah was just like us but prayed fervently for it not to rain and it didn't rain for three and a half years.
1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said to Ahab, Go up, eat and drink, for there is the sound of abundance of rain.
He, through the Spirit, hears the SOUND of rain. Not just a sprinkle, but an abundance of rain. He hears it in his spirit before any audible sound is heard by others. I think of the thunderstorms that would roll through as I was growing up. When the rain fell, it usually was accompanied by thunder and lightning. The rain would be so loud as it hit the roof and pavement that it was almost deafening. You would not want to be caught out in those thunderstorms! It's interesting to note that on the day of Pentecost, when the Spirit was poured out, there came a SOUND like a rushing wind!
Acts 2 When the day of Pentecost ·came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a ·noise [roar] like a ·strong [violent], ·blowing [rushing] wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting.
Rain often signifies the Holy Spirit being poured out. Here in Scotland we experience a lot of rain, O that it would be as the Spirit being poured out.
If you are going through a drought today, spiritually, I pray this will refresh your soul.
We are beginning a new series this month called ‘the beautiful exchange.’
I had heard this expression from Hillsong United a number of years ago that perfectly summarises what Jesus has done for us. We all, at one time in our lives, have probably exchanged something. We’ve purchased clothing or shoes that were the wrong size and exchanged them for a different size. We have probably all exchanged currency. Depending on the rates you can gain or lose on your exchange. I would think almost everyone would hate to lose on your exchange. God does that very thing with us. He gave a perfect sinless sacrifice for our damaged, sinful lives. He paid full price for our broken lives. See all of us have sin. Our sin separates us from God, Who is holy. There was no price, nor good deeds we could do to pay that price. That is why Jesus came. He came to pay the price, our wages and debt of sin, as Paul put it, that brings us death and eternal separation from God.
Today we look at Isaiah 61 where God gives beauty for ashes.
Last week we looked at Living Ready. Jesus cites both Noah and Lot in Luke 17. He explains that the coming of the Son of man will be like a flash of lightning. It will be quick and sudden. We need to live ready for His return!
If we believe this, that His return is soon, should we not be telling everyone? Especially our families? Atheist and magician, Penn Jillette, said “How much do you have to hate someone to not proselytise? How much do you have to hate someone to believe everlasting life is possible and not tell them that? ”
Challenging words from an atheist!
If you believe what the Bible says is true, and the great wrath of God will be poured out, how could we not warn others?
We are looking at a Post-Tribulation Rapture today and what the Bible says about it.
This week we’re continuing to look at the return of Christ. I would not want anyone to be caught unaware! Wherever you fall in your beliefs on this, He will return! I asked several weeks ago, Are you ready? Today we are going to look at living ready. We read Jesus’ words in Matt 24 and we’re in Luke 21 today.
There have been many changing insights about the book of Revelation over the years. Things have been fulfilled, have come into focus or have gotten clearer. Some say it is only a book of metaphors, some say it is to be taken literally. It isn’t the easiest to understand, to be honest. I remember as a teenager, that I was actually afraid to read it! The scariness of it all! I can’t recall what made me brave enough to finally read it, but I remember wanting to have someone explain it to me. You may feel the same. I always thought that in the final book of the Bible was a time where satan has his way and just destroys everything. Then I had a paradigm shift and realised that it is the wrath of God being poured out. He is completely in control and is orchestrating all the events. God is wrapping things up and bringing everything about just as He said. All things which are written will be fulfilled.
“I’ll be back!” are the iconic words spoken by Arnold Schwarzenegger In the 1984 film “The Terminator.” These words were spoken first by Jesus. Remember that the earth and everything in it were created at His Word. He spoke and it was so. If He says "I'll be back" you can be certain that it will happen!
In the film, we are introduced to Sarah Connor, a seemingly ordinary waitress who is about to have an unexpected encounter with a cyborg from the future. She meets a man, Kyle Reese who has been sent back in time to protect her from this machine. She doesn’t believe him at first, as it is all too sci-fi and unbelievable, until she sees for herself that what Kyle tells her is true.
He tells her of his time in the future, where humanity is all but wiped out. He explains that her son will lead a resistance force to fight against the machines that are destroying human life.
She is trying to prevent something she calls “Judgment Day.” We believe that the Bible says:
Heb 9:27 And just as it is appointed for [all] men once to die, and after that the [certain] judgment, 28 Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him. (may we be eagerly expecting His return!)
John 14:3 ·After I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me so that you may be where I am.
Jesus is having a discussion with His disciples on the Mount of Olives. They begin to ask some very good questions. They ask 3 very specific questions. We will dig into these but will look into this much deeper in the coming weeks.
