Bethesda Shalom

Revelation 18 “Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen”. The thought of it!! The unthinkable has taken place!!  In one hour, her judgment has come and the great city which once ruled over nations has fallen from her height of prominence and now has become the habitation of devils and every foul spirit.  In this eighteenth chapter, we explore the fall of this great city and reflect upon its sudden ruin.

Revelation 17 We have mention made for the first time in Revelation, of a great whore who sits upon many waters.  Arrayed in purple and scarlet, decked with gold, precious stones and pearls, she is being carried along by the beast of Revelation 13.  Written upon her forehead is a number of names and John saw the woman drunk with the blood of the Saints.  Who is this woman and why is she depicted in this way?  What is her relationship to the beast and why is she counted as a harlot?  All of these questions and others besides, we endeavour to answer in this teaching part as we look at the imagery of the woman and the beast she is sat upon.

Psalm 130:3-4 There are many ways to look upon a masterpiece of art.  Each angle seems to shed a new perspective, as differing tones and hews are brought into fresh view with every studious stare.  Far greater than any piece of art is the splendour of Almighty God—His many attributes leave a pause for wonder as man tries with his finite mind, to grasp after Him who is eternal! Of all the attributes, there’s one attribute that holds a special place in my heart, for I know what manner of man I was, and even now after tasting of eternal life, how great a debtor daily I still am!  What is this attribute?  It is the mercy of God!  “If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” Having been shown such great mercy by God, what manner of people ought we the children of God now to be? A people full of mercy towards others!  How ready are you to forgive another who has wronged you? How willing are you to extend mercy?  In the passing of judgment upon others, how much of it is mixed with mercy?  May

Galatians 6:9 Jesus was clear when he said, that one of the characteristics of the last days is that the love of the most is going to wax cold on account of the increase in evil.  What temperature is your heart registering in the measure of love?  In the measure of kindness?  In the measure of mercy?  In the measure of compassion?  In the measure of forgiveness?  How soft are our hearts — are they like a tender piece of fresh chicken or are like a hardened piece of steak that has been left out in the sun?  What a challenge, to keep them soft and tender in the days in which we’re living.  My precious Brethren, I want to exhort you as much as I want to exhort myself this morning; “...brethren, be not weary in well doing” (2 Thess. 2:13) —do not lose heart, do not lose courage, do not become faint in doing well!! “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not” (Gal. 6:9).

Revelation 16 I believe that key to rightly dividing the book of Revelation, is to recognise that the events recorded in this book can be broadly divided into two parallel blocks — chapters 4 through to 11 forming the first block, and chapters 12 through to 20 forming the second block.  When one understands that these two blocks of Scripture are complementary in nature—that is, they run parallel to one another covering the same period of time in the Tribulation—one is then able to rightly divide the book of Revelation making sense of its chronology and the events that happen within it. In this teaching, we endeavour to compare side-by-side, the trumpet judgments of Revelation 8, 9 and 11, with the vial judgments of chapter 16. In doing this, we discover that whilst there are slight discrepancies between the two accounts, the overwhelming similarities between the two necessitate that they are referring to the same event.  Take a listen and decide for yourself.

Matthew 18:19-20 It never ceases to amaze me, how our great and awesome God takes the nothings of this world to confound and bring to naught the somethings of this world!  God took a  man by the name of Gideon and with 300 men, defeated the mighty army of the Midianites. God took a nothing man by the name of Abraham—an idolater from a far-away land—and made of him a great nation through which to bless the world!!  God takes a nothing shepherd boy by the name of David and makes him a king!!  God takes a Christian persecuting Pharisee by the name of Saul and made him an apostle of Jesus Christ.  Biblical history proves that without a shadow of a doubt, the few with God make up the majority! This sermon is an exhortation for the Body of Christ not to despise the day of small beginnings.  Where two or three are gathered together, there the Lord is in the midst!  Will we not give ourselves wholeheartedly to prayer; even the small meetings where few are present, as though there was a thousand present and see what G

Revelation 15 John sees in vision, a sign in heaven, great and marvellous.  Seven angels coming out of the temple in heaven having the seven last plagues.  To these seven are given seven golden vials full of the wrath of Almighty God.  This chapter serves as an introduction to what will take place in chapter 16 as the seven bowls of God’s wrath are poured out upon the earth.     

2 Corinthians 5:7-15 A word of warning and exhortation is given regarding the coming day when all believers shall stand before the judgment seat of Christ!  In light of this awesome day, what manner of people ought we to be? How ought we to be spending our time?  What ought to be our priorities?  The cry of Brian's heart is that we might not stand on that day with regrets of what could have been, if only we had lived in light of eternity. 

Matthew 14:13-21 A great Word of encouragement is brought forth in this sermon by Brother Brian. In the days in which we are living, God is calling His people to feed those who He brings across our path.  Yet, are we the people of God prepared to carry the compassion of the Lord for those who He died for?  Are we willing to be inconvenienced?  Are we willing to be broken that He might fill us and use us for the glory of His name?

