Church guide

How to Feel God's Love for You Robbie Williams’ evocative lyric in the song ‘Feel’ echoes the deep longing of the human heart: ‘I just wanna feel real love’. God wants you to feel his love for you. He wants you to accept his love in your heart. You can receive his love in a new way today. I remember an occasion when our grandson, aged two, wanted to feel his father’s love. He raised both hands in the air and said, ‘Hugga Dadda’. My son picked up his son, lifted him into his arms, embraced him, kissed him and hugged him. It is a wonderful thing to hold a parent’s hand but an incomparably greater thing to have their arms wrapped around you. This is an illustration of the experience of God’s love. You know that God loves you through the cross: ‘God demonstrated his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (Romans 5:8). You experience God’s love through the Holy Spirit: ‘God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us’ (5:5). ‘The whole Bible,’ St Augustine observes, ‘does nothing but tell of God’s love.’ Father Raniero Cantalamessa writes: ‘This is the message that supports and explains all the other messages. The love of God is the answer to all the “whys” in the Bible: the why of creation, the why of the incarnation, the why of redemption. If the written word of the Bible could be changed into a spoken word and become one single voice, this voice, more powerful than the roaring of the sea would cry out: “the Father loves you!” (John 16:27). Everything that God does and says in the Bible is love, even God’s anger is nothing but love. God “is” love!’ Psalm 86:11-17 God’s love is great and personal When you know the greatness of God’s love for you the response is worship: ‘I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever’ (v.12). David knew it was the love of a personal God who cares for each individual. He writes, ‘For great is your love towards me’ (v.13a). Like David, you are God’s ‘dear, dear child!’ (v.16, MSG). It is God’s nature to love. ‘But you, O God, are both tender and kind, not easily angered, immense in love’ (v.15, MSG). He prays, ‘Make a show of how much you love me’ (v.17, MSG). He prayed, in the light of God’s love for him, for an ‘undivided heart’ (v.11b). He wanted to respond to God’s love for him by committing himself totally to God. Lord, you are compassionate and gracious, abounding in love and faithfulness (v.15). Thank you that your love for me is so great and so personal. Give me an undivided heart. Romans 4:16-5:11 God’s love is demonstrated and poured out Do you believe that God really loves you? God’s love will never let you down; he will never stop loving you. His love for you is greater than your failings and he wants you to receive his love by faith. Contrary to what many people think, God loves you and wants to give you life. He gives ‘life to the dead’ (4:17). God raised Jesus to life from the dead. One day all who have died, in Christ, will also be given resurrection life. In the meantime, Jesus said that he came so that you might experience life, and life in all its fullness (John 10:10). Paul continues to describe Abraham’s faith. Abraham believed God’s promise that he and Sarah would have a child, even though it was no longer a human possibility. We learn of Abraham that ‘no unbelief or distrust made him waver (doubtingly question) concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong and was empowered by faith as he gave praise and glory to God, fully satisfied and assured that God was able and mighty to keep His word and to do what He had promised’ (Romans 4:20–21, AMP). In other words, Paul reiterates, Abraham was justified by faith. But justification by faith was not only for Abraham, ‘but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness – for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead’ (v.24). You too are justified by faith. ‘The sacrificed Jesus made us fit for God, set right with God’ (v.25, MSG). Paul moves on to speak of the staggering consequences of this fact. Because you are ‘justified by faith’, you have ‘peace with God’. You have ‘gained access’ to his presence (5:1–2, MSG). You can draw near to him and speak to him each day, knowing that there is no barrier between you and him. ‘There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with troubles’ (v.3, MSG). We can rejoice in our sufferings: ‘Because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us’ (vv.3–5). God’s love has flooded your innermost heart. This experience of God’s love is deep and overwhelming. It is the regular ministry of the Holy Spirit to help you feel God’s love. If you have never had this experience of the Holy Spirit filling your innermost heart, I would encourage you simply to ask God to fill you now. Paul has still more to say about God’s love. He says that even when you were against him, he sent Jesus to die for you. ‘But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us’ (v.😎. The essence of love is giving. The more the gift costs and the less the recipient deserves it, the greater the love involved. This is how you know God loves you. The Father allowed his only Son to be taken from his embrace and sent to the cross. Even though we did not deserve it – we were ungodly sinners – Jesus died for us. God did not spare his own son. He loves you that much. If God loves you so much, you can be certain that your future is secure. ‘If, when we were at our worst, we were put on friendly terms with God by the sacrificial death of his Son, now that we’re at our best, just think of how our lives will expand and deepen by means of his resurrection life!’ (v.10, MSG). Lord, thank you that you love me so much that you died for me. I ask that you would, again, pour your love into my heart by the Holy Spirit, and help me to feel your deep love for me. Amos 6:1-7:17 God’s love and grief Do you know that God’s anger is nothing but love? Here we see an example of that. God’s anger is directed towards ‘complacent’ leaders (6:1): ‘Woe to those who live in luxury and expect everyone else to serve them! Woe to those who live only for today, indifferent to the fate of others! Woe to the playboys, the playgirls, who think life is a party held just for them! Woe to those addicted to feeling good – life without pain! those obsessed with looking good – life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country going to ruin’ (vv.4–6, MSG). It is not so much that they enjoy the good things of life – none of which are sinful in themselves. Rather, it is because they don’t care about the state of the people of God. God hates pride and arrogance (vv.6,8) that fails to acknowledge our need of him and keeps us from experiencing his love for us and loving others as he loves them. If the leaders had loved God’s people as God loved them, they would have grieved over their country going to ruin. Amos was an example of someone who did care and did do something. He interceded for the people (7:1–6). Amos was an ordinary person: ‘I never set up to be a preacher, never had plans to be a preacher. I raised cattle and I pruned trees. Then God took me off the farm and said, ‘Go preach to my people Israel’ (vv.14–15, MSG). God was not content to simply watch injustice flourish. He loves his people too much for that. He raised up Amos to warn them of the consequences of what they were doing and to call them to turn back to his ways. Like Amos, let’s pray and intercede for our nation: ‘Sovereign Lord, forgive!’ (v.2). In your great love, have mercy upon us. Thank you that you love your church and that you have power to bring life to the dead (Romans 4:24). Lord, we pray that you would raise up more people who hear your words and speak them with courage, power and love. Pippa Adds Amos 6:4a ‘You lie on beds inlaid with ivory and lounge on your couches.’ The chance would be a fine thing! Verse of the Day ‘… God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us’ (Romans 5:5).

Late posting we hit the ground running this morning and didn’t get to devotion till tonight. God bless everyone. God's Game-Changing Answer ‘We sometimes fall into the trap of thinking we are the worst people on the face of the earth and that nobody does as many wrong things as we do. But Romans 3:23 says that all have sinned and fall short of the glory (excellence) of God. Every man, woman, or child who was ever born, or ever will be, has a problem with sin. But the good news is that God has provided an answer to our dilemma,’ writes Joyce Meyer. When Saint Augustine found the answer in 386, ‘a clear light flooded [his] heart’. Martin Luther found the answer and a few years later the Reformation began, in 1517. When John Wesley understood the answer in 1738, his heart was ‘strangely warmed’ and the seeds of a revival began. In each case, their lives were radically changed through understanding ‘the righteousness of God’. It’s a game changer. The moment anyone comes to understand this expression, it changes your life. It certainly changed mine. Psalm 85:8-13 God’s answer gives you his peace ‘I grew up in an atmosphere of strife,’ writes Joyce Meyer, ‘and that was all I ever knew. I had to learn an entirely new way of living. Now I am addicted to peace. As soon as my peace disappears, I ask myself how I lost it and start looking for ways to get it back.’ God has promised ‘peace’ (v.😎 to his people. This does not necessarily mean outward peace. The pressures, difficulties, trials, battles and busyness may not disappear. But in all this, God has promised to give you his peace. This peace comes from listening to what ‘God the Lord’ says (v.😎. Peace is very closely connected with righteousness. The psalmist says, ‘righteousness and peace kiss each other’ (v.10b). In the same way that love and faithfulness go together (v.10a), so do righteousness and peace. Peace comes from living in a right relationship with God (Romans 5:1). God, thank you that you make it possible for me to walk in a right relationship with you and to enjoy the peace that follows. Romans 3:9-31 God’s answer is a gift you receive We long for peace. We long to be in a right relationship with God and with other people. But how do you receive this ‘righteousness from God’? Paul continues his argument that no one is righteous on their own. ‘There's nobody living right, not even one’ (v.10b, MSG). ‘They’ve all taken the wrong turn; they’ve all wandered down blind alleys’ (v.12, MSG). Righteousness is the way to peace, but the reality is that ‘the way of peace they do not know’ (v.17). Paul concludes his argument in this section: ‘And it’s clear enough, isn’t it, that we’re sinners, every one of us, in the same sinking boat with everybody else?’ (v.20, MSG). The two little words that follow are of huge significance: ‘But now…’ (v.21). Having set out the problem, Paul now moves on to describe God’s game-changing answer – ‘a righteousness from God’ (v.21). This righteousness from God cannot be achieved through the law because no one (apart from Jesus) has ever kept the entire law. The Old Testament (the Law and the Prophets) testifies about this and points towards God’s answer (v.21). ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe’ (v.22). This righteousness from God cannot be earned. It is a pure gift that you receive ‘through faith in Jesus Christ’. It is a gift ‘to all who believe’ (v.22). Paul then uses three images to describe what Jesus’ death on the cross has achieved. Each is like a facet of a diamond. Each image is intertwined with the others: The penalty of sin has been paid Justification is an expression from the law court. We ‘are justified freely by his grace’ (v.24). God is a just judge. He could not ignore our guilt. He came in the person of his son Jesus Christ to die for you and me: ‘… in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished – he did it to demonstrate his justice at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus’ (vv.25–26). He paid the penalty himself. You are justified ‘freely by his grace’ (v.24). Grace means undeserved love. It is free. There is no merit on our part. You cannot earn it. It is a gift. Therefore, there is no room for boasting (vv.27–31). Through his death on the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for our every wrong action, word and thought. The moment you put your faith in Jesus, you are justified. You have nothing to fear. The penalty has been paid. You have received the gift of righteousness from God. The power of sin has been broken The second image Paul uses comes from the marketplace: ‘through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus’ (v.24). Debt was a problem in the ancient world as well. If someone had serious debts, they might be forced to sell themselves into slavery in order to pay them off. Suppose a person was standing in the marketplace, offering themselves as a slave. Someone might have pity and pay the amount they owe, then let the person they’ve paid for go free. In doing so, they would be ‘redeeming’ them and paying a ‘ransom’ price. In a similar way for us, ‘redemption… came by Jesus Christ’ (v.24). Your sins are like a debt that stands against you. Jesus, by his death on the cross, paid the ransom price (Mark 10:45). In this way, you are set free to have a relationship with God. Your relationship is restored. You receive a righteousness from God. The pollution of sin has been removed Paul’s third image in this passage comes from the temple. ‘God presented him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in his blood’ (Romans 3:25). In the Old Testament, very detailed laws were laid down regarding how sin should be dealt with. There was a whole sacrificial system that demonstrated the seriousness of sin and the need for cleansing from it, as sin was passed from the sinner to the animal, which was then killed. But ‘it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins’ (Hebrews 10:4). The old sacrificial system was only a ‘shadow’ (v.1) of what was to come. The reality came with the sacrifice of Jesus. Only the blood of Christ, the ‘once for all’ (v.10) sacrifice of atonement, can wash away your sin and remove its pollution. This is because Jesus was the perfect sacrifice. He alone lived a perfect life. Through his blood you receive God’s game-changing answer – a righteousness from God. Lord, how can I ever thank you enough for the gift of ‘the righteousness from God’ by faith in Jesus? Thank you that as a result of your righteousness I can receive peace, forgiveness, freedom and cleansing through the blood of Jesus. Amos 3:1-4:13 God’s answer challenges us to right living Paul tells us that God’s game-changing answer – ‘a righteousness from God’ is something about which ‘the Law and the Prophets testify’ (Romans 3:21). Amos is one of those prophets. As Amos turned to speak the word of the Lord against Israel, we see God’s desire for righteousness in that all their sins are punished. The Lord said, ‘Out of all the families on earth, I picked you. Therefore, because of your special calling, I’m holding you responsible for all your sins’ (Amos 3:2, MSG). The people are condemned in what is almost a law court: ‘“Hear this and testify against the house of Jacob,” declares the Lord’ (v.13). It is as if God calls witnesses to testify against his own people: ‘You women! Mean to the poor, cruel to the down-and-out! Indolent and pampered, you demand of your husbands, “Bring us a tall, cool drink!”’ (4:1, MSG). They are condemned for their superficiality, self-centred indulgence and their treatment of the poor and needy. Over and over again, God speaks to his people in an attempt to draw them back to him: ‘The fact is, God, the Master, does nothing without first telling his prophets the whole story’ (3:7, MSG). ‘Yet,’ he declares, ‘you have not returned to me’ (4:6,8–11). When we understand this Old Testament background, it makes it all the more staggering that the apostle Paul writes, ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe’ (Romans 3:22). God’s game changer is that Jesus has paid the penalty for you; you are righteous in God’s eyes, you can approach him with confidence today. Speak to him as your loving Father and know his peace deep in your heart. Lord, thank you that your desire is always that we return to you and walk in a right relationship with you. Thank you that you have now made that possible through Jesus. Pippa Adds Amos 4:9 ‘“Many times I struck your gardens and vineyards, I struck them with blight and mildew. Locusts devoured your fig and olive trees, yet you have not returned to me,” declares the Lord.’ In our vicarage garden the rose has mildew, the squirrels have dug up the bulbs and bindweed is taking over the whole garden. Either I need to repent more or work harder in the garden! Verse of the Day ‘The LORD… promises peace to his people…’ (Psalm 85:8).

