Was yesterday another great day at church or what! Thank God for the sense of excitement among us and for the very real sense of God's presence. There is a greater openness in our worship and a greater openness to hear and receive God's Word. Something is stirring!
Sunday Morning: Thanks to Piotr (Peter) Spasowski, and Ella his interpreter, for bringing a challenging word. Piotr's message underlined the fact that we are:
"God's Children", and that with this comes responsibility and accountability. As a father desires that his children would carry his name with honour, so God desires that we carry his name with honour, because people see God as they see us.
God is Holy. For this reason God requires holiness from us. Christian holiness is nothing to do with how we dress, but with how we live. It's about our actions and deeds in the sight of our neighbours; in church; but also in the home where we are better known. We are not called to 'do as the Romans do' or to 'crow as the crows crow' (Polish saying), but we are called to be Ambassadors of Christ (where'd you hear that before?). We are Royal Children who are to carry the family name with honour.
We are 'Temples of the Holy Spirit' and as such should honour God with our bodies, which is more than raising our hands in worship, but is about being salt and light by our deeds and by our 'right living', that is righteous living. Our deeds are not an attempt to become Children of God, but our deeds are the fruit of who we are in Christ. It is difficult for people to see we are Christians if our lives and actions do not match. Second Century Christians were referred to as "other Christ's" because they so reflected him. The right to belong to God's family carries responsibility and accountability.
Sunday night: Jonathan brought a word on "FIRE" and did so with fire in his heart and fire in his presentation. There were not many notes to take as much of what he shared was reading several Bible verses and comments as he went along. However, he began by showing there is a Fire of Judgement for all who reject Christ and reject the ways of God, but his main message was not so much on this, but focused more on the Fire of God as follows:
The Fire of God in the Old Testament: God often showed himself to the earth through fire; fire that revealed his power, authority and holiness. He led the People of Israel by a Pillar of Fire at night; he revealed himself to Moses at the burning bush in the desert; he answered Elijah by fire on the mountain. (These show the fire of God's presence: Fire in the midst of Darkness; Fire in the midst of the Desert; Fire in the midst of Danger).
The Fire of God in the New Testament: John the Baptist said of Jesus the Messiah (the Christ) "He will baptise with the Holy Spirit and with Fire". In Acts 2 the Holy Spirit came with Fire on all who had gathered in the Upper Room (Top House). As fire is used to refine and purify silver and gold, so the Fire of God refines and purifies us to enable us to stand in his presence.
The Fire of God in us: As animal sacrifices were made in the Old Testament and burned continually, we are called upon in the New Testament to offer ourselves as living sacrifices unto God which is our reasonable act of worship. The fire of God within us is like fire in our bones that will not be contained or held back.
The day ended with two young men from the Falls committing their lives to Christ and with several people coming to the front and kneeling in the presence of God. One of these was one of the young men who had just given his life to Christ. Surely this, and the things of this day and of other recent days, is an amazing sign of greater things to come! Come on! Let's get excited about what God is doing among us. And let's not wait until we read about it in an email; let's be there and be part of it.
Team Leaders Meeting: We are expecting Team Leaders and their Teams to meet with us this coming Thursday at 7.30. If you are UNABLE to make it along (in other words if you're planning on going to heaven), please let us know.
Building Fund: Next Sunday morning I am planning on presenting a full update on where we're at and of possible advances in the coming weeks.
Stay focused; stay strong; and keep being a God-influence.
Pastor Jack
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