Bethesda Shalom

Revelation 2:1-7 Ephesus was a city of tremendous importance and was by far the greatest city in Asia.  Commercially it was unrivalled and was the wealthiest being surpassed by very few cities of that day.  Being situated at the mouth of an important river, Ephesus commanded the trade of that region and was dubbed “The Vanity Fair of the Ancient World”.  Politically, it too was a city of great importance earning for itself the name “Supreme Metropolis of Asia”, and of course religiously, it held a place of incredible prominence being the centre of the worship of Artemis aka Diana and the temple situated in that city was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world.  To this city dared to come the Gospel of Jesus Christ!! Around the year AD 52, a Church in Ephesus was founded and a decade later, around the year AD 62, Paul wrote his epistle to this same Church.  In the passing of some three plus decades Jesus Christ now addresses this Church and though He had much good to commend them for; their labour and pa

Revelation 1:9-20 The four Gospel accounts record for us the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ.  Mention is made of His birth and great detail is given to his ministry of some 3½ years, culminating in His death, burial and resurrection.  Following His resurrection, Jesus showed Himself alive for 40 days by many infallible proofs being seen of the Apostles and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom until the time in which He was taken up to heaven. We have very little recorded in the New Testament of the words of Jesus Christ following His ascension.  However, it’s not until we come to the final book in the Bible that we have a detailed description of the risen ascended Son of God and the words spoken by Him to His Churches.  This therefore if for no other reason, makes the Book of Revelation a very unique book in the Bible.  In this teaching, we examine this first vision of John who beholds the risen, ascended Christ!      

Revelation 1:4-8 What a greeting, packed with plenty of punch and pace!!  The Apostle John, writing by the Spirit of God brings a glorious triune greeting to the Seven Churches from God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit!  Particular emphasis is laid upon the wonderful person of the Son. What titles are given Him, “the faithful witness”, “the first begotten of the dead” and “the prince of the kings of the earth”. In this teaching, we expound these beautiful titles before turning to the doxology given by John.  In every which way, there is no escaping it, this teaching brings to light the very glory and the honour of our blessed Saviour, the Lord of lords and the King of kings!!

Revelation 1:1-3 In this first teaching part, we set the scene by giving an introduction.  In an age where so many have closed this book of Revelation and dismissed it as irrelevant and too hard to understand; it is with the utmost privilege that we embark on this journey, studying, and teaching through this amazing book.  For what reason was this Revelation given by God?  “…to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to pass” (Rev. 1:1).  For the one willing to read, hear and obey the words of this prophecy, there is the assurance of a promised blessing!!  May God help us to remain faithful to His Word!

Acts 16:13-34 Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown in prison. Even at the midnight hour they are praying and singing praises to the LORD, when SUDDENLY the LORD comes and shakes the prison with an earthquake! Don’t be absent when you ought to be expecting. Don’t be playing when you ought to be praying. Don’t be sighing when you ought to be singing. And don’t be silent when you ought to be speaking. Get ready for GOD to come SUDDENLY! You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

James 1:5-8 Faith that does not waiver has at least 5 characteristics for sure, F-A-I-T-H. F-FOCUS on the faithfulness of GOD. Let us fix our eyes on JESUS! A-ACTIVE OBEDIENCE. Faith without works/obedience is dead! I-INTIMACY with GOD. Do you know HIM or just know about HIM? T-TENACITY. Faith that will not waiver is tenacious in prayer! H-HEARING. Without the WORD of GOD all we have is presumption. But standing on the promises of God we shall not waiver! You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

Acts 27 You are called to be God’s provision to others in the storm. We are called to STAND, SERVE, SPEAK, and SUPPLICATE in the midst of the storm! The apostle Paul did just that, and 276 shipwrecked prisoners were saved from perishing. We are called to do the same in the coming storm! You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

John 12:20-33 The prayer for every occasion is, FATHER GLORIFY THY NAME! Here is a prayer we should always pray. GOD has answered this prayer and will answer it again. This is a call to not only pray the prayer, but to follow JESUS the way of the cross so that HE can answer the prayer in you! The way of the cross is the way of love! Love never seeks its own and without love we are just sounding brass and tinkling cymbals! You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

Isaiah 42:3 A message on personal revival and restoration. The LORD longs to breathe upon the smoking flax, fanning it into flame! But, this requires absolute surrender! Or maybe you are a bruised reed? The LORD is close to the broken hearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. The LORD is moved with compassion for HIS people and will restore us. But, we must get honest, repent of all sin, and resolve to trust the LORD come what may. You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

2 Chronicles 7:14 There’s no two ways about it, the annals of history bear conclusive testimony to the fact that no revival has first come without there first being a concerted effort by God’s people in prayer!  Humility and prayer go hand in hand like bread and butter.  The proud man does not pray and will not pray; why?  He genuinely senses no need for God in his life!  Yet, before God sends a revival, He burdens His people and sets them a-praying!!  Yet; if God’s people are going to seek His face in prayer for a heaven-sent revival out of a God-given burden, then they must be willing to get serious with God in the area of personal holiness!!  No more compromise!! The door of sin in our lives must be shut!!!  Will we not believe God in our day for a revival?  It’s time to seek the Lord Brethren, until He comes again to visit His people.  Away with unbelief, the call goes out for all true believers to unite together in prayer to the purposed end that God might send again revival into our midst!