Soften Your Heart and Harden Your Feet A twenty-one-year-old music college student took the cheapest ship she could find, calling at the greatest number of countries, and prayed to know where to disembark. She arrived in Hong Kong in 1966 and came to a place called the Walled City. It was a small, densely populated, lawless area controlled neither by China nor Hong Kong. It was a high-rise slum for drug addicts, gangs and prostitutes. She wrote: ‘I loved this dark place. I hated what was happening in it but I wanted to be nowhere else. It was almost as if I could already see another city in its place and that city was ablaze with light. It was my dream. There was no more crying, no more death or pain. The sick were healed, addicts set free, the hungry filled. There were families for orphans, homes for the homeless, and new dignity for those who had lived in shame. I had no idea of how to bring this about but with “visionary zeal” imagined introducing the Walled City people to the one who could change it all: Jesus.’ Jackie Pullinger has spent over half a century working with prostitutes, heroin addicts and gang members. I remember so well a talk she gave some years ago. She began by saying, ‘God wants us to have soft hearts and hard feet. The trouble with so many of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.’ Jackie is a glowing example of this; going without sleep, food and comfort, to serve others. God wants us to have soft hearts – hearts of love and compassion. But if we are to make any difference to the world, this will lead to hard feet as we travel along tough paths and face challenges. Proverbs 17:5-14 Soften your heart towards others If you have a heart softened by God, you will inevitably demonstrate love towards others. Our aim should be to live a life that ‘promotes love’ (v.9a). Love the poor Your attitude to the poor reflects your attitude to God: ‘Whoever mocks the poor shows contempt for their Maker’ (v.5a). As God’s people we are called to friendship with and service of the poor. Love your family God’s ideal is for you to enjoy close and loving relationships between parents, grandparents and children: ‘Children’s children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children’ (v.6). Love your friends Love between close friends is extremely valuable. Guard your friendships. Do not quickly take offence or bear a grudge: ‘Overlook an offense and bond a friendship; fasten on to a slight and – good-bye, friend!’ (v.9, MSG). Love your critics Jesus told us, ‘Love your enemies’ (Matthew 5:44). A soft heart is willing to take criticism, whether it comes from a friend or even from an ‘enemy’. ‘A rebuke impresses a discerning person more than a hundred lashes a fool’ (Proverbs 17:10). Do your utmost to avoid arguments: ‘Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out’ (v.14). Lord, help me to love like this. Help me to guard my relationships in my family, with my friends, and with my critics. Help me to love the poor and make a real difference in their lives. Romans 2:17-3:8 Soften your heart towards God It does not matter what is happening on the outside if we do not have a ‘soft heart’. Here, Paul looks at the importance of the heart. He explains that it was intended that the Jews, God’s chosen people, should walk in a relationship with God. So they were given the law. They knew God’s will (2:17–18). They were meant to be ‘a guide for the blind, a light for those who are in the dark, an instructor of the foolish, a teacher of infants’ (vv.19–20). Physical circumcision was the outward and visible sign intended to reflect the inward and invisible attitude of the heart. Paul argues that sadly they (like us all) have failed to keep God’s law (vv.21–27). Paul then focuses on what really matters: ‘You become a Jew by who you are. It’s the mark of God on your heart, not of a knife on your skin that makes a Jew. And recognition comes from God, not legalistic critics’ (v.29, MSG). What matters to God is the heart. Every person who has the Holy Spirit living in their heart receives the same inheritance as the Jews did in the Old Testament. This includes every true Christian. Does this mean that there is no value to what the Jews had been given? No. He points out that there are great advantages to being Jewish. For example, ‘they have been entrusted with the very words of God’ (3:2). What an amazing privilege! However, you now not only have the words of God in the Scriptures they had, you also have the words of Jesus and the whole of the rest of the New Testament. You have an even greater advantage. Later on in Romans, he will expound this at greater length (Romans 9–11). Meanwhile, he digresses to deal with an argument his opponents have levelled against him (3:3–8). He stresses again God’s faithfulness. Even when we are faithless, God remains faithful to us. It would be absurd to take advantage of this by doing evil. Rather God’s faithfulness encourages us to be faithful to him. Lord, fill my heart today with your Spirit, with love and compassion for every person I meet. Thank you that you have entrusted us with the very words of God. Help me to be faithful to you today. Amos 1:1-2:16 Harden your feet to help the poor and needy A soft heart must lead to hard feet, with God’s people prepared to act on behalf of the poor and vulnerable, to fight against injustice and stand up for the oppressed. This was a time (760–750 BC) of great prosperity for Israel and Judah. But material prosperity is not always a sign of God’s blessing. At this time, it had resulted in complacency, corruption, immorality and terrible injustice. Amos was a prophet. But he was not a priest or an ordained minister. He stayed in his workplace – a sheep breeder, who was unimpressed by prosperity, power and position. He was a defender of the downtrodden poor and an accuser of the privileged rich who were using God’s name to legitimise injustice and oppression. Like the apostle Paul, Amos proclaims God’s judgment against both non-religious and religious. He starts with the non-religious who ‘sin apart from the law’. Israel’s neighbours had committed terrible sins. They are condemned for their excessive cruelty and horrible torture (1:3), for slavery and slave trading (v.6), for ‘stifling all compassion’ (v.11), for ripping open pregnant women (v.13) and for desecrating the dead (2:1). Amos speaks of God’s wrath at such terrible sins (1:3,6,9,11,13). Amos and Paul (Romans 1:18–20) both argue for a ‘natural law’. Even if they did not have the written law of God, there is a ‘natural law’ – ‘written on their hearts’ (2:15). They know that certain things are wrong. This was effectively the basis upon which the Nazi leaders were condemned at the Nuremberg trials after the Second World War. Amos, like Paul (2:12), goes on to say that God’s people who have the written law will be judged by an even stricter standard. Amos turns from judgment of the Gentiles to judgment of Judah and Israel because ‘they rejected God’s revelation, refused to keep my commands’ (Amos 2:4, MSG). Although God had acted on their behalf – ‘I was always on your side’ (v.9, MSG) – they failed to keep his laws. In particular, the issue that matters to God is their attitude to the poor and needy. Their hearts had become hard. ‘People for them are only things – ways of making money. They’d sell a poor man for a pair of shoes. They’d sell their own grandmother! They grind the penniless into the dirt, shove the luckless into the ditch’ (vv.6c–7b, MSG). They are also guilty of slavery and sexual sin (v.7c). While all this is going on, ‘stuff they’ve extorted from the poor is piled up at the shrine of their god, while they sit around drinking wine they’ve conned from their victims’ (v.8, MSG). The sins of God’s people are not as horrific as those of the non-religious. Yet the judgment against them is as severe (vv.13,16) because God has blessed them so richly (vv.10–11). We are not to congratulate ourselves that our sins are less than others. Our sins may be less obvious, but they may be as great in God’s sight. Thank God for the forgiveness and grace that we receive through Jesus. Lord, give us soft hearts of compassion and love for the issues of extreme poverty and injustice in our world – and hard feet and courage to go out and do something about it. Pippa Adds Proverbs 17:6 ‘Parents are the pride of their children.’ We can but hope! Proverbs 17:14 ‘Starting a quarrel is like breaching a dam; so drop the matter before a dispute breaks out.’ It is a temptation when quarrelling to want to have the last word. Disagreements can escalate so easily. This proverb says: drop the matter, let it go, and move on. Verse of the Day ‘Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends’ (Proverbs 17:9, NLT).

The Tale of Two Gardens. What was lost in one was reclaimed in another. Great response to the word.

The God of the Second Chance ‘You never get a second chance at a first impression,’ goes the saying, but social media profiles, online communities and virtual gaming provide, for some, an opportunity to seek a second chance in life. ‘Second Life’ is a virtual world. Over twenty million people have created a Second Life character, through which they can live in this new world. They are looking for another chance in life. ‘Second Life’ describes itself as a place ‘to connect… to change yourself, to change your mind, change your look… to be different’. This virtual world is clear evidence of the longing of so many for a fresh start. Yet, in reality, God is the God of the second chance and third and many, many more. He gives us countless chances to turn back to him and enjoy his love again. God doesn’t just give us a ‘second life’ – he comes to us and transforms our real life. Psalm 85:1-7 Make a fresh start Like so many of us, the psalmist wants an opportunity to make a fresh start in life. He cries out to God, ‘help us make a fresh start’ (v.6, MSG). God is not wishy-washy. He hates sin. There is such a thing as righteous anger (v.5). It is one side of God’s love. But the psalmist knows that this righteous anger is not contrary to God’s unfailing love, and in this psalm we see both side by side. God forgives: ‘You lifted the cloud of guilt from your people, you put their sins far out of sight… you cooled your hot, righteous anger’ (vv.2–3, MSG). When you turn back to God he restores and revives you through his ‘unfailing love’ (v.7). The psalmist prays, ‘Restore us again… Will you not revive us again’ (vv.4,6). Lord, thank you that you give me so many chances. Restore and revive me again, that I may rejoice in you. Romans 2:1-16 Enjoy a radical life change God loves you. He wants the very best for your life. He does not want you to mess up your life. Sin takes us ‘on a dark spiral downwards’ (v.1, MSG). ‘God is kind, but he’s not soft. In kindness he takes us firmly by the hand and leads us into a radical life-change’ (v.4, MSG). Paul speaks of the ‘wrath’ of God (vv.5,8). This is God’s loving, righteous anger against sin. But Paul does not begin with the ‘wrath’ of God. He begins with ‘the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience’ (v.4). God is love. His anger is the very last resort – for those who are ‘self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil’ (v.😎. God loves everyone. He ‘does not show favouritism’ (v.11). He loves both Jew and Gentile alike. God is impartial. He is a righteous judge. All of us have sinned and have no excuse: ‘Every time you criticise someone, you condemn yourself. It takes one to know one. Judgmental criticism of others is a well-known way of escaping detection in your own crimes and misdemeanours’ (v.1, MSG). It is so easy to judge other people about the very things we do ourselves. We tend to look at ourselves through rose-tinted glasses and look at everyone else through a magnifying glass. A judgmental mind focuses on what is wrong with others, rather than on what is right. The opening five books of the Old Testament establish God’s relationship with his people and give instructions on how to live. But ‘merely hearing God’s law is a waste of your time if you don’t do what he commands’ (v.13, MSG). So all of us will be judged by what we know. For some, that will be God’s law, for others their own consciences: ‘Something deep within them that echoes God’s yes and no, right and wrong’ (v.15, MSG). All of us need to repent. God’s kindness is intended to lead us to repentance. The moment you repent and turn to God, you get another chance, the possibility of a new life. Repentance is not just about turning away from sin but turning towards God. Lord, forgive me for the times when I judge others. Thank you that every day is an opportunity for a new start, another chance. Jonah 1:1-4:11 Seize a second chance Jonah is different from all the other prophets. As Eugene Peterson writes, ‘He is not a hero too high and mighty for us to identify with – he doesn’t do anything great.’ The book starts with Jonah disobeying God and ends with him complaining about what God has done. He is a man who suffered from severe depression. God works within and around Jonah’s weaknesses to accomplish his purposes. Each of these four short chapters tells us something about God’s love: God’s love will never let you go (Chapter 1) You cannot successfully run away from God or from his call. Jonah was a well-known preacher (2 Kings 14:25). He is told to go to Nineveh (Jonah 1:2). Instead, he runs to Tarshish – which is now the Costa Brava in southwest Spain (but Jonah was not there for a holiday!). You can run from God, but you cannot hide. Jonah ends up in a mess. It is so easy to think that our own disobedience will not affect anyone but us. This story shows that our disobedience has consequences for other people. Sometimes the storms we face in life are the result of our own disobedience. A storm rages, and Jonah knows it is his fault. He is prepared to die and demands to be thrown into the sea, but ‘the Lord provided a great fish’ (v.17). God’s love would not let him go. God’s love can reach you no matter how far you’ve fallen (Chapter 2) No matter how desperate or hopeless your situation may seem, it is never too late. When he hit rock bottom, from inside the fish Jonah prayed: ‘In my distress I called to the Lord… you listened to my cry’ (2:2). He recognised what we miss out on when we do not follow the Lord. ‘Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs’ (v.😎. It is so easy to put our trust in something other than God. We can so often put our trust in the 'idols’ of money, success, fame or sex. Anything that takes you away from God prevents you from receiving the grace that can be yours. There is no situation that God cannot rescue you from if you cry out to him. God’s love means you get another chance (Chapter 3) God was persistent in giving Jonah a second chance and when Jonah took him up on it, the result was an eternal impact on many people’s lives. Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you’ (3:2). The first time he messed up; the second time God used him powerfully. Not only did God give Jonah a second chance, he also gave the city of Nineveh a second chance. Nineveh was a great city (1:2; 3:2). It had more than 120,000 people (4:11). As a result of Jonah’s message, the people repented; they believed (3:5). The king believed (vv.7–9). Revival came as a result of one person’s preaching. Thousands were saved (v.10). God’s love extends to all his creation (Chapter 4) God loves everyone and wants to be merciful to every person, city and nation on earth. After all the success of his evangelistic campaign, Jonah fell into another deep depression. He was angry with God (4:1). Jonah was quick to anger, unlike God who is ‘sheer grace and mercy, not easily angered, rich in love, and ready at the drop of a hat to turn your plans of punishment into a program of forgiveness!’ (v.2, MSG). We see now why Jonah ran away in the first place. He was angry that they had repented. The Ninevites were cruel oppressors. They were into witchcraft, torture, greed and prostitution. Yet, they repented and God forgave them. Still, today, some find it hard when really evil people repent and God forgives them. God sent Jonah a visual aid. He provided a plant to give him shade. He was thrilled with it. Then God destroyed it (v.7). But God pointed out his great love for all his creation (unlike Jonah’s concerns, which are rather narrow and selfish, vv.10–11). One of God’s amazing characteristics is mercy. Mercy means being kind and good to people who do not deserve it. God has extended his mercy to you and me through Jesus Christ and his mercy never runs out. Lord, thank you for your great love. Thank you that even when I have messed up, you give me another chance. Help me to bring the good news of your love to others so that they too may turn back to your love. Pippa Adds Jonah 1:1–4:11 Jonah worried more about looking good than saving the lives of thousands of people. It matters what we do, not what we look like. Verse of the Day ‘From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry’ (Jonah 2:2).

