You have been redeemed and forgiven of all your sins - Colossians 1:14

The context of redemption

Old Testament times

In the Old Testament the Hebrew word pädäh, meaning "to deliver" or "to sever" is translated as redemption. Throughout the history of the Israelites God reminded them that they belonged to Him because He had redeemed them and had provided them with the land of Canaan.

Identity Theft

You hear a lot in the news about identity theft.

You might think it’s a pretty new phenomena particularly with the rise in the use of the internet.

But for Christians, particularly Christians in the west it’s been going on for some time.

Time Management

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven. 

Ecclesiastes 3:1

Introduction

The subject of time management is very popular in business training and yet it is something of a misnomer as time itself cannot really be managed in the same way as the other resources that we have at our disposal.

Each one of us has the same time available to us. There are 7 days in a week, 24 hours in a day and 3600 seconds in an hour. What we can do is manage ourselves so that we can achieve the goals we have set within the required time. But most business people want to manage their time not so that they can have more free time but so that they can fit even more activity into their already busy day.

As Christians it’s important to remember that our time is in God’s hands (Psalm 31 v15), that all our days were written in his book before one of them came to be (Psalm 139 v 16) and that as we number our days aright we will gain wisdom (Psalm 90 v12).

What must I do to be saved?

According to the Bible, when the apostle Paul and his friend Silas were imprisoned at Philippi they began to pray and sing hymns.

According to the tradition, this is where Paul and Silas spent the night

Then an earthquake struck and shook the foundations of the prison enough to open the prison doors, open up the stocks, and free the prisoner’s chains from the walls.

The Character of God!

After the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem was completed the Israelites got together and praised God. You can read their prayer in Nehemiah chapter 9

It tells us so much about God – Who He is and what He has done.It reveals to us so much about God's character.

You see in almost every verse and often more than once, – they refer to God, the Lord, You, Your!

The Names of God

There's a lot in a name!

ELOHIM	Genesis 1:1, Psalm 19:1 meaning "God", a reference to God's power and might.
ADONAI	Malachi 1:6 meaning "Lord", a reference to the Lordship of God.
JEHOVAH—YAHWEH	Genesis 2:4 a reference to God's divine salvation.
JEHOVAH-MACCADDESHEM	Exodus 31:13 meaning "The Lord thy sanctifier"
JEHOVAH-ROHI	Psalm 23:1 meaning "The Lord my shepherd"
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH	Ezekiel 48:35 meaning "The Lord who is present"
JEHOVAH-RAPHA	Exodus 15:26 meaning "The Lord our healer"
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU	Jeremiah 23:6 meaning "The Lord our righteousness"
JEHOVAH-JIREH	Genesis 22:13-14 meaning "The Lord will provide"
JEHOVAH-NISSI	Exodus 17:15 meaning "The Lord our banner"
JEHOVAH-SHALOM	Judges 6:24 meaning "The Lord is peace"
JEHOVAH-SABBAOTH	Isaiah 6:1-3 meaning "The Lord of Hosts"
JEHOVAH-GMOLAH	Jeremiah 51:6 meaning "The God of Recompense"
EL-ELYON	Genesis 14:17-20, Isaiah 14:13-14 meaning "The most high God
EL-ROI	Genesis 16:13 meaning "The strong one who sees"
EL-SHADDAI	Genesis 17:1, Psalm 91:1 meaning "The God of the mountains or God Almighty"
EL-OLAM	Isaiah 40:28-31 meaning "The everlasting God"

Honesty, Honour and Hope

Let’s take a look at Psalm 142 and see how David faced his situation when he was in trouble and hiding in a cave!

I cry aloud to the LORD; I lift up my voice to the LORD for mercy. 
I pour out my complaint before him; before him I tell my trouble. When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who know my way. In the path where I walk men have hidden a snare for me. Look to my right and see; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. I cry to you, O LORD; I say, "You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living." Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.

There’s three things I want to briefly emphasise from this psalm.