Worship led by Dawn Budd
As a child I grew up in what would now be classed as a broken home. My mum was divorced, and from the age of 5, I rarely saw my natural father. She married again but unfortunately that marriage did not last. Whilst married to my mother, my stepfather had adopted me, my sister and brother and when this marriage ended,I have to say, I felt rejected. Even now, it's still disappointing.
Now I can't remember being saved by Jesus. I just know I have been. God has been the only reliable Father I have known. He has been my constant. For that, I will forever be grateful.
Romans 8 v 15-16 “The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
SING 1 Abba Father
Earlier this week, my verse of the day on my bible app was John 1 v 12 “ Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become the children of God”.
No one was born with the right to be a child of God. This right was given to us through grace at the cross. The verse tells us He gave us the right, it was a gift.
Words from song by Hillsong. ‘I am who You say I am’.
Who am I that the highest King would welcome me?
I was lost, but He brought me in
Who the Son sets free is free indeed.
I'm a child of God
Free at last, He has ransomed me
His grace runs deep
While I was a slave to sin, Jesus died for me
In my Father's house
There's a place for me
I'm a child of God
I am chosen, not forsaken
I am who You say I am
You are for me, not against me
I am who You say I am
John 8v36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
SING 229 I'm accepted
2 Corinthians 6v18 "I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.”
SING 92 Father God I wonder
This week, I read an article saying that Christians can sometimes operate as if they are orphans, forgetting how close God is to them. Sometimes we are all guilty if keeping him at a distance.
We know he has saved us but we forget how much he loves us and that we have been adopted into his family. I often think of children who have been given up at birth and adopted and think how special they are because they have been chosen by the people who adopt them.
Same for God. He chose us. He even chose us over his own Son!!
Isaiah 41v9, “I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, ‘You are my servant’; I have chosen you and have not rejected you.”
SING 236 I'm special
When Nigel's father passed away last year, his mum had a sort out and gave some things of his to Nigel. This included books and magazines which would interest Nigel. It also included this penknife, that she presented to Nigel on his birthday ( big 5-0!!) This was one of Dad's precious possessions, he had been given it as a child. It was part of his inheritance to Nigel.
BUT we have an even greater inheritance, better than objects, money or property, from God our Father.
Roman 8 v 17 ”Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.”
Ephesians 1:v 4-6 “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.”
Prayer
Father God, I thank you for all that you have done and will do, recognising that I am loved by you, that you love me in a perfect way, that you take care of me, even when I don’t see your actions you are there.
I don’t always recognise your action in my life and I may be ungrateful for what you have done, so I ask for your forgiveness, because even though you are faithful, many times I don’t recognise your faithfulness. Father, I love you and I want to walk with you forever. Thank you for everything, for your love, goodness and justice. Amen
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life”.
Change that. For God so loved ME that he gave his one and only Son.
SING 1117 Who is there like you?
Breaking of Bread
Led by Brian Legg.
Past week has been dominated by the remembrance of those who gave their lives 80 years ago on the Normandy beaches. Today we remember once again the One who gave His life to set us free. His sacrifice was “once for all” (see Hebrews 7: 26 – 27), and was enough to satisfy a righteous God.
[Share in the Bread and Wine]
Brief notes of Brian Mills address
Brian began by pointing out the un-measurable nature of what God created – the sheer unimaginable size of the universes. Way beyond what we can understand.
Brian focused his talk on a number of verses in 1 John chapters 3 & 4, relating to the love of God, and His desire to work through us (his followers) to change the world. We need to be motivated by the Father’s love.
We have so many means of communication – tele-: -phone, -vision, -communication, - scope, etc.
We do need to see and be aware of what God is still doing in our world today. He is still active, as he was at Pentecost, demonstrating his love and the power of his Spirit to us. He still works with signs and wonders. Brian told of several instances in recent times in overseas locations where God moved in powerful ways to draw large numbers to himself, resulting in transformed lives as people realised something of the fulness of God’s love. In Nepal, a whole village became believers. Such events replicate what was experienced by the early church in Acts.
Brian reminded us of events nearer home, such as the Hebridean revival of 1948 – 49, where God stepped in to the lives of so many island inhabitants.
Referring back to the book of Acts, there was Ananias, given a vision from God to deal with a young Saul, known to be an adversary of the church. His task was a hard one, but he did just what God told him to do – he literally cooperated with God.
The apostle Peter had a vision from God, to call him to preach to the Gentiles. He also knew what it was to experience miracles, including the release from prison whilst the believers were praying for him.
Looking at 1 John 4, Brian asked the question – how well do we know God? V7 says “Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.” How we need to know God better – there is always more to learn!
Closing song: A new commandment I give unto you
Notices
Speaker expected next Sunday is Ian Crawford
Churches for Horley will be at the Horley Carnival next Saturday – pray for the Try Praying booklets to be used well.