When you have read this article you will know the answers to these questions:

1. Why should I pray?
2. What should I pray about?
3. What can I learn from the prayers of Jesus?
4. When, where and how should I pray?
5. Will prayer truly help me?

1. WHY SHOULD I PRAY?

Jesus said his followers “ought always to pray and not lose heart” (Luke 18:1). Why? Because the outcome of praying, for a believer, is powerful and life-changing. The Apostle Paul said “do not be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer … let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). Think of that. No anxiety! Peace of mind! How many people do you know who enjoy such blessings? Yet, by prayer, they can be yours.

God wants to help us in every aspect of our lives. He “so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life” (John3:16). How could such a loving Father not want to hear the prayers of those who believe? Impossible! However, we “must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).

One thing is certain in this life. We are dying. If we want to live forever, as God promises we can, we must confess that we need him. We cannot save ourselves. Prayer is a very important way of showing we believe this truth. All of us experience difficulties. We have many problems and we want to know the meaning of life. We need to pray for many reasons.

2. WHAT SHOULD I PRAY ABOUT?

Can we pray for and get everything we want? After all, Jesus said “Ask, and it will be given to you” (Matthew 7:7). John also said “whatever we ask we receive from him” (1 John 3:22).

However, good Bible students always read carefully. In Matthew 6:32-33 Jesus tells us that we must accept God as our heavenly Father. Also, we are told that we must seek first his kingdom and his righteousness. So, what we ask for in prayer must be guided by godly principles.

John agrees. He said “whatever we ask we receive from him, because we keep his commandments and do what pleases him” (1 John 3:22). Acceptable prayer has important pre-conditions! The first golden prayer rule must be to ask “according to his will” (1 John 5:14). Then we shall “have the requests that we have asked of him”.

If we are willing to bend our own will to God’s will, he will hear us. Jesus, our great example in all things, made God’s will his own. He said “I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me” (John 5:30).

If, in your prayers, you seek your own desires, then “You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly” (James 4:3). There are right and wrong things to seek in prayer.

Having the Godly principle of asking “according ton his will” in your mind, you can confidently ask for:

• God’s kingdom to come on earth (Matthew 6:10)
• An earth filled with peace when Jesus comes (Zechariah 9:10)
• Eternal life for faithful believers when Jesus comes to raise the dead (John 6:40)
• The spiritual health of others (Ephesians 6:18)

God will grant these prayers because it is his plan to achieve these goals.

Is it right to pray about our human concerns when we don’t know what God’s will is on a particular matter? Yes, it is. Such prayers may be about other people or may be about ourselves. You will have experienced difficulties with at least some of these: poor health, career choices, personal relationships, unemployment, family life, issues at work, physical or mental problems.

So what should you ask for in such matters? You know what you would like, but is that the will of God? Should you accept the offer of a better job if it means seeing less of your family? If you are single, should you pray for a husband or wife? Should you pray that your daughter does not marry the man she loves because you don’t think he is good for her? Problems, problems!

Recognise that there may be a difference between your own deepest desires, and what is best for you spiritually. You only know part of the story; God knows all of it. In the end you must trust God’s way. The second golden prayer rule must be ‘God knows best‘.

Jesus lived by that rule. He did not want to die by crucifixion. He prayed “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup (of death) pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will … My Father, if this cannot  pass unless I drink it, your will be done” (Matthew 26:39-42).

When we are not sure what the will of God is for us, our perfect prayer will always be, “Your will be done”. This is not easy. Humanly speaking, we want our longings to be satisfied, for our will to be done. Only by growing in the ways of God shall we be able to accept that our will may not always be done. God knows best.

It is good to pray about practical problems and to confess our need of God’s help. God knows our needs, but invites us to share them with him (Matthew 6:8). His answer to our prayer may be ‘yes’, or ‘no’. or ‘yes, but not yet’. Spiritually, we must be willing to accept God’s answer. Just trust him!

3. WHAT CAN I LEARN FROM THE PRAYERS OF JESUS?

A great deal! He gives us a wonderful pattern prayer, and tells us in Matthew 6:9-13):

• God is holy, and we must take him seriously in our lives (v9);
• The kingdom of God is coming on earth (with Jesus as king). Notice that Jesus begins and ends his prayer desiring this kingdom (vv10,13);
• We should ask only for what we need to sustain us (our daily bread), not for self indulgent wants (v11);
• God will only forgive us our sins, as we forgive others (v12);
• God will not abandon us when we are tempted (v13);
• We can ask for deliverance from evil (v13).

