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Lessons In The Valleys: The Valley Of Strength (Elah) - 1 Samuel 17 Read 1 Samuel 17:1-3. Define mountains and valleys in our lives. Some examples: The Valley of the Shadow of Death (Psalm 23), The Valley Of Trouble (Hosea 2), the Valley of Baca (Weeping, Psalm 84). Then 1 Samuel 17:16. 40 is symbolic of a time of testing. Examples: - Spies checking out the promised land. Numbers 13:25-33. - 40 years wandering in the wilderness. - Jesus’ temptation by Satan in the wilderness. - After Jesus’ resurrection, time spent showing He was alive.   Giants of Gath - Anakim: - See Numbers 13:25-33; Joshua 11:21-22; 1 Chronicles 20:4-8. If the Israelites had destroyed the Canaanites as the Lord had commanded them to do, there would never have been this battle. As the verses in this section show, Goliath and his four brothers came from one of the cities that they did not conquer by faith.   Comparison between Goliath, Saul, and David, and their strengths:   Size: Goliath – 9 ½ feet ...

  True Worship Many people in our day call attending a church service or listening to some music (for example, a Christian rock concert) as worshipping the Lord (ie. a worship service, praise and worship). While we certainly can worship the Lord through our singing (ie. praising Him and giving Him glory through song - of course, through God-honouring music!), but worship is not primarily that or limited to that. Many can go through the motions; and getting some feeling (or emotional high) through the music is not worship. Basic definitions of worship , based on the words used in the Bible: to bow down or prostrate onself in humble submission/homage; glorifying the Lord through praise, prayer, and song; to serve; to kiss or adore; to revere (to have Godly fear of the Lord); to be pious towards (ie. devoted to). Way Of Life Encyclopedia gives this definition: "To bow down; to honor; to exalt; to pay homage; to reverence." The word worship basically means to give worth to somet...

I Am The Light Of The World Darkness hides things - but Light reveals (try to find something you lost without adequate light, as soon as you have enough light, it is easy to spot). Darkness blurs things - but Light makes things apparent (such as showing the spots on a white shirt). Darkness obscures the path - but Light shows the way (imagine trying to find your way through a crowded room without a light). Darkness causes fear and oppression - but Light brings freedom and dispels fear (fears of the night are dispelled when the day comes). Darkness (lack of sunlight) can often bring bad health over time - but Light brings with it healing (pale as opposed to robust health). Genesis 1:1-4 - Light was the first thing created after God made the earth. It was the creation of the light that God declared good. Genesis 1:14-18 - The creation of the sun, moon and stars dividing/separating the light from the darkness was the fourth thing that He declared good. All through man's history, there...

Compound Names Of The Lord When you are struggling, meditate on the nine compound names (there may also be others) of Jehovah in the Old Testament and Jesus' seven I Am statements in the Gospel of John, and marvel at how the LORD meets every need you could possibly ever face. The nine compound names and their translations into English are as follows: 1)  Jehovah-Jireh,  The LORD my Provider . (Genesis 22:8, 13-14) 2)  Jehovah-Rapha,  The LORD my Healer . (Exodus 15:26) 3)  Jehovah-Nissi,  The LORD my Banner . (Exodus 17:15) 4)  Jehovah-Qadash,  The LORD thy Sanctifier . (Exodus 31:13) 5)  Jehovah-Shalom,  The LORD our Peace . (Judges 6:23-24) 6)  Jehovah-Raah,  The LORD my Shepherd . (Psalm 23:1) 7)  Jehovah-Sabaoth,  The LORD of Hosts . (Isaiah 6:3) 8)  Jehovah-Tsidkenu,  The LORD our Righteousness . (Jeremiah 23:6; 33:16) 9)  Jehovah-Shammah,  The LORD Is There (ie. Present) . (Ezekiel 48:35) The...

The Shepherd's Rod And Staff This is actually the second message on the Good Shepherd I preached in this series, but I had the notes already typed up so decided to post it first. I will post the first sermon outline as soon as I get it typed up. "Well has it been said 'without Psalm 22, there could be no Twenty-third Psalm.' While the former Psalm reveals Christ as the good Shepherd, who gives His life for the sheep, this Psalm makes Him known as the great Shepherd of the sheep, whom the God of Peace hath brought again from the dead, through the blood of the everlasting covenant (Heb 13:20). And all who deny the atoning work of Christ have no claim whatever upon the assurance and comfort of this Psalm... Much has been written devotionally on this Psalm. Hundreds of books have been published, but it has never been exhausted nor ever will be. The assurance of the first three verses belong to every believer on the Lord Jesus. He is individually the Shepherd and each child...

