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Promises: Old Testament

The following is probably the most thorough collection of Old Testament promises in the Bible. 1 May you be blessed – as Peter noted: …he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. (2 Peter 1:4 ESV)

How to read the following promises: Simply hover over the text and the scripture will pop up. In some cases, you may need to refresh your page.

Genesis 3:15 6:18 8:22 9:2, 9, 11, 13, 15, 16, 27 12:2, 3 13:15, 16, 17 16:10, 12 17:2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 16, 20, 21 18:10, 14, 18 21:12, 13 22:17, 18 26:2, 3, 24 28:13, 14, 15, 31:3 35:11, 12 46:3, 4 48:19, 21 49:10, 25 50:24

Exodus 3:12, 21 4:12 6:6, 7, 8 8:22 12:13, 23 14:13 15:26 19:5, 6 20:2, 6, 24 23:20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27 28:38 29:45, 46 30:6 32:10, 13 33:2, 14, 19 34:6, 7, 24

Leviticus 1:4, 18:5 20:24 25:13, 18, 19, 21 26:4–13, 42, 44, 45

Numbers 6:27 11:17 15:25, 26, 28 18:5 20:8 21:8 23:19, 21, 23 24:7, 9, 17 25:12, 13 32:22 35:34

Deuteronomy 2:25 3:2, 21, 22, 28 4:1, 10, 29, 30, 31, 40 5:10, 29, 33 6:2, 3, 18 7:6, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 8:1 9:3, 14, 10:9 11:8, 9, 12, 14, 15, 21, 23, 24, 25, 27, 31 12:7, 12, 18, 25, 28 13:11 14:2, 29 15:4, 6, 18 16:15, 20 18:15, 18 19:13 20:1, 4 21:8 22:7 23:14, 20 24:19 25:15 26:18, 19 28:1–14 29:9 30:3–10, 16, 20 31:6, 8, 23 32:9, 30 33:11, 29

Joshua 1:5, 7, 8, 9 6:17 10:8

Judges 6:16 7:7 13:3, 5 20:28 1 Samuel 2:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 30 9:16 10:6 12:14, 22 2 Samuel 7:10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 22:31

1 Kings 2:3, 4 3:14 6:12, 13 8:23 9:3, 5 11:38 17:14 20:13 21:29

2 Kings 4:16 7:1 10:30 17:39 19:30, 31, 34 20:5, 6 21:7, 8 22:20

1 Chronicles 17:9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14 22:9, 10, 13 28:6, 7, 8, 9, 20

2 Chronicles 1:12 7:14, 15, 16, 18 16:9 19:11 20:17, 20 30:9 34:28

Ezra 8:22, 9:12

Nehemiah 1:5, 9 9:29 Job 5:11, 15–27 8:6, 7 11:15–20 17:9 22:21, 23ff. 33:25, 26, 28 34:1 36:7, 9, 10, 11

Psalms 1:1, 3, 6 2:2, 8, 12 3:8 4:3 5:11, 12 9:8, 9, 18 10:14 11:7 12:5, 6, 7 15:2, 3, 4, 5, 16:11 17:7 18:2, 30 19:7–12 22:26, 27, 30 23:1, 4 24:4, 5 25:3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14 27:1, 3, 5, 10, 14 28:8 29:11 30:5 31:19, 20, 23, 24 32:1, 2, 6, 7, 10 33:12, 18, 19 34:7, 8, 9, 10, 12–21 35:10, 27 36:8, 9 37:3–7, 9, 11, 16–20, 22–30, 31, 33, 34, 37, 40 40:3, 4, 16 41:1, 2, 3 45:15 46:1–5, 7, 11 47:3, 4 48:14 50:15, 23 51:17, 52:6 55:22 56:8 58:10 62:2, 6, 7 64:10 65:4 66:4 67:6, 7 68:3, 13 69:32, 33, 35, 36 70:4 72:5–9, 11–15, 17 73:24 75:10 76:9 81:10, 13–16 84:4, 5, 7, 11, 12 85:8, 9, 12, 13 86:5 87:2 89:4, 15, 16, 23, 24, 26, 28, 29, 33, 34, 37 91:1, 2–7, 10–16 92:12–14 94:12–15 96:13 97:10, 11, 98:9 102:15–18, 20 103:3, 8–13, 17, 18 106:3 107:9, 36, 38 110:2, 3 111:5, 10 112:1–4, 6–9 113:7, 8, 9 115:9–11, 13 116:15 117:2 118:5 119:1, 2, 49, 71, 130, 165 121:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 122:6 125:1, 2, 3 126:5, 6 127:3, 5 128:1–6 130:4, 8 132:11–19 135:4 137:8, 9 138:6, 7 140:12, 13 144:15, 145:8, 9, 13, 18, 19, 20 146:5, 7, 8, 9 147:2, 3, 6, 11, 19 149:4

Proverbs 1:7, 23, 33 2:4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 21 3:2, 4, 10, 12, 13, 16–18, 22–26, 33–35 4:9, 8, 9, 13, 18, 22 6:22, 24 7:5 8:17–19, 21, 34, 35 9:8, 9, 10 10:2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 16, 17, 22, 24, 27–30 11:2–6, 8, 9, 18–22, 26, 27, 28, 30, 31 12:3, 6, 7, 11, 13, 14, 19–22, 24, 27, 28 13:2, 4, 6, 13, 15, 18, 20, 21, 25 14:11, 22, 26, 34 15:6, 8, 16, 29, 33 16:3, 7, 8, 13, 20 17:2 18:10, 12, 20 19:16, 17, 23 20:7, 28 21:21 22:4, 5, 9, 15, 19, 23:13, 14, 24 24:14, 25 27:18 28:10, 13, 14, 18–20, 23, 25–27 29:17, 18, 23, 25 30:5

Ecclesiastes 8:12 11:1

Isaiah 1:18, 19 2:2, 3, 4 3:10 4:2, 5, 6 6:13 7:14 9:3, 6, 7 10:10, 20 11:1, 2, 4, 6–10, 12, 13 12:3 14:1, 2, 3 17:2, 6, 7, 8 19:17, 22, 24 22:22, 23 24:13, 25:4, 6, 8, 9 26:3, 9, 12 27:3, 5, 6, 8, 9 28:5, 12 29:8, 19, 23, 24 30:18–27, 29 31:7 32:1, 2, 3, 4, 17, 18 33:6, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 24 35:1, 2, 4ff. 37:31, 32 38:5, 6 40:1–5, 10, 11, 29, 31 41:10–14, 16–19, 25 42:1, 3, 4, 6, 7, 16 43:1–5, 25 44:3–5, 22 45:17, 24, 25 46:4, 10, 13 48:9, 17, 18, 19 49:6, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 15, 16, 22, 23, 25, 26 50:10 51:3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13 52:1, 6, 10, 12, 13 53:5, 11, 12 54:3, 4, 5, 7ff. 55:1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 13, 56:2, 5–8 57:2, 13, 15, 16, 18, 19 58:8–15 59:19, 20, 21 60:2–9, 13–18, 19, 20, 21, 22 62:2–4, 11 63:9 64:4 65:1, 9, 13, 14, 16, 17ff. 66:2, 5, 11–14, 18–20, 22