4. WHEN, WHERE AND HOW SHOULD I PRAY?

When? Whenever you feel you want to pray. Don’t just pray when you are desperate. Make God and prayer a regular part of your thinking and daily life. You must want to pray, and intend to do so. To pray at set times of the day can be helpful. Just make sure it does not become a casual routine. Two great servants of God each prayed three times a day: David (Psalm 55:17) and Daniel (Daniel 6:10). If God is often in our thoughts, there will be many times in the day when we want to pray.

Where? Anywhere and everywhere! Standing, sitting, lying down, on our knees, walking or travelling. It is never the wrong time or place to pray, not if we are serious about our prayers.

How? We are all different, but you may find some of these ideas helpful:

• Praying out loud can help you focus better. Sometimes you will develop your thoughts more clearly.
• Pray when you are alert. It will stop your thoughts drifting.
• It can be a good idea to have a prayer list with you. A list will remind you of important issues and people for whom you want to pray.
• Praying with others, as the Apostle Paul did, can be very helpful (Acts 20:36;21:5).

Two other comments: praise is an important part of prayer (Psalm 150), and still pray when you don’t feel like it! That is when you need to pray most.

5. WILL PRAYING TRULY HELP ME?

Yes it will. It helped Jesus. He sometimes spent all night in prayer. His advice to his disciples was “watch and pray” (Matthew 26:41). We are all sinners and fall short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). But, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins” (John 1:9).

A strong prayer life is an important part of us being true children of God. If we are such, God will bless us with everlasting life when Jesus comes. What greater hope can you have for the future? Watch and pray.

All Bible quotations are taken from the English Standard version (ESV) unless otherwise stated.

If you missed this presentation on Sunday 27th July see below for links to watch one or more of these presentations online.

Also at:

Wakefield House Community Centre, 65 Acre Ave, Morphett Vale at 6:00 pm

Johnstone Park Combined Club Rooms, Johnstone Park, Adelaide Rd at 2:00 pm

Some of these venues have video recordings available use one or more of the links below:

Aberfoyle Park Link; https://www.youtube.com/@aberfoyleparkchristadelphi1518/featured

Warradale; Link; https://www.youtube.com/@brightonecclesia8406/streams

Colonel Light Gardens; Link https://www.youtube.com/@CumberlandEcclesia/streams

Clearview; Link https://biblediscoverychannel.com/live-viewer/

Oakden; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrp_ne1D4VeJCW5bB_i-Hw

Henley Beach; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwRTywBeNt_ZjWZ8jZnW61A

When you have read this article you will know the answers to these questions:

1. The nature of fellowship in the family of God.
2. What fellowship means in our daily lives.
3. How we should care for other people

What is fellowship?

A dictionary tells us that the word ‘fellowship’ means ‘sharing together’. It describes a group of people who come together because they have a common interest. It is an important word in the Bible and is used to describe the way disciples join together when they believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. They become part of a new spiritual family and so call each other brother or sister.

Fellowship in the New Testament

When the apostles preached the gospel, after the resurrection of Jesus, many people were baptized and we read about their new lives in Acts chapter 2.

“So those who received his word were baptized … And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.” (Acts 2:1-42).

The order of words here is important First of all people were baptized into the saving name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Then they listened carefully to the teaching of the apostles and part of what they learned was that they now had a new relationship together. They met together in groups as brothers and sisters in a new family, the family of God — this was their fellowship. They met regularly, in worship, to share bread and wine in remembrance of Jesus as he had commanded them and they prayed together. This idea of living and worshipping ‘together’ is a key part of fellowship.

Joining a new family

This principle of being part of a new family is there in the name ‘Christadelphian’. It means ‘brothers in Christ’ and it is taken from the opening words of the Letter to the Colossians.

‘Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ atv Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.” (Colossians 1:1-2)

When new members join disciples of Jesus, after their baptism, they are welcomed with a formal handshake which the Bible calls “the right hand of fellowship”. We use this handshake to show our welcome of a new brother or sister into the group of people who are in fellowship with other disciples because they share the same beliefs in Jesus as their saviour and in the coming Kingdom of God. In this way they are received into a spiritual family of brothers and sisters becoming part of a family which has the Lord Jesus Christ as its head.

We also learn that the converts “devoted” themselves to this fellowship. It was so important to them that it became the centre of their lives.

In the New Testament, true disciples of Jesus who live in this way are called ‘the ecclesia of God’ (Acts 20:28). ‘Ecclesia’ is a Greek word and in the English Bible it is translated as ‘church’. It means ‘those called out’. True disciples have been called out of their former lives to belong to God’s family and to have fellowship with Him and with each other.

