Let the elders who rule well be considered worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer deserves his wages.” 1 Timothy 5:17-18 ESV Ray Stedman, in a sermon “Help for Elders” based … More Elders and Oxen
Ray Stedman, in a 1965 sermon, “Ezra:The Way Back” comments on the events of Ezra 6: The minute the people began to turn back to God, he also turned the hearts of the kings, Darius and Artaxerxes, and they issued the decree that started the temple work again. Finally the work was finished. In chapter … More Celebrating fellowship with God
Ray Stedman on Ezra 4-5 (from a sermon “Ezra: The Way Back”) The third factor in this return under Zerubbabel is the opposition that immediately develops, as we read in chapters 4 through 6. A force is at work in every human heart, as in world affairs, that immediately rises up to oppose everything that … More Beware so-called friends
Pastor Ray Stedman writes: First Kings is the gripping story of how to lose a kingdom. As we read these Old Testament books, the key to making them live and be vital in our lives is to see that they are visual aids by which God is showing us what is going on in our … More How to lose a kingdom
Also many of those who were now believers came, confessing and divulging their practices. And a number of those who had practiced magic arts brought their books together and burned them in the sight of all. And they counted the value of them and found it came to fifty thousand pieces of silver. So the … More Costly cleanup
This is a long quote, but will help understand our readings in Hosea this month- Ray Stedman comments on the first 3 chapters of Hosea: So Hosea is rather discouraged and in the opening chapter of this little book of prophecy we read a personal note about him. He went to God and God told … More An object lesson in redeeming love
One dies in full prosperity being wholly at ease and secure, his body full of fat and the marrow of his bones moist. Another dies in bitterness of soul, never having tasted of good. They lie down alike in the dust, and the worms cover them.” (Job 21:22-26) Ray Stedman, in a sermon, “Why Doesn’t … More Where to file “God-in-a-box” theology
Ray Stedman comments on Song of Solomon 8:9 God has ordained that the delights reflected here be a part of the experience of man and woman in marriage. To ignore this is to cheapen these delights and to make sex as commonplace as cutting one’s fingernails. That which, with due restraint, is intended to be … More ‘We have a little sister…”
Ray Stedman, concludes his comments on Lamentations 4-5: Chapter 5 describes the humiliation of judgment, but in the end, Jeremiah comes to another flash of insight (verse 19): But thou, O Lord, dost reign for ever; thy throne endures to all generations. (Lamentations 5:19 RSV) What does this mean? Well, it means that though man … More God Endures
The Lord has done what he purposed, has carried out his threat; as he ordained long ago, he has demolished without pity; he has made the enemy rejoice over you, and exalted the might of your foes. (Lamentations 2:17 RSV) Ray Stedman on Lamentations 2: In other words, God is faithful. Suddenly Jeremiah realizes that … More God is Faithful to His Purposes