I Am The Bread Of Life I recently started a series on the Seven  I Ams  of Jesus found in the Gospel of John. Introduction: In this Gospel (and even in the book of Revelation), many times when Jesus made a statement beginning with " I am ...," He wasn't just declaring something about Himself, but was identifying Himself as the Lord God. The primary name for God used in the Old Testament is  LORD , which is a translation of  Jehovah , the self-existent God. When the Lord sent Moses to deliver and lead His people out of Egypt, the question of who had sent him was on Moses' heart. Notice God's reply: Exodus 3:13-15  And Moses said unto God, Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them? And God said unto Moses,  I AM THAT I AM : and he said,  Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unt...

Introduction To A Shadow Of Things To Come As much as I love working on studies and posting new things, I hardly ever seem to have the time to do indepth writing anymore - yet I am always working on new sermon outlines for my devotionals at the Gospel Mission. I normally toss the outlines once I develop them into longer studies, but often dread losing work that I put time and prayer into. I am sure I have oodles of untyped outlines in boxes and drawers that would be a blessing to others - IF I ever typed them out. As a preacher, I am blessed many times by reading sermon outlines by others, so why not have an outlet to post these "shadow outlines" here -  a shadow of things to come  (Lord willing). I use that blog title in two senses: 1. In reference to Colossians 2:17  Which are a shadow of things to come; but  the body is of Christ . All of Scripture is about the Lord Jesus Christ, and even the types and pictures found in the Old Testament, when properly studied out...

At the Gospel Mission, we finished a series on Ruth, and started a couple of weeks of messages on a Giving Thanks in preparation for our Canadian Thanksgiving (which is today, October 11th). I preached the main part of this study for the lunch devotional yesterday, and added more verses today to round out it out. Thankful For The Love Of God Love is not an emotion (though it may effect them) - love is a choice. Love is an action verb. Always seeking the best for others. John 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Romans 5:6-10  For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were...

Who I Am This study builds a little on the themes covered in these two studies: The Giver, Or The Gifts? and Blessed Contrasts In Scripture Please read these two studies for more Scripture references on some of these points below. Many before the time of Christ were waiting for the Messianic kingdom to right the wrongs in this world (grievances, violence, wrong judgment, sin - Hab 1:3-4, 13; 2:2-3). They were looking for a time (ie. an event ) when a King would rule over the earth and restore order (in fulfillment of the “vision”, ie. of the Old Testament prophecies) – Jesus directs us to Himself . Hebrews 10:38. Many of the Jews in the time of Christ were looking for a political and social Messiah. Many rejected Christ because when He came the first time, He was not here to right all the political or social wrongs, but to deal with our sins. He did not come as “King” (though He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, and will come back one day to reign), but as Saviour. Some follow...

Continue When we look through the New Testament, we find the concept of continuing in Christ and the things of God a repeating theme. It is interesting to note that there are twenty one different Greek words that are translated into English as continue (or a form thereof). Eight of these words are relevant to this study, so I wanted to take a look at them here. Webster’s 1828 Dictionary gives this definition for continue : “1. To remain in a state, or place; to abide for any time indefinitely. 2. To last; to be durable; to endure; to be permanent. 3. To persevere; to be steadfast or constant in any course.” For the purpose of this study, I will list the numbers and definitions that Strong's Concordance gives for each Greek word, followed by the main verses or passages relevant to this study that use that particular Greek word. Consider each definition as you meditate on these passages. 1) 3887 parameno - from 3844 and 3306; to stay near, i.e. remain (literally, tarry; or figura...

A Psalm Of Guidance (Psalm 25) - Part One This is the first of seven Acrostic Psalms (see also Psalms 34, 37, 111, 112, 119, and 145), where each verse (or each section of eight verses in the case of Psalm 119) begins with a different letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Psalms 25:1 A Psalm of David. Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. The Bible, especially the Old Testament, refers to various people lifting up their hands, their eyes, their voices, but here we have the Psalmist lifting up his soul to the Lord. Instead of choosing to focus on the vain things of this world (see Psalm 24:4), David resolved to focus only on the Lord. Truly, that is the secret of finding out God's will for your life – having a heart and soul focused steadfastly on the Lord. “With poetic passion, David cried out to God how that he laid his very soul before the Lord. Truly, this is fervent prayer. His heart was bared. His soul was offered up in prayer to God. God pays heed to such prayer.” (David Sorenso...