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In Matthew Chapter 12 at verse 43, we have the picture of a man who had tried to clean up his own life. He attempted a personal self reformation. What could he do? “I need to put my life in order.” The danger was that his life was left empty. Many do this especially on the first of January.

Jesus says something further. When an evil spirit goes out of a man, it goes seeking somewhere to rest, but if it finds nowhere to rest, it will return to the man, finding the man clean and swept, but empty, and it will bring seven others, and the situation is worse than…  ( Click for more )

Last week I ended with these words which I repeat because there may someone who needs this reminder and encouragement in this crucial and vital area.

What would happen if the Holy Spirit came down upon those in authority and revealed the reality of what is going in our communities and nations in these current times? That has happened before during times of Revival and Renewal.

There are many people meeting together for prayer with Revival and Renewal and Restoration the focus of their praying. Are you part of one of these praying fellowships? If not, may I suggest…  ( Click for more )

Crowds are increasing, as is considerable controversy and conflict, and Jesus Christ is on His way to the Cross. He knows it.

We are reading and studying in Matthew Chapter 12 and we come to verse 38.

His opening words to this growing congregation are – "This is a wicked generation." We are not the first people to be living in difficult times.

In verses 38 to 42, we read of the danger of religion without true repentance.

In verses 43 to 45, we read of the danger of religion without true regeneration.

In verses 46 to 50, we read of religion…  ( Click for more )

See the strategy of Jesus when he deals with evil and antagonism and opposition. We are in Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 29. It is compared to entering a strong man’s house. Jesus deals with our foe. You do not deal with the possessions first. You have to deal with the strong man. One day he will be destroyed – when Jesus comes again.

How do we know we are on the right side? By the commitment we show, and that is taught in verse 30. It is the evidence of being on the side of Jesus Christ, and in the army of Jesus Christ involved with Jesus in this…  ( Click for more )

As we move on in Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 22, it is very interesting that we read of spiritual warfare. Right away, following that significant reference to the prophet Isaiah, we read of conflict.

This warfare lasts a considerable amount of time, and it will not end until Jesus Christ returns.

This warfare covers every corner of the earth, and there is not one of us who is a disciple of Jesus Christ, who is not involved in it in some form. Verse 30 makes that clear.

We are engaged in a conflict. Everyone is. The only question is – which side are…  ( Click for more )

We have reached Matthew Chapter 12 where we have a quotation from Isaiah chapter 42, which refers to the coming ministry of Jesus Christ. Read it carefully.

God says - I am going to uphold My Servant. Even when Jesus was on the Cross being crucified - shedding His Blood to wash away our sin - God was upholding Him - and three days later showed that to the disciples when Jesus was raised from the dead.

He is my chosen one in who I delight, and I will put My Spirit upon Him.

Here is God referring to that day when Jesus was baptised in the Jordan River, and as He…  ( Click for more )

A disciple of Jesus Christ can never resign if the Calling of God is upon his life. O, he can run away, or give in and give up, or be like Judas, and go and hang himself.

For three years these disciples of Jesus would be learning - coming close - observing - watching – and absorbing. They were uniquely privileged to have this superb training.

They are soon to be thrust out into the world. They did not know what they were getting into. Peter was in the front line. That is the way Jesus works.

They were called - taught - commissioned – equipped, and…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 12 and at verse 9, we go into the synagogue – still on the Sabbath.

These Pharisees – these religious leaders – went into the synagogue looking for trouble. Jesus wouldn’t miss a Sabbath. He was not an occasional worshipper.

Verse 10 – Oh, it is all right to accuse on the Sabbath? These men are not present to worship but to keep a beady eye on Jesus Christ!

Here was a man with a withered hand. Had he come a long way to see Jesus? Let’s watch Him. Would He or wouldn’t He? They were furious. Jesus…  ( Click for more )

In that amazing Matthew Chapter 11, we read of honest doubt, and criticism, and apathy and profound encouragement.

