Christadelphians Talk

Pilate was the most powerful man in Israel in the days of Jesus.    But he was strangely helpless in carrying out his own desire to let Jesus go free, although he said, as we read today, “I find no guilt in this man” (Luke 23 v.4) and “nothing deserving of death has been done by him” (v.15), and twice said, “I will release him” (v.16 and v.22). It is strange how Pilate gives in.  When we compare the different gospel records we get a clearer picture, one issue being that Jesus admitted to being a  king – and the Jewish leaders declared, “We have no king but Caesar.”  Pilate queried Jesus about the allegations of his claim to kingship, but said Jesus, “My kingdom is not of this world (or age)”   So Pilate, the most powerful man in Jerusalem became indifferent to justice and let Jesus be crucified; the biased and prejudiced jealous Jewish leaders got their wayIt has always been a challenge to hold firm to what is really true! Most of the Apostles, we gather, in the end met untimely deaths. Peter and Paul certainly did.   Let us try to imagine living Centuries ago, especially around 450-500 years ago in England, when ‘christian' put ‘christian' to horrible deaths, the situation changing depending which king or queen was on the throne. There is some parallel today in what happened.  Like the voices of the prejudiced religious leaders of that age, so today we have the insistent voices (and writings) of the atheistic and agnostic intellectuals – and they are getting louder!  Even some Bible believers seem to be influenced towards accepting human theories of how ‘creation' happened: remember how God challenged Job!  Read ch 38 v.1-4.  We live in an age when intellectuals believe they can know everything there is to know! Today the great majority of people accept that evolution is true and there is no God. For years the Catholics have claimed  to believe in both God and evolution: they are no better that the Jewish leaders in the time of Jesus who blindfolded their minds to the heavenly power of Jesus.    We have all the evidence we need to be sure that Jesus is king, that he did rise from the dead!   The return of Jesus will astonish our godless world   Those who do not believe and are not ready for his coming, being convinced there is no God, will be overwhelmed and many will perish.  Recall what we read in Jeremiah 25 v.32-33.How certain are we of what we say we believe?  We read that, at his crucifixion,  “all his acquaintances and the women who had followed him … stood at a distance watching these things” [v,49] Only John and his mother and 2 faithful women stood by the cross [John 19 v.19 v.25,26] Are we standing at a distance?  How ready are we for his coming?  Is there a good supply of oil in our lamps?

Today, in Luke ch 22, we read of the arrest of Jesus.  Before this he and the disciples had a Passover meal of the bread and the wine: it would only be later the disciples would see the wonder of all their Master said on that occasion and remember his words, “Do this in remembrance of me.” [v.17] and learn the lesson to be like him in being “as one who serves.” [v.27]  The reward for their service would come when they “eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” [v.30]There is a certain mystery early in our chapter, when it states, “Then Satan entered into Judas” [v.3]. This increases when Jesus later says to Peter, “Simon, Simon, behold Satan has demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith many not fail.” [v.31,32]  What does Jesus mean by Satan?  On one occasion Jesus rebuked Peter telling him, ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God' [Mark 8 v.33]  In today's chapter Peter 3 times denies knowing his Master, he had not heeded his Master's advice on the Mount of Olives when he told the disciples to “pray that you may not enter into temptation” [v.40]  In the verses that follow we read how Jesus is surrounded by satans, led by Judas Iscariot. What is the cause of temptation?   The word ‘satan' personifies negative human feelings, leading one to think in ungodly ways.  Judas was so dominated by thoughts of the benefits money was bringing him that he was ready to make more money by betraying his Master, believing, we conclude, that Jesus would escape from trouble as he had seen him do in the past – recall what we read in Luke 4 v. 28-30.   Paul tells the Romans how “sin came alive” in his mind, so that “I died.”  He admits, reflecting back on his life, “I do not understand my own actions … I do the very thing I hate … I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out …  ” [Romans 7 v.9,15,18] But in his next chapter he tells the Romans how he learnt “to set the mind on the Spirit” and this brought “life and peace.”  [v.4-6] Paul does not use the word “Satan” in Romans until the very end – and then he means a literal enemy as Judas became. “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.” [16 v.20] That will happen soon to our world!Turning back to Luke 20 we see how Jesus takes his disciples, “as was his custom, to the Mount of Olives … And when he came there he said the words we quoted earlier, ‘Pray that you may not enter into temptation.' [v.39,30]  Let us make that our prayer too for our world is full of satans whose minds are set on the very opposite to the things of God.  

We have 3 chapters today that teach valuable lessons.  1 Chron. Ch. 10 tells us that “Saul died for his breach of faith.  He broke faith with the LORD …” [v.13] in not keeping his commandments, a lesson for all those who have committed themselves to serve the LORD.“The word of the LORD came to me “ says Ezekiel [23 v,1] and he receives a parable that pictures God's disgust at the spiritual adultery of the nation.  The LORD says to them, “Because you have forgotten me and cast me behind your back you yourself must bear the consequences  … “  [v.35]  And what consequences does today's world face for doing this!?In our chapter in Luke (20) we see how “there came to him (Jesus) … those who deny that there is a resurrection” [v,27] as yet another example of those who believe what they want to believe and serve God on their own terms as Saul and nearly all the people in Ezekiel's day had done.  We note how Jesus responded to these deniers with a declaration of what is true, he “said to them, ‘The sons of this age marry and are given in marriage, but those who are considered worthy to attain to that age and to the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage, for they cannot die anymore because they are equal to the angels and are sons of God being sons (and daughters Footnote) of the resurrection” [v.36]Jesus then says (v.37) that even the writings of “Moses showed (this), in the passage about the burning bush, where he calls the Lord the God of Abraham and the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob” [see Exod 3 v.6].  God was not proclaiming himself to be the God of the dead who have gone into oblivion for ever.. God transcends time, he is from everlasting to everlasting; the prayer/Psalm of Moses states this, “Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.” [Psa. 90 v.2]   Oh, how incredible is the wonder of knowing and having a real everlasting relationship with God!  Saul failed, the people of Israel's time failed, the Sadducees failed, it seems nearly everyone today is failing – make sure you do not fail; feeding your mind of God's word every day is an essential ingredient.

This week's Watchman Report has been compiled by Brother Bryan Styles (Livonia) and takes a detailed look at the subject of Ai which has dominated the news this week saw Ai Leaders Warn the Technology could be a risk to humanity, and world leaders at the UN General Assembly have met to discuss its use and what controls, if any could be used to allay fears of AI ultimately destroying mankind. But what about the God-fearing person? How could this technology affect our daily worship and learning? Join bro Bryan as we delve into this fascinating developing story! A @Christadelphians Video: Cognitive Surrender - the battle for the mind" Watchman Report#68 with Bible scholar Bryan Styles[Provable Bible Truth] - Why watch it? What question does this video answer?Why watch? Because AI is not merely a tool; it is a spiritual test. This Watchman Report asks: “Will we surrender our minds to artificial intelligence, or will we let God renovate them?” From the transcript, we answer: cognitive surrender happens when AI's output quietly becomes our output. Yet 2 Timothy 3:7 warns of endless learning without arriving at truth. Romans 12:2 calls us to transformation by the renewal of our minds, proving God's will. We, as Christadelphians, urge you: use tools wisely, but never outsource discernment. Character is forged through friction, prayer, sorrow and patient study—not instant deliverables. Babel shows where autonomous humanity leads; AI magnifies the heart's intent. Christ's return draws near. Choose character over speed, active discipleship over cognitive surrender, and keep developing a mind like His.Chapters:00:00 - Introduction: AI headlines and Silicon Valley warnings00:23 - The challenge of AI: cognitive surrender defined00:59 - Paul's warning: 2 Timothy 3:701:27 - Information rich, understanding poor02:01 - Why drift happens: efficiency and deliverables02:31 - Romans 12:2: transformation, not conformity02:48 - Character forged through friction03:19 - Defining success: people are the product04:19 - Babel: humanity's spiritual autonomy05:03 - Genesis 11:6: capability without maturity05:45 - AI as an accelerant of the heart06:14 - History repeats; God intervenes06:25 - Called to a higher path06:57 - Christ's return draws near07:22 - Choice: character over speed07:51 - Keep reading, praying, developing08:01 - Final reflections08:25 - Watchman Report closing08:40 - Call to action and community engagement08:54 - Conclusion: develop until the Lord returnsBible Verse Category:

What is our attitude of mind as we read God's word? Are our minds “hanging” on what we read, most of all when they are the words of Jesus and his apostles? In the days of Ezekiel, “the word of the LORD” was what they did not want to hear, so they did not listen; already we have encountered this phrase 4 times!  (Ch. 6v.3; 13 v.2; 16 v.35; 20 v.47) It was quite a contrast in the days of Jesus – but the words of Jesus caused a division of opinion, some saying, “This really is the prophet'.  Others said, ‘This is the Christ.'” [John 7 v.40.41]  And of course the religious leaders rejected him because he was a challenge to their authority.  How meaningful is the scene created by the concluding words of todays' ch.19 in Luke!  Jesus had triumphantly entered Jerusalem and is “teaching daily in the Temple” and declares, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer …” [v.46]  He was quoting Isa. 56 v.7 where it says it will become “a house of prayer for all peoples.” May that day come soon and may we, by the grace of God, be made alive then.  How many will not be!  Next month we will read the remarkable vision that Ezekiel is given of the ultimate temple – and recorded in his final chapters.Different reactions to the teaching of Jesus provide an extreme contrast.  We read, “The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him.” [v.47]  There have always been those who have sought to destroy those who truly believe God's word and accept his Son as their Saviour: we see it today in parts of the Islamic world despite the fact that Islam acknowledges the Bible to be one of its' holy books.The verse in Luke today tells us that his opponents “did not find anything that they could do” – why – “for all the people were hanging on his words.” It seems ironic that at least some of them would be stirred up by their leaders to reject him and that very soon they would hang him on a cross – such is human nature!  Let us make sure that we are so committed that we are “hanging on his words” as we read them – and those his Father inspired his disciples, the prophets, Moses and others to write.  May we all, as we read them day by day, see more and more clearly  the wonder of spiritual “light” that shines in the gross darkness swamping the minds of people today.

'Render unto Ceasar and unto God'

Our Ezekiel chapter (21) starts with Ezekiel being told to “Prophecy against the land of Israel” and that the LORD “will cut off from you both righteous and wicked … and all flesh shall know that I am the LORD” [v.2,4,5]  In effect God is now saying, ‘I mean what I say.'   The fascinating part of the chapter is the long term prophecy Ezekiel then receives from the LORD, “… O profane wicked prince of Israel … thus says the LORD …. take off the crown. Things shall not remain …A ruin, ruin, ruin I will make it … until he comes, the one to whom judgment belongs, and I will give it to him.” [v.25-27]This is what happened, we await the completion of the prophecy.  The last proper king in Jerusalem is killed, the Jews have not had a king since. Kings Herod and Agrippa in the New Testament era were Idumean's appointed by the Romans.  The Jewish leaders in the days of Jesus were proud of their heritage, but they said they had “no king but Caesar.”  Their pride was self-centred, they had no meaningful concept of the God they claimed to worship – let us make sure that we do have!              In today's chapter 18 in Luke we particularly noticed the words of Jesus portraying the contrasting attitudes of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector as they went into the Temple to pray.  The Pharisee suffered from ‘I' trouble.  He “standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector.  I fast twice a week,  I give tithes ….” [v.11,12]  In contrast, the Tax Collector humbly asked, “Lord be merciful to me a sinner.”   The Lord makes the point, “the one who humbles himself will be exalted” [v.14]  May we fully absorb the point so that we may be there, and be among the “exalted” when “all flesh shall know”  there is a God, an all-knowing, all seeing Creator. The prophets became totally conscious of this, this is how they were able to endure in all their difficult surroundings:  how difficult are our times going to become?   Remember what we read in Jeremiah a few weeks back,  “O LORD of hosts, who tests the righteous, who sees the heart and the mind, let me see your vengeance upon them, for to you have I committed my cause.” [20 v.12] May we be there at that incredible time when “all flesh shall know” there is a Creator.   Let us pray now that our Lord will be merciful to us. 

