Tim Kay

22/11/2024

Hey everyone,

I'm sharing Bible insights daily on threads at the moment. If you're interested, follow the link below.

https://www.threads.net/

08/11/2024

Gateway Baptist is diving into one of my favourite books of the Bible — Esther! They've invited me to share some deeper theological and historical insights into the book on their Sunday Monday podcast. Check it out here:

Podcast · Gateway Baptist Church · Join Sam, Brad and some invited preachers and guests for a deeper dive into the stuff that we didn't get to share in Sunday messages. Each episode, we'll chat about the themes, challenges, and takeaways from this weeks sermons as we dive into segments like "geek ...

08/11/2024

If the Son can only do what He sees the Father doing (John 5:19), then spiritual sight must be so important.

Jesus was able to see what God was doing and join Him in His work. In the same way, we need to develop our ability to see where God is moving around us. We need faith, coupled with spiritual curiosity.

One of the best ways to grow in this, is to simply ask, "Lord, what are you doing?"

Send a message to learn more

17/10/2024

Last Sunday, I preached a message I'm pretty passionate about. It's called "Walking with Jesus." I go through what the Bible says about walking with Jesus, and how to practice walking with Jesus today. And I don't mean that just as a metaphor. I mean really getting out and walking/scooting/wheeling with Jesus.

As we hear from Tim, be encouraged to go for a walk with Jesus this week. The reward for walking with Jesus is walking with Jesus.

16/10/2024

Have you ever stopped to think just how generous God is?

James 1:17 reminds us, “every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth...”

Your Heavenly Father is the source of every good thing you’ve ever experienced — and this all culminates with the gift of new life in Jesus.

This God never changes. He’s the same today — generous, full of initiative, and ready for you to cast your burdens on him in prayer.

14/10/2024

How can I know God’s fullness in my life?

The Book of Ephesians uses the Greek word for “fullness” (πλήρωμα, pleroma) four times. Let’s break it down:

1/ In Ephesians 1:10, we’re told that in the “fullness” of time, God will unite all creation in Christ. Everything is moving towards that ultimate union.

2/ Ephesians 1:23 says God has already placed all things under Christ’s authority, and Christ’s “fullness” now fills all things — He’s present everywhere, holding it all together.

3/ Ephesians 3:19 promises that we can be filled with “all the fullness of God” when we know the love of Christ — a love that surpasses understanding.

4/ Ephesians 4:13 points to the future. Through ministry, unity in faith, and knowledge of the Son of God, we will one day reach the “fullness” of Christ.

Takeaway: Christ fills the universe, and as you learn about his love, you experience more of his fullness in your life.

12/10/2024

The Sword of the Spirit

"...and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God." — Ephesians 6:17

This is the only offensive weapon Paul mentions. While truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation protect us, the sword is how we fight back. It’s the sword of the Spirit—God’s Word, given to us by the Holy Spirit.

When we read or hear God's Word and let the Spirit work it into our hearts, real change happens. We start to reclaim lost ground and grow stronger. The Word of God, applied to our lives by the Holy Spirit, transforms our spiritual, emotional, and mental health.

Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." God's Word guides us through life and equips us to flourish. It’s the most important thing you need.

11/10/2024

The Helmet of Salvation

"Take the helmet of salvation." — Ephesians 6:17

The helmet protects the head, the most vital part of the body. In battle, a blow to the head could be fatal, but our helmet—the helmet of salvation—guards us against that fatal blow.

Salvation is simple but powerful. As Paul says in Romans 10:9, “If you declare with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Not “might” be saved—will be saved.

This assurance protects us from despair, even in the darkest times. No matter what we face, we know that the Lord saves, and that salvation is ours through Jesus. The helmet of salvation reminds us that our eternal destiny is secure, filling us with hope even in the hardest moments.

10/10/2024

The Shield of Faith

"In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one." — Ephesians 6:16

The shield of faith is our fourth line of defence. Roman shields were massive, protecting the whole body, and when soldiers came together, they formed a powerful wall of protection. That’s a reminder—we’re in this together. You’re not on your own.

So, what is the shield of faith? It’s our belief in who God is—our trust in His character, His promises, and His nature. Faith defends us from the enemy’s flaming arrows: temptations to doubt God, question His goodness, or act on that doubt, which is called ’sin.'

When our faith wavers, we need to remind ourselves of who God is. If you’re struggling financially, say “God, I know you’re my Provider.” If it’s health, say, “you’re my healer.” Maybe you need to focus on God as your Friend, Protector, Saviour, Comforter, King. Remember his promise to never leave you, nor forsake you.

How can you do this practically? When doubt or temptation strikes, remind yourself of the aspect of God’s character you need most. Pray, “God, I trust You are my provider, healer, protector. Give me the faith to trust and obey You.”

09/10/2024

The Shoes of Peace

"...and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace." — Ephesians 6:15

Paul tells us to equip ourselves with peace—peace that comes from the gospel of Jesus. This is peace with God, a restored relationship with our Father, and peace from God, that deep inner calm when we realise how much He loves us.

This peace protects us from fear. As Paul says in Philippians 4, God’s peace guards our hearts and minds from anxiety. It frees us from the weight of worry and helps us face the day with confidence.

Paul tells us to think of it like putting on shoes—God’s peace makes us ready to step out into the world. We can move forward, knowing we're safe in God’s love.

So, when fear creeps in, tell God what you’re anxious about. Ask for His peace, and trust that it will make you ready to face whatever comes your way.

08/10/2024

The Breastplate of Righteousness

"With the breastplate of righteousness in place." — Ephesians 6:14

Righteousness is living rightly before God, but none of us have done that. We’ve all sinned. But Jesus lived a righteous life, and at the cross, a double transfer happened: our sin went onto Him, and His righteousness was given to us.