Jeremiah 1:8, 19 3:1, 12, 15, 17, 18 4:1, 2, 14 6:3, 16 7:3, 7, 23 11:4, 5 12:14–16 15:9, 11–21 17:7, 8, 24–26 18:8 22:4 23:4, 5, 6, 22 24:6, 7 26:13 27:22, 29:10, 11–14 30:3, 8–11, 16–22 31:1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, 12–14, 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 31, 33, 34 32:37–43, 44 33:3, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 14–18, 21 34:5 35:19 38:20, 24 39:18 42:10, 11, 12 45:5 46:27, 28 50:4, 5, 34

Lamentations 3:25, 31, 32, 33 Ezekiel 6:8 9:4 11:16–20 12:16, 28 14:22 16:60–62 17:23 18:9, 21, 22, 27, 28, 30 20:11, 13, 21, 40, 41, 43, 28:25, 26 29:13, 14, 21 33:11, 15, 16, 19 34:11–16, 22, 31 36:24–32, 33, 34 37:21ff. 39:25 44:28

Daniel 11:35 12:1, 2, 3, 4, 10, 12 Hosea 1:7 2:14, 15, 16, 18ff. 3:5 6:1, 2, 3 10:12 11:8–11 12:9 13:14 14:3ff. Joel 2:13, 14, 18–30, 32 3:2, 7, 16, 20

Amos 3:7, 12 5:4, 6, 14, 15 9:13, 14, 15

Jonah 3:9

Micah 2:7 4:1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 12 7:8, 9, 18–20

Nahum 1:7, 12, 13

Habakkuk 2:3, 4, 14 3:17, 18, 19

Zephaniah 2:3, 7, 9 3:9, 12, 13, 16ff.

Haggai 2:4, 7, 9, 19, 23

Zechariah 1:3, 14, 16, 17 2:5, 8, 10, 11 3:8 4:7 6:12, 13, 15 8:3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 21, 22 9:9, 10, 16 10:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12 12:8, 10 13:1, 2, 7, 9 14:8, 9, 11, 21

Malachi 1:11 3:1, 3, 4, 7, 10–12, 16–18 4:2, 3, 5, 6

1 I am always very impressed by the beautiful selections that Dr Joel Beeke publishes at the Reformation Heritage Books. Dr Joel Beeke is also president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary in Grand Rapids, USA. These selections were found in the book: Authors: Belle, James La., Joel Beeke, Living by God’s Promises. Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

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Promises: New Testament

The following is probably the most thorough collection of New Testament promises in the Bible. 1 May you be blessed – as Peter noted: …he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.

How to read the following promises: Simply hover over the text and the scripture will pop up. In some cases, you may need to refresh your page.

Matthew 1:21 3:12 5:3–13 6:4, 6, 14, 18, 30, 32, 33 7:7, 8, 11, 21, 24, 8:11 9:13 10:19, 22, 30, 32, 39, 40–42 11:6, 28, 29 12:18–21, 31, 32, 50 13:30, 41, 43, 49 15:24 16:18, 19, 25, 27 17:11, 20 18:4, 5, 10, 11, 14, 18, 20 19:14, 17, 21, 28–30 20:4, 6, 7 21:21, 22, 43 23:12 24:13, 14, 22, 24, 30, 31, 35, 46–47 25:21, 23, 29, 31–34, 40, 46 26:13, 26, 28 28:20

Mark 1:8 2:17 3:28, 35 4:11, 25 8:35 9:1, 23, 31, 37, 41 10:14, 21, 29, 30, 31, 11:23, 24, 25 13:13, 22, 26, 27, 31 16:16, 17, 18

Luke 1:13–17, 23, 34, 35, 50, 53, 74–77, 79 2:10, 11, 26 3:5, 6, 16 4:18 5:32 6:20–23, 35, 37, 38, 47, 48 7:23 8:10, 21, 50 9:24, 27, 48 10:16, 19, 28, 42 11:9, 10, 13, 28, 41 12:7, 8, 10, 12, 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 37, 38, 43, 48 13:29, 30 14:11, 14 15:7, 10 16:9 17:33 18:7, 8, 14, 16, 22, 27, 30, 33 19:10, 26 21:15, 18, 27, 28, 33 22:19, 28–30, 32 23:43

John 1:1, 16, 17, 29, 50 2:51 3:3, 15–18, 36 4:14, 23 5:20, 24, 25, 28, 29 6:27, 35, 37, 39, 40, 44, 45, 47, 51, 54–58 7:17, 38 8:31, 32, 36, 51, 52 9:31 10:9, 10, 14, 16, 27, 28, 29 11:25, 26 12:32, 46, 47 13:1, 17, 20, 32, 35 14:2, 3, 6, 12, 13, 14, 16–21, 23, 26, 27 15:2, 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 14, 15, 26 16:7, 13–16, 20, 22–25 17:2, 3, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 24, 26 20:23, 29, 31

Acts 1:5, 8, 11 2:17, 18, 21, 38, 39 3:19, 22, 25, 26 7:34, 37 9:16, 10:35, 43 11:14, 16 13:26, 34, 38, 39 15:16 16:31 17:31 18:10 20:32

Romans 1:16, 17 2:6, 7, 10 3:24, 25 4:7, 8, 16, 25 5:19, 20 6:14, 23 8:1, 11, 13, 16–18, 26, 28–35, 37–39 9:4, 12, 15, 26, 33 10:4, 5, 9–13 11:23–27, 29, 32 12:20 13:3, 4 14:17, 18 15:4, 12 16:10

1 Corinthians 1:8, 30 2:9 3:8, 14, 22 4:5, 17 6:2, 3 8:3 10:13 11:31, 32 15:12, 58

2 Corinthians 1:4, 5, 7, 10, 20, 22 6:16–18 7:10 8:9, 12 9:6, 7

Galatians 3:8, 16, 26, 29 4:4, 5, 6, 7 5:16 6:4, 8, 16

Ephesians 1:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 10, 11, 13, 14, 22 2:5, 7, 8, 14, 17 4:8, 30, 6:2, 3, 8, 13

