Jesus loves you

@Livingwater Study 10 TRIUMPHING IN TROUBLE (Scripture Portion: Psalm 142: 1-7) It was Joseph Parker, the London preacher of the 19th century, who said, “No preacher would ever lack a congregation if he preached to troubled hearts.” Of course he was right, for when we address our words to troubled hearts we are sure that we are speaking to everyone in the congregation or who reads our words, for everyone, everywhere, sooner or later experiences trouble and trial –- look up Psalm 34:19 (first part). In this 142nd psalm we find the writer, David, in great trouble; he speaks in verse 2 of “my trouble”, and the whole psalm teaches us how to be triumphant in trouble –- not how to escape trouble, but how to glorify God in the midst of trouble. 1 . WHAT ARE WE TOLD ABOUT DAVID ’ S TROUBLE ? It is important to see how David reacted to his trouble, but before we can do this, notice what he tells us about the nature of his trouble. David at this time was a fugitive and his fortunes were at...

@Livingwater Study 9 GETTING THE MISSIONARY VISION (Scripture Portion: Romans 10: 1-17) In this study we are to think of the need for every Christian and for every church to become missionary-minded and missionary-hearted. The title of our study implies that there are many Christians and churches who have little or no missionary vision. Unfortunately, this is true. Some Christians are not very concerned for the salvation of souls here at home, and they are still less concerned for the salvation of the millions of lost souls in other lands. Some even say that they “do not believe in missionary work”; others have been heard to say that, “Charity begins at home”; still others have been overwhelmed with the immensity of the task and have cried out, “The task is impossible!”; and a few uninstructed Christians have even said, “Why interfere with the heathen? They have their own religions, and we should not go and upset their culture!” A missionary vision may be defined as: “A blending o...

@Livingwater Study 8 WINNING THE LOST TO THE SAVIOUR (Scripture Portion: Acts 8: 1-8 and 26-40) The title of this study was not chosen at random. You will notice that it contains three very important words, and it is around these three words that we shall introduce the three divisions of our theme. We shall consider the great matter of soul-winning, its importance and the responsibility of every Christian to be a soul-winner, and the methods we are to adopt. 1 . First of all, let us think of the word “SAVIOUR ” Of all the names given to our blessed Lord, surely this is the most precious. It was given by divine announcement (Matthew 1:21), and Mary, the mother of Jesus, spoke of the One who was to come as “my Saviour” (Luke 1:47). Our Lord Jesus Himself made it perfectly clear that the primary purpose of His advent, crucifixion, resurrection and ascension was the salvation of men and women. Let us be absolutely sure about the fact that the one supreme purpose of His coming from h...

@Livingwater Study 7 A LESSON IN STEWARDSHIP (Scripture Portion: 2 Corinthians, Chapters 8 and 9) The key verses for this study are Proverbs 3:9-10 – “Honour the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” In these verses we find a precept and a promise placed side by side. As Christians, we are to honour the Lord; that is, we are to give Him the first place, not only in our hearts, homes and businesses, but with regard to our money –- look up Matthew 6:33. We belong to the Lord by creation (Ezekiel 18:4), and by redemption (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). In the same way, all that we possess belongs to Him (Deuteronomy 8:18; 1 Chronicles 29:11-14; Hosea 2:8; 1 Corinthians 4:7), so that strictly speaking it is wrong to speak of our possessions as “ours” or “mine”. If we belong to Him, all our possessions belong to Him. It is very significant that the converts at Pentecost were no...

@Livingwater Study 6 THE WONDER OF GOD’S GUIDANCE (Scripture Portion: Psalm 25: 1-22) Over and over again we find the subject of God’s guidance brought before us in the Word of God. In the Old and New Testaments we have wonderful promises of guidance and examples of those who sought and found the Lord’s will for their lives. We also have a number of very clear statements which show us our need of guidance; for example, Jeremiah 10:23. In the psalm which we have chosen for the scripture reading in connection with this study, you will notice that the psalmist assumes the need for guidance, and of course not one of us would question the fact that God’s people do need guiding. They need to pray, “Show me your ways……Teach me……Guide me……” (Psalm 25:4,5,9). For examples of God’s guidance in the lives of His people we think of Abraham going out of his native country not knowing where he was going, being wholly dependent upon the guidance of God (Genesis 12:1); of Moses and the children of...

