Nehemiah 1-6 Pastor John bears his heart with tears for the sad state of the nation and the desperate need for a sovereign move of God in our day. By drawing on the principles laid forth in Nehemiah, John sets before us precious nuggets of truth that we would do well to ponder and apply.  May God see fir to richly use this timely and prophetic word for the glory of His holy name and for the blessing of His people.

Bethesda Shalom

The Way of Spiritual Recovery – John Hayward

Habakkuk 3:2 Shared at the Dedication of Bethesda Shalom – 24/07/21 As we witness first-hand in our day, the grievous state of decline in this nation of Great Britain is a state most sorry to behold.  The speed at which morality is crumbling away before our very eyes leave us without words to fully articulate the peril of the present hour. The firm foundations (Christian foundations) which have stood this nation on a solid footing for the last 600 years are being pulled up in 60!  I find that in life, it’s far easier and quicker to destroy than it is to erect; to pull down than it is to build up!!  Spiritually, we’re sliding into Sodom and plunging into Gomorrah; and while the world travails the broad road to destruction, the professing Church of Jesus Christ has veered off the narrow path and has found its way down to vanity fair!  Oh!! do some decry this sad state of affairs and I not join them in lifting up my voice?  Do others lament this midnight hour and I not also grieve with them!  The hour is late, and the need is desperate. A heart cry goes forth for God to visit His people in revival.  There’s simply no other alternative.  God…in wrath, remember mercy!!

God Is at Work - Paul M. Williams

Isaiah 42:1-7 There are a number of passages in the Book of Isaiah that have come to be known as the “servant passages”.  Some scholars put the number at four, others at five; but what binds each of them together, is their description of Messiah in His lowly mission.  There are many titles given to our Lord Jesus in the Bible that speak of His glory and majesty, titles that speak of His power and dominion. Yet, the focus of this sermon is not found in these descriptions, but rather is found in that title which serves well to depict the lowly Lord, namely that of a servant!

A Bruised Reed - Paul M. Williams

Ezra 7:1-10 Ezra was a man of great influence in his day and one who possessed great knowledge of the Word of God.  Talk about knowledge? Look no further than the man Ezra, he was a ready scribe in the law of Moses!  Talk about pedigree and class?  Look no further than the man Ezra, he was a priest of the sons of Aaron!  Talk about honour and esteem?  The glories of the scribe in his day eclipsed those of the priest!  Yet…there was one distinguishing factor that singled this scribe out from among all the other scribes of his day.  Not only was Ezra a ready scribe who prepared his heart to seek the law of the Lord so as to teach in Israel its statutes and judgments.  Ezra set his heart to do it!!!

A Ready Scribe - Paul M. Williams

Ephesians 4:1-6 In John 17, Jesus prayed that “…they all may be one”.  He was of course referring to the true Church - those who would come to believe in Him through the Word of the Apostles.  This reality has been made possible via the new birth.  When one is born again of the Spirit of God, they are grafted into the spiritual Body of Jesus Christ.  This is a concrete fact that cannot be disputed. Yet, the great challenge that faces every one of us who names the name of Jesus Christ, is the practical outworking of this reality in a functional, living experience. How does the Body of Christ bring the abstract in line with the concrete?  All is brought to light in God’s precious Word! 

Forbearing One Another in Love - Paul M. Williams

Genesis 4:7 No soldier goes to the field of battle not knowing the enemy against which he must fight.  The Christian wears the badge of many titles—the badge of a son, the badge of a servant; the badge of a disciple and the badge of a friend.  The badge of priest and king, yea also of saint and elect. Yet, amidst this decoration of honorary attire, there’s one badge that I left off to mention, which without, his uniform would be incomplete.  What badge is this to which I refer?  It is the badge of a soldier — a soldier of Jesus Christ!! Tell me of the foe against which you war?  Tell me of the hardships endured on account of this warfare?   Where are your scars, where are your victories?  Where are our medals of honour...where are your stripes?  What is the foe to which I refer?  “...sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him” (Gen. 4:7).    

Sin Lieth at the Door - Paul M. Williams

Joshua 3:5 No true move of God has ever begun without it first being preceded by prayer. Yet, a praying people prevailed with God in prayer because they were a sanctified people!  This message is a clarion call to the Church of Jesus Christ.  God is calling for a holy people.  It’s time now for God’s children, to put away sin from their midst and prepare their hearts to seek the Lord!!  “Sanctify yourselves: for to morrow the LORD will do wonders among you” (Josh. 3:5).     Note: This is the first sermon ever preached in Bethesda Shalom, formerly known as Providence Baptist Chapel.

Sanctify Yourselves - Paul M. Williams

Joshua 3:1-4 When one door closes and another opens, it is always a day mixed with both sorrow and joy, and yesterday was no exception.  I say sorrow, not because of regret but because the door that is closing leaves behind with it an era that has now come to an end and as one looks back, the memories abound!  Memories of God’s faithful dealings, His divine providence, and keeping hand of grace. His faithful provision and steadfast promises which all the way hath proven to be yea and amen!  To run a course appointed you by God and to have Him close the door and in its place to open another is a thing to be most cherished.  So many bail out on God before the time, but to run the course and to finish the race and then to have God move you on unto things better still; is to have the calm repose and restful assurance that we are right where He would have us to be!!!   This is the last sermon ever preached in the Chapel of Royal School Wolverhampton.  We reflect on how the Lord has led us thus far and prepare ourselves for Him bringing us into our new place of meeting.  Two things are apparent, the Lord has gone before us and we must seek to follow after in the spirit of earnest prayer!

