Lighthouse Gospel Beacon

“The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand for ever.”  Isaiah 40:8  The Bible is the Word of God. It has been preserved for us to read, but very few people read and understand what the Bible has to say to us today.  According to most statistics, young people are growing up and…

  The Word of God’s purpose in your life is to liberate you from the bondage of sin and death. Bondage in sin is often exchanged for the bondage of religion. Many people leave the power of sin in their lives only to find themselves in the bondage of religion. One of the greatest gifts…

  As one who has experienced Christmas as a child, parent and now the grandfather of sixteen, my Christmas experiences have been morphing as I have grown older and it has become easy to become jaded by the worldly nature of Christmas celebrations. It is the time of the year that the focus is shifted from…

“And I will remember my covenant.” Genesis 9:15 God can and does forget. This testimony about God’s forgiveness is proof that God can choose to forget: “I, even I, am he that blotteth out thy transgressions for mine own sake, and will not remember thy sins.” (Isa 43:25) God has chosen to forget your sins. Not…

  “The cedars of Lebanon which he hath planted.” Psalm 104:16 David, King of Israel, is credited with this statement from God Himself that David was, “a man after his own heart.” (1 Sa 13:14) David, reflecting on the greatness of God, said: “LORD my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty."…

Do you sometimes feel all alone? If so, consider yourself normal. Moses, the spiritual and political leader of the soon-to-form nation, was in exile from the only home he ever knew. Not only his home but his family, friends and community. Forty years before Moses learned that he was adopted into the royal family, he murdered an Egyptian and had to flee…

It seems a lot of people focus on their works for God. Many church groups enslave people to a work-based dogma or theology that requires people to submit to biblical teachings that have been “weaponized” by these church groups. The motive of these church groups, that present a work-based relationship for salvation theology, is to establish means and…

“And I will give you a heart of flesh.” Ezekiel 36:26 The people of God had walked away from God’s ways and word and were captive in Babylon. Depressed, oppressed and cast down; all seemed lost. They were alone, outsiders in the land of the lost and godless. Yes, they deserved the affliction and judgment. The prophet Ezekiel…

“Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide.” Genesis 24:63 In the Old Testament, there are three different words that are rendered as meditating. Two of the three words are understood to murmur (in pleasure or anger) or to ponder or imagine. The Hebrew word used for meditating in this verse is used one…

The hope of the resurrection is not a new concept that begins with Christianity but is as old as the sentence of death that came at the first sin and sinners in the Garden. The scripture states: “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain…

  “Why me!?” This is an often-uttered comment when people find themselves in difficult or broken relationships. The truth of the matter is, we often are the authors or significantly contribute to the problems in our lives and this also holds true in the condition of our relationships with the people in our lives. The words we speak…

“But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.” (Psa 52:8) Desperation in our lives often causes us to lower our biblical standards. When this happens, the response from other people is to judge the one who has shifted their biblical views out…

“Strangers are come into the sanctuaries of the Lord’s house.” Jeremiah 51:51 The prophet Jeremiah was grieved and repulsed by the intrusion of the ungodly into the holy places where the priests of God were only allowed to enter. He was upset because people were not seeking to know God and His love. Jeremiah said:…

“And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.” Mark 15:23 As Jesus was paying the ultimate price for your sin, the crowd that was gathered at the foot of the cross contained not just the ones who were carrying out His death sentence given by Rome but also the religious…

“Pull me out of the net that they have laid privily for me: for thou art my strength.” Psalm 31:4 David had fled from King Saul’s presence in fear for his life. Hiding from the king’s wrath, David was betrayed by the Ziphites. When David was made aware of this betrayal, he cried out “Pull…

“He shall stand and feed in the strength of the Lord.” Micah 5:4 This prophecy about the coming Saviour Lord Jesus makes for a wonderful description of how He would fulfill His role as the Good Shepherd. Jesus, trying to relate who He was, used the metaphor of the Good Shepherd to help His followers understand Him and…

“Now these be the last words of David.” 2 Samuel 23:1 David the son of Jesse said: "…and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel." (2 Sa 23:1) When we consider the Saints in the Old Testament, David, King of Israel…

“And they fortified Jerusalem unto the broad wall.” Nehemiah 3:8 Walls were the best defense for cities in the biblical times. The term "broad wall" was used to describe walls that were the strongest defensive positions in the walls of the city. The broad wall was one of the last walls left standing after the…

