Alpha Course

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Our Christmas theme at Bethel this year is “ all I want for Christmas”. The theme didn’t come about by hearing Mariah Carey singing it! but by someone being interviewed about the general election and Brexit and saying “All I want for Christmas is…..confidence”.

As Christians no matter what the election result, and the possibility of leaving the European union, we have confidence, Hebrews 13:8 reminds us, there is only One who will never change:
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.

As Christians, lets pray leading up to election day. Lets make prayer our first response and not our last resort.

1. Let’s pray for our political leaders.
Being a political leader is no small task; the power of politics is paid in stress. As we consider the responsibility of our leaders, let’s pray for wisdom, health, and safety. Paul reminded Timothy to pray for his leaders in 1 Timothy 2:1-2
I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. 2 Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity.

2. Let’s pray for wisdom for ourselves.
As Paul mentions in the verses above, Christians should long to reflect the love of Christ in our actions and opinions. When oppositional views are revealed, our responses should be spoken in loving kindness and truth. Doing this requires great wisdom that can only come from our heavenly Father. Ask the Lord to guide your heart and mouth during this election period so our thoughts and replies to align with His ways.

3. Let’s pray for our nation.
To pray for our nation as a whole brings us together as Christians and this unity is critical. Pray that truth would be the source for every political choice and that Christians would unite our hearts in prayer. Pray that the Truth of God’s Word would be the foundation of our nation and that hearts would turn to God as their guide. We can ask the Lord to help those who trust Him for eternal salvation to trust Him for everyday solutions, remembering Psalm 9:10 :
Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.

4. Let’s praise God for He knows every detail of this election and He is still in control.
As the Psalmist says in the verse above, God has not forgotten His people. His Word promises that He will not abandon us, but will be with us, no matter what party wins and what choices are made. For His steadfast love, we can praise Him for being the One worthy of our trust!

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Music has always been a powerful way to capture human experience and emotion. If you listen to the radio for any length of time, you’ll hear songs about love, songs about heartbreak, songs about overcoming, and songs about quitting.

You’ll hear songs that make you want to dance and songs that make you cry, songs that take you back and songs that push you forward.

As ancient Israel’s songbook, the book of Psalms covers the same wide range of experience. This collection of 150 songs and prayers was written by several men over many centuries.

The writers don’t hide behind cliches and pleasantries. They write honestly about their doubts, their fears, their joy, and their worship.

In reading their prayers and songs, we find words for the feelings we didn’t know how to express, and we get a glimpse at the kind genuine communication God wants with us today.

 

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Our whole faith and the power behind everything we believe and teach are wrapped up in the fact that Jesus died, then rose from the grave. Without a resurrection, Jesus would have been another good intention individual cut down in His prime.
But Easter did happen, and because of that, we can place our trust in God’s promises. Jesus overcame death and established Himself as having authority over all things. That means, when Jesus makes a promise, we can believe Him.

Some promises that are true because the resurrection happened…..

1. I won’t die. “T​hose who trust in the Son possess eternal life; but those who don’t obey the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them”. John 3:36

2. I don’t have to be a slave to sin. “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”. Galatians 5:1

3. I am a new creation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”. 2 Corinthians 5:17

4. I don’t have to fear. “Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection”. 1 John 4:18

5. I don’t have to worry. “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you”. 1 Peter 5: 7

6. God wants good things for me. “​So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together to fit into God’s perfect plan of bringing good into our lives, for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose”.. Romans 8:28

7. I am not alone. “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, never will I leave you; never will I forsake you”. Hebrews 13:5

8. God wants to hear my requests. “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened”. Matthew 7:7-8

9. One day all things will be made right. “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am”. John 14:3

10. God loves me. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”. John 3:16

All of these promises may seem hard to believe. The good news is that the one who promised has proven Himself trustworthy. Every Easter, we are reminded that nothing is too big for God to handle, and nothing can keep Him from us.

The greatest promise of all: Even though we should be eternally separated from God, Jesus came to Earth and gave His life up to bridge the gap between us and God. Jesus chose to reconcile all of us who believe and He was willing to face death and suffering to do so. This Easter let’s celebrate like we have a God that refused to leave us on our own. He is a God of great promises, a God that is faithful.

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On March the 6th sees the start of a six week period leading up to Easter called Lent. Over this period, Bethel Connect Groups will explore and reflect on the connection between Psalm 23 ‘The Shepherd’s Psalm’ – and Jesus as the Good Shepherd in John’s Gospel. The events around Easter inevitably lead us to reflect on how God can turn darkness into light.

If you’re not familiar with what Lent is:
Christians have celebrated Lent for nearly 2,000 years as a way to commemorate Jesus’ death and burial before celebrating His resurrection. One of the main ways people celebrate Lent is through fasting, the practice of abstaining from something you enjoy for a set amount of time.
So why not fast

Fasting is not something we do to make God love us more. No action or attitude can change the depth of Jesus’s love for us, so we shouldn’t try to use spiritual disciplines to gain God’s approval. Neither should we use fasting to gain other people’s approval. God wants our commitment to Him. He doesn’t want an intimate spiritual practice like fasting to become an external show of religious pride ( Matthew 6:17-18)

Three Reasons to Fast

The Bible mentions fasting throughout the Old and New Testaments.
Jesus fasted for 40 days ( Matthew 4:1-4).Nehemiah fasted when he asked for God’s forgiveness and direction (Nehemiah 1:4) (Daniel, Ezra, Moses, the people of Israel, the early Church, and many more fasted (Daniel 9:3, Ezra 8:23, Judges 20:26, Acts 13:2-3).Fasting helps us practice saying “no” to our desires and saying “yes” to Jesus.
Looking at the Bible’s examples, here are three good reasons to start a fast:

1. To Connect with God

In the Bible, fasting is a way to grow a deeper connection with God. It’s a way we show our submission to Jesus and repent for things we’ve done (Joel 2:12-13). Fasting is almost always paired with praying because when we give something up for a set time, we can exchange the time spent preparing a meal and eating with time spent talking and listening to Jesus.

2. To Focus on God

Fasting is about remembering that God comes first in our lives. It helps us practice saying “no” to our desires and saying “yes” to Jesus. When we give something up for Lent, we are more focused on God than things that may distract us. Rather than focusing on a craving for food, we should hunger and thirst for what’s good and true (Matthew 5:6).

3. To Depend on God

Fasting is an opportunity to place complete dependence on God. We have the luxuries of running water, easy access to food, and so much more. We can intentionally step away from something we regularly enjoy to remind ourselves that Jesus provides for all our needs. God is a generous God, and fasting is one way to remember how good He is to us (Philippians 4:19).

Jesus gave Himself to save us from our sin. We can give up a luxury for a set time to remember God’s goodness to us. As we near Easter, let’s remember to set our focus on Jesus and let go of everything that distracts us from Him.
Let’s use the time of Lent to go deeper.

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We are delighted to announce that we have completed on our purchase of Hill House. It’s onwards and upwards from here as we now hold the keys to the next stage of our Bethel journey. We stepped out in faith and are thankful for God’s provision in bringing us to where we are now. We are also thankful for the generosity of spirit of all those who have contributed financially and practically to making this a reality. Bethel has always been more than a building and it is this joyful coming together as a family which will help us continue to transform lives in His strength as we move forward.

The next stage is to renovate the upstairs which should start shortly after tenders have been sought and approved.

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Watching your children grow is amazing. The differences seem minimal day to day. But after a year or two, we can look back and see how much they’ve changed physically and developed mentally.
No one expects a child to grow in one day, yet sometimes we have those expectations in our walk with Jesus. When we meet Jesus, we are made new and we want instant results. But like a child getting bigger, spiritual growth happens over time.

In Mark 4 :26-29,Jesus compares spiritual growth to the way a plant grows:
“…a man scatters seed on the ground. Whether he sleeps or gets up, the seed sprouts and grows, though he does not know how. All by itself the soil produces grain-first the stalk, then the head, then the full kernel in the head. As soon as the grain is ripe, he puts the sickle to it because the harvest has come.”
In this one parable, Jesus teaches us three important things about growing in faith.

3 Ways To Grow Your Faith According To Jesus

1. Give all you’ve got to God’s Word.

Jesus compared God’s Word to a seed. A seed does not start to grow until it is planted. When you asked Jesus into your heart, you planted the seed. Every time we open the Bible and dive into God’s Word the seed is fertilised. Find a time of day that works and immerse yourself in God’s Word.

