Last time we saw how it is possible to understand the enigma of the long apparent time in creation without having to argue with those who use only science to reach a conclusion.

This time I would like to show that there is another dimension of time that we are all used to without realising it, and it is a further help in understanding the enigma of time. I refer to dreams. [Read more…]

John’s Gospel Chapter 3 is a most important teaching – about being born again, born of the Spirit. Evangelists probably use this chapter more than any other in alerting congregants to the need of repentance and new life in Christ.

But there is a strange verse in that chapter which gets very little real attention. It is verse 8. Here it is in the RSV. “The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” [Read more…]

“You are merciful to all men, because You have power to do all things. You overlook the sins of men to the end that they might repent. For all things that exist are dear to You, and You hate nothing that You have created. Why else would You have made it? And how can anything continue in existence, had it not been Your will? How could it have endured unless You had called it into existence? You spare all things because they are Yours, our Lord and Master who loves all that lives, for Your Incorruptible Spirit is in them all. For this reason You correct offenders little by little, admonishing them and reminding them of their sins, that they may leave their evil ways and put their trust O Lord in You.  –  –  For Your strength is the source of justice, and it is because You are Master of all that You spare all. You show Your strength when men doubt the perfection of Your power; it is when they know it but remain insolent that You punish them. But with the strength at Your command You judge in mercy and rule us in great forbearance, for Your sovereignty is over all. The power is Yours whensoever You have the will.”  

From the Apocrypha, The Wisdom of Solomon, 11:23 – 12:2  &  12:16-18

For several days now the weather has been unusually warm for May in England, so much so that it has been refreshing to walk into an air conditioned store. All of a sudden you feel less tired, more lively, able to breathe again and wide awake.

This reminds me of something Peter said at Pentecost which is worth a moment’s thought. [Read more…]

The Turin Shroud is always a subject of hot debate, and being a Roman Catholic relic, is usually rejected by the evangelical church as being the actual shroud provided by Joseph of Arimathea for burying Jesus. But in 1978 a team of 30 American scientists used every available scientific test to evaluate its authenticity, and Ian Wilson’s excellent Book, The Blood and the Shroud (1998) recounts in detail what these scientists found. Here is a brief list, from which the reader may be able to make a rational judgment as to the Shroud’s origin, and the identity of the human figure imprinted on it. [Read more…]

Psalm 22 is an amazing prophecy of David, as the Lord allowed him to intertwine his own sufferings with those of our Lord a thousand years later. Of course, not everything in the Psalm related to David – that much is very evident, but nevertheless, this is often how the Prophets of old time received word from the Lord. In this way the Prophet and the Prophecy became united in life experiences. [Read more…]

We are members of His body, of His flesh and of His bones. “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” This is a great mystery, but I [emphatic] am speaking about Christ and the Church. (Eph.5:31-32)

Paul was quoting from Genesis 2:23-24.  Adam said: “This is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh; she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.” Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh. [Read more…]

The mystery of the Bride is set forth prophetically in Scripture, as follows –

1. Proverbs 8:22-25.   The Person of the Holy Spirit is here seen as Wisdom.

“The LORD possessed me at the beginning of His way, before His works of old.”  v.22

“I have been established from everlasting, from the beginning, before there was ever an earth.”  v.23

“When there were no depths I was brought forth, when there were no fountains abounding with water.
Before the mountains were settled, before the hills, I was brought forth.”  vv24-25

The Holy Spirit lived within the Father, but was “brought forth” prior to, and for the purpose of God’s acts of Creation. [Read more…]

The trouble with yesterday’s manna was that it bred worms and stank. Moses told them not to save it overnight, but of course, some did, and incurred his wrath. See Exodus 16:20.

There seems to be a spiritual lesson here. All who belong to the household of God should feed upon the living word. Jesus told the Devil in the wilderness. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”  (Matt.4:4, from Deut.8:3) [Read more…]

Today’s manna is wholesome, and good to eat. The Israelites were told to collect as much as they wanted. But those who collected little found they were as satisfied as those who gorged on it.

There could be another spiritual lesson here.  Are we measuring ourselves by others? Do we secretly envy and hanker after the life-style of those who seem to be great men of faith? This is a valueless pursuit. The parable of the talents shows us that the man who had two and gained two received the same commendation from the Lord as the man who had four and gained four. Faithfulness in what we have is all that is required. [Read more…]