With business of cookout and getting ready for Vacation I forgot to post yesterday’s devotion. Here it is: How to Worship God In his book, The Vision and The Vow, Pete Greig tells of how a distinguished art critic was studying an exquisite painting by the Italian Renaissance master Filippino Lippi. He stood in London’s National Gallery gazing at the fifteenth-century depiction of Mary holding the infant Jesus on her lap, with saints Dominic and Jerome kneeling nearby. But the painting troubled him. There could be no doubting Lippi’s skill, his use of colour or composition. But the proportions of the picture seemed slightly wrong. The hills in the background seemed exaggerated, as if they might topple out of the frame at any minute onto the gallery’s polished floor. The two kneeling saints looked awkward and uncomfortable. Art critic Robert Cumming was not the first to criticise Lippi’s work for its poor perspective, but he may well be the last to do so, because at that moment he had a revelation. It suddenly occurred to him that the problem might be his. The painting had never been intended to come anywhere near a gallery. Lippi’s painting had been commissioned to hang in a place of prayer. The dignified critic dropped to his knees in the public gallery before the painting. He suddenly saw what generations of art critics had missed. From his new vantage point, Robert Cumming found himself gazing up at a perfectly proportioned piece. The foreground had moved naturally to the background, while the saints seemed settled – their awkwardness, like the painting itself, having turned to grace. Mary now looked intently and kindly directly at him as he knelt at her feet between saints Dominic and Jerome. It was not the perspective of the painting that had been wrong all these years, it was the perspective of the people looking at it. Robert Cumming, on bended knee, found a beauty that Robert Cumming the proud art critic could not. The painting only came alive to those on their knees in prayer. The right perspective is the position of worship. Psalm 84:8-12 Discover the blessings of worship There is nothing in this world that compares to worshipping God, walking in a close relationship with him and enjoying his favour. This is what the psalmist prays: ‘Hear my prayer, O Lord God Almighty... look with favour on your anointed one’ (vv.8–9). This psalm is all about the blessings of worshipping God in his dwelling place (during this period, it was the Jerusalem temple). Those who dwell in God’s house are blessed and they ‘are ever praising you’ (v.4). The psalmist says he would rather spend one day in the presence of God than a thousand elsewhere: ‘One day spent in your house, this beautiful place of worship, beats thousands spent on Greek island beaches. I’d rather scrub floors in the house of my God than be honoured as a guest in the palace of sin’ (v.10, MSG). To worship God is to experience him as ‘sunshine’ (v.11, MSG), bathing us in his light and warmth, and a ‘shield’, defending us from evil (v.11). He prays for this because he knows how wonderful it is: ‘The Lord bestows favour and honour; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless. O Lord Almighty, blessed are those who trust in you’ (vv.11–12). Lord, I worship you today. One day in your presence is better than a thousand elsewhere. Help me to keep trusting in you and worshipping you. Romans 1:18-32 Worship only God You become like what you worship. If we worship worthless idols, our lives become worthless. If we worship God, eventually we will become like him. The apostle Paul begins, in this passage, to unfold what has gone wrong in the world. The heart of the problem is that humankind has ‘worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator’ (v.25). God has specifically revealed himself in the Scriptures and ultimately in Jesus Christ, who is his ‘exact representation’ (Hebrews 1:3). But what about those who had never heard the good news? Paul’s argument here is that we are all ‘without excuse’ (Romans 1:20). God has revealed himself in his creation: ‘But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being. So nobody has a good excuse’ (vv.19–20, MSG). This knowledge of God is only partial and limited. But, as the psalmist puts it, ‘The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands’ (Psalm 19:1). We only have to look at the created world to know that there must be a God. The problem with the world is that, in spite of this revelation of God, ‘they refused to worship him’ (Romans 1:21, MSG). ‘They neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him’ (v.21). Instead, they ‘worshipped and served created things’ (v.25). Therefore, the apostle Paul writes, ‘God gave them over’ (vv.24, 26,28). God allowed us to go our own way in order that we might at last learn from the terrible consequences that follow. Life turned away from the worship of God is ultimately futile. As The Message puts it, it is ‘godless and loveless’ (v.27, MSG). ‘Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose’ (v.28, MSG). As the worship of God declines, so the morality of a society declines, following in its wake. We should not be surprised that as the worship of God has declined in our nation, so many of the things described in this passage have followed in its wake. If you want to keep the right perspective, keep your eyes fixed on Jesus and keep worshipping and serving your creator. Lord, I pray there may be a turning away in our society from the worship of created things and a restoration of worship of you, our Creator. 2 Kings 24:8-25:30 Pray for a restoration of worship When we look around at our society it can sometimes seem as if we are in a kind of exile. It can seem that the church is breaking down. In this passage, we see that the people of God have been through desperate times in the past. But, we also see hope for the future. As the book of Kings closes, we read of the terrible consequences of a nation that has done exactly what the apostle Paul describes in our New Testament passage for today. They had turned away from worshipping God to worshipping idols (created things). As a result, we see the destruction of Jerusalem and its temple, and the people going into exile. During the reign of Jehoiachin (597 BC), ‘Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon advanced on Jerusalem and laid siege to it’ (24:10). The leaders of the people were carried off into exile (v.14). The next king was appointed by the king of Babylon. Zedekiah (597–587 BC) was no better and things went from bad to worse, as Nebuchadnezzar once again laid siege to Jerusalem (chapter 25). This time the outcome was even more devastating. Nebuchadnezzar ‘set fire to the temple of the Lord, the royal palace and all the houses of Jerusalem. Every important building he burned down’ (25:9). The people were ‘carried into exile’ (v.11), ‘Judah went into exile, orphaned from her land’ (v.21, MSG). We are told, ‘it was because of the Lord’s anger that all this happened to Jerusalem and Judah, and in the end he thrust them from his presence’ (24:20). All of this needs to be read alongside the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel – two prophets who were prophesying at this time. (See especially, Jeremiah 13:18, Jeremiah 39 and 52, Ezekiel 12 and 24.) The greatest loss for the people of God was the destruction of the temple. This was the place where they worshipped God and experienced his presence. Now they were ‘thrust’ from his presence (2 Kings 24:20). This was the worst impact of the exile. Yet, the book of Kings ends with a small ray of hope. In the thirty-seventh year of the exile of Jehoiachin king of Judah, he is released from prison (25:27). He is invited to eat regularly at the king’s table (v.29). The exile is not going to last for ever. Here is a note of anticipation of better things to come. The people of God will return from exile and rebuild the temple and begin to enjoy the presence of God and the worship of God once more. Lord, I cry out to you for restoration and revival. Would you restore your church in this country. Revive us again. May our nation turn back to you, begin to worship you again, enjoy your presence and, on our knees before you, see things from the right perspective. Pippa Adds Psalm 84:11b ‘No good thing does [the Lord] withhold from those whose walk is blameless.’ I have been pondering this. It is a wonderful thing that ‘no good thing does [the Lord] withhold’. But I sometimes wish that it said ‘for those who are not doing too badly’ because ‘blameless’ seems rather a high standard. That’s why we need the cross, because we can’t do it on our own. Verse of the Day ‘Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere’ (Psalm 84:10).

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How to Restore Your Relationships Hans worked his way up from being a miner to owning a number of mines. His eldest son, Martin, was very intelligent and went to university at the age of seventeen. A respectable career as a lawyer lay ahead of him. Suddenly, to his father’s dismay, he cancelled his registration for the law course and became a monk and then a priest. Martin wanted to live a righteous life. He fasted for days and spent sleepless nights in prayer, but he was still plagued by his own unrighteousness before a righteous God. Around the age of thirty, as he was studying Romans 1:17, the penny dropped. He later wrote: ‘I began to understand that in this verse the righteousness of God is that by which the righteous man lives by the gift of God, in other words by faith; and that this sentence, “the righteousness of God is revealed”, refers to a passive righteousness, ie, that by which the merciful God justifies us by faith, as it is written, “The righteous person lives by faith.” This immediately made me feel as if I had been born again and entered through open gates to paradise itself.’ This experience occurred 500 years ago. It not only changed his life, it altered the course of human history. He became one of the pivotal figures of western civilisation, the founder of the Reformation – the seedbed for social, economic and political thought. His name, of course, was Martin Luther. In essence, righteousness means a right relationship with God, which leads to right relationships with others. It is a gift made possible through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Here lies the secret of restored relationships – first of restored relationship with God and then all other relationships. Psalm 84:1-7 Enjoy the blessings Dwelling in the presence of God is where the greatest blessings are found. This is one of mine and Pippa’s favourite psalms. We had it read at our wedding. We love it because it describes the blessings of living in a restored relationship with God. Longing for God’s presence In every human heart there is a spiritual hunger, which can only be satisfied by living in a right relationship with God. In the presence of God, the soul’s longing (v.1, MSG) is satisfied and the heart’s cry is answered. The psalmist writes, ‘How lovely is your dwelling-place, O Lord Almighty! My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God’ (vv.1–2). Blessing of God’s presence As you spend time praying, listening to God through the Bible and worshipping him, you will find that there is no place you would rather be than in his presence. ‘Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you’ (v.4). God’s presence is a place of blessing, praise and refreshment. It is like rain on thirsty ground (v.6). Strength from God’s presence When our strength is in God (v.5), the difficult places, tough situations and the valleys of life can be turned into springs (v.6). As you draw your strength from God in these times, you will find yourself going from ‘strength to strength’ (v.7). Having made the tabernacle and temple the place of his presence in the Old Testament, now, through Jesus Christ, God dwells and is present by his Spirit in the church (Ephesians 2:22) and in our bodies (1 Corinthians 6:19). Thank you, Lord, for all the blessings of your presence with me. Thank you for the way in which you strengthen me daily with your presence. Romans 1:1-17 Receive the gift You cannot do anything to earn or deserve God’s love. You receive it as a gift. Jesus has made you righteous. Through his life, death and resurrection, you can live in a right relationship with God. How is it that in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, world history took a new direction? How was it that the life of every man, woman and child on the planet was eternally affected? In this ground-breaking and hugely influential document of Christian theology (written around AD 59), Paul, who had encountered the risen Jesus himself, takes the well-witnessed fact of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth and thinks through its implications. It appears that the establishment of a Christian community in Rome had come about, not by any great evangelistic enterprise, but by the presence of Christians in the workplace discharging their ordinary secular duties. If you are in a secular job you can have as big an impact as any full-time evangelist. Paul is longing to see his friends in Rome (v.11). They are inexperienced beginners, yet Paul has the humility to recognise that he will learn something from them in addition to them learning from him (vv.11–12). ‘You have as much to give to me as I do to you’ (v.12, MSG). I have found that in every Alpha small group, I learn as much from the guests as they do from us. It is not only those outside of the church who need to hear the gospel. Paul is eager to preach the gospel to the Christian community in Rome (v.15). He knows full well the temptation to be ashamed. It can be so easy to allow our fears and worries about what other people will think about us to stop us from speaking about Jesus. Yet Paul writes, ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes’ (v.16a). He knows also the extraordinary power of the gospel to transform the lives of both Jews and Gentiles (v.16b). There is no greater privilege than preaching the gospel, ‘for in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last’ (v.17a). Paul does not contrast this with the Old Testament; rather, he uses the Old Testament to support his argument: ‘as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith”’ (v.17b, see also Habakkuk 2:4). Paul is going to say a lot more about this ‘righteousness from God’. The good news (gospel) is that God has enabled us to live in this right relationship with him. This righteousness comes from God. It is his gift to you. You cannot earn it. You receive it ‘by faith’. You no longer live under guilt and condemnation. Nothing can separate you from God’s love for you (Romans 8:1–39). Lord, thank you that through the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you make it possible for me to have a restored relationship with you and with others. Thank you that I cannot earn it but receive it as a gift by faith. 2 Kings 23:1-24:7 Continue to obey God had always intended that his people should live in a right relationship with him. This relationship is described in terms of a covenant. God had rescued his people from Egypt. He committed himself to them totally. He then described to them how they could stay in a right relationship with him. He gave them the commandments to guard right relationship with God and one another. The purpose of these laws was to enable them to flourish. Again and again, we read in the Old Testament how they did not obey these laws. Disaster came as a result. Occasionally there is a glimmer of hope when they recommit themselves to the covenant relationship with God. One such glimmer of hope appears in Josiah’s reign. ‘The king stood by the pillar and before God solemnly committed them all to the covenant: to follow God believingly and obediently; to follow his instructions, heart and soul, on what to believe and do; to put into practice the entire covenant, all that was written in the book. The people stood in affirmation; their commitment was unanimous’ (v.3, MSG). Josiah did carry out a number of reforms (vv.1–25). Sadly, they did not seem to have a lasting impact on the people and after Josiah’s death, things went back to the way they had been before. Josiah’s life was far from easy, and ended tragically, yet he sought to follow God in all that he did – ‘with all his heart and with all his soul and with all his strength’ (v.25). He is remembered as one of the heroes of faith. Thankfully, under the new covenant, the laws are written not on tablets of stone but on your heart. The moment you put your faith in Jesus all the promises of the Old Testament are fulfilled in you. You receive righteousness from God. God gives you the Holy Spirit to enable you to walk in a restored relationship with him and a restored relationship with other people. Lord, I turn to you today with all my heart and soul and strength. Fill me with your Spirit and help me to obey you fully. Pippa Adds Psalm 84:7 ‘They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion.’ This is an encouragement to finish well in life, to keep going and to believe the later years can be more fruitful than the former years. Verse of the Day ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes…’ (Romans 1:16).

