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A few months ago we were approaching a General Election, and many Christian people were turning to the Word of God, and meeting for prayer, as well as attending hustings, and speaking to the various candidates who were putting themselves forward for election to Parliament.

We have been reading in Luke Chapter 6 and studying those qualities and characteristics Jesus described for discipleship in the Kingdom of God. Society’s goals and aims can be quite different.

Over the weeks, in the lead up to the General Election, we heard much about fairness, and a fairer society. …  ( Click for more )

These are strong words from which people may recoil.

A young pastor is taught that a priority responsibility is to pray for those in authority.

Have you ever noticed that it is almost impossible to criticise a person for whom you are praying?

Before a man concerns himself with being an elder, leader or teacher, he is to be known as a man of prayer. He is to stand in the gap and prayerfully intercede for those in Government.

The word ‘intercession’, at that time, in the days of Jesus and Peter and Paul, was used for petitioning a king.

As disciples…  ( Click for more )

“If we can only get another government, a different government, then all will be well.” Not so. It needs more than that – much more than that.

Jesus has been speaking about the Kingdom of God in Luke Chapter 6, and what Jesus says is so very different from today’s ideas of Government. It was quite radical then, and it is equally radical today.

There is no political solution to a moral problem.

Isaiah spoke to the Hebrew people regarding their imprisoning exile in Babylon.

Bringing them back to the Promised Land was comparatively simple. …  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 6 and at verse 20, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is preparing His disciples for service in the Kingdom of God. The following sentences are almost a series of contradictions but disciples soon realise that they are true and real.

Jesus Christ is speaking about the Kingdom of God, and what Jesus teaches can shake our way of thinking.

Follow Me and you will be blessed, but you will be confronted with conflict. You will face hunger - hatred - and rejection. You may feel like just wanting to sit down and cry. Don’t do that. Rather, rejoice - get…  ( Click for more )

We are in Luke Chapter 6. In these early Chapters, Dr Luke writes of how Jesus Christ has been healing people, wrestling with niggling criticisms from the Pharisees and legalists, and calling these twelve men to be disciples.

When you see people, and when you look at people, that can affect what you are going to say.

This passage deals with our relationships - with ourselves - with other people - with God. We go on to read of what is called the Sermon on the Plain and it deals with happiness in yourself, and harmony with others, and holiness before God.

We are…  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 6 and at verse 12, we have the list of those men called by Jesus Christ to be His disciples and Peter is named first. From the outset, it would appear, Jesus has His eye on this man. Jesus saw the potential and realised his energies and abilities, when ultimately channeled in a different direction.

Peter emerges as the leader of that young Church of Jesus Christ and leaders lead for good or ill - well or badly. That meant persecution and imprisonment from the beginning. There is a Cross to carry.

The Father gave these men to Jesus, so that He could…  ( Click for more )

We are reading in Luke Chapter 6 and in verse 11, we learn how the plot thickens. Jesus Christ has healed a man who had a shriveled hand and now that man would be able to use what was previous unusable.

That is one of the reasons why God the Father sent Jesus Christ, His Son, into the world. Jesus Christ came to heal what needed healing, and to restore what was broken, and as Jesus performs this miracle His critics, who are furious at what Jesus did on the Sabbath, are now discussing and conspiring as to what they might do to Jesus.

This is what I find difficult in the…  ( Click for more )

Having looked at three other Biblical matters recently, we return to the Gospel of Luke and to Chapter 6. This passage and topic has caused so much trouble and particularly in Scotland. It is the matter of the Sabbath.

Jesus and His disciples are relaxing, strolling, getting away from the clamoring crowds and pressures, on the Sabbath. The disciples begin to pick some ears of corn, and they are accused by the religious legalists and Christ’s critics of harvesting. There were various legalistic prohibitions at this time, which were real burdens to the people,…  ( Click for more )

Having been asked recently about what Jesus Christ wrote on one occasion, and having been reading and studying and preaching through the book of Daniel, I share this with you before returning to the Gospel of Luke, where we have been for a number of weeks.

Immediately after Daniel explains and interprets the ‘writing on the wall’, Belshazzar, the king, promotes Daniel, making him third highest ruler in the Babylonian kingdom, handing over royal robes and a gold chain.

These gifts are worthless.

What is the point of being third highest ruler in a kingdom…  ( Click for more )

“The writing is on the wall.” We hear that phrase frequently, but few realise its significance. It comes from the book of Daniel Chapter 5.

There was a party going on, and getting out of hand. Belshazzar, the king of the Babylonian Empire, and a thousand guests, were partying in his Babylonian banqueting hall.

They were drinking from the cups which had been brought from the Temple in Jerusalem, thinking they would enjoy a little rebellion, and a game of disobedience.

I am told there can be a thrill regarding being blasphemous!

Have you ever seen things…  ( Click for more )

We hear this word all too frequently. It is a most convenient word, however few realise its true meaning. Radicalisation is the word to which I am referring.

We hear of young men, and women, being ‘radicalised’, and many gloss over its current significance.

Some may even wonder what can be done, if anything at all.

We leave our present studies in the Gospel of Luke, briefly, although we are not leaving Luke’s Gospel because it is in Luke Chapter 3 and at verse 9, that John the Baptist speaks about the axe being laid at the root.

As John prepared…  ( Click for more )

We come now to one of the trick questions with which the Pharisees and teachers of the law confronted Jesus.

In Luke Chapter 5 at verse 33, we see these religious leaders trying to set one group off against another. This is what I find difficult in the Bible – not the miracles – or the challenging teaching of Jesus – but the behaviour of the religious leadership at that time.

You would have thought the religious leaders might have been among His best friends, but they detested and hated Him, and within a short while they sought to kill Him, shaming Him…  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 5 at Verse 27, we read of the calling of Levi. This is Matthew and he is at work collecting taxes, and he is called while doing his everyday work. Matthew would not be expecting anything special to happen.

