Bethesda Shalom

Psalm 63:1-2 “A Psalm of David, when he was in the wilderness of Judah. O God, thou art my God; early will I seek thee: my soul thirsteth for thee, my flesh longeth for thee in a dry and thirsty land, where no water is” (Ps. 63:1). David’s present physical environment was a perfect picture of how he felt inwardly.  Apart from the presence of God in exile — the Ark being left behind in Zion, David purposed with all his heart to not lose the vital reality of his relationship with God!! His soul longed for God! He longed to be in the presence of His God in the tent of His dwelling place.  I don’t know about you, but as a pilgrim walking through this world, I feel so often that I’m treading through a wilderness land.  All around me, consumerism flaunts and struts its pomp!  The glittering lights, the frills, and the trinkets.  I feel like a man in exile — outside the city walls of Zion!!  The cares of this life and the business of the day which beckons us on every hand, if we’re not careful, can leave us spiritua

Isaiah 53:3 Brother Ryan brings a strong word from the heart of God of the cost of following the Lord Jesus.  He speaks to the current moral climate of our day and calls the Church of Jesus Christ to repentance and obedience. For more information about the Ministry of Ryan please visit here: https://www.youtube.com/@lastdayspulpitministry8796

Romans 11:11-14  “I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy” (Romans 11:11). One commentator, commentating on the above said this:  “It is a matter for profound regret that just as Israel refused to accept this salvation when it was offered to them, so the Gentiles have all too often refused to make Israel envious. Instead of showing to God’s ancient people the attractiveness of the Christian way, Christians have characteristically treated the Jews with hatred, prejudice, persecution, malice, and all uncharitableness. Christians should not take this passage calmly”.  Christian, it is our solemn duty, not only to take the gospel to the Jew first by word, through the proclamation of the gospel (Rom. 1:16); it is also our solemn duty to provoke them to jealousy by the gospel of our lives!  What did Jesus say?   “Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neit

Psalm 127:1 “Trowel and hammer, saw and plane are instruments of vanity unless the Lord be the Master-builder”.  Charles Spurgeon goes on to say: “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.” Around the wall the sentinels pace with constant step; but yet the city is betrayed unless the unsleeping Watcher is with them. We are not safe because of watchmen if Jehovah refuses to watch over us. Even if the guards are wakeful, and do their duty, still the place may be surprised if God be not there. “I, the Lord, do keep it,” is better than an army of sleepless guards. Note that the Psalmist does not bid the builder cease from labouring, nor suggest that watchmen should neglect their duty, nor that men should show their trust in God by doing nothing: nay, he supposes that they will do all that they can do, and then he forbids their fixing their trust in what they have done, and assures them that all creature effort will be in vain unless the Creator puts forth his power, to render second causes

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 Brethren, the longer I journey in this Christian walk, the more I’m made to feel my need for grace. What is grace simply defined? The kindness of God! God’s favourable countenance towards those that can’t help themselves!  Brothers and sisters, EVER I want to fall within this category!!  Now I  understand that to the world, weakness is a BAD thing — a thing to be avoided, something to be scorned and ridiculed.  From a child up, we’re told to stand firm, stick out our chests, and fight our way through life!!  But as one comes to Christ and allows the Word of God to renew their thinking, and the Holy Spirit to transform their mind, one comes to the place of glorying in weakness.  “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for C

Daniel 7:25 When the enemy encounters a Christian standing in the armour of God, he knows full well that he can’t just bring him down.  He’s too strong!!  “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11).  What’s he going to do?  He will attempt to wear out the Saints of God.  If the city is too strong to conquer in one swift effort, wear it down over a sustained period and then go up and take it!!!

Leviticus 25:20-22 When God asks us to trust Him, seldom is it ever convenient for us to do so.  As human beings we like things to be smooth and pain-free; we don’t cope too well with being inconvenienced.  “So long as what’s being asked of me doesn't threaten my comfort, then I’m happy to consider it”.  But when God comes asking in a matter requiring my obedience, nine times out of ten it will come at a personal inconvenience to me.  You say, Pastor, why does it have to be on this wise?  Why can’t God make it easier for us?  My simple answer is...God wants us to trust Him!!! 

Revelation 21:1-7 One day there shall be a new heaven and earth, where the sea shall be no more.  One day there shall come down from God out of heaven, a new Jerusalem prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.  One day a great voice shall be heard out of heaven saying, “...Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God” (Rev. 21:3).  One day God shall wipe away all tears from our eyes and there shall be no more crying or sorrow!  One day there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain for these former things/earthly things shall pass away. Oh Brothers and Sisters, what precious things shall be ours one day!!

Matthew 11:28-30 It’s been rightly said, the devil makes work for idle hands, but did you know the devil can be just as much in business as he is in idleness?  If he can’t get you one way, he’ll get you another way, and one of his most disguised weapons is placing upon the backs of well-meaning Christians, the burden of false guilt!  A true burden from the Lord is a burden to be given back to God in prayer.  It has an outflow/release value through which the pressure can be eased.  By way of contrast; a false burden has no outflow, it’s a pressure cooker if you like without the release valve!!  It is a counterfeit — it’s not a genuine article.  It sometimes feels like the real, but alas, it soon reveals itself to be a fraud.  The pressure is seemingly there, but upon inspection, instead of a pure conviction, the pressure/burden is tainted with accusatory blame and wave after wave of false guilt.  One quickly realises, this is not the life-giving conviction of God the Holy Ghost but rather the life-sucking co

Exodus 32:26 The question posed by the title of this sermon is one of great importance. There are many questions a man can be asked and understandably, there’s an order of importance to each one.  “What do you want to eat for dinner?” is a valid question, and whilst it is meaningful, i.e. we do have some feelings about how we answer, we wouldn’t consider the question to be critical.  Compare that with other questions, like, “Who do you want to marry?”, or “Who do you want to include in your will”, and I think you get the point I’m trying to make.  In enquiring of the Lord, what it was that He would have me to bring to share with you, I have not been able to shake from my thinking a question that has gone round and round in my mind.  You say, what’s the question?  In six words I give it to you; “Who Is on the LORD’S side?”. 

