Jesus loves you

@Livingwater Study 10 EBED-MELECH: A WORK OF RESCUE(HELP) (Scripture Portion: Jeremiah 38: 1 –- 13) The prophet Jeremiah was condemned to die (verse 4), and had been confined to prison, which was nothing more or less than a great hole dug in the ground. In this murky dungeon lay the poor prophet of the Lord (verses 6 and 9), and he was even denied food and water (verse 9). When Ebed-Melech, one of the king’s servants, a dark-skinned man of Ethiopia, heard of Jeremiah’s plight he went to the king and pleaded to be allowed to rescue him (verses 8 –- 9). The king not only gave his consent, but he commanded him to take thirty other men with him to deliver Jeremiah (verse 10). Ebed-Melech effected the deliverance, and verses 11 –- 13 describe his great work of rescue. In this simple story we have a wonderful picture of the Lord Jesus, who, away back in eternity, seeing that mankind had been plunged into a dark dungeon of death, went into the presence of the King and offered to engage...

@Livingwater Study 9 ISAIAH: STEPS INTO GOD'S BLESSING (Scripture Portion: Isaiah 6: 1 –- 9) It is the plan and purpose of God that every one of His servants should enter into an abiding experience of fulness of spiritual blessing in Jesus Christ. Many have to confess that their experience is often one of defeat and failure. What are the steps which lead to fulness of blessing –- to a life of victorious living and serving? Notice the following sequence:- 1 . The First Step : CONTEMPLATION. All vital Christian experience begins with a vision of the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah was worshipping in the temple, when, suddenly, he was over-awed with a tremendous sense of the Lord’s presence –- see verses 1 –- 5. He saw Jesus Christ in His pre-incarnate glory. “I saw the Lord……” (verse 1) –- that is, the glory that was His before He came to earth to be our Saviour – – compare John 12: 41 and 17: 5. He saw the eternal Son of God, who was (and is) one with the Father and the Holy Spir...

@Livingwater Study 8 MANASSEH: OLD TESTAMENT PRODIGAL (Scripture Portion: 2 Chronicles 33: 1 – 13) The story of Manasseh appeals to us because it is a perfect illustration of God’s dealings with men and women today. Manasseh had no thought, place or time for God; in fact, he openly defied God. Yet in a wonderful way, like the prodigal in our Lord’s parable, “he came to his senses”, and then he “came to his father” –- look up and read Luke 15: 11-24. As we read the first part of the story of Manasseh we find ourselves saying, “Surely there can be no hope for such a wicked man”; but as we read on we discover how wonderful the sovereign grace of God is –- that “no one is beyond redemption’s point”, no one is too bad to be saved and transformed –- and the grace of God can do just that! Notice how the story of Manasseh divides into three parts. 1 . THE MAN GOD LOVED Who was Manasseh? He was king of Judah, and he came to the throne at the early age of twelve. He reigned for 55 years a...

@Livingwater Study 7 OBADIAH: SERVANT OF JEHOVAH (Scripture Portion: 1 Kings 18: 1 –- 16) There are no less than thirteen Obadiahs mentioned in the Old Testament, but the man we have chosen for the subject of this study is mentioned in 1 Kings 18: 1 –- 16, and he was governor, or lord chamberlain, in the palace of King Ahab. Some have written most disparagingly about this servant of the Lord, but we read of him not only that he “feared the Lord”, but that from his youth he had “feared the Lord greatly” –- verses 3 and 12. This man had his failures, and he was certainly not an Elijah, but we see in him many noble qualities. He feared the Lord in a day of apostasy, idolatry and immorality. When Elijah asked him to seek audience with the wicked King Ahab then Obadiah was very frightened, but he overcame his fear and “went to meet Ahab”, to whom he delivered the message (verse 16). Here are some main lessons to consider: 1 . Obadiah came to know the Lord when he was quite young. W...

@Livingwater Study 6 QUEEN OF SHEBA: A ROYAL VISIT TO KING SOLOMON (Scripture Portion: 1 Kings 10: 1 –- 13) In Matthew 12: 42, the Lord Jesus authenticated the historical accuracy of this beautiful story of the queen’s visit to the king. She was a wealthy woman, and she lived and ruled in what is now Ethiopia. King Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, and he was not only wealthy and powerful, but he was also very wise. Between Jerusalem and Ethiopia were trade routes by sea and by camel caravans. Thus, there was considerable commercial activity in fragrant spices, precious stones and gold, and it was along this caravan route that the queen travelled to visit the king. As we consider this graphic and heart-gripping story, we shall notice the steps by which men and women may come to the One who declared Himself to be greater than Solomon –- even Jesus Christ our Lord –- and how they may discover in Him all that they need for time and for eternity. 1 . WHAT SHE HEARD . Verse 1 tells us ...