The next few weeks, we will be looking at the end of the age and what the Bible has to say about it. As I mentioned last week, we are either in, or getting very close to the end of days. Jesus tells of great tribulation that will come upon the earth. We are looking at Matt 24 today, if you want to follow along in your Bible, phone, or tablet. I am reading from the Amplified.
We want to wait with an expectancy for the Lord's return. We are warned several times in these passages today. Let's stay alert!
The Boy Scout motto is ‘Be prepared.’ Being prepared and ready is something that we should all take seriously. There are many people today who recognise the times and seasons in which we are living are the days described in the Bible. My question to you today is ‘Are you ready?’
Prepare: To make ready beforehand for a specific purpose, as for an event or occasion: Being prepared can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany disasters. Communities, families, and individuals should know what to do in the event of a crisis or emergency. Be ready.
In the parable of the wise and foolish bridesmaids, in Matthew Chapter 25, Jesus gives us a glimpse into being ready and prepared for the bridegroom.
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In this day and age we live in, Social media seems here to stay. We are constantly bombarded with posts from people posting their daily activities.
How many likes do we have? How many followers? If God had a social media account, I would hope that you would follow Him both figuratively and literally. I would think He would be following you too, as He loves you and is interested in you. In life, have you ever met people who feel like bad luck or other things follow them? They could move to a different city, state, or country and the things from their past seem to show up. Who is following you?
There is mention in the Bible of some things from God that follow you.
Psalm 23:6 Amplifed Bible: Surely or only goodness, mercy, and unfailing love shall follow me all the days of my life, and through the length of my days the house of the Lord [and His presence] shall be my dwelling place.
Breaking the cycle, which seems to go something like this---there is sin--then there is condemnation or conviction---if condemnation--then guilt, shame or if conviction--which brings-- forgiveness and mercy--we can get caught in a never-ending cycle that keeps us hindered or worse. With God’s help, we CAN break the cycle! We CAN get past the things that have held us captive for years!
For the last several weeks, we have been looking at the Antidote to condemnation, guilt and shame. I would encourage you to listen to our previous podcasts if you may have missed any. Jesus is our antidote and provided all we will need with His death, burial and resurrection. However, our enemy wants to keep us tethered to these things to have us unable to move forward into the life God has for us.
There seems to be a cycle to this pattern and we need help to break free! Remember Jesus said in John 8:36 "So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free."
We look at the story in John chapter 4 where Jesus meets the woman at the well. He didn’t care about societal pressures or norms. Jesus would go out of the way many times for the ONE!
Most of the time women got water from the well in the evening, not in the heat of the day. But about noon is the time the woman in our story appears, perhaps so she wouldn't have to be subject to the constant abuse from the women in the town who despise her as a home-wrecker. Maybe she was tired of the dirty, hateful looks she would get.
Jesus is not put off by her reputation. (which is probably very bad) He knew who she was and everything she had done. (she goes on to say this very thing)
It is the same with us. God knows who we are and everything we have done but John says God SO LOVED the world that He has sent His Son, Jesus, to restore our relationship with Him and that whoever believes IN HIM (Jesus) will have eternal life. His love for us made God move to where we are, at whatever well, to find us and give us eternal life! The love He has for her and for us looks beyond our faults and sees the need. We need a Saviour.
John 4:13 Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”
We are looking at Exodus chapter 3 where Moses has an encounter with the Great I AM.
God hears your cry! God remembers His promises! God sees you and your struggle!
Exodus 3:7 The Lord said, “I have surely seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings.
God is aware of our struggles! He knows our sufferings!
Exodus 3:13 Then Moses said to God, “Behold, I am going to the sons of Israel, and I will say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you.’ Now they may say to me, ‘What is His name?’ What shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM”; and He said, “Thus you shall say to the sons of Israel, ‘I AM has sent me to you.’”
We are living in some scary times. There is tremendous uncertainty in the world today. How should we be living taking all of this into account?
God is constantly working behind the scenes in every area of our lives, even when we may not see it. Fear, simply stated, is unbelief or weak belief. As unbelief gains the upper hand in our thoughts, fear can take hold of our emotions. Our deliverance from fear and worry is based on faith, which is the very opposite of unbelief.
David says in Psalm 56:3 "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."
We can trust God for our lives and family! God is not frightened nor afraid. We can take great comfort in our God!
Faith gives us the ability to say, "He sustained me in the past, He’ll carry me through today and He’s got my tomorrow!"
We live in times as perilous as other times. We are admonished many times in scripture (more than 300 times) to “Fear not!” We don’t need to live in fear or be anxious…
We live by Faith and not fear! Fear doesn’t get a seat at our table.
Isolated but never alone
Are you feeling alone or lonely today? There is a difference between being alone and loneliness. Alone means you are by yourself in a physical sense. At some point in our lives, everyone will feel alone or experience loneliness. Many times we need God’s assurance, as our Good Father, that He is there, and that we are not alone. Dwell on Bible verses when you feel alone and allow God to reinforce this truth: we are never alone. God is always with us.