2 Samuel 9:1-8 Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found, t'was blind but now I see.  What does it mean to be in wonder of the grace of God?  His saving mercy; His saving grace!  Those who have this wonder and who are in awe of God’s grace, will follow Him and won’t turn back! 

Hebrews 10:23-25 Is the Church of Jesus Christ necessary for one’s sanctification?  Perhaps this is something that you’ve not before considered and so understandably, you may need time to ponder this pertinent question. I say pertinent, because we are living in a day where there is a small but increasing number of Christians, whose attitude towards the local visible Church Body is one of disdain and scorn.  Content they are to stay at home and to find their fellowship in the world of virtual reality.  This my friends will never do!! From the Churches inception, those whom the Lord added to His Church, met together, and it is the coming together with other believers – skin touching skin– that we grow in holiness as we learn to forbear with one another in love, forgiving one another as Christ forgave us.  At what cost are you prepared to be found in such sanctifying fellowship?  May God give us ears to hear. 

Haggai 2 Having seen the wonder of God’s greatness, Brian now turns to share on the wonder of God’s glory!!  Even the sun in all its brilliance; the stars in their glory; do not compare to the glory and the majesty of the One who brought them into existence in a moment!  Oh, that God would come again and reveal His glory in revival!  God is willing, but the question is, are we? Who is willing to carry this burden of revival, which at its centre has to do with the very glory of God?   

Hebrews 5:8 – 6:3 It is my firm conviction, based on the evidence and testimony of Scripture, that God in every age and in every generation, is calling His people up to higher ground, and that the work of sanctification; that work whereby we are being fashioned by the Holy Spirit into the image and likeness of the Lord as we yield our lives to Him is an ongoing one which shall not reach its conclusion until the coming of the Lord.  God is wanting to raise up a people of spiritual maturity; a people such that He can trust with Christian service in the field of battle!  As one surveys the length and breadth of the land, one has to ask; where are the spiritual giants of yesteryear?  God is calling His people up higher in these last days that we might be fitted and prepared for ministry.  Will we heed that call?

Hebrews 12:1-2 The clear and uncompromising call of Scripture is an exhortation, calling the people of God unto holiness!  Praise God for the many victories won over besetting sins and the great gains made thus far.  Yet, could it be, that God is saying to you and I; there is still something amiss in your life that I’m calling you to perfect.  Something still lacking which I’m calling you to address. My Brother, my Sister; the Word God is this; DO NOT SETTLE FOR “ALMOST HOLY” WHEN GOD IS CALLING YOU TO “BE HOLY”.

Philippians 2:5-11 “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Phil. 2:5-8). When one ponders such an unthinkable act of humility, Jesus Christ – very God of very God – humbling Himself in being clothed in humanity and coming down to earth to die the death of a criminal upon a rugged cross; how can we not humble ourselves before Him?  Why is it that so often, pride will keep us from saying sorry?  May the Lord grant us much grace to take to heart what Brian shares.   

John 3:16-21 There’s something wonderful about the sun (S-U-N); its sheer power and brilliance in casting forth its rays; reaching every inch it seems of the earth’s surface.  Yet do you know, there are some places that even this great light can’t reach—chasms which burrow deep beneath the earth’s surface—their steep and rocky sides shielding out the light.  The deeper that chasm goes, the greater the darkness becomes!  Do you know, I’ve found that the human heart is not too dissimilar; like that great chasm, it is adept at concealing itself from the searching rays of the SON (S-O-N). This sermon is a call for the people of God to prepare their hearts as to how they intend to hear from God.  It is a call for willingness on the behalf of us, to step into the light of God’s searching truth, in order that we might be brought up to higher ground.  

Isaiah 40:9 How amazing are the wonders of our great and gracious God!!!  Beyond our comprehension and thinking.  In this opening message, Brian sets before us, the awesome wonder of God’s greatness and calls the Body of Christ to place their faith in HIM!! 

Mark 4:35-41 There is coming a day when all that will be shaken, will be shaken.  The Church of Jesus Christ is going to go through a very turbulent time in the days ahead and a great testing will distinguish between those who are truly for the Lord and those who are not.  It is imperative that the Bride of Christ is found abiding in faith, hope and love; these three shall remain, but the greatest of these is love.

1 Peter 2:3-8 Brian brings a very moving message on the preciousness of Christ.  Amongst the varied fruit of a true believer, this one distinguishing mark must be present.  Is Jesus Christ precious to your heart, and if not then why not?

Matthew 26:36-45 According to NHS data, there has been a 28% increase in the number of hospital admissions for stress and anxiety in the past decade.  Between, 2017 and 2018, there were 595,000 cases reported in the UK relating to work-based stress.  However, it’s not just in the workplace, everywhere one look’s, people are under pressure.  In one of the biggest surveys into the impact of stress; the results showed that three in four Britons have at least on one occasion over the last year (2018), been so stressed that they have felt overwhelmed or unable to cope.  Undoubtedly, much of this stress and anxiety I’m sure can be alleviated by slowing down the pace but the fact of the matter is, some of it cannot be helped.  Where pressure increases, there must be an avenue for that pressure to escape; and the God-given means for the child of God, to bear the burdens given us by God is prayer!