@Livingwater Study 5 THE SUPREME IMPORTANCE OF PRAYER (Scripture Portion: Luke 11: 1-13; 18: 1-8) To the born again soul, prayer is as essential as breathing, and to neglect it must result in weakness and defeat. It is not only important that Christians should pray, but it is of supreme importance. This fact makes our present study one to which we should give special heed. Christians need instruction about prayer –- its meaning, its promises, its method and its value –- look up Luke 11:1. How wonderful to be taught to pray by John; how much more wonderful to be taught by the Lord Jesus! –- and look up Romans 8:26-27. What is prayer? C. H. Spurgeon said that, “The heart of prayer is the prayer of the heart.” It does not consist simply of words, gestures, forms or eloquence. “Prayer is the address of a poor creature on earth to a great Creator and loving Father in Heaven.” Think about this simple definition; it reveals the supreme wonder of prayer that a poor sinful being can commu...

@Livingwater Study 4 THE KIND OF CHURCH TO JOIN (Scripture Portions: Acts 2: 41-47; Hebrews 10: 19-25) There are very many believers who, for one reason or another, do not link up with a church, and they can lose out spiritually. Some have good reasons for not joining a church; others may have quite feeble excuses. Some Christians experience genuine difficulty in finding a God-honouring ministry –- a Bible church where they could feel at home. Can a believer join a liberal or a worldly church (2 Corinthians 6:14-18)? There are Christians who, due to the nature of their work, find it difficult to worship regularly. But it is still wise to join a church and to have a spiritual home. Again, some Christians feel they are not good enough to join a church. But the church is meant for sinners –- saved sinners –- and if belonging was only given to those who felt good enough, no one would join! Then there are those who are looking for the perfect church! They haven’t yet found anywhere goo...

@Livingwater Study 3 EVERY CHRISTIAN’S GREATEST NEED (Scripture Portions: John 14: 15-18 and 25-25; 16: 1-15) Every Christian’s greatest need is to enter into the secret of a victorious life and of power in service. What is this secret? It is found in Ephesians 5:18: “Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead be filled with the Spirit.” When we become Christians, when we are born again, we receive the Holy Spirit (John 3:3-8; Romans 8:9); we are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16; 6:19; 2 Corinthians 6:16); we are baptised with the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 12:13); we are sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30). But, having received the Holy Spirit, our need is to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Carefully consider the following references in the Book of Acts 2:4; 4:8 and 31; 6:3; 7:55; 9:17; 11:23-24 and 13:9. There are so many angles from which we can approach this study, but here are five progressive truths about the Spirit-filled life. 1 ....

@Livingwater Study 2 CONFESSING THE LORD BEFORE OTHERS (Scripture Portion: Romans 10:1-17) There must be very many true, real Christians, who love the Lord Jesus and desire to honour Him, who nevertheless fail to experience fulness of blessing in the Christian life. Why is this? One reason is because they are not confessing their Saviour and Lord, or because they are only partially confessing Him. For example, they confess Him by life and not by lip, at home but not in the office, before other Christians but not before the world. How easy it is to be like Joseph of Arimathaea –- “a disciple of Jesus, but secretly……”! – look up John 19:38, and compare John 7:13; 12:42 and Proverbs 29:25. Are you a secret disciple? The key-verse of this study is Matthew 10:32, and it is important to notice that these are the words of the Lord Jesus –- “Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven.” The Authorised Version has the words, “Whosoever theref...

@Livingwater Study 1 BEING SURE OF ONE’S SALVATION (Scripture Portion: 1 John 5: 1-21) The purpose of this series of studies is twofold: First , to give practical help and instruction to young Christians, to those who have only just started in the Christian life; and, second , to offer definite Bible teaching to all Christians, and especially to show how we may “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3:18), and “follow on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:3, KJV). As we proceed with these studies we shall see what a glorious, happy and triumphant experience it is to be a Christian and to be going on with the Lord; abiding in Him (John 15:4); confessing Him before others (Matthew 10:32-33); enjoying fellowship with Him and with His children (1 John 1:7; Hebrews 10:24-25); winning others to Him (John 1:41-42) and looking for His coming again (Hebrews 9:28). The first essential if we are to progress in the Christian life is that we should be absolut...

