Bethesda Shalom

1 Samuel 25:1-35 There are many things in this life which seem to come easier to us than others.  Eating (for example) comes more readily to heart than cooking; spending than saving; resting than working.  I well could add to this list another entry; obstinacy comes more readily to heart and easier to our sinful flesh that apologising to a Brother or Sister that we have wronged through our bad att...

James 3:13-18 The world in which we live in is full of war and bloodshed.  If history could count the total number of lives lost through this weapon of mass destruction, there would not be room on a conventional calculator to display all the digits!  For all of fallen man's efforts in trying to secure peace, history informs us that man is not able to live at peace with his neighbour!! It's one thi...

Revelation 3:1-6 It's amazing how so much can change over time!  If one was to visit Sardis in Western Turkey today, one would be greeted by a vast array of ruins; the crumbling shells of what was once a magnificent and illustrious city.  Seven hundred years before this letter was penned by John, Sardis stood as one of the greatest cities in the world!  Sardis was THE celebrated capital of the anc...

2 Samuel 20:8-13 I wonder, how many of us as Christians live in light of the coming judgment.  How many of us walk in the shadow of this reality.  Paul a thoroughly saved and blood washed man, in light of the judgment seat of Christ, sought to live and labour in such a way so as to be blameless, commending himself in the sight of God and before the consciences of men.  My Brother, my Sister, when...

Revelation 2:18-29 When one mentions the Church at Thyatira, what thoughts come readily to mind?  Good thoughts or bad thoughts?  If we're honest, we'd have to concede 'bad' thoughts'!  How bad? Jezebel, false prophetess, Idolatry, fornication, foods sacrificed to idols, great tribulation, killing, sickness and death!!  Yet, in keeping with the usual custom of our Lord, before He brings rebuke, He...

Ephesians 5:18 Though as Christians our citizenship is rooted firmly in heaven, we nonetheless for the time being have a dual residency, being found also with our feet on planet earth.  It is for this reason that the New Testament is full exhortation, urging us on to personal holiness.  "Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (Eph. 5:18).  Drunkenness is a terrib...

Revelation 2:12-17 The ancient city of Pergamos had been for three hundred years, a capital city in that locale.  Like that of Ephesus and Smyrna, Pergamos was a famous centre of religious worship and among the Greek deities worshipped by the Pergamenes was the revered Asklepios. There were some in Pergamos who had remained faithful under trial, suffering much at the hand of the wicked one and yet...

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 Pastor Paul brings a very stirring message to awaken the Church from a spirit of complacency in our day.  Things never begin out in this way but as one generation passes another takes its place, the fervency and the vision which once characterised the former gives place to apathy and by the time one the third generation comes, already the rot of backsliding compromise has set in....

Matthew 8:5-13 A sad reality that haunts our present day is that Christianity has been reduced to nothing more than a simple formula through which if a person can regurgitate a few words, giving mental assent to a few facts, then he's admitted into this comfortable religion we call Christianity and promised the treasures of eternal life.  What does this "comfortable" religion look like?  Well...le...

Revelation 2:8-11 Of all seven epistles addressed to the Churches in Asia, the letter to the Church in Smyrna is by far the shortest.  In just four verses, all that the Lord had to say was said!  Smyrna was a Church that found itself amidst much tribulation and upon seeing their plight, Jesus sought to encourage them to hold fast and to prepare for an even greater period of persecution that was to...

Proverbs 3:5-6 There's a thought that so grips my heart, subconsciously hanging over my head like an appointment.  What is this thought you ask?  It's this...my personal accountability to God for what I have done with the time He has given to me whilst on this earth.  It is this...the purpose for which I expended my life; the reason for which I lived and moved and had my being; to what end and to...

Acts 17:16-32 We are living in a post-modern generation where a new breed of thinking has invaded the imaginations of men's hearts and minds.  Once upon a time, there existed something called objective truth which in turn set the parameters for objective morality.  God was that objective truth and His Holy Word the moral standard which was brought to bear upon the consciences of men.  God the crea...

Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus was a city of tremendous importance and was by far the greatest city in Asia.  Commercially it was unrivalled and was the wealthiest being surpassed by very few cities of that day.  Being situated at the mouth of an important river, Ephesus commanded the trade of that region and was dubbed "The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World".  Politically, it too was a city of great imp...

