A Fresh Touch – Stephen Riddell

Isaiah 31:1 If I was to ask you this morning to tell me where the strength of the Church lies at this critical juncture in history, I wonder what you’d say?  Ah, I know what you’d like to say, you’d like to say the strength of the Church lies in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob!  However, if the Evangelical Church in Britain was to answer this question by her actions alone, I fear that it would contradict this answer entirely. They tell me, actions speak louder than words and I’m inclined to believe it.  It’s not so much what we say that counts as a pose to what we do.  I remember vividly that when my son was a baby, before ever he could speak a word of English, when he wanted the attention of his daddy and mommy he had ways and means of getting it A cry from the heart spoke a thousand word!!  Yet as I survey the Evangelical landscape of the Church this present hour; as I put my ear to the ground, I listen in vain to hear the same heartfelt cry! The first Church was birthed in prayer and the last century Church is dying through lack it!!  This sermon is a call to seek the Lord!  “There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength. An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength” (Ps. 33:16-17)

Psalm 78:23-32 I’ve had the joy over the years of tasting a number of delicious world cuisines.  Greek and Italian, Chinese and Cantonese, Indian and Himalayan, Jamaican and of course English — the flavours and the tastes are enough to make your mouth water!  Yet of all the dishes I’ve ever had the privilege of eating, there’s one dish that to date I’ve yet to try, and that’s angels’ food.  You say what!? Angels’ food!  I’ve never seen a restaurant serving that on the menu! No, and I don’t suppose you ever will.  But did you know that for 40 years straight, heavenly corn was freshly served on a daily basis to the Israelites every single morning except for on the Sabbath?  Man did eat angels’ food.  Israel had it made! You’d think so, wouldn’t you? The problem was, they didn’t quite see things that way.  Novelty wears thin quickly you know, and when it does, it inevitably gives way to familiarity which in turn breeds contempt!!   This sermon is a challenging message to the Body of Christ not to despise the Word of God.  In an hour of great spiritual famine, in that place where the true bread of heaven is being served, be content there to feed.  Don’t be like the Israelites who, through the lust of the flesh, abhorred the manna and longed again for the food of Egypt.

Luke 19:11-27 We have great need to remember that we no longer belong in this world, we are citizens of another Kingdom.  We live in an age and a generation where living is all about living for me!  My ambitions, my dreams, my desires!  We’re so taken up with self and self’s things.  Yet, when we get our hearts right, we’ll get our priorities right; and when we get our priorities right, the fruit of the Master’s basket will once again be full!! It WILL come at cost and it will also come at a loss.  Are you ready and willing to pay that price? 

1 Kings 13:1-10 As one peruses the pages of the New Testament, there stands on record a clear and visible warning to believers against the dangers of deception.  When asked by His disciples, “...what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world” (Mt. 24:3); before ever our Lord made mention of wars and rumours of wars, before ever He spoke of famines, pestilences and earthquakes in diverse places, He first gave warning against the dangers of deception.  In a day of great spiritual deception, we need more now than ever to be vigilant against the smooth infiltration of imposters into the Body of Christ.  May this sermon serve as a reminder and a warning for us to take heed.

Sermon 4 of 4  Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 14th April 2024

Sermon 3 of 4  Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 14th April 2024

Sermon 2 of 4 Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 13th April 2024

Sermon 1 of 4  Preached @ 10th Anniversary of Bethesda Shalom 13th April 2024

Ephesians 4:31-32 Relationships matter!  How I treat my fellow man has direct bearing upon my personal relationship with God.  The two are not mutually exclusive. It’s not just me, God and forget everyone else.  Yet surprisingly, this is often how many Christians think.  Husbands can verbally abuse their wives and then turn up to the throne of grace like nothing ever happened.  Brethren, it doesn’t work like that, how I treat my wife is directly related to how God treats me.  Have you not read? “Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered (1 Pt. 3:7).  My dear people, this is just one example of many.  This sermon is an exhortation to tenderness of heart; “… be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you (Eph. 4:32). 

1 Kings 17:1-5 Suddenly, without announcement or herald, one of the greatest prophets to ever have been born entered into the national arena like a thunder bolt! No record is supplied us of his birth and as to his departure from this world, he was taken up into heaven while still alive! Like Melchisedec coming before him, he was “Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life” (Heb. 7:3). Here before us in 1 Kings 17:1, the prophet Elijah hastily makes his public debut. There’s no time for airs and graces — bypassing the common man, he heads straight for the spiritual White House of Israel for an appointment with the King!!  Now you know the rules Elijah, don’t upset the king — yet the prophet of God knows no such rule, that is if he wants to live up to his calling!!  When a prophet turned up at the door of the royal palace, he wasn't usually bearing glad tidings of peace! Join us as we walk through a portrait of the life of this man of God.