Alone, empty and in a dark place both physically, mentally and spiritually is often the life-space the people of God find themselves. The “seed of Jacob” were oppressed and discouraged and God encouraged them by reminding them that He never said that their seeking comfort and relief in their suffering was in vain: “I have…

“He that watereth shall be watered also himself.” Proverbs 11:25 Solomon is instructing his son about the nature and after-effect of living a righteous life empowered by God’s word, will and way versus a life that is lived in the pursuit of materialistic, earthly-minded and profane desires. He uses a parallel of the advantages of the…

Many people have constructed their own idea of what God is or should be and how we should approach and worship Him. The God of the Bible reveals Himself to us in His word. It is in the teachings found in the word of God that humanity not only receives the revelation of God but…

 For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. (Acts 18:10) A follower of Jesus should be motivated to practice good behavior knowing that from the vilest of sinners come the people of God and these are the people made fit for…

“I charge you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if ye find my beloved, that ye tell him, that I am sick of love.” Song of Solomon 5:8 The scripture found in the Song of Solomon book of poetry is filled with illustrations of how love affects the emotions and lives of husbands and wives. It also is…

  “The unsearchable riches of Christ.” Ephesians 3:8 The power of the gospel of Jesus holds no limits. The Apostle Paul said, “I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.” (Eph 3:8) The word “unsearchable” is to be understood as untraceable or unsearchable.   The ways of God are far beyond the limits…

“The voice of weeping shall be no more heard.” Isaiah 65:19 Heaven, what a pleasant subject for the “Redeemed in the Lord” to contemplate and to place our thoughts. Many sermons have been preached and volumes of books that could fill the Roman Coliseum about the very pleasant subject of Heaven. Isaiah, speaking for God and talking…

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith.” Ephesians 3:17 The power of faith is not to be underestimated. The power of faith is a gift from God Himself. The scripture states: “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more…

“His fruit was sweet to my taste.” Song of Solomon 2:3 God has created us with four primary sensations of taste: sour, salty, sweet and bitter. Solomon speaks to one of these sensations by comparing the love between a man and a woman as “sweet to my taste.” The metaphor he employed was to reveal the nature of the…

  “If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest.” Acts 8:37 The power of the gospel of Jesus is not limited to just changing your eternal destination. As the gospel was explained to the eunuch from Ethiopia, he understood there would be changes in his life that would be not only spiritual but physical as…

“In their affliction they will seek me early.” Hosea 5:15 The eternal consequences of sin is resolved by the saving grace of God demonstrated and delivered by Jesus. Jesus and Jesus alone holds the power to deliver you from sin and death. It is the power of God that keeps you until the final hour you will…

“He left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.” Genesis 39:12 Joseph was in a war and did not have the ability to wage a spiritual war with carnal weapons so he fled. God would equip humanity for this war with the coming of His Son Jesus! We indeed are in a…

“The people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.” Mark 9:15 Amazing! Jesus is amazing if you know Him and the power of His resurrection. Throughout history, Jesus has been known as a healer, a friend and a brother, but to those who know Him as the Saviour, He is amazing! The…

  God is not fickle. We are. A man and woman will stand before family, friends and the Almighty Himself and will covenant in the bonds of marriage until “death do us part,” only to find themselves living a life in a broken covenant. This observation is not judgmental but an observation of human behavior. Jesus, when…

The prophet, encouraging the children of Israel as they were living in oppression and suppression and exiled in a foreign land, said: “Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children…

 “Oil for the light.” Exodus 25:6 God knows all our needs before the needs arrive.  God instructed Moses not only to build the tabernacle but how to build His dwelling place. The blueprint for the place of worship was divine and given by God. The resources to build it were temporal and would be supplied by…

 “Into thine hand I commit my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth.” Psalm 31:5 It has been said of the dead “They can’t take it with them and there are no trailer hitches on the hearse carrying the dead.” Indeed, the words of Job are true:  ”Naked came I out of my mother's womb,…

God, observing the behavior of the people He delivered from the darkness of slavery in Egypt, was not only disturbed but angered at their unwillingness to trust in Him. God, speaking to Moses said: “How long will this people provoke me? and how long will it be ere they believe me, for all the signs which…

“Have mercy upon me, O God.” Psalm 51:1 The cry of the sinner is simple, “Have mercy upon me, O God.” David King of Israel had been confronted by God about his sin with Bathsheba and Uriah. The word of God, from the mouth of the prophet Nathan, forced David to admit to God his sin. When Nathan said, “Thou…

