Benjamin Ramsbottom
Benjamin Ramsbottom (1929-2023) was a Strict and Particular Baptist preacher. In 1967, he was appointed pastor of the church meeting at Bethel Strict Baptist Church, Luton, Bedfordshire, a position he held for fifty-five years.
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Seedtime And Harvest
God’s ancient people were an agricultural people. They lived close to the land. That is why you have so many references, both in the Old Testament and the New Testament, to farming, and one thing that continually comes in: the sowing and the reaping, and the harvest time, and often there is that emphasis that as we sow, so also we shall reap.
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The Need Today for Men Like Jonathan
There are two ancient promises in God’s Word. One is this: "How should one chase a thousand, and two put ten thousand to flight?" It is an amazing word, but it was literally fulfilled in what I read to you this morning (1 Samuel 13. 16-23; 14. 1-23). The other ancient promise is this: "The people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits." And that was literally fulfilled here. What an exploit it was! Beloved friends, it is a strange thing that Jonathan did here. It seems in a way more wonderful than what David did with Goliath. Everybody knows the story of David and Goliath, but very few know the story of Jonathan and how singlehandedly he overthrew the Philistines.
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The Blood of Jesus Christ
Beloved friends, here we are on holy ground, at Calvary, at the foot of the cross, we trust by faith. And may we tread with reverence this hallowed ground, and like Moses at the burning bush know what it is spiritually to take our shoes from off our feet. I do feel inadequate to speak on this beautiful word. I do not think I have ever ventured before, though I have looked at it for over fifty years and I hope felt it for more than fifty years. We have to say,
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The Lord’s Gracious Visits
I think this is a most beautiful chapter, the Lord’s appearance to Zacharias, to Elisabeth, to Mary, the wonderful things that were spoken. Everything seems to be a loving foreshadowing of the blessed truths of the Saviour’s birth that immediately follows in the next chapter. There are quite a few fear nots appear, and that is what the Lord’s people need: “Fear not.”
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Not By Might
This must surely be one of the best-known chapters in the minor prophets, and surely this verse that I have read out to you must be one of the most important words in the whole of the Old Testament. There is so much in it; there is everything it. “Not by might, nor by power, but by My Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Let me just remind you of the background to this chapter. God’s ancient people were in great trouble, great sadness, and especially their governor Zerubbabel, both personally and also concerning the state of Israel at that time. It seemed they were disappointed. It seemed there was no answer. It seemed they had failed. It seemed their enemies had prevailed. It seemed…
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The Lord’s Dwelling Place
This is a wonderful chapter, but the second half of it seems completely different. Really, it is an account of the Lord Jesus calling five unworthy sinners to the knowledge of Himself, five unworthy sinners who all later became disciples, and every case completely different. If you carefully look at them, in one case it was John the Baptist’s preaching; in another it was Andrew’s personal testimony; in another it was the Lord Jesus speaking Himself. It is that point which has been emphasised so much here in recent times, and rightly so: the mysterious sovereignty of God in calling sinners by grace. There are no two cases alike. Wherever the Lord works in sinners’ hearts, they are all led to the same place: a…