Loneliness is a state of mind, an emotion brought on by feelings of separation from other people. Loneliness can be experienced when we're alone or when we are completely surrounded by people. You can be surrounded by people 24/7 and still feel lonely. The sense of isolation can overtake us if we’re not careful.. The Hebrew word translated “desolate” or “lonely” in the Old Testament means “one alone; one who is solitary, or forsaken.” There is no deeper sadness that ever comes over the mind than the idea that we are alone in the world, that we do not have a friend, that no one cares for us.
I think one of the enemy’s best lies is to convince us that no one cares. Believe it or not, he tells the same lie to anyone who will listen! At one time or another, everyone has felt loneliness. But here’s the truth: No matter how you feel, you’re not alone.
“Your eyes can deceive you. Don’t trust them.” -Ben ‘Obi-Wan’ Kenobi
In Hebrews chapter 13:6, it says, "So we take comfort and are encouraged and confidently and boldly say, The Lord is my Helper; I will not be seized with alarm [I will not fear or dread or be terrified]. What can man do to me?"
The Hebrew translation Jehovah Ezer which means Lord our help. In this verse this is how our God is addressed, 'the Lord is our help.' This is the God who brought the heavens and the earth into existence by the Word of God.
God is our helper and our shield. With God going before us and our rear guard, then we should move forward at His Word without fear. When we are in the will of God we go forward boldly with no fear of man.
“The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me?” (Psalm 118:6)
We can walk right through the Valley of the Shadow of Death without anxiety or fear for if (since) God is for us whom then shall we fear?
“What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” (Romans 8:31)
With God as our helper, we are never alone!
We conclude our look into the Book of Daniel with this episode. Many people of heard the story of Daniel in the lion's den. We look at how God rescues Daniel from certain death.
As captives in a foreign land, Daniel and his friends stayed true and faithful to their God. They were used mightily for their faith, displaying God’s power and giving God glory. These kings and kingdoms did not know God but would give testimony to His Power. There is no God like our God! He saves, heals, delivers. He rules and overrules. He is sovereign! When we are facing enormous obstacles, our God is greater! God exalted them and gave them honour. He is unlike any other!
God delivers!
What can we learn today from this book that was written some 2600 years ago? We find that it is extremely relevant for our days ahead. Some theologians think 20 years have passed since Daniel chapter 2. The dream that Nebuchadnezzer had, that Daniel interpreted may have been what inspired the king to make this huge, golden statue.
In chapter 3, we find the king giving a decree that everyone must worship the image that he set up. It isn’t just a formality but a total allegiance to and worship of the image. The faith of these men will be put to the test!
“The devil tempts us to destroy our faith, but God tests us to develop our faith, because a faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.” -Warren Wiersbe
There is coming another day where everyone must bow down to a new leader. Let's find out how Daniel and his friends handled the situation.
It is one thing to give an interpretation to someone’s dream, but to tell them the dream they had is something else entirely!
God is Sovereign- last week we were introduced to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah. Four of the many captives from Judah brought to Babylon. They are tested and trained for 3 years in the customs, laws, and religion of Babylon. We find them refusing to defile themselves with the king’s food and wine. They take their lives in their hands by requesting to not eat and drink the king’s personal menu. (they trust in God alone)
God gives them favour with their steward and at the end of the testing, they appear healthier and surpass all their contemporaries tenfold in understanding and wisdom. At this time they are approximately 18-20 years old.
We are looking at Daniel Chapter 2 this week. So far so good for the 4 Jewish lads settling in to their new digs until Nebuchadnezzer had a dream. His dream was troubling and disturbed him greatly. He decides to call all of his magicians, astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans to tell him his dream and give the meaning.
We begin a series looking at the Book of Daniel in the Bible. This is part one of a four part series.
Sovereignty of God is the Christian belief that God is the supreme authority and all things are under His control. Easton's Bible Dictionary defines God's Sovereignty as His "absolute right to do all things according to His own good pleasure."
God is Sovereign over all! We will see in the book of Daniel kings and kingdoms rising and falling. We will see the everlasting Kingdom of God coming forth where He will rule and reign forever and that His Kingdom will never be destroyed. He is King of kings and Lord of lords!
There are many tales of teams that have the moniker that they ‘can’t finish.’ What a title to have. It is a badge of disgrace to be known as the team that can’t finish or the coach who chokes in the big game. Reputations like that have ruined many careers. In life as well as sport, finishing is really important. Anybody can start things, but to see them through to the end is something different!