2. Consistency and commitment will turn into a crop worth harvesting.

The farmer rose day and night. It takes time for a seed to poke through the ground, but just because you can’t see the seed, doesn’t mean it’s not growing. The Word of God changes and grows us without us even knowing it. So approach the Bible each day with patience and expectation. When you don’t understand something, just keep reading or ask a friend. But don’t give up! God is changing you one day at a time.

3. Don’t try to change yourself.

Does the seed try and change by itself? No, and we can’t change by ourselves either. Just like a seed growing, God will change us without us even knowing it!
As Christians, we should be concerned with our spiritual growth, but don’t get discouraged if you don’t grow overnight. Proverbs 13:4 says, “The soul of a lazy man desires, and has nothing; But the soul of the diligent shall be made rich.Be diligent. Listen to God, do what He says, and trust that He is growing you. He will make you into the person He wants you to be one step at a time.

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It seems like everywhere you turn, you are trapped by something. And when you finally get free from one thing, here comes something else. It never seems like you are completely free.

There is hope. Jesus tells us in John 8:35-36, “ Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it for ever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.

Jesus is the only one who can set you free. When you give your life to Him, He provides true freedom. When He sets you free, you are free without question. Jesus replaces your stress with peace. Your pressure with comfort. Your pain with healing. Your depression with joy. Your burdens with relief. Your work with rest. Your worry with calmness. Your despair with hope.

Stand firm in the promise that you have real, true, complete and unquestionable freedom in Jesus.

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Reshaping takes place through two practical disciplines:

• Memorising Scripture
• Reading the Bible daily.

For any transformation to take place, we have to fill our minds with God’s Word then allow it to change how we think. Only then will our minds be renewed so we can more clearly see God’s plan for our lives.

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The highlights

Perhaps more a low-light than a highlight (well – a highlight for the leaders!) was the day 4 morning meeting where Mike Pilavachi asked for everyone who hadn’t showered yet to stand. Let’s just say that the vast majority of our group stood up…

Unmissable this year was the self-service slushy machine. A selection of perhaps 12-14 slushy flavours to mix and match to your heart’s content. All the usual flavours were there like strawberry and lemon & lime, in addition to red bull! We’ve decided that Soul Survivor must hate youth leaders…

The worship

The worship needs a heading of it’s own. It was an amazing experience to worship God with 8,000 other young people and (not so young) youth leaders. We let ourselves go a bit and got lost in wonder. We also prayed for each other and saw God move in some incredible ways – even some healing both in our group and in others at the event.

God kept us all safe and the weather was fantastic the entire time.

Pumped for Soul Survivor 2019! Sign-up sheets will be available soon.

Love & fist pumps,

The Bethel Youth leaders

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My Mum and Dad are among the biggest influences in my life, and I thank them for their godly, positive example. In my teens I gave my life to Christ and was then discipled by David Blank who at the age of 65 was the youth group leader who laid a great foundation in my life.  He went on to give me my first exposure to church leadership and I am grateful for the time he gave me as a young man. I also recall with gratitude the love and care of Vic and Lyn Atkins who demonstrated such a gift of hospitality in their constant open house.

At the age of 23 I joined a Newfrontiers Church in Christchurch, Christchurch Family Church and it was there a greater passion for Jesus was ignited within me in wonderful way. At CFC I encountered humble, gifted leaders such as Tony Goodman and Mike Virgo and had the privilege of spending many hours in their company. Praying, talking and sharing lives with such people has undoubtedly made me a better leader.

Malcolm Duncan, Founder and Director of Church and Community, and our pastor in Bournemouth, is a person who influenced us as a couple and someone we would count as one of our most significant mentors. His counsel to us as a leader and the vision he had for the community cannot be understated. He demonstrated the impact the local church can have on the local community. He, together with his wife Debbie, are still always hugely helpful and encouraging.

Why not take a few moments to ask yourself: Who am I helping to grow? Who are the main influences in my life?

Whatever your age we should ask God to bring men and women into our lives who will help make us into the people He wants us to become.

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Have you ever waited for days, months, or years for an answered prayer, and nothing seems to be happening? You’ve done a lot of good, and still you find yourself in waters too deep to swim. Don’t give up.
In a letter to his church plant in Galatia, Paul writes, “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). When the storms roll in and bad things happen, God is still at work. He has a purpose in the storm and a reason for the wait. Don’t let the weight of the wait keep you from seeing the goodness of God.
Just like a harvest takes time and hard work, the renewing of our hearts comes from seasons of drought, storms, and waiting. Whatever you’re facing today, remember, a harvest is coming.

Three Places to Find Strength When You Feel Like Giving Up:

1. Look to the source.
“Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. In Him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” (John 1:3-5).
God is hope. When it feels like the darkness of life is taking over, look to the source of hope itself—God – and His light will overcome any circumstance you have.

2. Look to community.
“And let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another and all the more as you see the day approaching” (Hebrews 10:24-25).
God did not design us to go through life alone.
We have all been through difficulties at some point in our lives. All around us are people who have been where we are and who can help encourage us by sharing what Jesus has done in their lives. When you feel like giving up, there are people around you to help you through the storm.

3. Look to the future.
“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).
God wants to see us grow, learn to trust Him, and enjoy the life we have. You may not see it now, but you are where you are for a reason. If today is tough, thank God for the blessings He has given you in the midst of the tough time. There is always something to be thankful for! When we thank God for what He has done, it reorients our hearts around what He has done, not what He hasn’t.
When we see His work all around us, it becomes easier to trust Him with the circumstances we’re facing. When we learn to trust Him with today, we grow more hopeful for tomorrow. We don’t give up because we know God never gives up on us.

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So we started out as we meant to go on – a mini Olympics followed by a monster pudding party. A good balance, don’t you think? Who remembers the rivalry of our season of Red Vs Blue? Two house teams going head to head each week from active group games to who-can-make-the-best-queen-made-out-of-plasticine. Obviously! Keep your eyes and ears out for Red Vs Blue 2018/19!

We had Christmas with a difference – no traditional takeaway and Santa visit like in the past. No! We took on a mystery murder evening challenge. Did you work out who killed Santa?!

Then there was the all-you-can-eat Toby Carvery (*mouth watering*), May the Fourth and rock climbing socials.

One of our biggest values in Bethel Youth is RESPECT. We talked a lot about respecting each other, watching out for our friends going through difficult times, and respecting ourselves in a big online world. We also took time on Sundays to talk about who God really is, things to learn from John’s first letter, and we started thinking about how to be open with others about our faith.

We welcomed year 6 newbies in to Bethel Youth at the end of June, took our first Bethel Youth trip to Spree, and waited hand-and-foot on 80-ish hungry guests at our curry fundraiser!

What about new additions? Did you send your pics and tweets to our live social media board on Friday? Has the new XBox One been a good addition? How much do you love Pit? Have you joined us on SnapChat?

It’s safe to say it’s been a good year – and it’s not over yet! The best might be yet to come as we head to the penultimate Soul Survivor Week B!

Who’s excited about Bethel Youth 2018/19?!

Keep in the loop on Facebook, Istagram, SnapChat, WhatsApp & church.me.uk/youth

Much love & fist pumps,

Bethel Youth Leaders

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“O Sovereign Lord,” I said, “I can’t speak for you! I’m too young!”

7 The Lord replied, “Don’t say, ‘I’m too young,’ for you must go wherever I send you and say whatever I tell you. 8 And don’t be afraid of the people, for I will be with you and will protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken!” 9 Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,“Look, I have put my words in your mouth!

Jeremiah 1:6-9

Even though Jeremiah was making excuses why he couldn’t serve the Lord, God didn’t give up on Him. He encouraged him by saying, “I am with you and will rescue you.”

As we plan and prepare ahead to the Mission to Wales, it’s natural for us today to do the same thing. We come up with clever excuses why we shouldn’t follow the mission the Lord has given us “to go unto the ends of the earth and spread the gospel.” We say to ourselves and God, “I don’t know enough about the Bible. What will they think of me? I don’t want them talking behind my back. I might lose my job! Let somebody else do it.”

Fear is a great motivator and a greater inhibitor. God immediately saw the fear in Jeremiah’s heart and said, “Do not be afraid of them.” The Bible teaches that “the fear of God is the beginning of wisdom and the fear of man is a stumbling block.” (See Proverbs 9:10 and 29:25.) Allow faith to overcome your fears and be obedient to God. He will not let you down if you are obedient to His calling. He has your back!