Philippians 1:6, 29 2:13 3:21 4:7, 9, 19 Colossians 1:13, 14, 10, 21 2:13, 14, 15 3:4, 20, 24 1

1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17 5:24

2 Thessalonians 1:7, 10 2:8 3:3

1 Timothy 1:15 2:4, 15 4:8, 16 6:6, 19

2 Timothy 2:11, 12, 19 3:15, 16, 17 4:8 Titus 2:13, 14

Hebrews 1:14 2:14, 15, 17 5:9 6:10, 12, 14, 18, 19 7:25 8:8, 10, 11, 12 9:14, 26, 28 10:16, 17, 30, 37, 38 11:6 12:6, 10, 11 13:5, 16

James 1:2, 5, 12, 17, 21, 25 2:5 3:18 4:6, 7, 8, 10, 5:15, 16, 20

1 Peter 1:3, 4, 5, 25 2:5, 9, 19, 20 3:4, 12, 14 4:13, 14 5:4, 5, 6, 7

2 Peter 1:4, 18, 11 2:9 3:9, 13

1 John 1:4, 7, 9 2:1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 24, 25, 27, 28 3:1, 2, 9, 14, 22, 24 4:7, 9, 17 5:4, 12–14, 16, 18

Revelation 1:3, 5 2:1, 7, 10, 11, 17, 23, 26, 27, 28 3:4, 5, 9, 10, 12, 19, 20, 21 4:1 7:16, 17, 8:3, 4 13:8 14:13 15:4 16:15 17:14, 16 18:8, 21 19:9 20:6 21:3, 4, 6, 7, 24, 26 22:4, 5, 7, 14, 17, 20

1 I am always very impressed by the beautiful selections that Dr. Joel Beeke publishes at the Reformation Heritage Books. Dr. Joel Beeke is also president of Puritan Reformed Theological Seminary  in Grand Rapids, USA. These selections were found in the book: Authors: Belle, James La., Joel Beeke, Living by God’s Promises . Reformation Heritage Books. Kindle Edition.

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All the Old and New Testament Healings

Here is a complete list of the healings of God listed for your ease:

The Old Testament

The Bronze Serpent​ (​Nu 21:8–9​)​
Jeroboam’s Hand Is Withered and Restored​ (1Ki 13:4–6​)​
Naaman Cured of Leprosy​ ​(2 Ki 5:1–19​)​
Hezekiah Is Healed​ (​2 Ki 20:7​)​

The New Testament

Jesus Heals Many​ (​Mt 4:23–24​)​
Jesus Cleanses a Leper​ (​Mt 8:1–4​)​
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant​ (Mt 8:5–13​)​
Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law​ (Mt 8:14–15​)​
Jesus Heals Many in Capernaum​ (Mt 8:16–17​)​
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man​ (​Mt 9:1–8
Jesus Heals a Bleeding Woman​ (Mt 9:20–22​)​
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men​ (Mt 9:27–31​)​
Jesus Heals Every Disease and Sickness​ (Mt 9:35​)​
Jesus Heals a Man’s Withered Hand​ (Mt 12:9–14​)​
Jesus Heals the Sick and Warns Them to Be Silent​ (Mt 12:15​)​
Darkness Covers the Land​ (Mt 14:14​)​
Jesus Heals the Sick at Gennesaret​ (Mt 14:34–36​)​
Jesus Heals Many People​ (Mt 15:29–31​)​
Jesus Heals People in Judea Beyond the Jordan​ (Mt 19:1–2​)​
Jesus Heals Two Blind Men at Jericho​ (Mt 20:29–34​)​
Jesus Heals the Blind and Lame in the Temple​ (Mt 21:14–16​)​
Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law​ (Mk 1:29–31​)​
Jesus Heals Many​ (Mk 1:32–34​)​
Jesus Cleanses a Leper​ (Mk 1:40–45​)​
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man​ (Mk 2:1–12​)​
Jesus Heals a Man’s Withered Hand​  (Mk 3:1–5​)​
Jesus Heals the Sick​ (Mk 3:9–10​)​
Jesus Heals a Bleeding Woman​ (Mk 5:25–34​)​
Jesus Heals a Few Sick People​ (Mk 6:5​)​
The Twelve Heal the Sick​ (​Mk 6:13​)​
Jesus Heals the Sick at Gennesaret​ (Mk 6:53–56​)​
Jesus Heals a Deaf Man in the Decapolis​ (Mk 7:32–35​)​
Jesus Heals a Blind Man in Bethsaida​ (Mk 8:22–26​)​
Jesus Heals Bartimaeus at Jericho​ (Mk 10:46–52​)​
Jesus Heals Peter’s Mother-in-Law​ (Lk 4:39​)​
Jesus Heals Many in Capernaum​ (Lk 4:40–41​)​
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy​ (Lk 5:12–16​)​
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man​ (Lk 5:17–26​)​
Jesus Heals a Man’s Hand on the Sabbath​ (Lk 6:6–10​)​
Jesus Heals the Sick and Demon-Possessed​ (Lk 6:17–19​)​
Jesus Heals a Centurion’s Servant​ (Lk 7:1–10​)​
Jesus Heals Many People​ (Lk 7:18–23​)​
Jesus Heals Infirmities​ (Lk 8:2​)​
Jesus Heals a Bleeding Woman​ (Lk 8:43–48​)​
Jesus Heals Many Sick People​ (Lk 9:11​)​
Jesus Heals a Disabled Woman​ (Lk 13:10–17​)​
Jesus Heals a Man With Dropsy​ (Lk 14:4​)​
Jesus Cleanses 10 Men With Leprosy​ (Lk 17:11–19​)​
Jesus Heals Bartimaeus​ (Lk 18:42​)​
Jesus Restores a Man’s Ear​ (Lk 22:50–51​)​
Jesus Heals an Official’s Son​ (Jn 4:50​)​
Jesus Heals a Lame Man​ (Jn 5:8​)​
Jesus Heals a Man Born Blind​ (Jn 9:7​)​
Peter Heals a Man Lame from Birth​ (Ac 3:2–10​)​
The Apostles Heal Many People​ (Ac 5:15–16​)​
Philip Casts Out Demons in Samaria​ (Ac 8:6–7​)​
Ananias Heals Saul​ (Ac 9:17–19
Peter Heals Aeneas in Lydda​ (Ac 9:33–34​)​
Paul Heals a Man Lame from Birth​ (Ac 14:8–10​)​
Paul Performs Extraordinary Miracles​ (Ac 19:11–12​)​
Paul Survives a Viper’s Bite​ (Ac 28:3–6​)​
Paul Heals the Father of Publius and Others​ (Ac 28:8​)​
Paul Heals Many at Malta​ (Ac 28:9​)​

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Faith in the Ministry of Healing

In our lives today we must face many obstacles to our health – the ubiquitous use of plastics, refined food processing; antibiotics and insecticide use in farming, etc. Also, ageing diminishes the defence system of our immune system against these onslaughts. Many do not understand the dangers of sugar overuse in foods and suffer from obesity and diabetes. However, we must do our best to mitigate health problems via a disciplined healthy lifestyle. And we must rely on faith for direction from our Lord to do our utmost to stay strong in both our bodily health and our faith in a stressful world. Because many are or know someone facing an illness I am sharing information from the Word of God on healing to bolster our faith.

