Perhaps one of the greatest needs of the church today is for the church to revisit what is the genuine work of the Holy Spirit? I mean to revisit this in the light of holy Scripture, sound theology and church history. There is so much confusion with women preaching in pulpits all over the place (and leading church services), even though Scripture forbids this (1 Timothy 2:12). The church has flooded its so-called worship with worldly methods, until some people cannot discern between being moved by a rock band in singing versus a genuine work of the Holy Spirit.
What more shall we say of churches using alligator shows, fashion shows and dramas to try to lure in non-believers. Having just read the Book of Acts, the simplicity of the apostolic method is astounding. It was persuading people out of the Scriptures of the sufferings of Jesus of Nazareth, his resurrection and his message that all men everywhere must repent and believe the gospel.
But, what about the true work of the Holy Spirit? I have two books on my shelf that I would like to mention on this subject. First is a small book by John Owen "The Holy Spirit"; second is by Octavius Winslow called "The Work of the Holy Spirit". If people know of good biblical resources on this topic then do add a comment on this blog.
Of course there is the helpful book by John MacArthur called "Charismatic Chaos" which deserves a hearing or his book called "Strange Fire" also.
May we search the Scriptures to learn of Christ more fully by the Lord's grace.
"The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue. Now these Jews were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men".
Acts 17:10-12.
Friday, 30 September 2016
Thursday, 29 September 2016
A New Hebrews Commentary by Richard Brooks
Evangelical Press have again published another excellent commentary! This time it is on the Book of Hebrews by Richard Brooks and it is called "Hebrews: The Name High Over All". Brooks is not only a wonderful preacher, but he is also an excellent writer. His past works include commentaries, ones with a strong devotional dimension, on the "Song of Songs" and "Revelation" as two examples. This latest book could be read by ministers for helps in preaching this vital book of the Bible or by any Christian who wants to know more of Scripture.
A wife, mother and homemaker that I know, intends to read this book as part of her personal devotions and growth in grace. Hopefully some readers of this blog will buy the book, read it and profit from it. It is available via Amazon and other online outlets.
Happy reading!
A wife, mother and homemaker that I know, intends to read this book as part of her personal devotions and growth in grace. Hopefully some readers of this blog will buy the book, read it and profit from it. It is available via Amazon and other online outlets.
Happy reading!
Tuesday, 27 September 2016
Rev Iain Murray is preaching at Sheffield Evangelical Presbyterian Church
Iain Murray, as most know, is the founder of the Banner of Truth book publishers of Reformed literature. He has contacts in Sheffield which go back a long way and he has very good contacts with our denomination the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in England and Wales.
On Sunday (the Lord's Day) of the 9th October 2016, he will be preaching and leading our worship in both services at 11.00am and 5.00pm. In addition, he will teach in our catechism class at 10.00am. Anyone is welcome to come to Hill Top Chapel to hear him and to enjoy worshipping the Lord. For details of the location, then check out our church website: www.sheffieldpres.org.uk
See you there,
Kevin Bidwell
On Sunday (the Lord's Day) of the 9th October 2016, he will be preaching and leading our worship in both services at 11.00am and 5.00pm. In addition, he will teach in our catechism class at 10.00am. Anyone is welcome to come to Hill Top Chapel to hear him and to enjoy worshipping the Lord. For details of the location, then check out our church website: www.sheffieldpres.org.uk
See you there,
Kevin Bidwell
Monday, 26 September 2016
Serving in Sardis
A good friend of mine Ben Franks wrote an excellent blog post called "Serving in Sardis". It his reflection of the state of the church in USA.
The blog post link is: https://befranksblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/serving-in-sardis/comment-page-1/#comment-39
I recommend that you read this and reflect how his insights impact our view of the nation in which we live.
The blog post link is: https://befranksblog.wordpress.com/2016/09/23/serving-in-sardis/comment-page-1/#comment-39
I recommend that you read this and reflect how his insights impact our view of the nation in which we live.
Monday, 19 September 2016
The Dignity of Hard Work
"Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, as the LORD your God commanded you. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work ...".(Deuteronomy 5:12–14).
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man".
(Proverbs 6:6–11).
