In the Word with Bob Radford

Luke 16:10, "He who is faithful in what is least is also faithful in much..." We are called to be faithful with a willingness to undertake any enterprise from the place of small beginning, and not regard it with distain or despise it. David's life was one of small beginnings to become the greatest of the kings of Israel. In his youth David tended the sheep of his Father Jesse. David...

Proverbs 29:18 tells us , "Where there is no vision the people perish." We have to see things from God before we can do things for God. Vision for believers usually arises from the Word of God. Words create pictures in our hearts and minds. Some, like Joseph receive "night visions" also called dreams. Joseph's dreams were the foundation of his personal destiny. Although he...

This episode is centred in the story of a widow with two sons. Suddenly they are facing a difficult time, The sudden death of her husband leaves her with an outstanding debt and the creditor is threatening to take the two sons and sell them into slavery to pay the debt. the widow, The widow calls on the prophet Elisha for help. Elisha asks the question: "What do you have in your house?"...

Matthew 6:33, "But seek first the Kingdom of God and His Righteousness and all these other things will be added to you." The promises Jesus expresses in Matt. 6:33 is that if we develop a "Kingdom First Mentality." If we would walk in the righteousness which is a "gift" to every believer will be supplied. Our supply is linked to our giving. Luke 6:38, "Give and i...

The Dominion Mandate is also referred to as Christian Stewardship. Christian Stewardship can be defined as faithfully developing and using our gifts, talents and resources within the time God has given us, that is in a manner consistent with the truths of His Word. As our covenant relationship is, so likewise is our stewardship relationship. There are two parties in the covenant. the master who is...

The Bible records over 200 names given in reference to Jesus. One of those names not so often referred to is; "The Breaker." Jesus is our Breaker ! tis name is found in the Book of Micah. Micah 2:13, "The Breaker is come up before them: they have broken through the gate, and are gone out by it, and their King shall pass before them and the Lord at the head of them."

In this parable Jesus we are given a picture if two roads we can take in this life. One leads to destruction and the other to eternal life. The big question in life is, how do I get to heaven? How do I enter eternal life? The most important decision that anyone will ever make is the decision concerning their eternal destiny. Our temporary life can be compared to a vapour. James 4:14, "Whereas...

Israel is the nation God planted to bring salvation to the world. The religious leaders not only frustrated their nations' purpose; they also killed those who were trying to fulfill it. They were so jealous and possessive that they ignored the welfare of the people they were suppose to be pointing to God and His good plan. By telling this story , Jesus exposes the religious leaders plot to kil...

Jesus gives this parable in Matthew 21: 28-31. "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first one and said, 'son, go, work today in my vineyard.' he responded and said he would not, but after he regretted and went. the he came to to the second son and said likewise. And he responded and said ,'I go sir' but did not go. Which of the two did the will of his...

John 12:23-26, 'But Jesus answered them, saying, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified. most assuredly, I say to you unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies . it abides alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." At this point in time Jesus is only a we...

Jesus challenged the great multitude that followed Him. Although they followed him, they did not commit themselves fully to Him. They enjoyed the benefits if His ministry, and that is what kept them following. As the number of healings, deliverances, and miracles multiplied so did the multitude. Jesus addressed the situation by confronting them and challenged them to consider the requirements for...

At the opening of Matthew Chapter 8 Jesus has just concluded his teaching series known as the Sermon on The Mount and great multitude followed Him. Matt.8: 18-19, "And when Jesus saw the multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side." Jesus discerned something in the crowd that was not right. He observed that the crowd desired to follow Him based solely upon the mir...

In The Parable of The Budding Fig Tree, Jesus chooses the Fig tree because it was well known by all in Israel in Jesus time. The Fig tree lost its leaves and was dormant through winter. In the spring leaves began to bud, followed by the appearance of figs increasing in number through summer and then followed by harvest. Jesus stressed the importance of learning from signs and changing events as th...