We have to make a choice, we cannot have fellowship (share our lives) with the world and pretend to have fellowship with God and His Son. When we are baptized our standards should become quite different to those of unbelievers. The things which become important to us will not be important to them and we will be unable to have fellowship with them. However we shall find that we do have things in common with our new brethren and sisters because we share an interest in the Bible and share a common belief in the Gospel with them. This will help us to build new relationships and have fellowship with them.

It is very important to understand that all fellowship, including our relationships with each other, is based on a believer’s relationship with God.

“That which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” (1 John 1:3)

Fellowship in our everyday lives

Fellowship is a way of life. It does not mean just sharing worship together on Sundays and forgetting about each other on weekdays. In our natural families we love and care for each other, supporting our brothers and sisters and enjoying their company. It is the same in our new spiritual family. Jesus left a very important commandment with his disciples before he went to the cross. He said: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

Just as we care for our natural brothers and sisters and love them, baptized people are commanded to love and care for their brothers and sisters in Christ.  They share the joy and happiness of knowing that they belong together in God’s family.

Fellowship therefore involves loving and caring for each other. It means spending time with each other, reading the Bible together and sharing its message. It means trusting each other so that we can seek help when we have problems.

Fellowship is hard work. We have to learn to be part of a new family — and not only to live with them but to love and care for people who may have been strangers to us before our baptism. We are brought together by God so that we can help each other in our discipleship. We should trust our brothers and sisters with our feelings and thoughts. We should open up our hearts to them even though that will make us very vulnerable to them. If they let us down or reject us we may feel hurt and angry with them because we trusted them and we feel that they failed us. When we remember that God forgives us the many times when we fail Him then it will help us to forgive our brothers and sisters.

Sometimes we may find it especially difficult to agree with a particular brother or sister. Our natural instinct is to walk away, to have nothing to do with him or her and only to mix with those who are our ‘friends’. This is wrong, we must remember that we are given to each other by God and that living in fellowship with every brother and sister is part of the way God develops our characters. We have to learn to be tolerant, to accept others and their points of view as brothers and sisters in Christ. God has called us to live and work together in this way. He chose each one of us; we are all precious to him.

Living in Isolation

There are people who believe and have been baptized but who do not have other brothers and sisters living near them with whom they can have regular fellowship. However, because they are members of God’s family, they are never really alone because they share the things of their new life with God and His Son and they will feel the presence of the Lord Jesus in their lives.

There are some practical things which will help believers who live isolated lives like this.

It is important both to pray and to read the Bible every day, even if this is done alone. Every Sunday, preferably at the same time each week, they should carefully set out the bread and wine to break bread and drink wine in remembrance of the Lord Jesus. If it is difficult to do this on Sunday then another day of the week can be chosen.

Brothers and sisters in their own country and overseas will not forget their isolated brothers and sisters but will write to them and try to visit them

They can receive letters and Bible teaching from other brothers and sisters to help them remember that even though they are isolated from them, they are still part of God’s special family.

When you have read this article you will know the answers to these questions:

1. What is the religious background of the Christadelphians?
2. What do Christadelphians believe?
3. How can I get the most out of my own Bible study?

1. Who are the Christadelphians?

The name ‘Christadelphian’ was chosen because it describes the relationship between Jesus and his disciples.

The New Testament was written in Greek. ‘Christadelphian’ is made up of two Greek words, adelphos and Christos, and means ‘Brother in Christ’. This phrase is found in the Bible, in Colossians 1:2.

John Thomas, a 19th century preacher decided on the name ‘Christadelphian’. He travelled widely in both the USA and Britain, preaching the gospel. His clear understanding and explanation of the Bible message led to others being convinced that he preached the truth. They were baptized into Christ and became members of the Christadelphian community, meeting together in worship. At first, they were to be found mainly in the USA and Britain, but there are now Christadelphian communities on every continent. It has truly become a worldwide fellowship.

The really distinctive feature of the Christadelphians is that they trust in the Bible as their only source of beliefs and authority. All the words in both the Old and the New Testaments, are inspired by God and are given to men and women for their salvation. As a result of this emphasis, Christadelphian beliefs are identical to those taught by Jesus and the apostles in the first century.

Christadelphians read the Bible every day. Using a plan, they read the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice, every year. One of the many benefits of this is that every day they can personally check their beliefs against the authority of Scripture. This plan is available, free, on request.

2. What do Christadelphians believe?

Christadelphians ask you to compare their beliefs with Bible teaching. You will benefit most if you take the time to look up and read the Bible passages given. Because Jesus was “The Truth”, his own words are quoted below, as often as space permits.