One of the most widely used Hebrew words in the Old Testament is the word Zakar.  It is usually translated ‘remember' but it does not necessarily mean ‘suddenly bringing to mind something you  have forgotten'.  It means focusing your mind on something in particular, it first occurs in Genesis 8 v 1 “And God remembered Noah and all…that were with him in the ark”.     The work “remember” occurs in both our Ezekiel and Luke chapters today and conveys a significant message in them both.  The long term future of his nation is revealed to Ezekiel, it creates a wonderful ‘silver lining' in contrast to the ugly picture of Israel in Ezekiel's time.  God tells him that ultimately the time will come for his nation “When I will bring you out from all the peoples and gather you out of all the countries where you have been scattered”.  But this is to be more than a remarkable world-wide regathering!  “And I will manifest my holiness among you in the sight of the nations.  And you shall know that I am the LORD, when I bring you into the land of Israel…And there you shall remember your ways and all your deeds….And you shall loath yourselves for all the evils you have committed.  And you shall know that I am the LORD”.  (20 v41-44)  How soon before this happens?  It is in God's hands.We have a book, written by David Ben Gurion, the first Prime Minister of Israel;  it includes reference to a stirring of interest and some knowledge of God's prophets, such as Isaiah. They are starting to remember and search out the foundations on which their nation was originally built.  But what of ourselves?   How well do we know the foundations of our faith – how real are they to us?  Is it just ‘head knowledge'?   Jesus, when asked, “When the Kingdom of God would come?” (v 20) draws the lesson of the days of Noah and how people were “eating and drinking” and life seemed totally normal “until the flood came” (v 27). The people had forgotten God and put him out of their minds just as they have today.   But God remembered, but only Noah and his family remembered God!Jesus also reminds his audience of the destruction of Sodom, and how “they were eating and drinking, buying and selling, planting and building….” v.28, but then God acted. We know the account well, it is brief and to the point. A vital question – if our minds are absorbed and distracted by the interesting and exciting things in our world today, will we be ready when God acts?  Reflect deeply on v. 21, it has just three words;  “Remember Lot's wife”.

Luke has left on record for us two intriguing parables, probably those which are most difficult to grasp as to their meaning of all the parables of Jesus.  Let's start though with recalling yesterday's chapter 15 where we see that as the “tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him … the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.” [v.1,2]  Jesus then tells 5 parables, the last two we read today.  There is a common thread –  the need to be genuine in seeking to serve God and God's willingness to forgive when people are genuinely repentant.Today we have a parable about a “dishonest manager” [v.1-13] and, as with all parables, its climax makes its' application clear. The religious leaders are totally focussed in looking after their own interests, they are “faithful” to themselves.  As a result they are dishonest managers of God's vineyard, corrupt spiritual leaders serving their own interests before serving God's.   Jesus ridicules their self-interest, their “eternal dwellings” will be their grave – and archaeologists have discovered the elaborate tomb of the high priest's family, made as a miniature replica of the Temple.We understand that the High Priest had “five brothers”[v.28].  Jesus, in the parable of the ‘rich man and Lazarus' ridicules their Greek influenced belief in the afterlife, this final parable is being told against the Sadducees, with its' closing ‘punch line' that “if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.” Father Abraham says, ”If they do not hear Moses and the Prophets, neither will they be convinced if someone should rise from the dead.” [v.30,31]  How true this proves to be.  We are not like those religious leaders are we, or is it possible that Jesus would say to you or to me, “you are those who justify yourselves before men” [v.15]?  We live in a world that abounds with self-justification!  It is before God, in prayer, that we should seek to justify our actions – and ask forgiveness where-ever it is necessary.  The Master's next words are, “but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God.”  May we, in true humility, in a spiritual sense, be “exalted … in the sight of God” because he knows our hearts.  Whether this truly the case will be evident when the kingdom is here.

Our chapter (18) in Ezekiel offers us a change of focus, instead of describing the sins of God's nation, the prophet is caused to express God's encouragement to individuals in that nation to turn from their evil ways and serve him.  This is also a chapter which stresses the divine judgement on individuals and shows that the word ‘soul' does not mean some ‘spirit' part of a person, often referred to as ‘the soul' that is able to continue ‘living' in some way – even though the body is dead.  This is what the Greeks and Romans believed – and the Catholics believed and most other ‘christians'-  under their influence – came to  believe in later centuries  – and, of course, the Muslims.Twice in this chapter Ezekiel records the words of God, “the soul who sins shall die” [v.4,20]. The Hebrew word can be translated as ‘the person' wherever it occurs.  Ezekiel conveys God's blunt words to the people, “Therefore I will judge you … every one according to his (her) ways, declares the Lord GOD.  Repent and turn from your transgressions, lest iniquity be your ruin.”  [v.30]  Godlessness is obviously going to be the ruin of our world today.   Just as Jerusalem and its wonderful temple were destroyed in the days of Jeremiah and Ezekiel, so will our world will experience  an awesome judgement by God.   Our present readings of the words of Jesus in the Gospel of Luke are making this increasingly clear.The final verses in our Ezekiel chapter catches our attention; its appeal applies just as much now as it did then. “Make yourselves a new heart and a new spirit!  Why will you die …?” [v.31] This is equally a question for today, “why will you die” eternally – never again to see the light and experience and explore the wonders of existence?  Many Scriptures ask this question, read Psalm 49 as an outstanding example.Luke records [ch. 15] Jesus' parable about a lost coin.  A diligent search is made and it is found – what rejoicing follows!  “Just so,” says Jesus [v.10], “I tell you, there is joy before the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”  Jesus is the only person who ever lived who has never had to repent about anything.  Has there been “joy in heaven” over you?  Or will there be when you “make yourself a new heart” and marvel in “a new spirit” of mind as you are baptised into the name of Christ and commit yourself to use your particular talents in the service of Christ – before he returns!

Sin is not a word people use these days, I even met a teenager who had never heard the word ‘adultery' – and had no idea what it meant – she came into our Bible Education Centre on a rainy morning while waiting for the Internet place next door to open. Today, attitudes are as they were in the days of Hosea who wrote, “ the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants … There is no faithfulness or steadfast love, and no knowledge of God” [ch. 4 v.1] That is exactly the case with our world today – “the LORD has a controversy with the inhabitants” – and soon this will become awesomely evident.   In the days of Jesus, people more widely believed that God was the ultimate arbiter of punishment for their sins.  Our readings in Ezekiel also show this, making the point that God had been merciful toward his people, yet there comes a point when God, seeing that his  people do not change although he keeps showing mercy, ultimately brings awesome destruction – and Jerusalem came to a terrible end because of the abundance of their sins and lack of repentance.  It is significant that only once does Ezekiel use the word ‘mercy' – although Jeremiah uses it frequently. God's people abused his merciful attitude in Jeremiah's time.  The one occasion Ezekiel uses it is in his ch. 39 v.25 “Therefore thus says the Lord GOD: Now I will restore the fortunes of Jacob and have mercy on the whole house of Israel, and I will be jealous for my holy name”  A latter day prophecy we believe will soon occur.. Now Jesus makes a very interesting point in today's ch. 13 in Luke.  Evidently people had been saying that when a tower collapsed in Siloam and killed 18 people (v.4), those people must have been worse sinners than other people.  How did Jesus respond?  “No” he says, “I tell you they were not, and if you fail to repent you will all likewise perish.” There is less and less belief in God these days, so no spirit of repentance.We must look at ourselves! If we are not on God's side, trying our best to do his will, there is no future for us.  Jesus followed up his warning about Siloam  by telling them a parable about a man who planted a tree (v.6-9) and who came for 3 years, looking for fruit, but found none.  It was given one more year to produce fruit and a special effort was made to fertilise it.  If it did not produce fruit it would be destroyed. Jesus came to the lost sheep of Israel, most would not follow him, 40 years later there was terrible destruction, especially in Jerusalem..The response of Peter on the day of Pentecost when  the people were ‘cut to the heart' in realizing they had killed their Messiah, was to tell them to “Repent and be baptised” [Acts 2 v38]  So we have done that!  Good.  Are we heeding the lessons of God's word – not only with a repentant attitude – we must each ask ourselves, are we producing fruit?   There is no point in having a “knowledge of God” if we do not.

They did not have banks in those days!  We read today in Luke 12 v.16-20 of a man who built many barns to “store all my grain and my goods” so he could “relax, eat, drink and be merry.”  This is the spirit among many in Australia today, the emphasis is on material well-being!  Of course it is not necessary to build bigger barns or have barns at all, but what security do banks offer?   Figures in computers, plenty of ‘paper' money!As the Creator brings more and more of his promised time of trouble, a time, to quote our Lord (in Mark 13 v.19) when “there will be such tribulation as has not been from the beginning of the creation that God created until now, and never will be” again – it will almost certainly be useless to have any money in the bank, or any money at all, the only thing of value for the true believer to have – will be an overflowing abundance of faith.Jesus calls the man in his parable who built bigger barns a “Fool!” adding, “So is the one who lays up treasure for himselfand is not rich toward God.”  His next words to his disciples are, “”Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. For life is more than food  … more than clothing …” [v.24]Human minds today are totally concerned about such things – but we take to heart in what Jesus goes on to say, ” For all the nations of the world seek after these things, and your Father knows that you need them.  Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” [v.30,31]  His next words are, “”Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom….”   Those who belong to his “little flock” spend their time developing more and more “treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys.”  [v.33]Finally note an even more vital point Jesus makes,  ” For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” And he adds this instruction;  “Stay dressed for action and keep your lamps burning …” [v.32-35]  Are you “dressed for action?” Is your faith shining bright?   Let us all be conscious, with full honesty of heart, where our treasure is!

Our chapter (11) in Luke's gospel today is full of challenging sayings by our Lord. There is great spiritual value in deeply meditating on them and seeing the extent to which they have application to the circumstances in which we live today.  The background to many of them is the self-righteous attitudes of the religious leaders who contended with Jesus. Praise of Jesus' mother developed in early centuries and led to the cult of a sort of Mary worship. Luke records a little incident which those influenced by such attitudes must gloss over and ignore.  We read the response of Jesus to a woman in the crowd who calls out, “Blessed is the womb that bore you and the breasts at which you nursed”  Jesus responds, “Blessed rather are those who hear the words of God and keep it.” [v.27,28]  May we all be blessed for that reason, and recognise our additional blessing in being able to read all the words of God..The way that we “keep it” will result in us being “full of light”!   As a result our “eye is healthy” [v.34] and so our eye (or ear) keep bringing ‘healthy food' into our minds.  This is more and more essential today as our world is so full of junk food!Underline the next 2 verses, “Therefore be careful lest the light (you think you have) be darkness”  [v. 35] Let's fully absorb the point Jesus makes in the next verse, “If then your whole body is full of light, having no part dark, it will be wholly bright, as when a lamp with its rays gives you light.” Are you and I “full of light”?   How difficult it is to maintain such light in the increasing darkness of this world – evil words and deeds multiply all around us.  Now the words of David in Psalm 139 are a special inspiration to us with his perception of the light of God in the darkness. “If I say,' writes David, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night, even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light to you.” [v12] Read the rest of that Psalm, especially the last 2 verses – and then you and I will be even more dedicated to “be careful lest” the light of God's word be smothered by the darkness that increasingly surrounds us.   