Your Words Are Powerful ‘The Battle of Britain is about to begin. Upon this battle depends the survival of Christian civilisation.’ These words were in a speech given by Sir Winston Churchill to the House of Commons in 1940. Facing defeat, he inspired the nation to fight from the corner, urging them to brace themselves to do their duty and carry themselves in such a way that even a thousand years on people would still say, ‘This was their finest hour.’ The speech was powerful, the nation responded and ultimately a lasting peace was achieved. It is one of the speeches that shaped the modern world, displaying the power of words. Speeches have affected the outcome of war, women suffrage, human rights and many other issues. The apostle James writes that although ‘the tongue is a small part of the body… it makes great boasts’ (James 3:5). This small instrument has enormous power. It can cause great damage but it can also bring extraordinary blessings. Your tongue is a powerful instrument. Proverbs 16:28-17:4 Power to bring peace The words you speak can be either life-giving or destructive. Words can cause a great deal of trouble. ‘The perverse stir up dissension, and gossips separate close friends’ (16:28). Gossip has the power to break up friendships. It is vital to get control over your tongue: ‘Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power’ (v.32, MSG). You have a responsibility, not only for the words that you speak, but also for whose words and the kinds of words you listen to. ‘Evil people relish malicious conversation; the ears of liars itch for dirty gossip’’ (17:4, MSG). Remember that whoever gossips to you will probably gossip about you. Just as receiving stolen goods is as serious a crime in the eyes of the law as theft; so listening to gossip is as damaging as gossiping. How you speak and how you listen will affect the whole atmosphere in your home: ‘Better a dry crust with peace and quiet than a house full of feasting, with strife’ (v.1). Your words are powerful. Determine today to speak positive, encouraging words of life and blessing everywhere you go. Lord, help me to avoid the temptations of gossip and malicious talk. ‘Be in the heart of each to whom I speak; in the mouth of each who speaks unto me.’ (Northumbria Community’s Morning Prayer) Acts 28:17-31 Power to convince and convert The greatest blessing you can bring to another person is to introduce them to Jesus. God has entrusted you with the most powerful words anyone can utter. The message of Jesus has the power to transform people’s lives. There is enormous power in listening to the words of God. Paul refers to one of the most quoted passages in the entire Old Testament, Isaiah 6:9–10: ‘Go to this people and tell them this: “You’re going to listen with your ears, but you won’t hear a word... They stick their fingers in their ears so they won’t have to listen”’ (Acts 28:26–27, MSG). The gospel message often splits an audience in two. As Paul preached, ‘Some of them were persuaded by what he said, but others refused to believe a word of it’ (v.24, MSG). As Isaiah had prophesied, some people’s hearts become calloused and hardened to the message, while others ‘see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn’, and so God brings healing (v.27). Paul’s form of imprisonment seems now to be more like house arrest. Though he is still bound with a chain (v.20), he is able to call together the leaders of the Jews (v.17) and gather large numbers to the place where he is staying (v.23). He sets us a good example by opening his home so that as many people as possible can hear the gospel (vv.30–31). Around the world today there is great opposition against Christians and the Christian faith. Paul was under house arrest because of his beliefs. They said, ‘The only thing we know about this Christian sect is that nobody seems to have anything good to say about it’ (v.22, MSG). As many Christians face today, the charges against Paul were fabricated and didn’t stick, but he was still imprisoned for a long time. Against this background, we see the extraordinary power of Paul’s words. ‘Paul talked to them all day, from morning to evening, explaining everything involved in the kingdom of God, and trying to persuade them all about Jesus by pointing out what Moses and the prophets had written about him’ (v.23, MSG). In fact, ‘for two years… he urgently presented all matters of the kingdom of God. He explained everything about Jesus Christ’ (vv.30–31, MSG). Paul’s words were powerful because they were focused on Jesus. As we read the Gospels, we see that the central theme of the teaching of Jesus was the kingdom of God. As we read the rest of the New Testament, we see that the central theme of the apostles’ teaching was the Lord Jesus Christ. In preaching Jesus, they were preaching the kingdom of God. The two become almost synonymous, as we see here. Lord, thank you that we have the most powerful words in the world – the message of Jesus. Help me to find the right words to explain, declare and convince others, so that ‘they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn’, and be healed (v.27). 2 Kings 21:1-22:20 Power to change a nation History shows that words have the power to change a nation. King Manasseh (696–641 BC) was an evil king. ‘He reintroduced all the moral rot and spiritual corruption... Manasseh led [the people] off the beaten path into practices of evil... new records in evil... he was an indiscriminate murderer. He drenched Jerusalem with the innocent blood of his victims’ (21:1–16, MSG). His son Amon (641–639 BC) continued in the same vein (vv.20–22). The book of Chronicles suggests that even for Manasseh there was hope at the end of his life. It is never too late and no sin is too great to receive forgiveness from God (see 2 Chronicles 33). After this string of evil kings came Josiah (639–609 BC). He was a young man who led his people in great spiritual renewal, restoring worship and leading the people back into a right relationship with God. He was only eight years old when he became king (2 Kings 22:1). He ‘did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and walked in the ways of his father David, not turning aside from the right or to the left’ (v.2). Words had a powerful effect on Josiah and on the nation: Power of the written word While they were working on the temple, Shaphan, the high priest found the ‘Book of the Law’ (v.😎. It appears likely that it was the book of Deuteronomy. Shaphan read it for himself (v.😎. Then he read from it in the presence of the king. When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his robes (in repentance). He realised that they had not obeyed the words of this book (vv.11–13). This led to a change of heart, which led to a changed nation. This reminds us of the importance of the written word of God. Those of you who have taken up the challenge of reading the whole Bible in one year are engaged in doing something that is not only interesting and informative, but is also life-changing. Power of the spoken word Not only did God speak to Josiah and the people through his written word, he also spoke through prophecy. Interestingly, it was through a prophetess – Huldah, the wife of Shallum (v.14). This shows that the place of women in ministry has its roots in the Old Testament and in the history of the people of God. Huldah had a powerful ministry. Indeed, it seemed to have overshadowed her husband’s rather more practical role of being ‘in charge of the palace wardrobe’ (v.14, MSG). Her spoken words do not contradict the written words of Scripture; rather, they complement and indeed reinforce them: ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says concerning the words you heard: “… I have heard you, declares the Lord”’ (vv.18–19). She told them that because of the way they responded to the written word of God – they humbled themselves and repented – God had heard their words and responded to them. Their response to the word of God changed the course of history. Lord, I pray for our nation – that we may once again rediscover the power of the word of God and listen to your prophets, who speak in accordance with your word. May there be repentance and a change of heart in our leaders and in our nation. Pippa Adds Proverbs 16:31a ‘Grey hair is a crown of splendour.’ Our society doesn’t value grey hair, but I think Nicky looks pretty cool with his. I try to hide mine! Verse of the Day ‘Moderation is better than muscle, self-control better than political power’ (Proverbs 16:32 MSG)

Wednesday - Discipleship Class - 7 PM ~ Thursday - Youth Service - 7 PM ~ Saturday - Pork Burger Sale - Rural King - 10-2.

Invisible but Invaluable Every Monday morning, he phones our offices. He asks about the events and services taking place during the week, and the people involved in them. For decades, Charles and his prayer group have faithfully supported the church in prayer. They are examples of many in our church who intercede for us. Their prayers may be invisible but they are also invaluable. The word ‘intercession’ generally means praying for someone else (although, it can also be used of praying for oneself). We are all called to intercession. The apostle Paul writes to Timothy, ‘I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone – for kings and all those in authority’ (1 Timothy 2:1–2). Jesus is the great intercessor. He ‘made intercession for the transgressors’ (Isaiah 53:12). He ‘is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us’ (Romans 8:34; see also Hebrews 7:25). The Holy Spirit also intercedes for us and through us: ‘The Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express… the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God’s will’ (Romans 8:26–27). In the Old Testament passage for today, we see Isaiah’s role as an intercessor. Interceding for others is part of the role of a prophet. Intercession was also made by kings, for example, David, Solomon, and Hezekiah. You, too, are called to this invisible but invaluable ministry. Psalm 83:1-18 Intercede for seekers This psalm is a prayer of intercession – interceding for people to have knowledge of God’s final vindication, and for this to result in conversion prior to that final day. The surrounding nations want to destroy the people of God (v.4). Yet, the psalmist sees this more as an attack on God himself. He refers to them as ‘your enemies’ (v.2) who ‘form an alliance against you’ (v.5). This is a reminder that an attack on the people of God is ultimately an attack on God. The prayer of the psalm is that God’s enemies will be routed (vv.9–15). However, it is also intercession for conversion: ‘Cover their faces with shame so that they will seek your name, O Lord’ (v.16). There is an inherent desire that others would seek the one true God: ‘Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord – that you alone are the Most High over all the earth’ (v.18). Lord, I pray for all those currently on Alpha, that they will seek your name. I pray that you will act; that you will not keep silent; that people know that you alone are the Most High over all the earth. Acts 28:1-16 Intercede for healing I have sometimes heard it suggested that Christians should no longer pray for physical healing. It is argued that miracles of healing were particular to the ministry of Jesus and the immediate period after his death and resurrection. Some have even suggested that in the period covered by the book of Acts, miracles were already dying out. However, this is clearly not the case. When a viper fastened itself on Paul’s hand, he shook off the snake into the fire and suffered no ill effects (vv.3–5). Here we are in the last chapter of Acts and we read of how Paul is an example of Jesus’ prophecy about those who believe in him: ‘They will pick up snakes with their hands’ (Mark 16:18). When Paul and those with him were in Malta they met with Publius, the chief official of the island: ‘He welcomed us to his home and for three days entertained us hospitably. His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him’ (Acts 28:7–8). This is such a simple model for us to follow. First, when Paul heard that Publius’ father was sick, he acted in faith. He believed God was able to heal him so, ‘[He] went in to see him’ (v.😎. Second, he acted with boldness. Publius’ father was presumably not a Christian. Yet Paul was courageous enough to offer to pray for him, and to do so publically, laying hands on him. It might have been tempting to think, ‘What if he’s not healed?’ ‘Will I look a failure?’ ‘Will it bring the gospel into disrepute?’ But Paul took a risk. He acted in faith. He prayed, laid hands on him and God healed him. ‘When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured’ (vv.7–9). Far from dying out, there is an explosion of miraculous healing as the book of Acts comes to an end. Luke clearly sees that this is something that continues in the life of the church. The real question is not, ‘Does God heal today?’, but, ‘Does God answer prayer today?’ If he does, why would we exclude something as important as health? Prayer for healing is an important part of intercession. Pippa and I have prayed for so many people over the years. It is certainly far from the case that all have been healed. We do not pray for the sick because they all get healed. We pray for them because Jesus told us to do so. Over these years we have sometimes seen extraordinary healings. Do not be discouraged. Keep on praying with faith and boldness, love and sensitivity. Lord, help us to have the courage to take every opportunity to lay hands upon those who are sick and to pray for their healing. Thank you that you are a God who heals today. 2 Kings 19:14-20:21 Intercede for deliverance Sometimes in your own life you may be faced with seemingly overwhelming problems. This is a great model of how to deal with them. Hezekiah did not despair. He did not panic. He did not give up. He turned to God in prayer. This account of Hezekiah’s prayer and God’s deliverance is recorded three times in the Old Testament (see also Isaiah 36–39 and 2 Chronicles 32). Further, the events of this period are corroborated by Babylonian sources. When Hezekiah received the threatening letter and was faced with a seemingly overwhelming problem, ‘He went up to the temple of the Lord and spread it out before the Lord’ (2 Kings 19:14). He prayed to the Lord, ‘O Lord… you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see… Now, O Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God’ (vv.15–19). Hezekiah’s intercession begins by consciously recognising who God is. When we intercede we are speaking to the one who alone is, ‘God over all the kingdoms of the earth’ (v.15). God has the power to resolve these seemingly overwhelming problems. Hezekiah’s prayer was for God’s honour and glory, ‘so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God’ (v.19). Jesus taught us to start our prayers, ‘Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come’ (Matthew 6:9–10). I love the expression, ‘He… spread it out before the Lord’ (2 Kings 19:14). Hezekiah spoke to God about the problem. The prophet Isaiah sent a message to Hezekiah saying that God had heard his prayer. He delivered the people from the threat of the Assyrians in answer to Hezekiah’s intercession. Hezekiah also prayed for his healing. He was ill, at the point of death (20:1), and he interceded on his own behalf: ‘Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord’ (v.2). Again, God answered his intercession: ‘I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you… I will add fifteen years to your life’ (vv.5–6). Hezekiah experienced God’s amazing blessings in answer to his intercession. However, the passage ends with a note of warning. When envoys came from Babylon, Hezekiah showed off all his treasures (vv.12–15). He appeared to be taking the glory for all that the Lord had given him. Isaiah told him that as a result, ‘nothing will be left’ (v.17). If we take the glory for what the Lord does for us, it is at our own peril. Lord, as we look around at the state of our city, our nation and our world, we need your deliverance. You alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord, and hear; open your eyes, O Lord, and see. Pour out your Holy Spirit again. May we see people seeking your name again. May we see miracles of healing. May we see the evangelisation of our nation, the revitalisation of the church and the transformation of society, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God. Pippa Adds Acts 28:15 Paul had had such a long and traumatic journey to Rome. No wonder he was pleased to see the Christian community awaiting his arrival. Even though travelling is now so much easier, Nicky and I really appreciate the kind, smiling people who have met us at airports, driven us to our destination and generally looked after us. Wherever we have been in the world the Christian community has looked after us in amazing ways. Verse of the Day ‘This is what the Lord… says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you’ (2 Kings 20:5).

