All posts by Luella Campbell

GOOD STILL SPEAKS…SUNDAY SCHOOL DAYS – 1

Christian Life, ,

In recent days, I have listened to many stories of ex-Muslims who have been transformed by encounters with Jesus…sometimes in dreams, sometimes in person, and sometimes even in death. Every meeting with Jesus that has led to profound change, has ended with an instruction…

”Tell your story!” 

Of course, we have all have a story to tell because, every time we meet Jesus and He speaks, He sets us on course for a whole new life…a new season… and a new episode in our own story…

…and God still speaks. I know He speaks because I’ve heard His voice…not in my ears from the outside but in my spirit on the inside, many times.  He has told me things that have shaken me…changed my thoughts…and beliefs…and altered the direction of my life. So, I want to tell you some bits of my story…

…in episodes…not in one continuous tale but in a series of encounters on specific occasions that corrected…adjusted…explained…and instructed me…by a loving Father who is determined to keep me on track until I reach my destination…forever… in His realm…with Himself. 

My story may seem disjointed. I tell the highlights as I remember them because each one may touch you,  my reader, in some significant way. 

My first story is about a tiny child who went to Sunday School long before she could read or write. God was preparing me for a lifetime of living and growing under His care and authority. My earliest memories of those times on a Sunday morning were…learning to recite the Lord’s Prayer. 

Why was this so important to me? This seemingly random experience was the link between God and me…the bridge I crossed on the day my life changed forever. 

There are two things that have been my anchor throughout my life and more so as I get older…prayer and the Word of God. God began to lay the foundation in those very early days when I had no idea of what He had in store for me…sitting on a little wooden chair, my legs too short to reach the floor, listening to stories I thought were fairy tales…and memorising the Lord’s Prayer. 

Only as I grew order did I realise that those stories were about a real-life person called Jesus. My heart was slowly beginning to awaken…the first glimmers of light in a life that was already darkening with the thoughts and works of a sinful nature with which I was born. 

My Sunday School days extended from toddler days through childhood, adolescence, teenage, and into young adulthood. Those Sundays paralleled my school days because, as I learned my lessons in school, so I was learning the Word of God in Sunday School. Every year, faithfully, without a break, I wrote the Scripture exams prepared and provided by my denominational authority. How grateful I am that I was laying down, by God’s grace, a solid foundation of Bible truth upon which I built my life in later years. 

Then, one day, as a teenager, all the fragments, the strands of my life up to that point, came together. As I reflect now, I see how gracious was the hand of God in my life. Sin had spread its tentacles deep into my soul already. No, I was not an evil child. I was obedient and compliant in my home and at school but…in secret…I was stained. 

God could have rightfully snuffed me out…but He didn’t. Instead, He was moving me, slowly, inexorably, towards Himself. Guilt, shame, fear, could have alienated me from Him forever…but loneliness drew me to Him…and the early in my toddler life, I was learning the Lord’s Prayer…the trigger. 

Jesus promised…

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭37‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day.”

‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

How mysterious are God’s ways! Young and ignorant as I was, the Father drew me…and I began to follow…until the moment everything changed…in an instant…forever…on a day I can never forget…the day the world calls “April Fool’s Day”. 

To be continued

ROMANS…POSTSCRIPT – 28

Bible Study, ,

“And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul’s magnificent letter finally comes to an end. He has done all the explaining he needed to do. He has done all the rebuking and exhorting his knowledge of the people of the Roman church demanded. He has shared his plans and goals with God’s people and urged them to participate in his ministry through prayer. So, finally, he signs off with a prayer and a final affirmation that his words were truth…”Amen”! Not a period at the end of his letter. Not an “over-and out” signal that his communication was complete. “Amen! What I have written is firm, sure, and the truth.”

Then, Paul adds a surprising postscript…a whole chapter of greetings, affirmations, and commendations. Even though the church at Rome was not a part of his ministry…yet…he knew many of the members by name, by character, and by function. In his typical “Paul” way, he did not forget to greet them with affection and to remember their ministry for the kingdom of God. 