There are numerous indications of healing in both the old and the new testaments: When Jesus was here on earth he performed many miracles of instant healing, and he raised the dead – for examples: The story of the Woman of Nain’s son, and of the raising of Lazarus from the dead. (Luke 7:11-17; John 11:1-44 ) There are many more miracles in the Old and New Testament to increase your faith. 2

The atomic control of the Lord over our health In the story of Moses, he met God at a burning bush with directions to go and set the Israelites free from Pharoah’s harsh slavery. He asked God why would the leaders of Israel or even Pharoah believe that his mission was directed by the Sovereign God of the universe who had called Abraham his forefather years before to begin a nation that would serve him. The Lord gave him proof of his omnipotent ability to free the people, giving him a unique sign:

“Put your hand inside your cloak.” And he put his hand inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, his hand was leprous like snow. Then God said, “Put your hand back inside your cloak.” So he put his hand back inside his cloak, and when he took it out, behold, it was restored like the rest of his flesh. “If they will not believe you,” God said, “or listen to the first sign, they may believe [this|…sign. (Exodus 4:6-8)

After Moses succeed in bringing the Jews out of Egypt, he encountered whining, and leadership competition from those who were not directly called in this specific leadership role – as he and his brother Aaron were:

“Is there not Aaron, your brother, the Levite? I know that he can speak well. Behold, he is coming out to meet you, and when he sees you, he will be glad in his heart. You shall speak to him and put the words in his mouth, and I will be with your mouth and with his mouth and will teach you both what to do. He shall speak for you to the people, and he shall be your mouth, and you shall be as God to him. And take in your hand this staff, with which you shall do the signs.” (Exodus 4:13-17)

Sadly, even Miriam, the sister of Moses, was murmuring among the people, accusing Moses of grandiose leadership and of taking the glory of leading Israel unto himself. You can read how the Lord dealt instantly with her to stop a coup d’etat. He caused an instant change in her biology, to instantly leprous to healed after trial of seclusion for seven days. Moses had pleaded with the Lord for her forgiveness:

Miriam’s skin suddenly became diseased, as white as snow. When Aaron turned toward her, he saw that she was diseased and said to Moses, “My Lord, please don’t hold against us this sin we have so foolishly committed. Please don’t let her be like a dead baby whose flesh is half eaten away when he comes out of his mother’s womb.” Then Moses cried out to the LORD, “God, please heal her! The LORD answered Moses, “If her father had merely spit in her face, wouldn’t she remain in disgrace for seven days? Let her be confined outside the camp for seven days; after that she may be brought back in.” So Miriam was confined outside the camp for seven days, and the people did not move on until Miriam was brought back in. (Numbers 12:10-15 HCSB)

The principle here is that the Lord Yahweh, who created the heavens and the earth, is in control of all atomic movement via an Intelligent Sovereignty – He is omniscient and omnipresent. He is the same yesterday as he is today. The elders of the Christian church were given a guideline as to how one should handle seeking the Lord for healing, and I have witnessed immediate healing myself noted in my testimony.

Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. (James 5:14 NLT)

It is essential that the elders of the church who will anoint an ill person be entirely men of faith led by the Spirit, fully able to call into effect by faith – by a sanctified request before Lord – that which is not seen while following the directive of James. The reality of faith in God working miracles today is rarely found among the churches. I have noted this in my own eldership. Yet looking at the noted scripture, we see that firstly repentance and confession of the sick person – bringing the Lord’s forgiveness (as with Miriam), is also necessary and at least the prayer of one faithful righteous elder 1 who still strongly believes in miracles as per:

Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. (James 5:16)

I recommend listening to Charles Stanley’s Youtube explained the three phases of faith and how to keep our focus on the promises of God. Click here to view and/or listen.

1 It is often suggested that the ill person approach and ask for anointing which may intimidate elders from directly advising one to do so, though there are instances of men of faith taking the initiative on behalf of the sick person, to reach out to gently ask one if they perhaps desire an anointing. This may be necessary simply due to the physiological health of the diseased, who may feel very unworthy or shy. The centurion on behalf of his servant is a strong case of faith in Christ. Peter and John in the portico of Solomon with gusto reached out and said to a lame man: “rise walk in the name of Jesus”. And the miracles of Jesus were often done on his own direct initiative without a request to heal. The entire doctrine of miracles has many differing man-made views to the extent it diminishes or extinguishes faith altogether and attempts to do healing become a legal ritualistic measure, not executed by the principle of faith. Many today simply prefer to follow the directives of their doctors which may or may not be led by faith. I do not demean doctors who can work wonders under the blessing of the Lord. However,  I do recall as an elder, that the entire church of over 100 people began to pray for a member on their knees. The experience of the Holy Spirit-led unity was remarkable. I met Wayne at the ABC bookstore many years later and he was still doing just fine.

2 List of Old and New Testament Healing Scriptures

Sanctification: Living a Holy Life, Second Coming of Jesus in Glory

Living in view of the Second Advent of Christ

“… live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ…” (see Titus 2:12-13 ESV)

In the epistle written to and named after his pastoral co-worker Titus, the apostle Paul aimed to strengthen Titus’s ministry on the Grecian island of Crete, where there were many pagan influences. Titus was to teach all the new converts to become “strong in the faith” (1:13). Paul commented on the primary social relationships within marriages, homes, individual life and work–to be transformed profoundly in the context of the gospel relationship to Jesus Christ from within, via the Spirit informing us how to live as we follow the Word of God.

In the first century AD, the early churches were being infiltrated by false teachers teaching false doctrine–an emphasis in Paul’s letter. However, it is refreshing to notice that Paul focuses not on our outward rules-based motivation but rather on a lifestyle motivated by the love of Jesus Christ. Whereas the false teachers were deceivers (1:10), Titus was to promote the kind of living that reflects correct teaching outside of any misalignment to the Word of God. Through biblical knowledge and acceptance of “correct teaching,” we can navigate a righteous life with the help of the Holy Spirit. However, we can fail if we take our eyes off the Lord when we are upset, tired, hungry, or fearful. When the rubber hits the road, the behaviour should match belief.