Trust in the Lord One of the biggest obstacles to faith is the suffering of the innocent. It is usually one of the first questions raised in an Alpha small group: ‘If there is a God who loves us, how come there is so much suffering in the world? How come there is such injustice and oppression? These are very important and necessary questions but there are no easy answers. Yet God is able to meet us in the midst of suffering and struggles. Extraordinarily, it is often the people who have gone through the greatest suffering who have the strongest faith. They testify to the presence of God with them, strengthening and comforting them in the midst of their pain. Betsie ten Boom, as she lay dying in Ravensbruck concentration camp, turned to her sister Corrie and said, ‘We must tell them that there is no pit so deep that He is not deeper still. They will listen to us, Corrie, because we have been here.’ Faith involves trusting in the Lord. The people of God in the Bible looked out on a world of suffering. But they trusted in the Lord despite what they saw. Psalm 82:1-8 Trust in the Lord in the midst of injustice and oppression How do we respond to all the injustice in the world? The psalmist trusts that ultimately God will put things right: ‘You’ve got the whole world in your hands!’ (v.8b, MSG). It is a great blessing to live under a good system of justice. It is a terrible curse to live under corrupt and incompetent judges. But ultimately, God will call them to account. ‘God presides’ over all other expressions of power (‘gods’) (v.1). Trust that God is ‘The President’ – he is in ultimate control. ‘God… puts all the judges in the dock. “Enough! You’ve corrupted justice long enough”’ (v.2, MSG). But faith in God’s ‘presidency’ should never lead to complacency or passivity. The psalmist is passionate to see the world changed. We are not only to trust God but also we have a duty to do everything within our power to see that justice is done. We must act on behalf of the poor: ‘Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed. Rescue the weak and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked’ (vv.3–4). A time will come when things will be put right; injustice will be removed and there will be deliverance from, for example, corrupt governments. He prays: ‘Rise up, O God, judge the earth’ (v.8a). While we too hope in God’s final judgment, we anticipate that justice by acting now on behalf of the poor and oppressed. We should raise the same challenge to those in power, ‘How long will you defend the cause of the unjust?’ Lord, thank you that one day there will be justice for all. You will put things right. In the meantime, help me to act on behalf of the poor and oppressed in our world. Acts 27:13-44 Trust in the Lord in the midst of disaster and turmoil When things go wrong in your life are you sometimes tempted to panic? I know that I am. If everything is going well in our lives, it is relatively easy to trust in the Lord. However, there are times when we face major challenges to our faith. Amongst his many challenges, trials and sufferings, Paul was shipwrecked three times (2 Corinthians 11:23b–25). In today’s passage, we read of one of these occasions. At first it looked as if Paul had been wrong in predicting disaster as the weather was perfect for the journey (Acts 27:13), but then a hurricane began (v.14). It must have been a terrifying experience. Luke writes, ‘[they] finally gave up all hope of being saved’ (v.20). Yet, Paul kept on trusting in the Lord, telling those on board to ‘have faith in God’, that God was still in control and that he had promised to rescue them (vv.23–25). It took this disaster for them to listen to Paul. Extraordinarily, Paul the prisoner appears to be completely in charge. He tells them, ‘you really should have listened to me’ (v.21, MSG). He is the one who stops the sailors jumping ship (v.30). This is a great example of leadership without title or position. The best leaders are able to lead, in whatever circumstances, by influence and persuasion. The turmoil gave Paul an opportunity to speak about his faith. He takes the opportunity although he must have been suffering greatly from hunger and the effects of the storm. Paul saw himself as belonging to God (‘the God whose I am’) and being his servant (‘whom I serve’) (v.23). But God was not only his owner and master; Paul trusted God and had a deep assurance of his love. He knew that God wanted the very best for him, as he does for you today. Paul assured them, ‘Not one of you will lose a single hair from his head’ (v.34). And, ‘after he said this, he took some bread and gave thanks to God in front of them all. Then he broke it and began to eat’ (v.35). In spite of disaster striking, God was in ultimate control: ‘The soldiers planned to kill the prisoners to prevent any of them from swimming away and escaping. But the centurion wanted to spare Paul’s life and kept them from carrying out their plan’ (vv.42–43a). God gave Paul favour in the eyes of people as well as in God’s own eyes. As a result, ‘everyone reached land in safety’ (v.44). Nothing could stop God from saving Paul and using him to work out his purposes and save lives. Lord, thank you that you can protect me even when disaster strikes. When things go wrong, help me not to be afraid but rather to keep up my courage and to have faith in you. 2 Kings 18:1-19:13 Trust in the Lord in the midst of evil and distress It is such a relief to read, at last, about a man who ‘trusted in the Lord’ (18:5). Hezekiah ‘trusted in, leaned on and was confident in the Lord’ (v.5, AMP). He put his whole trust in the God of Israel… And God, for his part, held fast to him through all his adventures’ (vv.5–6, MSG). When Hezekiah became king, one of his first actions was to destroy all the things that prevented the people from obeying God (vv.1–4). Perhaps there are things in your life that are a barrier to you obeying God. Although they may seem vital, there is nothing as vital as obedience to God. God wants to help us to obey him – ask him and he will honour you as he honoured Hezekiah: ‘And the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook’ (v.7). In 701 BC, Hezekiah faced a very powerful enemy in the form of the king of Assyria who mocked and ridiculed him. This story is not fictional; you can read about these historical events not only in the Bible but also in other ancient accounts. In Sennacherib’s account of these events he writes, ‘As to Hezekiah, the Jew, he did not submit to my yoke.’ He speaks arrogantly about Hezekiah being overwhelmed by ‘the terror inspiring splendour of my lordship’. Sennacherib scorned Hezekiah’s dependence on the Lord (vv.20,22): ‘Do not let Hezekiah persuade you to trust in the Lord… he is misleading you when he says, “The Lord will deliver us.”’ (vv.30–32). Somehow Hezekiah must have won the respect of his people because they followed his instructions: ‘But the people remained silent and said nothing in reply, because the king had commanded, “Do not answer him.”’ (v.36). In the face of his powerful enemy, Hezekiah prayed. ‘He tore his clothes and put on sackcloth and went into the temple of the Lord’ (19:1). A delegation went to the prophet Isaiah and told him, ‘This is what Hezekiah says: This day is a day of distress and rebuke and disgrace… pray for the remnant that still survives’ (vv.3–4). Isaiah’s response was, ‘This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard’ (v.6). Not only did Hezekiah himself trust in the Lord, but he also persuaded the people to trust in the Lord. Over the years, I have written beside this passage a list of the challenges we have faced. It is amazing to look back over the years and see the way in which God has delivered us in so many areas. Today, whatever challenges you are facing, write them down, put your trust in God, believe that he will be with you and give you success in whatever he asks you to do. Lord, thank you that I can trust in you in all circumstances. Today, I lay before you all the challenges I am facing… I put my trust in you. Pippa Adds Trust in God when things don’t look good: 2 Kings 18 Acts 27:33–34 God can turn what seems impossible around. Verse of the Day ‘Hezekiah trusted in the Lord… and the Lord was with him; he was successful in whatever he undertook’ (2 Kings 18:5,7).

Listen to God In all our relationships, listening is very important. As the philosopher and theologian, Paul Tillich put it, ‘The first duty of love is to listen’. Some people are very good at listening. General George Marshall said, ‘Formula for handling people: Listen to the other person’s story ​Listen to the other person’s full story Listen to the other person’s full story first.’ Listening to God is one of the keys to your relationship with him. ‘To listen’, means to hear attentively, ‘to pay attention to’. Prayer means giving God your full attention first. Psalm 81:8-16 Listen to God speak to you through the Psalms We all experience physical hunger, which can only be satisfied by food. You also have a spiritual hunger, which can only be satisfied by listening to God. God says, ‘If you would but listen to me…’ (v.8b). The words of God satisfy your spiritual hunger. God promises, ‘Open wide your mouth and I will fill it’ (v.10). If you listen to him he says, ‘You would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you’ (v.16). On the one hand, he says, ‘Listen, dear ones’ (v.8a, MSG). God wants the best for you, and warns of the perils of ignoring him. He continues, ‘But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices’ (vv.11–12). The result of not listening to God is that he gives us over to the consequences of our own actions (see also, Romans 1:24,26). On the other hand, he promises that if you do listen to him he will act on your behalf: ‘If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, how quickly I would subdue their enemies’ (Psalm 81:13–14a). Lord, thank you that each day I can listen to you and be satisfied as with ‘the finest of wheat’. Help me each day to pay attention to what you say, and then to trust you to act on my behalf. Acts 26:24-27:12 Listen to God speak to you through the apostles The apostle Paul was God’s messenger. God spoke through him. Those who were listening to Paul in this passage had the opportunity to listen to God. When Paul was sailing to Rome, the centurion, ‘instead of listening to what Paul said, followed the advice of the pilot and of the owner of the ship’ (27:11). His failure to listen to Paul was almost disastrous. In the first part of the passage we see Paul in chains before Festus and Agrippa. He was telling the good news about Jesus, his death and resurrection. Festus said, ‘You are out of your mind… your great learning is driving you insane’ (26:24). He says, ‘Paul, you’re crazy!’ (v.24, MSG). Some people have always thought, and still do, that Christians are just ‘a little crazy’. Paul’s response was, ‘I am not insane… What I am saying is true and reasonable’ (v.25). He did not reply, ‘Yes, it is all a bit crazy but I believe it.’ He refused to accept the suggestion that his beliefs were irrational. Paul argued that there is a rational basis for faith. There are good reasons to believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead. Our faith is ‘true and reasonable’ (v.25). We should not be afraid to present logical and reasonable arguments. We need intelligent presentations of the gospel. However, reason alone is not enough. Before I became a Christian, I had listened to the arguments and the reasons for faith. Not all of my questions had been answered. Nevertheless, I took a step of faith based on what I had heard about Jesus. The moment I took the step of faith it was as if my eyes had been opened and I understood much of what I had not seen before. Reason will only take us so far. However, when we are trying to persuade people, as Paul was, to follow Jesus, it is important to explain that the message about Jesus is ‘true and reasonable’. Agrippa’s response to Paul was, ‘“Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?” Paul replied, “Short time or long – I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains.”’ (vv.28–29). Paul did not mind whether people became Christians through a crisis (‘short time’) or through a process (‘long time’). But he did all in his power to persuade them to become Christians, as he had. Paul was not ashamed to pray that people would become what he was (Galatians 4:12). Paul had done nothing deserving death or imprisonment (Acts 26:31), yet the civil authorities found a rather pathetic excuse for not setting him free (v.32). This was unjust and unreasonable. It must have been deeply frustrating for Paul. Yet here we are, 2,000 years later, listening to the words that Paul spoke on that occasion, and through them having the opportunity to listen to God. Lord, may we become like Paul in his faith and passion. As we tell the good news about Jesus may people have a sense that in listening to us they are listening to God. 2 Kings 16:1-17:41 Listen to God speak to you through the prophets God allowed Israel to be taken captive and led away into exile because they refused to listen to him. The history of this period in the book of 2 Kings could be summed up in the words ‘not listen’: ‘They would not listen... They would not listen’ (17:14,40). As we saw yesterday, all the problems the kings and the people of God faced were the result of not listening to God. God spoke to his people through his servants the prophets. ‘God had taken a stand against Israel and Judah, speaking clearly through countless holy prophets and seers time and time again... But they wouldn’t listen’ (vv.13–14, MSG). This was the reason they went into exile: ‘The exile came about because of sin: The children of Israel sinned against God... They did all kinds of things on the sly, things offensive to their God’ (vv.7–9, MSG). ‘They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them, “Do not do as they do.”’ (v.15). The result of not listening was that the people of Israel lost the presence of God and were sent into exile in Assyria: ‘he thrust them from his presence… the Lord removed them from his presence’ (vv.20,23). Like us, so often, they had not been ruthless enough about sin in their lives: ‘They honoured and worshiped God, but not exclusively... They don’t really worship God – they don’t take seriously what he says regarding how to behave and what to believe’ (vv.32,34 MSG). ‘They didn’t pay any attention. They kept doing what they’d always done’ (v.40, MSG). Do you sometimes find that your heart is divided between following God and following your own desires? Guard yourself against complacency or carelessness – allowing sin to creep in. Don’t let the enemy lead you into disobeying God. The truth is that God’s desire is always to bless us. His commands and instruction are given so that you might flourish (see Deuteronomy 6:1–3). We see this in the fortunes of the different kings of Israel and Judah. The writer of 1 and 2 Kings gives us a thumbnail assessment of whether each king did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Every one of the kings of Israel is described as doing ‘evil in the eyes of the Lord’ (2 Kings 17:2), and it leads to the early destruction of the kingdom (v.😎. In contrast, around half of the kings of Judah are described in broadly positive terms, and around half in broadly negative terms. Under the ‘good’ kings Judah flourished, and its history is much longer and more positive than Israel’s. The reigns of the ‘good’ kings were generally longer than those of the ‘evil’ kings. The twelve evil kings reigned for a combined total of 130 years, whereas the ten good kings reigned for a total of 343 years. The ‘good’ kings still faced all kinds of difficulties and challenges, and following God is no guarantee of an easy life. Yet their example is a powerful reminder of the blessings and wisdom of listening to and following God. Lord, help me to listen carefully to what you say. Deliver me from secret sins. May I be quick to ask for help – that I may never allow sin to creep into my life. Help me not simply to do what the people around me do. Rather, help me to listen to your voice, follow you and enjoy your presence with me. Pippa Adds 2 Kings 17:41 ‘Even while these people were worshipping the Lord, they were serving their idols.’ Sometimes when I’m worshipping in church, I start focusing on something else, like how nice someone’s shoes are or whether I should cook fish or chicken for lunch! My heart is rather divided too. Verse of the Day ‘Listen dear ones…I’m God, your God…’ (Psalm 81:8–10 MSG).