"“All the days of his separation shall he eat nothing that is made of the vine tree, from the kernels even to the husk.” Numbers 6:4 The vow of the Nazarite was a vow of separation. Separated from the world for the purpose of God. Not many would take this vow. Sad enough, many who did lived a life…

“Heal me, O Lord, and I shall be healed.” Jeremiah 17:14 The people of God need healing. The need for healing differs from person to person but we all need to be healed. There are many types of healing that are required in the lives of the followers of Jesus. Physical healing is often the…

“Wait on the Lord.” Psalm 27:14 David, who would soon be king of Israel, seeking God’s protection from the powers of the government of Saul, then king of Israel, ended his appeal to God with this understanding, “Wait on the Lord.”  It has been said that “Timing is everything,” and indeed it is true. The…

“On mine arm shall they trust.” Isaiah 51:5 The hope of salvation rests on these words, “On mine arm shall they trust.” The words of the Prophet makes this truth relevant to all who will hear what the truth about the nature of God is. God is not far away waiting for the judgment of His…

“Trust in him at all times.” Psalm 62:8 A childlike faith. What a way to live your life. A child that is blessed to be born into a loving home lives a life of faith. Faith and trust in the family that cares for their welfare, provide for every need and loves unconditionally. Living in…

The old idiom “going against the grain" is older than the writings of Shakespeare and, according to some folks, is derived from the world of carpentry referring to the best practice of working wood in the direction of the lines of grain. The practical application of this idiom is that if an idea or action goes against the grain; it…

“And he requested for himself that he might die.” (1 Kings 19:4) Strange, is it not, that the man who would never die requested his death from God? What a difference one event can make in the lives of the faithful followers of God. Elijah had just turned the hearts of God’s people from the evil…

“I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love.” Hosea 11:4 The power of redemption is in the hands of God. No one is capable of seeking a relationship with God unless He first reveals Himself to them. Jesus makes this evident when He explains His place in the redemption of humanity: “No man…

God indeed loves everyone in His creation, including you. Jesus, Himself, makes this abundantly clear with this declaration: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16) The fact that God loves you is an agreeable consideration…

“There is corn in Egypt.” Genesis 42:2 God is a God of provision and providence. Corn seems like such a simple thing, but the words, “there is corn in Egypt,” were words of hope for the family of Jacob. Corn grain that could not only feed the family as it sustained them, it would also…

  “If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious.” 1 Peter 2:3 Taste along with sight, sound, smell, and touch are how we experience the creation God has created for us. To taste is to partake. We can hear sounds and never engage the source of the sound, we can see people and…

“He led them forth by the right way.” Psalm 107:7 This declaration by the Psalmist was a testimony of God’s love and power to create a new direction in the lives of His people and lets us better understand how God creates a “new normal” for His people when they experience life-changing events. Our lives are…

“In the shadow of thy wings will I make my refuge” (Psa 57:1)  The use of antidepressants has almost doubled since 2002. Twelve percent of men, fifteen percent of women and twelve percent of children are taking some form of psychological and behavioral drugs. The diagnoses of psychological and behavioral issues substantially increased since 2001; more…

“Thou hast bought me no sweet cane with money.” Isaiah 43:24 It is the nature of relationships to move from close and committed to various degrees of intensity even to the separation and rejection of the relationship that was established. Many poems and songs have been written about relationships that have declined from when they were…

“The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.” Psalm 138:8 A consensus among bible students found that they consider this psalm to have been written by David upon his advancement to the throne of Israel. In this psalm, David praises the Lord for His ability to keep his promises and to bring to pass the completed work that was announced by the…

 “Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.” Philippians 1:27 What a question to ask of a believer! The word “conversation” does not merely mean our talk and conversing with one another but the whole course of our life and behavior in the world. To place this in a context so we may better understand the depth of this…

  Does God actually hear our prayers or is prayer just a religious activity? Prayer can be both. The outcome of our prayers is determined by why and how we are praying. Many people’s motivation to pray is often a religious ritual and not motivated by a desire to be in communion with God. Many official government activities…

“And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem … and they told what things were done in the way, and how he was known of them.” Luke 24:33,35 To understand who Jesus is comes by revelation. This account of Jesus revealing Himself to these men is important for us to understand how we…

“Forsake me not, O Lord.” Psalm 38:21 It is said, “There are no atheists in foxholes.” This statement is an adage from World War I. An unknown chaplain from England, preaching the funeral of a fallen warrior, is credited with this saying. It was included in a warning to those facing the battlefield, “Tell the Territorials and soldiers at home that…

