Notes from Meeting Sunday 13th December 2020

Lee Street Church

Notes of Meeting 13^th December 2020

Brian led the Worship time.

I would have liked to start with the song:

“SHOUT FOR JOY AND SING your praises to the King,

Lift your voice and let your hallelujahs ring; ……….

Sadly, we are constrained by Law from singing our praises out loud, although our Worship team can. But we can still come with joy into the Lord’s presence, wherever we are today.

Our first song reminds us that we can come into God’s presence and experience His power working amongst us. We need to be still for a while in the midst of a turbulent world, and be amazed once again by the glory of the Lord and what His power can do for us.

Song

Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.

In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;

He burns with holy fire; with splendour He is crowned.

How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;

He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.

No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

David J. Evans.

Copyright © 1986 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music.

Yes, He’s ready and willing to move in our lives today – don’t be afraid to bring all your needs to Him, because He’s an understanding God.

If you’ve watched any football on the TV recently, you can’t help but see the vast swathes of empty seats in most of the stadia. Some grounds have filled them up with card-board cut-outs of supporters’ heads, others have just put up large advertising banners for various products. But if you by any chance watched one of the games played at the Hawthorns, the home of Premier League team West Bromwich Albion, you might just have noticed the following words emblazoned across a large portion of the lower main stand “The Lord is my shepherd”.

I don’t know who has paid an inordinate sum of money to place this in such a prominent position – but good for them anyway. I hope it has made a lot of people think “I’ve seen or heard that somewhere before – when was it – where was it – who said it?

They are of course the first words of the best-known Psalm, no. 23. The words of David, who himself had been a shepherd-boy in his youth.

We thought a little about this wonderful psalm at the wedding yesterday – and it’s always a good Psalm to ponder over, whatever your situation. There is so much encouragement for us all in its few verses. Listen as I read the verses of this Psalm.

We’ll sing a modern version of this Psalm, echoing the thought of David himself.

The Lord’s my shepherd, I’ll not want.

He makes me lie in pastures green.

He leads me by the still, still waters,

His goodness restores my soul.

And I will trust in You alone.

And I will trust in You alone,

For Your endless mercy follows me,

Your goodness will lead me home.

He guides my ways in righteousness,

And He anoints my head with oil,

And my cup, it overflows with joy,

I feast on His pure delights.

And though I walk the darkest path,

I will not fear the evil one,

For You are with me, and Your rod and staff

Are the comfort I need to know.

Stuart Townend.

Copyright © 1996 Kingsway’s Thankyou Music

We’re being warned daily by our political leaders of even darker times ahead for our nation – Covis-19 will go on affecting all of our lives well into 2021, and the after-shocks of Brexit will become a reality.

Do these things get us down? They can do, particularly as we think of the up-coming generations, and what their opportunities will be in an ever-changing world.

But remember what we were thinking about last week – Jesus coming as a light into our dark world.

Into the darkness of this world,

Into the shadows of the night;

Into this loveless place You came,

Lightened our burdens, eased our pain,

And made these hearts Your home.

Into the darkness once again –

Oh come, Lord Jesus, come.

Yes, Jesus came to break into the darkness of our lives, to bring new hope and purpose. We’ll be celebrating his coming over the next 2 weeks – maybe in a different way this year, but all the same bringing our praises to God for His gift to mankind of Jesus. What does His name mean to you?

Our last song I hope puts into words some of our thoughts about our blessed Saviour – and some of the blessings He pours on us each day .

.

THERE IS A NAME I LOVE TO HEAR,

I love to speak its worth;

It sounds like music in my ear,

The sweetest name on earth.

O, how I love the Saviour’s name,

O, how I love the Saviour’s name,

O, how I love the Saviour’s name,

The sweetest name on earth.

It tells me of a Saviour’s love,

Who died to set me free;

It tells me of His precious blood,

The sinner’s perfect plea.

It tells of One whose loving heart

Can feel my deepest woe;

Who in my sorrow bears a part

That none can bear below.

It bids my trembling heart rejoice,

It dries each rising tear;

It tells me in a still, small voice

To trust and never fear.

Jesus, the name I love so well,

The name I love to hear!

No saint on earth its worth can tell,

No heart conceive how dear!

Frederick Whitfield

Prayer Time

We remembered many of our friends in our prayers.

Ken’s Talk

Joseph’s Preparation for the First Christmas      Matthew 1. 18-25

Are you all ready for Christmas?  Christmas preparations for the Queen begin in August when she signs 750 Christmas cards that she sends.  Have all your Christmas cards been sent?  Certainly, this is the busiest time of the year with all the preparations leading up to Christmas.  There are decorations to put up both inside and outside houses these days, presents to choose and buy, and of course a delicious Christmas dinner with all its trimmings to prepare.  Japan’s celebration of Christmas is much simpler, with just one present given to the children by their parents and eating Kentucky Fried Chicken with a special Christmas sponge cake on Christmas Eve.   