The Dangers of Pride Back when I was working as a lawyer, I remember a very straightforward case that I thought I was bound to win. I was so confident I decided that it was not worth even bothering to pray about it or commit it to the Lord. When I stood up to speak, the judge asked me whether I was aware of a case that had changed the law in the last few days. I was not. The result was a very humiliating defeat. As the passage in Proverbs today warns (Proverbs 16:18), pride had come before a fall. In my humiliation, I cried out to God for help. I read the recent case. Then, I wrote an opinion saying I thought the decision was wrong and would be reversed on appeal. Thankfully, it was. We were able to go back to court and win the case. The solicitor, rather than judging me for my mistake, was kind enough to be impressed by the opinion I had written and sent me many more cases. So it became a double lesson; not just about the dangers of pride but also about the extraordinary grace of God and how ‘things work out when you trust in God’ (Proverbs 16:20, MSG). I try not to forget the lesson I learnt about the dangers of pride and self-reliance whenever I stand up to speak. I would like to say that I have never made the same mistake again but it is a lesson that I have had to re-learn several times. In English, the word ‘pride’ can have a good sense. For example, we would not say it is wrong for a person to be proud of their children, or to take pride in their work. However, when the Bible talks about pride it means something different from this and has very negative connotations. It means to have an excessively high opinion of one’s own worth or importance; it suggests arrogant or overbearing conduct. It is the independent spirit that says, ‘I have no need of God.’ Arguably, therefore, it is at the root of all sin. How should we respond to the temptation and dangers of pride? Proverbs 16:18-27 Cultivate humility God wants you to learn to walk in humility and kindness, not arrogance and pride. Pride comes before a fall: ‘First pride, then the crash – the bigger the ego, the harder the fall’ (v.18, MSG). We are reminded that ‘It’s better to live humbly among the poor than to live it up among the rich and famous’ (v.19, MSG). A lack of power is very frustrating at times when we think we know how best to advance the kingdom of God. However, Jesus had very little power from a human point of view. He was ‘lowly in spirit and among the oppressed’ (v.19). ‘Lowliness of spirit’, the opposite of pride, brings: Prosperity Humility means a willingness to learn: ‘Those who give heed to instruction prosper’ (v.20a). Happiness The humble trust in God: ‘Whoever leans on, trusts in, and is confident in the Lord – happy, blessed, and fortunate is he’ (v.20b, AMP). Healing As opposed to the arrogant words of the proud (‘scoundrels plot evil, and their speech is like a scorching fire’, v.27), the humble use pleasant words (‘pleasant words promote instruction’, v.21b). ‘Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones’ (v.24). Lord, help me always to stay dependent on you, to trust in you. Acts 25:23-26:23 Serve and witness What should you do if you get the opportunity to testify about Jesus? How should you go about telling your story? We see in this passage a great example of what to do. Paul, on trial, tells the court that Jesus gave him a commission to serve: ‘I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness’ (26:16). As Jesus came ‘not to be served, but to serve’ (Mark 10:45), all of us are called to be servants and witnesses. A witness humbly points beyond him or herself. Paul humbly points to Jesus. Here we see how he fulfils this calling. Paul, in prison and on trial, comes face to face with pride and ‘great pomp’ as he is brought before Agrippa and Bernice (Acts 25:23). It must have been a very daunting experience. Paul, once again, simply and humbly gives his testimony. He is polite and respectful to King Agrippa (26:2–3). He conforms to custom and social graces. He skilfully selects the parts of his story that are relevant to his audience. In the first part of his testimony Paul uses ‘I’ messages as opposed to ‘you’ messages. Whereas ‘you’ messages can seem arrogant and patronising, ‘I’ messages are sometimes more effective, as well as being a more unthreatening and gracious way to make a point. He says he used to be just like them: ‘I too was convinced that I ought to do all that was possible to oppose the name of Jesus of Nazareth. And that is just what I did in Jerusalem… I put many of the saints in prison, and when they were put to death, I cast my vote against them’ (vv.9–10). The implicit message is, ‘I was just like you. I was full of pride, power and pomp. I did what you are now doing. I persecuted Christians just as you are now persecuting me.’ He then tells how Jesus appeared to him and pointed out that in persecuting Christians, he was actually persecuting Jesus. ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting’ (v.15). Jesus told him, ‘I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me’ (vv.17–18). Through this powerful ‘I’ message of his testimony, Paul is actually saying to them that they are in darkness and under the power of Satan, in need of forgiveness for their sins. Not only does he point out their needs, he also points out the way to forgiveness: ‘I preached that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds’ (v.20). In effect, he is saying to these proud and powerful people, ‘You need to repent and turn to God.’ He goes on, ‘I have had God’s help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike’ (v.22). Paul was willing to speak to everyone, to the powerful and to the weak. Paul’s message was always centred on Jesus, who had appeared to him on the road to Damascus. He testifies that, ‘the Christ must suffer and... rise from the dead’ (v.23, AMP). Lord, help me to take every opportunity to tell people about Jesus and to follow his example of humble service. 2 Kings 14:23-15:38 Resist pride If, for example, you have anyone working for you, or if you are a parent, or if you are in any position of leading as a volunteer, you are in a position of power. Pride is a particular temptation for anyone in a position of power – whether that power comes from status, success, fame or wealth. The history of the kings of Israel and Judah demonstrates that it is extremely difficult to become powerful and resist the temptation of pride. During this period, the kings of Judah are doing rather better than the kings of Israel. King after king in Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord (14:24; 15:18,24,28), while in Judah, Azariah and his son Jotham both ‘did what was right in the eyes of the Lord’ (15:3,34). Azariah is also known as Uzziah (v.32). We know something more about him from other parts of the Old Testament (for example, Amos 1:1, Isaiah 6:1f. and 2 Chronicles 26:16–23). Here we read that although he ‘did what was right in the eyes of the Lord… the high places… were not removed… The Lord afflicted the king with leprosy until the day he died’ (2 Kings 15:3–5). Why did his life end in such a mess? The book of Chronicles gives the answer: ‘His fame spread far and wide, for he was greatly helped until he became powerful. But after Uzziah became powerful, his pride led to his downfall. He was unfaithful to the Lord his God’ (2 Chronicles 26:15–16). This warns us that if God has blessed us with success there is always a temptation to become proud. Lord, thank you for all the warnings in the Bible, as well as the encouragements. Help me always to take heed of these warnings. Lord, I am utterly dependent on you. Help me to keep my eyes always fixed on Jesus who was all-powerful and yet humbled himself, made himself nothing and took the nature of a servant (Philippians 2:6–8). Pippa Adds Proverbs 16:18 Once I managed to get into a small parking space in one manoeuvre and was rather pleased with myself. I told my mother, who was with me in the car, that I was the best at parking in our family and resented remarks about women not being good at parking. Later, someone asked if I could go and pick something up. I jumped into the car with a friend and we returned. The same space was free. But could I get into it? It took me five goes and by the end my friend was offering to park for me! It served me right. Pride comes before a fall! Verse of the Day ‘Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones’ (Proverbs 16:24)

How to Cope with the Challenges of Life President John F. Kennedy said, ‘We stand today on the edge of a new frontier… but the new frontier of which I speak is not a set of promises – it is a set of challenges. It sums up not what I intend to offer the American people, but what I intend to ask of them.’ Life is a set of challenges, problems and hassles. We sometimes imagine that if we could just deal with the immediate challenge that we are facing, all our problems would be over. But life is not like that. If we resolve one problem, others are just around the corner. The temptation is to see these challenges as preventing us from carrying out the ministry God has given us. In actual fact, dealing with the problems is the ministry. As one former Bishop of Kensington put it: ‘These are not the problems associated with the ministry, they are the ministry.’ The Bible is true to life. The psalmist faced pain and distress. Paul faced false accusation and the frustration of being kept in prison on trumped up charges. The kings in the Old Testament faced battles and a massive building project challenge. As I read the passages for today, I am reminded that the relatively minor challenges, problems and hassles that I face are nothing compared to what the people of God have faced in the past, and still face around the world today. Psalm 81:1-7 Talk to God about the problems Are you in a time of testing? God sometimes allows us to be tested, as he allowed his people to be tested by the waters of Meribah (v.7, see also Numbers 20). But he does not want you to face the tests and challenges of life alone. You can talk to him about your problems. God says, ‘I removed the burden from their shoulders… In your distress you called and I rescued you’ (vv.6a–7a). ‘I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labour. You called to me in your pain; I got you out of a bad place’ (vv.6–7a, MSG). Whatever situations or difficulties you may face, you can bring them to God in prayer. God removed their burdens and rescued them in their distress. The psalmist starts, therefore, with worship, celebration and joy: ‘Sing for joy to God our strength!’ (v.1). Lord, thank you that you are my strength and joy as I face challenges and problems in life. Lord, I call on you today to rescue me from… Acts 25:1-22 Trust that God is in control Faith means trusting God. ‘Faith’, as C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘is the art of holding on to things your reason has once accepted, in spite of your changing moods.’ It is hard to trust God when everything seems to be going wrong. Luke records Paul’s trial in a very objective and unemotional way. This must have been an extraordinarily frustrating time for Paul. This great leader of the church, evangelist and teacher is locked away, apparently unable to do what he is called to do. He is in custody, enduring the physical constraints and discomfort of imprisonment. Serious charges are brought against Paul (vv.1–7). He defends himself by pointing out that he has done ‘nothing wrong’ (vv.8,10). But Festus was more interested in what people thought (v.9) than in what was right. Our first question should always be, ‘What is the right thing to do?’ But Festus was more concerned about popularity than justice. In the end, Paul appeals to Caesar (v.11). When King Agrippa arrives, Festus discusses Paul’s case with him. Festus says, ‘When his accusers got up to speak, they did not charge him with any of the crimes I had expected. Instead, they had some points of dispute with him about their own religion and about a dead man named Jesus whom Paul claimed was alive’ (vv.18–19). The resurrection of Jesus should always be at the heart of the message we proclaim. The only accusation that could be made to stick was that Paul was preaching that Jesus was alive, yet numerous other accusations and false charges had been brought against him. For Paul, in the midst of all these difficulties and frustrations, it must have been very hard to see what good might possibly come out of all the dishonesty, delays and dithering in his trials. Yet, as always, God was at work for good. As Paul himself wrote, ‘We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose’ (Romans 8:28). First, in the short term, it resulted in an opportunity for Paul to speak to Agrippa. After hearing all about Paul, Agrippa said to Festus, ‘I would like to hear this man myself’ (Acts 25:22). In times of frustration and hassle you never know when opportunities may appear, but sometimes they do. Second, in the medium term, it resulted in Paul being sent to Rome. Paul had expressed his desire to go to Rome to preach the gospel (see 19:21; Romans 1:15; 15:23), and the Lord himself had spoken to Paul saying that he would testify in Rome (Acts 23:11). It was because of what took place in Paul’s defence of himself that he was eventually sent to Rome. Third, in the long term, 2,000 years later, vast numbers of people have read Paul’s story and been encouraged to know that he too faced false imprisonment, accusations and criticism. I suspect that Paul would have been astonished in the midst of all these difficulties to know how much good was going to come of them. You may never know, in this life, how God uses your faithfulness in the face of challenges. Lord, thank you that you are with us whenever we face accusation and criticism. Thank you that through all of these frustrations of life you work together for the good of those who love you and are called according to your purpose (Romans 8:28). 2 Kings 12:1-14:22 Take every opportunity that God gives you In the middle of this rather depressing history of the kings of Israel and Judah, there is an incident in the life of Elisha that encourages you to take every opportunity that God gives you, to be persistent and never give up. Leaders are a mixed bag. Some do ‘evil in the eyes of the Lord’ (13:2,11). Some do ‘right in the eyes of the Lord’ (14:3). God is extraordinarily gracious and when Jehoahaz, who did evil in the eyes of the Lord, ‘sought the Lord’s favour… the Lord listened to him’ (13:4). Whenever you seek the Lord’s favour he listens to you. In this list of leaders, Joash was probably the best example. He ‘did what was right in the eyes of the Lord’ (12:2), even if it was only for part of his reign. Joash took on a building project. Like many projects, it took far longer than he expected: ‘But by the twenty-third year of King Joash the priests still had not repaired the temple’ (v.6). The king calls a meeting and asks, ‘Why aren’t you repairing the damage done to the temple?’ (v.7). They do eventually get on with the work. They collect the money they need (v.11). They all acted with complete honesty (v.15) and progress was made. Of course, today, God’s temple is no longer primarily a physical building but the people of God. Our money and effort should go into building up the people of God – in number (evangelism), in maturity (discipleship) and in care for the community (social transformation). However, sometimes we need buildings for this and it is not wrong to spend money on the infrastructure of church when necessary. As well as the challenge of buildings, the people of God faced the challenge of battles. In particular, in this passage we see how they had to face Aram. Elisha says to the king of Israel, ‘Get a bow and some arrows… Take the arrows… Strike the ground’ (13:15–18). The king ‘struck it three times and stopped’ (v.18c). Elisha said, ‘You should have struck the ground five or six times; then you would have defeated Aram and completely destroyed it. But now you will defeat it only three times’ (v.19). I remember reading these verses in 1998 after we had done the first Alpha initiative, inviting the nation to Alpha to hear the good news about Jesus. We were wondering whether to do a second initiative or wait another year or so. I sensed as I read these verses that we should keep on striking the ground again and again. Whatever challenges you’re facing today, keep praying, keep trusting, keep looking for opportunities to serve God and never, ever give up! Lord, as we face challenges ahead, give us a determination not to give up but to persevere and carry through to the end. Pippa Adds 2 Kings 12:18 Joash bought off king Hazael of Aram who was just about to attack him – giving him all the treasures of the temple. Sometimes, sending a present to someone who is angry with you works rather well! Verse of the Day ‘I took the world off your shoulders, freed you from a life of hard labour. You called to me in your pain; I got you out of a bad place’ (Psalm 81:6–7 MSG).

