Career Choices – Medicine
In a study carried out by the British Medical Association in 2016, the top three reasons given for studying medicine were: helping other people (52%), interest/aptitude for sciences (45%) and doing work valued by society/others (30%). Other reasons or influences in making the choice include family members or friends who are doctors, intellectual challenge, and […]
Jehoiada
Jehoiada the priest was a thoroughly versatile individual: childcare provider, military strategist, educator, matchmaker, clerk of works, treasurer. You name it, Jehoiada did it. He embodied Solomon’s advice – ‘Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might’, Eccles. 9. 10, ESV. Before we study Jehoiada, let’s consider the historical context. After the […]
Special Dispensation
‘And so we went toward Rome’, Acts 28. 14. In our studies of the dispensations we have considered ways in which God, at different stages in history, has placed certain requirements upon mankind. We have seen that God’s demands have never been unreasonable, and in every dispensation there have been people who pleased Him. Nevertheless, […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to another issue of Young Precious Seed. I hope you find it as interesting as I did as I edited the articles. In this issue, we have come to the end of the series on the dispensations. I hope that you have found it interesting, thought provoking and helpful. My thanks to the author […]
Let Her Alone – Part 2
Reading: John 12. 1-9a The pouring of the ointment By reading the complementary accounts, we discover this ointment was in an alabaster box. Implied in the words ‘she brake the box’, Mark 14. 3, is that of complete devotion. Once the neck of that vessel was snapped and the contents outpoured, there was no gathering […]
‘I am glad’ – Rom. 16. 19
‘For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil’, Rom. 16. 19’. ‘I am glad’ is a familiar expression, usually linked with a pleasing circumstance. It might be used trivially in response […]
Attending and Participating in the Assembly
The New Testament is clear that believers were baptized and then sought fellowship with other believers in assemblies of Christians, Acts 2. 42. However, the scriptures also teach that once added to the local church, fellowship was not a passive experience. Rather, each believer was to be active in the work of the local church. […]
Zadok
Apart from having a Handel coronation anthem named after him,1 Zadok the priest is most distinguished for officiating at the start of king Solomon’s reign, during the planning and construction of the temple at Jerusalem. Various priests are mentioned throughout 1 and 2 Samuel; it seems there were several priestly communities, for example at Nob, […]
Career Choices – The Police Force
As I look back over the past 27 years as a police officer I am filled with gratitude at the goodness of God. I am so thankful to the Lord for leading me into this profession and his continual guiding and guarding throughout. Truly I have been ‘Kept by the power of God’. When applying […]
The Dispensation of the Fullness of the Times
7. Kingdom ‘And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed’, Daniel 2. 44a. Throughout history, God has been reaching out to man, in the hope that man might seek the Lord, Acts 17. 27. When man has failed to do this, God […]
Editor’s Introduction
Another year and here we are again! Time speeds on and things change. For some of our readers, life is still getting busier and things are exciting. There will, however, be some who find the current season of life more difficult, and hard to handle. I hope that, as you read this first issue of […]
Let Her Alone – Part 1
Reading: John 12. 1-9a Mary’s outpouring of worship was the subject of divided opinion. Though deemed as waste by man, it brought tremendous pleasure to the heart of God. Her unparalleled appreciation of Christ was clearly manifested by way of this costly deed. The subject of worship – her approach As Christ in all His […]
‘I am persuaded’ – Rom. 14. 14
In a previous article we looked at the first time in Paul’s Epistle to the Romans he uses the phrase, ‘I am persuaded’. This is about the absolute security of believers; Paul is persuaded that nothing ‘shall be able to separate us from the love of God’, Rom. 8. 38, 39. We also quoted Wuest’s […]
Praying
I have found prayer the most difficult discipline in spiritual life. Perhaps one of the reasons the testimony of local assemblies is weak is because fewer saints than ever before have a serious prayer life. Do you regularly pray for the assembly, for the overseers, and for lost souls? The Lord Jesus taught that believers […]
Eli
When I visit the zoo, I enjoy going to the reptile house – the lizards appear to move so slowly. They remain fixed in one position for minutes at a time, without even blinking. Eli the priest reminds me a little of this reptilian behaviour – often, as we encounter him in scripture, he is […]
Grace
‘If indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you’, Eph. 3. 2 NKJV God never changes. God’s holy standards never change. But, at times, God does change the way in which He conducts His affairs with mankind. In the Old Testament, God set Israel […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to YPS November 2019. By the time you read this, we will be well on the way into winter. I like most of the seasons of the year despite the changeable weather we experience in the UK. Some people don’t like winter but I like the opportunity (usually after a busy day and evening) […]
Faith, Meekness, Temperance
Faith or faithfulness One of my favourite hymns of the twentieth century is ‘Great is Thy faithfulness’, which was written by Thomas Chisholm in 1925 in testimony to God’s faithfulness to him during his ‘very ordinary’ life. The scripture referred to1 in the hymn shows that God never forgets to be kind to us, and […]
‘I am persuaded’ – Rom. 8. 38
