In the previous section of Galatians, Paul had written about the fruit evidenced in a person’s life that embodies living led by the Spirit. The Fruit of the Spirit is often most clearly demonstrated in how we relate to those around us. In this passage, Paul describes how we should relate to those within the... Continue Reading →
Galatians – Spirit Led Life
Galatians 5:13 “You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love.” Paul up to this point in this epistle has been emphasising about living under grace. Through Christ we have freedom and now after he speaks of living in that... Continue Reading →
Galatians – An Allegory of Hagar and Sarah
Today, we conclude chapter 4 in Galatians. We have been learning that Salvation is by grace through faith. There is no other name except the name of Jesus by which we can be saved. In this passage Paul delves into the Old Testament and uses Hagar and Sarah and their respective children as an allegory... Continue Reading →
Galatians – Faith or Observance of the Law
Paul wrote to the Galatians rebuking them for falling into believing that they had to earn salvation, through the meeting of the requirements of the Jewish laws. At the end of chapter 2, Paul makes a very clear statement that Justification is by faith in Christ alone, it is not by faith in Jesus plus... Continue Reading →
Galatians – The Transformative Power of Christ
The Power of God to Change Hearts We continue our study through Galatians, last week we looked at Paul write about the false teaching perpetuating within the churches of Galatia. He cautioned that there is only one gospel and speaks of the need to be careful to not be so easily influenced and abandon the... Continue Reading →
Nabal – Recognizing our true Need
1 Samuel 25 tells us a story of an interaction between three people, David, Nabal and Abigail. The three of them respond in three different ways and we will be looking into all three. Our actions affect our outcomes and we see this clearly through this story. As we spend time in this passage of... Continue Reading →
The Book of Numbers – Boundaries
When we open our scripture passage today in Numbers 34, we get a detailed instruction of the boundaries of the land the people were to inherit and the appointed leaders who God placed to be responsible over apportioning it to each tribe. It begins with a simple instruction from God. Num 34:1-2 “The Lord said to Moses, Command... Continue Reading →
The Book of Numbers – Looking Back
Num 33:1-2 “Here are the stages in the journey of the Israelites when they came out of Egypt by divisions under the leadership of Moses and Aaron. At the Lord’s command Moses recorded the stages in their journey.” We are at the tail end of the book of Numbers, and in this chapter, we take a pause to reflect on... Continue Reading →
The Book of Numbers – Big or small God cares about it all
Numbers 27:1b “The names of the daughters of Zelophehad were Mahlah, Noah, Hoglah, Milkah and Tirzah.” These young women’s names are forever in scripture, remembered for their courage, their manner and the change they initiated. Zelophehad’s daughters did not have any brothers, their father had died in the wilderness. The people were about to enter... Continue Reading →
The Book of Numbers – The Last Men Standing
Num 26:1-2 “After the plague the Lord said to Moses and Eleazar son of Aaron, the priest, “Take a census of the whole Israelite community by families—all those twenty years old or more who are able to serve in the army of Israel.” God instructed Moses to take a second census. We looked at the first census in Numbers 1,... Continue Reading →