Paul gave Titus examples of the proper Christian behaviour expected within the churches. The primary concern of the letter is that correct doctrine leads to appropriate behaviour. Titus 2:1–15 will be our focus as this text describes proper behaviour and that such behaviour must be rooted in the gospel and its teachings–and that our leaders in the church must teach these guidelines with authority.

Middle-age and senior men are an example to younger men
“Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and steadfastness.” (Titus 2:2 ESV)

Older men are the senior community members of the village, town or city, and should be examples of biblical maturity. Thus, they are to exercise self-control, meaning that their lives should show moderation with an absence of extravagance–worthy of respect as “serious-minded” men focused on the promulgation of the gospel.

They are to be sound in their faith, having a personal faith in God by maintaining the Christian truth of the gospel. They should be loving, never displaying anger or bitterness. (see John 13:34).

Middle-age and senior women are examples to younger women
“Older women likewise are to be reverent in behaviour, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (Titus 2: 3-5 ESV)

Just as the apostle Paul noted that Titus was to teach men how they ought to live, he also had the responsibility to guide the churches’ women—their lifestyles should be appropriate—dignified, worthy of honour, Christlike.

Older women are important role models for younger women, desperately needed in society. Today we see loose living as ungodly men prey on young women. Premarital abstinence from sex outside of marriage is not common. What lifestyle are women to adopt? Paul advises a respectful attitude toward all aspects of life and people of all ages, not to go around gossiping negatively about others, nor should they be heavy drinkers.

Mothers, grandmothers, and aunts teach others what is good by observing their lives and sharing their wisdom, knowledge, and faith within family circles and friends. No woman should regard her life as of a lesser value to Jesus Christ. When children have left the nest or after retirement from a career, they should never despair or fear loneliness but actively offer their wisdom, prayers, and examples in the church. Rock-solid women of faith are always needed!

Older women can train the younger women in the church by word and example. Lifestyle is the best teacher of “what is good” (verse 2:3). They can encourage the young women in the church to love their husbands and their children. Women have the closest relationship with their daughters, which carries on into later years.

Many Christian women have won the hearts of their husbands and children simply by showing gentle respect for the father’s leadership in the home and motivating him to love and guide his household safely and biblically in Christ. This often becomes controversial if the husband discerns non-Christian boys flirting with his daughters, or non-Christian boys influencing his sons, if he determines the need to and desires to maintain a hedge of protection in the faith for his household, this can be viewed as overbearing and controlling. However, Christian fathers need God-directed control of their own and their family’s lives.

The lineage of authority in the home
Like older men advising the younger men, older women need to live wisely and “train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure”.

Young women are to be submissive to their husbands. Submission between marriage partners is an often misunderstood concept. This text, for example, cannot be used to promote the general subjugation of all women under all men. For marriage and family relationships to run smoothly, there must be one appointed leader—God has appointed the husband and father to be this leader. The wife should willingly follow her husband’s leadership in Christ, acknowledging his responsibility under God.

Maturity provides the key to understanding submission. The husband must not be a tyrant, faithless, unloving, or impatient, as previously mentioned in verse 2. He should be worthy of respect.

Likewise, the woman should not undermine or contradict the man which can aggravate disrespect among the children for his headship in the family. However, he may need to learn better methods of such leadership (there is no manual except the example of older men who live by the Word of God). Submission means for both the husband and the wife to accept the relationship that God has designed, voluntarily subjecting oneself to God’s order of authority within the family and fulfilling the responsibilities that come with it (for more of Paul’s advice about marriage, (see 1 Corinthians 7:1–40); men are to love their wives and wives are to reciprocate respect for the husband–and the inverse is also true–women are to respect their husbands and husbands are to reciprocate love for the husband. (see Ephesians 5:22–33).

Many women are happily submissive to their husbands, supporting their husbands’ leadership role in the family (see Ephesians 5:22; 5:23–24). When the children see this they also respect their father’s biblical guidance.

What is the purpose of this instruction?
Every believer’s purpose in following the Word of God is to glorify God. Believers are being watched. If they live righteous and blameless lives, they would not bring shame on the word of God. Paul also urged Titus to encourage the young men to live wisely in all they do:

“Likewise, urge the younger men to be self-controlled. Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame, having nothing evil to say about us” (Titus 2:6-8 ESV)

The advice that the apostle Paul gives in Titus is important training in right living and all Christians should take heed because it prepares us for the Second Coming of Jesus Christ our Lord. This training was to prepare men to become elders and expand the churches reach.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11-14 ESV)

God, by his grace, sent Christ to earth. Because of Christ’s death on the cross, salvation is available to all people, “so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life”. (Titus 3:7 ESV)

The grace of God was revealed in Christ, referring to the incarnation. That message of grace arrived in Crete with Paul and Titus and it is still applicable to us today. When the gospel light is turned on in a place of darkness, changes are inevitable. Those who respond are transformed; those who resist and reject the message can do so, but they must face the dire consequences.

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Noah found favour with the Lord

 “But Noah found favour with the Lord…Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. (Genesis 6:8-9 NLT)

In Matt 24:37-39, Jesus referred to a similarity of the first outpouring of God’s worldwide judgment upon sinful people in Noah’s day with the forthcoming final judgement at the Lord’s return. People will be going about their daily business, just as they were in Noah’s time (Genesis 7:17–24). Just as the flood caught them unawares (and after it was too late) and swept them away in judgment, so it will be when the Son of Man comes – a time when our consciences ought to be pure and holy (see also 1 Peter 3:20–21). 1

If the second advent of Christ, is referred to by Jesus as a time when everyone’s thoughts are evil continually, we should consider what allowed one man, Noah to be chosen to be saved in the coming flood. I found the following characterisation of Noah very helpful to understand how Christians all need to prepare for the second coming of Christ. Noah found favour in the eyes of the Lord, for one reason: he walked in close fellowship with God.  “But Noah found favour with the Lord…Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God. (Genesis 6:8-9 NLT)

Jesus noted that some would not be ready at his second advent because as far as he is concerned some will not be in a close relationship with him when he returns: “I never knew you” will be a fearful statement to hear – however too late! (Matthew 7:21-23)