There follows a long list of warm and personal greetings…and noticeably including the names of many women who served side-by-side with many men on equal footing in the church. Paul makes no apology from commending them and encouraging recognition and partnership with them in their faithful work for the Lord. 

It must have been quite an adjustment for Paul to make…to follow the example of his Master who had restored to women the dignity and respect with which, and the purpose for which they were originally created…in His treatment of them.  Culture had taught Paul that women were less than men…relegated to second-class humans and of less value and importance than men. 

Jesus had turned that notion on its head by giving women their rightful place in their world. Now Paul followed by acknowledging the women who played a major role in the fellowship and ministry of the church in Rome. 

“I commend to you our sister Phoebe, who is a deacon in the church in Cenchrea. Welcome her in the Lord as one who is worthy of honor among God’s people. Help her in whatever she needs, for she has been helpful to many, and especially to me….Give my greetings to Mary, who has worked so hard for your benefit… Give my greetings to Tryphena and Tryphosa, the Lord’s workers, and to dear Persis, who has worked so hard for the Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭1‬-‭2‬, ‭6‬, ‭12‬ ‭NLT‬‬

And so, there followed name after name of men and women whom Paul honoured and greeted with affection. 

Paul’s final words, in this letter, were words of warning against those who deliberately caused division in the fellowship. Since unity was the goal, division was a real danger to God’s people. 

“And now I make one more appeal, my dear brothers and sisters. Watch out for people who cause divisions and upset people’s faith by teaching things contrary to what you have been taught. Stay away from them. Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

What can do more damage in any fellowship than false teaching? No one can mess with the foundations of the faith without causing great harm to those who are drawn away. 

Paul has made clear, in his writings, that God has entrusted to His people everywhere and throughout time, a sacred deposit. It is a body of truth…to be guarded and kept intact…to be lived…and to be passed on to the next and every succeeding generation. He urged Timothy to “guard the deposit”, sometimes called “the faith”…the complete and all-inclusive body of teaching upon which we depend for life and godliness. 

No-one may add to or subtract from this package of truth without incurring serious consequences. 

“And I solemnly declare to everyone who hears the words of prophecy written in this book: If anyone adds anything to what is written here, God will add to that person the plagues described in this book. And if anyone removes any of the words from this book of prophecy, God will remove that person’s share in the tree of life and in the holy city that are described in this book.”

‭‭Revelation‬ ‭22‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NLT‬‬

A final greeting and a prayer conclude this letter. Despite all the tests, trials, hardships, and battles in this life, Satan is already a defeated foe…and the followers of Jesus will have their  day when the devil is finally dispatched through the victory Jesus won for them. 

“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. May the grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.”  

Romans 16:20 NLT

Paul’s Gentile readers had every reason to rejoice because their salvation was no afterthought.  God had them in His sights before time began. 

“Now all glory to God, who is able to make you strong, just as my Good News says. This message about Jesus Christ has revealed his plan for you Gentiles, a plan kept secret from the beginning of time. But now as the prophets foretold and as the eternal God has commanded, this message is made known to all Gentiles everywhere, so that they too might believe and obey him. All glory to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, forever. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭16‬:‭25‬-‭27‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Finally, letter to the Roman church comes to an end…for Paul and Tertius, Paul’s “ghost writer”…but not for every reader in every succeeding generation. The message lives on…the power of the gospel still works…ands only eternity will reveal the impact of Paul’s words to a congregation in Rome, written in the first century but still alive today. 

ROMANS…PARTNERSHIP – 27

Bible Study, ,

“Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit. Pray that I will be rescued from those in Judea who refuse to obey God. Pray also that the believers there will be willing to accept the donation I am taking to Jerusalem. Then, by the will of God, I will be able to come to you with a joyful heart, and we will be an encouragement to each other. And now may God, who gives us his peace, be with you all. Amen.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭30‬-‭33‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul was deeply conscious of his dependence on fellow believers to help him by praying for the strength and wisdom to execute his mission. He was no loner. As much as he was the trail-blazer, he was also the leader who not only led by example but carried the people with him in his mission to the Gentiles. 