God never calls us to do something for Him that He doesn’t empower us to do if we are willing to do the work and time. It’s in these moments your relationship with Him grows, you move up in rank and are assigned harder missions. Your purpose on earth is to shine God’s love to a lost, dying world. Your mission, if you should choose to accept it, is waiting for you! Open your ears and your heart to the Lord and be excited about your new future serving Him in truth and spirit. Mission to Wales June 27th – July 1st

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Our offer’s been accepted and it’s time to get our finances in shape so we can begin the exciting work of refurbishing Hill House building as Bethel’s new home. We are off to a great start with money in hand from Project Fund giving and savings but we need to cover a shortfall in refurbishment costs, fees and charges of £250,000 or more.
Your further generosity could help reduce our borrowing and you will shortly be able to contribute through Special Offerings. Shared contributions such as these, unite us in sowing financially into the Hill House Project and all that God is doing there through us.

Please contact us if you wish to donate towards these costs.

More than anything though, pray for God’s provision. We feel His hand in the process to date, let’s hope and believe in His provision for our every need in the completion of our project.

“You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus”. Philippians 4:19 (MSG)

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When you plant a seed, you expect the fruit of that seed to be what you planted. It would be pretty shocking if you planted a apple tree and a tomato plant started growing. You would feel deceived by the packet and probably where you bought it from. It’s the same with our lives. Our packet may be labelled ‘Christian’ but if we live according to the desires of our sinful nature, we will constantly be scattering fleshly seeds which in turn will bear fleshly fruit. The Apostle Paul in Galatians 5 : 19-21 talks about this.

But then he writes in verses 22-23 22 “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things”!

If we live in the Holy Spirit and by His guiding, we will produce fruit in accordance with His nature. Think about Jesus. His roots were firmly planted in the Father and He truly produced Godly fruit. Jesus was kind, loving and patient to all He met, even the marginalised of society. He was faithful, full of goodness, joy and peace. He was so gentle, taking our burdens and carrying them on the cross for us. Finally, when He was tempted by the enemy, He stood firm and showed self-control to overcome the enemy’s lies. Jesus is still all those things today.

That same Spirit, is the Spirit that lives in us; The person of the Holy Spirit. He lives to guide and lead us and to produce fruit in accordance to God’s nature. Notice that verse 22 doesn’t say that these fruit are something we can produce on our own, but rather it is the Holy Spirit’s indwelling in our hearts and lives that produces these fruit. May we be daily, consciously asking for more of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Not just an infilling but an overflowing of Him in all we do. May the seeds we sow, bear good fruit.” Growing more like Jesus.

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God gives us the gifts of the Spirit to fulfil the purpose of the church — reaching people far from God and teaching them how to follow Jesus step by step. Paul tells us: “All [the gifts] are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines” (1 Corinthians 12:11).

The gifts of the Spirit are beyond our natural physical and intellectual abilities; they are supernatural. They are Jesus working in us. He uses the natural (us) to bring out the supernatural (Him). This happens through our faith in Him and our willingness to share the grace we have been given with others.

A common question is: “How do I know my gift, and how do I use it?” This boils down to finding how God has equipped you to share the grace of Jesus.

Here are three ways to discover your spiritual gifts:

1. Ask God. He created us, knows us best, and gave us our spiritual gifts, so He is the best one to show us what they are.

2. Change your thinking from “What is my gift?” to “How can I give?”

3. Start serving at church, home, work, and the community.   As we begin to serve with the giving mind set of God and the desire to share His grace, we create opportunities for God to reveal our gifts to us.

Whatever your gift, it is heavenly designed just for you. Using your gift is how Jesus’ light shines through you into this dark world.

Think about –

• What is one way you can give in order to find out your gift?
• What is one way you can step out in faith and begin serving those around you?
• If you know your spiritual gift, what is one way you can use it to reveal God’s grace?.

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• The identity question …who am I,
• The longing question … where do I belong , where do I fit in life
• Then the purpose question … what am I living for.

Answer the To answer the Question of Identity  Who am I? the Apostle  Paul reveals to us

• In Christ I have a new identity (1;1)
• In Christ I am a saint (1:1)
• In Christ I am a recipient of grace and peace (1:2)
• In Christ I am blessed with all spiritual blessings (1:3)
• In Christ I have been chosen to be holy from before the foundation of the world (1:4)
• In Christ I have been predestined to be His Child (1.5)
• In Christ I am highly favoured (1:6)
• In Christ I am redeemed (1:7)
• In Christ I am forgiven(1:7)
• In Christ I am expectant (1:9-10)
• In Christ I am sealed with the Spirit (1:13)
• In Christ I have the Spirit as a deposit of the future (1:14)
• In Christ I am greatly loved (2:4)
• In Christ I have come alive (2:5)
• In Christ I’ve been raised up and seated with him in heavenly places (2:6)
• In Christ I am saved by grace through faith (2:8)
• In Christ I am God’s workmanship (2:10)
• In Christ I am a new Creation (2:10)

TO THE QUESTION OF Belonging WHERE DO I BELONG / WHERE DO I FIT IN — Declare these promises

• In Christ I belong to the family of God (1:1-2)
• In Christ I am included in the people of God (1:13)
• In Christ I am part of His body (1:23)
• In Christ I have been brought near to God (2:13)
• In Christ I am part of a new race (2.15)
• In Christ I have access to the Father by the Spirit (2:18)
• In Christ I am a fellow citizen with God’s people (2:19)
• In Christ I am a member of God’s household (2:19)
• In Christ I am part of His holy temple (2:21)
• In Christ I am part of His dwelling place (2:22)

 The Question of  PURPOSE / WHAT AM I LIVING FOR? Declare these truths

• In Christ I have a new purpose in God (1:1)
• In Christ I am to live for the praise of His Glory (1:6,12, 14)
• In Christ I have works that God has planned in advance for me to do. (2:10)
• In Christ I have an assignment from God (3:1-2)
• In Christ I have been uniquely gifted by God (3:2-6)
• In Christ I can be humble and powerful (3:7)
• In Christ I am a servant of the gospel (3:7-8 )
• In Christ I am called to serve the Church (3:10)
• In Christ I am called to serve God’s eternal purpose (3:11)
• In Christ I am called to suffering and glory (3:13)
• The identity question …who am I,
• The longing question … where do I belong , where do I fit in life
• Then the purpose question … what am I living for.
• The answers are all found IN CHRIST

But there is one more amazing thing chapter 1-3 of Ephesians shows us wonderful Prayer  promises

• In Christ I can pray to the Father (1:7;3:14)
• In Christ I can pray for the Spirit of wisdom and revelation (1:17)
• In Christ I can pray to know God better (1:17)
• In Christ I pray to be enlightened (1:18)
• In Christ I can pray to know the hope of his calling (1:18)
• In Christ I can pray to know to know the riches of his inheritance (1:18)
• In Christ I can pray to know the greatness of his power (1:19-20)
• In Christ I can pray to a gloriously rich father (3:24)
• In Christ I can pray for strengthening of the Spirit (3:16)
• In Christ I can pray I can pray to know the indwelling of his presence (3:17)
• In Christ I can pray to be rooted and established in love (3:17)
• In Christ I can pray to know the dimensions of His love (3:18-19)
• In Christ I can pray to be filled to the fullness of God ( 3:19)
• In Christ I can pray knowing that God is able to immeasurably more than I ask or imagine (3:20)
• In Christ I can pray knowing that all the glory goes to him, for ever and ever . (3:21)

And in light of all those truths and promises over and upon our lives and in our lives because of Christ Jesus … paul begins Ephesians 4 :1  by saying ….I therefore ( I light of all this I ), urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,

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  In a similar way we see Jesus promising a gift to the disciples that they would not understand and appreciate until later. The disciples did not understand how anything could be better than having Jesus physically with them every day. So, in one of the last conversations Jesus has with His disciples before His death, He warned them about things that were to come. He told them what was going to happen to Him, and He promised them that even when He left, that He would not leave them alone. Jesus knew that the disciples were worried as He talked about His death. In response to this He explained to them why it was necessary for Him to die and the gift He was sending them, the Holy Spirit, who would help them.                                          

Jesus had to finish what He came to do. Without His death, He could not take away our sin and redeem us. Unless He rose again, death would not be defeated for us. Unless He went back to the father, the Holy Spirit would not come to guide us into all truth. What a gift the Holy Spirit is to us. We have the Holy Spirit to comfort us, to teach us truth, and to direct us to Jesus in every moment.                                      

God has given you an amazing gift as a believer. On this Pentecost Sunday you have the Holy Spirit living inside of you. This is an amazing gift that’s proof to us of God’s constant concern, protection, direction and power for each of our lives. Let’s spend a few moments today and thank God for this incredible, amazing gift.                 