Is this not one of the wonders of serving Jesus Christ and preaching the Gospel and teaching the Scriptures? We never ever know what is going to happen.

We learn of this as we read the book of Acts and we are taught these lessons in the letters. As we proclaim the Word of God we never know what He is doing.

Now, do remember that these tax collectors…  ( Click for more )

Turn to Luke Chapter 5 and Verse 17. The setting is that scene where Jesus heals the paralysed man.

The religious leaders were spiritually sick, and Jesus so wanted to heal them, but at this point He said and did nothing.

Is it not very difficult at times to remain silent? Do we not find it difficult to pray, and difficult to remain silent at other times?

In these passages in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is healing people - on His way to heal people - or coming from healing people – but Jesus also loved to teach.

When Jesus was teaching on this occasion…  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 5 at verse 12, a man approaches Jesus Christ, covered with leprosy, or full of leprosy. Think of the pain - isolation - ostracism - lumps – twisted, distorted limbs, and lack of physical feeling.

He fell at Jesus feet. How undignified! He is begging Jesus for help. For years he would have become accustomed to begging and having to cry out "Unclean" everywhere he went.

If you are willing you can make me clean. Here is an open fervent sincere desperate request. There are times when we have to come to Jesus Christ in such a manner. …  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 5, we read of a crowd gathering to hear The Word of God. They are not there for healing nor for personal blessings.

There is nothing wrong with that, but on this occasion we are told they were listening to the Word of God.

Jesus is at the water’s edge and perhaps almost being pushed into the water, Jesus decides to get into one of the fishing boats and it happens to be Peter’s. Jesus asks Peter to push out a little from the shore.

Peter is so willing to put his possessions at Christ’s disposal.

Use it as you wish. There…  ( Click for more )

As Jesus Christ begins His ministry, He exposes what had been hidden. Light showed up darkness! The authoritative commanding word of God had been released.

We are in the closing verses of Luke Chapter 4.

Verse 36. A tormented man who knew who Jesus Christ was, was set free from the evil spirit, which had been disrupting and destroying his life.

The people in Capernaum were amazed at what they had witnessed and they began to speak amongst each other! Does that sound familiar?

When Jesus Christ ministers there can be various reactions and responses.

Jesus…  ( Click for more )

There is an enemy of God who would want to drag us away from God and pull us off the path along which Almighty God would have us walk. These influences and forces which could lead us away from the path God has prepared for us can be very real at times, and Jesus Christ certainly knew that.

We are in Luke Chapter 4 where Jesus has rejected the very real temptations of the enemy, and He has returned to Nazareth, only to be rejected.

Rejection is another powerful emotion with which we have to deal.

Rejected in Nazareth, Jesus adopts Capernaum for His base in the north.…  ( Click for more )

Here comes Jesus! Here comes Jesus Christ! Here come Jesus Christ, the Son of God and He walks onto the world's stage never again ever to leave it. We are in Luke Chapter 4 and verse 14. Do take time to read it carefully and prayerfully. Our title question is massive and troubles many. Jesus taught and Jesus continued to teach over these next three years. News about Jesus Christ soon spread. Word got around, and seemed to get around fast. As His custom was, on the Sabbath, Jesus Christ was present in His local synagogue. Jesus was present in…  ( Click for more )

We are reading of Jesus Christ being tempted by the devil, in Luke Chapter 4, immediately following His being anointed with the Holy Spirit. Having looked at that temptation to turn stones into bread, the enemy now has another attempt. Do not think you will get off with one brief battle! The question in our title is more real than many realise. Verse 5. Jesus is led up to a high mountain, above Jericho, at the north end of the Dead Sea, where you can see for miles. I have been there on various occasions and as one imagines what it must have been like all this…  ( Click for more )

We move into Luke Chapter 4. After being baptised in water, and filled with The Holy Spirit, surely all our problems are over! Is this so? Emphatically NO! Is 'speaking in tongues' the evidence of our being baptised in the Holy Spirit? No. That is invariably a consequence. The evidence is usually trouble, and that is exactly what Jesus Christ experienced here, as did Peter and John in Acts Chapter 3. These are questions which can bother and trouble many and we need to lay a good solid sound biblical foundation as soon as we can. If the foundation is insecure…  ( Click for more )

Use your sanctified imagination and imagine the contemporary scenario. The bus loads return to Nazareth. The crowds which have been thronging to the Jordan River return to Nazareth, and someone asks, "Have you been down yet, Jesus? Do you know what this man John is doing? He is ducking people in the waters of the Jordan. You ought to go and hear him preaching and see what he is doing. We are arranging another bus for next Monday. Come with us." The time has now come when Jesus hangs up His Carpenter's apron for the final time and makes His way down and…  ( Click for more )

When John preached and taught some got it very wrong and as we move to verse 15 of Luke Chapter 3, we read of that. Some got it very wrong, and that is all right, provided it is corrected! This is the Christ, they were saying. They thought this might just possibly be the Messiah. They were waiting expectantly for the Messiah. John answered with such humility and modesty. Yes, after his fiery challenging preaching and teaching, this dear man could also be humble and modest when humility and modesty were required. Again we are confronted with questions to…  ( Click for more )

We are in Luke Chapter 3 and we come to verse 12. John has walked onto the scene at the Jordan River and crowds are flocking out to hear him and to sort out and clean up their lives. When it comes to asking good searching questions our title is perhaps one of the most important. To discover the answers to our questions can give us assurance and reassurance and even lead us to salvation because there are many people who think they are all right spiritually when it comes to salvation, only to realise that they have never been 'born again'. Ask and you shall receive.…  ( Click for more )