Encounter the Truth

Jonathan Griffiths

An Unsettling Arrival, Part 1

February 24, 2024

John the Baptist heralds the Lord’s arrival. Many might have expected the arrival of the Lord’s salvation to be news of pure comfort, but his arrival will actually be uncomfortable for everyone: he will refine his people and judge his enemies. The right response to the arrival of Jesus’ Kingdom is to repent—for this kingdom will be made up of those who repent and show fruit.

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In many ways, the prayer of Psalm 72 was fulfilled in the life of King Solomon. But like his father, David, Solomon did not live up to all the hopes invested in him. He was not the perfect king—he was not the ultimate hope of Israel. And because no Old Testament king ever fulfilled all the hopes and promises set out in God’s Word for that perfect king, the people of Israel continued to wait and look for their Messiah to come.
February 23, 2024
In many ways, the prayer of Psalm 72 was fulfilled in the life of King Solomon. But like his father, David, Solomon did not live up to all the hopes invested in him. He was not the perfect king—he was not the ultimate hope of Israel. And because no Old Testament king ever fulfilled all the hopes and promises set out in God’s Word for that perfect king, the people of Israel continued to wait and look for their Messiah to come.
February 22, 2024
The psalmist who wrote Psalm 42 is far from home—he feels far from the people and the Lord he loves—and he is facing opposition in a hostile land. He is homesick in every way—socially, geographically, spiritually. If we have our sights set on our heavenly home—if we are longing for the day when we will see the Lord face-to-face—if we are a people who know the pressures of this world and the opposition of the Lord’s enemies—each one of us will know a feeling of spiritual homesickness—a longing for heaven.
February 21, 2024
The psalmist who wrote Psalm 42 is far from home—he feels far from the people and the Lord he loves—and he is facing opposition in a hostile land. He is homesick in every way—socially, geographically, spiritually. If we have our sights set on our heavenly home—if we are longing for the day when we will see the Lord face-to-face—if we are a people who know the pressures of this world and the opposition of the Lord’s enemies—each one of us will know a feeling of spiritual homesickness—a longing for heaven.
February 20, 2024
We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb."
February 19, 2024
After baby Jesus is born, God makes him the fulfilment and embodiment of his plans for his ‘son’ Israel, whom he previously called out of Egypt. As the story progresses, we will see how he is faithful in that calling where Israel was not. Ultimately, Matthew will show us that the salvation of God’s people rests entirely on the faithfulness of Jesus in his calling to be God’s true ‘son’.
February 17, 2024
We see bad people not only getting away with doing bad things, but prospering and flourishing as they do so. And if we’re honest, it gets to us at least some of the time. This feeling is nothing new. It’s what prompted King David to write this Psalm. And he has this to say about it: "Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! For they will soon fade like the grass and wither like the green herb."
February 16, 2024
David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."
February 15, 2024
David knows that the Lord is committed to protecting those of his covenant community; he knows that God is a God of faithfulness to his people; a God of mercy to those who call on him. If we are sensible and wise people, we will want to join David and cry out to the Lord as he cries out, "Keep me safe, O God."
February 14, 2024
Patience is vital to our understanding of who God is and what he is like. Were it not for God’s patience, you and I would not be here at all. Each one of us is the beneficiary of the extraordinary patience of God.
February 13, 2024
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Featured Offer

Do You Find Yourself in Stormy Waters?
In this FREE PDF from Encounter the Truth Ministries, discover TRUE stability and hope that's found in God and how you can face the storms of life with confidence.

About Encounter the Truth

Through faithful teaching of the Scriptures, Encounter the Truth seeks to facilitate encounters with the truth of God’s Word—and ultimately, with the Lord Jesus Christ, who is the Truth that came down from heaven. Our prayer is that those who do not yet know Jesus will come to a saving knowledge of the truth, that believers will be established in the truth, and that, through this, local churches will be strengthened.

About Jonathan Griffiths

Jonathan Griffiths serves as Lead Pastor of the Metropolitan Bible Church in Ottawa, Canada, sits on the Council of the Gospel Coalition Canada, and gives leadership to the Timothy Trust, which exists to promote expository Bible ministry. He loves to train and mentor developing leaders for gospel ministry. Jonathan studied theology at the University of Oxford and completed his Ph.D. on Hebrews at the University of Cambridge. He takes a keen interest in current affairs, not least politics and economics. He and his wife, Gemma, have three children.

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