• God is the eternal Creator of the universe. He created life on earth, and made man in His own image (Genesis 1:1,27; Acts 17:24-28).
• The Bible is the wholly inspired Word of God (2 Peter 1:20,21; 2 Timothy 3:14-17).
• Angels are immortal beings who carry out God’s will (Hebrews 1:13,14).
• God’s plan is to fill the whole earth with His glory (Numbers 14:21; Habakkuk 2:14).
• Man (Adam) was given a choice by God. He could obey God, and live, or disobey Him and die. Adam sinned by disobeying God. He was sentenced to death (Genesis 3:17-19).
• We are all descended from Adam. Because he sinned, and died, all men and women have been born mortal. However, we “all have sinned”, and we deserve to die on our own account (Romans 3:23; 5:12; 6:23).
• Like Adam, we are all responsible for our own actions. If we were not, a fair-minded God could not call our wrong actions ‘sin’. We cannot blame a supernatural devil. “Each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed” (James 1:14-16). Jesus said, “Out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, fornications …” (Matthew 15:19).
• God was, and still is, the Father of Jesus Christ. God used His Holy Spirit so that Mary “conceived in her womb”, Jesus was, therefore, both Son of God, and Son of man (Luke 1:30-35).
• Jesus is not equal with God. He said, “My Father is greater than I” (John 14:28). and “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, and to my God and your God” (John 20:17).
• The Holy Spirit is God’s power, to use as He chooses (Genesis 1:2; Isaiah 61:1). It is not a separate person.
• Jesus could have sinned, but he did not. He “put away sin by the sacrifice of himself … so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for him, he will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation” (Hebrews 9:26-28).
• Because of his perfect obedience to the will of God, Jesus was raised from the dead. He was given everlasting life. He said, “Ought not the Christ to have suffered these things and to enter into his glory?” (Luke 24:26).
• Jesus, after his resurrection, still had a body. He said to Thomas, one of the 12 apostles, “Reach your hand here, and put it into my side” (John 20:27).
• If we are found faithful, and granted immortality, Jesus will “transform our lowly body that it may be conformed to his glorious body” (Philippians 3:21).
• After his resurrection, Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:11). He now acts as our Lord and mediator (1 Timothy 2:5).
• Jesus was victorious over sin and death. By God’s grace, all who believe and faithfully follow him will receive the blessing of everlasting life (John 3:16; 1 Corinthians 15:22; 1 Peter 5:4).
• The blessing of everlasting life will be given at the judgement. This will take place after Jesus returns and raises the responsible dead. Jesus said, “All who are in the graves will hear his voice, and come forth–those who have done good, to the resurrection of life” (John 5:28,29).
• Jesus tells us many times that he will return to the earth. “The Son of man will come in the glory of his Father, with his angels, and then he will reward each according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). Note the order of events: (a) Jesus returns; (b) he raises the dead; (c) the judgement takes place; and (d) he gives everlasting life to his faithful followers.
• When Jesus comes, he will be “Lord of lords and King of kings” (Revelation 17:14). Kings will bow before him (Psalm 72). The Bible calls this time ‘The Kingdom of God’. The faithful believers, made immortal saints, will help Jesus. He promised that his twelve apostles would “sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel” (Matthew 19:28).
• Men and women must acknowledge that they are sinners. They must believe the Gospel, repent and be baptized. Jesus said, “He who believes and is baptized will be saved” (Mark 16:16).
• Jesus told his disciples, “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15). We must follow his example of obedience to God and practical service, and remember him by breaking bread and drinking wine regularly, “till he comes” (1 Corinthians 11:23-26).
• Finally, we must remember that God chose to reveal His character to the Jewish nation. He made promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and David and to the nation of Israel. Many of these promises will be fulfilled when Jesus returns to the earth. Watch Israel! (Genesis 12:2,3; 13:14-17; 2 Samuel 7:12-16; Jeremiah 23:5-8; Ezekiel 36:22-24; 37:21,22).

3. What advice can you give me, to help me get the most out of my own Bible study?

There are some simple but very important rules for Bible study: (a) pray before you read; (b) look carefully at the exact words you are studying; (c) examine the context–what is being said before and after your passage? (d) look at similar words, phrases and situations in other parts of the Bible; compare and contrast them; (e) think about them all–often!

Important Bible teachings are always mentioned many times. The return of Jesus, resurrection, judgement, everlasting life for Christ’s faithful followers, and the Kingdom of God on earth must be true: they are all taught in so many different places.

Use this article, with your Bible, to test all your beliefs. If they cannot stand careful examination, give them up. Faithfully following God’s word leads to eternal life. It is God’s greatest gift to mankind. “Give me understanding that I may learn thy commandments” (Psalm 119:73).