'The Disciple and the World'

How depressed Ezekiel must have been! The LORD caused him to be aware of the totally godless attitude that existed in Jerusalem.  He writes, “certain of the elders of Israel came to see me.” [14 v.1]  The “word of the LORD” comes to him, “… these men have taken their idols into their hearts and set the stumbling block of their iniquity before their faces.  Should I indeed let myself be consulted by them?” [v.3]  The lesson is plain, it is folly to come to seek God and yet retain fleshly thoughts in our minds.  Ezekiel is further told, “any one of the house of Israel … who separates himself from me, taking his idols into his heart … and yet comes to a prophet to consult me through him, I, the LORD will answer him myself.  And I will set my face against that man (or woman)…” [v.7,8] Surely the same applies today to those who “consult” God through reading his word – but have a wrong motive in their hearts.  Peter's words come to mind about Paul's writings,, “There are some things in them that are hard to understand, which the ignorant and unstable twist to their own destruction, as they do the other Scriptures.” [2 Peter 3 v.16]  In our chapter [10] in Luke there is some comparison with the attitude of the lawyer who asked Jesus, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”   He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”  And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbour as yourself.” [v.25-27] Jesus says to him, “You have answered correctly: do this and you will live.”  But he asks, “and, who is my neighbour?” In response Jesus tells him the well-known account of the ‘Good Samaritan' and asks the man, “Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbour to the man who fell among robbers?” [v.36]  He answers, “The one who showed mercy” and is told, “You go and do likewise.”  Let us all love our Lord, with all our heart, our soul, our strength and our mind showing our love by our actions day after day: of course, we will sense at times, something similar to what the LORD caused Ezekiel to sense.  But surely, in at least some cases, it will cause others to “do likewise” and – for at least one or two to take serious notice of the message and meaning of what we talk about –  the wonder and real meaning of the word of God – as the only ‘light' in the darkness that covers the world today.

What effect do the words of the Bible have on you as you read them?  They vary greatly as we have seen today: but this causes us to exercise our minds in many different ways – and this is good for us.  God has overseen the recording of many different events and messages so that what he has caused to be written is a lifelong study – indeed, more than a study, often a cause of prayerful meditation.  So often it is about human failure and the causes of that failure.Our Old Testament readings today were both about the dismal end of God's nation.  The final 2 chapters in 2nd Kings detailed the dreadful destruction of Jerusalem and the distress of the people – and Ezekiel 13 is about the ungodliness at the time and how the Lord GOD said, “I will make stormy winds break out in my wrath … and great hailstones in wrath to make a full end.” [v.13]  And today? The Psalms of David had long been written so would one here and there, who knew them, have mediated on them?  Maybe Psalm 12, to take one example; it ends with the words, “on every side the wicked prowl, as vileness is exalted …”!  Those trying to be righteous would surely have meditated on the two previous verses which start, “The words of the LORD are pure words …” ! We compare the forecasts of the destruction of Jerusalem with the forecasts Jesus made of his death and the reaction of his hearers to these forecasts. . We read today in Luke Ch. 9, “… while they were all marvelling at everything he was doing, Jesus  said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears: the Son of Man is about to be delivered into the hands of men.'  But they did not understand this saying … “ [v.43-45] Their minds were focussed on “which of them was the greatest” [v.46]!  With that state of mind his words would not sink into their minds!   We see a telling comparison with what we will read later in Luke in Ch.24.  After his resurrection, 2 disciples who had walked with an unrecognized Messiah later confessed, “Did not our hearts burn within us as he talked with us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” [v.32]  They were in a mood to “let these words sink” into their minds!  He had chided them, that they “were slow of heart to believe all that the prophets had spoken” [v.25].  It seems to be our nature to believe only what we want to believe – but in looking at all that the prophets have spoken and seeing alarming comparisons with our world today to the forecasts then of the destruction of Jerusalem and the reasons for it, let us cause the words of Christ and the prophets to sink more fully into our minds, so we can walk with greater and greater faith in the increasing darkness of today's world.

A @Christadelphians Video: Description: This video compares scripture with scripture to suggest an interpretation of the prophecy in Matthew 25:31-46, which relates to the judgement of the nations when Christ returns.[Actual, provable Bible Truth] We present an in-depth, expositional study on one of the most thought-provoking prophecies in Scripture: The Sheep and the Goats. Is this a judgment of the saints or the nations? In this outstanding and wonderful analysis, we uncover the profound, scripture-based evidence that proves this pivotal moment is primarily a judgment of the nations, setting the stage for the Kingdom of God on Earth.This video is not a surface-level reading. We delve into the Olivet Prophecy, examining the specific Greek words used—distinguishing between the *Bema* (judgment seat) and the *Thronos* (throne of royal authority)—to reveal the divine order of judgment. This insightful presentation demonstrates how the Old Testament lays the foundation for understanding the final judgment of all nations, and how their destiny is intrinsically linked to their treatment of the Jewish people. It is a revealing study that connects the dots between the "least of these My brethren" and the ongoing struggles of Israel, providing a powerful lens through which to view world events.We consider Brother Thomas's expositions in *Eureka* to show how the Midheaven proclamation of Revelation 14 acts as the dividing line. The nations are not judged on personal piety but on their national response to God's King and His people. This is a true, Biblical truth that clarifies the hope for the "sheep nations" and the solemn warning for the "goat nations," all leading to the glorious establishment of the Kingdom Age.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction00:30 - Parable or Prophecy?01:53 - Saints or Nations: Which Interpretation is Primary?02:43 - The Three Sections of the Olivet Prophecy05:15 - Old Testament Basis for National Judgment10:01 - The Throne of Glory vs. The Judgment Seat13:47 - National Delegates & The "Righteous Nation"15:42 - The Midheaven Proclamation: The Moment of Division21:35 - The King Speaks to the Sheep Nations26:29 - "Inherit the Kingdom" for the Nations30:15 - The Test: Feeding the Hungry & Clothing the Naked33:57 - The Suffering of the Jewish Diaspora & The Second Exodus41:12 - The Goat Nations & The False Shepherd45:20 - The Reality of "Everlasting Fire" (Not Eternal Torment)50:29 - The Life of the Aion: National Inheritance53:40 - Conclusion: Our Responsibility to Tell the Next Generation**Bible Verse Category:**

A @Christadelphians Video:Description: This is a deep-dive study delivered to encourage Christadelphians in their faith, - may not be suitable for 'all' esp those with little knowledge of the Bible. A detailed comparison of the First Letter of Peter in the New Testament and the life of King Hezekiah in the Old Testament reminds us that trusting completely in the God of Israel will bring us eternal salvation. This is how the Lord Jesus Christ was able to endure his sufferings. And it will help us too. [Actual, provable Bible Truth]: The Apostle Peter, writing to believers facing intense persecution, does not promise an escape from suffering. Instead, he offers a profound, counter-intuitive strategy for enduring it: we must learn to fear God more than we fear man. This is not a fear of terror, but a deep, reverential awe that reorients our entire perspective, allowing us to see our trials through the lens of God's eternal purpose.This expositional study of 1 Peter chapter 2 is a truly outstanding and thought-provoking journey into the heart of what it means to be a disciple under pressure. We go beyond the surface to uncover the hidden treasures of the Old Testament that Peter masterfully weaves into his message of hope. Prepare to be amazed as we reveal how Peter uses the lives of Old Testament heroes—David, Hezekiah, and Daniel—as the ultimate pattern for our conduct in a hostile world.This isn't just a history lesson; it's a powerful, revealing blueprint for our own lives today. Whether you are facing subtle pressures or profound suffering, this analysis will strengthen your resolve and deepen your trust in the God of all grace. We break down the key themes of the chapter, from our identity as "living stones" and a "royal priesthood" to the ultimate example of Christ's patient suffering. Discover how the call to "sanctify God in your hearts" is the single most important principle for navigating the fiery trials of our age.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction to Suffering in 1 Peter01:55 - The Key Theme of Persecution03:30 - Context: The Calling of the Saints05:03 - Nero's Persecution & The Fiery Trial06:45 - Newborn Babes: The Call to Grow11:05 - Psalm 34: Fearing God Over Man14:52 - Living Stones: The Hezekiah Connection17:43 - Isaiah 28: Trusting the Cornerstone22:44 - The Stone of Stumbling & The Fear of God27:54 - A Royal Priesthood & Our High Calling36:04 - Strangers and Pilgrims in Gentile Lands38:40 - The Suffering Servant of Isaiah 5344:39 - Conclusion: The Daniel Connection & Resisting Babylon**Bible Verse Category:**

We read of a remarkable miracle today in Luke ch. 8., the healing of a man who had become totally deranged in mind. He was well known, owned a house and lived in the city before he became insane.  Jesus did many miracles in many different ways but this healing was particularly challenging to those who knew the man and lived in his city. Jesus came to “the country of the Gerasenes and this man, in his insane state, now lived among the tombs, “When he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell down before him and said with a loud voice, ‘What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God?” [v.28]  His insane mind led him to perceive who Jesus really was!  There was nothing to be gained by Jesus explaining that such a state of mind was not caused by an ‘evil spirit' taking over control of the mind; this belief had arisen as a result of the Greek conquest; this was what the Greeks superstitiously believed: the Old Testament shows that no such beliefs were held in earlier years.A dramatic healing occurs!  The supposed ‘demons' are ‘seen' to be in the pigs because they madly rush down the slope and drown in the waters of Galilee. Now eating pork, even touching their carcases was ‘unclean' under the law God gave to Moses [Lev. 11 v.7,8]; obviously those keeping the pigs had no regard for the law!   The event was a challenge to the “people (who) went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid.” [v.35]Every other healing Jesus did resulted in many more to come for healings but not here!  “All the people of the surrounding country of the Gerasenes asked him to depart from them for they were seized with great fear. [v.37] We suspect they were afraid of other things that might happen that would cause a further loss of livelihood. The reasons are not entirely different today for those who believe in evolution rather than a Creator who will hold them responsible for how they live their lives.  Those who believe in a Creator have at least some responsibility!  Recall what we read last week in Ezekiel in chapter 3.  “If I say to the wicked, 'You shall sure die,” God says to Ezekiel, “and you give him no warning, nor speak to warn … he shall die for his iniquity but his blood I will require at your hand.  But if you warn the wicked … you will have delivered your soul” [ch. 3 v.18,19]  Any words we attempt to speak or write must be done in love. Jesus told his hearers to “love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you.” [Matt 5 v.44]. We do not want Jesus “to depart” from us. 