This parable of The Wise And Foolish Virgins is about 5 of 10 of them that ran out of oil for their lamps at a critical moment. Jesus gives this parable to emphasize the need for preparedness in the end times because we do not know the exact time of His coming, although we should be aware that it could come suddenly as a thief in the night. the prophetic record in the Bible especially the propheci...

When Jesus taught the disciples about his second coming, he emphasized some important lessons. One of the most important was that they be "prepared for his return." The Parable of the Talents emphasizes "preparedness through productivity." This would mean soul-winning and building up the church through biblical teaching of God's Word. In the storyline, three servants are given large portions of mo...

This parable is the first of three parables Jesus gives in Matthew 24 and 25. these are given in the context of Jesus' prophesies of the signs of His coming at the end of the Age. Matthew 24:1-44. Many of the signs Jesus spoke of are emerging in our time. The first parable concerns the growth of false teaches and false prophets coming into churches and bringing false teaching and causing strif...

In this parable of the Workers in The Vineyard Jesus reveals the economics of the Kingdom of God which is the grace through faith experience. This parable is given in the context of the encounter of Jesus with the rich young ruler who asks Jesus concerning inheriting eternal life. Jesus directs him to the commandments of the Law of Moses which he claims to have kept. Jesus discerns that his trust...

In Luke 17:5-10 Jesus gives the Parable of The Master and Servant. It opens with a request from the disciples to the Lord to increase their faith. Jesus answers them that although the faith that they have may seem small to them, nevertheless it is capable of great things. Believing faith is given to every believer in equal measure. Romans 12:3, "For I say, through the grace given to me, to ev...

In the Parable of The Shrewd Manager Jesus communicates the wisdom of Shrewdness in business in order to advance the kingdom of God. At first it seems confusing because it seems to encourage dishonesty. Jesus exhorts the hearer not to imitate the manager's dishonest practises but rather to learn shrewdness for Kingdom work. The manager is commended for his ability to turn an unfavourable situation...

In this parable Jesus contrasts the prayer of the Pharisee with that of the prayer of the Publican (Tax Collector).The Pharisee. The pharisees despised the tax collectors and in his prayer the Pharisee prays rom a proud heart filled with self-righteousness and hypocrisy. The Publican prays with remorse and seeks God's mercy for his sin. Jesus declares that the Publican was justified in his pra...

The parable of the friend that comes to his neighbour at midnight to borrow bread for guests that have come late to his home. The neighbour initially resists his knocking at his door. But the neighbour finally relents and meets his need because of his relentless persistence. Like the previous parable of the persistent widow and the unjust judge, Jesus emphasizes the principal that we all should pe...

In this parable Jesus teaches the need for persistence in prayer. He opens the parable with this statement: "Men ought always to pray and not give up." We must keep in mind that delay is not denial in your prayer life. We see in the example of Daniel's prayers in Daniel chapter 9 and 10 that God gave His responses to prayers as soon as he heard them, if they were prayed according to...

In The Parable of the Wedding Feast Jesus uses the invitation of the King (Father God) extended first to the nation of Israel to the marriage of His Son (Jesus). The invitation is rejected and then offered broadly to everyone, whosoever would come. As the wedding all fills with guests the King enters a notices someone is there without a wedding garment. the wedding garment is a picture of the "rob...

This parable contrast humility with pride. Jesus points out the competitive spirit as a manifestation of pride as the guests at a feast compete for the best seats. Jesus encourages taking a lower seat as an act of humility that leaves the opportunity to be offered by the host a higher seat. This parable reveals the working of pride in our hearts. Pride manifests in conflicts in relationships, self...

The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant is Jesus' signature teaching on the necessity of forgiveness in our daily living. in the a King demands payment from a servant who owes him an huge sum. The man begs for time to pay and the King has compassion for him and his family and he forgives the debt and sets him free. Then this forgiven servant turns on a fellow servant who owes him a very small sum o...