1 Peter 3:7 One of the chief reasons why prayer has been abandoned en masse amongst the assembly of God is because of unbelief.  God’s people, whether they want to admit it or not, do not believe in a God who answers prayer; and because of this the prayer closets are empty and the corporate prayer meetings have long been forsaken!! As one looks at the weekly calendar of Church activities, one will find every sort of meeting going, from Zumba through to tiny tots, but to see any serious coming together for the purpose of prayer, one will generally look in vain to find even the slightest whiff.  This sermon is not aimed at the prayerless but at the praying.  In it, I ask the question; “Why do the prayers of God’s people largely go unanswered?”  In answer to it,  I present five Biblical reasons, hindrances to answered prayer.

Acts 12:1-5 It is with joy, I am able to enclose this month's featured sermon, titled "Only God Could Have Done It!".  May it be a blessing to your soul. What farmer sows the precious seed, never expecting to reap a harvest? What fisherman goes out to sea, casting out his nets but never expecting to receive a catch?  On the contrary, a vineyard is planted in hope of new wine, and the foundations are laid in the hope of a building being raised. Could you imagine a man going out to find gold with the predetermined mindset of finding only a rusty bit of old tin?  Could you imagine a beggar, sitting by the roadside fully persuaded that by the end of the day, he’d be no better off?  Why, he wouldn’t bother leaving his shack, he’d give up the ghost there and then!  No one operates like this, even in the worst of environments, hope, no matter how small, keeps the souls of men from fainting!  If it is thus in the world, why is it that when it comes to prayer, so many of God’s people have cast off this enduring qual

Matthew 26:41 No one ever plans to go adrift, just like no one ever plans to get lost!  Nine times out of ten, it happens through complacency and lack of watchfulness.  We take our eye off the ball, we lose sight of the dangers of the environment we’re in, and before long, it suddenly dawns upon us that we’ve lost our way!  In this sermon, a warning shot is fired across the bow, warning the Church against spiritual drift.

Romans 6:14 What strongholds are you pulling down at present in your life?  Does sin reign unchecked in your life?  Are you gaining mastery over sinful lusts and passions, or are they gaining mastery over you?  Does sin have dominion over you or do you have dominion over sin? Brothers and Sisters, we must vow to fight!  We’re in a war and as God said to Cain, “...sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” (Gen. 4:7).  You say, but Brother, the sinful desires are so strong, I can barely resist the pull towards evil!  I hear you! But can I ask you this question, which man are you feeding?  The carnal man or the spiritual man?  Your flesh or your spirit?   There’s a principle that holds true, “...whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7).  If I sow a field full of tares/weeds, then it should be of no surprise if when I come back after several months, the field is overgrown with weeds!!  I’m not going to find a healthy crop of wheat Maize, for that

1 Corinthians 4:20 The desperate need of the Church in this perilous hour is not to discover another five-step program for Church growth.  See where the arm of the flesh has gotten the Bride of Christ, she looks just like the world!! Where is the cutting distinction?  Where is the Kingdom of God in the midst of her?  Where is the unfettered reign of Christ and the overflow of His Spirit?  Instead, we’ve exchanged divine power for earthly power; God’s wisdom for man’s wisdom, and the saddest thing about it is, God’s people don’t know it any other way!!  They’re happy to have it so!!  The number one question that should be being asked is not, “How can we get people back into Church; but how can we get God back in!!”  FRIENDS, WE NEED GOD!!  We need urgently to recover again the power of the Kingdom of Heaven, “For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power” (1 Cor. 4:20).

As Jason walks you through the Scriptures, may the Lord richly bless you as you learn about sanctification.

Matthew 25:14-30 Which one of us doesn’t like to hear the words “well done”?  Whether from a boss at work, or a family member in the home; those two simple words spoken in sincerity mean so much!  Who doesn’t like to be encouraged?  Children especially rejoice to hear the words “well done” — as a former teacher, I can vouch for that first-hand and as a daddy, I can say the same. When you tell a little one “well done”, and you say it with heartfelt meaning, watch their tiny faces respond as they beam from ear to ear like a Cheshire cat!  There’s something about the human race, it matters not how old we are, there’s a God-given trait within our DNA, a desire deep inside to please others in a job well done.  This sermon is an appeal to Christian service—a call to faithfulness in the talents entrusted to us by the Lord. 

Session 4 of 4 The Sanctuary Day Conference 2023 Click below for more information about The Sanctuary Conference: www.sanctuaryconference.org Listen to other sermons by Stephen Riddell: https://www.lifeboatfellowship.com/

Session 3 of 4 The Sanctuary Day Conference 2023 Click below for more information about The Sanctuary Conference: www.sanctuaryconference.org Listen to other sermons by Paul M. Williams: www.bethesdashalom.org/

Session 2 of 4 Click below for more information about The Sanctuary Conference: www.sanctuaryconference.org Listen to other sermons by Stephen Riddell: https://www.lifeboatfellowship.com/