As usual, all our chapters are full of meaningful lessons: first, Hezekiah after his life is extended 15 years is succeeded by a 12 yr old son, Manasseh who turns out to be a very bad king.  We wonder about the role of Hephzibah, his mother in this.  The spirituality of whom we marry is very important. Her name is apparently of Phoenician origin, meaning, ‘delight of Baal.' Again the spirit takes Ezekiel to Jerusalem and gives him insight into God's reaction because of his full awareness of the minds of those living there. God always has such knowledge! Awesome!  Ezekiel learns, “But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD.” [Ch. 11 v.21]  And today?In Luke (Ch. 7) we read how messengers come to Jesus from John the Baptist.  Our Lord has been doing many remarkable miracles, but when he brings to life again a young man who is being carried out to his burial, “fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying,  ‘A great prophet has arisen among us!' and ‘God has visited his people!'  And this report about him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country. The disciples of John reported all these things to him. And John,  calling two of his disciples to him, sent them to the Lord, saying, “Are you the one who is to come, or shall we look for another?”  [v.16-19]The way Jesus answers him is instructive – and challenging!  John evidently had certain expectations of the Messiah's work – and what was happening did not fit these.  We look back at ch. 4 and see how Jesus quoted from a scroll of Isaiah when in the Synagogue, v.17-19. It is now instructive to note how Jesus responds to these messengers, “”Go and tell John what you have seen and heard: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” [v.22-23]He is telling John to check out and “believe all that the prophets have spoken”!  These are the words of Jesus we will read in ch. 24 v.25, when, after his resurrection he speaks to 2 disciples on the road to Emmaus.  This is a lesson for us as we anticipate the return of our Lord and our expectations are increasing!  We must take a lesson from the quandary of John the Baptist and look to “all that the prophets” have written!  Are they not like pieces of a jigsaw!  We have more and more pieces that seem to fit, but there are still others we are not sure about: events yet to come, maybe very soon, will make the picture clearer and clearer. 

We read and thought yesterday about the anxieties of King Hezekiah over the Assyrian invasion and the potential fall of Jerusalem.  The king appealed to Isaiah to seek the help of the LORD.  Later he went into the Temple and “prayed before the LORD” [2 Kings 19 v.15] himself.  There is a progression in his approach to God – do we have the same experience as we seek to get closer to our Creator and His Son our Saviour?  It is natural that we should if we are truly spiritually minded.. Today in ch. 20 we read of Hezekiah's illness, one that he is told, will be fatal;  Isaiah comes with this message, “Set your house in order for you shall not recover” [v.1]    He makes an impassioned prayer to the LORD, “I have walked before you in faithfulness and with a whole heart, and have done what is good in your sight.” [v.3] His prayer is heard and answered – “I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will heal you” [v.5]  God hears and sees all things in the lives of those who truly seek to serve him. We should each meditate on whether we could utter such an impassioned prayer if we found ourselves in a life threatening situation –  when we feel we still have work we can do in serving our Lord.  It may not be a health situation as with Hezekiah.  Our world, especially in some parts, increasingly threatens us; potentially there could be extreme difficulties.  In our prayers could we say we have serve him with “our whole heart.”? This week we will read in Ezekiel how the prophet is told of God's impending judgements, “Thus says the Lord GOD: None of my words will be delayed any longer…” [12 v.28]  The time is coming, we do not know how soon, when God will be saying the same about our godless world.  In Luke today we read the challenging words of Jesus, “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord' and do not do what I tell you” [6 v.46]  Let us not be guilty of reading God's word but then failing to put into practice what we read.  We can talk and preach about it – and exhort each other – but this must not be only an outward show.  We are all building the “house” of our life: Jesus said, “the one who hears (reads) my words … I will show you what he is like:  he is like a man building a house who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock …” [v.48] A lot of sweat and tears are involved in such earnest building: so in our building, can our Lord say to you, and me, “I have seen your tears.”

Today's chapter 19 of 2nd Kings brings Isaiah onto the scene.  King Hezekiah in his great distress at the conquests of the Assyrians and now their presence outside the walls of Jerusalem sends his secretary and senior priests to the prophet, with a message saying, “It may be that the LORD your God heard all the words of the Rabshakeh,”  adding, “therefore lift up your prayer for the remnant that is left” [v.4]Isaiah's response is very positive; “Say to your Master, ‘Thus says the LORD: Do not be afraid because of the words that you have heard with which the servants of the king of Assyria have reviled me. Behold, I will put a spirit in him, so that he shall hear a rumour and return to his own land, and I will make him fall by the sword in his own land.'” [v.6,7]  This happens, but as the Assyrians depart they say, “Thus shall you speak to Hezekiah king of Judah: ‘Do not let your God in whom you trust deceive you by promising that Jerusalem will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria. ‘Behold, you have heard what the kings of Assyria have done to all lands, devoting them to destruction. And shall you be delivered?” [v.10,11]  History is full of human boasting like this, but “The word of the LORD” comes to Isaiah over this (v.21-28) that the LORD is “aware of their raging against me”[v.27] Within a generation or two the Assyrians fade into history and Nineveh is a heap of ruins to this day –  the Babylonians then become the main enemy, but in time Babylon too becomes a heap of ruins, as it is today.   Then Isaiah conveys a remarkable long term prophecy. “ … the surviving remnant of the house of Judah shall again take root downward and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and out of Mount Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the LORD will do this.” [v.30,31]  We witness the resilience of the “surviving remnant” today.  We can read in Isaiah's book, the prophecy the LORD gives him, how “in that day the Lord will extent his hand a second time to recover the remnant that remains of his people … and gather the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth” [11 v.11,12]   We are witnessing that event and are in awe of the climax when God “shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.” [v.4]   Soon, in Luke's gospel, we will come to Jesus' awesome words predicting this. How awesome the fate of the great Assyrian army, because they reviled God! (185,000 died – v.35) How awesome the fate awaiting at least some who do so today!  Let us do the opposite.  And what is the opposite?.

[Actual, provable Bible Truth] Walking with God is not a single moment of decision but a lifelong journey of faith. Salvation is a process—from being a servant of sin to becoming a son of God—and it is completed only at the return of Christ, when the faithful are granted immortality. This is the powerful, scriptural reality that transforms everyday life into a pilgrimage towards the Kingdom.This thought-provoking and expositional video, Chapter 22 of our series on the Philadelphiaians, delves deep into the nature of discipleship. It explores what it truly means to "walk with God," using the lives of Enoch and Noah as our foundation. We unpack the profound truth that the disciple is a sojourner, a traveler following the narrow way, with the Bible as our infallible compass.The journey is marked by both wonderful peace and purposeful testing. We explore how the "peace of God which passes all understanding" coexists with the "tribulation" that shapes our character for eternity. This outstanding presentation reveals that our trials are not punishments but the divine refining fire, preparing us for the Kingdom.Through constant prayer, daily reading of the whole Bible, and a humble submission to God's will, we find the strength to endure. The video also highlights the inseparable link between the Old and New Testaments, showing the unity of God's plan from Genesis to Revelation. It is a reassuring and challenging call to examine our own walk and to hold fast to the hope set before us.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: The Journey of Salvation01:50 - The Process: From Servant to Son02:48 - The Pilgrim Aspect: Walking with God03:08 - Scriptural Examples: Enoch and Noah05:45 - Guidance: The Path and the Signposts07:43 - The Bible: Our Traveller's Compass10:13 - The Whole Council of God13:49 - God's Personal Care and Protection17:05 - The Conditions for Blessing20:20 - Peace, Joy, and Abiding Assurance23:16 - The Refining Fire: Trials and Character27:54 - The Divine Order of Progression30:57 - God's Faithfulness in Temptation32:05 - The Power of Prayer35:41 - Conclusion: Our Anchor of Hope**Bible Verse Category:**

How hard it is to hear or find any “good news” these days!  All nations and kingdoms appear to be in disarray especially in the Middle East, only Israel stands firm.  The nations think that their destiny is entirely in their own hands, but God's purpose is being worked out and dedicated Bible students diligently watch events trying to see more clearly how the various prophecies apply. We read in 2 Kings 18 of the faith of the good king Zedekiah in Jerusalem, standing firm against the boasting of the invading Assyrians (which is called Iraq is today). We will read tomorrow of how the prophet Isaiah comes on the scene and, through God's spirit, sees and says what God will cause to happen because Hezekiah is a spiritually minded king.In contrast, the prophet Ezekiel (ch.8) is caused to be carried in vision to Jerusalem and made aware of the abominations taking place in the Temple; for him, it is the opposite kind of news of what will soon happen!  Ezekiel is told that God is so angry that, when trouble comes, “though they cry in my ears with a loud voice, I will not hear them.” [v.18]In Luke's gospel (ch.4) we read how Jesus travels to many places and heals many, and “the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, ‘I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” [v.42,43]  Those who really listened were few, most were fascinated by seeing miracles or being miraculously fed but the really important work of Christ was proclaiming, “The good news of the kingdom of God.”   This was not as many have imagined over the centuries up until today – a 'sky kingdom' but, as in the ‘Lords' prayer, ‘Thy will be done on earth” – What wonders “Isaiah … saw … it shall come to pass in the latter days … the house (temple) of the LORD shall be established … and all nations shall flow to it …” [Isaiah 2 v.1,2] Jesus came to bring this wondrous message of God's ultimate purpose for the earth – to happen when he returns.  Let us ever more surely make this our hope and expectation and share it with anyone who will listen.   

A @Christadelphians Video:Pleased to present in collaboration with the Bible Unlocked team, this thought-provoking presentation from the sixth season of Bible Unlocked Live, A foundational series, “Why You Should Believe the Bible,” revealing how faith is built on a rock-solid foundation of evidence and reason. They hold a webinar each week....Find out more @ https://www.bibleunlocked.com/ [Inspiring] Why does a loving God allow suffering? It's one of the most profound and emotionally challenging questions of the human experience. In this thought-provoking and insightful exposition, we delve into the Bible's honest and comprehensive answer to this age-old dilemma. We explore with Caleb Osborn how Scripture does not shy away from this topic; instead, entire books like Job, Ecclesiastes, and Lamentations are dedicated to wrestling with pain and loss. We examine the origin of suffering in Genesis, its three key purposes in our lives today, and the profound truth that God is not distant from our pain. Most importantly, we look forward to the wonderful hope of Revelation, where God promises to wipe away every tear and eliminate suffering forever.This is an outstanding and revealing study that provides real comfort and a scriptural framework for understanding our trials.*Chapters:*00:00 - Introduction: The Challenge of Suffering02:10 - The Bible Doesn't Shy Away from the Question04:00 - The Origin of Suffering (Genesis 3)07:00 - Purpose #1: To Expose the Effects of Sin09:30 - Purpose #2: To Highlight Our Need for God12:00 - Purpose #3: To Develop Faithful Character14:20 - God's Empathy: He is Afflicted with Us16:00 - Jesus: Our High Priest Who Understands18:30 - The End of the Story: No More Curse20:40 - Q&A: Sin, Suffering, and Repentance24:00 - Q&A: Jesus Felt Forsaken (Psalm 22)27:00 - Q&A: The Hope of the Kingdom29:00 - Conclusion*Bible Verses Referenced:*

The world is a spiritual wilderness today.  We read today of when John the Baptist appeared on the scene and that he was a “voice crying in the wilderness” [Luke 3 v.4] – it was a spiritual wilderness then too, there had been no prophet from God for about 400 years – since the days of Malachi.   Today there has been no message from God that people have taken serious notice of since the Bible was translated and printed and became available in all major languages, this was at least 400 years ago. People “listened” to God's “voice” then and the world underwent a spiritual reformation; but deafness set in again more and more with each generation until today, nearly all are totally ‘deaf.'We saw significant parallels in our Ezekiel reading (ch.7) today.  The 10 northern tribes that made up the kingdom of Israel, as distinct from Judah in the south, had become so wicked that they were all in the process of being taken away into captivity: the southern kingdom was soon to follow.  However, God's words through Ezekiel, could be his words to the great majority today.  It seems no one was listening to Ezekiel – and it's the same today, so few are seriously listening.“Behold the day! Behold it comes!  Your doom has come” [v.10] wrote Ezekiel, adding, “Violence has grown up into a rod of wickedness” [v.11]  He continues, “The time has come; the day has arrived.  Let not the buyer rejoice, nor the seller mourn, for wrath is upon all …” [v.12] “When anguish comes they will seek peace, but there shall be none.  Disaster comes upon disaster….” [v.25,26]  Thankfully, wonderfully, there is an end coming to the disasters that will surely multiply in today's world'. Those who know God's word and have established a relationship with him, will know where to “seek peace” and that “the prince of peace” will return “and the government shall be upon his shoulder” [Isa. 9 v.6] and “the wilderness” will be no more – but only those who have heard (by reading and thinking and believing) “the voice crying in the wilderness” will experience the everlasting wonders that “that day” will bring.  Are you listening? What effect is it having on your heart?

