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“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 )

When John the Baptist, or 'John the plunger' walked onto the scene his preaching was not only challenging but radical. There had never been anything approaching this for many years. This passage may shock and may cause questions to arise. Good questions can be good and healthy and for most good questions there are sound solid answers, so never be afraid to ask. In Luke Chapter 3 and at verse 7, John addresses repenting needy sinners as a generation of vipers. Have you just come to escape the horrors of judgment? Have you just come to escape the coming judgment of…  ( Click for more )

John comes preaching from Isaiah. We are in Luke Chapter 3. This servant of GOD comes preaching The Word of GOD. This can be so very easily overlooked and neglected and ignored in the church. There is an enemy of God who does not want us to preach and teach and share the Word of God, in the power of the Holy Spirit. There may be people who might have trouble with that concept too, but we know where that comes from. John does not come with his own message - or with nice thoughts - or fine ideas. John goes to the Jordan River - to the lowest point - to do a…  ( Click for more )

Waiting for Almighty God to move anew and afresh is seldom easy.

Waiting for Almighty God to answer prayer can present us with a real challenge.

Waiting for Almighty God to act almost requires a very special quality of believer and discipleship.

We see this in the life of John in Luke Chapter 3, and we see it in the lives of the disciples of Jesus in Acts Chapter 2. And, are there not profound glimpses of this in Acts Chapters 9,10 and 13, when people were expectantly awaiting a move of God and not knowing what might be involved.

This is why it is so…  ( Click for more )

Having been studying these opening two Chapters of Luke, let’s continue in Luke. It is good to read and study the Gospels because the Gospels keep us focused upon what are the basics and sometimes we can move away from these too easily and seek that illusive notion of ‘the deeper life’!

It is also good to ask good questions and if you have good questions do ask them. For most of the questions we have, there are sound solid answers.

The Gospels remind us how our Christian Faith was birthed and launched and of course we also need the book of Acts too…  ( Click for more )

We are reading in Luke Chapter 1 verses 57 – 80, where we read of the birth of the baby who grew up to become known as John the Baptist. So much has been going on - we have looked at some of those events which happened over these weeks and months, as God was preparing the way for John and Jesus to walk onto the world’s stage.

Angels - appearing in the Temple - and to Mary at Nazareth - the reactions of the individuals involved - the meeting of Elizabeth and Mary - so much was going on.

Time has come for Elizabeth to give birth to John. It is a real family affair.…  ( Click for more )

In Luke Chapter 1 verse 39, we read of Mary making her way to the home of Zechariah and Elizabeth at Ein Karen, a village outside Jerusalem and around 70 miles south of Nazareth. Some 9 months later this same virgin, Mary, would make the 80 miles journey south, with Joseph, to Bethlehem.

Mary arrives at the home of her cousin, Elizabeth, and greets Elizabeth. Mary knows all about Elizabeth, but Elizabeth knows nothing about Mary. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s voice, the babe leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit, and she speaks with a loud voice…  ( Click for more )

We were reading in Luke Chapter 1, of how the angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the Temple while he was going about his duties leading the people in prayer and worship, and because Zechariah did not fully believe what the angel had said, he was given a sign. He was struck dumb and would remain silent until what God had said would happen actually happened. Dr Luke then tells us that his wife, Elizabeth, conceived.

Now, we have been through Luke Chapter 2 and part of Luke Chapter 1, but we did not have the opportunity to complete Chapter 1.

Verse 26. Six months later,…  ( Click for more )

Many people are very interested in signs and wonders and superficial ‘spiritual’ excitement, but this is very different.

We have been reading in Luke Chapter 2, but now we return to complete Chapter 1 before going on with our studies in the book of Revelation.

In Luke Chapter 1 at verse 17, we learn that one main task of John’s ministry was to prepare a people for the coming of Jesus Christ. This is part of our ministry - TO MAKE A PEOPLE READY FOR THE COMING OF THE LORD.

After all this had been announced concerning the birth of John, Zechariah, this…  ( Click for more )

We move on to Luke Chapter 2 and verse 40, where we read that the child, Jesus, grew and became strong. He was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him. Here we see Jesus growing in every way. In Jesus, there is a perfect development and balanced growth, physically, emotionally, socially and of course, spiritually.

Sometimes we see young people develop in a few of these ways, but Jesus shows us how we can grow and mature in various areas of our lives.

Place some people, who think they are so able, capable and mature, in a Prayer Meeting, and they become…  ( Click for more )