Paul's Podcast

Today we hear Haggai's final sermon; this one is directed personally to Zerubbabel.  What does the word of the Lord say to Z to ensure that he finishes the building? Let me show you 3 things that are guaranteed to happen when the building is done, and 1 thing that it not... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Holiness is like this cauliflower here. I know it’s good for me, I know I should eat it, but I really don’t want to because I know it is not going to taste good… whereas sin, that’s the cake. So the plan for our Christian life has to be to eat up what tastes bad, at the expense of denying ourselves what tastes good. Doesn’t that sound like the most depressing thing ever? Maybe we've got this...

We have learnt that we need to build with strength (chapter 2 verses 1-9); next we will see that we need to build with holiness (chapter 2 verses 10-19). This presents a problem for us because holiness is a challenge. What is the challenge? What can we do about it? Let's find out... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Building his house is going to take strength. Haggai 2:1-5 gave us two places we can find that; Haggai 2:6-9 gives us one more. We will see that strength to build does not come from looking longingly back at the past, but instead looking longingly forward to the future. So what is the future of his house? Let's take a look... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

The physical house of the Lord (i.e. the temple Z and Josh and the remnant were building) required physical strength; the spiritual house of the Lord (i.e. the one we are building) requires spiritual strength. Do we have any? Where can we get some? As usual, Haggai has the answers... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Today we see Z and Josh and all the remnant of the people get up and start building. After all the years, the adversaries, the apathy - they got up and "they came and did work in the house of the Lord." What happened?? What changed to make them want to build? Let's see what we can learn that will help us too get up and get building... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.o...

Haggai chapter 1 gives us the reasons why we should build the house of the Lord. Firstly, it is the right time, secondly it is the right house and thirdly - today - we will see that we should build it because it is disobedient not to. Building his house brings him pleasure, but bypassing it brings something else... Let's find out more. Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

...what we need to understand from today is that we are going to spend our lives building somebody’s house. In verses 3-6, Haggai gives us three reasons why the right house to build is the Lord's... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Despite all the distractions, obstacles and fears - it was the right time for Israel to build the house of the Lord. Christians today might be distracted, demotivated and doubtful when it comes to building 'our' house of the Lord (i.e. the church)... does that change the fact that it is still the right time to be building it? Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Last Christmas, our youngest son was given a lovely Lego set. As with all Lego sets, you get all the pieces you need, the instructions you need and there is the picture on the box so you know what to aim for. We have everything we need to build it, but we have not built it. We started it, but we have not built it. Once or twice I’ve taken it out of the box and considered finishing it… but we have...

This week: we hear 7 similarities between Gideon's battle and THE final battle, and then we hear why we should care. Strap yourselves in... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

As we have been in Judges 6-7, and as it is Mother’s Day today, we could not resist the urge to study the woman that we read about in Judges 4-5, just right before our study of Gideon takes place. Deborah is the judge of that time, but it is a lady named Jael that really hammers home the victory for Israel. What can we learn about her involvement in the battle? And how should this affect our invol...

After 7 years of being trodden down, 7 years of fear and famine, 7 years of hiding in the mountains… the huge combined army of the Midianites, Amalekites & the children of the East is at last defeated. What we get to see today is the closing stages of this battle, and it reveals two important things to us: That a great victory like this needs to be shared; That a great victory like this needs...

We are meant to win. This is a truth about our spiritual battles that we often miss. We think just being involved is ok, we settle for a participation medal, when we should be enjoying the victory. From Gideon's success, we can discern 3 keys to making victory a reality in our lives too... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

The WW2 operation called 'Market Garden' has since been described as “a bad plan right from the start and right from the top." The tactics were bad and so was the result. This illustrates the importance of having the right tactics in battle. So what are we to make of Gideon's plan? He's up against a vast army and chooses to divide his 300 into smaller companies, then equip...

Oh Gideon, Gideon, Gideon... All that encouragement from the Lord and still he fears to go down to the battle. We'd never be like that... would we? Last week we learnt how God strengthened Gideon; this week we'll see where . This will teach us that there are two places we need to be to have our faith strengthened. Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Last week we saw how the size of the army isn’t important to God, but the heart of the soldier is. (Specifically, that the heart of the soldier needs to be one that is not prideful and not fearful). But we left it on a bit of a cliffhanger - because we all want that heart, but Judges 7 hadn’t  answered the question of how we get one. That's where today's message comes in... Find out more...

Henry Ford famously said “Whether you believe you can or you can’t, you’re right.” This is maybe a little too pop psychology for us, and sounds a bit self-helpy, but there is certainly some truth in the statement about how important the right attitude to work is, whatever task it is that one in trying to accomplish. In the context of Gideon, a more biblical way to put this quote might be: "we...

We’re coming to a transition in our study where we move from chapter 6 to chapter 7, which correlates with a transition in Gideon’s character. In chapter 6 he is (mainly) hiding, doubting & questioning. In chapter 7 he is (for the most part) preparing, leading & winning. What does he do at the end of chapter 6 that enables this change? And how might we do similar? Let's take a look......

The enemy is ready for battle, the Spirit-filled are ready for battle, those who respond to the call are ready for battle... are you? Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

This passage covers  'the morning after the night before' - and the men of the city are not happy with what Gideon did last night. Today we see the people of Gideon's city contending against him, which is a reminder about how the people of our city, on the most part, will react to us if we continue to follow Christ. So... how should we respond to the fact that the majority of people...

This week we see Gideon tear down one altar and then build another. "What has this got to do with me?" and "How can this help me build my faith?" Great questions. Let's find out... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Growing up I drank a lot of Sainsbury's Diet Classic Cola. It was similar to Coca-Cola, but it was not the same. Coca-Coca was the real thing. By taking a broad look at Judges 6-8, we can see Gideon is like Christ, but he is not the same. Jesus Christ is the real thing. Dig in to this picture and we'll find plenty we want to celebrate this Christmas, and plenty we want to emulate too......

Let's get things straight - when it comes to presents, it is not the thought that counts. It is what is inside the wrapping paper the counts. Today we are going to see Gideon bring forth his present to the Lord and, as we do, we'll discover the next principle in how we are 'made strong'... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org

Today we’ll get to meet Gideon and see how he was sent. In doing so, we’ll understand how we are sent. My prayer is that this will change how we see our role in this battle, which in turn will change our performance in this battle, which in turn will change our success in this battle. Here we go... Find out more about us here - crossroadslondon.org