Standing on the Other Side of the Jordan - Paul M. Williams

Revelation 2:1-7 When the glory of God rests upon a servant of God, it is a thing most glorious to behold.  There are many great wonders in the world, but none are so wonderful as this.  If that be so, then what of the opposite?  What of the contrary?  If the glory of God resting upon a servant of God is a thing most glorious to behold; then what if that glory was to depart?  What if this anointing was to leave?  What if favour was to pass no more across the threshold of the stable door?  Oh, by reason of the former glory, this must surely be a thing most sorrowful to behold!!  It is one thing when the glory of God departs from a person, but what, when the glory departs from a people?  The Church in the West is in dire straits.  Every week, another Church closes its doors for good; the glory of God departed.  We can blame in on Covid and x, y and z; yet the Bible tells us that it is Jesus who removes the candlestick when His Church refuses to repent.  This is a sobering reality that we must consider, may the Lord give us the grace to do so.

When the Glory of God Departs - Paul M. Williams

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 13) Of all the different literary genres found within the Bible, by far the most unique, is that of prophecy.  Where the historical books document history, those books falling under the category of Prophecy have an extra layer to them which documents the future!   Who can claim to speak with authority on things that are yet to happen?  The best historian can comment on what has past, and to a degree, he can predict what he may think to happen in the future based on past cycles; but at best it is a prediction with much uncertainty attached to it.  When it comes however to the predictions made in the Bible, these are not based on a critical examination of data; they are based on “thus saith the LORD”.  In this thirteenth teaching part, we give a basic overview of the Books of Prophecy and offer helps that will aid in their interpretation and application.  As part of a teaching series looking at Biblical interpretation, we look holistically at the nature of the books of prophecy themselves, as a pose to the individual prophecies contained within them.  We seek to understand the historical setting in which they were written in the hope that one will see the common pattern running throughout.

Interpreting the Prophets - Paul M. Williams

1 Chronicles 17:1-15 There’s a burning passion that I cannot shake from my being; two things that so grip my heart. #1. the swiftness in which life is passing us by and #2. Our response to this.  What is your response to the passing glory of this life and the speed at which it appears for a moment before vanishing away?  What are your priorities?  Where do your concerns lie?  Simply put, for what reason are you living, and for whose glory?  Is it for God’s or for your own?  His Kingdom or your kingdom?  His house or your house? His business or your business?  His honour or your honour?  I figure that with the few measly years allotted to us, we may as well burn out for Jesus!!!  We’ll not regret it for a second, the moment we step out into eternity! 

God’s House - Paul M. Williams

2 Samuel 22 It is no accident that the Psalm contained in 2 Samuel 22 is pretty much a word-for-word repetition of Psalm 18!  An accident?  Certainly not!  When God speaks once, we have reason to listen; but when He speaks twice, we’d better pay attention!  We take a look at this precious and much-loved Psalm and in so doing, discover the many testimonies of David declaring the mighty Deliverer with whom he had to do! Oh, that we might come to know His faithful mercies bountifully in our own lives and experiences.

My Deliverer - Paul M. Williams

Matthew 12:1-8 Misguided zeal is a dangerous thing and nowhere perhaps is this zeal more deadly than when framed within a religious context.  There is no underestimating what man will do for God, and the devil knows this, which is why it is his vehicle of choice so commonly used to insight men to injure his neighbour. What saith our Lord? What is the end of all divine commandments?  “Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself” (Mt. 22:36-39).

I Desired Mercy and Not Sacrifice - Paul M. Williams

1 Corinthians 15:58 On July 8th, 1741, a man by the name of Jonathan Edwards preached what has been dubbed, the greatest sermon to have ever been preached on American soil.  The sermon was titled, “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God”.  Nothing was spared the hearers, as Edwards expounded to his sleepy listeners, the certain fiery punishment that awaited the unbelievers and their desperate need to flee to the Saviour for refuge! As believers in Christ, we rejoice in Christ for His saving grace wherewith we have been gloriously saved from such an end.  However, in light of the coming resurrection when Christ shall burst the heavens and come back for His own, we are not to be found idle.  This sermon is an exhortation for us in Christ to be busy in the work of the Lord until He comes.  For those unsure of their call, it’s time to seek the Lord.  For those who know their call and yet are slumbering, it is a wake-up call to arise so as to set the hand to the plough!

Your Labour Is Not in Vain - Paul M. Williams

Knowing the Bible for Yourself (Pt. 12) It has often been said; “If it’s in the Bible, then I believe it!!”  Whilst I understand the sentiments of what is seeking to expressed by such a statement, the statement is only as good as one’s interpretation of the text.  If one misinterprets a portion of Scripture due to poor exegesis, then what one thinks they understand God to be saying, is not actually what He has said.  To then apply this to one’s life to miss the mark and to end in error. In this second part of a two-part teaching, we look at three unique books that have caused problems for some in their interpretation due to the difficult nature of their composition and structure.  We endeavour by the grace of God to shed some light in these Books, namely Ecclesiastes, Job, and Song of Solomon.  Download teaching notes (pdf) https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/bethesdashalom/8b_Interpreting_the_Books_of_Wisdom_Pt2.pdf

Interpreting the Books of Wisdom (Pt. 2) - Paul M Williams

Bethesda Shalom, "House of Mercy and Peace". A small independent Bible believing Church located in Wolverhampton, England; endeavouring to hold fast to truth and stand fast in love by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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Bethesda Shalom

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