Bethesda Shalom

1 Corinthians 15:9-11 There exists three types of Christian workers in the field of Christian service today. The third it seems is more rare than coloured diamonds, the first and second more common than tin! Behold the first type of Christian worker; his back bowed over, his hands limp, his knees frail – a most pitiful fellow! If one could peer across to view him head on, one would see a tiresome soul; a withering face and a sorrowful look tells more than speech ever could. Behold the Christian worker with much labour and no grace! Consider the second type, fat and overweight, a most lazy individual - see him slouched on the couch fast asleep. Behold the Christian worker with much grace but no labour!! It is the third of our three that we turn our attention to in this sermon as a model of how it should be in the sphere of Christian service, labouring under the grace of God!! Such a one I heard cry aloud, “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can wok” (Jn. 9

Apologists for the religion of Islam often play the slave card in an attempt to draw black Afro-Caribbeans away from Christianity to the religion of Islam. Up until now, the wind has only been blowing in one direction in exposing the regrettable tie between those professing to be Christian and their involvement in the transatlantic slave trade. That is until now… Jay Smith brings devastating evidence that exposes the historic link between Islam and Black Slavery and demands an answer! Please listen carefully to what he shares and consider the evidence he shares.

Much rhetoric is being banded around in our Western society, even by Christians, putting forth the notion that the God of the bible and the God of Islam are essentially the same God.   In classic Jay Smith fashion, Jay brings a clear comparison between the religions of Christianity and Islam and blows this myth out of the water.

2 Kings 18:1-6 Of King Hezekiah, it was said, “And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did”.  Hezekiah was a very special king in that he loved the Lord his God and cleaved to Him with all is heart!!  When ascending the throne of the Monarch, Hezekiah set his heart to rededicate the nation back to God.  He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves.  However, in the passage of Scripture before us in this sermon, reference is also made of him breaking in pieces the brazen serpent which Moses had made!  For 800 years, no reference is made in the records of Scripture of this brazen serpent until now!  What once had been a blessing to Israel and a means of their healing, had now turned to be a snare! This sermon is a warning and a challenge to Christians not to lose sight of God in the midst of His blessings.  How many Christians, Churches, denominations and ministries have known the blessing of God and over time have allowed tha

Hebrews 11 What is faith?  There exists some confusion amongst Christians as to what constitutes true biblical faith.  Due to the error of the so-called Word of Faith Movement, many have come to have an unbiblical view of faith.  We’re told that whatever we desire we shall receive and if we don’t then it is because we lack the faith!  However, when one takes the whole counsel of the New Testament, one quickly comes to realise that faith is not about bending the will of God in an attempt to get our own way but rather, faith is man’s response to what God has said!!  God first speaks and we take Him at His Word and exercise obedience – this is biblical faith!!     In the troubling times in which we live, Christ is every calling His sheep to follow Him!  My sheep, hear my voice…This sermon is an exhortation and a word of encouragement for the Body of Christ to live and walk again by faith "...for without faith, it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rew

Acts 8:1-4 North Korea ranks first place in its relentless, systematic persecution of Christians via its communist dictator Kim Jong Un.  Worship of the ruling Kim family is mandatory for all, and those failing to comply are imprisoned, tortured or killed.  Across the Muslim world in countries such as Somalia, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Sudan, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Yemen; those daring to leave the ranks of Islam are martyred for their faith in Jesus Christ.  The only thing that sets them apart from us in the West is mere location!  Yet, we see in my own country of Great Britain, the storm clouds beginning to gather momentum and increased levels of persecution arising on the back of so called “British Values” and “Diversity”.  What is our response to be when persecution comes to our doorstep on account of our faith in Jesus Christ?  Do we stay or do we go?  Do we stand and remain or do we retreat and flee?  This sermon seeks to bring a balanced and biblical answer to this question that will serve to help prepare t

Matthew 6:19-34 When demanded of the Pharisees, “when the kingdom of God should come”, Jesus responded by saying: “The kingdom of God cometh not with observation:  Neither shall they say, Lo here! Or, lo there! For behold, the kingdom is within you” (Lk. 17:20-21).  If indeed it be the case that the King of kings has come to establish His kingdom in the hearts of men and to take His seat upon the throne of our lives, what ought to be the response of the Christian?  Well the words of our Lord come to mind:  “Not my will, but thine be done”.  Could it be that the root of the cause of so little growth in the lives of professing believers is that this very issue of the kingdom of God has not even been considered let alone embraced? As a new year has dawned, this sermon is an exhortation and call for Christians to set in order, first things first for 2017.  A divided heart given over to the riches and cares of this world, will always and forever be a stumbling block to the growth and expansion of the kingdom of Go