Paul kept his beloved churches informed of his movements and encouraged them to participate with him in the work of his ministry. Everyone played an important part. There were those who accompanied him and those who remained behind to pray for him. 

Paul also directed their prayers. Obviously, there were concerns that he wrestled with…always aware of the dangers that faced him…and the unpredictability of the people he was interacting with…even in the churches. Not everyone who claimed to be a believer was genuine or mature in his faith and behaviour. There were always those who had ulterior motives in their association with the church. 

Paul knew this. He had experienced the false teaching that had crept in as well as the fiery opposition that had threatened his life, especially from his own fellow Jews. He needed the prayer backing and covering from his brothers and sisters in Christ…their love for him urging them to intercede for him at the throne of grace. 

I wonder how many pastors take this partnership seriously enough today to follow Paul’s example. How many pastors are humble enough to recognise their need for their own congregation to back them up in prayer? How many of God’s servants admit their weakness, and take their congregation into their inner world of insecurity, doubts, and fears. 

Pastors are also human. They wrestle with issues just like everyone else. They are not exempted from the tests and trials every human faces. Their lives can be very lonely without the loving prayers of their own people. If not everyone, at least there are trusted people who can partner with them in their struggles, as Paul had. 

It surprises me that Paul was not embarrassed to share his heart with the whole congregation…in an open letter…expressing the  awareness of his weakness and need. He trusted that, in God’s grace, some would love him enough to care about his humanness…and faithfully support him in his request for prayer. 

“The Apostle Paul frequently asked other believers for prayer partnership, modelling the belief that collective prayer strengthens ministry and brings glory to God. His most famous request is found in Romans 15:30, where he pleads for the church to join him in a “struggle” or “strive together” in prayer. 

“Here are Paul’s key Bible verses about prayer partnership:

  • Romans 15:30: “I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to join me in my struggle by praying to God for me.” (NIV) 
  • 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2: “Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.” (NLT)
  • Ephesians 6:18-19: “…Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests… Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.” (NIV)
  • Colossians 4:3: “And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…” (NIV) 

(Source: Google AI)

Paul both recognised his need for prayer backing and expressed his gratitude when prayers on his behalf were answered. 

“In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead. And he did rescue us from mortal danger, and he will rescue us again. We have placed our confidence in him, and he will continue to rescue us. And you are helping us by praying for us. Then many people will give thanks because God has graciously answered so many prayers for our safety.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭1‬:‭9‬-‭11‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Surely, Paul’s witness is enough to urge us on to partner with our spiritual leaders in their commission to shepherd the church and to spread the gospel in a hostile world. 

To be continued

ROMANS…PLANS – 26c

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“But before I come, I must go to Jerusalem to take a gift to the believers there. For you see, the believers in Macedonia and Achaia have eagerly taken up an offering for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were glad to do this because they feel they owe a real debt to them. Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially. As soon as I have delivered this money and completed this good deed of theirs, I will come to see you on my way to Spain. And I am sure that when I come, Christ will richly bless our time together.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭25‬-‭29‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Paul’s plans were elaborate, detailed, and worked out to the last minute…or so he thought. First, Jerusalem…to deliver a money gift from the churches in Macedonia and Achaia to the church in Jerusalem…to show their love and solidarity in a time of trial. 

Paul interrupted the declaration of his plans with an explanation that shows how connected the churches were, even across many miles in the Roman Empire. There was no such thing as denominational differences, separating God’s people from one another by walls of theological interpretations. The church across the empire was one body, functioning in small cells but aware of and caring for one another in a hostile world. 

Some of the churches in Macedonia and Achaia had collected money, poor as they themselves were, to help the believers in Jerusalem during a time of famine. Paul gives details,in his second letter to the Corinthians. 

