Dr. John C. Reddy

Home  “ So all the elders of Israel gathered together and came to Samuel at Ramah. They said to him, ... “Give us a king to lead us,” this displeased Samuel; so he prayed to the LORD.  And the LORD told him: “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected me as their king.  As they have done from the day I brought them up out of Egypt until this day, forsaking me and serving other gods, so they are doing to you.  Now listen to them; but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will claim as his rights.” But the people refused to listen to Samuel. “No!” they said. “We want a king over us.  Then we will be like all the other nations, with a king to lead us and to go out before us and fight our battles.” "  [1  Samuel 8:4-9, 19-20]  A King Demanded  G od called Israel out from the nations around them to  be holy, separate, and unique. He di...

Home  “ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.  For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do.  But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.  Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality,  idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions,  envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."  [Galatians 5:16-21]  Walk by the Spirit  N otice two words in this passage: deeds and fruit. Operating from the part of us not connected to Christ, we do deeds. Our deeds may be religious, but in the end, they will stink. Fruit, however, arrives a different way. You ca...

Home  “ The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. "  [Acts 12:6-7]  ...AND THE CHAINS FELL OFF  S o Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him. ...

Home  “ By the blast of your nostrils the waters piled up. The surging waters stood firm like a wall; the deep waters congealed in the heart of the sea."  [Exodus 15:8]  Israelites Walked on Dry Ground  W hen Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen went into the sea, the LORD brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 15:19 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the waters on foot--come, let us rejoice in him [Psalm 66:6]. The LORD directed the children of Israel southward to Pi Hahiroth, somewhere west of the Red Sea. This made escape from pharaoh seem impossible, but made the miracle of dividing the Red Sea more  marvelous.  Pharaoh thought they were trapped and set out after them with his army. When the children of Israel raised their eyes and saw the Egyptian army marching after them they were naturally petrified, but wisely cried out to the LORD.  Yet, quickly c...

Home  “ My son, do not make light of the Lord’s discipline,  and do not lose heart when he rebukes you,  because the Lord disciplines the one he loves,  and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.” Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father?  If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.  [Hebrews 12:5-8]  God Disciplines His Children  T he passage distinctly states that God’s discipline is a proof of His love, and no son of His escapes chastisement. By remaining submissive to the chastening of God, we permit His discipline to m old us into His image. If we try to short-circuit His dealings with us, He may have to teach us over a longer period of time, using more instructive and consequently, more difficult methods. There are grades in the school of God, and promotion comes only w...