“Continue in the faith.” Acts 14:22 Are we there yet? Every parent that has taken a road trip has heard these words. Our Christian walk is a pilgrimage as we pass from this world to the next where we will end our journey to the Father’s house. This world is fraught with pitfalls and to…

“Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and he shall sustain thee.” Psalm 55:22 Life is filled with “burdens.” These burdens are often consuming our thoughts and often overtake our rest and sleep. How we face the “burdens” of life will control not only our thoughts and actions but will be a disrupter of our spiritual…

“What is thy servant, that thou shouldest look upon such a dead dog as I am?” 2 Samuel 9:8 This statement was not an attempt of self-deprecation but a statement of fact. Life has dealt this man what would be considered a terrible past and a worse future. Mephibosheth was only 5 years old when he…

The New Mentality “So Mephibosheth dwelt in Jerusalem: for he did eat continually at the king’s table; and was lame on both his feet.” 2 Samuel 9:13 The often used saying, “Beggars cannot be choosers”, found its way into the colloquialisms of the European culture through a book of proverbs compiled by John Heywood in 1546.  This expression, when it first…

The Stars of the Heaven “Whom he justified, them he also glorified.” (Romans 8:30) “Promises are made to be broken” is an often-used conversation device employed to describe the inability of well-intended people to keep their promises to themselves and others. This weakness in human behavior is not just a present-day experience. The history of this…

Memories can Haunt Us As we pass through our lives we will pass through many valleys that hold memories of the “shadows of death” that David, King of Israel, spoke about in the well-known passage found in the 23rd Psalm. How we position these experiences in our memories will govern not only how we recall…

“Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho.” Joshua 6:26 The power of God to destroy the walls of evil is made evident in this account of the destruction of the city of Jericho. The city was not destroyed by the military might of a powerful nation. The people…

  “Thou hatest wickedness.” Psalm 45:7 Does God’s love supplant His righteous anger? These words, “Thou hatest wickedness” were prophetic words spoken about the coming Saviour, Jesus. Could it be true that God, who the Bible declares is the very essence of love, is capable of anger? The love of God and the righteous anger of God are…

The Yoke of Bondage   “That henceforth we should not serve sin.” Romans 6:6 Slavery is a stain on the history of humanity. To be removed by force from your home and family and exiled and treated as chattel would be a terrible existence. Human trafficking is not only a crime against humanity but a sin against God….

It's the Little Things “Take us the foxes, the little foxes that spoil the vines.” Song of Solomon 2:15 The power of love is undeniable. Seeking to preserve the depth of his relationship with the object of his love, Solomon warned that as the keepers of the vineyards focused their attention to the small fox they too…

There is None Righteous The question of why bad things happen to good people is based on a false precept. The bible is clear: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.” (Rom 3:10-11) Jesus declares, “there is none good…

 “The king also himself passed over the brook Kidron.” 2 Samuel 15:23 What a low point in the life of David. The prophet Samuel declared to Saul, the soon to be deposed King of Israel, which in David God had found, “a man after his own heart.” (1Sa 13:14) What were the events in the life of this…

Not by Accident The world did not come into existence with a loud bang in space but rather from the spoken word of God. There was not a dark hole of energy that exploded into a cascading chaos that stumbled into order but rather it was the intent and will of God that brought into…

  “He will make her wilderness like Eden.” Isaiah 51:3 The promise of restoration by God gives great hope and relief to the ones who are experiencing time in the dark and terrible experiences in their pilgrimage in this world. God is in the restoration business. Through the prophet Isaiah, God promised Israel their land would be…

Total and Complete Surrender  And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? Mat 19:16 Do you want Jesus to be a “Good Master” or do you want to have peace with God and establish a friendship that puts an end to the separation…

The War Between Good and Evil The battle is real. There is a war being waged between good and evil and against your allegiance to God. The battle depends on your being faithfulness to God and the purpose He has planned for your life or you seeking to satisfy your carnal desires.  Apostle Paul addresses this subject with the believers in Galatia…

There is coming a time when we will fully understand who and what God is. Until then, we are encouraged by God’s word with the promise of understanding the things that are mysteries to us now:  “But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the…

Many of God’s people live their lives being limited by others in what they can do for our Lord and King. As well, many people feel ill-equipped and question their ability or worthiness to be used of God. We find in God’s word that everyone who belongs to God is prepared and equipped to serve…