The Light of God's Smile of Blessing is On You After the terrifying, appalling and deadly terrorist attack during her concert in 2017, Ariana Grande returned to the Manchester Arena for the ‘One Love Manchester’ concert. Marcus Mumford, lead singer of the band Mumford and Sons, opened the concert by proclaiming that ‘love casts out fear’. In the middle of the concert, Justin Bieber declared, ‘I’m not going to let go of love, not going to let go of God. God is good in the midst of darkness. God is in the midst. And he loves you. And he is here for you.’ It was like a bright light in the midst of the darkness. St John of the Cross spoke of the ‘dark night of the soul’. I have gone through dark times in my life. There were dark times for the people of God both in the Old and New Testament times. There have been dark periods in the history of the church. But the light of the gospel has never gone out. The light of Jesus will always outshine the darkness around (John 1:5). You have that light within you by the Holy Spirit and wherever you go you bring a light greater than the darkness around you. Psalm 80:8-19 The light of God’s smile Father Raniero Cantalamessa is famous, among other things, for his smile. His face shines like a light – especially when he smiles. As Mother Teresa put it, ‘The smile is the beginning of love.’ How amazing to think of the light of God’s smile shining on you! Not only is God with you, but you can also enjoy his favour. The psalmist prays: ‘Smile your blessing smile: That will be our salvation’ (v.19, MSG). The people of Israel were clearly facing dark times. The ‘vine’ (vv.8,14) is an image for the nation of Israel. God brought the people of Israel out of Egypt. He cared for it like a vine. But now the vineyard walls are broken down (v.12). It appears that the vine is cut down and burned with fire (v.16a). ‘Trespassers pick its grapes at will... mice nibble away at what’s left’ (vv.12–13, MSG). The people are perishing. The psalmist cries out to God: ‘Revive us, and we will call on your name. Restore us, O Lord God Almighty; make your face shine upon us, that we may be saved’ (vv.18–19). As we look at the state of the church in this country its walls have been broken down. It appears in a desperate state. Yet God has restored and revived his people in the past. He can do it again today. Cry out for revival. Revive us again, O Lord, we pray. Fill your people with your Holy Spirit. May the churches again be filled with people serving Jesus with all their hearts. Smile your blessing smile on us. Acts 24:1-27 The light of the gospel Everywhere Paul went he shone ‘the light of the gospel’. But not everyone could see it. He wrote, ‘The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God’ (2 Corinthians 4:4). These were dark times in Paul’s life. He was imprisoned and on trial. The prosecution lawyer, Tertullus, is an example of a sycophantic lawyer. He flattered the governor: ‘We are most grateful in all times and places for your wise and gentle rule’ (Acts 24:2, MSG). His flattery was followed by false accusations about Paul, suggesting he was ‘time and again disturbing the peace, stirring up riots against Jews all over the world, the ringleader of a seditious sect called Nazarenes’ (v.5, MSG). The Christian faith was described as a ‘sect’ (v.5) – rather in the way that some people today might dismiss church as a ‘cult’. Paul makes his defence (v.10 onwards). He deals first with the specific allegations, denying what is not true and admitting what is true. He admits being a follower of Jesus (‘the Way’, v.14). He clarifies what happened at his hearing before the Sanhedrin (v.21). (Sometimes it is helpful to establish what the facts actually are.) Paul shows the orthodoxy of his beliefs. He worships the God of history (v.14a). He believes everything in the Scriptures (v.14b). He shares the Jewish hope of the resurrection (v.15). He points out that he believes everything that agrees with the Law and that is written in the Prophets and that he has the same hope in God as the Pharisees, that ‘there will be a resurrection of both the righteous and the wicked’ (v.15). He points to his clear conscience (v.16), his ‘gifts for the poor’ (v.17) and his innocence (v.18). His judge, Felix, was not necessarily evil, but he was weak, dithering, indecisive and politically motivated. He did not want to condemn an innocent man, but he did not have the courage to set him free. As a weak judge, frightened by Paul’s words when he did not know what to do, he simply adjourned the proceedings (v.25). He kept Paul in prison for two years hoping for a bribe. Then even when a new governor was appointed and there was no financial gain to be had from Paul, Felix still didn’t release him for political reasons (v.27). He used delay as a device in order to avoid making a decision. But avoiding a decision is a decision in itself. We cannot avoid responsibility by indecision. Indecision is itself a decision not to act. It is a decision to maintain the status quo. It is an action with consequences. Paul took every opportunity to shine the light of the gospel. Whenever he could, ‘he spoke about faith in Jesus Christ’ (v.24). Lord, help us to make the most of every opportunity. When we are opposed, falsely accused and frustrated, help us, like the apostle Paul, to take every opportunity to shine the light of the gospel in the darkness. 2 Kings 10:1-11:21 The light of young people Every year in the UK there are Christian summer festivals for young people. Tens of thousands attend these youth events. Pippa and I had the privilege of visiting one of them. It was so exciting to see the faith, passion and enthusiasm of these young people. It is a great sign of hope for the future. It is a bright light on the horizon. However bad things look, there is hope that the next generation will do better. If you think you are living in a dark world, study this passage and you will see that there have been times in history that are just as bad, or even worse. This was another dark period in the history of the people of Israel. It was a time when horrific events took place, such as the slaughter of the seventy princes whose heads were stacked in two piles at the city gates (10:7–8). And there were other massacres as well (v.17, MSG). Jehu was praised for not behaving like the worst of the kings of Israel, King Ahab. In particular, Jehu destroyed Baal worship in Israel. However, he did not turn away from the precedent set by King Jeroboam: the worship of the golden calf (v.29). He ‘wasn’t careful to walk in God's ways and honour the God of Israel from an undivided heart’ (v.31a, MSG). In Judah things seemed no better. Athaliah tried to massacre the whole royal family (11:1, MSG). But God protected Joash, in much the same way as he protected Moses and Jesus: Jehosheba ‘hid him and his nurse in a private room away from Athaliah. He didn’t get killed. He was there with her, hidden away for six years in The Temple of God. Athaliah, oblivious to his existence, ruled the country’ (vv.2–3, MSG). Later, ‘Jehoiada brought out the king’s son and put the crown on him; he presented him with a copy of the covenant and proclaimed him king. They anointed him, and the people clapped their hands and shouted, “Long live the king!”’ (v.12). After this, the king ‘took his place on the royal throne, and all the people of the land rejoiced. And the city was quiet, because Athaliah had been slain with the sword at the palace’ (vv.19–20). Joash was only seven years old when he became king (v.21) but this young man brought hope for the future (see 2 Kings 12 and 2 Chronicles 24), as so often we see hope in young people. Once again God kept a light shining even in the darkest of times. Lord, thank you for the children and youth in our own church and the hope they bring. Thank you for the youth movements throughout the world and the light that shines through them. Thank you that even in the darkest of times, you always keep your light shining and that the light of your smile of blessing is on us. Pippa Adds 2 Kings 10:31 ‘Yet Jehu was not careful to keep the law of the Lord, the God of Israel, with all his heart.’ It is hard to remain wholeheartedly committed all the time. Think what Jehu might have achieved for God if he had. We need to keep seeking God first and his kingdom. Verse of the Day ‘Revive us… O Lord God Almighty’ (Psalm 80:18–19).

Happy Independence Day from The Revival Center - Olney.

Opposition Turned into Opportunity Stephen Lungu came to our home and told me his story. He is the oldest son of a teenage mother from a township in Zimbabwe. She was trapped in a difficult marriage to a man more than twenty years her senior. She dealt with her struggles by drinking heavily. One day, when Stephen was three years old, his mother took him, his brother and baby sister into town. Saying she needed to go to the toilet, Stephen’s mother left him holding his sister in the busy town square, while his brother John played on the ground. Two hours later she had not returned. Their mother had run away, leaving the three children in the reluctant care of an aunt. By the age of eleven, Stephen too had run away – preferring to live on the streets. Growing up, Stephen developed a strong bitterness against God. As a teenager he was recruited into one of the urban gangs, called the Black Shadows, which carried out violence, theft and destruction on the streets of Zimbabwe. When a travelling evangelist came to town to speak to thousands of people about Jesus in a large tent, Stephen went to firebomb the event. He carried a bag full of bombs. He wanted to attack the event because he wanted to attack God. As Stephen awaited the moment for his attack, Shadrach Maloka, a South African evangelist, took to the stage and announced that the Holy Spirit had warned him that many in the audience may die soon without Christ. Astonished, the Black Shadows thought someone had figured out their plan. Stephen Lungu was captivated by the preacher. In each of the passages for today we see attacks of various kinds and how God turns opposition into opportunity. Psalm 80:1-7 God’s presence When you face difficulties in life – opposition and attacks – there is nothing more comforting than the sense of the presence of God; knowing that he is with you, his face smiling on you. The psalmist faced abuse and mockery from neighbours and enemies (v.6). These attacks caused a lot of grief: ‘a diet of tears’ (v.5, MSG). God’s people had been fed with ‘the bread of tears; you have made them drink tears by the bowlful’ (v.5). Whatever difficulties you are facing in your life, God can turn opposition into opportunity. Cry out to God using the prayer from this psalm: ‘Restore me, O God; make your face shine upon me, that I may be saved’ (adapted from vv.3,7) Acts 23:12-35 God’s protection Gustave Flaubert once wrote, ‘You can calculate the worth of a man by the number of his enemies, and the importance of a work of art by the amount that it is attacked.’ The reason people in the Bible, and the church today, are so embattled is because the work you do is so important. Coming under attack is not a rare event in the Bible. Nor is it a rare event in the life of any Christian. Sometimes you go through periods of relative calm. But further attacks are almost inevitable. Whatever attacks you face, God is in control. As we saw at the end of yesterday’s passage, the Lord appeared to Paul and said, ‘It’s going to be all right. Everything is going to turn out for the best. You’ve been a good witness for me here in Jerusalem. Now you’re going to be my witness in Rome!’ (v.11, MSG). Paul was kept in custody despite there being no charge under Roman law that would deserve imprisonment. His enemies were determined to kill him and had a plan for his assassination (v.12) that relied, as so often occurs with violence, on lies and deception (v.15). In fact, all the characters attacking Paul were devious. Commander Claudias Lysias himself was ‘economical with the truth’ (vv.26–30). He makes no mention in his letter to Felix that he himself had illegally bound Paul and was about to torture a Roman citizen who had not been convicted of any crime. ‘But’ is the powerful little word that now enters the story (v.16). God, in his providence, protected Paul: ‘But when the son of Paul’s sister heard of this plot, he went into the barracks and told Paul’ (v.16). When Paul’s nephew tells him of the plot, Paul arranges for him to inform the commander who arranges protection for Paul’s journey. So God protects Paul. God seems to have used a combination of Paul’s nephew, Paul’s own ingenuity and a Roman commander. God’s providence and protection sometimes come through those who are not necessarily Christians. Paul is taken safely to trial with a letter of explanation from the commander. God did not step in to rescue Paul completely though, and he remained under arrest. God protected him and used him in the situation in which he found himself. God’s purpose was that Paul would go and testify in Jerusalem and Rome. That is exactly what happened. Opposition turned into opportunity. Lord, thank you that you can raise up people in any situation for your purposes. As you used Paul to advance your kingdom, Lord I pray that you would use me today. May your kingdom come. May your will be done. 2 Kings 8:16-9:37 God’s peace Deep within every human heart is a longing for peace. We see this longing during a terrible period in the history of God’s people. Yet another king of Judah, Jehoram, was an ‘evil man living an evil life’ (8:18, MSG). He is followed by Ahaziah who continued ‘the same evil-in-God’s-sight line of sin’ (v.27, MSG). For a moment there is a ray of hope. Elisha arranges for Jehu, son of Jehoshaphat, to be anointed king (9:1–3). A young prophet pours oil on Jehu’s head and declares, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: “I anoint you king over the Lord’s people Israel”’ (v.6). Interestingly, Jehu’s fellow officers regard the prophet as a ‘maniac’ (v.11). Later, Jehu himself is seen driving his chariot ‘like a maniac’ (v.20). When Jehu begins to carry out his instruction, Joram sends messengers to ask three times, ‘Do you come in peace?’ (vv.17,19,22). Jehu replies, ‘How can there be peace… as long as all the idolatry and witchcraft of your mother Jezebel abound?’ (v.22). Jezebel herself asked the same question, ‘Have you come in peace?’ (v.31). The answer was ‘no’. Jezebel died a horrible death, the fulfilment of the prophecy that Elijah had given (1 Kings 21:23). These were days of evil, death and division. Jehu’s declaration that there can be no peace while Jezebel’s wickedness continues in Israel reminds us that true peace can only be found in God. The turmoil of these passages is a stark reminder of the need for him to bring salvation and peace – of the need for Jesus. Jesus said, ‘Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you’ (John 14:27). The early church preached ‘the good news of peace through Jesus Christ’ (Acts 10:36). St Paul wrote, ‘we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 5:1). ‘The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace’ (8:6). He begins many of his letters, ‘Grace and peace to you’ (1 Corinthians 1:3; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3, and so on). Returning to the story of Stephen Lungu, the speaker’s words convinced him about his sins and drew him into an encounter with Jesus. He experienced God’s presence. He heard about God’s grace and peace. Stephen staggered forward to the stage, grabbed hold of the speaker’s feet and began to sob. That evening, he became a follower of Jesus Christ. The next morning he presented himself at the local police station and confessed his crimes. The desk sergeant looked at the long charge sheet, listened to his story and released him. Boarding a bus with the morning commuters, Stephen felt so happy that he was compelled to tell others on the bus the good news. Ever since, he has been telling people about Jesus. Stephen is now a full-time evangelist in Africa, speaking at many events. At an event a few years ago, an old lady came forward wanting to follow Jesus. That woman turned out to be his own mother who had abandoned him all those years ago! God’s presence, protection and peace are a powerful combination. As Stephen says himself, ‘Because I look at myself as a miracle of God’s grace, so I believe that the power of Jesus Christ to save sinners still exists. If he can change me, he can change anyone.’ In the middle of attacks, whether from neighbours or enemies or authorities, you can have peace knowing that God is in control of events and history and turns opposition into opportunity. Lord, today I bring my requests to you with thanksgiving and I pray that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard my heart and my mind in Christ Jesus (see Philippians 4:6–7). Pippa Adds 2 Kings 9:1–37 How do we know when we are called to lead? Jehu was frustrated with the past and was longing for change. He had the gifts and the position. He had a word from God. His friends / colleagues thought it was a good idea (v.13). When he got up to lead, they followed. Verse of the Day ‘Restore us, O God; make your face shine on us…’ (Psalm 80:3a).

