Understanding the Authority of Jesus | Lessons from Matthew Chapters 4-8

Understanding the Authority of Jesus | Lessons from Matthew Chapters 4-8

It wasn’t just the centurion who recognised the authority of Jesus, but the ordinary people, back up on that mountain in Chs 5,6 &7, THEY saw the authority He had! You see, the scribes studied and taught ‘from the Book’. But even the ordinary people saw that there’s a vast difference between ‘teaching from the Book’ and speaking with AUTHORITY as Jesus did – not from intellectual study, but from a life lived with practice and experience. Matthew 7.28-29.

Christian Freedom & Self-Discipline | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 9

Christian Freedom & Self-Discipline | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 9

In this chapter, the apostle Paul the Apostle defends his rights as an apostle but explains why he chooses not to use those rights, for the sake of the Gospel. Paul teaches that Christian freedom and rights should be willingly set aside when necessary for the sake of others and the advancement of the Gospel. I'm 93 - I do everything to win some by all possible means - I run to win the crown that will last forever: "Lord, keep me faithful to the end!" We're all in this race to win the reward we will receive in the Kingdom.

Servants of Christ | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 4

Servants of Christ | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 4

Paul speaks to the Corinthians as a spiritual father, correcting them out of love. His goal is restoration, not punishment. He reminds them that the Kingdom of God is not just talk, but power – genuine faith produces transformed lives, not just impressive words.

Babes in Christ: Understanding Spiritual Growth in 1 Corinthians 3

Babes in Christ: Understanding Spiritual Growth in 1 Corinthians 3

Even today we too easily follow men, rather than Christ! I don’t follow men, even though I grew up in the days of some very great Pentecostal leaders in Britain - among them Evangelist George Jeffreys, Smith Wigglesworth. I don’t look to those men, even though when I was born Jeffreys wanted to adopt me as his son. I don’t want to follow any man. I want to follow Jesus.

The Apostles Didn’t Bind Demons Before Preaching - Why Do We? | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 2

The Apostles Didn’t Bind Demons Before Preaching - Why Do We? | Lessons from 1 Corinthians 2

I don’t read anywhere in the New Testament that Jesus or the Apostles engaged in ‘spiritual warfare’, binding demons BEFORE they could minister freely somewhere. Talking to our Heavenly Father, yes. Seeking the guidance of the Holy Spirit, yes. Because, through Jesus, by the Spirit we have DIRECT access to the Father - Eph 2.18! The promise of the Father is that when we receive the Holy Spirit, we receive power to become Christ’s witnesses, anywhere on earth, wherever He calls us - Acts 1.4-5,8! It’s simple.

1 Corinthians 1 Explained | Unity, the Cross, and God’s Wisdom

1 Corinthians 1 Explained | Unity, the Cross, and God’s Wisdom

I can never stop thanking God for all the wonderful gifts he has given you, now that you are Christ’s: he has enriched your whole life. He has helped you speak out for him and has given you a full understanding of the truth; what I told you Christ could do for you has happened! Now you have every grace and blessing; every spiritual gift and power for doing his will are yours during this time of waiting for the return of our Lord Jesus Christ. And he guarantees right up to the end that you will be counted free from all sin and guilt on that day when he returns. God will surely do this for you, for he always does just what he says, and he is the one who invited you into this wonderful friendship with his Son, even Christ our Lord. (1 Corinthians 1, TLB.)

The Final Victory of Christ | The Power of the Resurection: Lessons from 1 Corinthians 15

The Final Victory of Christ | The Power of the Resurection: Lessons from 1 Corinthians 15

What happens when we die? As Christians we believe in the resurrection of Christ. We know from reading the Gospel that there were many witnesses to the resurrection. And because Christ was raised, we can know with certainty that we too will be raised from the dead.

I Am and I Will Be with you

I Am and I Will Be with you

God’s Name in Hebrew can equally be translated as ‘I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE’, as Biblical Hebrew has no future tense, instead a continuous present. I am whoever I want to be, whatever I want to be, whenever I want to be. Whatever I want and say, I do. I am EVERYTHING. I am EVERYWHERE. Hence the fact that in Exodus 3, God is in the burning bush! And speaks from the fire! But to Elijah God does not speak from the wind, earthquake or fire – but in a still small voice.

You need the Holy Spirit

You need the Holy Spirit

I want you to understand that when we have the Anointing and Power of the Holy Spirit, when the Spirit of the Lord is on us, we have Authority. The reason I was able to do all those crazy things in the former Soviet Union under communism is because I have Authority – from the Holy Spirit! Even the hardened communists, my biggest opponents recognised the Authority that I had. We are Christ’s Ambassadors; in His Name we have ALL the Authority of HIS Kingdom through the Power of the Holy Spirit. Use it!

God has given you a ministry

God has given you a ministry

Whatever the past, good or bad, our Glory is in the future. I’m not looking at my past, I’m looking at the future, when we’re going to be with Jesus! Yes, Paul says as we wait for this, we groan, we’re burdened, waiting to be clothed in the ‘house’ God has made for us in Heaven. Our future is secure in Christ - 2 Corinthians 5:17 - ‘If any man is in Christ, he is a new creature, a new creation - all the old things have passed away and everything has become new.