This may seem like an unusual blog post, but I believe that it is an important one. Within Protestant Christianity there has been historically what was known as the "Protestant work ethic" and it is shaped by such verses as I have cited. There is dignity in work and especially in hard work. The small creature the ant is esteemed in Scripture as a noble part of Creation, due to its diligence, hard work, orderliness and preparation. We are to learn from this example and we as Christian people are to shun laziness.
The working week is shaped by Scripture in that we are to rest one day and worship the Lord and the other six days are for work. Therefore, in the sight of God, work is esteemed as a dignified task. Work is not to be shunned and indeed if we do all things to the glory of God, then our working life should reflect this. Our contemporary Western society rarely esteems the work that we do, unless it provides large amounts of income, so that we can spend it on ourselves for leisure and pleasure.
Another point to be considered is that in many Christian circles today, the idea of vocation has been virtually lost. What do I mean by this? Our vocation is our job or career and sadly many talk today about "our secular job" which then inserts an unnatural sacred-secular divide. Some professing Christians wrongly think that Christian activities are more holy than our vocation. I learned a number of years ago to drop the phrase "what is your secular job?". I did this deliberately to shun the idea that a Christian's job is somehow lacking in nobility, it is not. For example if a Christian does a mission trip, this is commonly seen as more holy, than someone working hard in their regular job. Another example is among Christian university students who may be exhorted to forsake studying hard, to give all of their time to the Christian society on the campus.
As Christians who are committed to the Bible and shaped by it, we should seek a biblical model of hard work. I do not say that we should not have work-life balance which is indeed very important. However, our approach to work and indeed hard work, should be shaped by Scripture and this may require our minds to be renewed, our attitudes to be changed and our life-patterns to be changed.
For those who know what "hipsters" are, there are many in Berlin. A German friend said to me recently that the "hipsters wear their grand-dad's clothes, but they do not have grand-dad's work ethic". The idea of hanging out endlessly in coffee shops, drinking real coffee and playing on your Apple with social media, may be trendy, but in the end is this life-pattern going to produce satisfaction? A Biblical model to life should include hard work as well as rest as a God-given means of satisfaction and in living our life for the glory of God.
"Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest. How long will you lie there, O sluggard? When will you arise from your sleep? A little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest, and poverty will come upon you like a robber, and want like an armed man".
(Proverbs 6:6–11).
This may seem like an unusual blog post, but I believe that it is an important one. Within Protestant Christianity there has been historically what was known as the "Protestant work ethic" and it is shaped by such verses as I have cited. There is dignity in work and especially in hard work. The small creature the ant is esteemed in Scripture as a noble part of Creation, due to its diligence, hard work, orderliness and preparation. We are to learn from this example and we as Christian people are to shun laziness.
The working week is shaped by Scripture in that we are to rest one day and worship the Lord and the other six days are for work. Therefore, in the sight of God, work is esteemed as a dignified task. Work is not to be shunned and indeed if we do all things to the glory of God, then our working life should reflect this. Our contemporary Western society rarely esteems the work that we do, unless it provides large amounts of income, so that we can spend it on ourselves for leisure and pleasure.
Another point to be considered is that in many Christian circles today, the idea of vocation has been virtually lost. What do I mean by this? Our vocation is our job or career and sadly many talk today about "our secular job" which then inserts an unnatural sacred-secular divide. Some professing Christians wrongly think that Christian activities are more holy than our vocation. I learned a number of years ago to drop the phrase "what is your secular job?". I did this deliberately to shun the idea that a Christian's job is somehow lacking in nobility, it is not. For example if a Christian does a mission trip, this is commonly seen as more holy, than someone working hard in their regular job. Another example is among Christian university students who may be exhorted to forsake studying hard, to give all of their time to the Christian society on the campus.
As Christians who are committed to the Bible and shaped by it, we should seek a biblical model of hard work. I do not say that we should not have work-life balance which is indeed very important. However, our approach to work and indeed hard work, should be shaped by Scripture and this may require our minds to be renewed, our attitudes to be changed and our life-patterns to be changed.
For those who know what "hipsters" are, there are many in Berlin. A German friend said to me recently that the "hipsters wear their grand-dad's clothes, but they do not have grand-dad's work ethic". The idea of hanging out endlessly in coffee shops, drinking real coffee and playing on your Apple with social media, may be trendy, but in the end is this life-pattern going to produce satisfaction? A Biblical model to life should include hard work as well as rest as a God-given means of satisfaction and in living our life for the glory of God.
