Bethesda Shalom

Luke 12:1-12 As the days wind on and the seasons become increasingly more difficult, we are going to need ever more to rely upon the succouring aid of the Holy Spirit!  God didn’t mean for us to struggle through limping and hobbling in our own depleted strength, He provided supernatural means by which we might get through with a power that is not our own and a strength that has been given us by Him. The true Church of Jesus Christ shall find encouragement and strength to stand in the hour of her persecution and shall speak as witnesses with words given her by the Holy Spirit.  May we have the privilege of knowing this precious truth not only in word but experience also.

Romans 10:1-4 Christianity is not for good men, nor is for the noble and the upright—that’s what they’ll become if Christ saves them, but before that glorious event, “...foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another”.  How is such a one to ever climb out of the cesspit of his iniquity and to set his hands on the rungs of the latter up to heaven and when he gets there to present his sin-stained pitiful state before the presence of the Holy God before whom angels dare to cast their sight?  Either God gives us in mercy what we do not possess, namely righteousness, or we’re doomed for all eternity!!  What saith “euangelion”? “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost” (Lk. 19:10)

Psalm 60:12 The secret of the strength of Israel has always been the God of Israel!  Name one victory that ever came to this tiny nation and the hand of God was not it?  You cannot do it!!!  When Israel was right with their God, one plus God was the majority!  But when they were not right, the Almighty allowed their enemies to prevail against them that they might turn back to Him!  In this sermon, we look at the many great triumphs in the history of this little nation as God undertook, again and again, to fight on their behalf.  In light of the current COVID crisis, why is it that so many of God’s people are hiding out in fear; confounded, and full of dismay?  Why are the doors of the Churches largely bolted and the pulpits mute at this hour of testing?  May the people of God arise and put their trust in the Lord so as to say with those of old; through God, we shall do valiantly!   

1 Corinthians 15:42-44 It is the earnest desire, to lay before you the certain and definite hope of the Christian.  Assurances like this cannot be found in this world due to its transient state of temporariness.  Search high and low, with diligence and scrutiny, but O man, your search will be in vain.  When Adam fell through willful disobedience, mankind was plunged into sin and death.  God in His infinite love and mercy has sought to reverse this curse in redeeming a people back unto Himself through His beloved Son.  In this sermon, we set forth the first and second installment of this most glorious work and consider what will be when Our Blessed Saviour appears in glory to change these vile bodies so as to be fashioned like unto His!

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 5) Having examined some of the key principles for interpreting the New Testament Epistles in the last teaching session, we seek in this teaching to put these principles into practice. Join us as we take an exegetical walk through the first four chapters of Paul’s First Epistle to the Corinthians, covering the first major theme – Divisions in the Church.  By studying the Epistle in this way, it allows us to give a practical example of the effectiveness of studying the Epistles thematically and will hopefully allow us to see how the verses and chapters connect with each other as part of this wider theme. Download teaching notes (pdf) https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/3b_Interpreting_the_Epistles_Pt2.pdf

Luke 3:1-12 If I could summarise in a word, and encapsulate in essence, the singular cry of God’s prophet, it would be the word “repent”.  This messenger of God was sent by God on a divine mission; he was to be His mouthpiece; he was to be God’s agent to effect change in the hearts of the straying multitudes.  He was never called to win popularity contests, in fact, he was for the most part hated and rejected, persecuted, and killed by the very ones to whom he was sent.  He confronted the sins of the children of Israel and charged them with breaking God’s laws!  He pronounced judgments and spoke of coming calamity. At the heart of his message was a cry of repentance for a wayward people to return back to God in order that they might be healed!!  The burden of this sermon is twofold.  First, to show the importance of repentance and second, to discover the nature of repentance.  May the Lord bring us all to a place of true repentance! 

Isaiah 40:6-8 As one looks around the world in which one finds himself, admittedly, he has to confess that all about him, he sees the brilliance of man’s ingenuity. Yet, in beholding man’s brilliance, one cannot escape the notice of the finite passing of his little day on earth!  This sermon is a reminder of the steadfast nature of God’s enduring Word.  The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever!!