When you have read this article you will know the answers to these questions:

1. What part does man play in causing suffering?
2. Why does God allow natural disasters?
3. Why do so many people suffer so much?
4. Does suffering have any value?
5. Will suffering ever end?

At the outset, we need to realise that God loves the world with an everlasting love: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16).

Salvation has come to mankind through the suffering of Jesus Christ. In him, God is redeeming the world to Himself.

1. WHAT PART DOES MAN PLAY IN CAUSING SUFFERING?

God has given everyone the opportunity to choose between right and wrong, good and evil. He has promised everlasting life to those who choose to follow His way. Sadly, man often makes the wrong choice. God’s principle of love is ignored.

Down the centuries, millions have died in countless wars. Wars start because of man’s pride and lust for power (James 4:1-3). God is not to blame.

Hunger, too, has brought suffering to millions. Yet men selfishly store food in one country, while people starve in another. Men are responsible for these actions, not God.

Illegal “hard” drugs are sweeping the world, with terrible consequences for millions. Money rules. The Bible says “the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil” (1 Timothy 6:10). Greedy men are at fault.

As in the days of Noah, we live in a violent age. Old ladies are attacked, young children are abused, prisoners are tortured. We must acknowledge that man plays a big part in causing suffering.

2. WHY DOES GOD ALLOW DISASTERS?

The power in nature is awesome. We cannot experience an earthquake, a volcanic  eruption, a raging sea or a hurricane without feeling helpless.

Yet many accidents, called “acts of God”, could be avoided. For example, why do wealthy people choose to live in earthquake zones?

The “unsinkable” ship, the Titanic, struck an iceberg. Hundreds of passengers drowned. It was tragic, but surely we cannot expect God to move icebergs out of the way?

We live in a world of cause and effect. We know that we can drown in water or get burned in a fire. The universe is governed by natural laws. When these laws are challenged, we shall not always escape. If God kept changing His natural laws to protect us from ourselves, how would that encourage responsible behaviour?

However there are disasters which man cannot foresee, like lack of rainfall. God is the Master of the Universe, not man (Job 38:1-4). We shall not, in this present age, fully understand God’s mind. But, we are all part of a common humanity. Just as God “sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:45), so also natural disasters afflict the innocent and guilty alike. If God’s servants were always specially protected, people would come to Him for the wrong reasons. God’s power is great and we are weak. He does not give us a guarantee of security in this life. That should encourage us to listen to His message of salvation, given in the Bible.

3. WHY DO SO MANY SUFFER SO MUCH?

Why is there so much pain in the world? Why are children born blind or deformed? Jesus made clear it was not always as a result of personal sin (John 9:1-3).

It is easy to assume that suffering is always evil. However, a universal principle is at work. The Bible teaches that suffering, in itself, is not evil. It is the outworking of a much deeper problem: suffering is the result of sin (the breaking of God’s law). “Through one man (Adam) sin entered the world, and death through sin, and thus death spread to all men, because all sinned” (Romans 5:12).

The perfect harmony between God and man had been broken. Mankind has been paying a heavy price ever since. Sin and death are the real problems of man. They help, in part, to explain the problem of suffering.

When Adam sinned, death became universal. There are no exceptions to it. There has only been one man who never sinned: Jesus Christ, the Son of God. God raised him from the dead.

But why did God allow Jesus to suffer and die? Jesus, the best of men, did not deserve to die. The answer to this question is at the very heart of the problem of suffering.

God allowed Jesus to die, to save you and me. Because man had fallen from God, he had to be re-united with God through the life of a sinless man. The victory of Jesus over sin made everlasting life possible for all who seek forgiveness for their sins, and who keep God’s commandments. The suffering of Jesus in obedience to God was the price of our redemption. Jesus, himself, “learned obedience by the things which he suffered” (Hebrews 5:8).

God also suffered as He watched Jesus die on the cross. If God and Jesus both suffered, and yet were innocent, we should learn two things:

1. mankind should not expect to escape suffering
2. suffering is not just something bad: it also has to do with victory over sin, and God’s gift of everlasting life.

When innocent people died after a tower collapse, Jesus said, “do you think that they were worse sinners than all other men who dwelt in Jerusalem? I tell you, no, but unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:4,5). Dying without God is worse than suffering,

The important thing is not living a long life, free from suffering. It is about following God’s way, even if it means suffering, so that we do not perish eternally.