As we move into Matthew Chapter 12, we read of a topic has caused so much trouble, and particularly in Scotland – the Sabbath.

Relaxing and strolling away from the clamouring crowds and pressures, Jesus and His disciples are walking. Now, that was unusual to begin with – for Jesus to be what we might call relaxing. But their physical peace is attacked as the critics arise! Jesus deals with it.

They are accused of harvesting. Dragging a…  ( Click for more )

When the imprisoned John the Baptist sends messengers to Jesus Christ with profound and significant questions, Jesus sends these messengers back with answers which we need to hear clearly in these present days.

Look at what I am doing, and go back and give John a full report, and Jesus quotes from Isaiah 35,61, appealing to John's knowledge of the Old Testament. We are studying this passage in Matthew Chapter 11. Do read it carefully and prayerfully because it is highly relevant and apposite.

John had to learn that Jesus was going to carry out His Ministry - His Way…  ( Click for more )

We are in Matthew Chapter 11 and examining that incident where John is in prison because he had preached and had challenged the morality of the leadership and he is wondering if Jesus is really the Christ.

Verse 4 – Jesus gives those messengers, who had come from John, a word for John. Tell John to fix his gaze upon God, and what God is doing, through the One He has sent.

Meditating upon your doubts will not do you one bit of good.

Jesus is really quoting from Isaiah 35,61. Jesus directs John to the Scriptures. What does the Scripture say about the coming…  ( Click for more )

Matthew Chapter 11 could be called reactions to the ministry of Jesus, and this is a characteristic in Matthew’s Gospel. There are three reactions to the ministry of Jesus and these works of power.

In verses 1 to 14 we see a degree of honest doubt.

Verses 16 to 19 reveal a spirit of criticism.

In verses 20 to 24, we come across a spirit or attitude of apathy to the ministry of Jesus.

Doubt grew in the heart and mind of John the Baptist.

Have I been mistaken after all? Have I got it all wrong, and should I be acknowledging that I have made a mistake?…  ( Click for more )

As we read of Jesus sending out these men on this practical mission in Matthew Chapter 10, we learn that Jesus Christ is against sickness and for wholeness. Jesus is against fear, and He wishes people to have saving faith. Jesus is against sin and His desire is to see men and women set free from the grip and hold which sin can have over people.

Jesus does not wish to see people lost and sore and scared and scarred. He wants to see people found and healed and secure and whole.

This command has never been revoked or withdrawn. The kingdom only grows and advances when…  ( Click for more )

We come to Matthew Chapter 10. One day Jesus calls His twelve men together. They have been with Jesus now for about a year, and Jesus gives them a special anointing - specific authority and power - to go and minister.

For a year they have been watching, listening, observing and learning.

For a year they have been under training. Now, they are being sent out on a mission. It was time for the practical. It is not enough just to take it in all the time. There has to be an outlet and the opportunity for service and mission and ministry.

They had seen how…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 9 verses 27 to 42, two blind men are following Jesus, and they ask for mercy. This sounds quite similar to the incident where blind Bartimaeus is healed. There are similarities, and there are differences.

They are following Jesus and they come into the house, and Jesus asks if they believed that He was able to do this – to give them their sight? Their reply is very positive, “Yes, Lord”. They persisted in following Jesus indoors and Jesus appears to be testing these men’s faith to the full. This was not going to be a quick…  ( Click for more )

Have we forgotten where Jesus was going? We are studying Matthew Chapter 9. Jesus had been on his way to the home of Jairus whose twelve year old daughter was seriously ill. His journey had been interrupted by a woman in real need.

As Jesus is speaking with this dear needy woman who had been suffering so much for twelve years, news comes from Jairus' house. "Your daughter is dead. Your 12 year old girl has died. Don't bother the teacher any more. The teacher cannot do anything now, Jairus. It is too late. The delay has been too long. We are sorry. We are…  ( Click for more )

We come to Matthew Chapter 9 and verse 18. We have seen how Jesus Christ has been teaching and ministering and cleansing and healing in such a powerful and effective way and yet, the local people told Jesus to take His ministry elsewhere. When Jesus is not wanted, He will move on and go where He is needed and wanted.