John 3: 1-7 When we think of the great historic doctrines of the Christian faith—in particular, those that fall under the broader umbrella of “Soteriology” (the study of salvation), seated in their midst must surely be the glorious doctrine of Regeneration.  In the days of Popish pomp and rule, it was the doctrine of Justification that was heralded and championed by the Reformers.  Rome had for a millennium, hoodwinked the masses under a false system of works, masquerading as grace. The Reformers said NO!!  Man is not justified in the sight of God by human achievement—he’ll never work his way to heaven; the only way he’ll ever get there is by the grace of God alone, through faith alone apart from human merit.  In this our day, it is the doctrine of regeneration that so desperately needs to be rediscovered and heralded from every pulpit in the land.  For many, becoming a Christian is nothing more than joining a Church and having one’s name inscribed on a roll call of membership. I’ve known people, near and dea

1 Samuel 15:16-17 Nothing (I believe) so moves the heart of our Heavenly Father more than humility.  Consider with me, a verse found in Isaiah 57.  “For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones” (Is. 57:15).  Like a magnet pulled with force towards a lump of rusty iron, it readily passes by the gold and the silver (it’s unattracted by them); so our God is drawn towards humility. In this sermon, we survey the lives of those whom God had called and used, and we note the downfall of some, who though pride fell from their former standing.  May we every sense our need for God and in His lifting up of our position, let us remain in a place of humility.

Hebrews 12:11 I’ve come to find at length, that there are multitudes of Jonah’s in the land of the living today, occupying the pews and the pulpits of many a church building.  There in bodily presence at least, but as pertaining to their true spiritual condition, they’re on the run from God!  God has His finger on a matter in their lives that they are simply not willing to deal with.  Since God is a Father of love, He delights in the discipline of His children, but as children, we don’t take too kindly to being disciplined. This sermon is an exhortation and encouragement to believers, to endure in trial under the loving discipline of their heavenly Father.  If we are sons and daughters of the Most-High, then we will not be without His chastening hand of God in our lives.  The Word goes forth, “My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when thou art rebuked of him: For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth” (Heb. 12:5-6).  Will we be in subjection to

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 4) When we speak of an epistle, we mean by this a letter.  The English word for epistle comes from the Greek word “epistolē” which means a written message.  There are 21 such Epistles found within the Bible which comprise a third of the whole New Testament.  The New Testament Epistles are vital to the Believer in Christ because they contain the doctrines which he/she is to live by!  In this teaching, we examine some of the key principles for interpreting the New Testament Epistles. Download teaching notes (pdf) https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/3._Interpreting_the_Epistles.pdf

Romans 1:9-11 In the closing chapter of the Book of Acts, we learn that Paul was placed under house arrest for two years in the city of Rome while awaiting trial at the Court of Caesar.  No longer being able to be with those he so loved, he was compelled instead to write to them from his place of imprisonment, exhorting and encouraging them in the faith.  The letters that he wrote during this time of imprisonment are called the prison letters of Paul.  There are four of them in number — Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and the tiny letter to Philemon.  In all four Epistles, Paul speaks of his chains for Jesus Christ.  For now, Paul’s travelling journeys were curtailed, but his ministry of prayer was not!  What he could no longer do in person, he could do via proxy by means of prayer!!  You see, the heart of Paul was not only to plant Churches but to see those Churches blossoming.  Paul’s business was not only the saving of souls but the discipling of those same souls unto maturity! Thus, to this end, he ga

Matthew 13:44 The Parables of the Kingdom are among some of the finest parables given by our Lord in all that He spoke.  The Jewish people of His day looked for a kingdom that was coming in power and a king ruling on a physical throne in a physical location.  The King had indeed come into their midst bringing with Him a kingdom of power, yet this kingdom was one that was to be established in the hearts of men!  This sermon takes a look at these kingdom parables and in particular, the Parable of the Hidden Treasure.  May the Lord stir our hearts and may we meet Him again with passion and zeal, reviving our first-love love for Jesus our King!!  