Jesus also taught in the parable of the Vine the importance of abiding in Him via His Spirit, because without Him, obedient to His eternal Word, we cannot overcome the wickedness of the world in which we live. (John 15:1-11) The stark  coverse of not having a true relationship with Christ is referred metaphorically here, antithetical to a living abiding union – as dead, useless vines: “If anyone does not abide in me he is thrown away like a branch and withers; and the branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. (John 15:6) The similarity echoes a sense of warning of the lake of fire into which the unsaved will end. (Revelation 20:15)

The warning to be found ready to meet the Lord at His second advent on the day of judgement repeats the view of a need of readiness in many places in scripture. (1 Timothy 6:14; Ephesians 5:27; 2 Peter 3:14)

If you have never accepted Jesus Christ as Sovereign Lord of your life, nor developed an abiding relationship of love to Him, He is ready willing and able to help develop a discipleship relationship with Him. (Revelation 3:18-20)  

1 Barton, B., Comfort, P., Osborne, G., Taylor, L. K., & Veerman, D. (2001). Life Application New Testament Commentary (p. 107). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

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Human Sexuality

“It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.” Genesis 2:18 NLT

When God created the first human beings in his own image, he created them as male and female sexual beings. Through their sexuality, they were to fill and govern the world (Genesis 1:27-28) and provide intimate companionship for one another in marriage.

Male and female sexuality is central to what it means to be human. Sexual intimacy united the first man and woman as one being. It continues to have a unifying magnetic power over the two genders when submitted to the Lord as our Sovereign creator.

Biblical sexuality, created before sin, is a powerful force for good as a gift of God. It is not just physical. With the total personal love of the two in mind – male and female – sexual relations validate loving-kindness and generosity, revealing that both partners’ have a mutual commitment to each other’s ultimate good in a continuum in the sight of God, and in God’s Spirit. Sexuality is a divine realm, and such purity in marriage can include mystical joy.

By engaging in sexual intercourse, the bible teaches that we literally “know” another person intimately (Genesis 4:1). Since creation, the purpose of sexuality has been to join people in an intimate union of marriage—a permanent and loving heterosexual commitment—that God blesses and calls “very good” (Genesis 1:27-28, 31). The sexual relationship cements the marriage bond in an intimacy that continues even when reproduction is no longer possible.

Today sexuality is perverted, brought on by the initial and increasing disrespect for our Sovereign God in human rebellion. The powerful force of sexuality will be corrupted if not carefully channelled and constrained (see Leviticus 18:1-30; 1 Thessalonians 4:3-8).

Sexual intimacy apart from marital commitment perverts the order that God intended for creation. Incest, for example, violates sexual boundaries within families (see Leviticus 18:7-14), collapses family structures of union (see Genesis 19:30-38), and fragments family community. Whereas perverted sexuality tears the community down (see Genesis 38:1-30; 39:7-9; Judges chs. 19–20) and exalts the individual (see 2 Samuel 13:11-14); biblical sexuality builds up the sexual partners and the community. Our sexual identity has been damaged through our fall into sin (Genesis 3), but God has redeemed it through the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (see 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; Ephesians 5:31-33).

The Lord restores sexual wholeness in those who trust his work in their lives by the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:9-11, 15-20; 1 Thessalonians 4:1-5). Those who commit their sexuality to Christ can testify to God’s love for his people (Ephesians 5:25-33).

 

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The Angel Gabriel proclaims the birth of Jesus

We will look at how the angel Gabriel promises the Birth of Jesus to Mary in Luke 1:26–38. Luke placed the story of the announcement of Jesus’ birth after that of John the Baptist’s birth.

Six months after Gabriel delivered God’s message to Zechariah (Luke 1:11–20), God sent the angel Gabriel with another promissory message – this time to a virgin named Mary. The announcement in Nazareth shows that Mary came from humble, agrarian roots. Galilee was not a respected region – hardly the expected locale for one sent from God (John 7:41).

The announcement about John was to a man, the one about Jesus was to a woman. Notice the gender diversity of how God chooses to use individuals.1

Gabriel had also appeared to the prophet Daniel more than five hundred years earlier (Daniel 8:15–17; 9:21). Each time Gabriel appeared, he brought important messages from God to people entirely devoted to God. This time was no exception. (Luke 1:26–27) When Gabriel appeared to Mary, he called her: favoured woman because she would be a recipient of God’s grace, being chosen to bear the child Jesus. (Luke 1:28–29) There is a parallel here I’d like you to see. Mary, like Daniel, was favoured by the Lord because of her deeply devoted life. Note also Gabriel’s words to Daniel: “Daniel…you are greatly loved” (see Daniel 9:22-23) 

Gabriel explained to Mary that this child would grow in her womb, be born as all human children are born, and be named Jesus. This son will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The word “Son” was a designation of the Messiah, the long-awaited Savior (Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:9–16; Psalm 2:7; Isaiah 7:14; 9:1–7; 11:1–3).

The name Jesus, a Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, means “Yahweh saves.” Just as Joshua had led Israel into the Promised Land (see Joshua 1:1–2; Luke 1:30–33), so Jesus would lead his people into eternal life. The relevancy of the symbolism of Jesus’ name would soon be revealed to the people of his day. In Jesus’ name, people would heal from blindness and every sickness; demons would be banished; legalistic condemnation of sinners was challenged by Jesus; and finally, via the redemption achieved by his propitiatory death when condemned by his fellow Jews, judicially allowed by Pontius Pilate (Luke 23:23-25), he became our Saviour from sin and death. (1 John 4:10, 2:2; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 12:2; 1 Peter 1:18-19; Romans 5:10)

Centuries earlier, God had promised David that his kingdom would last forever (2 Samuel 7:16). This promise was fulfilled in the coming of Jesus, a direct descendant of David (Luke 1:27). Being born in the line of David, Jesus would be a king to reign over Israel forever – an eternal Kingdom that will never end. God had promised a perpetuation of the dynasty of David. David’s earthly family dynasty ended four centuries after his reign. Jesus Christ, a direct descendant of David, was the ultimate spiritual fulfilment of this promise (Acts 2:22–36). Christ who is the creator of all creatures and all things (Colossians 1:16) will now reign for eternity—now acknowledged in his spiritual Kingdom — vibrantly active in the hearts of His children in the New Jerusalem,2 the church of the New Covenant. (Matthew 26:28; Mark 14:24; Luke 22:20; 1 Corinthians 11:25).

The birth of Jesus to a virgin is a miracle that many people find difficult to believe. Jesus’ miracles, transfiguration, and resurrection were all actual, historical events that defy explanation. They were acts of God in a human world created by Him (John 1:3-4). A Christians’ faith, however, rests not on the virgin birth—indeed two of the four Gospels don’t even mention it. Faith rests on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, not on his virgin birth. However, the virgin birth reveals two important facts: In Jesus, God began a “new creation,” for, through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection, sin’s power over humankind dies. In Jesus, people can come to God for a personal relationship and be freed from the power of sin. Moreover, Jesus was God’s Son before he was ever conceived in Mary’s womb. He did not become God’s Son at a later time, issuing from Mary.