Revelation 1:9-20 The four Gospel accounts record for us the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Mention is made of His birth and great detail is given to his ministry of some 3½ years, culminating in His death, burial and resurrection.  Following His resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive for 40 days by many infallible proofs being seen of the Apostles and speaking of the things pertain...

Revelation 1:4-8 What a greeting, packed with plenty of punch and pace!!  The Apostle John, writing by the Spirit of God brings a glorious triune greeting to the Seven Churches from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!  Particular emphasis is laid upon the wonderful person of the Son. What titles are given Him, "the faithful witness", "the first begotten of the dead" and "the prince of the...

Revelation 1:1-3 In this first teaching part, we set the scene by giving an introduction.  In an age where so many have closed this book of Revelation and dismissed it as irrelevant and too hard to understand; it is with the utmost privilege that we embark on this journey, studying, and teaching through this amazing book.  For what reason was this Revelation given by God?  "…to shew unto his serva...

Acts 16:13-34 Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown in prison. Even at the midnight hour they are praying and singing praises to the LORD, when SUDDENLY the LORD comes and shakes the prison with an earthquake! Don't be absent when you ought to be expecting. Don't be playing when you ought to be praying. Don't be sighing when you ought to be singing. And don't be silent when you ought to...

James 1:5-8 Faith that does not waiver has at least 5 characteristics for sure, F-A-I-T-H. F-FOCUS on the faithfulness of GOD. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS! A-ACTIVE OBEDIENCE. Faith without works/obedience is dead! I-INTIMACY with GOD. Do you know HIM or just know about HIM? T-TENACITY. Faith that will not waiver is tenacious in prayer! H-HEARING. Without the WORD of GOD all we have is presumptio...

Acts 27 You are called to be God's provision to others in the storm. We are called to STAND, SERVE, SPEAK, and SUPPLICATE in the midst of the storm! The apostle Paul did just that, and 276 shipwrecked prisoners were saved from perishing. We are called to do the same in the coming storm! You can listen to more of Brian's sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

John 12:20-33 The prayer for every occasion is, FATHER GLORIFY THY NAME! Here is a prayer we should always pray. GOD has answered this prayer and will answer it again. This is a call to not only pray the prayer, but to follow JESUS the way of the cross so that HE can answer the prayer in you! The way of the cross is the way of love! Love never seeks its own and without love we are just sounding br...

Isaiah 42:3 A message on personal revival and restoration. The LORD longs to breathe upon the smoking flax, fanning it into flame! But, this requires absolute surrender! Or maybe you are a bruised reed? The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The LORD is moved with compassion for HIS people and will restore us. But, we must get honest, repent of all sin,...

2 Chronicles 7:14 There's no two ways about it, the annals of history bear conclusive testimony to the fact that no revival has first come without there first being a concerted effort by God's people in prayer!  Humility and prayer go hand in hand like bread and butter.  The proud man does not pray and will not pray; why?  He genuinely senses no need for God in his life!  Yet, before God sends a r...

Ezekiel 37:1-10 The days are dark and the hour is critical. Is it too late for revival? When all hope is gone, and we are brought to the end of ourselves, face to face with impossibility, GOD so often shows up in awesome power! The LORD looks for a man of faith upon whom HE can place HIS hand. Here is a call to return to the old paths of prophetic preaching and earnest prayer. May GOD breathe upon...

Acts 2:37-47 There are five key distinctives/characteristics that authenticate true revival; #1, conviction of sin; #2, repentance from sin; #3, confession of sin; #4, restoration on account of sin; and #5, the conversion of sinners.  Note that each of these characteristics of true revival deals a deathly blow to sin!!  There's no escaping this biblically or historically.  Any revival that suppose...

Acts 2:37-47 There are five key distinctives/characteristics that authenticate true revival; #1, conviction of sin; #2, repentance from sin; #3, confession of sin; #4, restoration owing to sin; and #5, the conversion of sinners.  Note that each of these characteristics of true revival deals a deathly blow to sin!!  There's no escaping this biblically or historically.  Any revival that supposes its...