Paul says in Philippians 3 that this righteousness comes through faith in Christ. It’s not our own, but a gift from God. And this righteousness, like a breastplate, protects our hearts from guilt and shame.

Often, in the hardest seasons of life, we become fixated on our mistakes. We feel guilty or ashamed. There’s a place for that. It’s meant to drive us to the cross — and there we lay down our guilt and take up the wonderful righteousness of Christ! The breastplate of righteousness reminds us that Jesus paid the price for our sins and gave us His righteousness in return. It shields our hearts from the weight of guilt and allows us to forgive ourselves.

So, when guilt and shame surface, remember the double transfer. Your sin is paid for — and Christ’s righteousness is yours. Ask God for forgiveness and the strength to wear that righteousness daily, letting it protect your heart.

And forgive yourself! If God has forgiven you, it’s time you did the same thing.

08/10/2024

The Belt of Truth

“Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” — Ephesians 6:14

Truth isn’t just a concept; it’s protection. Protection from lies, especially the ones we believe about ourselves. When the devil tempted Jesus, he attacked his identity: “If you are the Son of God…” And he does the same with us. In tough times, we lose our sense of who we are, believing lies like, “I’m a failure” or “I’m worthless.”

But we need to remember that God’s thoughts about me matter far more than my thoughts about myself. Psalm 8 reminds us that God made us “a little lower than the angels” and crowned us with glory. We are fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139).

So, how do we wear the belt of truth? By noticing when we’re having negative thoughts about ourselves, by turning our attention to what God says about us in his Word, and by trusting that over time, this practice will transform us. Jesus said, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32).

04/10/2024

Why Didn’t Jesus Forgive Judas?

Recently, I was asked a thought-provoking question: Why did Peter receive a second chance after denying Jesus three times, but Judas didn’t? Judas even seems to repent in Matthew 27:3. So, shouldn’t God have forgiven him?

Let’s take a closer look at the verse:

"When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders." (Matthew 27:3)

The first thing to notice is the word "betrayer." Scripture uses different terminology for Judas and Peter. While Peter denied Christ, Judas betrayed Him—a far more significant violation of trust.

The key, however, lies in the phrase "changed his mind" (μεταμέλομαι, metamelomai) in the Greek text. This word doesn’t mean "repent"; it means "regret."

The distinction between regret and repentance is subtle but important. It's all about where you turn when you feel sorry for what you've done.

Judas, in his regret, turned back to the very people he had conspired with, trying to undo what couldn’t be undone. What he needed was to turn to Jesus. That’s repentance.

03/10/2024

In Western culture, Proverbs is often seen as an individualistic self-help guide, but Solomon's introduction suggests a deeper, more communal focus.

Proverbs 1:3
לָקַחַת מוּסַ֣ר הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל צֶ֥דֶק וּ֝מִשְׁפָּ֗ט וּמֵישָׁרִֽים׃
"To receive moral instruction in skillful living, with righteousness, justice, and equity." (NET)

The first part might align with the self-help genre, focusing on discipline and skillful living. In fact, the Hebrew word הַשְׂכֵּ֑ל (translated as "skillful living") can mean achieving success in life.

But then, we encounter three words that stand apart from a self-help focus: righteousness, justice, and equity. These turn our attention outward, emphasising how we interact with society, care for those in need, and uphold justice. The Book of Proverbs isn't just about personal success—it's about how God’s wisdom shapes us to bring God's goodness to the world around us.

02/10/2024

I recently preached a message on what the Bible says about mental health. Specifically, I looked at how the armour of God in Ephesians 6 can be a protective factor in our mental health. I'd love you to have a listen and let me know what you thought.

Join us as Tim explores how the armour of God can be a protective factor in our mental health.

29/09/2024

In the beginning, God didn’t simply create the universe. He spoke it into existence. The sound of his voice created the matter through which the soundwaves exploded forth. The ideas of his heart formed the galaxies and shaped the stars. And after each act of creation, He stopped. He looked at what He had made, and declared, “It is good.”

But there was something else happening — another key part of the creation narrative. God separated. He separated the light from the darkness. He separated the waters above from the waters below. He separated the land from the sea. In giving Adam and Eve the ability to make their own decisions, he drew a line between them and himself.

This is the final step in all creativity — and it’s the hardest step for many of us. At some point, we need to step back and notice what we’ve made and say “yes, this is good and it is separate. It’s different from all other things."

This requires courage -- courage to stop your endless revisions; courage to stop comparing your creative work with others. God’s creativity should inspire our creativity. We must come to the point of separation — when our art can move outside of its context. When we look at what we’ve created and say, “This is good. This is different. This is enough.”

28/09/2024

Have you noticed that God makes two kinds of “rulers” in Genesis 1? On Day 4, he makes the sun and moon to “rule” the day and night. And on Day 6 he makes men and women to “have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

We have two styles of leadership from the first moments of creation. The sun and moon are rulers from afar. They set the seasons in motion and mark the hours of the day. But they remain distant, aloof, silent. They are unaffected by life on earth. They’re the kind of leader who doesn’t know your name.

But humans are called to a different style of leadership. They dwell among the animals over which they have dominion. God has placed them in the thick of things — among the beasts and the trees. And Adam’s first task was to name all of the animals — an act that shows great love for the creatures under his care.

In short, we’re called to rule differently. Our leadership style is close, caring, messy, intimate. It’s not about managing from afar; it’s about relationship and presence.

It’s more about connection than control. And that should be reflected in every aspect of our lives.