Bethesda Shalom

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 7) God has always emphasised that which is important through repetition, He did in with the Law by giving Israel in effect, four complimentary books of the Law (Exodus – Deuteronomy), and He does it again in the New, giving to His people four complimentary books of the Gospels.  As one reads through the Gospels, one will notice that whilst they are very similar...

Romans 12:1-2 The Williams household dates all the way back to 1896 (it's an old Victorian terraced) and take it from me, there are one or two loose floorboards that without fail, every time you walk over them, you're greeted by the voices of Mr. and Mrs. Creak!  Now please don't misunderstand me; these defects are not foundational — Mr. and Mrs. Creak aren't threatening to undermine the structura...

Galatians 6:9-10 Idioms in the English language abound and our everyday conversation is littered with them.  One such saying is, "Once bitten, twice shy". If anyone has ever been bitten by a dog, you'll know full well the sentiments being expressed.  Simply put, if someone has a bad experience and is hurt doing a particular thing, the second time around, they're much weary and less inclined to do...

Exodus 36:1-7 It could appear at first sight that the title of this sermon is a contradiction in terms.  What has grace to do with doing?  I thought grace and works were diametrically opposed as light is to darkness and darkness is to light?  In terms of salvation, this most certainly is the case; but when it comes to the call of grace to Christian ministry, there is a labouring on the part of man...

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 6) As one opens the New Testament, one is immediately confronted in succession by four books that each bear the title "The Gospel According to…".  The Gospel According to Matthew, The Gospel According to Mark, The Gospel According to Luke, and The Gospel According to John.  Though these books comprise only four of the twenty-seven books of the New Testament, the...

Luke 12:1-12 As the days wind on and the seasons become increasingly more difficult, we are going to need ever more to rely upon the succouring aid of the Holy Spirit!  God didn't mean for us to struggle through limping and hobbling in our own depleted strength, He provided supernatural means by which we might get through with a power that is not our own and a strength that has been given us by Hi...

Romans 10:1-4 Christianity is not for good men, nor is for the noble and the upright—that's what they'll become if Christ saves them, but before that glorious event, "...foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another".  How is such a one to ever climb out of the cesspit of his iniquity and to set his hands on the rungs...

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 5) Having examined some of the key principles for interpreting the New Testament Epistles in the last teaching session, we seek in this teaching to put these principles into practice. Join us as we take an exegetical walk through the first four chapters of Paul's First Epistle to the Corinthians, covering the first major theme – Divisions in the Church.  By stud...

John 3: 1-7 When we think of the great historic doctrines of the Christian faith—in particular, those that fall under the broader umbrella of "Soteriology" (the study of salvation), seated in their midst must surely be the glorious doctrine of Regeneration.  In the days of Popish pomp and rule, it was the doctrine of Justification that was heralded and championed by the Reformers.  Rome had for a...

1 Samuel 15:16-17 Nothing (I believe) so moves the heart of our Heavenly Father more than humility.  Consider with me, a verse found in Isaiah 57.  "For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place , with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite...

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 4) When we speak of an epistle, we mean by this a letter.  The English word for epistle comes from the Greek word "epistolē" which means a written message.  There are 21 such Epistles found within the Bible which comprise a third of the whole New Testament.  The New Testament Epistles are vital to the Believer in Christ because they contain the doctrines which h...

Matthew 13:44 The Parables of the Kingdom are among some of the finest parables given by our Lord in all that He spoke.  The Jewish people of His day looked for a kingdom that was coming in power and a king ruling on a physical throne in a physical location.  The King had indeed come into their midst bringing with Him a kingdom of power, yet this kingdom was one that was to be established in the h...

John 14:1-3 Pastor Jason Wright delivers a very timely word, straight from the Bible, relating to the need in this perilous hour for every believer to have an upper room in their life.  A time where we can draw away from the many voices to hear from God. May you be encouraged by this much-needed message.

