Pete's Blog

God is great at logistics, what ever he plans to do he provides the means to do it. Jonathan was Saul’s son who became a devoted friend of David, who later be a great king of Israel.  While  the Israelites were suffering from poor planning and poor logistics with no proper weapons for war, Jonathan received a vision from God which faithfully. “Jonathan said to his young armour-bearer, “Come, let’s go over to the outpost of those uncircumcised men. Perhaps the Lord will act in our behalf. Nothing can hinder the Lord from saving, whether by many or by few.” (1 Samuel 14:6 NIV) Consider Jonathan and follow his example here, when God gives you a vision step forward in faith.  If the vision is from God there will be provision of resources to carry it out. In my daily internet radio show, Daily Devotional Preaching episode 11 ,  I show how Moses was able to provide resources for 3 million people in the desert.  Whatever the vision, if it's of God, the resources...

Britain is becoming a more religious country, historian Simon Shama has said. After years being relegated to the sidelines, religion has once again become part of mainstream life, he told Radio Times. The 69 year old, whose most recent documentary was The Story of the Jews, said: "My generation grew up thinking that religion was completely marginal to British life, which, as for the rest of the world, has been proved more and more wrong. "We were arrogantly isolated from that, thinking religion was just an ornamental part of Britishness. Now look at the success of the Alpha Evangelicals, how important Christianity has been to the community of West Indians, the huge place of Islam. Britain is becoming a more religious place, not less". A few years ago I produced a short Youtube video to introduce the idea of Britain being post-Christian but I think we need to revisit this idea.

 The Bible does not teach us to ask individuals in heaven for their prayers. Why do many Catholics pray to saints in heaven and request their prayers? Catholics view these saints as "intercessors" before God. They believe that a saint, who is glorified in Heaven, has more "direct access" to God than we do. Therefore, if a saint delivers a prayer to God, it is more effective than us praying to God directly. However,  Hebrews 4:16 tells us that we, believers here on earth, can "approach the throne of grace with confidence." "For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus." (1 Timothy 2:5.  There is no one else that can mediate with God for us. If Jesus is the only mediator, that means that the saints cannot mediate our prayer requests to God. Further, the Bible tells us that Jesus Christ Himself is interceding for us before the Father: "Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him...

“Daily devotional” is a phrase used to describe having a daily time of Bible reading and instruction.  It could include reading a commentary or Bible notes or listening to a Bible reading and sermon on podcast . It's really important to spend time with God daily.  “For God, who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness,’ made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ” 2 Corinthians 4:6 ).  A wise man once said “The gospel brings man to God; daily devotions keep him close to God.” Echoing the Scripture: “Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded” (James 4:8 ).  

This week on #tgnsuk what are you "a martyr to" #martyrsyndrome and a look at a real martyr — The Good News Show (@tgnsuk) May 15, 2014 Do you know the phrase "I'm a martyr to it", it sometimes refers to bad feet or poor memory or any other ailment that's irritating.  But would you ever be a true martyr, we look a this in the Good News Internet Radio Show.

There was a large group of people who’d gathered from all over the world, from different countries. And had come to that one place in Jerusalem. There were religious leaders, there were people of great philosophical learning and they all heard the disciples of Jesus getting up and appearing to be drunk early in the morning, 9am in fact. That’s first thing. They accused the disciples of this. Of just being drunk. And Peter replied to them, ‘men of Judea and all who dwell in Jerusalem. Let this be known to you and give ear to my words. For these people are not drunk as you suppose since it is only the third hour of the day. But this is what was uttered to the prophet Joel.’ Then he went on, to quote from the prophet Joel. The prophet from our old testament and he applied this prophesy of Joel to what was happening right then. In fact, he applied it to what had happened to them that made them appear drunk. This was what he quoted: ‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,...

The Good News at its heart is a declaration that Jesus Christ is in charge, he is Lord of all.  The resurrection of Jesus was a vindication of his claims to have "all authority" and that he had a special relationship to God the Father (I and the Father are one).  Jesus's death was in obedience to God the Father and in it he accomplished his great victor over sin and death.  The Good News is that Jesus in in charge, the Good News is also that Jesus in his death has wind for us the victory over sin and death.  This latter victory means that those who recognise him as Lord and choose to follow him get to receive the blessing of eternal life that he brings.  This receiving of eternal life as a free victory gift  from Jesus is also called being "born again".  This is all so well known even Wiki gets it right, as we discussed on The Good News Show recently.  But it needs to be appropriated personally to be effective, that is, each person needs to not o...