 We just read of Joseph’s preparation for the First Christmas.  It’s the First Christmas that’s really the only true Christmas. The First Christmas is an historical fact.  It really did take place.  About 5 years ago we went to Bethlehem to see the place where Jesus was supposed to be born.  No one knows the actual place where he was born, but we know without a doubt the vicinity where it took place.  The Christian faith is built on facts not fiction. 

Sadly, the Christmas that many celebrate these days is built on the legend of Father Christmas or Santa Claus.  The joy that children get through the story of Father Christmas is understandable, but we must make sure they also know the meaning of the real Christmas.  As Chris and I have gone for walks in our neighbourhood recently we have seen over 40 displays of beautifully coloured lights outside the houses.  There have been many Santa’s, reindeers, sleighs, snowmen and Christmas trees. Much preparation goes on for the present-day Christmas but not so much for the First Christmas.   

What were Joseph’s preparations for the First Christmas?  In the Christmas story Joseph’s role is quite small compared to Mary’s.  Last Christmas we had our 3-year-old granddaughter Jasmine stay with us.  We had bought a Nativity set of finger puppets.  Jasmine put Joseph in the manger basket with Jesus.  We asked who the figure was and she said “His daddy”.  We asked her his name and she said “Gorgeous”.  In Jasmine’s mind Joseph’s role was not a minor one as we shall also see that as think of the part he played in the birth of Jesus.       

Happy Celebration    

His preparation had a great start as we read “Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph” (v18). In modern language he got engaged to Mary which no doubt would be a time of celebration for them, their families and friends.  However, in Jewish society of that day, engagement was a much more of a serious matter than in our culture.  Both Mary and Joseph made solemn promises to each other that at the end of the engagement period, which was usually a year, they would marry.  Their commitment to each other was recognised so much that they were already considered married as husband and wife by everyone.  The promise of the couple was that their marriage would be consummated on their wedding night.  Till that time, they would live with their parents.  In our culture, whilst sad, it is not wrong to break an engagement. However, for Joseph and Mary to break their engagement would require a divorce for they were regarded as husband and wife.  That would pose no problem for the couple as they were deeply in love and sought to honour God in their relationship.  However, what followed was totally unexpected and unimaginable.  But when God is involved anything is possible.

An Unbelievable Shock  

One day during their engagement period Joseph heard the terrible news that Mary was pregnant.  You can imagine how Joseph must have felt.  How could Mary do such a thing?  They were so devoted to one another.  Joseph didn’t know as Mary did that this was the work of the Holy Spirit.  He could only assume that Mary had been unfaithful.  His dream was shattered as he thought that Mary had betrayed her trust.   On the basis of God’s law, he had to divorce Mary which he would do being a righteous man.   Divorce was a very public affair where the guilty person was exposed before many witnesses.  Joseph didn’t want such a public act which would cause Mary much shame, so he decided to do it quietly with just two or three trusted witnesses.  He didn’t act hastily out of anger or revenge which he could have done easily in the circumstances.  Why did he act like this?  He just didn’t do the right thing but he did it in love and compassion. It was as though he had already forgiven her.  He was righteous also in the fact that he acted like God would have acted in the situation. 

When Jesus was confronted with the woman who had committed adultery he said “Neither do I condemn you.  Go and leave your life of sin”. (John 8.11) There was forgiveness instead of condemnation with the opportunity of a future life of hope   That’s what Joseph was doing to Mary.  He was forgiving and giving her the chance to start again.  Jasmine was right when she said Joseph was “gorgeous”.   Other meanings of the word gorgeous are “magnificent, splendid, and strikingly beautiful”.   We are not thinking of Joseph’s physical appearance but the beauty of his forgiving attitude and love.  Have we ever been hurt by someone’s actions?  Have we ever been betrayed?  Have we ever been offended by someone’s words?   How did we respond?  Was it like Joseph’s attitude of forgiveness and compassion or is there still unforgiveness?  

 Miraculous Revelation  

Then came this amazing revelation which was a miracle.  Firstly, an angel appears to him in a dream.  An appearance of an angel is a miraculous occurrence, certainly out of the ordinary.  That is no problem for a person who believes in the God of the Bible.  Miracles are God’s ordinary way of doing things but for us they are extraordinarily unbelievable.  If God can’t do miracles then he is no different from us and isn’t worthy to be called God.  The angel’s first words were, “do not be afraid”.  But Joseph had every reason to be afraid for he faced a problem that would have disastrous effects on his life.  How could he not be afraid in such a situation?  The angel’s visit assured him that he was not alone but that God was with him. 

This year we have faced a terrible global shock with the Covic-19 pandemic causing thousands of deaths of in many countries. It has left so many people heartbroken with the premature deaths of their loved ones.  Christians too have not been immune from the suffering, loneliness and fear the event has caused. Yet God has said to us “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you…….Do not be afraid for I am with you;” (Isaiah 42. 2, 5.)  We have known God’s comfort and strength during these difficult days. 

Joseph was also afraid about the future.  His plans had been wrecked and his reputation scarred and he wondered what would happen to him after the divorce.  Would he need to leave the area to escape the shame to start a new life?  It would be natural to be afraid of what would become of him?  Yet God was saying to him “Don’t be afraid for I have everything under control and my future plans for you are the best. “As we too look into an unknown and uncertain future, we remember God’s promise, “in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8.28).