A @Christadelphians Video: [Prophecy being fulfilled!] In this thought-provoking and revealing episode of the Watchman Report, we examine Canada's Bill C-9—a law that, on the surface, addresses rising anti-Semitism, yet in reality places believers in a more precarious position. Could this be another sign that secular society is moving further from God, Christ, and the Bible? We provide an insightful and expositional analysis of this legislation, exploring how the removal of the religious defence for "wilful promotion of hatred" could potentially criminalise the very expression of biblical truth. This is an outstanding and wonderful resource for those seeking to understand how current events align with scriptural prophecy.*Summary*Join us as we dissect the Canadian government's Bill C-9, which came into effect in July 2026. While it includes positive steps to combat anti-Semitism, we reveal the alarming removal of the "good faith" religious defence. We discuss the ambiguity of new definitions like "detestation" and "vilification," and ask the crucial question: does this law threaten the believer's ability to publicly declare the whole counsel of God? We break down the biblical standard on hate, demonstrating that God hates wickedness while still loving the sinner, and we challenge the government's narrowing of what constitutes acceptable speech. This is essential viewing for every Bible student.*Chapters*00:00 - Introduction & The Watchman Report Mandate00:46 - Examining Bill C-9: The Good and the Bad01:39 - New Hate Crime Offences Listed02:19 - The Removal of the Religious Defence03:10 - The Government's New Definition of Hatred04:23 - Applying the Law: Leviticus 20:1305:46 - The "Hallmarks of Hate" Examined07:19 - The Scriptural Teaching on Hate08:36 - Government Position & The Believer's Response09:48 - Conclusion & Call to Action*

What a depressing account we have today in 2 Kings 15!  It lists a succession of godless kings in the northern kingdom of Israel and makes us think of the world in which we live!  If we listen to or watch the news – there is a complete lack of good news on every hand – so it seems that people ‘bury' their minds in the sports news. Similarly, in Ezekiel 5, we read the acted parables the prophet has to perform to indicate how “fire will come out into all the house of Israel” [v.4] and the LORD's comment in v.13, “Thus shall my anger spend itself, and I will vent my fury upon them …”  And we meditate with awe and fear in our minds on the ways the Creator will vent his fury more and more on the utterly godless world of the 21st Century.In contrast, it is uplifting to read the 80 verses of the first chapter of Luke.  The author says that “it seemed good to me … having followed all things closely for some time past to write an orderly account … that you may have certainty …” [v.3,4]   Through Luke's writings, we, in these last days, “may have certainty” too!  After compiling his gospel Luke put together an orderly account of the Acts of the Apostles after their Lord ascended to heaven. This contained so many historical references that the sceptics of the 19th and 20th Centuries were sure they would uncover flaws in Luke's records as more and more ancient details came to light through archaeological and other discoveries – but none have come to light!  What Luke has recorded includes major planks for the foundations of our faith.Today's chapter includes the testimony of Mary before Jesus was born, she was inspired to say how her “spirit rejoices in God my Saviour” and that “his mercy is for those who fear him” [v.47,50].  May we truly rejoice and “fear him” – that is – be in awe of him.  We especially pray that we may experience his mercy and gain strength from him as our godless world disintegrates more and more in coming days, months and years – if years yet remain?  We are going to have a need to even more earnestly take to heart the words of the Master, “and when you hear of wars and tumults, do not be terrified, for these things must first take place …” [Luke 21 v.9]     May we all fully realise and know in our hearts that “his mercy is for those who fear him – but who learn – not to fear the world! 

Today we completed reading Paul's second letter to the believers at Corinth; he is still anxious about them, his letter expresses many concerns.   Let us recognise that correcting faults in our life in Christ is a personal responsibility. The concept of endless ‘grace abounding' that exists among many who see themselves as Christians is dangerous.  Let us carefully note the points Paul makes as he brings his letter to a conclusion. “Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith” [13 v.5].  And so also must we.  Let us fully realize that Christ, by his spirit, is present among believers and sees their actions, knows their minds and that this knowledge will be the ‘foundation' for his right judgment on the day of judgment.  Paul is developing the points he made in his first letter when he said,  “Let a person examine himself … and so eat … and drink” [1 Cor. 11 v.28] when he or she comes to the table of remembrance to have fellowship.  This self-examination is not only when we come together to the table of the Lord;  in v.3 of this last chapter Paul stresses,  “Christ is … not weak … but is powerful among you.”  Christ sees their thoughts and actions (and, of course, ours). Paul stresses the need to, “Test yourselves.  or do you not realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you? – unless you fail to meet the test.” [v.5]   Let us realize the sense he is “in us – and that we meet all the tests the ungodly world around us, puts on us.?When we were baptised we entered into a wonderful spiritual relationship with him, we were no longer our own; Paul expressed his own feeling to the Galatians, “It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.” [2 v.20]. Let us realize the reality of this,  our Saviour is watching over us, this is both wonderful and awesome.  Paul completes his message to the Corinthians by writing; “finally brothers (& sisters) Rejoice … comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you.” [v.11] It is the same today, our “peace” and teamwork together, means we will also fully have divine fellowship: remember Jesus said, “where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” [Matt 18 v.20] How wonderful! It is beyond our human comprehension. Let us appreciate the full meaning of the final verse of Paul's letter, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” Let us try ever harder to sense that “fellowship” as we “EXAMINE” and “TEST OURSELVES” every day.

Our world is full of distractions; these seem to increase every year!  This is especially so for the young; at every twist and turn of daily life they encounter “voices” “words” and messages clamouring for their attention.  These “voices” might come via iPads, mobile phones or whenever they turn on their Laptop.  The words of Paul to the Corinthians we read today can be applied to the present situation.  The church in Corinth had been established for some years and the believers were being distracted by some who were full of their own self-importance and were creating problems.  We read, “I Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ” [10 v.1]. This was the Christ-like attitude Paul had toward the genuine heart-motivated believers there, but it was a challenge to have it toward those who envied his popularity and sought to undermine his work for the Lord; we remember how our Lord responded to those who were envious of his popularity.   Paul was putting into practice what Christ had said, “Come to me all you who labour and are heavy laden … Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly of heart…” [Matt. 11 v.28,29] We see how Paul expresses his distress at the attitude of many in Corinth who were not doing this. It is the same today: God's words get wilfully distorted.  Paul writes, “I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.  For if someone comes and proclaims another Jesus than the one we proclaimed, or if you receive a different spirit from the one you received, or if you accept a different gospel from the one you accepted, you put up with it readily enough” [11 v.3,4] Tragically the ‘Christian' world has seen so many different gospels over the centuries, it is only the regular and prayerful reading of God's word, so wonderfully preserved, that provides the foundation for us to truly walk in Christ's footsteps – and, at the same time, to be motivated to develop the spirit of “meekness and gentleness.” This should apply equally as much when we seek to “destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God”[10 v.5]  May we find that, on at least some occasions, “the soft answer” [Prov. 15 v.1] can penetrate the hard hearts we encounter.Finally, note how this chapter ends; “it is not the one who commends himself who is approved, but the one whom the Lord commends.” May the Lord commend you on that day for being faithful to his word, and in turning from this world's distractions to daily read and meditate on his word knowing they provide an essential foundation for all you think and do..

Yesterday we started reading the intriguing prophecy of Ezekiel.  He is in Babylon with those taken captive there before Jerusalem fell, along with King Jehoiachin. This is recorded in 2 Kings 24 v.12-15.  It is in “the fifth year of the exile” [Ezek 1 v.2,3] that “the word of the LORD came to Ezekiel … and the hand of the LORD was upon him there.”  It maybe he was sent by the LORD to join the exiles. There are many varied prophecies and visions that the LORD reveals to him climaxing with a vision in his final 9 chapters of a wondrous temple that will come into being in the ultimate future of the world. In today's chapter he is told to preach to the exiles, and their attitude to his message have a number of comparisons with attitudes today.  He is told, “I send you to the people of Israel, to nations of rebels who have rebelled against me.”[v.3]  He is told, “The descendants also are impudent and stubborn … And whether they hear or refuse to hear … they will know that a prophet has been among them … Be not afraid of them … nor be dismayed at their looks …” [[v.4-6]We see a real comparison with the situation and attitudes today when there is an inclination to give up on efforts to witness about the word of God.   But the final “ingathering” (see Matt. 22 v.9,10) must be completed and “the labourers are few” [Matt 9 v.27].   The vast majority we preach to  “refuse to hear” – but we recall the parable of Jesus about the final ingathering before his return when the “master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and hedges and compel people …. “ [Luke 14 v.23] and these words, we feel, have an application to us today.  Let us renew our efforts in the area in which we live.So let us take the lesson of the LORD's instructions to Ezekiel to heart in whatever situation we are in and make known God's word in these last days so that “whether they hear or refuse to hear” – we can really feel we are carrying out our responsibility before God.  This is an essential part of our “sowing” – noting the point Paul makes in today's 9th chapter of 2nd Corinthians.  “whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully” [v.6] so, while Paul is not applying this primarily to preaching, let us take (and create) opportunities to sow the word of God in the ears of the those with whom we have contact so that “they will know that a prophet has been among them” and we show we are heeding Paul's words to “abound in every good work”[v.8]

[Actual, provable Bible Truth]We delve into a truly thought-provoking question that lies at the very heart of the Gospel: "Why should I not be baptised?" This presentation is an outstanding expositional journey through the Scriptures, revealing the divine thread of a coming Kingdom and a King who will reign in righteousness. We explore the profound promises made to Abraham and David, and see how they find their ultimate fulfilment in the Lord Jesus Christ. This is not merely history; it is the insightful blueprint of God's purpose with the earth.The narrative takes us from the prophetic blessings upon Judah, through the unwavering covenants, to the spectacular vision of Daniel. We witness the kingdoms of men, represented by the great metallic image, and the wonderful stone—cut out without hands—that will smash the old world order and establish a Kingdom that will never be destroyed. This stone is Christ, the King to whom all authority belongs. The exposition of Daniel's interpretation is simply outstanding, revealing the certain sequence of history and the glorious climax awaiting us.The presentation culminates in a powerful, scripture-filled anthem for the coming age. We witness the King on His throne in Zion, bringing peace, justice, and the knowledge of God to all nations. This is the hope that sustained the faithful for millennia and it is the reality we are called to embrace. This video is more than a study; it is a revealing call to understand our place in God's grand design and to respond to the King who is coming.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: The Question of the King01:22 - The Promise to Judah: He Whose Right It Is03:19 - The Covenant with Abraham: The Promised Seed04:15 - The Royal Promise to David: An Everlasting Throne06:31 - The Hope in Babylon & Daniel's Vision08:45 - Daniel Interprets the King's Dream11:08 - The Kingdoms of Men Revealed13:08 - The Stone: Christ the King16:05 - A Symphony of Scripture: The Kingdom Established24:12 - Conclusion: The Call to Action**Bible Verse Category:**