Monday, 5 September 2016
Some good resources on the Book of Revelation
Revelation 1:1 "The revelation of Jesus Christ ...".
The book of Revelation is often either neglected or greatly misunderstood. John Calvin did not write a commentary on this book and this may have meant some in Reformed circles have downplayed its significance. I was urged by a fellow minister to preach on it, as I considered a new series and I am thankful for that encouragement. I have now begun.
The opening title of Revelation in 1:1 explains the title, it is a book that is all about Jesus Christ. Therefore, who would not be interested in this book? I was wrongly told as a new Christian that eschatology was a secondary matter and yet all the whiles many people considered a complex range of end-time views which seemed to dominate their whole vision of Christianity. How about you? What dominates your main Christian vision? Is it about Jesus Christ, end time events or perhaps even yourself? If your Christian vision is not primarily about the glory of Christ Jesus, then perhaps you need a corrective to your thinking.
Here are a number of resources that you may find very helpful in order to better understand the Book of Revelation.
1. William Hendriksen "More than Conquerors". This is a MUST read for those seeking to grapple with the structure, overview and main purpose of this book.
2.Richard Brooks "Revelation: The Lamb is all the Glory".
3. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes "The Book of Revelation: A Commentary".
Happy reading and as you also read the Book of Revelation remember that the main theme is "the victory of the lamb and the church over the devil and all of Christ's enemies". To God be the glory, Amen.
The book of Revelation is often either neglected or greatly misunderstood. John Calvin did not write a commentary on this book and this may have meant some in Reformed circles have downplayed its significance. I was urged by a fellow minister to preach on it, as I considered a new series and I am thankful for that encouragement. I have now begun.
The opening title of Revelation in 1:1 explains the title, it is a book that is all about Jesus Christ. Therefore, who would not be interested in this book? I was wrongly told as a new Christian that eschatology was a secondary matter and yet all the whiles many people considered a complex range of end-time views which seemed to dominate their whole vision of Christianity. How about you? What dominates your main Christian vision? Is it about Jesus Christ, end time events or perhaps even yourself? If your Christian vision is not primarily about the glory of Christ Jesus, then perhaps you need a corrective to your thinking.
Here are a number of resources that you may find very helpful in order to better understand the Book of Revelation.
1. William Hendriksen "More than Conquerors". This is a MUST read for those seeking to grapple with the structure, overview and main purpose of this book.
2.Richard Brooks "Revelation: The Lamb is all the Glory".
3. Philip Edgcumbe Hughes "The Book of Revelation: A Commentary".
Happy reading and as you also read the Book of Revelation remember that the main theme is "the victory of the lamb and the church over the devil and all of Christ's enemies". To God be the glory, Amen.
Monday, 29 August 2016
The Late J. Alec Motyer: 1924-2016
A few days ago the minister, theologian and shepherd of souls Rev J. Alec Motyer went on ahead to heaven. He died on August 26th 2016, but for many he may not be overly known about. Rev Alec Motyer was ordained in the Church of England and was probably the foremost Evangelical theologian in their denomination fold during the last half of the last century, in my opinion. While I am no expert on all of Motyer's works, I can confidently say that he was a theological mind committed to the infallibility of Scripture, one of the first order.
The influence of Motyer upon myself has been primarily his commentary on Isaiah which is by far the best commentary on my shelf on this most important Old Testament book. Isaiah is replete in citations in the Book of Romans and elsewhere in the New Testament, therefore a comprehensive understanding of this book is pivotal to grasping the gospel. I believe that there is also a daily devotional on Isaiah by him, which many have found most useful. While Motyer wrote other commentaries, this one on Isaiah is perhaps his life's work. I cannot commend it highly enough!
I did not know Alec Motyer personally, but I know two men who trained under him at Trinity College, Bristol and they were marked for life with a deep love for Holy Scripture. They have both served as faithful ministers of the Word of God in the church for decades. Does a love for the Scriptures also infuse your soul? This is what Geoff Thomas wrote about Motyer on the Banner of Truth website (https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2000/j-alec-motyer/):
Now retired as principal of Trinity College in Bristol, England, Motyer has spent his professional career studying the Bible. However, he learned to love the Scriptures at his grandmother’s knee in Ireland. “Grandma was, in worldly terms, a comparatively uneducated lady,” Motyer says, “but she was a great Bible woman. Biblical studies have simply confirmed that which I learned from Grandma – that the Bible is the Word of God – and made it a coherently held position.”
