Bethesda Shalom

Part 4 If you were tasked with answering the question, “…how do I know if I have a demon”?  How would you respond?  In the case of the Gadarene Demoniac, you wouldn’t even need to be a Christian to spot something was seriously wrong with the man.  “Normal” people don’t live naked among the tombs, screaming and cutting themselves with stones.  “Normal” people don’t speak in the second person plural!  Admittedly, this is an extreme case, but I want to submit, those in the Bible possessed with demons are known to be, not only by themselves but by those coming into contact with them. Why do I take the time to point out the patently obvious? Those within the deliverance movement would have us understand that the vast majority of believers in Jesus have demons in them, but the problem is, they know it not!  If this is the case, the question that follows is, how is one to identify whether or not they have a demon from which they need deliverance?  It is this question that is the focus of this fourth teaching part. D

2 Samuel 11:1 There’s something inherent within the heart of man; an instinct that he carries with him from birth.  If tasked with the mission of travelling from A to B to C, if there’s a route that will take him straight from A to C, he's sure to find it out!  It’s the lazy postman syndrome, rather than go up the path and down the next, he cuts straight across the lawn, much to the annoyance of the resident whose garden it is!  Go to a rectangular field and look for the public right of way.  Seldom is it ever the two paths forming a right angle, it’s usually always the diagonal distance right through. Now in this particular instance, mathematically speaking, it is always profitable to cut the corner.  But what about the spiritual? What happens when God’s people begin cutting corners in matters of holiness?  Tragedy always follows in its wake. In this sermon, we look at the fall of King David and try to lessons for us today.

Part 3 We have spent the last two teachings introducing the topic of deliverance ministry and the key architects who helped shape and fashion it in its formative years in the early 1960s and 70s.  Due to the anecdotal nature of the movement, it is impossible to speak with one united voice for all the leading figures within it.  However, what we are able to do is examine the teachings of two of the founding fathers of the movement, Dr. Derek Prince and Mr. Frank Hammond.  I think it would be fair to say, no two other people have done more to shape and influence the deliverance ministry movement than these two individuals.  Frank Hammond, for his legendary book “Pigs in the Parlor”, and Derek Prince, for his pioneering efforts in this field long before Frank Hammond ever got involved in the deliverance ministry. It may be that as you have heard the teachings thus far critiquing deliverance, you have asked yourself the question, how on earth can Christians get sucked in by this.  How as a Christian, can I be dem

1 Samuel 16:6-7 Imagine for a moment, if upon awaking out of sleep, you were caught up to the third heaven beholding things indescribable, and hearing words unspeakable, “...which it is not lawful for a man to utter”. Suddenly, you find yourself before a throne and glancing upward, you see one seated upon the throne, high and lifted up.  “...he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone” (Rev. 4:3).  Oh, what a scene most glorious!  A voice is heard coming from around the throne, “Who hath directed the Spirit of the LORD, or being his counsellor hath taught him? With whom took he counsel, and who instructed him, and taught him in the path of judgment, and taught him knowledge, and shewed to him the way of understanding?” (Is. 40:13-14).  By this point you’re on your face, prostrate before the majesty of God, when suddenly a voice is heard; “Let him be His counsellor”.  Terror grips your soul and before you can even think,  another sounds aloud, “What shall he counsel?”, to which he gives answ

Part 2 – Derek Prince Derek was born into a military family in Bangalore, India in 1915.  At the age of 13, Derek won a scholarship to the prestigious Eton College, England where he studied Greek and Latin.  From Eton, he progressed to Cambridge University where he furthered his understanding of languages, graduating with first-class honours in Classical Tripos (a course studying Greek and Latin languages, culture, and history).  Academically, Derek Prince was a brilliant man, but if there’s one thing I’ve learned over time it’s this; brilliance in one area of expertise does not make you brilliant in every field of expertise.  No one can question the academic background of Dr. Derek Prince, but when it comes to his revelations and ideas on demonology, it is shocking!  So much of what Dr. Prince has to say about this topic is purely anecdotal, it is his experiences, his encounters.  When he does turn to the text of Scripture in an effort to support what he is saying, his exegesis at the best of times leaves li

James 4:14 James, writing under the inspiration of God, asks his audience a question —and by extension, to us also, “For what is your life?”  Everyman thinketh in his heart, though he may not say it, LONG…PLENTEOUS...OF GREAT LENGTH!!!!  But what saith James?  “It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away”.  Selah!!  Job puts it this way, “Man that is born of a woman is of few days...He cometh forth like a flower, and is cut down: he fleeth also as a shadow, and continueth not” (Job 14:1-2). “Behold (saith David), thou hast made my days as an handbreadth; and mine age is as nothing before thee: verily every man at his best state is altogether vanity. Selah” (Ps. 39:5).  Tell me Christian, what are you living for, or can I put it this way, WHO are you living for?  Oh that each one us might say, “For me to live is Christ” (Phil. 1:21). 