What a pleasant relief it must have been to Jesus, following that incident on the other side of the Lake, where He had been rejected and told to push off, to return to where He is among folk who would welcome Him and receive Him and want His ministry.

They…  ( Click for more )

On Jesus Christ goes, from one exciting challenging scene to another. A leper has been cleansed, a sick woman healed, a storm rebuked and demonized people calmed, and a paralysed man forgiven, and enabled to walk, with restored mobility. Of course, there is conflict too, from those religious leaders, and that is something we also have to contend with today.

The coming of Jesus Christ into this fallen sinful rebellious world gives rise to controversy, conflict, anger, and rage.

As we move on in Matthew Chapter 9, we read of the calling of Levi. This is Matthew, and he…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 9, we read of how four men carried their paralysed friend to the place where Jesus Christ was speaking and teaching. Mark tells us that Jesus was preaching the Word. The other also Gospels explain that the place where Jesus was, was rather crowded, and there was no ordinary or normal way whereby they could bring this paralysed man before Jesus Christ, so they unroofed the roof, and lowered their friend down to where Jesus was. Jesus saw their faith.

Jesus recognises faith, and Jesus also recognises where faith is absent!

Jesus speaks so graciously…  ( Click for more )

When we come to Matthew Chapter 9 verses 1 to 9, we are reading of the healing of the paralysed man. Jesus Christ has just calmed a storm on the Lake of Galilee, and demonic storms in the lives of men. This phase of ministry continues, because the religious leaders were spiritually sick, and Jesus so wanted to heal them, but at this specific point He said and did very little. That was soon to change.

In these passages, Jesus is healing people, or on His Way to heal people or He is coming from healing someone, but as we have seen, Jesus also loved to teach. However,…  ( Click for more )

What a sight greeted Jesus Christ, and His disciples, in Matthew Chapter 8 and at verse 28. No wonder there was a storm on the Lake. When storms arise it can be helpful to ask why. Why is this happening at this time? What is the reason for this? There is usually an answer.

The enemy of Jesus had an agenda and he has been trying to put this agenda into operation since Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, when there was that appalling slaughter.

Two men came to Him, and they are naked and controlled by evil spirits, or demonised. Luke writes about one man, but there…  ( Click for more )

We come to Matthew Chapter 8 and verses 23 to 34, where we read of Jesus and His disciples sailing across the Lake of Galilee, and Jesus, the Son of God falls asleep in the boat.

Jesus is tired. He has been preaching and teaching and answering questions.

He is physically exhausted - worn out - drained - and in need of a rest.

He is human. He is a Man. This is all He needs - rest.

So often a good rest, and a good sleep, is all we may need.

He is such an integrated man – such a whole man – and so balanced.

Did He know what was going…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 8 and at verse 19, as Jesus and His disciples were going on their way, a man comes up to Jesus and says, "I will follow you wherever you go."

That is always a dangerous thing to say to Jesus, especially when we do not know where He is going. That is as dangerous as becoming famous or becoming popular. Very few people indeed can handle and cope with these situations in life. It is like that dangerous prayer, “Use me”. God sometimes answers us and it can shock and surprise us when we see what he has planned for our lives. That…  ( Click for more )

In Matthew Chapter 8 verses 14 to 22, Jesus walked the 100 yards from the synagogue in Capernaum to the home of Simon Peter, where his mother-in-law has a raging fever. So Peter was married!

They ask for help in Luke. We see that time and time again. People ask for help.

Jesus never went running around healing all the sick, and ministering indiscriminately to every need, but when invited, HE responded.

There is such privacy here. It is so beautifully done?

It is set in Luke 4 almost as contrast to the demoniac. Do read the parallel passage.

Jesus…  ( Click for more )