Worship – led by Brian Legg
Begin with a hymn of praise –
SONG: Bless the Lord O my soul
Prayer
Words of David in Psalm 27: 14 “Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord”. David knew what it was to wait – after being anointed at the age of 16, he had to wait another 14 years before he became king of Israel.
What are you like at “waiting”? Maybe to open you presents at Christmas, or in the slowest queue ever at the supermarket – yes, it’s always the one you join! (Expand if time).
After Jesus’ resurrection, he told his disciples to wait – to stay in Jerusalem until the Holy Spirit was to come upon them to give them power after he had gone into heaven. The Holy Spirit whom he had promised to them, to be their comforter and guide when He himself had gone from them. To them it seemed a long wait – over a period of just over 5 weeks Jesus appeared to see them on a rare number of occasions in different places.
But they were becoming impatient, and I love the account in John’s gospel of them returning to do what most of them did best – that was fishing.
They had to wait a little longer for the Holy Spirit to come upon them at Pentecost. Sometimes we need to have a little more patience – and above all to learn how to “be still before the Lord, and to wait patiently for Him”.
Our next song gives thanks to God for sending Jesus, and giving us his Holy Spirit.
SONG: There is a Redeemer 544
That song speaks about the time in the future when God’s work on earth is done, and all believers have been taken into glory with Jesus and his Father.
Hebrews 9: 28 tells us that Jesus “will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him”.
I wonder, are you waiting patiently for Jesus to return?
Every true believer should be looking expectantly for the Lord’s return, being certain of their place in glory. But we are of course rightly concerned for any of our loved ones who have yet to decide to follow Him, so we should be thankful that there is still time for them.
As Peter in his epistle tells us, “our Lord’s patience gives people time to be saved.”
Our next song reminds us a little of what heaven is going to be like – very different to the sadness of our world today
SONG: There’s a place where the streets shine - 1041.
Yes, we’ve a place there – but only because of what Christ accomplished on the cross on our behalf.
What about those who have yet to honour the name of Jesus? The scriptures tell us in
Philippians 2: 10 – 11 that “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”. These words are reflected in our last song:
SONG: At the name of Jesus - 32
Alpha study on the Holy Spirit
The Alpha video outlined different ways in which the Holy Spirit comes into the lives of believers, to equip them to be able to serve the Lord in their daily lives.
Key verses included:
- Romans 8: 14 – 17 – emphasising our new relationship with God, being adopted into God’s family.
- Ephesians 2:18 – speaks of the access which we have to God through the Holy Spirit
- Ephesians 4: 3 – 6 – the unity which the Holy Spirit brings within the Church.
- 1 Corinthians 12; 4 – 11 – describes some of the different gifts the Holy Spirit brings to believers – given by God as He determines.
It is our responsibility to use the gifts he has given us to enable the church to grow, and to allow the Holy Spirit to so work in our lives for us to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus.
Notices
Speaker next Sunday at 10.15am is Lee Jerromes.