“Now I want you to know, dear brothers and sisters, what God in his kindness has done through the churches in Macedonia. They are being tested by many troubles, and they are very poor. But they are also filled with abundant joy, which has overflowed in rich generosity. For I can testify that they gave not only what they could afford, but far more. And they did it of their own free will. They begged us again and again for the privilege of sharing in the gift for the believers in Jerusalem. They even did more than we had hoped, for their first action was to give themselves to the Lord and to us, just as God wanted them to do.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Such was their concern that they entrusted their gift to Paul…and it would take Paul many weeks of travel to deliver their gift. This interruption formed part of his travel plans. 

Why was this important to Paul? The gift came from Gentile believers who owed their Jewish brothers and sisters a debt of gratitude. 

“Since the Gentiles received the spiritual blessings of the Good News from the believers in Jerusalem, they feel the least they can do in return is to help them financially.” 

Nothing was taken for granted. They were one body. When one part suffered, they all suffered. They were aware of each others’ needs and did something about it despite their limited resources and the distance separating them. 

How different from the fragmented church in our world today! We can send money across the globe at the click of a button. We can gather and send information faster than we can blink. And yet…we huddle together to protect our theological integrity as though we have no link to the rest of the body of the Lord Jesus. We only fellowship with like-minded people and treat other groups as strangers and foreigners. 

What is the answer? I don’t know? 

We have access to the throne of God through prayer…and Paul’s encouragement to pray for all believers everywhere should spur us on. 

“Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭6‬:‭18‬ ‭NLT‬‬

 Perhaps this is the place to start…Using our access to information and prayer…the most powerful gift we have from God…we can join with Him and entreat Him to unify and purify His church as we prepare for Jesus’ return. 

Will Jesus’ prayer be answered?

“I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message. I pray that they will all be one, just as you and I are one—as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me. “I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one. I am in them and you are in me. May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me.”

‭‭John‬ ‭17‬:‭20‬-‭23‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Yes! Our unity is determined, not by the peripheral things that divide us, but by the one unifying confession…and the life that flows from it…

“If you openly declare that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is by believing in your heart that you are made right with God, and it is by openly declaring your faith that you are saved….Jew and Gentile are the same in this respect. They have the same Lord, who gives generously to all who call on him. For “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬-‭10‬, ‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Even in the record of Paul’s plans, we glean truths that help us to navigate our lives as the body of Christ. We are one world-wide family…joined together by our confession of Jesus as Lord…united by prayer and participation, as and when we can. We are witnesses to the world by our love and unity, preparing for our Lord‘s return by our obedience to His command to love one another and to be faithful to Him. 

This is simple but not easy but… we have His Spirit and His grace to carry us through to our destination and goal. 

To be continued 

ROMANS…PURPOSE – 26b

Bible Study, ,

am a special messenger from Christ Jesus to you Gentiles. I bring you the Good News so that I might present you as an acceptable offering to God, made holy by the Holy Spirit. So I have reason to be enthusiastic about all Christ Jesus has done through me in my service to God. Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them. They were convinced by the power of miraculous signs and wonders and by the power of God’s Spirit. In this way, I have fully presented the Good News of Christ from Jerusalem all the way to Illyricum.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭15‬:‭16‬-‭19‬ NLT

Paul was never ashamed to boast about the work he was doing among the Gentiles. After all, was he not a servant under authority, not only obeying what his Master told him to do…but also empowered by his Master and expecting the results of his obedience? Why should he not boast? But…he bragged about Jesus, not himself. 

The results of his labour were out of his hands. Paul understood his mission. He was in partnership with Jesus through the Holy Spirit in him. His role was to preach the message of Jesus and to anticipate a harvest because the gospel message which was entrusted to him, was powerful and effective in changing lives. 

Imagine that! In Paul, Jesus had a willing and obedient partner who had placed himself in the hands of the one who could do wonders through his words and deeds. We have, in Paul’s witness, a confirmation of the place of signs and wonders in the work of the gospel. 