Ephesians 6:10-18 A war has been raging for some 2000 years.  Not a single generation has been exempt and not a day has passed wherein the conflict has ceased.  It is a battle in the heavenly realms, reaching down to earth; a spiritual war involving the blood bought children of God and the forces of demonic darkness.  It is crucial in this critical hour, that the Saints of God have a biblical understanding of Spiritual Warfare and how they are to stand in the evil day. The passage before us in this sermon, more than adequately furnishes a sound exposition of the topic of spiritual warfare and gives plain instruction on how the child of God is to stand in the midst thereof.

Romans 16:17-27 In earnest concern, Paul instructs the Church at Rome with passion, to mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which they had learned and to avoid them.  When one understands the heart of God concerning His flock and the prayers of Christ that His Church may be one; insight is gleaned and understanding is gained as it relates to the importance of unity.  One begins to see the utter wickedness and evil of a divisive person!  The Greek word for division is where we get our English word for dichotomy, which means to cut into two parts.  The Word of God is clear; we are to mark such people, and to have nothing to do with them, for such serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and their own conceited agendas!! It is with thankfulness to God, that we conclude this teaching series on the Book of Romans.   May the Lord be glorified in all that has been shared and may we strive to walk in the reality of it!!

Romans 16:1-11 All I’m sure are familiar with the concept of a roll of honour, a list of names of those counted worthy of receiving honour; of being highly esteemed in the sight of men and thus to be regarded with great respect.  In the chapter before us, Paul lists his own roll call of honour, of faithful Saints counted worthy of double honour on account of their faithful labours of service in Christ towards the Brethren, not least towards Paul himself.  Among many of the nobles, are the names of women, the first of which being Phebe, who through her labour of love, received a commendation from Paul. This sermon is an exhortation to the Body of Christ, to strive for that most honourable of all Christian labours, that of Christian service in the area of helps.     

Romans 15:25-33 Having dealt already at length concerning the matter of Christian love, in a variety of Christian contexts throughout this most blessed epistle to the Romans; it is not surprising that once again before long, Paul revisits this great theme in what is yet another application of its manifold beauty!!  Its depths can never be plummeted, its heights never scaled – inexhaustible, indispensable, exceeding all limits, uncontainable, unexpendable – LOVE!! In the verses before us in this sermon, we find yet another application of love as it pertains to Christian giving.  We take a closer look at this expression of love and allow the Scriptures to speak for themselves on this important matter.  “As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially them who are of the household of faith” (Gal. 6:10)  

Romans 15:20-24 The 19th century has been dubbed “the greatest century of missions”.  In 1793, the modern missionary movement was birthed into being by a young Baptist minister by the name of William Carey.  Over the next 100 years, missionaries were sent out from this tiny country of Great Britain, to every corner of the world.  Whole tribes were converted from pagan idolatry and disciples made from every nation!  In just 100 years, the world went from being 25% evangelised to 51% evangelised with the number of professing Christians more than doubling!  In 1900, just under half of all international missionaries came from the British Isles!  Fast forward 100 years to the 21st century and that figure now stands at a shameful 3.75%!! This sermon is a wake-up call and a challenge to the Body of Christ to rise up in this generation and to make themselves available and willing to step out into missionary endeavour as God would lead!!

Romans 15:14-19 In my 16 years of being a Christian, I have found that within the professing Body of Christ, there generally exists two extremes when it comes to understanding the person and work of the Holy Spirit.  On one extreme, there are those who sacrifice biblical doctrine on the altar of experience and those on the other extreme, those who sacrifice experience on the altar of learning.  This sermon is a call to a middle ground; the Bible in one hand, governing our experience in the other.  To accept a spiritual experience outside the framework of Holy Scripture is a sure recipe for deception; yet to deny a genuine work of the Holy Spirit operating within the God given parameters of the Word of God is to do great insult and injury to the person of the Holy Spirit and to render the Body of Christ a spiritual handicap.  We take a look at a biblical approach to understanding the ministry and power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:8-13 There are many mysteries in the universe yet unsolved by man; veiled from his sight, concealed from his understanding; beyond his comprehension.  Such mysteries have always fascinated mankind, beholding the wonder and the splendour, yet at a loss how to furnish an adequate explanation.  The Apostle Paul spoke much of the mystery of the gospel.  The prophets of old foretold of a future time when the Gentiles would join the household of Israel to praise the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  The fact that this was going to happen was no mystery yet the “how” of this revelation was!  Two people groups, poles apart, separated by the Law.  Yet Paul expounds this great mystery of the gospel, that the Gentiles should be fellow heirs, and of the same body, and partakers of His promise in Christ by the gospel! 