Ezekiel 37:1-10 The days are dark and the hour is critical. Is it too late for revival? When all hope is gone, and we are brought to the end of ourselves, face to face with impossibility, GOD so often shows up in awesome power! The LORD looks for a man of faith upon whom HE can place HIS hand. Here is a call to return to the old paths of prophetic preaching and earnest prayer. May GOD breathe upon HIS people once again in a mighty revival of the preaching of the WORD of the LORD, and the moving of the SPIRIT of the LORD! But, how long before we BELIEVE the LORD to do such a work? You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

Acts 2:37-47 There are five key distinctives/characteristics that authenticate true revival; #1, conviction of sin; #2, repentance from sin; #3, confession of sin; #4, restoration on account of sin; and #5, the conversion of sinners.  Note that each of these characteristics of true revival deals a deathly blow to sin!!  There’s no escaping this biblically or historically.  Any revival that supposes itself to be such where sin is not the focus of the Spirit’s dealings in returning a people back to the Lordship, authority and worship of God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son is NOT revival!! In part two of this two-part sermon, we address the final three key distinctives; confession of sin, restoration on account of sin and the conversion of sinners. 

Acts 2:37-47 There are five key distinctives/characteristics that authenticate true revival; #1, conviction of sin; #2, repentance from sin; #3, confession of sin; #4, restoration owing to sin; and #5, the conversion of sinners.  Note that each of these characteristics of true revival deals a deathly blow to sin!!  There’s no escaping this biblically or historically.  Any revival that supposes itself to be such where sin is not the focus of the Spirit’s dealings in returning a people back to the Lordship, authority and worship of God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son is NOT revival!! In part one of this two-part sermon, we address the first two key distinctives; conviction of sin and repentance from sin. 

1 Peter 1:13-16 We are in desperate need of a revival of true holiness! Its high time the people of GOD obey this commandment from the LORD, “BE YE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY!” How? Brother Brian shares and acrostic that the LORD had recently given him H-O-L-Y. H-Hunger, O-Obedience, L-Looking unto JESUS, and Y-Yielding to the HOLY SPIRIT! You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

Psalm 85:1-7 We are living in a dry and thirsty land!  A land which once flowed with milk and honey is now a barren wasteland.  An unthinkable thing has taken place in the assemblies of Laodicea, the Lord of glory is outside His own Church, knocking to come back in!!  A cry goes forth “The Philistines be upon thee…” and a Church waking out of its sleep arises to go out as at other times, not knowing that the LORD has departed!!  By what means shall the Church recover itself in this our day? Without hesitation I tell you; there’s only one hope for this backslidden nation and the dying Church that lingers within it?   REVIVAL!!

Romans 13:11-12 This is a clarion call for the Church of JESUS CHRIST to awake out of spiritual slumber! Why? Because it is OUR TIME, it is WAR TIME, and it is time to WORK while it is still day. The primary work and the primary weapon is……PRAYER! There is a strong call for the people of God to give themselves to prayer in this message. You can listen to more of Brian’s sermons here: https://brianlongpreaching.com/

Psalm 20 Well, we could sum up, in just seven words, the weight of so many of our self-inflicted ills; “...ye have not, because ye ask not”. (Jms. 4:2).  We find ourselves living in an age of tremendous prosperity; of comfort and ease; a season where it appears that in the Western world no one lacks for anything.  Outwardly; materially, we are filthy rich, yet inwardly; spiritually, we are poverty stricken!  Such is the temptation to find our comfort and take our ease in this world.  Where is our confidence truly found?  Is it found in God or in our material surroundings? This sermon is a heartfelt call for the people of God to sense again their pressing need for God in everything and to cry out to the only one who can sustain His people in this critical hour.  Oh, that we might discover again the secret place of prayer!

Part 24 – What Is Church Leadership? Mention the words church leadership today and you’re bound to be greeted with a mixture of different responses ranging from the pessimistic, to the mundane, to the optimistic.  Sadly, it is not without good reason that church leadership has gotten a bad rap over the last few decades.  What is one to say when secular news outlets expose nationally the money racketing scams of some of the wealthiest Evangelical pastors in the US?  When I say wealthy, how much are we talking about; hundreds; thousands; hundreds of thousands?  How about tens of millions and in the case of one pastor by the name of Kenneth Copeland, a self-confessed billionaire!  The world and indeed many outside the Mega-Church scene, look on in horror at this catastrophe of justice and cry out, how can a minister/servant of God, appointed by God to serve the people in Christ’s stead, profit off them to the tune of millions of dollars?  Naturally, this is a scandal and an outrage!!  Then there is the growing e

Part 23 – What Is Church? We are living at a time in history where it seems that anything that is of long standing tradition is being called into question.  Renewed calls go forth on every side, calling for change.  Out with the old and in with the new is the resounding voice of this post-modern generation.  Whether it’s marriage; the family home; politics or education; that which once served our forefathers well for centuries and in some cases, from the dawn of time, is being re-examined in light of the new-fangled philosophies being offered by the so-called experts.  Sadly, as one looks to the Church, it too follows suit with this itching craving for that which is new.  In a period where Church attendance in the West is in decline and atheism and secularism is on the rise, fighting for its “perceived” survival, the Church believes that unless it becomes relevant to this “youth” driven generation, then it will disappear from society and die of old age (literally).  In an effort to try and retain the young pe

Psalm 27:13-14 There’s a testimony to be had in the midst of trial and sufferings that attests wholeheartedly to the faithfulness of a God who honours His Word!!  “...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me. (Heb. 13:5-6).  This is the testimony of David, you can’t argue with it!!  But for some of us perhaps, if we’re being perfectly honest with ourselves and more importantly, if we’re being honest before God, we have to confess that this is not our present testimony.  We cannot confidently say as the writer of Hebrews; “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear…”  The plain truth of the matter is that we are fearful and do not know in our current experience, the authenticity of David’s testimony and on account of this, instead of these words bringing peace and comfort to your soul, the words of the Psalmist are a source of agitation to you.  The great challenge for the Christian in the midst of a