"Great is the art of beginning, but greater is the art of ending."- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Winners finish! There are many times in sport where an athlete started to celebrate their victory early and lost their race. I have watched videos of boxers showboating and challenging their opponent to hit them. In their pride and arrogance, they get surprised with an uppercut and get knocked out. Some runners gave up right before crossing the finish line only to have 1st place vanish right before their eyes. Today we are looking at Paul’s charge to Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 4. Paul is going to be passing on the baton and is encouraging Timothy to finish well. Paul gives the same charge to us today. Friend, I encourage you to finish well.
To be a good father doesn’t happen by chance. Every Christian parent ought to be waging an all-out campaign and be very intentional to train up their children to know Christ and follow Him. Proverbs tells us to train up a child...It doesn’t happen by accident. It begins by setting the example: you must walk the walk! Being a parent and teaching kids, you find out that there are more things ‘caught’ than ‘taught’. Every parent has probably had a scenario where your children say something that they ‘caught’ you saying or doing--To your shock and embarrassment. Our children are always watching us!
When Jesus teaches us to pray in Matthew 6:9, He tells us to come to God like this: “Our Father who art in heaven . . .”
We look at God as our Father in this episode.
Jesus has risen from the dead and tells His followers to wait for the promise. We find them waiting in Jerusalem for 50 days in Acts chapter 2.
Acts 2:1 (Amplified Bible) And when the day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all assembled together in one place,
2When suddenly there came a sound from heaven like the rushing of a violent tempest blast, and it filled the whole house in which they were sitting.
3And there appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were separated and distributed and which settled on each one of them.
4And they were all filled (diffused throughout their souls) with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other (different, foreign) languages (tongues), as the Spirit kept giving them clear and loud expression [in each tongue in appropriate words].
We celebrate this as the birth of the Church and Pentecost. This episode looks at what happened in those early days of the Apostles as tremendous persecution broke out against them.
There are lots of conspiracy theories out there. Some have proved to be true. In the Bible, Jesus says in John 10:10 "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
We have an enemy of our souls that wants to destroy our lives. He has been conspiring against you your whole life. In this podcast we look at what the Bible says about this and how Jesus came to give us life, both now and for eternity.
In the Garden of Eden, we see Adam and Eve sinning and hiding. Their first instinct and reaction was to hide from each other and God. They now stand guilty before God and are aware of their horrible condition. Suddenly, they were sinful, weak, broken people living in a scary world. They found themselves in a real mess. If we're honest, we,too, are in a real mess at times.
We have been looking at condemnation and guilt and how to deal with their crippling effects these past few episodes. This episode we are looking at shame. I have felt strongly to preach about these three, as they are a stumbling block and a real hindrance for people in their walk with Christ.
‘Shame’ derives from ‘to cover’, and is often expressed by a covering gesture over the brow and eyes and a downcast gaze.
Hebrews 12 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
The Bible says to throw off everything that so easily entangles and derails us, but instead, the sin has us bound in chains, unable to move forward into our God-given destiny. Jesus is our antidote to the shame that we bear. He alone can set us free!
In the previous message I mentioned that there are 3 main things that seem to derail many people in their walk with Christ. We looked at condemnation and the terrible effects it has in the life of a believer. It is a deep issue that continually causes you to look inward at ‘how bad you are’ instead of lifting your head to look at the face of Christ with His conviction helping lead us to repentance.
Condemnation , if not dealt with, can completely destroy your spiritual life. Jesus said that the enemy comes but to steal, kill, and destroy.
These important topics that we are looking at are barely scratching the surface of deep issues of the soul. I think 1,000 sermons could be preached each about condemnation, guilt and shame.
Continuing with our ‘Antidote’ sermon series, we are looking at Guilt this week and the antidote that Christ provides. Guilt is a powerful emotion. It can grip and hold onto its victims for years. There are people who, because of guilt, cannot move forward in their life. They are completely stunted in their growth. There are those who are riddled with guilt at times and can experience anxiety and other harmful issues.
Jesus is our antidote, freeing us from the effects guilt has upon our lives. Jesus has come to give us life abundantly.
There are issues that seem to derail many Christians from living God's plan for their lives. These things can prevent our growth and maturity in Christ.
They are condemnation, guilt, and shame. Each has the ability to severely hinder our Christian walk. We can be stunted in our growth, unable to move forward, and even regress.
Today, we are looking at the first of these, condemnation. In the next few episodes, we will look at guilt and shame, as well. This is a spiritual issue as it affects us deep within. Condemnation can deceive us into thinking that this is how we'll always be. This is a lie and not the truth. This is not how God sees us. How He sees us and what He thinks about us are what really matters.
When you feel condemned, it appears as though there is no hope, like you have become hopeless. The Bible says that hope is the anchor for the soul. If you are hopeless, you can feel adrift on an endless sea with no hope for land or harbour. Our hope is in the One Who created all things! He is our hope. Jesus is our antidote and remedy to condemnation.