Many aspects of life include persuasion. From trivial matters, such as choosing one brand over another when shopping, to the important decisions of life, being persuaded, or convinced, is key to arriving at a conclusion. In Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, he uses the phrase ‘I am persuaded’ three times in relation to important spiritual […]
The Reading and Studying of God’s Word
Any progress in the life of a believer will begin with reading God’s word! The New Testament is clear that the Bible is the word of God. God does not usually speak through the miraculous today; instead, he speaks through His word, 2 Tim. 3. 16. Therefore, you will face difficulties if you profess to […]
Phinehas
Phinehas was the grandson of Aaron and the son of Eleazar, 1 Chr. 6. 3, 4. As such, Phinehas became the third man to wear the High Priest’s holy garments ‘for glory and for beauty’, Exod. 28. 2. However, Phinehas did not merely look beautiful – he possessed a beautiful character. We presume that Phinehas […]
Law
‘What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made’, Gal. 3. 19 NKJV. In the opening sixty-nine chapters of the Bible, mankind was tested by God under various stewardships. Under innocence, conscience, government and promise, man failed. In Exodus chapter […]
Editor’s Introduction
Welcome to YPS August 2019. It’s the summer so, hopefully, you will have more time to study YPS and the main magazine thoroughly. If you are like me, that ‘more time’ scenario never quite materializes. There is always something else that demands our time and attention. So, instead, will you make time to read? The […]
Elements of Church Truth
In a day and age when an ecumenical spirit pervades modern Christendom, ecclesiology is relegated to individual preference, and people take a pick-and-mix approach as to what church they should join. We all need reminding of what the Bible teaches on this particular topic. Is church truth up for grabs or has God mandated how […]
Longsuffering, Gentleness, Goodness
This is a continuation of our YPS series on the fruit of the Spirit based on Galatians chapter 5 verses 22 and 23. Longsuffering A recent news article about the appalling Syrian civil war, described how that the ‘longsuffering’ people of Aleppo had borne the brunt of the devastation there. The word ‘longsuffering’ accurately conveys […]
Principles for Progress – Introduction
In this series of articles, we are going back to basics for individual and corporate Christian growth. Most intelligent young believers accept that local assembly testimony is much weaker than it should be in the United Kingdom. There are exceptions, for which we give God thanks, but, in many places, ground has been lost in […]
Government and Promise
‘When the Most High divided their inheritance to the nations, when He separated the sons of Adam, He set the boundaries of the peoples according to the number of the children of Israel’, Deut. 32. 8 NKJV. God has a plan to place a man in authority over the universe. That man is Jesus Christ. […]
Editor’s Introduction
Thanks for picking up YPS this quarter. This is the second issue with the new design. I hope that you like it. It should be easier on the eye, and let you focus on the various articles. So, what do we have for you this month? Well, if you are considering a career in engineering […]
Peace
Peace can be defined as a state of quiet or tranquillity; freedom from disturbance. It is a word commonly used to describe the absence of war or conflict. The Hebrew word is shalom, which is a general, friendly greeting communicated by Jewish people asking after the health and welfare of a person, equivalent to our […]
Peace of God
Last time, we considered the truth that every single person who has put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ has the assurance of peace with God, as Romans chapter 5 verse 1 reminds us, ‘Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’. However, as we look out […]
Aaron
Alphabetically and historically, Aaron was Israel’s number one priest. Older brother of Moses, Egyptian slave turned divine spokesperson, Aaron was individually chosen by God to serve as high priest, Exod. 28. 1. In this article, we will compare and contrast Aaron with the Lord Jesus, our great high priest. Aaron’s sympathy After his solo audience […]
Career Choices – Engineering
Engineering covers a wide spectrum of occupations in various fields. The definition of an engineer is given as ‘a person who, designs, builds or maintains engines, machines or structures’. The field of engineering in which I am employed falls into the latter category of structures. Building services engineering is responsible for the design of the […]
Innocence and Conscience
‘Who told you that you were naked?’ Gen. 3. 11 NKJV. Throughout history God has given mankind various responsibilities, so that man might know what God requires of him, but time after time man has failed in his stewardship. But God will have a man to be a faithful steward of the earth, and of […]
Editor’s Introduction
Hi again; thanks for reading YPS. You will note that we have revamped the style of the insert; hopefully, you will like it. One of the joys of compiling and editing a magazine is that you get the opportunity to read lots of articles. If you enjoy books and articles, then this is a real […]
Joy
Joy is the second attribute described as being part of the fruit of the Spirit. Joy is synonymous with happiness, gladness and delight. Secular thinking promotes the concept that joy comes as a result of pursuing things that produce an inner feeling of happiness. However, the Christian should be careful to ensure that this attitude […]
Our Food
Human bodies need food. Without it, we can only survive for limited periods. Similarly, our souls and spirits need to be fed from the word of God; without it they will wither, and we will not prosper and grow as believers. We have rich assurance that once saved, we cannot be lost, John 10. 28, […]
