Lee Street Church
Notes of Meeting – 14th March 2021
We welcomed Jim Winter as our guest speaker today.
Worship Time – led by Sue Clarke
Mother’s Day
Today is a day of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving means to show appreciation, gratefulness and gratitude.
Today we particularly think of our Mums and all they’ve done and continue to do for us; and the incredible part they play ain being part of our lives. For some of us, we reflect on what our Mothers were like, who are sadly no longer with us. We can remember with a smile the part they played in our lives.
Mothers give so much love to their children. Those of us who are Mums, I’m sure, can all say they never expected to feel such love. You literally want to give your children every support you can. Even when you don’t agree with things they say and do, and, even when, at times, you may not particularly like what they are doing, you still love them!
Our worship this morning is focusing on our thanksgiving to God, for being in our lives. His love for us, and all that He is to each of us. He has brought us into His family and gives us such love as His children.
I, for one, am so thankful that we can gather together, as a family of God today, and focus on His love for us.
As Christians, when we share in the bread and wine later in the service, we are giving thanks for the gift our Father gave us, in sending His Son Jesus to be our Redeemer. We are showing our gratitude and appreciation for the love God has for us all, which is with us every day, no matter what is happening in our lives. God’s love is unconditional.
SONG: There is a Redeemer
THERE IS A REDEEMER,
Jesus, God’s own Son,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
Holy One.
Thank You, O my Father,
For giving us Your Son,
And leaving Your Spirit—
Till the work on earth is done.
Jesus my Redeemer,
Name above all names,
Precious Lamb of God, Messiah,
O for sinners slain.
When I stand in glory
I will see His face,
And there I’ll serve my King forever
In that holy place.
Ephesians 1: 3 – 8
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Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. |
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For He chose us in Him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in His sight. In love |
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He predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with His pleasure and will — |
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to the praise of His glorious grace, which He has freely given us in the One he loves. |
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In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace |
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that He lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, |
SONG: Father God I wonder
FATHER GOD, I WONDER how I managed to exist
Without the knowledge of Your parenthood and Your loving care.
But now I am Your son, I am adopted in Your family,
And I can never be alone,
’Cause Father God, You’re there beside me.
I will sing Your praises,
I will sing Your praises,
I will sing Your praises,
Forever more.
I will sing Your praises,
I will sing Your praises,
I will sing Your praises,
Forever more.
As I’ve witnessed with my grandson Tommy, it is amazing to see the love a baby or young child has for their mum or dad. They have a tremendous trust in the love given to them by their parents. We are told to have that same trust in our Heavenly Father and His love for us.
Luke 18:17 “I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a child will never enter it”.
God’s love never fails.
1Corinthians 13: 4 – 7
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Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. |
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It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. |
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Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. |
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It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. |
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Love never fails. |
SONG: When I was lost you came and rescued me
(please see notes of last week’s meeting)
In that song we sang “Now I have come into your family” – We are God’s children.
Hebrews 2: 10 -11
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As children learn to do things by following their parents’ example, so we should be trying to emulate Jesus in our lives by following His example. We’ve been thinking about this for the last couple of weeks in our talks.
Ephesians 5: 1 “be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God”.
By His Spirit living in us and working in our lives, we can be confident in the promises of God.
SONG: Oh the mercy of God
Oh, the mercy of God, the glory of grace, That You chose to redeem us, to forgive and restore, And You call us Your children, chosen in Him To be holy and blameless to the glory of God.
To the praise of His glorious grace, To the praise of His glory and power; To Him be all glory, honour and praise Forever and ever and ever, amen.
Oh, the richness of grace, the depths of His love, In Him is redemption, the forgiveness of sin. You called us as righteous, predestined in Him For the praise of His glory, included in Christ.
Oh, the glory of God expressed in His Son, His image and likeness revealed to us all; The plea of the ages completed in Christ, That we be presented perfected in Him.
Geoff Bullock. Copyright © 1997 Watershed Productions/ Kingsway’s Thankyou Music.
Ephesians 1: 11 – 14
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SONG: You chose the cross
YOU CHOSE THE CROSS with every breath,
The perfect life, the perfect death:
You chose the cross.
A crown of thorns You wore for us,
And crowned us with eternal life:
You chose the cross.
And though Your soul was overwhelmed with pain,
Obedient to death You overcame.
I'm lost in wonder,
I'm lost in love,
I'm lost in praise forevermore.
Because of Jesus' unfailing love
I am forgiven, I am restored.
You loosed the cords of sinfulness
And broke the chains of my disgrace:
You chose the cross.
Up from the grave victorious,
You rose again so glorious:
You chose the cross.