His acceptation as God’s Son was not because of good behaviour or obedience. He was not a man promoted to that position. God’s Son was eminently born God’s Son. In the birth of Jesus, God himself became human and entered the world—for fallen human beings! Therein lies the miracle! People are not to explain it, prove it, or ignore it—they are to believe it and worship God who made it happen. (Luke 1:34 )

God favours her not because of her merit or because she has done anything. She is favoured because she is the chosen vessel for God’s demonstration of Grace, and He knew her receptiveness as His humble servant. God even gives a sign to Mary that these events are taking place within her family circle. The angel reveals that her old relative will miraculously bear a child too, and he reminds her that “nothing is impossible with God.” As with Gabriel’s message to Zechariah, this remark indicates that God can and will perform his word. His promise can be trusted.

Mary’s response reveals her character. “Let it be to me as you have said” (Luke 1: 38). This was no simple matter. She is being asked to bear a child as a virgin without being married. Knowing that by standing up for God and his power, she will probably become the object of much doubt and ridicule – this was a sign of her favoured womanhood – her absolute devotion to Yahweh! While Gabriel visits, Mary acknowledges her divine appointment as she confirms her servanthood. She will allow God to work through her as he wills. He can place her in whatever difficult circumstances he desires, for like Daniel of old, she knows by her loving relationship, that God is with her. 3

1 Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (p. 56). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

2 The New Jerusalem is the church – those who have a heavenly connection via the Holy Spirit of Christ indwelling them. The New Jerusalem is called “the bride, the Lamb’s wife.” (Revelation 21:9, 10) The Lamb is a metaphoric depiction of Jesus Christ – the “Lamb slaughtered to take away the sin of the world”. (John 1:29; Revelation 5:12) “The Lamb’s wife,” Christ’s bride, represents Christians who unite with Jesus via the Holy Spirit and who will ascend to heaven at the first resurrection of those justified by faith in Christ (1Thessalonians 4:16-17). The Bible symbolises the relationship between Jesus and these Christians to that of a husband and wife. (2 Corinthians 11:2; Ephesians 5:23-25) The foundation stones of the New Jerusalem inscribed with “the 12 names of the 12 apostles of the Lamb” (Revelation 21:14) are paralleled in Ephesians 2:18-20 as those who are “built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets”.

3 Barton, B., Comfort, P., Osborne, G., Taylor, L. K., & Veerman, D. (2001). Life Application New Testament Commentary (pp. 243–244). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

Angels, Atonement of Christ, New Covenant, Uncategorized

The Angel Gabriel introduces the Good News

Let’s look how the angel Gabriel, promised the Birth of John the Baptist to Zechariah  (Luke 1:4–25)

Luke started at “the beginning” (Luke 1:3). But for Jesus’ life, the beginning was not his birth, but instead the announcement of the birth of John the Baptist—the person who would prepare the way for Jesus. Zechariah’s wife, Elizabeth, was also from the priestly line of Aaron. Elizabeth descended directly from Aaron, brother of Moses and Israel’s first high priest (Exodus 28:1).

Zechariah and Elizabeth both were righteous in God’s eyes. This does not mean that they were sinless, but that they loved God and obeyed him. Luke adds the detail that they were both quite old. (Luke 1:6–7) .1 This gives each of us, as it does myself, encouragement: God can reveal a ministry to begin at any juncture in our lives. As long as we draw breath, we can serve the Lord.

I am focusing on the angel Gabriel (Luke 1:19) who delivered the unique message of the Good News about Jesus to Zechariah who is now forever known in the Gospels as the father of John the Baptist. His theophany 2 was not a dream or a vision; the angel was a royal herald of God who had brought divine insights to another nobleman of God during the exile to Babylon – Daniel. The angel appeared in visible form and spoke audible words to the Zechariah, the priest as he had done to Daniel in bygone days. (Luke 1:11)

The angel appeared as Zechariah placed the incense on the altar. At this great moment, God begins to work in a fresh way to redeem humankind by revealing his sending of the forerunner – John the Baptist – to present the One who would take sin away from the world. How appropriate to pick a moment of worship and a time when people recognised their need for cleansing from sin! 3

“Your wife, Elizabeth, will bear you a son.” (Luke 1:12–13) The angel even told Zechariah what to name the baby: John means “the LORD is gracious.” Through the birth of this son, God was gracious to Zechariah and Elizabeth, and ultimately to all people, for this son would prepare people’s hearts for the Messiah.

Luke refers to the Holy Spirit – the third person of the Trinity – more than any other Gospel writer does; it was a primary focus for him (see Luke 1:35, 41).4  That John would be filled with the Holy Spirit, even before his birth, indicates a unique choice of this child. What this signalled was the restoration of the prophetic work of the Holy Spirit that had not been present in Israel for over four hundred years (since the days of the prophet Malachi). (Luke 1:14–15)

Gabriel told Zechariah that John would go before God with the Spirit and power of Elijah – a great prophet who was known for not mincing words and for standing up to evil rulers (Luke 1:16–17 1 Kings 17–19; 2 Kings 2:9, 15; see also Matthew 11:14; 17:10–13).

John’s mission would turn the hearts of the fathers to their children. This phrase comes directly from the prophecy of the Messiah’s forerunner found in Malachi 4:5–6. Though the meaning of the phrase is not immediately apparent, it may mean that John’s messages of repentance would unify broken family relationships – help fathers in their parental responsibilities, or change the lives of disobedient children so that their fathers would approve of them. (see Luke 15:20)

As the story goes, John’s ministerial call to repentance would change the disobedient minds to accept godly wisdom by bringing many of his contemporaries back to a former or a new relationship to God.

When Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, he stated: “I am Gabriel, I stand in the very presence of God.” Gabriel had come with a critical message—Gabriel himself described it as good news. The old priest ought not to have doubted anything the angel said as Zechariah would recall that Gabriel was the angel who had appeared long ago to Daniel, immediately responding to his prayer in Babylon. (Luke 1:19; Daniel 9:21)

Though Zechariah and Elizabeth had been childless for many years, God was waiting for the right time to encourage them and take away their disgrace. Elizabeth realised that in this impossible pregnancy, God had performed a miracle. She praised God for taking away her shame of having no children (Luke 1:7, 25).

