Lee Street Church

Notes of Meeting for 24^th January 2021

The service was led by Sue Clarke and the Worship Team.

Last week both Ken and Brian spoke about being joyful in difficult circumstances. There are so many uplifting verses in the bible that draw us away from our current circumstances into praising our God and our Saviour. Here are just a couple that I feel give us every reason to bring our praises and thanksgiving to our God!

Psalm 95 v1-5

“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. In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land.”

1 Peter 2 v9-10

“But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.”

Our first song is so well known, so I'd ask that we’d all really look at the words as we’re singing them. It really shows us that our God is everything to us individually, and to us as a church, and a body of His people.

SHOUT FOR JOY AND SING your praises to the King,

Lift your voice and let your hallelujahs ring;

Come before His throne to worship and adore,

Enter joyfully now the presence of the Lord.

You are my Creator, You are my
Deliverer,

You are my Redeemer, You are Lord,

And You are my Healer.

You are my Provider,

You are now my Shepherd and my
Guide,

Isaiah 52 v7-9

“How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices; together they shout for joy. When the Lord returns to Zion, they will see it with their own eyes. Burst into songs of joy together,”

HOW LOVELY ON THE MOUNTAINS are the feet of Him

Who brings good news, good news,

Proclaiming peace, announcing news of happiness,

Our God reigns, our God reigns.

Our God reigns, our God reigns,

Our God reigns, our God reigns.

You watchmen lift your voices joyfully as
one,

Shout for your King, your King.

See eye to eye the Lord restoring Zion:

Your God reigns, your God reigns!

Waste places of Jerusalem break forth with joy,

We are redeemed, redeemed.

The Lord has saved and comforted His people:

Your God reigns, your God reigns!

Ends of the earth, see the salvation of your God,

Jesus is Lord, is Lord.

Before the nations He has bared His holy arm:

Your God reigns, your God reigns!

When considering a topic for today’s service my daily readings and other articles kept taking me to mountains.  This theme also really seemed to tie in with the experiences we’re all going through during this pandemic.

 God had given me this topic before Ken spoke last week, and Brian the week before, so they really confirmed, I felt, that God wanted to continue to encourage us all going forward into this New Year.

Just as the earth isn’t merely a globe of flat land, life has its ups and downs too. Mountains are, of course, a natural elevation of the earth’s surface, but they also represent small and also larger, seemingly insurmountable, obstacles in life.

Life is a series of mountains. Each day brings new experiences. Some days are rife with struggles and some are plentiful in joy. Other days are a mixture of both. I’m sure we can all testify to this in our experiences through last year, and even into the start of this one. Personally, I experienced several highs last year, with going to Australia and having Tommy enter our lives. In between I had work struggles and incredible pain in my knee resulting in many sleepless nights. I’m sure we can all testify to the lows of lockdown, especially this last one, as we’ve not been able to sit or work in our gardens and unable to share coffees with friends and family.

We’ve heard testimony to answers to prayer such as Jacqueline’s back op and Liam’s eye op just to mention a couple; to other ongoing prayer requests where there are struggles- as with Sally and John and Ted and Connie- again just to mention a couple.

God uses imagery of mountains often in His word to describe His power, the high moments of success in life, and obstacles that stand in our way.

Over the course of this service, we shall be using bible verses and songs to, hopefully, inspire us and increase our faith.

I LIFT MY EYES UP to the mountains,

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from You, Maker of
heaven,

Creator of the earth.

O, how I need You, Lord,

You are my only hope;

You’re my only prayer.

So I will wait for You

To come and rescue me,

Come and give me life.

This last year, and this coming year, we have faced and will face some metaphoric mountains. The knowledge/strength gained through climbing and conquering these mountains is what increases our faith and brings us closer to God.

One quote states: “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.” and another: “The best view comes after the hardest climb.”

Anyone who has ever climbed an actual mountain, or even a hill, with a beautiful view at the top, can endorse this.

Climbing to the top of some mountains can be really hard work and take all our energy but, somehow, when we arrive at the top, that feeling seems insignificant and is surpassed by the euphoria at the achievement.

This year, when you face a mountain, remember that God is with you. Also remember, that God supplies all you need to climb that mountain.

Philippians 4 v19

“And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”

2 Corinthians 12 v9-10

 "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”

Our next song reminds us that we should be giving praise whilst we face these metaphorical mountains in our lives; as commanded in God’s word:

Philippians 4 v4-7

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. 

