God’s Word still speaks to us (70): “Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.”

Grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18). Make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness;  and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love.  For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, …

Where would we be without the love of God?

Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had …

Matthew 21-22

Jesus' parables of the Kingdom were a significant part of His ministry. It is still true today that there are those who, when they hear God's Word, see what it's all about, while there are others who miss the point altogether. We should not be discouraged because some do not believe, but we should give …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 2:4-15 and 2:4-17

In the notes on Genesis 2:4-15, George reminds us that we were "made by God and for God." This is important. We need to hear both: we were made by God, and we were made for God. Many people say that they believe in God. They believe that he created the world, but this doesn't …

Less leaning on our own understanding and more trusting in the Lord

For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 2:1-3

Here, George emphasizes the importance of "meeting with God, and thereby getting our bearings on eternal things." We tend to speak about 'going to church.' Why do we go to church? George's words give us a much-needed reminder: "meeting with God, and thereby getting our bearings on eternal things." We are not to content ourselves …

Mark 8-9

In these chapters, we see Jesus, looking ahead to His death and resurrection. On two occasions, He speaks to His disciples of these events, which lay ahead of Him. Following the first prophecy, Jesus emphasizes taht the way of the cross is the way of discipleship (chapter 8).

What does it mean to believe in God?

For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures (1 Corinthians 15, verses 3 and 4). There are many people who say that they believe in God, but when they're asked …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 1:26-31

God wants us "to be like His own Son, willingly submissive, gladly responsive, eagerly obedient in love and service." These words, from George, are both greatly encouraging and extremely challenging. What an encouraged it is to know that God is working in our hearts and lives to make us more like us. When we read …

God’s Word still speaks to us (69): Receiving Jesus Christ, the Saviour of sinners, and bringing others to him

And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. My …

Mark 10-11

There is, in chapter 10, a third prophecy concerning Jesus' death and resurrection. Jesus, also, speaks of "the cup", which He must drink. It is "the cup" of our condemnation. He drinks from this cup so that we might drink from the cup of His salvation. Jesus enters Jerusalem (chapter 11). He is moving steadfastly …

What about God? What about what he says to us?

Your word is a lamp for my feet and a light on my path (Psalm 119:105). Your word, Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens (Psalm 119:89). We live in a world of "this is what I think." What about God? What about what he says to us? What about Christ? What about what he says …

Mark 12-13

There is a seriousness about Jesus' teaching, as He speaks of His first coming, in the parable of the wicked tenants, in chapter 12, and His second coming, in chapter 13. The Christ, who was rejected by men, has become "the keystone" (chapter 12). This will be clearly seen when He comes "in the clouds …

God is always greater than all our words about him.

And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3, verses …

How are we to win people for Christ? Don’t forget the working of the Holy Spirit.

But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15). How are we to win people for Christ? Are we to present them with arguments for the …

Mark 14-16

This is the story of Jesus. There are, however, sub-stories within it. There is the sadness of Peter and the tragedy of Judas. Supremely, however, there is the assurance of Jesus, as he faces the cross with confidence in God. The story of Jesus is a story of apparent defeat (the crucifixion), which turns out …

Luke 1

The stories of Jesus and John are blended together. John's whole purpose in life was bound up with Jesus. He was the forerunner, the herald of Christ. The supreme goal of his life was to be a witness to Christ, pointing away from himslef to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Impossible?

But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him (Acts 2:24). This turns the world's way of thinking on its head. It's the exact opposite of what the world says to us. The world tells us that people don't …

Luke 2-3

The stories of Jesus and John continue to be blended together. This blending together of John's ligfe with Jesus' life is, surely, a lesson for us and pattern for our lives. We must never forget that "our life is hid with Christ in God." Our witness to this hidden (or inner) life must not, however, …

Enlightenment?