As I have often mentioned, miracles, in the work of Jesus on earth…and in the ministry of those whim He sent to continue His work…was never to attract attention, to have healing campaigns, or to elevate certain “specially gifted” people. God worked miracles through humans, both through Jesus on earth and through those to whom He has entrusted His mandate, to reveal Jesus’ identity as the Son of God and to authenticate the ministry of His servants. Miracles were never an end in themselves but signs that pointed to someone and something bigger. 

First, miracles were signs that identified Jesus as the Son of God. 

“In biblical accounts, the miracles of Jesus were never intended to be mere magic tricks; they were deliberate, profound signs pointing to His true identity as the Messiah and the Son of God. These acts revealed His divine authority and fulfilled ancient Old Testament prophecies.” 

“The purpose of these miraculous signs can be understood in three main ways:

  • Fulfillment of Prophecy: The miracles served as tangible proof that Jesus was the promised Messiah. When John the Baptist sent disciples to ask if Jesus was the one to come, Jesus pointed to His works: the blind receiving sight, the lame walking, and the dead being raised. These actions fulfilled specific prophecies, such as those in Isaiah 35. 
  • Demonstration of Divine Power: Jesus displayed authority over every sphere of life. He commanded nature (calming the storm, walking on water), spiritual forces (casting out demons), sickness (healing the blind and paralyzed), and even death itself (resurrecting Lazarus). These acts proved that He possessed the power of God. 
  • Invitations to Believe: In the Gospel of John, miracles are often explicitly called “signs”. They pointed beyond the physical act to a spiritual reality, challenging observers to recognize Him as the “Light of the World” or the “Resurrection and the Life”, ultimately inviting people to place their faith in Him for eternal life.” (Source: Google AI)

Second, miracles confirmed Jesus’ word. 

“The phrase “miracles confirmed the word” primarily refers to the biblical truth found in Mark 16:20, where it is recorded that the disciples went out and preached, and “the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs following.” 

In Christian theology, these miracles—such as healings, casting out demons, and supernatural signs—were not seen as ends in themselves. Instead, they served specific, vital purposes: 

  • Authentication: They provided divine proof that the messengers were sent by God and that their message was true.
  • Validation: They physically demonstrated the power of the Gospel, showing “show and tell” evidence that God’s kingdom had arrived.
  • Expansion: They caught the attention of the public, leading thousands to place their faith in Jesus Christ.

(Source: Google AI)

Jesus said to the unbelieving Pharisees…

“But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬ ‭NLT‬

…and promised His disciples…

“These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭16‬:‭17‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Third, miracles authenticated the ministry of the apostles…

“So what makes us think we can escape if we ignore this great salvation that was first announced by the Lord Jesus himself and then delivered to us by those who heard him speak? And God confirmed the message by giving signs and wonders and various miracles and gifts of the Holy Spirit whenever he chose.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭2‬:‭3‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

Fourth, miracles are not intended to create faith but to follow faith…

“The phrase “do not seek signs and wonders” generally refers to Jesus rebuking people for demanding miraculous proof before they will believe. This sentiment appears in several key Bible verses: 

  • Matthew 16:4: Jesus states, “A wicked and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of Jonah”. [1]
  • John 4:48: Jesus says to a royal official, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will never believe”. 
  • Matthew 12:38-39: When the Pharisees asked for a miraculous sign, Jesus replied that seeking signs from a place of disbelief characterizes an “evil and adulterous generation”. 

These verses are often interpreted as an encouragement to build faith based on God’s word and character rather than relying solely on supernatural spectacles for proof.” (Source: Google AI)

So, Paul was big on boasting but never because of his own power or spirituality. He was always glad to put His Master on display. He spoke much about himself but always as a servant, an instrument in God’s hands to accomplish God’s will in God’s way…whether it meant suffering or  loss in the process. 

“Yet I dare not boast about anything except what Christ has done through me, bringing the Gentiles to God by my message and by the way I worked among them.”

Paul’s life was an offering to God…a sacrifice which he made gladly because he himself was the recipient of grace and mercy. What a motive and an intention to live by!

To be continued