@Livingwater Study 5 SAUL: THE SNARE OF SPIRITISM (Scripture Portion: 1 Samuel 28: 3-25) As you read this section of scripture you will agree that there is a fearful pathos about the story as well as a solemn warning concerning the perils of this ancient and modern heresy. Why is it that people get involved with witchcraft, sorcery and the occult? Well, why did Saul? Because he was out of touch with God, depressed and troubled. Many people today, in times of bereavement and sorrow, seek comfort by trying to get into communication with their departed loved ones. It is quite evident that the Witch of Endor did not expect Samuel to speak, much less to appear (verse 12). This incident is therefore a strong argument against the theory that the medium actually contacts those who have departed, and it is an argument for what many believe to be the case — that the voices heard in seances are in reality the voices of evil spirits who impersonate the dead. The fact that Samuel, and not an im...

@Livingwater Study 4 CALEB: WHOLEHEARTED FOLLOWING(A place of total submission) (Scripture Portion: Joshua 14: 1-15) On six separate occasions the Holy Spirit has recorded the fact that Caleb wholly followed the Lord. In a day when some who believed in God were content simply to follow, Caleb followed wholly, wholeheartedly –- look up Numbers 14: 24; 32: 11-12; Deuteronomy 1: 36; Joshua 14: 8, 9 and 14. Are you a wholehearted Christian, or are you only a half-hearted Christian? 1 . There were three witnesses to the fact that Caleb wholeheartedly followed the Lord , and the same will be true of us if we are wholehearted for Him. Caleb himself was the first witness. See what he was able to say of himself –- look up Joshua 14:8. This was not a sinful boast; it was a sincere testimony. Can we say the same concerning the past years, months, days, day or hour? Moses was the second witness. See what he said of Caleb in Joshua 14: 9. If we are wholly following the Lord we not only k...

@Livingwater Study 3 RAHAB: THE WONDROUS AND POWERFUL GRACE OF GOD (Scripture Portions: Hebrews 11:31; Joshua 2: 1-24; 6: 17, 20-25) God never condones or excuses sin, but He has made a way whereby sinful and failing men and women may find deliverance from the penalty and the power of sin, and that way is the way of faith – faith, (as we shall see in this study), in One who shed His blood for us and whose precious blood was so beautifully typified in the “sure sign” of Rahab, “the line of scarlet cord” which guaranteed and secured her safety and the safety of “her family and all who belonged to her” –- look up Joshua 2: 12 and l8; 6: 25 –- and compare Hebrews 11: 31. Are we surprised when we read that “by faith the harlot (of all people!) Rahab perished not with them that believed not” (Hebrews 11: 31)? Can a sinner be translated from a house of shame into the Hall of Fame? Yes! –- look up Colossians 1: 13. Does the grace of God take a prostitute out of the land of Canaan and plac...

@Livingwater Study 2 LOT’S WIFE: A SOLEMN WARNING (INSTRUCTION).Remember Lot's wife (Scripture Portions: Genesis 19: 1-29; Luke 17: 22-37) Lot was saved, but only just saved. Lot’s wife, the character we shall consider in this study, was almost saved, but she was lost –- look up Genesis 19: 17 and 24-26. The story of this woman was referred to by the Lord Jesus when He was warning of judgment, and He referred to the days of Noah (Luke 17: 26-27) and to the days of Lot (verses 28-29). He was (and is) the Truth (John 14: 6), and He always spoke the truth. He never spoke one word out of place. The events recorded in Genesis were actual historical events, and the stories we read there are not folklore or fables; they are factual historical events, and authenticated by the Lord Himself. “Remember Lot’s wife,” He said, and then warned His hearers of the swift and terrible judgment which overtook her. He said this in connection with His second coming, which leads us to link up some o...

@Livingwater Series 7 Study 1 LOT: A SAVED SOUL – A LOST LIFE (Scripture Portions: Genesis 12: 1-5; 13: 1-13; 14: 1-16; and 19: 1-38) In this series of studies we shall concentrate our attention upon ten Old Testament characters. There is no better way to encourage ourselves and one another than by studying the lives of men and women who have served God in the past –- look up Romans 15: 4. But this line of study will also bring us solemn warnings about the dangers and pitfalls which confront us –- look up 1 Corinthians 10: 11-12. This series, therefore, will provide us with a balance of encouragements and warnings. We begin with a word of warning, as we read and study the character of Lot. The scripture references above make very sad reading. They tell us about a man who was saved, as is made clear when he is referred to as “that righteous man” in 2 Peter 2: 6 – 9. In New Testament language, Lot was a saved man, but he was only just saved; he was a worldly Christian who had a sa...