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October 22, 2016 Billy Kennedy  – Pastor of Pioneer Church

We’ve been on the streets of Southampton over the past 12 days. Over 550 people have now prayed a prayer of response to Jesus. This is the prayer they’ve prayed:

Lord Jesus. Come into my heart. Forgive me of my sins. Wash me. Change me. Set me free. Let me never be the same again. Lord Jesus. I believe you died for me. Thank you that you rose from the dead and that you now pray for me from heaven. Help me to live for you. And fulfil everything you have called me to do. I thank you that I am now forgiven. And on my way to heaven. In Jesus name. AMEN.

As I said, over 550 people have willingly prayed that prayer (and many hundreds were not interested!). But rather than being met with wholesale enthusiasm I have picked up a fair amount of scepticism and negativity from some quarters. So, let me unpack some of my learning.

We’ve lost the art of evangelism!

Most of the evangelistic endeavours we employ in the western world is event based. We (church leaders) put on events and encourage church members to invite their friends in order that we (church leaders or invited evangelists0 can lead those friends to Christ. We spend lots of money on advertising, hiring venues, bands, entertainers and evangelists. And then we (nearly always) get disappointed because ‘the people’ didn’t bring ‘their friends’. I know that may not be true in your world but it has been the case in mine (and many of my church leader friends).

But this is quite different. Ordinary people mobilised to share the Good News simply to strangers on the street.

The thought of doing this terrified me. I had done this stuff years ago. It was hard work and didn’t really work. So, as I faced the prospect of getting out there again I had to examine my heart and ask why it terrified me so much.

I had to recognise that I had become indifferent to people who didn’t know Christ. My heart had become cold. I also had to recognise that I had lost confidence in the power of the Gospel to change and transform people’s lives. I’d been around church too long trying to fix broken people, helping people with doubt and unanswered prayer and struggling with my own stuff and disappointments. Did I still believe ‘just one touch from the King could change everything’?

And then there was ‘the script’ – this wasn’t the Gospel. It was far too limiting and restrictive

And on top of that there was the question of ‘follow up’. We are about making disciples not simply encouraging people to make a decision.

So, I took my fear, doubts and questions and took the plunge and ‘got out there’.

Context and culture

I’ve reflected on the reasons why many of us find evangelism so hard. I think a lot of it has to do with our (British) context and culture.

Here’s some thoughts.

One of the reasons we (British church members) find it so hard to evangelise – friends or strangers – is because of the predominant cultural values where we live.

We’re British. Reserved. Respecting privacy (wealth means we gain more of it. Remote homes. Higher fences. More ‘space’). Non-offensive. Stoic. Critical (in the positive sense, i.e. we don’t take everything at face value).

Most of us, therefore, don’t want to be approached on the street, and be ‘invaded’ by someone else’s opinions, or sold something we don’t want or asked to fill in some sort of questionnaire.

As well as the heart issues I had to address I had these mental barriers to break through. I wasn’t alone. Not only were we breaking out of our personal comfort zones we were breaking these unspoken cultural values.

I’m not saying we suddenly had to become brash and offensive. But rather bold and confident.

The journey for the church in the UK over the past few decades has seen us learn to love our neighbour and serve our communities in unprecedented ways. We’ve learned that we do this with ‘no strings attached’. We don’t care for the orphan to ‘get them saved’ but because we recognise their intrinsic worth as a human being and we proclaim by our actions the reality of the coming Kingdom.

As we have partnered with local authorities and central government we’ve had to make clear that our goal is not to proselytise but to serve.

So moving from that environment to evangelism on the streets takes another mental leap. The two Archbishops – Sentamu and Welby – have really helped me here. They both regularly mix with government, royalty, other faith leaders and business leaders. As I have observed them in those contexts they speak diplomatically but as I observe in other contexts (and in the case of John Sentamu, on the streets) I hear them freely talk about Jesus, faith and the challenge of discipleship. It’s what people expect of them.

So I had to break through this barrier and get comfortable with the fact (again) that I’m first and foremost a ‘minister of the Gospel of Jesus’ and people expect me to talk about Jesus.

At this year’s Pioneer leaders conference I talked about the way the Methodist movement saw a huge growth in membership and influenced societal change in the 19th century. Both elements were critically important. An evangelistic zeal that saw 1000s of people come to Christ and people of influence changing legislation, setting up organisations to meet society’s challenges and using their wealth for the benefit of others.

So, I’ve realised we just need a bit of boldness wrapped in genuine love. We’ve spent too long in meetings asking for ‘more’, making declarations and then hoping God does something sovereignly that doesn’t involve us. In Acts 4 the church prayed for ‘more’. The Lord answered their prayers and sent the Holy Spirit AND gave them boldness to speak. When they spoke they saw fruit.

We have been silent for too long. These last few days have shown me that we need to get our tongues loosened.

The truth it’s not just about the ‘streets’. We’ve been silent for too long with our neighbours, family members, work colleagues and school friends.

It’s time to find our voice

What on earth is happening?

I have probably had more feedback and questions about two very specific things – ‘the script’ and ‘follow up’.

Before I tackle those I want to share some thoughts on the wider perspective of what I sense the Spirit is doing.

Firstly let me say there does appear to be something quite unprecedented going on with ‘The Turning’. The sheer numbers of people responding with a willingness to pray the prayer I outlined in part 1 is staggering. Over 1800 in Reading in 4 weeks, 650+ in Liverpool in 2 weeks and now over 550 in Southampton. I don’t think the UK has witnessed this level of responsiveness since the Billy Graham crusades of the 1950s/60s and the Jesus Movement in the late 60s/early 70s.

So, it’s important that we take time to look at a wider perspective of what the Spirit is doing. I think there is more going on than we see.

I find the timing interesting.

The EA, HOPE and the CfE recently produced the ‘Talking Jesus’ report which highlighted the challenges facing the church with regards the perception of the wider population to Jesus and faith. And then, the two Archbishops, in partnership with 24-7prayer, called the (Anglican) church to set aside the week leading up to Pentecost as a ‘week of prayer for Christians to find fresh confidence and boldness to share their faith’. It was a huge ‘success’. Over 5,000 prayer rooms were set up with an estimated 100,000 people involved from a wide range of churches.

A few weeks later news began to trickle out about tens of people responding to Christ on the streets of Reading every day. A Baptist Church? A Nigerian Scot or Scottish Nigerian (as Yinka refers to himself)? An American evangelist? Reading

Was the Lord answering our prayers?

Lynn Green, the General Secretary of the Baptist Union, brought a prophetic word to the church in Reading a few months previously about an outpouring in Reading that would affect the nation. (You can watch a video of Lynn delivering the word on Yinka’s Facebook page). By Lynn’s own admission it’s not what she normally does or how she normally operates.

That’s why when things began to ‘kick off’ in Reading Yinka soon began to realise ‘this was that that was spoken of by the prophet’. Yinka quickly sought to engage other churches in the city (another hallmark of what seems to happening) as he realised this was way bigger than one local church’s outreach.

It’s easy to be put off or take offence by ‘style’ and I know some people were. I went to Pensacola with my friend, Matt Hyam, in the late 90s. We hated the style. But after working through our cultural discomfort we both had incredible encounters with God.

I have been hugely impressed with the way Yinka and the church in Reading have taken responsibility to steward what God is doing. 31 towns and cities in the UK have requested that Yinka brings a team to work with them.

So, what do I think is happening?

I think God is responding to the prayers of many over many years. I also believe the church’s engagement with the least and most forgotten in recent years has pleased the heart of God. It’s what the church is called to do and should always be doing.

The heart for unity, so evident in so many places, is according to Psalm 133, the signal for God’s blessing. As we have humbled ourselves and recognised our brothers and sisters in Christ He is empowering his church with a fresh confidence and boldness.

This is about the Body. The ministry gifts given to the church listed by Paul in Ephesians 4 are to equip the ‘saints for works of service.

At the same time political, economic and institutional challenges have created an openness and hunger in people’s hearts for something more.

What we’re witnessing on the streets is the result/fruit of all the above.

The scattering of seed on well ploughed soil. The watering of seeds that have already been planted and, in some cases, we are seeing the harvest. It’s all happening at the same time.

Amos 9:13 ‘The days are coming’, declares the Lord, ‘when the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman and the planter by the one treading grapes. New wine will drip from the mountains and flow from all the hills’.

I think we’ll see the real fruit in the church of this time in the next 5 – 10 years if we stay committed to share the Gospel – with our words and actions – and consistently share the ‘way of salvation’ with those around us.

The script!

As I’ve said one of the things people have struggled with on hearing about what’s happening on the streets is ‘the script’ that the team uses.