4. DOES SUFFERING HAVE ANY VALUE?

Yes, it certainly does. The suffering of Jesus had value, “God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that … we should live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9,10). We are more likely to grow spiritually when life is hard than when it is easy.

Our faith in God and acceptance of suffering can lead us to everlasting life and eternal fellowship with Him. That is the ultimate reality in life. So, God chastens us “for our profit, that we may be partakers of his holiness. Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but grevious; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:10,11). Like Job, we must forsake pride, and understand that God is our only refuge (Job 42:1-6).

Rather than blame God for the suffering in a world which is not yet perfect, we should thank God that He has given us a way of escape.

5. WILL SUFFERING EVER END?

Yes, suffering will end. God is the architect of the universe. He has a masterplan for mankind. God plans to cleanse the earth of sickness and sorrow, sin and suffering, disease and death. He will send Jesus back to the earth to “make all things new” (Revelation 21″3-5). God plans to fill the earth with His glory.

The Apostle Paul said that “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us”(Romans 8:18). An understanding of suffering can help you towards God’s kingdom, if you give your life now to God.

Truly, “if we endure, we shall also reign with him{ (2 Timothy 2:12). Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

 

When you have read this article you will know the answers to the following questions:

• Why is it so important to have an understanding of what demons and spirits are?
• Why did Jesus speak to demons and spirits?
• How will our understanding about demons influence our behaviour as disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ?

This leaflet deals with the subject of ‘demons’ (or ‘devils’ as they are called in some Bible Versions). It does not teach about The Devil or Satan, this topic is dealt with in the article ‘Basic Bible Truths – The Devil, Who or What is it?’

Old Testament teaching about demons and spirits.

We first read about demons in Leviticus 17 in the Old Testament. We find that the Children of Israel were told by God that they must not worship the gods of the surrounding nations.

These peoples were superstitious and they worshipped different gods whom they thought influenced their lives in many ways. They worshipped them because they thought their gods could make their women fertile, they worshipped them for good harvests and for other reasons. But these gods were idols made from wood and carved into the shapes of animals and, in particular, the shape of a goat. The Hebrew word for demon or devil simply means a hairy animal and is translated many times as ‘kid’ or ‘goat’. Worship of these was abhorrent to the Lord God and so He condemned it.

“So they shall no more sacrifice their sacrifices to goat demons, after whom they whore. This shall be a statute forever for them throughout their generations.” (Leviticus 17:7).

Their worship of strange gods or demons and their immoral behaviour provoked the only true God to anger against them.

“They stirred him to jealousy with strange gods; with abominations they provoked him to anger. They sacrificed to demons that were no gods, to gods they had never known, to new gods that had come recently, whom your fathers had never dreaded.” (Deuteronomy 32:16-17)

Jeremiah the prophet wrote about these idols and mocked them. He showed that these things could not influence the lives of people in any way, only the Lord God of Israel, the one true God could do this.

“… the customs of the people are vanity. A tree from the forest is cut down and worked with an axe by the hands of a craftsman. They decorate it with silver and gold; they fasten it with hammer and nails so that it cannot move. Their idols are like scarecrows in a cucumber field, and they cannot speak; they have to be carried, for they cannot walk. Do not be afraid of them, for they cannot do evil, neither is it in them to do good. There is none like you, LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might.? (Jeremiah 10:3-6)

We see from the Old Testament that demons did not exist. They were merely carved idols, false gods made and worshipped by foolish men.

Demons in the New Testament.

Jesus came from a part of Israel called Galilee and the people who lived there were very superstitious. In New Testament times they recognised that there was only one true God and did not worship idols as gods but they still believed that demons existed. They thought that they were evil spirits living within people and that they affected their lives and made them behave in strange ways. They thought that these demons ruled over their lives just as people had thought that their carved, wooden idols had ruled over them many years before.

Here are some examples of people who were thought to be possessed by a demon.

At the beginning of the New Testament we read about a man called John the Baptist. He was chosen by God to tell the people about the coming of Jesus and he was very different to other people. He wore strange clothes and ate unusual food and some said that he had a demon because he was different.

In Matthew chapter nine a dumb man is described as possessed by a demon and who was healed by Jesus.

“As they were going away, behold, a demon-oppressed man who was mute was brought to Jesus. And when the demon had been cast out, the mute man spoke. And the crowds marvelled, saying, “Never was anything like this seen in Israel.” (Matthew 9:32-33)

In Matthew chapter seventeen a child is described as having epileptic fits during which he was unable to control his actions. People did not understand epilepsy and thought a demon was causing his strange behaviour. We are told that Jesus healed him showing that it was a medical condition. Today we understand about epilepsy and what causes it but in Jesus’ time they did not know about it. They simply saw a boy who suddenly behaved in a very strange and unusual way and perhaps they were scared by him. They thought something had taken over his life.

