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As many of you know, we have house groups once a month. This has been very helpful for us as a church, as we have seen considerable growth over the last two years, and it has helped us maintain the sense of intimacy and oneness that we have needed at such a time. I look forward to the reports that come into our leaders’ community chat, and I want to share another report with you.
I am aware that whilst we do this and have enjoyed the freedom that it has brought, it is not always right for every church. There are seasons for this kind of thing. We have used house meetings from time to time over the years, and then they stopped; their season was over for the time being. For us, it is right that we do this now, and we are reaping the benefits that it has brought to us. Report: “We chatted for a while and then started with a prayer. I did a short overview of Ephesians. Then spoke about the shield of faith. ‘above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.’ Ephesians 6:16 NKJV We had lots of sharing about things that come from within us and from outside us that can be like fiery darts. We considered the importance of the body of Christ in linking shields of faith to help overcome the things that we struggle with. We then looked at: ‘He stretches out the north over empty space; He hangs the earth on nothing.’ Job 26:7 NKJV Spurgeon said: ‘A Christian should be like a mini universe; our faith should be an unsupported confidence in nothing but the promises of God. Needing nothing to hold it up but the right hand of God our Father.’ We talked of the beyond amazing greatness of our Father. With that, we sat in silence for a while as His presence came and then began to pray. It was a rich time in His presence. Tea and cake to finish. Feeling very blessed.
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On the first Tuesday of the month our church splits into house groups. These house groups have now been running for a year and a half. They have been really encouraging for all of us, and I always look forward to the reports sent each month.
Two particular reports came in this week that I thought could be used as a ‘Thought for the Week’. This is the first one. It is anonymous as the person disclosed some personal details. Report “I shared that I had read in one of my daily reading books recently a part which spoke of facing a brick wall in life but if we looked closely we could see there was a door in the wall. It turned my thoughts to Christ being the door and then to the doors that were personally opened and then closed to me earlier in my life. I shared testimony to a time in my life when my world as I knew it collapsed and the door was closed on what I thought was to be my future. I was devastated. But God opened a new door. Looking back, I can see His hand in it all as He gave me a different but blessed life. One of our ladies then also shared an event from her life which was similar. She spoke of how God had sustained her through it all. I shared some verses which speak of Christ being the door for the sheep. “so he explained it to them: “I tell you the truth, I am the gate for the sheep.” John 10:7 NLT “Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends.” Revelation 3:20 NLT Another then reminded us of the verses from Revelation 3 v 7-8 which she had read that morning. “‘To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no-one can shut, and what he shuts no-one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no-one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Revelation 3:7-8 NIVUK We then had a lovely time of prayer for situations in our lives while also giving thanks for all God was doing amongst us. We are very grateful to God for the trust that is growing amongst us as we meet together.” What a lovely report. All these lovely verses about doors remind me of a verse that is burning in my heart for our work here in Cumbernauld. “There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.” 1 Corinthians 16:9 NLT Praise God for the One who has opened the door to a rich and wonderful eternal life, and now opens doors of opportunity to bring others to Himself. You look like you… but something deeper lives within.
MESSAGE: From the outside, nothing seems different. Same face. Same voice. Same life. But salvation was never meant to be cosmetic - it’s transformational. The moment you surrendered to Jesus Christ, something supernatural happened: your old life was crucified, and His life began in you. Galatians 2:20 isn’t poetic language - it’s spiritual reality. “No longer I who live, but Christ lives in me.” This means your identity is no longer rooted in your past, your failures, or even your natural strength. Christ is now your source - your thoughts, your desires, and your direction. The struggle many face today is this: looking transformed… but still living from the old self. But when you truly understand who lives in you, everything changes. You don’t strive - you surrender. You don't need a new version of you, all you actually need is to live from from Him. God still speaks, will you let Him live through you today? You can make this declaration that ‘Christ lives in me’. His life is my life and His power works through me. Hallelujah! The Son of Righteousness has risen from the dead. In so doing, He defeated death, hell, the grave and all unrighteousness. All that is ugly, wicked, lustful, envious, jealous, and cruel, He has overcome on the Cross.
Now He has risen with healing in His wings, we can be healed as we come to the risen Christ. Whether we bring our physical needs or spiritual wounds, we can be healed. All the emotional wounds, fears and anxieties we have carried through life can be lifted as we come to Him: “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 NLT All the ugliness, wickedness, lust, envy, jealousy and cruelty that He overcame on the Cross can be broken in our lives. They lose their hold over us and we can learn to be: ‘More than conquerors through him that loved us.’ Romans 8L37 KJV He can protect us from all our enemies. He will be a shield from all our fears. ‘He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust.’ Psalm 91:4 KJV All we need to do is show reverence and respect for the name of the Lord, and the Son of Righteousness will hover over us, bringing us health and wholeness in Himself. Look up beyond yourself. See the great, almighty One who has conquered death on our behalf. He has risen with healing for you and me. All we need to do is look up, believe, receive, and accept it. Then we shall go forth, no longer in the spirit of fear and timidity but as calves set free from the stall. ‘And you shall go forth and gambol like calves (released) from the stall and leap for joy.’ Malachi 4:2 AMPC This beautiful passage from Proverbs invites us into a deep, secure relationship with God. It speaks of a trust that goes beyond our own limited understanding and fears. It encourages a wholehearted reliance on God’s guidance and wisdom in every aspect of our lives.