Part 1 – An Introduction to Deliverance Ministry There exists today a growing movement that is making vast inroads into the lives of many who profess faith in Jesus. This movement goes by the name of “Deliverance Ministry” and is prevalent most, within Pentecostal and Charismatic circles. Proponents of this movement take for their modus operandi, isolated incidents recorded in the Gospels – like the woman with the spirit of infirmity, and the mute man possessed with a devil – to build a case for this being a normative experience in the life of every Christian. Those holding to this teaching believe that the majority of sin, sickness, and disease in the life of a believer is a result of them having demons. Want to get free from your toothache? Cast out the demon of toothache! Suffering from long-term depression? You need deliverance…get the demon of migraine cast out of you and you’ll be right as rain! Struggling with lust? I discern that you have a demon of lust and if you ever want to stand a fighting chance

Proverbs 12:15 You’ve all heard the saying, “Feelings come, and feelings go” — how true this maxim is!!  I thank God for the gift of feeling, our emotions are given to us by our Creator.  It was never God’s design to make robots.  I don’t know if you ever noticed, but robots don’t have feelings — they do what they’re programmed to do. You can drive a robot off a cliff and you’re never going here it complain!  Humans on the other hand are made to feel.  When we’re sad, we cry, when happy, we laugh!!  When in love, we don’t reach for the Oxford dictionary to search for a definition, every fiber of our being experiences it!! Now, whilst feelings can be a tremendous blessing to us, they can also be a great curse.  Many a man acted rashly in a moment of hot temper based on feeling, only to regret it on the morrow in the cool light of a new day.  We can think of all types of thoughts which in turn induce all manner of feelings, but we can be totally wrong in our thinking!!  Only a fool allows his life to be governe

Genesis 1:1-3 It is upon my heart to speak to you about the spiritual stirrings of God amidst unfavourable times of spiritual depression!!  Is this not an apt topic for the crisis hour in which we find ourselves?  As I look around, after the natural eye, I don’t find much encouragement outwardly to commend much hope to my soul. As a nation, spiritually, we’re not in a good place — darkness covers the face of the deep, and by all natural reasoning, it seems that the light has been extinguished, never to rise upon the land again!!  Yet, as one traces the moving of the Spirit in the history of the pages of God’s Word, one sees time and again, where darkness abounded, the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the deep and God said, let there be light and there was light!!  It is my firm conviction, that God is at work, stirring the hearts of His people to pray because it is His desire to move again in revival power!

David Donovan brings a very powerful word on the primary need for godliness! May the Lord greatly minister to your heart. For more information about the ministry of New Foundations, please visit: https://newfoundations.org.uk/

Luke 22:31-34 On 3 September 1939, France declared war on Germany following the German invasion of Poland.  Between 10 May and 22 June 1940, in a six-week lightning campaign, Germany’s armed forces overran Holland, Belgium, and Luxemburg, humiliating the British and defeating the French.  During the fighting, the British, French, and Belgium forces had been pushed back to the French Port of Dunkirk.  Hundreds of thousands of allied troops were left stranded on the beaches of Dunkirk, surrounded by massive German armies consisting of many more troops and tanks — it seemed an almost foregone conclusion.  Knowing the peril of the moment, on May 24th, 1940, King George VI addressed the British nation, calling for a national day of prayer!  On that self-same day, for reasons still unknown, Hitler suddenly and unexpectedly commanded the advancing Panzer tanks to halt, giving the allied forces 3 invaluable days of reprieve.  On May 26th, 1940 the nation of Britain went to prayer committing their cause to Almighty Go

Luke 6:27-36 In his classic commentary on the Bible, Adam Clarke writes concerning mercy: “A merciful or compassionate man easily forgets injuries; pardons them without being solicited; and does not permit repeated returns of ingratitude to deter him from doing good, even to the unthankful and the unholy”.  Can I ask you?  Are you merciful?  Do you extend mercy towards those who wrong you?  I understand all about justice and principles, “...they’ve done this to me and so why should I show them kindness in return?”  Dear soul, allow mercy to have its work in you, and you’ll soon be extending the hand of grace!!  Hear the words of Jesus Christ, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Lk. 6:36).

Acts 23:23-24 When we think of the life of the Apostle Paul, many of us if we’re not careful, can have a distorted view of how things really were for this man of God.  We look at the self-professed Apostles of today and by comparison, they live like superstars. From the very start, the Lord gave word to Ananias, “...Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake” (Acts 9:15-16).  How would you fancy a call like that?  Paul didn’t shrink away from this calling but embraced it!  This sermon is a call to embrace the cross of Jesus Christ.  There are no coincidences with God.  “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). 

