Words

 Often in life we are taught to think before we speak, we learn for ourselves that words can hurt, encourage, inspire and correct. Yet, how many of us really consider the words we speak? This is one lesson we are constantly trying to teach our children, that words should be purposeful, they are not meaningless, but they have power based within them. I see that as I read the first chapter of the Bible, Genesis. God says, and stuff happens. God must of carefully planned and orchestrated His words because they contained such creative power that something was made out of nothing (don’t we also see that with our own words?). 

God’s words contain power. So do ours. That’s why all babies endeavour to talk, they want to convey their needs and wants, that’s why we learn other languages, so we can communicate and understand others. Words are important. Your words are important, you should be listened to - are you communicating in a way that people want to respond to? That doesn’t mean being threatening or being the loudest and most insistent voice, but having a considered approach. 

God created the universe via words. What are you creating with yours?

In the beginning, God...

 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. *2*The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters. 

Genesis 1:2

Isn’t that a great verse to start with, it commences the whole Bible, ‘in the beginning, God’. It all starts with this God, the very beginning of everything, God was there, and from this point on we can embark on a journey of discovery about who this God is, starting here, the opening of the Bible,  so what is the very first thing we learn about God?

We discover that God has the capacity and desire to create. He made the heavens and Earth. He constructed them out of a meaningless, emptiness. God is creator, that is the first thing we see. 

Do you notice that at the initial stage of creation the Earth was pretty useless? It was 'without form and void', empty and shapeless - rather worthless. It was covered in darkness, an area of confusion and the unknown, yet the Spirit of God was present, 'hovering'. 

This reminds me of times we have in life when we are feeling worthless, and life seems confusing and surrounded by darkness, so we can feel empty and alone. These verses bring hope that God is there - His Spirit is over the situation. God is present and about to create something new. If God can form the whole world out of empty darkness, then surely He can  transform the formless void that we can sometimes find ourselves in. If that sounds like your life right now, then know that the Spirit of God is hovering; observing, present and ready for action. Keep focussed, and prepare for the new form of life God will create.

Does death scare you?

 Many people are scared of death. It is the ending of this life. I have heard it said, 'there's one sure thing about life, death'! We all will experience it, more of us will die than have children, or get married or gain a career - yet we spend far more time planning and preparing for these things than for the one certain thing that will happen to us all. 

The reality is - you will die. What are you doing to prepare for it? Are you ready for your life to end? Does death scare you? 

What happens when you die; is it a void? non-existence? is there anything afterwards?  So many unknown can lead to people feeling frightened about dying. But, you don't need to be afraid - You can actually have hope beyond the grave, not just in leaving a legacy behind you, but a real hope and joy in what lies ahead when your days in this world finish.  

The Bible says us;

“Death is swallowed up in victory.” 

*55*“O death, where is your victory? 

O death, where is your sting?” 

*56*The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. *57*But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

 (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)

Death doesn't have to feel like a frightening future, it has lost it's power, it has been transformed from a terrifying unknown into a victory. instead of bearing a 'sting', it brings hope. 

We kind of have to read these verses in reverse to help us understand them - the victory comes because of the Son of God, Jesus. He has given us victory over death because he lived a pure life, and died a tortuous death to get rid of our sin. All that stuff you and I have done wrong deserves a punishment, it needs to be made up for, and God knew we couldn't do enough to make up for it, so His Son did it for us. 

Jesus, strangely, overcame the power od death through dying! Well, that was part of it - the death sorted out the repayment for our wrongs. the fact that Jesus came back to life - that defeated death! Jesus is the Son of God, and God is immortal therefore he couldn't stay dead. Therefore, the scary, unknown mystery of death was destroyed. 

For all of those who believe and trust in Jesus, death should not be a scary thing. Death doesn't even sting anymore! Death is not an inconvenience, a source of worry or fear, but a victory! 

Jesus has promised that those who live for God will have a greater future after this life ends. He tells us that his followers will one day join him in heaven. Not only that, but there are eternal rewards awaiting them and a home prepared! Jesus tries to encourage us that there is something far greater than any treasure, any fame or fortune of this Earth to look forward to - the doorway to it is death. 

This doesn't mean that we should all be trying to die - Jesus tells us that God knows the number of our days as well as the amount of hairs on our heads, but Jesus speaks about this to assure you and I that death is ok. He came back to show us that it doesn't all end with Earthly death - he lived after the grave, and you will too - are you preparing to live with him? Are you going to be victorious in you death knowing that you'll be with Jesus? or do you really have something to be scared of - an eternity without God? 

Is your hope growing?

 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, *4*to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you

1 Peter 1:3-4

As christians, we have been; ‘born again to a living hope’. We get to have a new life, not confined to this world, but one that continues to exist beyond what we currently experience. This hope that we are now a part of lives - it breathes, it is constant and it grows. 

Is  your hope in God growing? 

That thought has challenged me - do I have more hope now than I ever used to? Am I living in greater and growing assurance of my inheritance? Are you?

The next promise in these couple of verses is that we have an inheritance, that is, ‘imperishable, undefiled, and unfading’. 

We have much to look forward to, that is certain. There is no doubt about it - the death of Christ has led to us having an eternal joy to look forward to that will never diminish, never get tarnished and will never become devalued. 