“And when they came to the crowd, a man came up to him and, kneeling before him, said, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is an epileptic and he suffers terribly. For often he falls into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to your disciples, and they could not heal him.” And Jesus answered, “O faithless and twisted generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him here to me.” And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was healed instantly.” (Matthew 17:14-18)

Look at the following summary of the work of Jesus.

“And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people … and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, epileptics, and he healed them.” (Matthew 4:23-24)

Some diseases were understood, others, particularly those which changed behaviour were not understood and so the sufferers were said to have a demon or evil spirit that made them act in that way. But we see from Matthew’s words that Jesus healed them all. Demon spirits did not really exist.

Demons were a sign of a greater problem.

If demons did not exist, why did Jesus act and talk as if they did? He used the language and wrong beliefs of the people to teach a great truth. Some diseases made people behave in strange ways and their neighbours said that they were possessed by a demon which was untrue, they were simply ill people with diseases that changed their behaviour and Jesus healed their physical problems. It was a sign that he had the power to bring a much greater healing work to everybody.

All of us have a disease that eventually will kill us for ‘the wages of sin is death’ and we all sin, we all disobey God. Just as Jesus had the power to heal people, he also has the power to forgive sins. Look at these words.

“That evening they brought to him many who were oppressed by demons, and he cast out the spirits with a word and healed all who were sick. This was to fulfil what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.” (Matthew 8:16-17)

Isaiah’s words are found in chapter 53. It is the chapter that tells in detail about the crucifixion of Jesus and what it achieved. In the following verses, the prophet said that God laid on Jesus the sins of us all. These were the illnesses and diseases that Matthew meant.

This is a healing that we all need and which is available to everyone who believes in Jesus as his saviour and is baptised to become part of God’s family.

Our Discipleship

If we understand Bible teaching about demons then it helps to understand how God looks upon sin. He sees it as something that makes our lives strange to him just as demonic behaviour was strange to other people. But he has healed us through the sacrifice of Jesus! This should make us rejoice and be full of gratitude – just as sick people were when Jesus healed them from their illnesses. Many of those healed became his disciples, understanding that he was the Son of God. This is the challenge for all of us. Our response to God’s salvation.

If you missed this presentation on Sunday 27th July see below for links to watch one or more of these presentations online.

Also at:

Wakefield House Community Centre, 65 Acre Ave, Morphett Vale at 6:00 pm

Johnstone Park Combined Club Rooms, Johnstone Park, Adelaide Rd at 2:00 pm

Some of these venues have video recordings available use one or more of the links below:

Aberfoyle Park Link; https://www.youtube.com/@aberfoyleparkchristadelphi1518/featured

Warradale; Link; https://www.youtube.com/@brightonecclesia8406/streams

Colonel Light Gardens; Link https://www.youtube.com/@CumberlandEcclesia/streams

Clearview; Link https://biblediscoverychannel.com/live-viewer/

Oakden; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrp_ne1D4VeJCW5bB_i-Hw

Henley Beach; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwRTywBeNt_ZjWZ8jZnW61A

If you missed this presentation on Sunday 27th July see below for links to watch one or more of these presentations online.

Also at:

Wakefield House Community Centre, 65 Acre Ave, Morphett Vale at 6:00 pm

Johnstone Park Combined Club Rooms, Johnstone Park, Adelaide Rd at 2:00 pm

Some of these venues have video recordings available use one or more of the links below:

Aberfoyle Park Link; https://www.youtube.com/@aberfoyleparkchristadelphi1518/featured

Warradale; Link; https://www.youtube.com/@brightonecclesia8406/streams

Colonel Light Gardens; Link https://www.youtube.com/@CumberlandEcclesia/streams

Clearview; Link https://biblediscoverychannel.com/live-viewer/

Oakden; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCzrp_ne1D4VeJCW5bB_i-Hw

Henley Beach; Link https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwRTywBeNt_ZjWZ8jZnW61A

When you have read this article you will know the answers to these questions:

1. Do angels exist?
2. Who are the angels and what do they do?
3. What work will the angels perform in the future?
4. Can angels help me now?

1. DO ANGELS EXIST?

The Bible is God’s message to mankind. Only when we believe this will we treasure what it tells us about angels. True, we cannot now see the angels at work, but the Bible tells us, “the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

This is what the Bible tells us about angels:

• God created angels before He formed the world as we know it. He asked Job “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? … when the morning stars sang together and all the sons of God shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7).
• “The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them” (Psalm 34:7)
• “Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word” (Psalm 103:20).
• Jesus Christ, the Son of God said, “Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions (72,000) of angels?” (Matthew26:53).