A friend of mine, Philip Emerson, leads Emmanuel Church in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. At the beginning of the year he encouraged every church member to ask the Lord for the opportunity to lead one person to Christ in 2016. The main feedback he received was that a lot of people wouldn’t know what to do. So, they developed a simple tool – a set of cards with some Bible verses and a prayer to lead someone to faith in Christ.

The script is simply that. A helpful tool to lead people to the point of decision.

Archbishop John Sentamu has spent a lot of time recently on the streets talking with people about Jesus. He uses the Lord’s Prayer as his main script.

As a church we have been good at praying for blessing or healing but the script takes it one step further – encouraging people to make a response.

The script leads a person through to that point of decision and gives confidence to those using it to know what to do.

The challenge with any communication of the Gospel is how do you do justice to this most incredible Good News in a 5 or 10 minute conversation.

Paul summarised the Gospel in what became one of the earliest ‘scripts’ (or creeds):

1 Corinthians 15:3-4

Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.

So, it’s possible!

The script that ‘The Turning’ team are using has been widely used in many evangelistic contexts. It’s not perfect but it’s not a bad attempt at presenting the way of salvation succinctly in non-religious language.

Before I go through the script I want to say that I recognise becoming a follower of Christ is a life-long journey. Praying a prayer or should I say praying THE prayer is not some sort of magic that guarantees your ticket to heaven. That’s not what Jesus was about. But in our context – post-Christian Britain – I wonder if the invitation is awakening a spiritual hunger in those that are praying it?

Someone asked me if this sort of approach does more harm than good. Does it not give people a false sense of security? My experience has been that the majority of people we spoke to this week have no God-consciousness, that is, they never think about God from one day to the next. It’s just not something they are interested in or concerned about. Just having the conversation, offering prayer, inviting the person to pray can only be a positive thing. One of things that thrilled me the most was walking around the city centre seeing groups of Christians engaged in conversations about Jesus with people on street.

So, what’s in ‘script’?

God loves you and has a plan for your life!

This is the opening line. Not a bad attempt to declare the Good News. This is the same good news that the Angels announced in Luke 1. Their proclamation of Good News heralded the fact that God hadn’t forgotten his people. He was sending a saviour because he loved them and had a purpose for them.

If you were to die tonight do you know with certainty that you would go to heaven?

This is probably the line most of us struggle with. My understanding of the Gospel is much bigger, broader and greater than ‘going to heaven’. I have read too much Tom Wright.

But the Good News – Christ installed as King, his incarnation, death and resurrection ushering in a new age – needs to move from the cosmic to the individual.

I am seeing this statement as asking, ‘do you have the assurance of salvation’. It’s possible to know we’re saved, our sins are forgiven and our eternal destiny is secured.

This is what John Wesley sought and finally discovered when ‘his heart was strangely warmed when he knew that Christ had indeed forgiven his sins’.

But this sort of language has no meaning for the average unchurched person. But the language of what happens when you die does. Most people in our culture assume everyone (except really bad people) goes to heaven when they die. But they’ve never been challenged to think about it.

I don’t mind putting the challenge out there. When I got saved I didn’t have a full understanding of the Gospel – I was afraid I would go to hell. At that stage that was it. It was my starting point but it’s not where I’ve ended up. My understanding has grown and matured over time.

The script then leads into three verses from Romans:

All have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.

The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.

Whoever calls in the name of the Lord will be saved.

In his book, The King Jesus Gospel, Scott McKnight makes a distinction between the Gospel – which is proclaimed – and the way of salvation – which can be explained. I like that. The script begins with the declaration of Good News and then in these verse shows the way of salvation.

Then there is the invitation for the person to pray along with you inviting Christ into their hearts.

This is what good evangelists are able to do – bring people to the point of decision. The Gospel has implications for every human being and we all have to make a response.

I’m amazed at how many people have been comfortable to pray this prayer out loud on the street with a complete stranger!

Apart from taking contact details to enable follow up, that’s it!

I hadn’t got to that point one on one with anyone in years. This week I’ve had the privilege of doing it numerous times.

You may not like this approach. My challenge to you would then be to develop something that works for you.

One of our guys has changed the wording in the script but keeps to the overall structure and flow. That works for him.

As I said at the start, it’s not perfect but it’s not a bad attempt to succinctly and clearly communicate the Gospel and lead people to a point of response.

Follow up

Our church’s vision is to see Changed Lives & Transformed Communities. Our mission is to see fully surrendered disciples of Jesus bringing transformation to their communities as they love their neighbour, share the Gospel and make their contribution.

Over the past couple of years we have been defining the process that enables our vision to become reality. For us, this involves four stages (not necessarily linear) of seeing people come to:

Know Christ

Find a place of belonging

Grow in their knowledge of what it means to be a disciple

Engage in their world

Therefore, the number of people ‘getting saved’ or the size of our church are not the main criteria for success. ‘Success’ (not a word I particularly enjoy using in this context) is when people who have encountered Christ, discover what they’re called to and get on and do it. The result of their engagement is community transformation. It’s a lot harder to measure but that’s what we’re about.

The area we have been weakest in is the area of seeing people come to know Christ. So, it’s interesting to me that we know have a dilemma about how we see those who have prayed on the street enter a lifelong journey of discipleship.

The team in Reading are working really hard at this and I know the guys at Causeway Coast Vineyard – who have now seen a few thousand people respond on the streets – are also grappling with the challenges.

I don’t think there are lots of easy answers but here’s a few (early) reflections.

1. Language. What is happening when people willingly pray a prayer inviting Christ into their lives. I would say, just that. I would avoid saying people have been ‘converted’, ‘saved’ or ‘become Christians’. They have simply made a response to what they have heard about Christ. I would say for some of these people they will look back and recognise that was the moment of their conversion but for the vast majority a seed has been sown or a seed has been watered. This isn’t a cop-out but a realistic assessment of what’s happening. For many the ‘knowledge gap’ is enormous and therefore the process could take a long time. I’m encouraged by testimonies of people who had random encounters with Christians and 5, 10, 15 years later made a commitment to follow Christ. The initial encounter was the beginning of their journey.
2. We probably need to ask if the ‘wine skins’ we currently have are sufficient for what is happening. My suspicion is that they’re not. Our current model of drawing people into an established Christian community may not work for those who are contacted on the street. Jesus spent 3 years travelling round the villages in Israel proclaiming Good News but we have no record or evidence of ‘Jesus communities’ being established during that time. I’m not sure what that could look like but maybe we need to be more present and visible with a focus on going to with than inviting people to come to?
3. I came across the term ‘Saturation Evangelism’ a number of years ago. It generally refers to a mass distribution of evangelistic material in an area. Over the past two weeks we have seen almost 300 Christians trained and released onto the streets of Southampton to share about Jesus. A whole new take on the term ‘saturation evangelism’. The apostle Paul says that as we sow generously we will also reap generously. There has to be an element of faith in what we’re doing. We are scattering seed generously and can expect a generous harvest. This can’t just be a two week binge and then we’re never seen again but we have to develop a consistent and faithful presence on our streets but one that is sustainable.
4. The real shift will come as we see the culture in the church change. One of our friend’s 12 year old daughter led her best friend to Christ at school on Monday. I can imagine in 10 years time Milly (not her real name) getting up one Sunday to share her testimony as she embarks on a missions trip to Malawi and recalls how her best friend told her about Jesus when she was 12. Imagine that story repeated across our church congregations. Culture takes time to change. I think we’re looking at a 3 – 5 year time frame if we maintain the focus. 9 years ago we embarked on a journey to see city transformation. 9 years on we are amazed at the number of fresh initiatives that have sprung up, the partnerships that have emerged and the individuals now serving in key roles across the city. Changing culture takes time.
5. The church has come together in a amazing way over the past two weeks with the simple goal of sharing Jesus. It’s not been about promoting a particular church, stream or denomination. All sorts of churches are now getting involved following up those who have responded. I know this pleases the heart of God. What it also means is that we will all be grappling with the challenge of following up the 500+ people who have responded. I’m excited to see what creative solutions might emerge as we learn together.

These are just my early reflections. I’m sure they’ll evolve and be reshaped in the light of our experiences over the next few months. But I was keen to enable others to have some insight as to what is going on.

It could be a significant moment in the life of the church in the nation on all sorts of levels.

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Revelation 4 offers descriptions of some rather interesting creatures. Scholars have argued for centuries about what these creatures represent, but rather than focusing on their differences, the focus ought to be on what they have in common. Each creature is praising God. No matter how different they are, their purpose is the same: to glorify God. This is our purpose as well. We exist to worship God — not just one hour a week or one day a week, but with every thought and breath.

