Matthew Henry

CAN SATAN READ OUR MINDS?

(October 26, 2024) Dr Richard Winter very clearly shares a great truth…

Well… can he? Can the devil read your mind?

We all know that Satan is our adversary who seeks those whom he may devour. And I must confess that in our spiritual battles sometimes we give the devil too much credit! We so often blame him or ascribe to him power and authority that he simply does not have.

One of those areas deals with when we ask ourselves, ‘Can Satan read our minds?’ and fear creeps in. You will be happy to know the answer to this question is no, he can’t!

But… just saying ‘No, he can’t’ is not enough. We need to consider scripture to understand this topic better and be aware of the following three ploys of the devil.

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THE SADDEST VERSE IN THE BIBLE?

(July 16, 2024) Richard Winter challenges…

I believe we all can say that we are living in fascinating times — some may say interesting times, others deceptive times.

Recognition
The apostle Paul was concerned about times… dangerous, perilous times in the church before the return of Christ. He observed examples in his day — non-Christian characteristics — and wrote a warning to young Timothy about such.

‘There will be terrible times in the last days. People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God — having a form of godliness but denying its power’ (2Timothy 3:3-5a).

Paul saw such unChristian-like, self-seeking characteristics back then as a sign of living in the last days and advised ‘Have nothing to do with such people’ (v5b).

We may be looking at the same biblical scenario today! It appears such times and the same kind of  church people are even more obvious in our day!

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RED ALERTS!

(April 12, 2024) Richard Winter reflects on dangers and challenges …

See the sun come up this morning, or any signs in the sky? For example… sunshine means warmer weather – that’s a good sign.

Did you know that Jesus has an important teaching about looking for signs?

Matthew 16:1-4NKJV records: ‘Then the Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing Him asked that He would show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, “When it is evening you say, ‘It will be fair weather, for the sky is red’; and in the morning, ‘It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.’ Hypocrites! You know how to discern the face of the sky, but you cannot discern the signs of the times. A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and no sign shall be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” And He left them and departed.’ 

Red Alerts
We all know that a Red Alert –
(i)  Signifies a warning.
(ii) Indicates eminent impending danger.
(iii) Gets our attention by its very colour.
(iv) Means alarm bells will be ringing danger!

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TEMPTATIONS – THEY HAPPEN!

(February 26, 2024) Robert McQuillan challenges…

Easter eggs have been around for several weeks now! Christians will soon be really thinking of Easter celebration weekend, especially rejoicing regarding Resurrection Sunday, not eggs!

While kids, even adults, will be ‘tempted’ to enjoy Easter eggs – and will, of course – the coming season reminds Christians not only of our risen Saviour but of the temptations Judas and Peter yielded to… and for that matter others who succumbed to deserting Jesus (Matthew 26:56).

Remorse and Regret
Regarding Judas and Peter’s yielding to temptations (Judas – Matthew 26:14-16,47-50; Peter – Matthew 26:35,69-74), let’s grasp that the title above… Temptations – They Happen!… applies to all of us in various ways!

From among His closest ranks, that elite twelve, it happened that these two were tempted to wrongdoing regarding their Lord, their friend, the one who came to earth to be their Saviour. Judas deliberately, Peter rather sheepishly, lacking confidence.

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CALLINGS, CHANGES AND CHALLENGES

(January 25, 2023) Robert McQuillan shares encouragement …

As with other articles in this issue 2023 can be a time of accepting a challenge from God, whatever it may be. And if one does, it’ll involve three Cs… Callings, Changes and Challenges.

Callings – that’s between you and God. Answering them, I’ll just point out, will mean…

  • Trusting the Lord more than ever.
  • Discovering more about God.
  • Serving Jesus in new position(s) with the Holy Spirit’s anointing and power.
  • Believing for and seeing more miracles and salvations.
  • Making your mark for Christ.

As for changes and challenges, they’ll involve…

1) Convincement
John 14:1 is such a well-known scripture, and often preached on. As I’m talking about challenges and changes, some of which I’ve mentioned above and some readers might be concerned (oops, another C!), I’ll quote from the CJB (Complete Jewish Bible) – ‘Don’t let yourselves be disturbed. Trust in God and trust in me.’

Trust is pisteuo… to believe, have faith in, be persuaded, to place trust in. Read the preceding chapter and note that tension was really in the air among the first disciples! Jesus had been indicating challenges and changes that lay ahead – His betrayal, death, the depths of Peter’s commitment, and now He indicating that He will be leaving them. Doubt, distrust and uncertainty had crept in already. No wonder John 13:22 tells that the disciples were staring at one another!

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STORMS OF LIFE? JESUS CARES!

(October 24, 2020) Robert and Maureen McQuillan remind readers that Jesus truly cares…

Life is like a terrifying storm to several at this pandemic time – including some Christians!

And not just because of uncertainties regarding loss of income, delayed/postponed desperately needed operations, increased crime, unruly behaviour in our streets and beaches, lockdown, and such.

Many, including some church leaders, are concerned about the future… and seemingly unanswered prayers. We’ve had some share feelings of ‘I don’t know what I’m meant to be doing… now or in future days. Doesn’t Jesus care?’

Doesn’t Jesus care?
What an audacious, unwarranted question! Of course, he cares!

Remember the Mark 4 incident where Jesus directed his disciples to cross over the lake by boat to a different region?

Verse 37Message recounts that ‘A huge storm came up. Waves poured into the boat, threatening to sink it.’  Verse 38a appears to casually mention that in all this fury ‘Jesus was in the stern, head on a pillow, sleeping!’  Then we read that the obviously frightened disciples ‘woke him up, shouting, “Teacher, don’t you care that we’re going to drown?”’

See the bigger picture here… Jesus’ friends are accusing him of not caring! And with the storm raging around them, they would not have been gently whispering in his ear! No, this would have been a harsh, possibly screaming frantic, ‘Hey! Don’t you care?’ And no acknowledgement of his status as either Rabbi, Teacher or Friend! (more…)