The sorrow that surrounded You was mine,
'Yet not My will but Yours be done!' You cried.
Martyn Layzell Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music
Breaking of Bread – led by Brian Legg
Throughout His life and ministry, Jesus had known that he would be taken into the hands of cruel men, and to suffer the humiliation of death on a cross. He had warned his disciples about this on a number of occasions, as he went up to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover one more time with them. He also told them he would rise again from the dead. But the message never really sunk in to their minds.
Even when he instituted the Breaking of Bread in the upper room, the disciples failed to comprehend what was going to happen so soon afterwards.
As we come to share in this remembrance feast this morning, I want to pick up on those words we sung just now:
And though Your soul was overwhelmed with pain, Obedient to death You overcame.
And the last line too:
'Yet not My will but Yours be done!' You cried.
The scene has moved from the upper room to the garden of Gethsemane, where we read Jesus began to be sorrowful and troubled, and his soul overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.
So He prayed to His Father “Father if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.” As always in His life, His Father’s will was paramount.
It’s hard to find words to express the depth of sorrow and suffering Jesus was going through, as he faced an excruciatingly painful death at the hands of cruel soldiers. He was to be separated from His Father, as he took upon himself the sin of the world.
This was Jesus unfailing love for you and I, by which we have been forgiven
Let’s give thanks for the Bread and wine – see 1Cor 11: 23 on.
Notes of Jim Winter’s Talk
2Corinthians 4: 1 – 6 and 16 - 18
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Therefore, since through God’s mercy we have this ministry, we do not lose heart. |
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Rather, we have renounced secret and shameful ways; we do not use deception, nor do we distort the word of God. On the contrary, by setting forth the truth plainly we commend ourselves to everyone’s conscience in the sight of God. |
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And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. |
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The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. |
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For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. |
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For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. |
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Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. |
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For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. |
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So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. |
Introduction
As a Christian, it is easy to lose heart – especially when we feel that our witness is weak.
It is one thing to get an encouraging word “Do not lose heart” – I guess we’ve all been told that on many occasions. But in this passage Paul is making a statement, rather than exhorting his readers.
In verses 1 and 16 he says twice “We do not lose heart”. This was despite all the times his message was rejected, particularly by the Jews. So how can Paul so confidently say this?
Firstly because of the Nature of the Gospel (v2 – 4).
- The clarity of the gospel – Paul claims to set forth the truth, and to speak the truth plainly. Whist many other agencies – government, salespeople, religious sects for instance – present a distortion of the truth, Paul’s presentation of the gospel can be relied upon to be the truth which can set us free.
- The Power of the gospel – though it remains veiled to unbelievers, those who are perishing (v 3 & 4), it is the Holy Spirit who takes the gospel and opens up the hearts of believers. We do need to be patient – sometimes we may get no response for many months or years – God works in His own time.
Secondly the Focus of the Gospel (v5 – 6).
- The Lord Jesus Christ – v5 - not ourselves, but Christ alone.
We are only His servants – Jesus is to be the focus who will transform people’s lives.What others need to see is Jesus in us “Christ in us - the hope of glory”.
The pandemic has been a challenging time for many – it’s brought change in many aspects of our lives. But God is still working in the world – maybe in new ways. So don’t lose heart – keep your focus on Jesus.
- The glory of God – v6 – yes, it’s all for the glory of God.
When our lives are changed, God is glorified. Remember there is rejoicing in heaven when 1 person repents. And God is glorified in unseen ways when His word is proclaimed.
Thirdly, the Perspective of the Gospel (v16 – 17)
- Outwardly, we’re wasting away – but inwardly we’re being renewed, as we fix our eyes of faith on Jesus.
- Hebrews ch 11 reminds us of the OT saints who were looking forward in faith. We are privileged to know so much more that God has revealed to mankind through Jesus and through the gift of the Holy Spirit.
- Remember God deals with the unseen – so he rewards faith. We must trust that He is working through us. We want to see results here and now – preachers sometimes get depressed and need to be encouraged.
- Jim shared an account of a minister in London who felt he had given a poor message one evening. It was only a year later he discovered two young men had been converted through his ministry that evening.
- Paul again says “We do not lose heart” – God has given us many wonderful promises to take hold of, whatever the trials of the day.
Conclusion
We to must not lose heart, but must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, on unseen but eternal things.
Closing Song – Lord, the light of your love is shining
Notices
- Food Bank Drive-In – next Saturday at HBC 9.30 to 12.30
- Speaker next Sunday – Ken Cowell
- Wednesday 7.30pm – Bible Study (Zoom)