Often, the vehicles God gives us to offer worship becomes the object of our worship. This was not God’s design. Our work, hobbies, spouses and children are gifts from God and opportunities to worship God. Everything exists to celebrate Him.

Each decision we make speaks to what we worship. What we choose to do with our time and talents and treasure is a reflection of what we have chosen to worship.

Reflect    Look back at your decisions this week . What do they say about what you worship?

• Is your life committed to many good things, or to the Only Good Thing?

“Worship has been misunderstood as something that arises from a feeling which “comes upon you,” but it is vital that we understand that it is rooted in a conscious act of the will, to serve and obey the Lord Jesus Christ.”   ……..Graham Kendrick

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Sometimes I find scripture works the same way. Matthew 1:23 is a small verse with a small phrase packaged inside. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.”  “God with us,” is such a small phrase, but the meaning is invaluable. Jesus’ name, Immanuel, means, “God with us.” God, who created us, left heaven to live with men. He came to show us Himself and the way to life. I have the hope that my Saviour loves me so much He gave up the comfort of heaven, even His own life, for me. He walked down dirty paths where animals passed for me with the same feet that walked streets in heaven. He experienced hunger for me; although, He had created everything men eat. He subjected himself to rejection and extreme pain for me, having done nothing to deserve it. He experienced a broken world in order to heal it.

We have hope. If Jesus loves us that much, He will take care of us. Because God came to live with us, we know how to live with Him forever. Have you committed your life to Jesus? Have you accepted his gift of forgiveness? This Christmas, we won’t find hope in any of the gifts we find under the tree, but we can find it in this small phrase, “God with us.”

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Well, another football season as started, each week millions of children, parents, students, grandparents can’t wait for a goal to  throw their hands in the air and celebrate as loud as they can. Why? Because the outcome of the game matters to them.

 Luke 15 gives multiple parables about salvation. The result of every one? Celebration.

 When the lost sheep was found: “Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep” (Luke 15:6). When the woman finds her lost coin: “She calls her friends and neighbours together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin’” (Luke 15:9). When the lost son returned home: “We HAD to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found” (Luke 15:32).

The Bible shows us that the result of salvation should ALWAYS be celebration. Everyone that is saved has a story that is worth celebrating with all that we’ve got because the outcome of their decision matters to Jesus! This week we saw a number of teenagers began their walk with Jesus so lets throw our hands in the air and celebrate as loud as we  can because God is mighty to save!

Reflect:

• What you celebrate is a direct reflection of what you worship. What are you celebrating most in your life today?
• How can you celebrate others’ stories of salvation?

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To the critic, rebuilding the wall seemed impossible. They rooted for the Jews to fail. Anytime we take a next step, we experience criticism just as Nehemiah did.

“Overcoming opposition is about realizing who we are and what we’ve been called by God to do.”

 When a friend or relative suddenly becomes our biggest critic, it’s often because the change we are experiencing challenges and convicts them of their own lack of action. For a critic, our success draws attention to their personal failures.

The critics are going to come. We can follow Nehemiah’s example and focus on what God is calling us to do. Or, we can be distracted by the critics who are rooting for us to fail. But, we can’t do both.

Overcoming opposition is about realizing who we are and what we’ve been called by God to do. When we seek God’s voice above all others, we’ll find the confidence to do the work. Just as Nehemiah refused to come off the wall, we must not be distracted from the work God has called us to do.

Consider This:   What’s one step you can take this week to prepare your heart for the criticism that’s sure to come?Pray:Jesus, help me stay on course regardless of the criticism I face.

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Too often, we think we know what’s best, and if the Lord would just hurry up and do what we want, this would all be easier. But what if in our effort to rush through the meantime, we’re missing out on something greater than the thing we’re waiting for? The greater our need for God’s intervention, the more passionately we tend to seek Him. God promises to be our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. He tells us not to fear because He upholds us with His righteous right hand (Psalm 46:1, Isaiah 41:10). Waiting has its rewards. As we persevere through seasons of waiting, our faith becomes mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

So am I spending time listening to God and for God? Am I spending time with Him in His Word? What is the Lord teaching me during this phase of my life? What can I do to position myself to be ready for God to move?

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Jesus establishes a connection with us to Himself through the Holy Spirit. Through this connection we communicate, worship, share our needs, listen for His guidance, and grow closer to Him step by step. We maintain this connection through regular prayer with Him. Colossians 4:2 says we are to devote ourselves to prayer and to be watchful and thankful. For prayer to be powerful, it must be something we do regularly. We should pray intentionally and with expectation that God will honour our efforts. Successful prayer over time results in moving us closer to God rather than trying to move Him closer to us. 

As followers of Jesus, we are to do the work the Lord has given us to reach others for Him. Colossians 4:3-4 tells us to pray “that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ…”  That is great news! God says we can pray for Him to open doors for us to share the gospel with others who will have been prepared by the Holy Spirit before we even show up, rather than just pushing against the doors ahead of us in our own limited strength.  God’s power enables our success for Him when we maintain our connection to Him through prayer .

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When you choose to love someone, you open your arms to them. When you stand with arms wide open, you’re exposed and vulnerable for attack . But with the opportunity to trust comes the ability to experience something greater than all of our “what-ifs.”

In Ephesians 3:14-21, Paul writes a prayer for the church in Ephesus, asking that they be rooted and established in the love of Jesus. Paul explains that the more we trust God and let Him in, the better we understand how deep His love is for us. His unending grace teaches us to love like Jesus, to give grace to those we consider hard to love and to fearlessly take more risks.

Being vulnerable with God and trusting His plans over ours takes a leap of faith. It feels like a risk, but because God is perfect and loves perfectly, it’s no comparison to any other relationship we can have. God always comes through on His promises. His plans were made out of a deep, powerful, overwhelming love for us, and His plans are always much more than we could imagine.

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 And the key to the heart of God is prayer.                          

 Perhaps you have never prayed before except in anguish or terror. It may be the only time the Divine Name has been on your lips has been in angry expletives. Never mind be encouraged the Fathers heart is open wide, you are welcome to come in.                           

Perhaps you may not believe in prayer. You may have tried to pray and been profoundly disappointed…and disillusioned. You seem to have little faith, or none. It does not matter,   the Fathers heart is open wide, you are welcome to come in.                               

Perhaps you ‘re bruised and broken by the pressures of the life. Others have wronged you and feel scarred .You have old, painful memories that have never been healed. You avoid prayer because you feel too distant, to unworthy, to defiled. Do not despair the Fathers heart is open wide, you are welcome to come in.                                                                               

Perhaps you have prayed for many years but the words have grown brittle and cold. Little ever happens any more. God seems remote and inaccessible. Listen, the Fathers heart is open wide – you are welcome to come in.                                               

  Perhaps prayer is the delight of your life. You have lived in the divine milieu for a long time and can attest to its goodness. But you long for more: more power, more love, more of God in your life. Well, the Fathers heart is open wide you too are welcome to come higher up & deeper in.                                                                                                   

   If the key is prayer, the door is Jesus Christ. How good of God to provide us a way into his heart. He knows that we are stiff-necked and hard-hearted, so he has provided a means of entrance. Jesus, the Christ, lived a perfect life, died in our place, and rose victorious over all the dark powers so that we might live through him. This is wonderfully good news. No longer do we have to stand outside, barred from nearness of God by our rebellion. We may now enter through the door of God’s grace and mercy in Jesus Christ. – taken  From Richard Foster book Prayer.

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It doesn’t matter what lies we’ve been spoon fed throughout our lives, telling us we are worthless, hopeless, useless, pointless. Ephesians 2:10 tells us that we are God’s masterpieces (NLT). We are created by our God expressly for His purpose, for His enjoyment, for His pre-planned reasons. We are created for His benefit. Notice two very significant words here. We are created BY and FOR. We are not created haphazardly “just because.” We are not casual mistakes.

Don’t allow Satan or anyone else to dissuade you from the Lord’s work by saying you have no purpose or meaning. If you are still alive, breathing and walking, then God is still has a special use and job for you. How exciting!

The Bible says that these good things we are supposed to do were planned out for us to do a long time ago, thousands of years before we were even born. Would God have given that much thought, consideration and planning to someone for whom He didn’t have much purpose? Absolutely not. He has a purpose and a plan for you. Ask Him what it is, then run toward it and fulfil it!

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Ephesians 1:11-14, however, gives us a promise that we can lean on in times of concern. If we are in Christ, we have been sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit who lives in us to guide us and serve as a “deposit guaranteeing our inheritance” (Ephesians 1:14). God does not allow His children to live life alone. Instead, He watches over us, lives in us, and has already planned all of our days.