God’s future plan for Joseph was the real miracle; “Take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.” (v20)   This had never happened before where a virgin conceived a child without a sexual relationship with a man.  This is beyond our understanding, a miracle that only Almighty God could perform.  Whilst we may not grasp how it happened, we need to understand why it had to be this way.  To become truly man Jesus had to be born of Mary.  He became fully man as we are.  He cried and drank milk as a normal baby and grew in knowledge like any other child.  He felt hunger and thirst as we do, got tired and wept just like us, and knew temptation like ourselves.  He was seen as a normal human being, called Jesus of Nazareth and the son of Joseph. 

But Jesus was also fully God. 

If Jesus had been born of Joseph, he would share his sinful nature which would disqualify him for saving us.  A drowning man can’t save someone who is drowning. If Jesus has sin, he can’t save sinners by dying for them, He had to be born as the Son of God so by the Holy Sprit’s conception was protected from Joseph’s sinful nature. As Jesus grew, we see him displaying God’s character and power.  He boldly asserted that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.” (John 14.9). By doing so many miracles he was doing things that only God could do.  When Jesus was born, he was given two names.  One was Jesus of his humanity and the other Immanuel, meaning “God with us” showing his divinity.  When the baby Jesus came so also did God.  Joseph believed Jesus was born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit not because he understood it but because God revealed it to him and so believed it.  God reveals the same truth to us in the Bible and we too must choose to believe or refuse to believe. To believe in the virgin birth of Jesus Christ is fundamental to the Christian faith.     

A Life Saving Message.   

Why did Jesus come into the world?  It is shown in the name Jesus that he was given.  “you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins”. (v21)   The name Jesus means “God saves”.   So often at Christmas we focus so much on the baby Jesus in the manger that we forget the man Jesus on the cross who died to save us.   A television interviewer was walking the streets of Tokyo at Christmas time.  As in the UK, Christmas shopping is a big commercial success in Japan.   The interviewer stopped one young woman and asked, “What is the meaning of Christmas?   Laughing, she responded, “I don’t know is that the day Jesus died?”   She got the traditional timing wrong, the main purpose of Christmas absolutely right. 

To see Jesus as Saviour we must go from the cradle to the cross.  The baby Jesus couldn’t save anyone from their sins, only the man Jesus who died on the cross taking the punishment for our sins.  We can only know forgiveness of sins through the blood that he shed for us at the cross.  Without that forgiveness there is no other way of salvation.  Let’s not miss the main message of Christmas which is the death of Jesus on the cross to save us from our sins.                           

In December 1903, after many attempts, the Wright brothers were successful in getting their “flying machine” off the ground.  Thrilled, they telegraphed this message to their sister Katherine: “We have actually flown 120 feet.  We will be home for Christmas.”  Katherine hurried to the editor of the local newspaper and showed him the message.   He glanced at it and said, “How nice.  The boys will be home for Christmas.”  He totally missed the big news- man had flown!  If we don’t go to the cross this Christmas we too, have missed the big news!                                                                

 A Perfect Response.   

Joseph made the perfect response to all he had heard.  “he did what the angel of the Lord commanded him and took Mary home as his wife.” (v24).  His preparation resulted in the perfect response.  He did two things.  Firstly, he believed what God said through the angel that Jesus was born of a virgin and was the Son of God.  He also believed in Jesus as his Saviour from sin.  Does the sacrifice of Jesus save everyone from their sins?  No, for it says “he will save his people from their sins.”   And who are they?  They are the ones who believe in Him.  His sacrifice can save all who trust in Him for their salvation.  The second thing, Joseph obeys what God said to him through the angel and takes Mary as his wife.  Faith in Jesus and obedience to Jesus always go together.  The gospel is not only an invitation to come but a command to obey.  Jesus says “Repent and believe the good news.” (Mark 1.15)   Are you ready for Christmas? Will your response be like Joseph’s? 

A pastor noticed that the figure of baby Jesus was missing from the Nativity scene displayed outside the church.  He was about to call the police when he saw little Jimmy with a red wagon, and in the wagon was the figure of the baby Jesus.  The pastor walked up to Jimmy and said, “Well Jimmy, where did you get the little baby?”  Jimmy replied, “I got him from the church.”  “And why did you take him?”  With a sheepish smile, Jimmy said, “Well, about a week before Christmas I prayed to little Lord Jesus.  I told him if he would bring me a red wagon for Christmas, I would give him a ride around the block.” Jesus came to give his life for us so we might be saved from our sin.  Joseph gave his trust and obedience to Jesus.  What will we give to Him?

Closing Song: In the bleak mid-winter

IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER,

Frosty wind made moan;

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone.

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow;

In the bleak midwinter,

Long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him,

Nor earth sustain,

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign.

In the bleak midwinter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty,

Jesus Christ.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air.

But His mother only,

In her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him?

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd,

I would bring a lamb.

If I were a wise man,

I would do my part;

Yet what can I give Him—

Give my heart.