He adds, “I had a conversion experience when I was 15, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love the Word of God.”
Motyer loved "all of Scripture" I believe, but he was specially gifted to make the connection across Scripture. Justin Taylor (https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2016/08/26/j-alec-motyer-1924-2016/) has commented on the life of Motyer in recent days and he makes this helpful observation:
I will always remember his answer to a question about the relationship of Old Testament Israel to the church (I can’t remember if R. C. posed it to him or someone from the audience). After saying something about the discontinuities, he insisted that we were all one people of God. Then he asked us to imagine how the Israelites under Moses would have given their “testimony” to someone who asked for it. They would have said something like this:
We were in a foreign land, in bondage, under the sentence of death. But our mediator—the one who stands between us and God—came to us with the promise of deliverance. We trusted in the promises of God, took shelter under the blood of the lamb, and he led us out. Now we are on the way to the Promised Land. We are not there yet, of course, but we have the law to guide us, and through blood sacrifice we also have his presence in our midst. So he will stay with us until we get to our true country, our everlasting home.
Then Dr. Motyer concluded: “Now think about it. A Christian today could say the same thing, almost word for word.”
It is a delight for me to give honour to a spiritual father of the calibre of J. Alec Motyer. How should we respond? We should pray for the Lord to send out labourers into his harvest and to include a new generation of men of the calibre of humility and giftedness as J. Alec Motyer.
The influence of Motyer upon myself has been primarily his commentary on Isaiah which is by far the best commentary on my shelf on this most important Old Testament book. Isaiah is replete in citations in the Book of Romans and elsewhere in the New Testament, therefore a comprehensive understanding of this book is pivotal to grasping the gospel. I believe that there is also a daily devotional on Isaiah by him, which many have found most useful. While Motyer wrote other commentaries, this one on Isaiah is perhaps his life's work. I cannot commend it highly enough!
I did not know Alec Motyer personally, but I know two men who trained under him at Trinity College, Bristol and they were marked for life with a deep love for Holy Scripture. They have both served as faithful ministers of the Word of God in the church for decades. Does a love for the Scriptures also infuse your soul? This is what Geoff Thomas wrote about Motyer on the Banner of Truth website (https://banneroftruth.org/uk/resources/articles/2000/j-alec-motyer/):
Now retired as principal of Trinity College in Bristol, England, Motyer has spent his professional career studying the Bible. However, he learned to love the Scriptures at his grandmother’s knee in Ireland. “Grandma was, in worldly terms, a comparatively uneducated lady,” Motyer says, “but she was a great Bible woman. Biblical studies have simply confirmed that which I learned from Grandma – that the Bible is the Word of God – and made it a coherently held position.”
He adds, “I had a conversion experience when I was 15, but I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love the Word of God.”
Motyer loved "all of Scripture" I believe, but he was specially gifted to make the connection across Scripture. Justin Taylor (https://blogs.thegospelcoalition.org/justintaylor/2016/08/26/j-alec-motyer-1924-2016/) has commented on the life of Motyer in recent days and he makes this helpful observation:
I will always remember his answer to a question about the relationship of Old Testament Israel to the church (I can’t remember if R. C. posed it to him or someone from the audience). After saying something about the discontinuities, he insisted that we were all one people of God. Then he asked us to imagine how the Israelites under Moses would have given their “testimony” to someone who asked for it. They would have said something like this:
We were in a foreign land, in bondage, under the sentence of death. But our mediator—the one who stands between us and God—came to us with the promise of deliverance. We trusted in the promises of God, took shelter under the blood of the lamb, and he led us out. Now we are on the way to the Promised Land. We are not there yet, of course, but we have the law to guide us, and through blood sacrifice we also have his presence in our midst. So he will stay with us until we get to our true country, our everlasting home.
Then Dr. Motyer concluded: “Now think about it. A Christian today could say the same thing, almost word for word.”
It is a delight for me to give honour to a spiritual father of the calibre of J. Alec Motyer. How should we respond? We should pray for the Lord to send out labourers into his harvest and to include a new generation of men of the calibre of humility and giftedness as J. Alec Motyer.
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