Whatever life throws at you, no matter how bleak, or even how tremendous your life is - there is a greater gift to come. A promise, a treasure stored up for us where no-one and nothing can get at it - it cannot be stolen, it cannot become less and it cannot be ruined. It doesn’t matter if you make a mistake, if you sin or sink into bad habits - your eternal salvation and eternal reward is still waiting for you, not because of your actions or faith, but because you trust that Jesus has given you all that was his. He doesn’t even invite, or ask you - he gives you this inheritance with no clauses or restrictions, it’s been signed off and set aside just for you. 

So, are you living with anticipation of the reward of heaven? 

Is your hope alive and growing? 

If not - what can you do about it? 

Contemplate the truth of these verses and learn to accept them - they have certainly put a smile not just on my face, but in me heart today, I hope you are inspired and encouraged too. 

Worship

So, this may not technically be a blog, but a vlog! But I wanted to challenge you in the way you worship. How do you worship? One of the major ways christians worship God in private and in public is through singing and playing instruments, but currently in the UK we are able to meet as a church, but there are restrictions such as not being able to raise our voices or sing in public. 

Therefore, it leads us to question; how do we worship? and even, what is worship? 

We most often connect worship with singing, as we are unable to do that, how can we worship God when we are together? Is there an alternative?

Worship is about lifting God up, extolling Him, acknowledging God in our lives and expressing something of our response to Him. Demonstrating love and reverence to God is what worship is about - how can you do that? 

If you think about ut, there are many ways we can show love and respect to God; prayer, testimony, art, considering Him. These are just a few examples of how we can show our love and appreciation for God in worship, you can probably think of many more. 

As a church we tried a new way of worshipping this week, can you try a new form of worship? 

 

Sin entangles. Jesus releases

 Leading on from the chapter of faith in Hebrews 11, we then have these verses;

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, *2*looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. *3*Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

Hebrews 12:1-3

What does the start of this chapter convey? To sum up, I think it says; As we can learn, read and hear about such amazing tales of faith from the Bible, and even from everyday, current people, since we have such a rich heritage of faith to draw from, and considering the sacrifice Jesus made, then do not sin. 

Do you ever consider sin in that light? When you’re about to do something you know you shouldn’t, or not do something you know you should, do you ever consider the rich heritage of faithful people that you are a part of? Do you pause to remember the sacrifice of Jesus before you act? 

I think if I really had those thoughts in my mind throughout the day, then I would be more aware of my wrongs and more aware of the responsibility I have, wouldn’t you? 

There are many people who have lived a life of faith before us, they have failed and they have triumphed. They didn’t allow their mistakes to define them, they kept trying their best, and that is what they are commended for, for being faith-filled people. Is that what you want to be remembered for? Are you intentionally putting aside sinful attitudes and focussing on faith? Are you encouraged by the ‘cloud of witnesses’ that surround you? And do you acknowledge that Jesus, the Son of God, ‘endured the cross, despising the shame’ so that you could live free from sin? 

Jesus did not deserve it, and he didn’t like it. He hated taking the punishment for you, but he still did it. So no matter how hard the battle is to escape the, ‘sin which clings so closely’, it’s nothing compared with what Jesus went through. 

So, do, ‘not grow weary or fainthearted.’ Look at the people of good repute, look at the everyday people whose stories have been told for thousands of years, and look at Jesus. He did not walk away from the most difficult, demoralising and deadly task he had to face. He walked to it, just so you could break free. So that you could escape the entangling sin. 

‘Consider him’ then; Don’t give up. Don’t turn away. Don’t sin. 

Whose hero are you?

 I have always loved chapter 11 of Hebrews, these verses have always inspired me to consider the, ‘people of old’, to see the greatness of God, and the many feats of faith achieved. 

It lifts my vision of God, and of my own life. I love that here recorded are the steps of faith these people took, not their failings. It causes me to wonder, why then do I focus on my own failings rather than considering the steps forward I have made? Why do I focus on the times when I have messed up more than the times when I have stepped up? 

Are you the same?

Do you see yourself in a negative light? Do you think about the things you’ve done wrong more than what you’ve done right? If so, then you are not alone. Yet you can also gain inspiration and encouragement from this chapter. You too can see that God focuses on the positive attributes of His people not their mistakes. So, why don’t you give yourself a break and do the same? See what God has done in and through you, ask God to show you how He sees you - it may surprise you. 

Those commended in this chapter are esteemed for their faith in different ways, some of them are:

Acceptable sacrifices

Pleasing God

Walking faithfully

Reverent fear

Believing God’s word even when it seems impossible

Obedience

Looking forward to God’s fulfilment

Living in discomfort now knowing God’s reward is coming

Considering God faithful

Do you do any or some of these? 

Do you give generously and at a sacrifice to God and His people?

Do you please God by pursuing your faith?

Are you persevering in walking faithfully - being an upright citizen and living above reproach?

Do you fear Holy God?

Are you holding tight to His promises even when they seem far off? 

Are you doing the last thing God told you to do? 

Do you focus more on what is to come than your current experience? Is heaven a lived reality for you? 

Are you prepared to suffer now knowing there’s a greater reward that you’re not likely to experience on this Earth? 

Are you confident in God’s faithfulness?

If you can confidently say ‘Yes’ to any of the above questions, then you are in good company. This chapter shows us, ‘so great a cloud of witnesses’, people like us who have struggled, failed, let themselves down, yet also clung to faith. As a believer in God, and a truster of Jesus, you too can be considered as a person of faith alongside these heroes. You too have a story worth telling. You have a story of how you have overcome and held onto the faith. You are a witness to who God is, and you too can share your story and be an example of a faith hero to those around you. 

Who can you be a hero to? 

Who can you share the greatness of God in your life with?