Ephesians 1:11 says He “works out everything in conformity with the purpose of His will.” Every conversation, troubling situation, and celebration will work together in our lives to glorify our Creator.

Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose.” We can so easily forget this in our own lives on a daily basis, and trust God with every area of our life . So often we try to take control of every situation in our lives that seems out of control. The direction of our career, our finances, our relationships, and our health are constant battles in our hearts.

But everything we have in our life is a gift, we are simply stewards. God has written the plan, and He is in control. When we struggle against Him for control of our life, we are no longer allowing ourselves to live in the full life He has planned for us.

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Quality : HD
Title : John Wick: Chapter 2
Director : Chad Stahelski.
Writer :
Release : 2017-02-08
Language : English.
Runtime : 122 min.
Genre : Thriller, Action, Crime.

Synopsis :
Movie ‘John Wick: Chapter 2’ was released in February 8, 2017 in genre Thriller. Chad Stahelski was directed this movie and starring by Keanu Reeves. This movie tell story about John Wick is forced out of retirement by a former associate looking to seize control of a shadowy international assassins’ guild. Bound by a blood oath to aid him, Wick travels to Rome and does battle against some of the world’s most dangerous killers.

John Wick: Chapter 2(2017)

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Sometimes I find scripture works the same way. Matthew 1:23 is a small verse with a small phrase packaged inside. “The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” —which means, “God with us.” “God with us,” is such a small phrase, but the meaning is invaluable. Jesus’ name, Immanuel, means, “God with us.” God, who created us, left heaven to live with men. He came to show us Himself and the way to life. I have the hope that my Saviour loves me so much He gave up the comfort of heaven, even His own life, for me. He walked down dirty paths where animals passed for me with the same feet that walked streets in heaven. He experienced hunger for me; although, He had created everything men eat. He subjected himself to rejection and extreme pain for me, having done nothing to deserve it. He experienced a broken world in order to heal it.

We have hope. If Jesus loves us that much, He will take care of us. Because God came to live with us, we know how to live with Him forever. Have you committed your life to Jesus? Have you accepted his gift of forgiveness? This Christmas, we won’t find hope in any of the gifts we find under the tree, but we can find it in this small phrase, “God with us.”

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When you experience something difficult, such the death a loved one, a divorce, financial trouble or physical illness, it can be easy to lose hope  You’ve probably wondered, “Why is this happening?” Even in these moments, we can put our trust in God. He hears us. He loves us and He will show us the next step and give us the strength to take it.

Philippians 4: 6-7 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your request be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

God will give us peace, and with that comes the hope to move forward.
Are carrying burdens today? Ask God for help. He wants us to share our heart with Him. Cast your burden on His loving shoulders.

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Fortunately, David points to God as our great burden bearer in Psalm 145. To be a burden bearer means to understand and carry all our troubles and grievances for us. This does not necessarily mean God will take away all our burdens, but that He is with us in them, and He “…upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down” (Psalm 145:14).

The amazing thing about God is that He is not only willing to bear our burdens, He is able. David reminds us that:

God is gracious, compassionate and loving (v8-9).

God provides for all of our daily needs (v15-16).

God is near to those who call on him (v18-20).

Handing off our heavy burdens starts when we humbly admit, “God, I’m in over my head. I need your help.” We can trust that He is faithful and will come to our aid.

We are mere humans, but He is God who’s “greatness is unfathomable” (v3). He is not standing on the side-lines when life gets tough. When you are ready to collapse, call out to God. He is ready to help.

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In Psalm 22, David voices his frustrations about not feeling God in a moment of need. He also acknowledges that even though he feels abandoned, he isn’t, because God is still God and God is still good. In moments of fear, panic, or frustration, we too can cling to the truth the Bible gives us about WHO God is, and how much love He has for us.

Here are some promises David clings to in his suffering that can help us hold tightly to God’s character even when we can’t see or feel it:

1. God does not abandon us (Psalm 22:24).

2. God will always help us (Psalm 22:19, Psalm 22:26).

3. We can trust God to be with us through whatever we are up against (Psalm 22:3-5).

4  With God, there is not a single person or circumstance that can permanently defeat us (Psalm 22:27-28).

When life throws a curveball, and the catcher seems to be missing in action, we can cling to these constant truths and know that everything WILL be OK, not because of what we do, but because of who God is.

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Not many of us would stand bare armed in a blizzard and refuse a jacket. We do, however, often refuse refuge from an even harsher environment. The tumultuous storms of this world can knock us clean off of our feet. However, we often find ourselves running toward the storm and away from the protection of a loving God.

When we refuse God, we also refuse His goodness and His blessings. When we turn away from his outstretched hand, we turn away from the protection and warmth He longs to give us. Nothing this world can offer us, even the good things, will ever lead to true contentment. The only thing this world has to offer us is a temporary fix that deceivingly leads to more emptiness.

Fortunately, we serve a God who holds more fulfilment, love, peace, healing and security than we could ever ask for. Ephesians 3:20 says God’s good is beyond our wildest imagination, and far greater than anything good this world has to offer. If we let go of our good things and open our hands and hearts to receive God’s goodness, we will have more good in our lives than we know what to do with.

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In our desire for control, our yearning to have all the answers now, we pick the way we’ve rationalized to be best. On the surface, this way may not seem bad. We work hard. We help others. We try to be good people. But as exhausting as it is, it will never be enough. The Bible shows us it is not by our own work that we prosper, but by God’s grace.

It is scary to realize you are not in control, until you realize that God has perfect control. It’s actually a relief to find out you don’t have to work so hard to keep it all together.

In 2 Corinthians 12:9, Paul recalls what the Lord told him about having it all together: “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

You can’t do it all on your own, so stop trying. Accept God’s gift of grace and let His power cover your weakness.

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Praying the Lord’s Prayer is one thing – living it is something else. Join us over the next seven weeks as we explore the Lord’s Prayer.

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Adoration – take a moment adore God, to worship him and to fulfil the commandment to love him with all of our heart, mind and soul. Spend time in adoration,praise God for who He is – our Creator, our Sustainer and our Redeemer, our Friend.

Confession – This allows us to clear away the things in the relationship between you and God which are displeasing to Him.All of us have sinned. 1 John 1:8-9 says “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Thanksgiving – Each moment God is blessing us, every minute we can recall the wonderful things that God has done for us, and the gifts that we have been given. And so,we need to be constantly thanking God for his blessings. Paul tells us in Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Supplication – Finally we come to ask God for our needs and the needs of others. There are many demands on our prayer time – many topics and issues that we could pray for, so we need to choose, and to be specific.

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Habakkuk’s response to his doubt gives us an example of how we can deal with doubt. First, recognize when we’re feeling doubt and understand why. Second, react by bringing our questions to God and praising Him in prayer. Third, remember how faithful God has been in our lives and the promises He’s made. Finally, choose to rejoice in the Lord and be joyful in Jesus our Saviour! Remembering who God is, His faithfulness in the past, and His promises for the future gives us the confidence to trust God with what’s happening right now. We are still human. We still live in a sin-filled world filled with loss, hardships, doubt, stress, and fear. The difference when we face each day with Jesus is that we have the ability to experience joy, peace, love, and security even in hard times.

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The same is true in our spiritual lives. In the book of Joshua the Israelites were cultivating a gift – the towns allotted to them after reaching the ‘Promised Land’. The nation of Israel was a ragtag group of nomads that didn’t yet have a place to call home.  Joshua dictated what part of the ‘Promised Land’ each tribe would get, but there was a catch, the Israelites had to conquer the territories in their possession. It would take years of persistence and they still wouldn’t drive out all of the people living there but eventually they became a great and powerful nation.

In Luke 18:1-8 – Jesus reminds us of another type of persistence – Prayer. Jesus admonishes us to keep praying, even if it seems like God isn’t listening. In both stories the Bible reminds us that God rewards persistence. Is there something God’s called you to that you’re ready to give up on? A prayer that seems to far fetched to continue praying? Don’t quit! ‘For in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.’ Galations 6:9.

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Remember God is faithful.

Joshua was able to maintain his focus on God because he REMEMBERED that God is faithful. In Joshua chapter 4, Joshua asked the people he was leading to remember God’s faithfulness by building a memorial where God had made a way for them to cross the Jordan river.

We must remember that God is always faithful and He is always faithful to His children. Forty years seems like forever but neither Moses nor Joshua lost sight of who God is. God’s character does not change, whatever our circumstances. Do not lose sight of who God is because He is faithful.