Genesis 14:14                                                                                  One of the most ancient strategies of war is that of ambush.  As one looks a little closer at what is entailed in an ambush, two key ingredients will come up again and again — surprise and concealment!  One dictionary defines ambush as “an act of hiding, waiting for others to appear, and then suddenly attacking them”. One of the hardest things to respond to is an ambush, you simply don’t see it coming!!!  You’re caught left-field when your guard is down when you least suspect it, and inevitably, you’re fighting from the disadvantage of recovery.  We have a common foe who is not unaccustomed to this mode of war.  Satan is a dirty fighter and we must learn how to stand our ground on the day of his special assault.  Play the man, stand firm in the fight, and see what God will do!

James 1:5-8 There are many things in life that a man seeks after, much by a way of desire that his soul longs for.  Some seek after riches, while others seek fame; some seek after happiness, and others peace of mind; some seek after freedom and others find fulfilment in family.  May I ask you, what it is that you seek after? What is that prized possession that your heart goes a longing for? I think of a man by the name of King Solomon.  If ever a man had riches, it was he, if ever a man had a reputation, he was unequalled!  Yet, for all his many qualities, none were comparable to that one defining quality of wisdom that singularly set this king apart! Would you have the wisdom to know what to do in any given situation?  Would you have the understanding to discern between good and evil?  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him” (Jms. 1:5) 

Hebrews 13:1 Here we are again, revisiting a topic that I know each one of you are only too familiar with.  You say, Preacher, isn’t there something else we can study besides this matter of love? Is there not some other treasure that you can unearth for us from Holy Writ? Brother, that’s like saying, we’ve had enough of you mining for gold, isn’t there something else you can unearth, like silver or tin, or a lump of iron or copper?  Well, I can, but you do realise that these other metals whilst important are not to be compared with the precious worth of gold?  As pertaining to that first commandment of importance, that “…royal law according to the scripture, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Jms. 2:8), it has no equal...no rival by which to compare. It stands in a league of its own, chief among the metals! Of all the many aspects of love, one could choose to look at, in this sermon we choose to look at the continuation of love seen in the exhortation given to the Hebrews, “Let brotherly love continue

1 Corinthians 1:1 In this sermon, three points are raised pertaining to the would-be Christian Worker that are indispensable if one would work for Jesus Christ. #1. The nature of the Christian worker, #2. The call of the Christian worker and #3. The labour of the Christian worker.    May you prayerfully consider each of these points and examine your life in the light of them.

Matthew 11:28-30 On 6 February 2022, Queen Elizabeth II became the first ever British monarch to celebrate a platinum jubilee.  Seven months after celebrating this epic event, she departed from this world. Tomorrow (Monday 19th September 2022), the body of Queen Elizabeth II will be laid to rest next to her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh in the King George VI Memorial Chapel inside the walls of Windsor Castle.  Her state funeral will be attended by more than 2000 official guests, including hundreds of heads of state and foreign dignitaries, spanning the Commonwealth and beyond.  It is expected that more than 4 billion people from around the world will watch the state funeral live, smashing the record for the most-watched broadcast of all time.  Now while there will be millions turning up in London to show their support, and billions tuning in across the world to watch it via broadcast, one thing is for sure, there won’t be anywhere near that number of people present inside Westminster Abbey!  Attendance to th

Exodus 23:23-33 I’ll never forget the words of the late Vance Havner, that mighty prophet of a bygone era; though he hath since passed into glory, his witty words have been left unto us as gold and precious stones.  He said this, “When the Lord's white sheep become dirty grey, all the black sheep feel more comfortable”.  We are living in a day where sin is tolerated in the personal lives of God’s people and excused from the pulpit in every quarter. Are you tolerating things in your life that you know you shouldn’t?  Sins which God has shone light upon and yet you won’t put them out of your lives!!  Have you let the Canaanites live in the land — the Hivite, and the Hittite, when the clear command of God was to destroy them!? 

2 Timothy 2:20-21 As one looks within the Body of Christ today at large, no matter which direction one casts their sight to look, one thing very readily becomes apparent, namely this, want of vessels for the service of the King!  Where are the vessels of honour? Where are the vessels of use?  It’s not any vessel that is of use to God but, “...a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use”.  Even the very standards of the world would allow for the same.  What diplomat sitting at the table of royalty, has food served to them on paper plates?  Why the best bone china is kept in reserve for such an occasion!  Which guest attending a state banquet, is served wine in plastic beakers?  Rather, the best glassware is brought out for such regal events. Are you one such vessel of use?  A vessel unto honour, meet for the Master’s use?  May the Lord minister to your heart and prepare you as such for His glory!