Acts 8:13 “Simon himself believed and was baptised. And he followed Philip everywhere, astonished by the great signs and miracles he saw.”   Following on from our previous discussions about being deluded because we were nice people and the confusion brought about...

Luke 22:62 “And he went outside and wept bitterly.”   The reason for Peter’s tears was his failure to stand by Christ in his time of ordeal. Instead he denied Christ and his inner world crashed in on him.   This is what it means to be backslidden. It is to...

John 3:7 “You should not be surprised at my saying “you must be born again.”   The man to whom Jesus spoke these words was not an ignorant man. He had a wealth of biblical knowledge. Nor was he a bad man. He was a member of the Jewish ruling council. As such he...

John 3 v 7 Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the Kingdom of God.”   You can see by the fact that I am staying with the theme of “nice people” that I consider it to be a very important issue. That...

John 3:3 “In reply Jesus answered, “I tell you the truth, unless a man is born again, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.”   On occasions people are confused about Christianity because they have not “seen” or understood the true state of affairs concerning their...

Mark 10:20 “Teacher! He declared. “All these I have kept since I was a boy.”   One of the things that cause confusion when it comes to the matter of conversion to Christ, is the fact that some people are extremely nice people. On the surface they do not seem to...

Matthew 6:23 “If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness”   The light within you is the dynamic which constitutes your greatest value. It is that standard by which you govern your life, make your decisions, think your thoughts and shape...

Luke 5:31/32 “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.”   As in Jesus’ day so in our day there are many people who feel they are not in any special need of God or His help. Human...

2 Corinthians 5:21 “God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.”   True Christians do not merely believe in Jesus Christ. Even other religions believe that he existed and did certain extraordinary things....

Mark 8 v 24 “He looked up and said: “I see men as trees walking around.”   The story recorded in Mark 8:22-26 is most instructive for us. When Jesus touched the blind man’s eyes the first time, he was not completely healed. He needed another touch from Jesus to...

Mark 10:20 “Teacher,´ he declared, “all these I have kept since I was a boy.”   Still staying with youthful experience. I do concede that very often the early religious experiences some have, are not pleasant. Some may say: “Since I was a boy I was forced to go...

    Mark 10:20 “Teacher”, he declared” all these I have kept since I was a boy.”   Sometimes confusion reigns in people’s hearts, regarding conversion to Christ because, like this young man who came to Jesus in Mark 10, He, like many had been under good...

Mark 6:20 “When Herod heard John he was greatly puzzled, yet he liked to hear him.”   Some people are attracted to the great ideas of the Gospel, like Herod was to the teachings of John. They may construe that as being a true follower of Christ. The power of...

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realise that Christ Jesus is in you – unless, of course you will fail the test?”   Everyday people change their minds about various things. For instance you...

2 Corinthians 13:5 “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith: test yourselves”   I do not know if the following story is true nor can I remember where it came from, but it goes like this. Billy Graham, the great preacher, was in a plane when a...

Consider Christ Now Acts 16:31 “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household”.   Now read carefully. If the seven principles listed in the past days are not adhered to there really is no hope for your marriage. You can put things off...

  Consider Christ   Hebrews 2:3 “How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation.”   I have already mentioned Jesus Christ as the Saviour and forgiver of all who came to him. But I want to clarify one important issue and I will attempt to-do so...

Bad Habits Proverbs 26:11 & 12 “Like a dog that returns to its vomit is a fool who repeats his folly. Do you see a man wise in his own eyes? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” Often during a marriage one partner will do something that becomes a bad...

  Fear and Suspicion Ephesians 4 v 26 – 27 In your anger do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold. It stands to reason that fear and suspicion will destroy any relationship or any marriage. Fear can...

Respect each other Ephesians 5 v 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband No relationships can exist on this planet without respect! The moment respect is lost that relationship is lost too. It may...

Are you communicating with each other? Ephesians 4 v 29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. God has made us creatures, who not only can...

Have previous problems been resolved? Matthew 5:23, 24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave the gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then...

DO YOU WANT THIS MARRIAGE?   This is a very important question. There is no point in spending years trying to salvage a marriage that is not wanted. Often perpetual bad behaviour is one partner’s way of saying: “I don’t really want you anymore”. It may be...

  The Real loses Proverbs 15 v 17 Better is a dish of vegetables where love is, than a fattened ox and hatred with it. Some homes have everything but love.  What is the point of having all the latest conveniences when your home is full of hostility? Have you...

    UNDERLYING CAUSES II   Proverbs 11 v 29 He who brings trouble on his marriage will inherit only wind. I mentioned that there are three underlying causes for marital unhappiness but gave only two. Here is the third: It is very unlikely that any...

  UNDERLYING CAUSES  1. Proverbs 11:29 “He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind, and the fool will be servant to the wise.” When people approach me about marriage problems I invariably tell them that there are three main underlying causes for...

Bible Verse: Luke 8:16 “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under his bed. Instead he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.” When a man or woman meets Jesus and is saved, they are lit up inside. They becomes a light and a...

Bible Verse: Luke 8: 1 & 2 “After this Jesus travelled about from one town and village to another. Proclaiming the good news of the Kingdom of God. The Twelve were with him and also some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Mary (called...

Bible Verse: John 12:3 “Then Mary took about half a litre of pure nard, an expensive perfume, she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.” I quote this bible verse today in contrast to the...

Bible Verse: Luke 7:50 “Jesus said to the woman: “your faith has saved you. Go in peace”. This woman who is introduced to us in such a dramatic fashion in Luke 7:36-38 is described as having something that not everybody possesses. She has a faith that saves. Remember...