Yes angels do exist!

2. WHO ARE THE ANGELS AND WHAT DO THEY DO?

The word ‘angel’ means ‘messenger’. Nearly always it applies to God’s immortal angels, but sometimes it refers to human beings. However, supernatural deeds can only be performed by God’s immortal angels. They do not need wings to move between heaven and earth, being empowered by the spirit of God. Angels perform many duties on God’s behalf. They do so because God, the great Creator, does not personally interact with sinful human beings. He “dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see” (1 Timothy 6:16).

God’s angels:

• Bear His name and work on His behalf. They gave man a form like their own, when man was created: “Let us make man in our image after our likeness” (Genesis 1:26). That is why “some have entertained angels unawares” (Hebrews 13:2).
• Are powerful beings called ‘elohim’, the original Hebrew word translated “heavenly beings” in Psalm 8:5. It means “mighty ones” who represent God.
• Are immortal beings, and are therefore greater than mortal (dying) human beings (Psalm 8:4,5; Luke 20:35,36).
• Have appeared personally on God’s behalf in both Old and New Testament times. Three angels helped Abraham (Genesis 18), one blessed Jacob (Genesis 32) and another led Israel in the wilderness journey to the Promised Land (Exodus 23:20,21).
• They also comforted and supported Jesus in times of intense trials in the wilderness and in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 4:11; Luke 22:43).
• Delivered God’s message to human beings.

The words angels have spoken down the years are vitally important for us today. The y have told us great truths about God’s future plans for the world. We shall be wise if we listen to their words and act upon them.

Consider the words spoken by the angel Gabriel to Mary. He told her that Jesus would be conceived by God’s Holy Spirit; also that Jesus “will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32,33).

An angel appeared to shepherds when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. He said “unto you is born this day … a Savior, who is Christ the Lord … and suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God” (Luke 2:9-13).

What wonderful messages! Jesus is the Saviour of Mankind, and he is coming to be king of the world.

3. WHAT WORK WILL ANGELS PERFORM IN THE FUTURE?

The angels will carry out many important duties when Jesus returns to the earth. Consider these verses:

• People “will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory. And he will send out his angels … and they will gather his elect from the four winds” (Matthew 24:30,31).
• :When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne” (Matthew 25:31; see also 2 Thessalonians 1:7-10).
• “For the Lord himself will descend from heaven … with the voice of an archangel … And the dead in Christ will rise first” (1 Thessalonians 4:16). This resurrection from the dead, in which angels will be involved, had already been foretold in the Old Testament: “Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt” (Daniel 12:2). Jesus himself also said. “everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day” (John 6:40)
• “Everyone who acknowledges me before men, the Son of Man also will acknowledge before the angels of God” (Luke 12:8). From their creation, the angels have been with God, doing His work and speaking His words. It is fitting that they will be present at the Judgement Seat of Christ, when he returns to “judge the living and the dead” (2 Timothy 4:1). The angels will rejoice to see everlasting life being given to those who have listened to and believed their words.

Their work does not end there. The Bible tells us:

• “The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom … all law-breakers … Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father” (Matthew 13:41-43). The angels will be working on God’s behalf in His kingdom. The question is, will you be there to see them, and to help Jesus as one of his saints in the kingdom of God?

4. CAN ANGELS HELP ME NOW?

They have already helped you! Messages given through angels, of which you have just read, can lead you personally towards the kingdom of God and everlasting life. That is, provided you believe that angels exist and accept their teachings. If your heart is touched by spiritual truths, you will “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness” (Matthew 6:33). If you do, this will lead to present blessings, and later, everlasting life.

We no longer need to see angels. The Bible tells us we need to know about salvation. When we believe, faith becomes our bedrock for living. It will guide us for the rest of our lives. Although we do not see angels, remember God’s promise, “the angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them”. Angels are “all ministering spirits sent out to serve for the sake of those who are to inherit salvation” (Hebrews 1:14).

As you now know, angels are powerful, immortal beings. They do God’s will and care for His people. Yet Jesus himself, after his resurrection, became “much superior to angels”. He now sits at God’s right hand in heaven (Hebrews 1:4,13). His faithful followers will also enjoy a greater position than the angels in the kingdom of God.

What more can you possibly want? God offers you blessings and contentment now, and everlasting life in the age to come. Grasp with both hands what God offers you. Then you will be able to say with all your heart, “Amen. Come, Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22:20).

All Bible quotations taken from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise stated.