Genesis 37:1-36 Here, we have human sin and divine grace. We see jealousy (11) and its effects: 'where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice' (James 3:16). There is God working out His purpose: 'you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good' (50:20). In his dreams, …
Day: January 2, 2022
God doesn't keep his distance, and he doesn't keep his silence.
"Our God shall come, and shall not keep silent" (Psalm 50:3). We thank you, Lord, that you do not keep your distance from us. You come near to us. We thank you for your Son, Jesus Christ. He is "Immanuel" - "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). We thank you, Lord, that you do not keep …
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‘Those Who Trust In The Lord Cannot Be Moved’, ‘Blessed Are All Who Fear The Lord, Who Walk In His Ways.’
Psalms 125:1-127:5 ‘Those who trust in the Lord... cannot be moved... .’ When we put our trust in the Lord, we are like the ‘wise man who built his house on the rock’. His house ‘did not fall because it had its foundation on the rock’. When we do not put our trust in the …
Amazing grace
Genesis 17:1-27 Amazing grace - this is the marvellous theme of this chapter. Abram became Abraham (5). Sarai became Sarah (15-16). What they were belonged to their sinful past. What they became was the work of God's grace. What a contrast there is between human sin and divine grace. We look at ourselves. We see …
The world and the Word
"The heavens tell of the glory of God ... The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul ..." (Psalm 19:1,7). We look out to the world God has made - and he is there. We look into the Word God has given to us - and he is there. God speaks to us …
Less About The Preacher And More About The Lord!
‘Be eager to prophesy’ (1 Corinthians 14:39). Preaching God’s Word to the people is important. It is not everything. It is to be accompanied by prayer and praise. Many come to hear ‘the preacher’. Few gather to pray that the whole service of worship will be filled with the presence of the Lord. Some come …
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How much has the world really changed, since Jesus’ time? (Sermons on John’s Gospel – from the series of sermons on “A Statement of Christian Faith”)
These sermons were first preached as part of a series on "A Statement Of Christian Faith". -- John 1:1-13 We focus our attention on verses 11-13, where we learn how to become a child of God and what it means to be a child of God. It’s often pointed out that our world is very …
Could things get any worse than this?
Judges “Everyone did what was right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25). Could things get any worse than this? Who are we to judge? What are we to say when we read a verse like this? There’s only one thing we can say, “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”
Link to Rev James Philip’s notes on Ecclesiastes
Ecclesiastes
We look at ourselves, Lord – and our heads go down.
We look at ourselves, Lord – and our heads go down. Again and again, Lord, we let You down – but You, Lord, never let us down. You lift us up. When we fail You, help us to remember Your faithful love – and to be lifted up into a life that is more faithful …
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Things are very different now? The Lord is enthroned for ever.
Psalms 101:1-102:28- ‘I will sing of Your love... I will walk with integrity of heart...’(101:1-2). These words were written many centuries ago. ‘Things are very different now’- so we’re told! Worshipping the Lord and walking with Him: Are these things out-of-date now? Are they to be forgotten? So many people have no time for the …
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In our own homes – let us lift up our hearts and voices to the Lord.
The first four worship videos are choruses I remember from my youth. I hope they will encourage you all in the Lord. The first one is sung by a young man, who is, also, playing his guitar. For God so loved the world https://youtu.be/Gl1uoaLVwkM ‘Let us go to the Lord’s House; let us worship before …
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Lord, help us to get our priorities right – Your priorities (Praying Through God’s Word: Genesis).
Genesis 1:1-3 Lord, help us to get our priorities right - Your priorities. May our lives be more centred on You - less centred on ourselves. Help us to listen for Your Word - not to jump straight in with our own words. Help us to open our hearts to Your Holy Spirit. May He move …
The Downward Slope (Learning From The Book Of Judges)
The book of Joshua speaks of a high-point in the history of God’s people, Israel. By faith, they took possession of the land which the Lord had provided for them. The book of Judges tells of the downward slope - “... The people of Israel did what the Lord considered evil... “ (Judges 2:10-15). Although …
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John 12:37-13:20
The Pharisees continue to exert their evil influence. 'For fear of the Pharisees', many remained silent, 'loving the praise of men more than the praise of God' (42-43). Whatever the opposition, Jesus calls us to believe in Him and confess Him (Romans 10:9). He calls us out of darkness into light (46). If you are …
We thank You, Lord, that ‘Your love endures for ever.’
We thank You, Lord, that ‘Your love endures for ever’. What a great message this is! It's a message worth repeating - over and over again! Your love is an everlasting love - ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love’ (Jeremiah 31:3). Your love is an unfailing love - ‘My unfailing love for you …
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We fail – in our love for God. He never fails – in his love for us.
"In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name for ever" (Psalm 44:8). We don't, always, feel like this. Our feelings pull us here, there and everywhere. Often, we don't feel like praising God. It's not easy to keep on praising God. What are we to do when it …
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The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Mark 6:30-44)
* The first thing we notice is the timing of the miracle. It didn't come at a time when Jesus was looking for a crowd to whom he could preach, a crowd he could teach, a crowd to whom he could bring healing. Jesus was looking for "a lonely place" - "a place of rest" (31). This great …
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The Spirit And The Word
"As He spoke to me, the Spirit entered me, stood me on my feet, and I heard Him speaking to me" (Ezekiel 2:2). If we are to stand in Christ, we need both the Spirit and the Word - not the Spirit without the Word, not the Word without the Spirit. "As I looked, I …
We Are Saved To Serve.
Numbers 25:1-26:22 Read of Israel’s adultery and idolatry and remember God’s Word of warning: ‘Don’t let the world squeeze you into its mould’(25:1-5; Romans 12:2). God is looking for people who have the ‘same zeal’ as He has (25:11). Those who are zealous for God may be few in number, but we must not be …
Lord, You’re always speaking to us.
Lord, You’re always speaking to us. Every day and every night,You speak to us through Your created world. You prepare us for hearing the voice of Jesus, Your living Word. He speaks to us through the Scriptures, Your written Word. Help us, Lord, to become aware of Your presence, to listen to the voice of …
Faithfulness Is More Important Than Popularity.
"It is easy to impute unworthy motives to those we dislike (Jeremiah 37:13). When we once incur another's dislike, nothing we do will ever please him, he will only be too eager to think evil even of the good we do. Yet, secretly, he knows, like Zedekiah, that the word of the Lord is with …
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In the Valley of Weeping
"When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs" (Psalm 84:6). Who are we to say when we may be called to travel through "the Valley of Weeping"? In the Valley of Weeping, we come to see how weak we really are - and how much we need …
The authority of Jesus Christ
Mark 11:1-33 Here we learn of the authority of Christ. Calling the 'colt' into His service, He says, with authority, 'The Lord has need of it' (3). With authority, He speaks to the fig tree (14) - a 'visual aid' of His teaching: 'Every branch of Mine that bears no fruit, He takes away' (John …
Who was David’s Shepherd? Who was David’s King?
Who was David’s Shepherd? Who was David’s King? The Lord is my Shepherd – Psalm 23. He’s the King of glory – Psalm 24. Before we can lead others, We must be led – by the Lord.
What are we to do, Lord, when we find ourselves sinking into a state of deep depression?
What are we to do when, like Job, we find ourselves sinking into a state of deep depression? Help us, Lord, to remember Jesus. Help us to remember His suffering. He suffered for us. He suffers with us. We thank You that Jesus knows how we feel. He’s been there. He went to the Cross – …
Learning From God's Word 