BLESSÈD BE YOUR NAME

In the land that is plentiful,

Where Your streams of abundance flow,

Blessèd be Your name.

And blessèd be Your name

When I'm found in the desert place,

Though I walk through the wilderness,

Blessèd be Your name.

Every blessing You pour out I'll

Turn back to praise.

When the darkness closes in, Lord,

Still I will say:

Blessèd be the name of the Lord,

Blessèd be Your name.

Blessèd be the name of the Lord,

Blessèd be Your glorious name.

Blessèd be Your name

When the sun's shining down on me,

When the world's 'all as it should be',

Blessèd be Your name.

And blessèd be Your name

On the road marked with suffering,

Though there's pain in the offering,

Blessèd be Your name.

You give and take away,

You give and take away.

My heart will choose to say:

Lord, blessèd be Your name.

Matt & Beth Redman

Copyright © 2002 Thankyou Music

When you’re on a mountain top you think of yourself as being closer to God, due to being so far above sea level. Mountains are significant in the Bible. Not only does scripture use them in a physical sense, but scripture also uses mountains in a symbolic and prophetic sense as well.

Mountains are mentioned frequently in the Bible because they dotted the landscape where the stories in the Bible take place. As a result, mountains and hills are mentioned more than 500 times in Scripture.

In the Bible, we read about many people having encounters with God on mountains tops and remarkable things that occurred on mountain tops. Remember how God revealed Himself to Moses. Remember how Noah landed on a mountain top after the flood. Remember how Elijah challenged the false prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel.

One of the most cherished Bible verses about mountains is Isaiah’s prophecy about the Kingdom of Heaven in the latter times.

Isaiah 2 v2-3

“It shall come to pass in the latter days that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established as the highest of the mountains, and shall be lifted up above the hills; and all the nations shall flow to it, and many peoples shall come, and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob, that he may teach us his ways and that we may walk in his paths.”

Mountains are also symbolic in that they represent the quest for knowledge, the pinnacle of achievement, the proverbial goal or journey to something great.

Do you want to climb to the top of the mountain? As Ken said last week we WILL get to the shore, (or in this case the top of the mountain), but God doesn’t promise us it’ll be easy. The journey we are on now is what will transform us. As Christians we need to strive to get to the top, in order to be the people God wants us to be both individually and unitedly.

2 Corinthians 3 v18

“And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit”.

TAKE US TO THE RIVER,

Take us there in unity to sing

A song of Your salvation

To win this generation for our King.

A song of Your forgiveness,

For it is with grace that river flows;

Take us to the river

In the city of our God.

Take us to Your throne room,

Give us ears to hear the cry of heaven;

For that cry is mercy,

Mercy to the fallen sons of man:

For mercy it has triumphed,

Triumphed over judgement by Your blood;

Take us to the throne room

In the city of our God.

For the Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us:

This is the year of the Lord.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon us,

This is the year of the Lord.

Take us to the mountain,

Lift us in the shadow of Your hands;

Is this Your mighty angel,

Who stands astride the ocean and the land?

For in his hand Your mercy

Showers on a dry and barren place;

Take us to the mountain

In the city of our God.

Robin Mark Copyright © 1998 Thankyou Music

Mountains are scenic. Mountains are a destination. Mountains are majestic.

When some religious experiences are called mountain experiences, it is no cliché.

2 Peter 1 v16-18

“We did not follow cleverly invented stories when we told you about the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. For he received honour and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased." We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain”.

My Jesus, my Saviour,

Lord, there is none like You.

All of my days I want to praise

The wonders of Your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,

Tower of refuge and strength,

Let every breath, all that I am,

Never cease to worship You.

Shout to the Lord all the earth, let us sing

Power and majesty, praise to the King.

Mountains bow down

And the seas will roar

At the sound of Your name.

I sing for joy at the work of Your hands.

Forever I’ll love You, forever I’ll stand.

Nothing compares to the

Promise I have in You.

Darlene Zschech.

Copyright © 1993 Darlene Zschech/Hillsongs

YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL beyond description,

Too marvellous for words,

Too wonderful for comprehension,

Like nothing ever seen or heard.

Who can grasp Your infinite wisdom?

Who can fathom the depth of Your love?

You are beautiful beyond description,

Majesty, enthroned above.

And I stand, I stand in awe of You.

I stand, I stand in awe of You.

Holy God, to whom all praise is due,

I stand in awe of You.