Romans 15:1-7 It’s one things to fight a common enemy without – wars are fought and won on such a basis.  One army sets themselves in array against another and a bloody battle is fought until one side gains the victory.  However, it’s quite another thing altogether when the enemies of a man are those within his own household; those within his own ranks!  How then shall the battle be won?  Indeed our Lord well summed up the tragedy and the certainty of defeat when he said:  “And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand” (Mk. 3:25). This sermon is a challenging exhortation for the body of Christ to grow up into Christian maturity; to put away the infighting and pride and instead to seek to forbear with one another in love and in so doing to preserve the unity of the Holy Spirit in the bond of peace!!

Romans 14 There are some things in the Christian religion too great to move; truths that are non-negotiable, not open for debate, off limits and out of bounds!  These great doctrines of our faith pertaining to the person, nature and work of Jesus Christ and the means by which salvation comes to man are not open for discussion!  To dispense of these pillars is to destroy the very foundation upon which Christianity stands.  That said, there are matters of less importance, matters of Christian conscience which do allow for a difference in application and flexibility within the growing members of the Body of Christ. In this sermon, we seek delicately and biblically to set out in love matters pertaining to Christian conscience.  Which issues are matters of conscience and which are morally binding?  How are we to conduct ourselves toward one another on matters of conscience?  All these questions and more, we seek to answer in this teaching sermon.    

Romans 13:8-14 The Word of God is clear…”If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar; for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? (1 Jn. 4:20).  Brethren, be not deceived, our love for Him who we cannot see is manifest to the degree that we love one another!!  When we think of the great love that He has demonstrated towards us in sending His Son to die on the cross – Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all!!! Dear Brethren, owe no man anything, but to love one another!  The Lord’s coming is at hand and the night is far spent – It’s high time to awake out of sleep and to walk as children of the light!!!           

Romans 13:1-7 Great misunderstanding exists among some believers regarding our relationship to governing authorities.  Some boast that they have only one King to whom they owe their allegiance and thus they break the law of the land!  Paul takes very strong objection against such a view and instructs believers that they are to recognise that governing authorities have received their seat of power from God.  God’s ministers they are, to execute wrath and justice in His place!  As Christians we are not to be rebels in our cause but rather we are to subject ourselves to those God has placed over us.  In this sermon, a clear exhortation is delivered for Christians to be law abiding citizens.  Recognising on one hand our citizenship in heaven, but on the other, our citizenship on earth; it is not Caesar or Christ, but both, so long as the law of Caesar does not contravene the law of God!!

Like a man with only 30 seconds to live in which to speak his departing words; Paul with his finger on the trigger, fires out no less than 32 heart searching commands.  Each command is like the bullet of a trained marksman, finding its way to its given target!  Every word counting to encourage, reprove, exhort and edify the Body of Jesus Christ.  If there was a word to sum up the vast array of words found in the passage before us, it would be the word love!  If there was a container in which the whole sum of words could be stored, it would have written across it the word love!! This sermon is a mighty challenge and a call to earnest examination of the heart and conduct.  The single greatest sign of maturity in the life of a Christian is not how much knowledge is contained in one’s head but rather, the degree to which one’s life is conformed to a life of love.  

Romans 12:3-8 As one considers the general perception of what Church is supposed to be, one cannot help but sense that there is a great misunderstanding on the part of many regarding this matter.  Content it seems the great crowds are, Sunday after Sunday, to pour rank and file into a building to occupy the pews and receive their full.  Yet, Jesus’ great high priestly payer in John 17 was that His body the Church would be one; united in a love so evident that the world would believe that we are His disciples! Wrong perception breeds wrong attitude, which in turn breeds wrong conduct.  In this sermon the picture of a functioning body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplies is set firmly before the listener.  Are you operating in your calling/gifting and if so, to what degree of sacrifice and service?  Oh that we might be not just be receivers and takers!  Would to God that we would become givers, serving and blessing one another in our calling and gifting, growing up as one body