God's Purposes for You I trained as a lawyer and worked as a barrister. Then, back in 1981, Pippa and I felt that God was calling us to full-time ministry in the Church of England and for me to become an ordained minister. We also felt that we should do our training in Durham, starting in September 1982. I was at the top of the waiting list for the theological college at Durham University. I was told it was almost certain someone would drop out and I was virtually guaranteed a place. Based on this I announced our plans widely, including telling all my colleagues at work that I was leaving. Just before I was due to start we received news that, exceptionally, no one had dropped out that year and it would not be possible for us to go. We tried everything to persuade them to change their minds. We desperately tried to find another theological college that would accept us. We prayed and pushed as hard as we could but to no avail. The door was firmly shut. The following year was extremely difficult. I was given very little work by my workplace as people knew I was leaving and so had no incentive to build my career. It was a huge disappointment and mystifying at the time. In the end, Pippa and I went to Oxford to study the following year and I eventually started as an assistant pastor at HTB in 1986. With hindsight, had we got the place at Durham, the timing would have meant that a job at HTB would have been out of the question and we would not be doing what we are doing today. I am so thankful to God that he blocked our plans and strategically ordered our steps. If you are going through a set back or disappointment, remember that his purposes for you are ‘good, pleasing and perfect’ (Romans 12:2). Nothing happens without God’s permission. God is in control and in everything he is working for good (8:28). Proverbs 16:8-17 God orders your steps through human plans It is right to plan. However, we need to do it with the necessary humility, recognising that our plans will only succeed ‘if it is the Lord’s will’ (see James 4:13–15). The writer of Proverbs says, ‘In your heart you may plan your course, but the Lord determines your steps’ (Proverbs 16:9). Sometimes we align our plans with God’s purposes. At other times – certainly in my experience – God overrules our plans. We should always bear in mind that we may have got it wrong and that, ultimately, thankfully, it is the Lord who determines our steps. God often works out his purposes through good leadership. Good leaders motivate others (v.10). They do not base their decisions simply on what is popular: ‘Sound leadership has a moral foundation’ (v.12b, MSG). They cultivate an environment of transparency: ‘Good leaders cultivate honest speech; they love advisors who tell them the truth’ (v.13, MSG). They ‘invigorate lives; they’re like spring rain and sunshine’ (v.15, MSG). Thank you, Lord, that although I make plans in my heart, ultimately you determine my steps. Acts 22:22-23:11 God orders your steps in spite of human opposition Are you worried about your future? Are you facing difficulties and opposition or in a time of crisis? Are there plans against you? There are a number of competing plans in this story. How do these interact with God’s purposes? The crowd The crowd plan to ‘rid the earth’ of Paul (22:22). While it causes Paul hardship, ultimately it fails because their plans are against God’s purpose. The commander The ‘commander’, a man of military power, plans to have Paul flogged (v.24). Paul is taken to the torture chamber but the plan failed because it was illegal to flog a Roman citizen before being convicted, and the commander had not realised that Paul was a Roman citizen. The court The religious authorities, the Sanhedrin, plan to kill Paul (23:12). Paul is taken to court and placed in the dock (22:30). He points out his innocence: ‘Ananias ordered those standing near Paul to strike him on the mouth’ (23:2). Paul’s response is, ‘God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!’ (v.3). Then Paul manages to divide the tribunal (vv.7–8), which consisted of Pharisees (who believed in the resurrection of the dead) and Sadducees (who did not). Paul decides ‘to exploit their antagonism’ (v.6, MSG). Paul says, in effect, ‘Look, the reason I am on trial is that I am a Pharisee and believe in the resurrection of the dead’ (v.6). The crises In the midst of all this, Paul seeks to align his plans with God’s plans. He was guided by God. He resolved in the Spirit to go to Jerusalem and then to Rome (19:21). However, in spite of this he hit crisis after crisis. Paul must have wondered whether he had missed out on God’s purposes. But in the middle of this ‘crisis’, the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage! As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’ (23:11). As with Paul, God will strategically order your steps. The sovereignty of God means we don’t have to worry about the ultimate outcome. God is in complete control, even though it may not always be easy to see it at the time. God’s purpose is that you, like Paul, should be a witness. Everywhere you go, be a witness. When appropriate, give your testimony. Even when you are not speaking, your life is a testimony. Don’t wait until all is going well. In fact, in times of difficulties sometimes your testimony is at its most powerful. Lord, give me the same courage you gave to the apostle Paul to testify about you wherever I go. 2 Kings 6:24-8:15 God orders your steps through human agents God works out his purposes through human agency. The suffering of the people of Samaria was almost unbearable: famine, food prices soaring astronomically and even cannibalism resulted (6:24–31). The king of Israel made a pathetic excuse for not helping the woman who cried to him, ‘Help me, my lord the king!’ (v.26). He replied, ‘If the Lord does not help you, where can I get help for you?’ (v.27). This is the wrong reaction. The sovereignty of God and his plans is not meant to be an excuse for human inaction. God works through human agents. When you see needs, you are called to be God’s hands responding to those needs. This is what Elisha did. God used Elisha. He prophesied, ‘Listen! God’s word! The famine’s over. This time tomorrow food will be plentiful’ (7:1, MSG). God used four men with leprosy who discovered where this plentiful food was. As they ate and drank they said to each other, ‘We’re not doing right. This is a day of good news and we are keeping it to ourselves’ (v.9). Food prices dropped over night. Every word Elisha had spoken proved true. The world produces enough food for everyone, yet one in eight people on this planet are living with the pain of hunger. If we simply feed ourselves ‘we are not doing right’ (v.9). We must do everything we can to bring an end to extreme poverty in our generation. This is also a wonderful illustration of our motive for telling others the good news about Jesus. These starving men came across a mountain of food. They realised that God had delivered them from their enemies. They could have kept the good news to themselves, but that would have been utterly selfish. Yet they were tempted to do so. We have far better news than they had – the good news of Jesus and the gospel. Do not keep it to yourself. You are the human agent responsible for carrying out God’s plans. Similarly, the people in the city could have just stayed there in their lost condition refusing to believe the good news. Indeed, at first the king does not respond very positively. He suspects a trap (v.12). Likewise, today, some people do not respond to the offer of life Jesus makes to every human being because they suspect that there is some trap. Not only does God work out his purposes through human agents, he sometimes reveals these plans to his prophets. Elisha prophesied at a time of famine that within twenty-four hours food would be in ample supply (v.1). It seemed totally unbelievable at the time (v.2), but God rescued his people (v.6). Elisha’s prophecy came true, ‘As the Lord had said’ (v.16). God also revealed to Elisha what was about to happen to the king (8:8,13,15). Lord, thank you that you have good plans for my life and your purposes will ultimately prevail. Help us to be a blessing to the world, feeding the hungry and bringing the good news of Jesus to a world that desperately needs physical and spiritual food. Pippa Adds 2 Kings 6:24–8:15 God chooses the most despised (four lepers) to discover the abandoned Aramean camp. What fun they must have had, stuffing their starving bodies with delicious food and covering their disfigured bodies with beautiful clothes. They got the best, first. Verse of the Day ‘In your heart you may plan your course, but the Lord determines your steps’ (Proverbs 16:9).

Transform Your World My new friend from Scotland, Dez, told me, ‘I was a doorman; a bouncer. I was quite a violent guy. I took a lot of drugs. I was a cocaine addict. My life revolved around fighting, taking drugs, partying and living in that cycle.’ He said, ‘One night I had taken a massive overdose. I felt like I was having a heart attack. My heart was jumping out of my chest. And I cried out in what I didn’t know then was a prayer: to live. And I woke up the next day and I never touched coke again.’ After that, Dez kept meeting Christians. One in particular was Fiona, who really lived out her faith. He asked her out a few times, but she said ‘No’. Mainly because he wasn’t a Christian. She gave him a Bible and he started reading: ‘I started tearing through it trying to find something and I ended up finding Jesus. Suddenly, my whole life made sense.’ He called Fiona and asked her to take him to church. There he heard about Alpha. ‘On Alpha, I met Jesus and it changed my life. I was this drug-fuelled, violent person and now I love people and love God. I just want to share my story.’ Dez has just finished his studies in Theology and is working for Alpha Scotland. And, he married Fiona. He is now a happy husband and a loving father. Dez sums up his complete transformation: ‘Jesus turned the questions I had about whether God exists into a belief that God cares about me. I have changed from a violent, loveless drug addict to a man who is happily married and full of love. I’m now running Alphas for all types of people, from gangs to grannies, and I’m seeing their lives changed.’ Psalm 79:1-13 Pray for the transformation of your nation Change is possible. God can transform individual lives. He can also transform cities and nations. In the sixth century BC, the people of God went into exile: ‘God! Barbarians have broken into your home, violated your holy temple, left Jerusalem a pile of rubble!... We’re nothing but a joke to our neighbours, graffiti scrawled on the city walls’ (vv.1,4, MSG). As the psalmist considers the destruction of the temple and the exile, he sees that God’s name is dishonoured. In the UK today, we see churches being closed and God’s name dishonoured. God’s people are once again the object of scorn and derision. The psalmist prays, ‘How long do we have to put up with this, God?... We’re at the end of our rope. You’re famous for helping; God, give us a break. Your reputation is on the line. Pull us out of this mess, forgive us our sins – do what you’re famous for doing!’ (vv.5,8–9, MSG). This is a prayer of desperation. It is also a prayer of faith. God has the power to transform the situation. Dare to dream about a time when God answers your prayer for your nation: ‘Then we your people… will praise you forever’ (v.13). Lord, as we look at our city and our nation, we cry out to you for help. May this nation be a place where, once again, your name is honoured. Acts 21:27-22:21 Testify to the transformation in your life You have a testimony about the transformation Jesus has brought to your life. It may not be as dramatic as Dez’s story or the apostle Paul’s. Nevertheless, your story of a relationship with Jesus is powerful. Once again, Paul was in trouble. The crowd had been ‘stirred up’ (Acts 21:27). People had made false assumptions about him (v.29); they were trying to ‘kill him’ (v.31). They beat him (v.32) and arrested him (v.33). He was ‘secured with two chains’ (v.33, AMP). He faced mob violence (v.35). How did he respond? He told them about Jesus. As so often, he told his testimony, sharing what Jesus had done in his life. It is a very good model of how you should give your testimony whenever the opportunity arises. The Holy Spirit is living within you and he always brings about change in our lives as he transforms us into the likeness of Jesus (2 Corinthians 3:18). When you have an opportunity to tell your story, what should you say? Tell them what you were like before Identify with your audience. Paul identifies with his audience. He speaks in Aramaic (Acts 21:40). He stresses the parts of his life that the people of Jerusalem would identify with. Because he is speaking to Jews, he speaks only of his Jewish qualifications: ‘I am a good Jew... I’ve always been passionately on God's side, just as you are right now’ (22:3, MSG). Paul points out that he used to persecute Christians putting them in chains, flogging them and having them thrown in prison (vv.4–20), just as they were attempting to do to him at that moment. When you give your testimony, find points of contact with your audience. For example, Alpha testimonies often begin with elements of their story that others can relate to, or which are likely to resonate with the guests. They start by saying things like, ‘I was an atheist… I was an alcoholic… I was a drug addict… I was antagonistic to the church.’ Tell them what happened to you Paul then gives a very detailed account of what happened to him when he encountered Jesus. He heard Jesus’ voice when he appeared before him on the road to Damascus. Jesus asked him questions and gave him commands. Paul listened and did as Jesus instructed. We encourage people to describe their conversion in very concrete terms, as Paul does in this passage. It is the details that make it real and powerful. Describe the difference Jesus has made in your life Ananias told Paul to be a ‘key witness to everyone you meet of what you’ve seen and heard. So what are you waiting for? Get up and get yourself baptized, scrubbed clean of those sins and personally acquainted with God’ (vv.15–16, MSG). The one who had gone around persecuting Christians was called to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (v.21). Again, we encourage people who give their testimony to describe in a concrete way, the transformation Jesus has made in their lives. There is great power in the story of a changed life. Telling your story is a way you can play a part in transforming the world around you. Lord, thank you for the power of a testimony. Help me never to grow tired of describing the transformation Jesus has made in my life. 2 Kings 4:38-6:23 Recognise that transformation is an act of grace God performed several miracles through Elisha. There were feeding miracles (4:38–44), an axe-head floating (6:1–7) and blinded Arameans (vv.8–23). Not only were miracles performed through him, but he also had an extraordinary prophetic gift: ‘Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the very words you speak in your bedroom’ (v.12). In the middle of these accounts we read of a remarkable transformation in a Syrian general’s life. Naaman was general of the army under the king of Aram. He was ‘a truly great man’ (5:1, MSG). But he had a problem; ‘he had leprosy’ (v.1). He hears about the possibility of healing through the power of God via a young servant girl (vv.2–4). He is used to getting things by using his power and his money: ‘So he went off, taking with him about 750 pounds of silver, 150 pounds of gold, and ten sets of clothes’ (v.5, MSG). When he eventually gets to meet Elisha’s messenger, he is told, ‘Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you’ll be as good as new’ (v.10, MSG). Initially, he loses his temper and stomps off (vv.11–12). He expected to be healed in a grander and less humbling way. Pride can keep you from receiving everything God wants to give you. However, encouraged by his servant, he dips himself in the Jordan seven times and ‘his flesh was restored and became clean like that of a young boy’ (v.14). He is utterly transformed. He says, ‘Now I know that there is no God in all the world except in Israel’ (v.15). He offers to pay for his healing. Elisha refuses to accept anything. Gehazi makes the terrible mistake of trying to make money out of God’s grace (vv.19–27). Healing and transformation are a gift from God by grace. They cannot be earned. Father, thank you for your miraculous power to heal and to save. Help me to have the same attitude as Elisha and never to try to take any credit, whether material or otherwise, for myself. Thank you that transformation comes by grace. It is a gift of your undeserved love. Pippa Adds 2 Kings 6:16 ‘“Don't be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”’ If you feel surrounded by difficulties and under attack remember that, when everything seems against you, God has a mighty army that can come and deliver you. Verse of the Day ‘Help us, God our Saviour, for the glory of your name’ (Psalm 79:9a).

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