Following Christ is a journey –  what a wonderful journey it should be!  In today's 3 chapters in 2nd Corinthians we see how Paul opens out more and more to them the wonder and challenges of this journey.  We are reminded of Solomon's ‘vision' that “the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until …” [Prov. 4 v.18]!   Yes, until the “full day” comes, when faith is turned to sight.   Is the path you are treading, shining brighter and brighter?  Are you “bringing holiness to completion”?The increasing spiritual darkness around us – should make the brightness of our path more evident! But sadly, ‘official' Christianity is showing ever more clearly that God “has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their heart, and turn …”  [John 12 v.40]. The ‘evidence' was there for them to ‘see' in the days of Jesus but their minds refused to accept what their eyes saw!  They were unable to “turn.” And today!  The contrast between “light” and “darkness” has grown really great; those in darkness have convinced themselves there never was a Creator.We are challenged to clearly understand what Paul means!  He says, “while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened – not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.” [5 v.4]  The more we are “further clothed” in our minds, the pathway before us will become increasingly clear and  bright.    “We are always of good courage”, says Paul, “and we would rather be away from the body and present with the Lord” [v.8]  Those who believe their “soul” is immortal usually misunderstand Paul's meaning.  Mortality will be “swallowed up” when Christ returns as Paul explained in detail in 1 Cor. Ch. 15 also when he stated his expectation of what is “laid up for me” in 2 Tim 4 v.7,8.  We will be physically “at home with the Lord” when he returns.  Paul challenges them (and us) to be more and more spiritually “at home” with him now so that when we “appear before the judgement seat of Christ (when) … each one … receive(s) what is due for what he has done in the body …” [v.10]    This means what he has done in “the body” of Christ – as Paul made clear in Ephesians 1 v.22,23.Chapter 6 in today's readings ends by making the Corinthians aware of God's promises of the life to come in his kingdom as recorded in the Old Testament (he quotes from Lev. 26 v.12 and Isaiah 52 v.11).   Ch. 7 starts, “Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement … bringing holiness to completion in the fear (awe) of God”.  He tells them to “widen your hearts” [6 v.13]  How “wide” is your heart?. Our readings are the essential ‘food' for our hearts; God's scriptures are a foundation ingredient if our hearts are to really become wide and so see “the path” really clearly so that we anticipate the “full day” with the greatest eagerness.     

This statement by Paul in today's readings [2 Cor. 4 v.16] really sums up what we aim to achieve by reading portions of God's word every day.  Of course this depends on the spirit with which we read.  Many face the challenge each day of finding adequate time to read; and then have little or no time for meditation on what they have read. But it is important to make an effort to do this for it multiplies in our minds the effectiveness of our reading.      In this ever more godless world many have times of difficulty and frustration to face and overcome. Note what Paul says next; “for this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” [v.17].  Nearly all have some positive things in their daily experiences and if we highlight these in our minds they are invaluable in preventing worldly concerns from dominating our thoughts.  It is God's word that helps most of all – but that depends how we read it, how receptive our minds are – what we look for!  We try to demonstrate this in the daily thoughts we circulate.      We all experience things which tend to frustrate us, but Paul says, “we do not lose heart” [v.16]  and, as we see his list of afflictions, ours are nothing in almost every case!   The reason why Paul did not lose heart  was because he did not look on “the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” [v.18]   Let's try harder to follow his way of thinking.      We have climbed a few mountains in our younger days and, for much of the time we climbed surrounded by clouds, but then, suddenly there is a break in the clouds and we realise both how much we have climbed, but greater still, we marvel at the vista of the distant scene that suddenly unfolds.  Is not progress in the believer's life like this?        Now Jeremiah is an exception to the general experience of “light affliction” and as we completed reading his Lamentations today we noted his lament; “we get our bread at the peril of our lives …the joy of our hearts has ceased” [5 v.9,15] and we think this could be happening at times to some of our brethren in Iran and in one or two parts of Africa and maybe, even amongst those in Sri Lanka whom the Govt there is trying to force to return to their homeland. For all these, Paul's words are really full of meaning and it is vital and they know it is vital that their “inner nature is being renewed day by day.” They may sometimes feel somewhat as Paul felt,  “We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair … struck down, but not destroyed” [4 v.8,9] Let us include them in our prayers – sensing how it helps in the renewal of our own inner nature, remembering what we read in ch. 1, v.11. 

We started reading 2nd Corinthians today: the opening chapter needs to be read slowly, carefully, as Paul makes so many points.  He shows the inter-reaction of events and the great value of prayers in all the difficulties they and he are experiencing.  “For as we share abundantly in Christ's suffering, so, through Christ, we share abundantly in comfort too.” [1 v.5]  It is, writes Paul “the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction … [v.3,4] This is a comfort we have a responsibility to pass on to others.Let us meditate and reflect on the inter-reaction of events we have personally experienced.  The more we have been active in the service of Christ, the more clearly we will perceive this.  In Paul, the Corinthians saw the most outstanding example of service.  “The afflictions we experienced,” writes Paul, was such that “we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.” [v.8] But Paul then came to realize, “that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God ….” [v.9]“On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again” [v.10]  Then Paul makes an appeal that we should specially take notice of.   He tells the Corinthians, “You also must help us by prayer so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us by the prayers of many.” [v.11]Many are aware today through the almost instant communication the internet provides of the desperate situations some Iranian believers have experienced.  There are also Pakistani believers who are experiencing persecution, and a few truth seekers who have felt it wise to return to Afghanistan.  Let us help them by prayer.Also, may we, as Paul writes in his 2nd chapter, spread “the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.  For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved …” [v.14,15]  The world is ‘smelling' ever more evil, as the darkness becomes ever darker, but then the light should be even more evident!It is a tragedy, as we will read tomorrow in ch. 4, that “the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel …” [v.4]  But, what a wondrous blessing we have that “God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness', has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” [v.6]  That ‘light' shone physically as creation began countless aeons ago, but the wondrous fact for us is, as we will read in ch. 5, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation.” [v.17]   May all those who are part of that “new creation” help one another by prayer.

Possibly the most heart moving chapter for us in Scripture is today's 15th chapter in 1st Corinthians – of course, that depends on how ‘alive' our heart is!  Paul writes on the absolute certainty that the resurrection of Christ really happened.  It is the foundation of “the gospel in which you stand and by which you are being saved.”]v.1,2]  He reminds these former idol-worshippers that “I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins … that he was raised the third day …” [v.3,4]   This gave real meaning to their lives, as it does to ours. We can say that if we have real conviction of this event, that conviction becomes the ‘engine' of the ‘thought processes' that transform the way we see the meaning of life.  How well that ‘engine' is functioning is evidenced by the priorities we have in daily and weekly life. The people of Corinth had formerly been idol worshippers, they had believed they had a ‘soul' that was immortal that it was a blessing when it escaped from their body at death to then lead some sort of immortal existence!   There are still some relatively primitive people today who believe this, but far more significant at the moment is the Islamic conviction, from the Qur'an, that the souls of martyrs go directly to paradise – a conviction that is surely a significant factor in the minds of those who commit the atrocities we are witnessing in the world at the moment.Paul goes on to list those who were witnesses that Christ rose from the dead; on one occasion “he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive” [v.6].  We reflect the thinking of the Roman Centurions –  their thinking was effectively challenged through their contact with Jesus, at least some were convinced of his divine powers, see Matt 8 v.5-13; Luke 3 v.3-6. A Centurion and others with him saw “what took place (at the crucifixion) and they were filled with awe and said, “Truly this was the Son of God!” [Matt 27 v.54]Then of course Acts 10 has the account of the conversion of the Roman Centurion Cornelius – and many with him.  Surely the impact of these experiences was the reason why there were so many followers of Christ in Rome in A.D. 63 whom the emperor Nero sought to put to death, according to Roman historians, e.g. Tacitus, circa AD 110.  They saw the events of Calvary as “of first importance” – it transformed their thinking, as it did all those who had witnessed him alive after his resurrection – creating the conviction of their own hope of resurrection!  Those alive at his return, and surely that includes some (many?) alive today who truly believe these things are “of first importance” and are baptised, they, says Paul, “shall all be changed in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet … and put on immortality.” [v.51,53] All with this conviction of belief and expectation, will, as Paul expresses it at the end of this chapter, “be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord …”  

We now come to a special part of Paul's letter to the Corinthians, these are chapters 12 to 14, and the first two are for today and they start, “Now concerning spiritual gifts ….” And Paul seeks to put their understanding of these gifts into a godly perspective.  Paul first makes the point, “When you were pagans you were led astray…” [v.2] At that time they had experienced all kinds of trances and ecstasy, as can still be observed among some primitive peoples today, being seen as ‘gifts' from their imagined gods. Paul tells them that, as members of Christ, “there are varieties of gifts … and there are varieties of service, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” [v.4-6].  These are to be used “for the common good”.   [v.7] – not in competition.  These gentiles in Corinth had no Bible to read, and so “through the Spirit … one is given … the utterance of wisdom … another the utterance of knowledge …”  The gift of tongues is mentioned last – and Paul counsels them to “earnestly desire the higher gifts” [v.31] adding, “and I will show you a still more excellent way.” This brings us to the marvellous exposition he gives on the value of love.  In ch. 13.  One can “have all faith … but have not love” then, says Paul, “I am nothing” [v.2,1]  In ch. 12 Paul had made the point, which we might fail to stress, “”Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  Collectively, together we make up “the body of Christ.”  For, says Paul, “the body does not consist of one member but of many.” [v.14] Believers must team together as parts of Christ's body of believers, using the individual abilities they have been given for the common good – above all, to display and practise the collective character of Christ.  In that way, our children who have not yet accepted Christ will be influenced – and of course, unbelievers – if they are seekers, will be attracted.  Head knowledge is essential, but is only half of “the body” – our hearts are the other half!   A body is “dead” if it has no heart:  Head and heart team together to produce faith    The end of ch. 13 sums it all up, “So now faith, hope and love abide … but the greatest of these is love.”  To finish, let us meditate on that verse: in the kingdom age, hope will be fulfilled and turn into sight, so faith will not be needed.  The one thing that will “abide” is “love.”  That will be the all-embracing spirit of mind in that wondrous time, how vital we develop it now if we aim, by His grace, to be there.    