@Livingwater Study 10 OUR PROGRAMME, PERIL AND PROSPECT (Scripture Portion: Galatians 6: 1-9) In this concluding study we are to consider one of the great dangers which faces us as Christians and as Christian workers, namely, that of weariness which causes us to give up instead of winning through. The apostle brings this danger before us in Galatians 6:9, and in order that we may see the force of this great danger let us consider the teaching of the whole verse. 1 . OUR PROGRAMME AS SERVANTS OF THE LORD What is to be our task, our job of work, as Christians and as workers for the Lord? In Galatians 6:9 there are two words which describe Christian service, “doing good” –- look up Acts 10:38, and compare John 20:21. In 1 Peter 3:17, “doing good” is contrasted with “doing evil”. In Ephesians 2:10, we read that we are “created in Christ Jesus to do good works”. No one is saved by doing good (Ephesians 2:8 and Titus 3:5), but everyone who is saved should give evidence of that fact by...

@Livingwater Study 9 THE SINFUL NATURE VERSUS THE SPIRIT (Scripture Portion: Galatians 5: 16-26) It was surely characteristic of the late Canon Guy King to entitle a sermon he once preached on Galatians 5:19-23 –- “From the Slum to the Orchard”! (Verses 19-21 describe the slum; verses 22-23 describe the orchard). It is God’s will that we, who by nature are in the slum, should be translated into the orchard; that we, from whose lives proceeded such evil things, should be made new creatures in Christ Jesus and that the fruit of the Spirit should be manifested in us. In Galatians 5:16-26, there is a progressive line of teaching concerning the two-fold nature of the believer. Let us consider this very important doctrine. 1 . Before we are born again and become Christians we possess a sinful , fallen, depraved nature . The expression “the sinful nature” occurs in verse 16, twice in verse 17 and in verses 19 and 24, and it is the Bible description for unregenerate human nature. The “...

@Livingwater Study 8 WHERE DID YOU GO WRONG?WHY DID YOU DECIDED TO STAY BACK? (Scripture Portion: Galatians 5: 1-15) How very sad it is when one who has been truly converted turns back (Acts 7:39), backslides (Proverbs 14:14), becomes lukewarm (Revelation 3:16), and loses his first love (Revelation 2:4)! What a tragedy this is –- to be keen and out-and-out for Christ, a soulwinner and an earnest worker, and then to turn aside and turn away from the Lord! There were those in the Galatian Church who had this experience in AD 56; they had been turned aside by false teachers who had succeeded in getting them into bondage again to the Law –- see what the apostle says of them and to them in Galatians 5:7. The thought conveyed to us in this verse is that the Christian life is a race. Paul used this metaphor in 1 Corinthians 9:26 –- and compare Hebrews 12:1-2; but here, in Galatians 5:7, we are told that we might be hindered in the race. A literal translation might well be: “Who has got i...

@Livingwater Study 7 WHEN, HOW AND WHY GOD SENT HIS SON (Scripture Portion: Galatians 4: 1-31) In Galatians 4:4-7, three facts about the incarnation of our Lord are emphasised. In Matthew 1:25-2:1; Luke 2:7 and John 1:1 and 14, we have the historical account of the incarnation. These accounts are not in any way contradictory, but they are supplementary and must be taken together to obtain a complete view of the birth of our Lord. But, whereas the Evangelists present us in the Gospels with the historical account of the incarnation, the apostle Paul in the passage before us gives us the doctrinal explanation of the event. Notice three lines of truth emphasised in this section of scripture: 1 . THE TIME OF THE INCARNATION: WHEN GOD SENT HIS SON When did this take place? Matthew tells us that it was “during the time of King Herod” (Matthew 2:1). We know, by our calendars, that it is now over 2000 years since God sent His Son into this world; but in Galatians 4:4, we are told that it...