Hi everyone! They said that yesterday was the hottest day of summer thus far, and it sure was that! But today I think is much hotter. I hope you are enjoying it!
Well, it is obvious that lots of people are still on holiday and that others just decided to stay at home. Thank God for visitors. We had quite a number of visitors with us yesterday. The feedback from them was very encouraging. A husband and wife from a Baptist church in England found out about us on the internet. They are responsible for Hospitality at their church. They said that 8 different people approached them and welcomed them and that this made them feel very much at home. So much so they came back again last night. So many thanks to those who welcomed these and other guests.
Besides others, there was a young couple there last night with their 3 children. They loved the service and said they would be back every week from here on. She has been saved a couple of years but has never settled in any church. They have said they want to settle in New Life. It's good to make people feel welcome. I hope you all feel welcome but, like the older brother of the prodigal son, you are always with us. We might not say it often enough or we might not throw a party for you, but thank you for all you do.
Sunday AM was another good service. The worship was awesome. As I said on the platform we always look for the Worship Team to lead us, and rightly so, and we thank God for the anointing that often comes from the front, but yesterday morning I felt a wave of anointing come from behind me as people were caught up in worship and therefore brought something to the table. There was such an openness and such a sense of expectation that it made it easier to get up and deliver God's Word.
The message I brought was 'Who do you turn to?'. Based on Psalm 25:1 "To you O' Lord I will lift up my soul". This was not about turning to God when there was a need in your life, but just simply turning to God as something you do on a daily basis. Turning to God was not something David did in a panic, but like Enoch walked with God and like Abraham was called a friend of God, turning to God was just something that David did. These were not just words to a new song he was writing, but this was a principle that David lived by. For this reason when problems did emerge in his life he knew where to turn to because he always turned to God. Sadly, turning to God is something that most Christians do only where they are in trouble. This is something we need to reverse, beginning with ourselves.
Sunday PM was another good night. Jonathan spoke on "Disillusionment". I think he had 14 Points, although he did get through them in 30 mins. His message was based on 1 Kings 19 with Elijah on the run from Jezebel when God sent him to a cave. The main points were:
DISILLUSIONMENT
1. Elijah's faith failed
This is what caused him to run. Everything had been going well in his life and ministry. He had given some incredible prophecies that were fulfilled to the letter; he had caused the rain to stop; he had incredible success over the prophets of Baal. He was perhaps thinking he had arrived, when suddenly the death threat came from Jezebel.
2. God let Elijah go
God does not beg people to stay! Sometimes the wilderness is the only place where some people will meet with God as Elijah was to find out.
3. God met with Elijah
He might have run to the wilderness, but it was there that God met with him. We cannot escape God. David said, "Where can I go from you spirit..." Ps. 139.
4. God spoke to Elijah
Not in the earthquake or the fire, but in the stillness of a whisper and he asked Elijah "Where are you". God is perhaps asking you (even as you read this) where are you? How did you get there? What are you doing there?
5. God instructed Elijah
God told Elijah to go anoint kings and to anoint Elisha as his successor.
SYMPTOMS OF DISILLUSIONMENT
1. Fear irrational fear caused him to flee
2. Withdrawal he cut himself off from others thinking he was the only faithful one left!
3. Tiredness he was exhausted - sat down and had negative thoughts about his life
4. Give up he'd had enough. He wanted to throw in the towel
HOW DO WE GET OUT?
1. Focus on the positives
2. Keep seeking God (stay connected with church)
3. Seek the touch of God upon your life
4. Full surrender to the will and purposes of God for your life
5. Encourage yourself even as David did by speaking to himself.
Thank God for the person who responded to the appeal and for the time of ministry afterwards. Thanks to Matt and Megan who shared about their experiences at Bible Week. You both spoke well and did yourselves proud. Well done.
BABIES: Well you all know by now that Alison and Jason are the proud mum and dad of baby Seth Nathaniel who arrived 7 weeks early, weighing in at 5.3 but growing! Congratulations to them.
I did say BABIES; for those who have not yet heard Sam and Elaine are now thanking God for the safe arrival of their latest edition, a baby boy born at 3.28 this afternoon and weighing in at 9lb. WOW! Congratulations.
OK. Holidays are almost all over now. Com'on, no excuses! No slacking! We need to see you at church. This Sunday morning I will be speaking on Ambassadors of Authority. Let's begin right now in preparation and take authority over those things that keep us from moving on in God. Sunday night: Dennis Goldsworthy is with us from San Antonio, Texas. Dennis has been with us several times in recent years and has ministered right into the heart of the church. His visit is not to be missed.
Final thought: (In light of all the new babies being born) The apostle Paul said, "We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed".
Pastor Jack
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