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). The word, "enlightenment", means different things to different people. To some people, it has to do with breaking free from God. For other people, it …

Luke 4-5

Following His baptism, Jesus faces the devil. This is the beginning of Jesus' ministry. It is, also, the pattern of His ministry: conflict with the devil. Jesus announced that He had come as the fulfilment of prophecy. There was immediate opposition from His enemies. This opposition was more than merely human: 'The spirit of an …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 1:20-25

"Life cannot be dull if you live with God; there is too much to see and hear and enjoy. This is one of the things that a real conversion does for you. It opens your eyes to see the beauties around you in things and people and gives you so much sheer delight your heart …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 1:6-19

"When you begin to see the workmanship of God in your life, you too will say, behold it is very good." These words from George take us on to Ephesians 2:10, "For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." When we read about our …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 1:1-5

"The Spirit of God brooded over that which was empty, formless and dark: the word of God was spoken, and the light dispelled the darkness." This sentence lifts our minds beyond God's work of creation. It leads our thoughts on to the work of God in our lives. Through the loving and powerful work of …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Genesis 1:1

George's notes on Genesis 1:1 end with words of encouragement and words of challenge. "God is not dead! But you would think He was by the way we ignore Him. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom!" God is not dead! He's the living God. What an encouragement there is in this. …

Learning from George Philip’s Bible notes: Introduction to notes on Genesis 1

In the introduction to his notes on Genesis 1, George Philip writes, "We seek, in every passage, a word from God for application to daily living." This is more than an introduction to his notes on Genesis 1. It's an important sentence, which serves as an introduction to all of George's daily Bible reading notes. …

There’s a difference between life under the sun and life in the Son.

There is nothing new under the sun (Ecclesiastes 1:9). Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17). There's a difference between life "under the sun" and life in the Son. It's important that we understand this difference. Life under the sun: this is life, …

Miracles?

Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name (John 20:30-31). Some people will tell us that talk of miracles is a …

Luke 6-7

The ministry of the Lord Jesus was a ministry of both words and actions. The mighty miracles of our Lord demonstrate the truth of His Word. He is more than a prophet. He is "much more than a prophet." He is the One who "forgives sins." He is the Saviour, who says to the believer, …

Revelation or discovery?

The word of the Lord came to Ezekiel" (Ezekiel 1:3). The word of the Lord that came to Hosea (Hosea 1:1). The word of the Lord that came to Joel (Joel 1:1). The Spirit of the Lord is on me (Luke 4:18). I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that the gospel I preached is not of human origin. I did not receive …

Luke 8-9

Jesus emphasizes the importance of hearing the Word of God and putting it into practice, yielding a harvest through perseverance. If we are to be true followers of Jesus, we must take up the cross daily. It is in this way, the way of the cross, that the glory of the Lord shines into our …

God’s Word still speaks to us (68): “Have mercy on me, a sinner.”

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people — robbers, evildoers, adulterers — or …

Luke 10-11

It is, surely, significant that the parable of the good Samaritan and the story of Martha and Mart are set alongside each other. Devotion to the Lord and His Word is to be accompanied by real love for our neighbour. The lamp of outr life is to be let by by God's Word and held …

What’s the story of your life?

All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:23). As we make our way through life, there are two stories that are being told. They are two very different stories. There's the …

Luke 12-13

Jesus' teaching calls for our response. We dare not live for this world, once Christ has laid His claim on our lives. We dare not remain satisfied with an unfruitful life, once Christ has called us to a life of fruitfulness.

Remembering the Lord, rejoicing in Him and looking forward to His return

Easter Sunday Evening: Isaiah 25:6-9; Psalm 114; 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8; Luke 24:13-49 Remembering the Lord, rejoicing in Him and looking forward to His return ‘O Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your Name... You have done marvellous things’ (Isaiah 25:1). We remember what God has done for us. He sent …

Luke 14-16

To belong to Christ carries with it an impetus to reach duty for Him. In this, we are to follow our Lord who "welcomed sinners." Jesus is the Saviour who has "come to seek and to save the lost." He has come to bring the prodigals back to the Father. If we are following Him, …

The Lord is my light and my salvation.

The Lord is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? (Psalm 27:1). The Psalmist's words reach out to us, down through the centuries. They call us to put our faith in the Lord. They call us to walk in the light of the Lord. They …

Luke 17-18

The Kingdom of God is coming. Jesus is coming again. We must be ready for Him. We must live for the world to come, not as Pharisees, but as those who have received grace, those who now count it as our greatest privilege to live for the Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s unfailing love and his great salvation

May your unfailing love come to me, Lord, your salvation, according to your promise (Psalm 119:41). We come to this prayer of the Psalmist, and we are reminded of God's unfailing love. We are reminded of God's great salvation. How often and how easily we forget God's words of love, his words of salvation. We look at …

May God help us to keep our hearts open to his words of unfailing love and comfort.