@Livingwater Study 10 PERHAPS TODAY!WILL YOU BE RAPTURABLE? The coming again of the Lord Jesus to gather together to Himself those who belong to Him is not only a sure and certain hope, but it is an imminent hope. We are sure that He is coming back to take us Home to be with Himself (John 14:3), and we believe He is coming soon –- perhaps today! This is what Peter meant when he wrote, “…the end of all things is near” (1 Peter 4:7). Peter may have had in mind the impending end of the old Jewish economy, or the approaching end of life itself, but primarily he was referring to the end of the age, to the coming again of Christ. All the early Christians believed in and expected the Lord’s return, and we today are to live in the light of this fact (James 5:8). If Jesus is coming soon then this will influence our living and our serving, for in the New Testament the truth of the second advent is always presented as a very practical matter affecting character and conduct. What difference...

@Livingwater Study 9 EARTH’S GOLDEN AGE In the last book of the Bible, we read of a time that is coming when our Lord Jesus Christ will reign on the earth for a thousand years. This will be Earth’s Golden Age, or the Millennium –- look up Revelation 20:1-7. In scripture this 1000-year period is also described as “the world to come” (Hebrews 2:5), “the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:14), “the last day” (John 6:40), “the renewal of all things” (Matthew 19:28), “the times of refreshing” (Acts 3:19), “the restitution of all things” (Acts 3:21), and “the day of Christ” (1 Corinthians 1:8; 5:5; 2 Corinthians 1:14; Philippians 1:6). For 6000 years of recorded history, men have tried all sorts of schemes and laws and regulations for improving the lot of mankind; they have striven for peace and prosperity –- but all man’s efforts have failed. There is universal unrest and distress, and conditions are only getting worse. Man’s endeavours to produce a Golden Age of peace and prosperity have failed...

@Livingwater Study 8 THE CHURCH AND THE TRIBULATION In our last study we saw that the Great Tribulation, as foretold in scripture, is a period of unparalleled trouble that is coming upon the earth when God’s judgments will be outpoured. Where will the Church be when this terrible time is ushered in? We believe the Church will be removed from the earth before the Great Tribulation begins, for Jesus will have come and gathered His own to Himself –- according to John 14:3. What are our grounds for believing this? 1 . When we consider the nature of the Church , her calling and election, her place in the divine programme and her relationship to Christ , surely the Church cannot go through the Great Tribulation. The Church is a “called-out” company of believers, of Jews and Gentiles from every nation under Heaven –- look up Acts 15:14. The place of the Church in the divine programme is in the nature of a parenthesis, and that parenthesis ends with the “mystery” of the Rapture (1 Cori...

@Livingwater Study 7 THE GREAT(MIGHTY) TRIBULATION In the Bible we read of a period of unexampled warfare, distress and suffering which is to break upon this troubled world. It is called “The Great Tribulation” (Matthew 24:21-22, 29-30; Mark 13:24; Revelation 7:14); “the time of Jacob’s trouble” (Jeremiah 30:7; Daniel 12:1); “the Day of the Lord” (Isaiah 13:9; Joel 2:1; Amos 5:18,20; Zephaniah 1:14-18; 2 Thessalonians 2:2; Revelation 6:12-17); and “the day of vengeance of our God” (Isaiah 61:2). It will be the darkest period of the world’s history, in comparison with which the cruelties of the Assyrians, the fearful sieges of Jerusalem, the tortures of the Inquisition, the campaigns of Napoleon, the bloodshed of 1914-1918, and the atrocities perpetrated under the Nazi regime will fade into insignificance. It will be the darkest night before the dawning of the day of millennial glory, for when the Great Tribulation has run its course the Lord will return to set up His glorious...

@Livingwater Study 6 THE JUDGEMENT SEAT OF CHRIST(The Saviour) The moment anyone believes on the Lord Jesus Christ, God saves him (Acts 16:30-31; Romans 10:9-10). No one deserves to be saved, and no one can ever do anything to merit or earn salvation. Salvation is altogether of grace (Ephesians 2:8-10; Titus 3:5), and it is bestowed fully and freely, in the person of the Lord Jesus Christ, upon all who accept Him and trust Him alone as their personal Saviour. Because, therefore, salvation is altogether of grace, when the Lord comes again, every Christian will be translated into His presence to be with Him for ever (1 Thessalonians 4:17-18). But there are different kinds of Christians –- the faithful and the unfaithful (Matthew 25:21), the spiritual and the worldly (1 Corinthians 3:1), and the diligent and careless (Ephesians 5:15-17). What does it matter, then, as to the kind of Christian we are, if when the Lord comes again, we shall all be caught up anyway? It matters very much i...