Lee Street Church
Notes of Meeting 21st November 2021
Worship led by Sue Clarke
Last week, we thought about the words “in our lives enthrone Him”. To enthrone is to exalt / to glorify /to magnify. This morning we are reminded by the emblems that we are here to bring God our praise and worship.
The word “worship” comes from an old English word that means “worthship”. It means to ascribe worth to someone. We worship God because He is worthy, because of who He is and what he has done and will do for us all.
Hebrews 12:28 “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe”. “You alone are worthy, You alone deserve the highest praise. For your love and mercy, for Your saving grace, we have come to worship You today.”
SONG: 310 Jesus, we enthrone You
Praise is not only a command, but a gift we give to God. It’s a sacrifice of our hearts – giving Him our best, even when we don’t feel up to it. The more we praise God and give Him this gift, the more we’ll be filled with God’s love to share with others.
Hebrews 13: 5 “Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise – the fruit of lips that confess His name.”
SONG: 1419 Light of the world
Psalm 95: 1 – 3 & 6 “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before Him with thanksgiving and extol Him with music and song. For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before God our maker, for He is our God!”
Revelation 5: 9 – 10 “You are worthy to take the scroll and open its seals, because You were slain, and with your blood You purchased men for God from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth”
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain!
SONG: 289 Jesus is King
Revelation 5: 12 – 13 “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise. To Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb, be praise and honour and glory and power for ever and ever.”
Philippians 2: 6 – 11
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6 |
Christ Jesus, who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; |
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7 |
rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. |
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8 |
And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death — even death on a cross! |
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9 |
Therefore, God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, |
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that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, |
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and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. |
SONG: 1122 Worthy is the Lamb
Worthy is the Lamb,
Worthy is the Lamb,
Worthy is the Lamb who was slain.
(Repeat)
My Lord and Saviour,
My great Redeemer,
Your blood has purchased me for God.
My Lord and Saviour,
My great Redeemer,
You came to set the captives free.
Holy is the Lamb . . .
Jesus, You’re the Lamb . . .
Glory to the Lamb . . .
Breaking of Bread
A remembrance – as poppies remind us of those who gave their lives in service of their country, so the bread and wine remind us, whenever we partake of them, of our Lord’s sacrifice of Himself to bring us back to God.
Notes of Brian Mills’ Talk
Brian began by reading Philippians 2: 6 – 11, reminding us that Jesus humbled himself, taking on the sin of the world, so we could be free.
Then Corinthians 5; 17 – 21 where Paul speaks about us being a new creation in Christ, and being Christ’s ambassadors.
God works out his purposes through floored humanity. Brian gave the example of the many people who have come to faith whilst serving prison sentences – Jesus sets people free, changes them, makes them new people, literally “new creations”.
Does our faith show on our lives – do people see Jesus in us? There should be a difference when Jesus has come into our lives.
The main theme Brian explored with us was reconciliation. We’ve been reconciled to God solely through the Christ.
God created a perfect world, but mankind spoiled it, creating a gulf between God and man.
He paraphrased firstly the OT account of Jacob and Esau, who were twin brothers, sons of Isaac. In ways they were a dysfunctional family – Isaac’s wife Rebecca showed favouritism to Jacob, and was instrumental in enabling Jacob to hoodwink his father into giving him the blessing which by rights should have gone to his elder (by a short time) brother Esau. Esau then threatened to kill Jacob, who then had to go away for safety.
After many years, and having acquired 4 wives and many children, and large herds of animals, the Lord tells him (Genesis 31:3) “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.” Jacob was to reconcile himself with the brother he had wronged 20 years or so previously.
So he made the journey home, in expectation of a rough ride when he met Esau. But it turned out so different – (see Genesis 33: 1 – 4) – as “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him”. Jacob feared retribution, but was overjoyed when they were reconciled.
The second OT account was of Joseph, the favourite son of Jacob (cf coat of many colours) – which provoked jealousy amongst his half-brothers. They schemed to get rid of him, sold him to slave traders, then lied to their father about him being killed.
God had his hand on Joseph, who became responsible for food storage and handling in Egypt during 7 years of plenty. When 7 years of drought affected Egypt and Palestine, Jacob sent his sons to Egypt to procure food. Joseph devised a plan to bring them back again, bringing Benjamin with them.
When they did eventually return, Joseph made himself known to his brothers – there was complete reconciliation. In this instance, the offended person (Joseph) took the iniative.
Why do we find it so difficult to reconcile ourselves with others – forgiveness is a real problem.
Brian mentioned the recent G7 meetings in Cornwall, when leaders of nations were working together despite their historical differences.
He also spoke about a Prayer Walk from Berlin to Moscow, and the problems encountered and then overcome at the German / Polish border crossings.
God took the initiative in reconciling us to himself, by sending Jesus on our behalf. How we need to be reconciled with our fellow believers and others. He has made us new creations – the old has gone, a new life has come.
Closing Song: Make me a channel of your peace
NOTICES
- Wednesday 7.30pm Bible Study & Prayer time on Zoom
- Next Sunday at 10.15am – speaker is Ken Cowell