May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant (Psalm 119:76). What does the Word of the Lord have to say to us? So much time has passed since its words were written. Can we really expect very much from reading the words of Jesus? Can we hope to learn much from …

Luke 21-22

In chapter 21, Jesus warns His disciples of the dangers which lie ahead of them. He speaks to them of His second coming. He calls on them to be ever alert. In chapter 22m wew are tken more deeply into the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ. The suffering of Jesus is more than the …

God’s Word still speaks to us (67): Thanking God for his love for us, and learning to love God and love our neighbour

What does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God (Micah 6:8). Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’... Love your neighbour as yourself (Mark 12:30-31). "To act justly and …

John 1-3

In the opening chapter, Jesus is described as both "the Word" (of God) and "the Lamb of God." We see Jesus active in both creation and salvation. In the cleansing of the Temple, we see Christ's holiness. We see Christ as the supreme demonstration of God's love: "God so loved the world that He gave …

Something very special

But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation (Psalm 13:5). God loves us, and he saves us. How are we to respond to the Lord's unfailing love? We are to trust in his unfailing love. We are to rejoice in his salvation. What are we to say about our trusting, and what …

John 4-5

We see the Lord's ministry of love. He brings the Samaritan woman out of her bondage. He removes her guilt. He brings her into the joy of salvation. The Lord brings hope where there seems to be no hope. This hope shines through in His signs of the Kingdom of love. This hope is eternal. …

God’s Word still speaks to us (66): The ancient paths” and “a new thing”

Ask for the ancient paths (Jeremiah 6:16). See, I am doing a new thing! (Isaiah 43:19). God's people need to be pointed back to the Scriptures, and they also need to be reminded that God is leading them on to his future. We need to be reminded of both the Word of God and the …

Studying the Word of God

Study to show yourself approved to God, a workman who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15). Study: what does it mean to study the word of God? What about hearing and reading the Word of God? When we hear the Word of God, we must accept …

John 6-8

Jesus is the bread of life (chapter 6). He is the kiving water (chapter 7). As we feed on the Lord Jesus Christ, His Word brings life: "The words I have spoken to you are spirit, and they are life." Through His Word, we are brought into the life of the indwelling Spirit. Jesus is …

The Holy Spirit is our teacher.

“I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because …

John 9-10

In His ministry of words and works, Jesus encountered opposition, In chapter 9, there's the opposition which came from "the Pharisees." In chapter 10, Jesus speaks of "the thief who comes to kill and steal and destroy." This is the work of the devil. He was working through the reigious leaders. His purpose is to …

Many questions and one very important question

How can I possibly make sense of life? Many people are asking this kind of question. They're trying their best to make sense of life in this world, but they're getting nowhere quickly. Everywhere they look, there seem to be more and more things that leave them feeling confused. How can I possibly make sense …

John 11-12

Now, everything is moving, more clearly, towards the death and resurrection of Christ. At the raising of Lazarus, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life." By describing Himself in this way, Jesus gives a clear indication there will be a greater miracle than the raising of Lazarus: His own resurrection. At the end …

When we ask questions about God, what kind of answers are we expecting to get from him?

Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy. You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea (Micah 7:18-19). Whenever we speak about God, …

God’s Word still speaks to us (65): Open my eyes, Lord…

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law (Psalm 119:18). We wish to see Jesus (John 12:21). The Son of God loved me and gave himself for me (Galatians 2:20). When we read our Bibles, we should pray for the opening of our eyes. This is important. By praying for the opening …

God’s Word still speaks to us (64): God’s power is at work in and through us. Let us give all the praise and all the glory to him.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labour in vain (Psalm 127:1). Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain (1 Corinthians 15:58). Now to him who is …

God’s Word still speaks to us (63): Let us entrust ourselves to the love, grace and mercy of God.

The Lord is my light and my salvation (Psalm 27:1). His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having …

John 13-16

Jesus is clearly conscious of what lies ahead of Him: "Jesus knew that the hour had come for Him to pass from this world to the Father (chapter 13). In chapter 14, He spoke to His disciples of "the place where I am going." The purpose of Jesus' death was this: "to lay down His …

How can I get the most out of life?

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; …

God’s Word still speaks to us (62): An uplifting message and a challenging message

Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints (Jude, verse 3).  We rejoice in the God of our salvation. We give thanks to him for the …