Notes of Meeting Sunday 22 August 2021

Lee Street Church

Notes of Meeting – 22^nd August

Worship – led by Brian Legg

READ Psalm 27 vs 1 – 6

Vs 1 & 2 – Many millions of people in the world are sadly living in fear today – fear of oppressors, fear of starvation, fear of earthquakes and floods, fear for their futures. Particularly we think of people in Afghanistan. But for now, let’s focus on the confidence that David declared in the Lord his God. With the Lord as our light and our guide, who do we need to fear?

Our first song replicates some of the thoughts we find here and in a number of Psalms – God is our strength and refuge.

Song – God is our strength and refuge (MP)

1 God is our strength and refuge,
our present help in trouble,
and we therefore will not fear,
though the earth should change!
Though mountains shake and tremble,
though swirling floods are raging,
God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!

2 There is a flowing river
within God's holy city;
God is in the midst of her-
she shall not be moved!
God's help is swiftly given,
thrones vanish at his presence-
God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!

3 Come, see the works of our maker,
learn of his deeds all-powerful:
wars will cease across the world
when he shatters the spear!
Be still and know your creator,
uplift him in the nations-
God the Lord of hosts is with us evermore!
 

We bring our worship and praise to the Lord because we believe that He alone is worthy. In 2 Samuel 22:4 David said “I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and have been saved from my enemies”. And Rev 5:12 records John’s vision of countless angels in heaven singing with a loud voice “Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honour and glory and praise!”.

Let’s sing:

Song 617 – Worthy, O worthy are you Lord

WORTHY, O WORTHY ARE YOU, LORD,

Worthy to be thanked and praised

And worshipped and adored.

Worthy, O worthy are You, Lord,

Worthy to be thanked and praised

And worshipped and adored.

Singing, Hallelujah, Lamb upon the throne,

We worship and adore You, make Your glory known.

Hallelujah, glory to the King:

You’re more than a conqueror,

You’re Lord of everything.

I trust each one of just wants to come with a thankful heart to worship the Lord today, to say once again “I love You, Lord”. That thought is reflected in our next song -

Song 218: I just want to praise You

I JUST WANT TO PRAISE YOU,

Lift my hands and say: ‘I love You.’

You are everything to me,

And I exalt Your holy name on high.

I just want to praise You,

Lift my hands and say: ‘I love You.’

You are everything to me,

And I exalt Your holy name,

I exalt Your holy name,

I exalt Your holy name on high.

Our next song reflects the whole span of history – from before the world began, right up to the present day, when Christ is with the Father interceding on our behalf and responding to our prayers.

Song 1669 – You’re the Word of God the Father

YOU’RE THE WORD OF GOD THE FATHER,

From before the world began;

Every star and every planet

Has been fashioned by Your hand.

All creation holds together

By the power of Your voice:

Let the skies declare Your glory,

Let the land and seas rejoice!

You’re the Author of creation,

You’re the Lord of every man;

And Your cry of love rings out

Across the lands.

Yet You left the gaze of angels,

Came to seek and save the lost,

And exchanged the joy of heaven

For the anguish of a cross.

With a prayer You fed the hungry,

With a word You stilled the sea;

Yet how silently You suffered

That the guilty may go free.

With a shout You rose victorious,

Wresting victory from the grave,

And ascended into heaven

Leading captives in Your wake.

Now You stand before the Father

Interceding for Your own.

From each tribe and tongue and nation

You are leading sinners home.

Stuart Townend & Keith Getty

Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

Messages by Clare and Jonathan Skipper (speaking from Barcelona)

Clare outlined the work they have been doing in Spain since 2008. Until 2018, their work was with students on university campuses; Jon then took up his current role as Librarian and teacher at the IBSTE Bible College.

They now live nearby in Castelldefels, which is a very pleasant town on the coast south of Barcelona.

Their children are doing well at their respective schools, with Timothy beginning his A-level courses in September.

Clare is heavily involved in teaching English, both at the College and through contacts at the small local church they have recently joined.

Jon then outlined the work of the College. Students come for 4 years to study doctrine, Hebrew, Greek and practical aspects of Christian ministry. His role as librarian is to guide the students in their learning, that they might grow in knowledge and love, and become fully equipped for ministry, rooted in the Word and filled by the Spirit, as they move on to secure jobs.

The college caters for 25 students, with 10 new students starting this September. Please pray for God to guide and bless the work at the college in the coming year

Bible Message

John 1: 14 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

In our increasingly chaotic world, this verse is Good News for us NOW.

God has come to us, just as we are. He came in the flesh, body and soul united to his divine nature – literally the God man. From this verse we can see:

1. God has spoken – He’s the Word, and has made himself known through Jesus.
2. God has come down to us, taking upon himself our human nature.
3. God cares – He sympathises with us. He experienced weaknesses as we do, except for sin. He walked among us, and entered into our experiences, and is therefore able to sympathise with us in the trials we face.
4. He doesn’t just witness our problems, but is able to do something about them – he comes to heal. All his life, death and resurrection are for OUR good.
5. He became human so we could become sons of God, and ultimately be with him.
6. The verse speaks of the perfect nature of God’s character – full of grace and truth.
7. This was public knowledge – “we have seen…” - it was not a secret.

The question for us is “Have we seen his glory?”. The apostle John was completely gripped by Jesus. In the book of Acts, we read how Peter and John, when challenged about proclamation of the good news about Jesus, said “We can’t help but speak of what we have seen and heard”. It really is good news for us to live for, and to speak about to others. Have we seen the wonder of what God did in sending Jesus?

Closing SONG 1239 From the squalor of a borrowed stable

FROM THE SQUALOR OF A BORROWED STABLE,

By the Spirit and a virgin's faith;

To the anguish and the shame of scandal

Came the Saviour of the human race!

But the skies were filled with the praise of heaven,

Shepherds listen as the angels tell

Of the Gift of God come down to man

At the dawning of Immanuel.

King of heaven now the Friend of sinners,

Humble servant in the Father's hands,

Filled with power and the Holy Spirit,

Filled with mercy for the broken man.

Yes, He walked my road and He felt my pain,

Joys and sorrows that I know so well;

Yet His righteous steps give me hope again -

I will follow my Immanuel!

Through the kisses of a friend's betrayal,

He was lifted on a cruel cross;

He was punished for a world's transgressions,

He was suffering to save the lost.

He fights for breath, He fights for me,

Loosing sinners from the claims of hell;

And with a shout our souls are free -

Death defeated by Immanuel!

Now He's standing in the place of honour,

Crowned with glory on the highest throne,

Interceding for His own beloved

Till His Father calls to bring them home!

Then the skies will part as the trumpet sounds

Hope of heaven or the fear of hell;

But the Bride will run to her Lover's arms,

Giving glory to Immanuel!