Lee Street Church
Notes of Meeting – 30th August 2020
We welcomed about 20 people to our Zoom service, including our guest speaker Mark Watts from Fetcham. Brian led the worship time.
Opening Prayer
Our first worship song this morning reminds us of just some of the attributes of the God into whose presence we have come today.
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He’s a great God – way above all the other gods that men have made for themselves.
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He’s our maker, so he knows all about us.
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He’s our Redeemer – in biblical times, many of the people who had once been slaves were forever thankful that someone had come and been their redeemer by paying the ransom price to free them from slavery. How thankful we should be that Jesus has redeemed us, saved us from sin, by his death on the cross.
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He is Holy
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He is our shepherd – Sue talked about this last week.
So let’s bring our worship to the Lord with
SONG: Come let us worship our Redeemer
Come, let us worship our Redeemer,
Let us bow down before His throne;
Come, let us kneel before our Maker,
Holy is His name.
Come into His presence with thanksgiving,
Make a joyful noise;
For the Lord is a great God,
King above all gods.
We are the people of His pasture,
The sheep of His hand.
For Christ the Lord is our Shepherd,
He will lead us home.
All praises be to God the Father,
Praise to Christ His Son;
Praise to God the Holy Spirit,
Bless the three-in-One.
Sarah Turner Smith
Our second song will take us a little further in our confession and acclamation of the greatness of our God, and how He is able to act in our lives and in the world today.
It reminds us of further attributes of God
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There’s no-one like Him – we really can’t try to make comparisons with anybody else.
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He’s greater, stronger, more powerful than any other person or man-made god in history
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He’s a great healer
What’s he done? Well, we know Jesus’ first miracle was turning water into wine at a marriage feast in Cana – not any old wine, but the best wine – He didn’t do things by halves. We know too how on many occasions he made blind people able to see – He used his unique and awesome power to bring healing of all kinds of diseases.
Truly, as this song reminds us, there is no one like our God. Let’s worship Him with
SONG: Water you turned into wine
Water You turned into wine
Opened the eyes of the blind
There's no one like You
None like You
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There is no one like You
None like You
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
Into the darkness You shine
Out of the ashes we rise
There is no one like You
None like You
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
(repeat)
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against?
And if our God is for us
Then who could ever stop us?
And if our God is with us
Then what could stand against?
What could stand against?
Our God is greater
Our God is stronger
God, You are higher than any other
Our God is Healer
Awesome in power
Our God, our God
Jesse Reeves, Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman, Jonas Myrin
We’ve got a great God indeed – but He’s not just a remote God somewhere away in heaven keeping a watchful eye on us – He’s much more personal than that, because the bible teaches us that He is living right here inside of us. Yes, the eternal God of glory making his home right here in your heart and mine. Paul describes it as “God’s secret plan” in Col 1:27 where he says “Christ lives in you” – what an amazing concept – the God of eternity coming into our lives – to be literally at the centre of everything that is us, and that we do day by day.
Yes, He’s there – but do we allow him to have full control of our lives? Do we make him something of a back-seat driver – we listen to him at times, but mostly we prefer to do things our way?
Our last song is a prayer – that Jesus would be at the centre of our lives – in our thinking, in our actions – the fire that drives us to have true compassion for others, a wind in our sails to get us moving (how we all need that at times, particularly as we get older). May He open our eyes to what He wants us to do in this time of pandemic, may He indeed be our guide and our light. How the world desperately needs the light of Jesus to show the way in an ever-darkening world.
SONG: Jesus, be the centre
Jesus, be the centre,
Be my source, be my light,
Jesus
Jesus, be the centre,
Be my hope, be my song,
Jesus.
Be the fire in my heart,
Be the wind in these sails,
Be the reason that I live,
Jesus, Jesus.
Jesus, be my vision,
Be my path, be my guide,
Jesus
Michael Frye
Prayer Time
We remembered and prayed for a number of our members and friends.
Summary of Mark Watts message
Subject: Isolation and Reconnection
Mark began by reading from Ephesians 2:11 – 17
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11 |
Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands) — |
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12 |
remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. |
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13 |
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. |
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14 |
For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, |
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by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, |
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and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. |
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17 |
He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. |
Covid-19 has been (and still is) a hard time for many people – particularly those who live alone. Enforced isolation has taken a heavy toll on many people’s lives. But the Christian message is still very much applicable in these hard times.
Jesus dealt with 5 examples of people living in isolation for different reasons during His ministry:
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A leper – living in isolation because of the infectious skin disease – Jesus had no fear,and reached out and touched him – and he was immediately healed
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A demon-possessed man – totally delivered
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The woman who had suffered haemorrhaging of blood for 12 years – considered unclean by society – just one touch from Jesus made her well, and freed her to live a normal life.
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Mary Magdalene – had 7 demons cast out and was totally healed
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An un-named woman of Samaria – whose life was transformed by her encounter with Jesus at a well.
Just five examples of people whose lives were transformed. They had been in isolation, but having met with Jesus they were able to re-connect with families and friends, and more importantly with God.
Jesus came from heaven with this purpose – to reconnect people with God. Sadly, most people are today living their lives in isolation from God. It’s our privilege to introduce them to God, who is still reaching out to them. No one is isolated from God’s love.
Maybe you are wondering where God is in all that’s going on? Maybe you are still feeling isolated or disconnected – something seems to be missing.
God doesn’t want you to remain disconnected, and has provided a way for you to have a new relationship with Him. The reading spoke about reconciliation – for both Israelites and Gentiles who were separated from God by sin – He made provision for all to be reconciled to Him.
Remember what you were – separated from God and without hope; and what you are now, thanks to Jesus shedding His blood on the cross. His blood was the price paid for our redemption, and it cleanses us from all sin. Jesus had to go to that old rugged cross – a place of isolation – on our behalf.
Jesus’ relationship with God was broken as He spent 3 hours on the cross – forsaken by God, so that we can be set free. Jesus took that place of isolation to bring us into a new relationship with God. He went to the cross so we can be free from the penalty for sin – He has brought us into a right relationship with God. What a powerful reconciliation! As Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians ch.5 v21
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21 |
God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. |
When Jesus died, it is recorded that the curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom, indicating that the way was now open for all to come to God, because of the sacrifice of Jesus.
Mark mentioned the film director who set out to produce a film to disprove the resurrection of Jesus, but he ended up being totally convinced of the truth that Jesus did rise from the dead.
V 17 of our reading speaks about peace. Are you enjoying peace with God?
40 days after His resurrection, Jesus ascended into heaven, welcomed there by His Father. We too can be sure of a welcome, because of our reconnection with God through Jesus’ sacrifice.
Remember, Jesus is still ready to receive anyone - if you haven’t yet taken that step of faith, don’t wait any longer.
All you need to do is:
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Admit you are a sinner
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Thank Jesus for taking your place as He died on the cross
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Invite Him into your heart
Don’t forget – nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Closing Hymn: When I survey
WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God:
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.
See from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down:
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of Nature mine,
That were an offering far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all!
Next Week: Speakers are Gerard and Phillippa Chrispin