A @Christadelphians Video: [Inspiring] In this thought-provoking and outstanding exposition, we delve into one of the most revealing themes of Scripture – the identity of God's promised King and the establishment of His eternal Kingdom on earth. From the ancient prophecies given to Judah and David, to Nebuchadnezzar's magnificent dream and the powerful symbolism of the stone cut without hands, this presentation weaves together the golden thread of Biblical promise. It is a wonderful, insightful journey that uncovers how the coming King – Jesus Christ – will reign from Jerusalem, bring peace to the nations, and fulfil the covenant made to Abraham. Whether you are new to these truths or have long cherished them, this video will strengthen your faith and inspire a deeper commitment to the hope of the Gospel.We invite you to watch, reflect, and share in the joy of God's unfolding purpose.**

Paul continues to identify the many things the believers in Corinth were failing to do properly. Human nature has always been inclined toward competition, the initial competition as to which of them would be the greatest among the disciples is an example of this [Luke 22 v.24], but after the resurrection this never happened, Peter could write of himself as simply being a  “fellow elder” [1 Peter 5 v.1]Paul spells out the order of responsibility very plainly in v.3 of today's chapter (1 Cor.11). “I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God.”  Then Paul writes of outward appearances that symbolise this order of responsibility, “… a wife … let her cover her head” but “a man ought not to cover his head” [v.6,7]   This is “when you come together” [v.18] to worship, but we must note v. 11 as this spells out another vital principle, “Nevertheless, in the Lord woman is not independent of man nor man of woman.”   Life in the Lord demands teamwork – “working together” [2 Cor. 6 v.1, see also Eph. 4 v.16] “for the glory of God” [Rom. 15 v.7] as the disciples had learnt to do.  Yet human nature keeps failing, sadly it seems inevitable, it certainly was in Corinth at that time – and we ponder the point Paul makes in v.19, “… there must be factions among you in order that those who are genuine among you may be recognised.”   The sequel that eventually arises from this is spelt out by John in his 1st letter, “They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us”. Paul spells out the well-known description of how the Lord's last supper should be kept – this is followed by a warning against doing so “in an unworthy manner” [v.27]. Those who do so will “be condemned along with the world” [v.32] and the climax of that condemnation is getting very close as we recognise how our world has become a latter-day Babylon, so let us try ever harder, as Paul expresses it in his first verse to “be imitators of me (Paul) as I am of Christ.” 

Today's readings convey a wide mixture of information and resultant thoughts. God removes Elijah, and Elisha takes up his role, his authority being confirmed by several miracles.  Although Elijah is taken “up into heaven” – it is obviously not into heaven itself!  It is not clear where he is taken – but a letter is later received from him – see 2 Chron. 21 v.12. Paul tells the Corinthians about the things that “were written down for our instruction” [1 Cor 10 v.11] and those concerned about Paul's warnings would eagerly seek such writings, they would not be easily available as they are today.In Jeremiah we read a lot about Babylon's destiny, her doom!  Almost all the people are now in captivity in parts of Babylon, Daniel and Ezekiel are there, it is the power that dominated the ‘Middle East' of that era.  But God's message through Jeremiah is, “The word that the LORD spoke concerning Babylon … declare among the nations … Babylon is taken …” [50 v.1,2]We know that the Babylon of those days dramatically ceased, we will read of that in Daniel, but it is obvious Jeremiah is granted a vision far beyond that era, “… in that time, declares the LORD, the people of Israel and the people of Judah shall come together, weeping as they come, and they shall seek the LORD their God.  They shall ask the way to Zion, with faces turned toward it, saying, ‘Come, let us join ourselves to the LORD in an everlasting covenant …” [v.5,6]   After the death of Solomon the nation split in two.  When their Messiah came they did not recognise him, they had not carefully read the message of the prophets, especially Isaiah. Jeremiah is now told of a future time, “In those days and at that time, declares the LORD … I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.” [v.20] As a result of this pardoning they “come together, weeping as they come … to seek the LORD their God.”We watch to see this happen – surely it is parallel with the incredible dramas to happen at the return of Christ, their true Messiah.  The chapter ends with a statement that finds clear parallels in the book of Revelation, at “the capture of Babylon the earth shall tremble, and her cry shall be heard among the nations.”  In Rev. 18 v.9, 19 we read, “Alas! Alas!  … you mighty city, Babylon!  For in a single hour your judgement has come … she has been laid waste”. Babylon in Hebrew is actually the word ‘babel' – and in Genesis we are briefly told of the dramatic end of that city after the earths' cleansing in the time of Noah. Our world was initially cleansed by the message of Christ, this was renewed to some extent when God's word was freely available in all languages – but now we face the time when “the earth shall tremble.”  Will you tremble? Only those who are really on ‘the Lord's side' will not, for the angels will gather them.  

Our readings today all provoke interesting and, to some extent, complex thoughts – but that is good: for just as our bodies benefit from physical exercise, so do our minds – from mental exercise. The interaction between Jehoshaphat the God-fearing king of Judah and Ahab the weak king of Israel is very instructive.  Jehoshaphat visits Ahab who invites him to join him in a war to recapture cities that the Syrian king has occupied.  Jehoshaphat wisely requests, “Inquire first the word of the LORD” [1 Kings 22 v.5] Ahab has about 400 prophets who all say, Go up for the Lord will give it into the hand of the king.” [v.6] But Jehoshaphat insists that this be confirmed by a prophet of the LORD (Yahweh).  Ahab says there is such a prophet, Micaiah, “but I hate him, for he never prophesies good concerning me …” [v.8]  One of Ahab's prophets then claims, “Thus says the LORD … you shall push the Syrians until they are destroyed” [v.11] using “horns of iron” to demonstrate; “all the prophets support him” but what false prophets they all prove to be! When Micaiah arrives, he first says, “Go up and triumph” [v.15] but he does not say it is “the word of the LORD,” we suspect he speaks in a cynical voice. Ahab senses this and exclaims, “How many times shall I make you swear that you speak to me nothing but the truth in the name of the LORD”  [v.16]  The true prophet replies, “I saw all Israel scattered on the mountains , as sheep that have no shepherd.  And the LORD said, ‘These have no Master …” [v.17], indicating the death of Ahab who then exclaims to Jehoshaphat, “Did I not say he would not prophesy good concerning me, but evil?” [v.18]Micaiah then tells a story which we understand as a parable that a “lying spirit” was sent by the LORD into “the mouth of all his (Ahab's) prophets.” He adds, “the LORD has declared disaster for you.” [v.23] And as we read for ourselves the words of all the genuine prophets of the LORD, of which Jeremiah is one, we reflect on our own serious situation in today's utterly godless world.  In Jeremiah we just read, “behold I am bringing disaster upon, all flesh, declares the LORD.” [ch. 45 v.5] and earlier in his ch. 23, “The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he has executed and accomplished the intents of his heart. In the latter days you will understand it clearly” [v.23]  This “disaster” is for those who follow the ways of Ahab and ignore God's warnings – and today this seems to be just about the whole world!  God's word is available in every language, but how many heed its' warnings, nearly all leave it to gather dust! But the seekers who read to find “nothing but the truth” will survive.  Many today could meet the same fate as Ahab, and that may not be very far ahead.

A @Christadelphians Video: **Actual, provable Bible Truth** – Discover the profound design God has woven into the family in this thought-provoking and expositional presentation by Bible Scholar Ken Styles. This is the fifth instalment in the outstanding series, *God's Wisdom in the Family Design*, and it delivers a wonderfully insightful look into faithful parenting.We explore how the commandment to "honour thy father and mother" is not just a rule for children but a mirror for parents, revealing how we must live to be worthy of that honour. Ken reveals that parenting is not about forceful control but about faith-filled discipleship, where our primary responsibility is to teach our children the principles of God's Word. He provides a wonderful and practical guide, blending biblical exposition with heartfelt encouragement for every stage of the parenting journey.From the inspiring example of Jacob's enduring faith to the incredible generational faithfulness of Jonadab, this talk reveals how a "kingdom-heading family" is built through a massive educational program and a foundation of genuine love. Ken also covers the delicate balance of discipline, showing how it must be administered as a tool of salvation, not anger. This is an essential watch for parents, grandparents, and all who desire to see their families aimed in the right direction.**Timestamps:**00:00 - Introduction & The Commandment to Honour08:14 - The Parent's Role as God's Ambassador15:52 - The Crucial Link: How Parents Must Model Godly Honour18:26 - Parenting by Faith, Not by Invention22:46 - Practical Ideas: Making the Bible Come Alive28:39 - The Foundation of Love for Effective Discipline34:09 - The Rod of Correction: A Tool of Salvation40:57 - Examples of Faithful Parenting: Jacob43:53 - Examples of Faithful Parenting: Mordecai46:39 - Examples of Faithful Parenting: Jonadab53:22 - Examples of Faithful Parenting: Abraham59:41 - Conclusion: Make Yours a Kingdom-Heading Family**Bible Verse Categories:**

A @Christadelphians Video: # SummaryThis PRESENTATION explores the deeper meaning of the commandment "Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord in vain," highlighting that it goes beyond simply avoiding the casual use of God's name. It discusses the significance of God's personal name, Yahweh, and how it reflects His character and purpose. The presentation emphasises the importance of living in accordance with God's principles and fulfilling the commitment made upon taking on His name, especially through baptism.# Highlights-

A @Christadelphians Video: [Inspiring] What a profound and thought-provoking journey through Scripture! In this outstanding exposition, we continue our series on the Resurrection and Judgement, uncovering God's magnificent plan for a coming King who will reign with righteousness and justice. From the ancient promises to Judah and David, to Nebuchadnezzar's remarkable dream, and finally to Christ as the rejected stone who becomes the cornerstone—this video reveals the wonderful, unbreakable thread of hope that runs from Genesis to Revelation. Prepare to be inspired and your faith strengthened as we explore the glorious kingdom that God will establish on earth, with Jesus Christ as King over all nations. This is truly insightful and revealing content for every believer.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: Who Will Be King?01:25 - The Sceptre Promise to Judah (Genesis 49:10)03:19 - The Abrahamic Covenant: Seed of Blessing04:28 - God's Covenant with David (1 Chronicles 17)06:48 - Nebuchadnezzar's Dream: The Great Statue09:21 - The Stone Cut Without Hands13:08 - Christ as the Rejected Stone16:08 - Christ the King: Scriptural Testimony24:42 - Resurrection, Judgement, and the Coming Kingdom35:16 - Conclusion: Our Hope and Your Response**Bible Verse Category:**

The Apostle Paul demonstrates what it is to give the Lord “undivided devotion” [1 Cor.7 v.35].  We have to acknowledge however that his case was exceptional, although there were others who remained single, e.g. Barnabas, as we will read tomorrow in ch. 9 v.5,6. We note that Peter, the leading Apostle, had a wife (Matt 8 v.14 ).  Jeremiah, whose long journey as a prophet  in serving the LORD we have nearly finished reading, is never mentioned as having a wife. Paul is sometimes misquoted as though he counsels believers not to marry; however, it is clear that Corinth is experiencing considerable chaos and Paul writes, after first admitting, “I have no command from the Lord,” that, “I think in view of the present distress it is good for a person to remain as he is….  Do not seek a wife.  But if you do marry, you have not sinned …” [v.25-28]    The vital thing is to become “firmly established in … heart” [v.37] and the daily feeding of our mind on godly thoughts and advice is a vital ingredient in achieving that. An example of the opposite, of an unstable character with an unbelieving wife, is seen in the behaviour of Ahab in today's chapter in 1 Kings 21.  Yet even he, after his evil wife Jezebel had orchestrated the death of Naboth, apparently without him being aware, an act that enabled him to gain Naboth's vineyard; when he is confronted by and denounced by Elijah, “humbled himself before” God [v.29].              As a result God says, “I will not bring the disaster in his days: but in his son's days I will bring the disaster …”  However, as we will read tomorrow, it is soon God's will that he shall die because he listens to false prophets rather than a prophet of the LORD and, despite disguising himself, is killed in battle. As life's battles increase in these days, and, the world's fears increase, let us try even harder to give to our Lord “undivided devotion” – and, if we have a wife or a husband and can do this together, then let us see, if we haven't already seen, how much we can still accomplish in the service of our Lord and Saviour. 