One of the keys to the narrative, as I noted above, is to recognise that a story’s characters represent certain types of people. In Zechariah and Elizabeth, we see not just historical figures but representative personalities, and we can identify with their attitudes. We can sympathise with Elizabeth’s plight of childlessness. But she also is an example of how she responds. Despite her disappointment, she faithfully serves God. Even when her situation reversed, she does not forget God but rejoices in what he has done to renew her.

From righteous Zechariah, we also learn something about walking with God. This Gospel is full of such exemplary characters.

Life Application Both Zechariah and Elizabeth are at the heart of the bridge between the past and the present. Our pain may not be the absence of a child, but many things can bring disappointment in life. Zechariah nor Elizabeth succumbed to bitterness, even though Elizabeth felt “disgrace.”

Maybe that is one reason God called them upright and blameless. But good people need to learn to rely even more on God. Sometimes the answer to their disappointment is not clear. Whether it be a severe illness, the loss of a child to premature death, a financial collapse, dealing with a child who falls away from Christ, or into calamity or a grave sin, or an unfortunate accident, the hard times are not always self-explanatory.

God never guarantees that life will be a bed of roses as the cliche goes, never comes without pain and disappointment sometime in our lives. The issue is how we handle it. Bitterness yields the fruit of anger and frustration, sapping our immediate joy from life. Conversely, by adhering to our faith, trust and dependence will cause us to find fulfilment in ways we would not even have considered otherwise.

God’s plan is a basic echo throughout the entire Gospel. Are we prepared for God and do we respond to his love through the ones he uses to lead us to him? As John pointed the way, we need to respect those who have led us in our journey – for me, it was my mother Ruth who read the old Bible stories to me as a young boy; Miss Phillips who came into Lord Elgin school and taught the good news on her felt board; the principal, Miss Couch, who had the entire school annually sing carols together in the hall; and Gordon Pfeifer, the evangelist who preached Christ crucified, and other exceptional elders such as Len Leatherdale, Pastor Mark Johnson, and more.

I’ve learned that we must sense God’s leading and act right then and there recognising our need for Him and respond to Jesus, the One who offers forgiveness to us! I have asked myself more than once: have I humbly walked before the Lord – taking the path he called me to, or have I too often opted to go my own way? If you draw breath, it is not too late to give your life to Jesus Christ as Lord of heaven and the earth, and your soul. Turn to Him, and He will turn to you.

Filled with the Spirit from birth, John testified to Jesus by kicking in his mother’s womb (Luke 1:44 when His mother Mary spoke to her cousin Elizabeth. A powerful testimony often accompanies the presence of the Holy Spirit in Luke. Those who are directed by God in the Spirit do not render testimony to God in the privacy of their own home, as the many Spirit-filled characters in the book of Acts also show. If we have the Spirit, God will be manifest in both our words and deeds.

Yet different ways for doing this exist (see Luke 7:24–35). John’s greatness is not found in his choice of lifestyle, but in the fact that in understanding his calling, he pursues it wholeheartedly and carries out God’s will faithfully.

God does not lead all people to minister in the same way. That diversity allows different types of Spirit-led ministry to impact different kinds of people. We should not make everyone minister, in the same way, similarly advocate our particular doctrines, nor with the same style. The test of ministry is not its external appearances; instead, it is found in much less obvious ways. As a servant of God, John became a preacher who encouraged others to live before God in a way that honoured the Creator. Not everyone responded to John, so we can ascertain that numbers needn’t measure ministerial or elder success. John’s mission was to be a source of stimulating others to find God – something we all can emulate.

The turning of the fathers and sons to each other and God (Luke 1: 17) shows how vital reconciliation within the family is. Colossians 3:21 states clearly how the father’s approach to his child can help form or deform a child’s self-image. Yet what is needed is not merely a reconciled relationship between father and child, but a spiritual connection among the family kindred secured by a robustly strong divine bond mutually uniting them to Christ.

In this way, all family members turn to serve the Lord, so that “the disobedient [are turned] to the wisdom of the righteous” (Luke 1: 17). God’s desire to unite us in a relationship to Himself has resounded over the ages since Moses taught Israel how to restore weakening divine relationship. (see Deuteronomy 4:30; Jeremiah 24:7; Isaiah 10:21; 31:6, 55:7; Zechariah 1:3; Malachi 3:7; James 4:8; Acts 16:31 NLT).

One need only needs to read all the wise words of the father to his son in Proverbs to sense how crucial a three-way relationship between parent, child, and God is. 5

1 Barton, B., Comfort, P., Osborne, G., Taylor, L. K., & Veerman, D. (2001). Life Application New Testament Commentary (p. 241). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

2 Meaning of Theophany: Manifestation of God that is tangible to the human senses. In its most restrictive sense, it is a visible appearance of God in the Old Testament period often, but not always, in human form. Some would also include in this term Christophanies (pre-incarnate appearances of Christ; and post-ascension visions of Christ, such as the bright light experienced by Paul on the Road to Damascus, and my own experience) and angelophanies (appearances of angels).

3 Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (pp. 48–49). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

4 Barton, B., Comfort, P., Osborne, G., Taylor, L. K., & Veerman, D. (2001). Life Application New Testament Commentary (p. 241). Wheaton, IL: Tyndale.

5 Bock, D. L. (1996). Luke (pp. 48–49). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.

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Is belief enough to get you through life?

“Teach me good judgement and knowledge for I believe in your commandments” Psalm 119:66 ESV 

It is one thing to believe – even the devils believe! (James 2:19) Indeed it is far more unusual to adhere obediently to Scripture than just to think belief is sufficient evidence of faith. 

It is yet another to deeply discern and determine good judgement among diverse situations and subjects both theologically and in practical parameters of personal relationship. 

Further, it is yet a leadership blessing to possess organizational knowledge and intuit the right business and personal paths in any or all realms. Daniel and Joseph were such men of clear judgement and fast decision-making capacity precisely because they were led by the Spirit while facing crises. 

Such guidance by the Lord’s Spirit was due to the entire submission of mind, body, and soul to be open and expectantly listen for leadership council from Yahweh’s Spirit. Thus they magnified and glorified Yahweh among the ungodly. 

God prepares true leaders long ahead of the circumstances to achieve good results for his elect in a fallen self-centred world. 

How do you want to live? Anyone can observe the lives of the heroes of faith. Their prophetic written words historically prove that they were true prophets of old from whom we can learn. The Bible has ample evidence for Christians to praise and glorify the Lord when reading the book of Daniel or the story of Joseph in the book of Genesis.

And let us not forget the greatest source of biblical guidance: the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John for they demonstrate faithful obedience to God’s love for others in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ relating to men and women like you and me.