Matthew 25:1-13 In this sermon, we examine the Parable of the Ten Virgins and in so doing find that there are those who are going to be ready when the Lord returns to collect His bride, and those who are not going to be ready!  Getting ready for the Second Coming of the Lord is not something that we can prepare for when He comes, we must be prepared for when He comes. May the Lord speak to each on...

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 3) In deciding to translate the Bible from one language to another, two questions must lie at the heart of the translation process.  #1, Accuracy and #2, Readability.  On one hand, one wants a translation that is as accurate and as close to the original languages as possible while at the same time being readable.  You may be thinking, why are we discussing Bible...

Matthew 6:25-34 Some things I find in life are easier said than done.  As human beings, we're generally better at giving advice than we are at taking it!  How many times have we heard the saying (and no doubt probably said it ourselves), "What's the point in worrying? It won't change anything...", and yet we continue right on worrying!  What is worry but a manifestation of fear on account of uncer...

Matthew 14:23 Could it be that corporate prayer is so lacking in the Church today because God's people have not first been found in private prayer?  It is my conviction and that also of the Scriptures; God's people ought to have an appetite for prayer.  I say appetite because it's not a laborious thing.  Is it laborious to eat?  If you've no taste buds...ye.!  But God has given us a wonderful pall...

1 Kings 21:1-16 Where the fear of God is absent from among the people of God, there you will find a breeding ground for every wicked sin.  It may begin as a soggy marsh, but it will end in a sewer of running evil!!  "Am I a God at hand, saith the LORD (to the false prophets who bolstered Israel in their sins), and not a God afar off? Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him?...

Genesis 15:1-6 As one dear brother said to me not so long ago, "You can't have faith on the other side of the fence", you can only have it on this side of the promise!  Once the promise has materialised into its physical reality, faith has done its work and there's no longer need for it!  It seems that as we go on in this Christian walk, God takes us up to every increasing cliff heights, and as we...

James 1:1-4 To the natural mind suffering and tribulation are concepts that run counter opposite to joy.  How possibly can discomfort, pain, and suffering exist in the same sentence as rejoice?  Yet, in a number of places in the New Testament, the child of God is exhorted to rejoice in the midst of their suffering!  How is this possible?  Why is this exhortation given? In this sermon, we seek to p...

Ephesians 4:31-32 So many in the earth begin life as bubbling happy youngsters, not a care in the world, unaware of the big bad world that they're about to enter!  Yet, by the time they've reached their 30's and 40's, that youthful optimism has pretty much been blown out of the water and aged cynicism has begun to set in.  Naivety has given way to suspicion and by the time they reach their later y...

Joshua 6:1-2 When I think of the wasted hours spent deliberating and calculating, reasoning and second-guessing how God is going to do what He said He would do; it is of great grief.  When everything has been said and done, what was it for? It was all for nothing!  When God is going to something, He doesn't need our advice or counsel; He doesn't come knocking at our door for a plan of action!  He...

Romans 8:12-13 There are many sermons that I've had the privilege of preaching over the years, but none perhaps is more important than the subject matter contained in this one.  I fear that in the day in which we're living, when one mentions the cross of the Lord Jesus, one's mind readily runs upon the ornate cross, you know...the 9ct gold one hanging from a chain, replete with diamond studs; rath...

Mark 6:45-53 There's a propensity that is common to man; a saying that is often heard, and although we might not necessarily verbalise it with the words of our mouth, we nonetheless declare it loud and clear, by our actions.  You say, what is this saying and what is this propensity common to man?  It is summed up in this one single phrase, "I've got it!"  Oh, that we might come to understand in tr...

Jonah 3 Abraham, Moses, Jeremiah, and Paul; all shared a common trait that in their day was seldom seen amongst their contemporaries.  Each of these men knew the mercy of God in their generation and as such were intercessors!  Would to God that such men would resurface in the day in which we live.  I am shocked and grieved at the type of remarks I hear being made by professing born-again believers...