Remember God’s promises.

Joshua remembered God’s promise to him:

“Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses. ” (Joshua 3:7).

If God could free a nation of people, Joshua believed that God could also be faithful in making him a leader. It wasn’t easy to lead a nation through the wilderness to the Promised Land, but Joshua was faithful because he remembered God’s faithfulness in past promises. that he was with him. Remember that God promises to always be with us, no matter where we go.

Remember God is good.

God intends everything to be for our good (Romans 8:28)!

God never said that life would be easy but we need to remember that He is faithful, He is good, and He keeps His promises:

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow – faithful.

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“Just up the road from my home is a field with two horses in it. One of the horses is blind. His owner chose not to have him put down but instead made him a safe and comfortable barn to live in. This alone is pretty amazing.

But if you stand nearby and listen, you will hear the sound of a bell. It is coming from a smaller horse in the field.

Attached to the horse’s halter is a small, copper-coloured bell. It lets the blind friend know where the other horse is, so he can follow.

As you stand and watch these two friends you’ll see that the horse with the bell is always checking on the blind horse, and that the blind horse will listen for the bell and then slowly walk to where the other horse is, trusting he will not be led astray viagra precios.”

Like the owners of these two horses, God does not throw us away just because we are not perfect or because we have problems or challenges. He watches over us and even brings others into our lives to help us when we are in need.

Sometimes we are the blind horse, being guided by the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives. At other times we are the guide horse, helping others to find their way.

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The worries and anxieties of life and the uncertainties of the future so easily distract and will always beg for our attention, but that doesn’t mean we have to give in to them.

The apostle Peter tells us at the very end of his second letter (2 Peter 3:10­-18), to “be on your guard” and to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord viagra barata.”

Growing in a relationship with Jesus doesn’t just happen by itself. Whether you’re a new Christian or you’ve been a Christian for a while, growing is easier said than done. There are days that we feel stuck or far away from God instead of closer to Him.

Rather than being concerned about when we will get through something, we can maintain focus on who promises to be with us through it all. Because Jesus is patient, He doesn’t give up on us. Because He is kind, He rescues us.

Our current circumstances are temporary, but God always has good for us. We can grow the most with Him as we walk with Him through our circumstances, step by step.

• What circumstances do you want God to bring you through?
• What is one way you can grow in your relationship with Jesus?
• Are you surrounded by Christian friends who encourage you to grow with Jesus

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Jesus could have easily impressed the disciples with His résumé. ‘Creator’, ‘Sustainer’, ‘Sovereign Lord’, ‘King’, ‘Messiah’, to name a few. Instead, in the most remarkable turn in all of history, the Son of God removed His clothing and acted as a slave. The one most deserving of position chose servant as His appellation and humility as His attitude.

Jesus, the most important person in the room, began washing the disciples’ feet showing His disciples that in God’s economy, greatness is shown by humility, through service and sacrifice, and by laying it all down to honour God.

If we’re honest, we all spend a good bit of time trying to make a name for ourselves rather than laying our name down for Jesus. Our desire is often to become great in the eyes of men, rather than God. What would happen if those who claim to follow Christ actually followed His example by laying down their titles, their positions, their status, their status symbols, their posturing, their influence and became servants of all?

The Bible says that the 11 men in that room “turned the world upside down” by laying it all down and becoming servants of all. What are we waiting on? Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.”

Be encouraged by Jesus, and serve as Jesus served.

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Quality : HD
Title: John Wick: Chapter 2
Director : Chad Stahelski
Release : 2017-02-08
Language : English
Runtime : 122 min
Genre: Thriller, Action, Crime.

Synopsis :
Keanu Reeves’ retired hitman was compelled to load up his guns again because a mobster’s son killed his dog – 2015’s original John Wick film was a slick and gripping action thriller.
This sequel, directed by Chad Stahelski, who also co-directed the original, offers similar thrills and spills on a grander scale. Here, Wick is forced out of retirement (again) when an Italian gangster redeems a blood oath against him. With gruff reluctance, Wick travels to Rome to kill the gangster’s sister as prescribed, but when he succeeds, it sets off a chain reaction. Not only does her loyal bodyguard Cassian (Common) want payback, but the gangster sneakily places a $7 million open contract on Wick’s head, as it would be “dishonourable” not to avenge his sister’s death – even though he ordered it. When Wick returns to New York City, every assassin in town is after his blood.

Watch Now Movie John Wick: Chapter 2 (2017)

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When you cheat on those you love the most. God fully loves you. Greedily hoard your money and refuse to offer help to those in need. God loves you.

Fly off the handle and lose your temper. God loves you.
Gossip about as many people as you can. God loves you.

Humiliate as many people as possible on your way to the top. God fully loves you in your selfishness.

Make disproving Jesus your life goal. God will love you as you discredit His name.

In your moments of greatest depravity, God offers His greatest grace. God meets you at the bottom of your mess. When you are ready to turn off the porn but can’t, when you have to have another drink, or when wish you could stop hiding behind a lie, grace is there to meet you. (Romans 5:8)

Scary isn’t it? What do you do about that? You can’t do anything about it. It just is. God is love. He always has been gracious, always will be gracious, it is a part of His unchanging character. Grace cannot be earned nor can it be altered. Grace is not something we’ve asked for. It’s simply been given to us.

God is not surprised or turned off by any circumstance or action. Grace does not change. God does not change. Grace fully loves you right now. God fully loves you right now.

Nothing you do in your life can add or take away God’s love. You cannot lose it. And if you can’t lose God’s love, what is there to lose? Why not live like it?

You can’t do anything for God to love you any more or any less than He does right now. He loves you as much right now as He has ever loved you. He loves you as much right now as He ever will.

God fully loves you, always has fully loved you & will always fully love you. And there’s nothing you can do about it.

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When you hate God. God still loves you. When you cheat on those you love the most. God fully loves you. Greedily hoard your money and refuse to offer help to those in need. God loves you. Fly off the handle and lose your temper. God loves you. Gossip about as many people as you can. God loves you. Humiliate as many people as possible on your way to the top. God fully loves you in your selfishness. Make disproving Jesus your life goal. God will love you as you discredit His name.

In your moments of greatest depravity, God offers His greatest grace. God meets you at the bottom of your mess. When you are ready to turn off the porn but can’t, when you have to have another drink, or when wish you could stop hiding behind a lie, grace is there to meet you. (Romans 5:8)

Scary isn’t it? What do you do about that? You can’t do anything about it. It just is. God is love. He always has been gracious, always will be gracious, it is a part of His unchanging character. Grace cannot be earned nor can it be altered. Grace is not something we’ve asked for. It’s simply been given to us.

God is not surprised or turned off by any circumstance or action. Grace does not change. God does not change. Grace fully loves you right now. God fully loves you right now. Nothing you do in your life can add or take away God’s love. You cannot lose it. And if you can’t lose God’s love, what is there to lose? Why not live like it?

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But in truth , the manger is exactly what you wouldn’t expect. This is the Messiah long prophesied by Almighty God “by whom and for whom” the world was created. He is the Saviour of the world. So why does God come to poor, low-born parents, as a vulnerable baby literally left out in the cold? Why is He born among the straw and the stench of livestock?

This is the outrageous part of Jesus “Emmanuel,” or God with us. From His birth in a manger to His death on the cross, Christ overturns our human understanding about what constitutes God’s plan, God’s will and God’s glory.
For me, this is hope. Salvation doesn’t come from our birth right in the right family. It doesn’t come from human effort or from connecting the dots with human intelligence.

From first to last, God reveals himself as God by the power of God. Jesus’ manger scene is meant to soften our minds and our hearts for the preposterous truth that He is the son of God and that all who believe in Him will be saved. His grace overturns God’s holy judgment against sinful mankind. His very humanity is meant to turn everything we think know about God on its head.

The God who dwells outside this world broke into it.

He brings mercy and not judgment.

He takes the sin punishment on Himself and lets the guilty go free. Jesus’s victory comes in defeat. His life comes to us through His death. The manger scene shouts to the nations across the generations, “This Jesus is unbelievably good news! And if you can believe it, then there is eternal hope!”

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It was because of the fleas. This Advent Season , give thanks to God for every good and perfect gift (James 1:17), but also thank Him for how He will use all things for good in the lives of those who trust Him (Romans 8:28). In this time of so much uncertainty in the world and challenges of , physical, emotional, relational and financial pressures there can be little doubt that such a trusting prayer of gratitude will be challenging to consider. But when you feel that challenge, take a moment, and remember the fleas of Ravensbruck. And thank God anyway .

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