The mountains are a wonderful place for solitude. In scripture, we read about how Jesus separated Himself from others and went on a mountain top to be alone with His Father. (Matthew 14 v23)

We should imitate His prayer life. In our daily lives, there is so much “noise”. We have to learn to get alone with God and enjoy Him. When we are alone with Him, we learn to hear His voice and our heart begins to turn from the world and aligns with the heart of Christ.

Mountains are not some magic place where we will automatically experience God. It’s not about the place it’s about the heart. When you decide to go somewhere to be alone with God you are saying, “I want You and nothing else.”

Create your own spiritual mountain today where you live and get alone with the Lord.

BE STILL, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here;

Come bow before Him now with reverence and fear.

In Him no sin is found, we stand on holy ground;

Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy One is here.

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around;

He burns with holy fire, with splendour He is crowned.

How awesome is the sight, our radiant King of light!

Be still, for the glory of the Lord is shining all around.

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place;

He comes to cleanse and heal, to minister His grace.

No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him;

Be still, for the power of the Lord is moving in this place.

We’ve all heard the term “faith that can move mountains”.

What’s the point of praying if we do not believe what we are praying about will come to pass? God wants us to expect wisdom. He wants us to expect His promises when we pray for them. He wants us to expect His provision, protection, and deliverance.

Sometimes we can pray without really having any faith at all. First, we doubt the love of God and then we doubt that God can answer us. Nothing grieves God’s heart more than when His children doubt Him and His love. Scripture teaches us that “Nothing is too hard for the Lord.” A little faith goes a long way.

Sometimes we may struggle with believing God when we have been waiting for a long time, even several years for things to come to pass. Sometimes I think about how little our faith is. Jesus doesn’t say we need much. He reminds us that faith the size of a small mustard seed can overcome those mountainous obstacles that may arise in our life.

Matthew 17 v20

“He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, `Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you”.

God knows when we are going through trials and tribulations. God is greater, stronger, and more powerful than the mountains in your life. No matter how burdensome your mountain might be, trust in the Creator of the world.

Nahum 1 v5

“The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence”.

Psalm 46 v1-3

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging”.

Habakkuk 3 v6

“When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. He is the Eternal One!”

Job 9 v5

“He moves mountains without their knowing it and overturns them in his anger”.  

Luke 3 v5-6

“Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God's salvation”.

Our next song reminds us that when we surrender everything to God and let Him work in our lives, our lights will shine, so that those around us can see God’s salvation, as promised in God’s word.

EVERYONE NEEDS COMPASSION,

Love that’s never failing;

Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,

The kindness of a Saviour;

The hope of nations.

Saviour,

He can move the mountains,

My God is mighty to save,

He is mighty to save.

Forever,

Author of salvation,

He rose and conquered the grave,

Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,

All my fears and failures;

Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow

Everything I believe in;

Now I surrender.

Shine your light

And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory

Of the risen King, Jesus.

Shine your light

And let the whole world see

We’re singing for the glory

Of the risen King.

Reuben Morgan & Ben Fielding

Copyright © 2006 Hillsong Publishing/kingswaysongs.com

Our final song is a prayer, that summarise for me what we need to conquer the mountains, as they arrive, in our lives. It reflects on the commitment we made when we became Christians and goes on to reflect the struggles we face day by day, whilst at the same time outlining the answers we have, in seeking God’s guidance. It finishes with the final line “And then in heaven receive me, my Saviour” - the promise of reaching the top of the mountain.

O JESUS, I HAVE PROMISED

To serve Thee to the end;

Be Thou forever near me,

My Master and my Friend;

I shall not fear the battle

If Thou art by my side,

Nor wander from the pathway

If Thou wilt be my Guide.

O let me feel Thee near me;

The world is ever near;

I see the sights that dazzle,

The tempting sounds I hear;

My foes are ever near me,

Around me and within;

But Jesus, draw Thou nearer,

And shield my soul from sin.

O let me hear Thee speaking

In accents clear and still,

Above the storms of passion,

The murmurs of self-will;

O speak to reassure me,

To hasten, or control;

O speak, and make me listen,

Thou Guardian of my soul.

O Jesus, Thou hast promised

To all who follow Thee

That where Thou art in glory

There shall Thy servants be;

And, Jesus, I have promised

To serve Thee to the end;

O give me grace to follow

My Master and my Friend.

O let me see Thy footmarks,

And in them plant mine own;

My hope to follow duly

Is in Thy strength alone.

O guide me, call me, draw me,

Uphold me to the end;

And then in heaven receive me,

My Saviour and my Friend.