In the original Hebrew, batach means “to trust,” “to be confident”, “to speed toward a place of safety’, or “to feel secure”. When we ‘batach’ in God, we are not merely trusting, we are actively moving into His shelter with the assurance that He will protect us. This trust is rooted in His faithfulness and love, which leads to peace and feeling secure. To batach in the Lord with "all your heart" means leaving no corner of your life closed off. We often stay 'closed off' to God because we are afraid that if we show our true selves to Him, we will be rejected. But the Hebrew concept of Batach invites us into a different reality. It tells us that we don't have to protect ourselves from God; rather, He is our protection. Batach is also the "Yes" that gives God permission to lead. This verse concludes an exciting passage describing an encounter that two disciples had with Jesus on the day of His resurrection. These disciples met Jesus on the road. It wasn’t a casual meeting. It was a meeting where the reality of Christ’s saving work on the cross and His glorious resurrection was made known to them personally – they were saved that day!
Each of us is on a journey which is unique and individual. No one travels exactly the same path. God has designed and created each day; He knows its end and its beginning for each one of us. Since our birth He has seen every step and every mile travelled. For every human this has been unique in time and place, yet God sees and knows each one of us in this detail. Despite the individual and unique aspects of the road we travel through life, for Christians there is one place where all have reached. A moment of commonality: a junction on the road where every one who belongs to Jesus has reached. The verse above describes two followers of Jesus reaching this place, moment and junction. This place, moment and junction is the breaking of the bread – the cross. On the cross at Calvary, Jesus took the penalty for every sin. The punishment destined to fall on our shoulders, for every wrong we have done, was laid on the body of Christ: He was broken for us. In that place of brokenness He is known to us. We connect with Him there in an eternal union of friendship, love and mercy. Suddenly, in the breaking of the bread, Christ was made known to these disciples. Understanding of the significance of Christ’s broken body flooded their minds and, with that understanding, came joy unspeakable and full of glory. Rushing back to their friends, they told what had happened on the road. They testified to their encounter with Jesus. Have you met with Jesus on the road? Have you experienced Him opening the scriptures to you? Have you known Him in the breaking of the bread? Then go – tell what has happened. Tell of the wonderful beauty of Christ which has been revealed to you. Tell of the breaking of the bread – how His body broken has changed your life forever. Then others may find their way to this same place, moment and junction. These beautiful words describe what Christ came to do. He opened our eyes to understand what has been kept secret from the foundation of the world?
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1 KJV And “The LORD possessed me (Christ) in the beginning of his way, Before his works of old.” Proverbs 8:22 KJV In the beginning in more beautiful detail: “I [Christ] was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was. When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth: while as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world. When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth: when he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep: when he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:” Proverbs 8:23-29 KJV Christ was with the Father from before the beginning of time. He was there at the creation of all things. “All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.” John 1:3 KJV The Father and the Son had a perfect and beautiful relationship. “Then I [Christ] was by him, as one brought up with him: And I was daily his delight, Rejoicing always before him; Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; And my delights were with the sons of men.” Proverbs 8:30-31 KJV The Father asked the Son to leave the glory and come to rescue the sons of men in whom He delighted. “Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Isaiah 6:8 KJV And the Son responded. He became the Light of the world. “And the light shineth in darkness”. John 1:5 KJV Christ had the approval of the Father. “and lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” Matthew 3:17 KJV But man didn’t understand Him. “and the darkness comprehended it not.” John 1:5 KJV They didn’t know Him or receive Him. “He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not. He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:10-11 KJV And they sought to kill this wonderful Man. “Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.” Matthew 12:14 KJV He became the ultimate sacrifice for sin. A plan that had been made from before the beginning. “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” Revelation 13:8 KJV “And they crucified him”. Matthew 27:35 KJV Despite appearances, God’s plan was outworked. We know He was crucified by the Jews. He was buried and rose again. “Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; and that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4 KJV We know this because of the number of people who saw Him after He had died. “and that he [Christ] was seen of Cephas (Peter), then of the twelve: after that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. After that, he was seen of James; then of all the apostles. And last of all he was seen of me (Paul)also, as of one born out of due time.” 1 Corinthians 15:5-8 KJV Men were profoundly affected by His life, death and resurrection “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:12-13 KJV And now because Christ came in the form of a man we can understand the Father’s love and we can receive Him. We have seen His glory, something that could never have happened unless He came. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” John 1:14 KJV Men’s lives have been transformed because of His death and resurrection. We also have a story to tell. We too have met with Christ and are being changed. Our sins have been forgiven and we are experiencing His transforming work in our hearts and lives. “But we all … are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 3:18 KJV This is what Easter means to the true believer. The transformation in our lives is incredible. It goes to the very roots of who we are. Whatever part of the journey you are on today, remember you are a work in progress. If you continue to follow, He will complete His work in our hearts. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,” Jude 1:24 KJV A very Happy Easter to all who love and follow Christ and an invitation to those who would follow. It’s worth it! Easter is a core part of Christianity’s commemoration because it is a period during which we remember the death, resurrection, and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus’ death was a death of choice; He loved us to the extent that He willingly gave His life in place of ours (John 3 vs 16). He paid the ultimate price to set us free from the penalty of sin, guilt, and shame. The Bible says, “The soul who sins shall die.” (Ezekiel 18 vs 20a); but thanks to Jesus Christ who died in our place. He took responsibility for carrying the cross because only He was qualified to do so. He was without sin and laid down His life on the cross even when He had the power to destroy all His accusers or simply put them to sleep and walk away. He did this to reconcile humanity to God. He was buried, and on the third day He rose from the grave (hallelujah!), signifying His triumph over death. He ascended to heaven and now sits at the right hand of God. He promised to come back and take us to His Father in heaven, and all Christians should look forward to His second coming! Our responsibility is to: • First, believe that Jesus is the Son of God and accept that He died for our sin; decide to turn away from our sins and ask for His forgiveness (this makes us born again) — 1 John 1 vs 9. • Our other responsibilities are to keep away from things that lead us to sin. Do not watch TV programs or read books that will lead you to lust. It is okay to separate yourself from old friends who will lead you away from the faith. It is our responsibility to study the Bible, attend faith meetings, etc. These are the things that will show Him that we value His death. Remember, Jesus has taken care of His responsibilities by His crucifixion and death of choice, and it is our duty to fulfil our responsibilities through the help of the Holy Spirit. Happy Easter!! The quality of loyalty is one I am sure we all find very appealing. Having friends, family, or colleagues who truly support you in tough times makes them worth their weight in gold. It’s such a joy to have people in your life that you can rely on, whatever may happen.
The verse for today is the response from Jonathan’s armour-bearer to Jonathan’s words, which refer to his plan to attack the Philistine enemies surrounding them: “Let’s go across to the outpost of those pagans,” Jonathan said to his armor bearer. “Perhaps the Lord will help us, for nothing can hinder the Lord. He can win a battle whether he has many warriors or only a few!" 1 Samuel 14:6 NLT I believe Jonathan’s armour-bearer sensed the divine inspiration behind Jonathan’s words. Although Jonathan did not declare victory but simply acknowledged that God could grant it if He chose, that was enough for the armour-bearer to say, ‘I’m with you.’ Recently, one of our church members was inspired to start a regular prayer meeting to pray for our church leadership. It has been warmly received; some join in person, while others pray from their homes. It’s a lovely reminder that those on the frontline of the fight need our loyalty and prayers, and it underscores the loyalty we are called to have to one another. Let us be like the armour-bearer who trusted in the anointing of the one leading him into battle. Let’s set aside our own opinions and plans, and with eyes fixed on Christ, stand firm together in purpose and unity, remaining unwavering in our loyalty to God’s call. For this is the place where blessings flow and the lost are reached. Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples." John 13:35 NLT. Dear friends, in the coming week let us love and support one another so we may stand strong together and bring pleasure to our Lord and Saviour. Let us not be distracted or divided, but stand shoulder to shoulder with a shared vision. May love for God and one another be our driving force as we move forward for His glory. Since its inception, from time to time the church has experienced persecution to the extent of near extinction, only to be followed by periods of revival, repairing, rebuilding and restoration. In this present day in our part of the church we are experiencing a season of blessing, the ingathering of lives across the generations. Older and younger are coming to find Christ in a new and deeper way. We’ve been blessed to be part of God’s great plan in restoring, rebuilding and repairing the church in our country and God continues to work among us.
In this verse from Isaiah God speaks to his people telling them that they will raise up the foundations of many generations. God is speaking these same words to us today – we are to raise up the foundations of many generations. What is this foundation? Surely it is Christ Himself. We are to call the young and old alike to build on the great solid foundation of living life in Jesus. There is no greater place of safety; on that foundation people are healed of deep emotional turmoil, delivered from sinful habits that have to that point lasted a lifetime, family relationships can become harmonious, and most of all there is the presence of the one who restores. In the verse above Isaiah puts it this way: ancient ruins are rebuilt, breaches are repaired and streets are restored. Generations shall rise and call Him blessed. Whichever generation you fall into, find your place of restoration and repair in Him. Psalm 90 renders this thought beautifully in a prayer attributed to Moses: ‘Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations’ (Psalm 90:1) |