A @Christadelphians Video: [Prophecy being fulfilled!]What an extraordinary week it has been for those watching the mountains of Israel. As we observe the headlines surrounding the E1 settlement plans and the re-establishment of Kadim, we are witnessing something truly thought-provoking unfold before our very eyes. The international outcry from Britain, France, Germany, and Italy over Jewish construction near Jerusalem is yet another remarkable sign that the biblical stage is being set for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ.In this outstanding exposition, Bible Scholar Matt Davies guides us through the prophetic significance of these current events, demonstrating how the words of Ezekiel, Zechariah, and Joel are being fulfilled in our generation. The mountains of Israel are once again inhabited by God's people, Jerusalem has become that burdensome stone to the nations, and the division of the land has become the great diplomatic controversy of our age.This is a wonderful and revealing presentation that will strengthen your faith and encourage you to look beyond the immediate political disputes to see God's hand at work in history. The prophecies are not merely ancient words—they are living, breathing revelations that speak directly to our time.Join us as we explore why these settlements matter, what the prophets foretold, and how these events point inexorably toward the soon return of Jesus Christ to establish God's Kingdom upon the earth.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: Settlers on the Mountains of Israel01:00 - The E1 Controversy: International Diplomatic Dispute02:12 - Kadim Re-established: Jewish Pioneers Return04:04 - Bible Prophecy: Setting the Stage04:40 - Ezekiel's Prophecy: The Mountains of Israel Restored07:03 - The Latter Days: Invasion Foretold09:34 - Zechariah's Prophecy: Jerusalem the Burdensome Stone12:05 - Joel's Prophecy: The Nations and the Division of the Land14:38 - The Final Conflict: All Nations Against Jerusalem15:49 - Observing the Signs of the Times17:28 - The Resolution: Christ's Return and God's Kingdom18:26 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action**Bible Verse Category:**

We live in a world which likes to say that ‘You are the most important person!'  Self-centredness is encouraged – and that is understandable if you believe there is no God, that everything that exists just evolved – mysteriously creating itself: but we know this is all a human delusion!We must look at the reality of life – from God's perspective – and Paul is a great help to us, for that is how he sees life as we read today in 1 Corinthians ch. 6 as he encourages the believers to see life from this perspective.  Some of them were misbehaving; there is “sexual immorality” in Corinth.  He asks, “Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ?” [v.15]          Then he adds another question, “Do you not know that he who is joined to a prostitute becomes one body with her?” [v.16]   These points are a prelude to his appeal to them to see the bigger scene – of what their lives really should become  – to ‘grow' and see spiritual realities, recognising more and more their position as “members of Christ.”  That is a wonderful, but at the same time, a challenging vision to conceive in our mind.        “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit within you which you have from God?” This is followed by an equally significant point, “You are not your own, for you were bought with a price.  So glorify God in your body.” [v.19,20]  How can we, do we, accomplish this?               In v.17 we read, “He who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him”  A unique oneness of mind develops! But recall what we read at the end of ch. 2,  “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God …. They are spiritually discerned … For who has understood the mind of the Lord so as to instruct him.  But we have the mind of Christ.”   The next chapter shows the Corinthians had not yet developed this – and us?  The Corinthians were not yet “spiritual people” but “infants in Christ” [3 v.1]  – and us? Another vital question – how do we “glorify God in (y)our body?”   How did Jesus?  He set the example, followed by Paul, our Lord had total commitment to serve God in all that he said and did – to make God's will – his will.  As we do this, we realize more and more clearly what it is to “have the mind of Christ.”  As we change the way we think we become more and more selective of the things in life that help us to become more like Christ.  Do you not know this?  Is Christ the most important person in your life?  He should be.

Elijah showed he was a man of great faith when he challenged the wicked king Ahab on Mount Carmel, fire miraculously burnt up his offering and 450 prophets of Baal were killed. Then three and a half years of drought came dramatically to an end!  But after that he had a remarkable collapse of faith.  Could it be that, after the remarkable climax of events on Mt Carmel, he thought everything was going to be easier now and his intense of faith in God while on the mount relaxed? But it was not going to be easier, in today's chapter (I Kings 19), when Jezebel declares her intention to kill him because he had caused the death of her 450 prophets, Elijah's confidence in serving the LORD suddenly collapses and he runs for his life.  Is this a lesson for us, to a much lesser degree of course?He says to God, “It is enough now O LORD, take away my life for I am no better than my fathers.” [v.14] But the end result is that he finds God in a more personal way than ever before. First, food is miraculously provided for him and after 40 days (interesting that is the same period that Moses spent on the mountain with God) Elijah comes to “Horeb, the mount of God.” [v.8]  where Moses had received the law.He lodges in a cave [v.9] he hears a voice, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”  and he experiences the awesome power of God. He thinks he is the only faithful person left in Israel and is told there are 7,000 in Israel who have not bowed the knee to worship Baal (v.18).  As he hides in the cave there is a strong wind, strong enough to break the rocks, then an earthquake and then a fire!  Awesome, it is rather parallel to God's judgements on the world at the end of this age when Jesus is about to come. And how soon is that?  Very soon? We must each ask ourselves, ‘What am I doing here? Surely there is still some work to be done for the Lord.

A @Christadelphians Video: [Actual, provable Bible Truth] We are confronted with the profound reality that the family unit is not an accident of human evolution. It is a divinely orchestrated design, established by God to be the primary environment for salvation. Within this sacred structure, the role of the mother is uniquely critical. As we explore this subject, we uncover the wisdom of a Creator who uses the natural maternal instincts to teach the spiritual, elevating the role of a godly mother to one of immense eternal significance.This thought-provoking and insightful presentation, "God's Wisdom in the Family Design #4: A Mother's Unique Role and Responsibilities," delivered by brother Ken Styles, is a wonderful and expositional study. It masterfully reveals the special spiritual sensitivity and influence God has placed upon mothers, challenging the world's devaluation of this sacred role. It is an outstanding call to recognise that the home is a kingdom-heading environment, and the mother is its primary architect. This revealing study demonstrates how a mother's daily life is the living Bible for her children, showing them the commandments of Christ put into practice.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction & Review: The Purpose of the Family03:54 - The Danger of Spiritual Abuse04:30 - A Moral Implication: Raising God's Children05:28 - The Metaphor of the Arrow05:50 - An Appeal to the Ecclesial Family10:42 - The Blessing of Conception13:48 - The Wisdom Behind God's Hatred of Sexual Sin17:40 - Introduction: The Mother's Special Role18:52 - Unique Qualities & The Godly Environment20:33 - Living the Word: More Than Just Reading21:53 - The Mother's Spiritual Influence25:55 - Who is Saving Whom? A Beautiful Paradox28:34 - The Spiritual Basis for a Mother's Role (Titus, Timothy, Proverbs)30:32 - Humorous Moments & The Power of Apology35:52 - Teaching God's Supremacy in Practical Terms44:03 - Personal Insight: The Family Rule Board50:13 - A Story of Correction & God's Saving Purpose52:46 - Conclusion: The Big Picture**Bible Verse Category:**

Based on the transcript provided, here is a YouTube Summary/Description for the video.---**[Actual, provable Bible Truth]** In this thought-provoking and insightful exposition, we continue our series examining the foundational beliefs of the Christadelphians. This nineteenth chapter delves into the powerful and hope-filled doctrine of the Resurrection and Judgment.The Bible makes it plain that the only way to everlasting life for faithful disciples is by resurrection from the dead【0:13†L13-L14】. All the righteous saints, from Abel to the last disciple before the second coming, share the sleep of death, lying in dust, awaiting the quickening voice of Jesus【0:28†L28-L30】.This presentation reveals the wonderful consistency of Scripture, demonstrating that the resurrection of the Lord Jesus and the resurrection of the believer are inseparable parts of one work of salvation【1:41†L41-L42】【11:35†L35-L36】. The apostles' message was clear: no resurrection of Jesus, no gospel【3:22†L22-L23】. Their hope was not in an immortal soul but in the glorious promise of the empty tomb and the bodily resurrection of Christ【7:06†L6-L7】.This outstanding teaching shows that the whole edifice of the Christian faith would be in utter ruin were the foundation stone of the resurrection of Christ to be taken away【3:54†L54-L55】. It is the risen Christ who has ascended to heaven, and His victory over death is the guarantee of our hope【5:00†L0-L1】. As Paul argued, to deny the resurrection of the saints is to deny the resurrection of Christ【10:42†L42-L44】. The day of the second coming is the time of reward, of glory, and of salvation—without it, all is lost【25:32†L32-L33】.Watch this revealing presentation to understand the Biblical hope of the resurrection, the transformation of our lowly bodies, and the certainty of the coming Kingdom.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: Resurrection and Judgment00:28 - The Hope of the Resurrection01:41 - The Apostolic Message03:54 - The Importance of the Empty Tomb05:06 - The True Death and Resurrection of Jesus08:44 - The Certainty of the Saints' Resurrection10:30 - One Resurrection: Christ and the Saints14:02 - The Hope in the Old Testament16:30 - The Sleep of Death18:25 - The Redemption of the Body20:44 - Transformation and Immortality23:52 - The Second Coming and the Judgment26:06 - Conclusion**Bible Verses Referenced:**

A @Christadelphians Video: [Actual, provable Bible Truth] awaits in this thought-provoking and deeply expositional study, "The Appointed Time #5: From Desolation to Restoration." This outstanding presentation takes us on a remarkable journey through the prophecies of Daniel, revealing the powerful timeline of God's plan for His people and His Holy City. We delve into the mysterious phrase "the abomination of desolation," uncovering its historical fulfilments and its profound connection to our future hope. This is a wonderful and inspiring exploration of Scripture that will strengthen your faith and deepen your understanding of God's unfolding purpose.We begin by examining the abomination of desolation, a pattern of false worship and desecration that appears not once, but four times in Daniel's prophecy. From Antiochus Epiphanes' defilement of the temple in 167 BC, to the Roman armies surrounding Jerusalem in AD 70, we see the tragic consequences of rejecting God's Son. But the prophecy doesn't end there; it points forward to a third and final abomination, the Dome of the Rock, a structure that has stood on the Temple Mount for centuries.This brings us to the heart of the study: the incredible time periods of the 1290 and 1335 days. By applying the day-for-a-year principle, we trace the 1290 years from the Babylonian invasions (599-598 BC) to the completion of the Dome of the Rock (691-692 AD). This revelation provides a solid anchor for understanding the final 1335-year period, which points to a future date of immense significance—a time of blessing and resurrection.Join us as we work through the 2300-day prophecy of Daniel 8, exploring the vision of the Ram and the Goat and the rise of the Roman horn. This is a challenging but rewarding study that builds to an incredible climax: the hope of the resurrection, the cleansing of the sanctuary, and the ultimate restoration of all things under the Kingdom of God. We pray this study encourages you to watch and pray, longing for that appointed day.**Chapters:**00:00 - Introduction: From Desolation to Restoration01:36 - Four Key Questions02:29 - The Four Occurrences of the Abomination03:33 - Defining the Abomination of Desolation04:27 - The First Abomination: Antiochus Epiphanes06:05 - The Second Abomination: Rome in AD 7016:47 - The Roman Power Given by God18:56 - Daniel 9: The Ongoing Desolation20:44 - The 2300 Days: A Time of Trampling24:36 - 1967 and the Cleansing of the Sanctuary29:20 - The Three Abominations Summarised30:04 - The 1290 Days: A Start and a Finish33:33 - The Third Abomination: The Dome of the Rock38:27 - The 1335 Days: The Final Blessing41:09 - The Sequential Timeline: A New Understanding44:19 - 2026/2027 and the Hope of the Resurrection45:42 - One Day... The Restoration of All Things49:19 - Conclusion: Watching and Praying**Bible Verse Category:**