John 14:1-3 Pastor Jason Wright delivers a very timely word, straight from the Bible, relating to the need in this perilous hour for every believer to have an upper room in their life.  A time where we can draw away from the many voices to hear from God. May you be encouraged by this much-needed message.

Luke 22:31-34 You’d be forgiven for thinking that the title of this morning’s sermon is a message straight out of a motivational handbook; you’ll be pleased to know it’s not!!  This sermon offers a word of hope to those who have failed the Lord through sin and who are struggling to come back.  By looking at Peter’s denial and subsequent restoration, we can find great comfort in the compassionate mercies of God.  The same Saviour who restored Peter, can and will restore us if we would but only come to Him.   

Matthew 25:1-13 In this sermon, we examine the Parable of the Ten Virgins and in so doing find that there are those who are going to be ready when the Lord returns to collect His bride, and those who are not going to be ready!  Getting ready for the Second Coming of the Lord is not something that we can prepare for when He comes, we must be prepared for when He comes. May the Lord speak to each one of us on this matter of preparedness.

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 3) In deciding to translate the Bible from one language to another, two questions must lie at the heart of the translation process.  #1, Accuracy and #2, Readability.  On one hand, one wants a translation that is as accurate and as close to the original languages as possible while at the same time being readable.  You may be thinking, why are we discussing Bible translations in a study looking at how to better interpret the Bible?  Isn’t the Bible just the Bible?  It is, but as will be demonstrated, one can make use of a range of different translations of the Bible in order to make better sense of the Bible.  In this third teaching part, we explore the various translations available to the student of God’s word and the pros and cons of each.  Download teaching notes (pdf) https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/2b_Basic_Tools_for_Bible_Interpretation_Pt2.pdf

Acts 21:1-15 From the very inception of Paul’s call to faith, there on that dusty Damascene road; this former persecutor of those who followed the Way was himself shown by the Lord “...how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:16).  The legacy of this man’s life was nothing short of faithfulness unto the Lord.  He was sold out to Christ with a one-track mind to finish the course appointed him. During his third missionary journey, Paul received a number of prophetic warnings from multiple sources, all confirming the same thing that bonds and afflictions awaited him upon his return to Jerusalem.  Many pleaded with Paul not to go up to Jerusalem so as to spare him from the danger that awaited him there.  Paul’s response was decisive and final…he’d purposed to go up to Jerusalem and to there finish the course appointed Him by the Lord!  May the Lord grant us such faithful unswerving conviction to ever do what is right by our God no matter what the cost!

Matthew 6:25-34 Some things I find in life are easier said than done.  As human beings, we’re generally better at giving advice than we are at taking it!  How many times have we heard the saying (and no doubt probably said it ourselves), “What’s the point in worrying? It won’t change anything...”, and yet we continue right on worrying!  What is worry but a manifestation of fear on account of uncertainty? In this sermon, we dig into the Scriptures and allow the Word of God to generate faith by looking at the great providential hand of God towards His children.  What have we to fear, if God be for us?  Let us cast our cares upon Him and bring our burdens to the Lord in prayer, finding in place of worry, a place of sweet relief. 

Matthew 14:23 Could it be that corporate prayer is so lacking in the Church today because God’s people have not first been found in private prayer?  It is my conviction and that also of the Scriptures; God’s people ought to have an appetite for prayer.  I say appetite because it’s not a laborious thing.  Is it laborious to eat?  If you’ve no taste buds...ye.!  But God has given us a wonderful pallet so that we can enjoy the many tastes and flavours, so that even though we must eat, we want to eat, and the whole experience is a most enjoyable one!!  Tell me, have you an appetite for prayer?  There is much instruction in the New Testament concerning praying for others; if we care enough for others, we’ll pray enough for others.  Yet private prayer is much more than a list of names and needs.  Prayer is personal and as such, when you and I go into our closets and shut the door, the most intimate exchange ought to take place in fellowship with God as we bear the secrets of our hearts to our heavenly Father, aided