We review episodes 1 & 2 of Things That Make You Go Mmmm where we looked at Rewards & Riches and Insightful Imagery, and then look at a group and an individual who are Named & Shamed by Jesus Himself! As we look at these themes in the letters to the churches we can learn about what God wants for us and how we can live fully for Him.
We’ve seen in the letters to the churches the opportunity for great eternal rewards for those who conquer and are faithful to the end. The question is how do we conquer? As we explore this we’ll see the scriptures have great insights for us in what it means to conquer and be victorious in Christ
In this important time of re-gathering we mustn’t forget that it’s also a vital time of in-gathering. In Part 2 of this mini-series we look at the way Jesus called His disciples to come and follow Him, so that He could transform them into “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-20) and we consider some of the implications for us. He calls us to come to Him as we are, where we are and with what we’ve got – so He can send us out with His invitations of rest, strength, life, courage and blessing to many others.
In this second episode, we look at how we can interpret the rich imagery that we find in the first 3 chapters of John’s Revelation.
On several occasions in the Gospels we read that Jesus invited people to “COME TO ME”. Some were weary and burdened, others needed strengthening and still others were longing to step out in boldness and bravery. And on every occasion Jesus met their needs. As we look at these occasions together, we know that Jesus will once again invite us to draw near to Him and as we do He will.
The continual refrain of Christ in His letters to the churches, is “I know”. He knew each church and its members intimately. Not as one who had simply left them behind as He returned to the Father. The letters of Revelation are personal and passionate correspondence from Jesus to those whom He loved dearly. As we consider what He knows of each church, much of what Jesus says will resonate with each of us in different ways. This is because He knows us intimately as well – our passions, desires, plans, struggles and weaknesses. He came not only to understand us, but to fill us with His very own fulness and empower us. He knows the beautiful design God has for each of us, and has sent His Spirit to repair and restore, shape and to set us back on track.
Roger is is based at All Nations Church in Cardiff and his teaching ministry equips churches in the UK and overseas. He is the author of several books including The Elijah People, Discovering God and The Masterplan. Roger is married to Dianne and they have two grown-up children.
As we come to the table, let’s remind ourselves of the outrageous act of love God performed for us, but also looking forward to what things will be like in the Kingdom when He returns. God doesn’t see us for who we were but who he’s called us to be.
We look again at how Jesus taught us to pray. Let’s consider again what we can learn about talking with our Heavenly Father.
When Jesus sends his letters to the churches in revelation he is challenging them, encouraging them but in it all wants them to be all that he has created them to be. To represent him well and for them to experience the life he has for them. The question is at the moment what letter is Jesus writing to us? What is God saying to you in this next season to encourage and challenge you but ultimately to lead you to Him and the life He has for you.
Jesus’s letters to the seven churches (Revelation 2-3) demonstrate just how much He loves His Church, and how deeply concerned He is to ensure that each one represents Him faithfully. And in the very first letter – to Ephesus – we discover how Jesus evaluates or ‘measures’ things! To our great shock we find that this famous church had “abandoned its first love”, with terrible consequences. What is the Spirit saying to us, in our own time and context, two thousand years later?…
As we start a new teaching series called Red Letter Days, from Jesus’ letters to the churches in the book of Revelation, we begin with a whistle-stop tour of each church to see the defining characteristic Jesus requires of them and how this matches an aspect of His own nature.
As we break bread, we’re reminded that we can know and experience joy as we share in this amazing covenant meal.
We look back over our time in the book of Numbers and consider what God has been speaking to us around: His plan and purpose for us, His process of purification in us, and His perfect provision for us. We look at how this propels us forward together with strength in numbers!
God has given us all we need to thrive in life. It’s not all happy rainbows and warm hugs, though. There are baddies and boundaries around us which we need to know how to deal with in order to live in the fulness of all God has for us. We can learn a thing or two from what God says in Numbers 33 just before His people entered the Promised Land.
As we come towards the end of our series on Numbers, Stephen shares from Numbers 33 about how we are on a journey, and God is with us! Even during difficult stages of the journey there is a provision and refreshing for us. God wants to fill every aspect of our lives whilst we are on this journey, and despite set backs and, sometimes, failures, we are called to press on and finish the race.
In Numbers 27, tantalisingly close to the Promised Land, we’re introduced to five sisters whose story has much to say to us about the characteristics of those who pursue and possess the promises of God. Step up Generation Faith!
In Numbers 27 we read of the instruction that God gave to Moses at the end of his life. We will be looking at how Moses responded to this instruction and what this teaches us about Moses’s character, about God’s faithfulness and the view that we can enjoy as we look out over God’s covenant promise to us.
This Sunday, as we look at Numbers 25, we’re going to discover the connection and correlation between danger, anger and zeal!
We turn to Numbers 22-24 and read from the prophecy of Balaam the glory and wonder of the church of Jesus Christ…that’s US!
In Numbers 20 and Exodus 17 we find two similar, yet distinct incidents, at the beginning and toward the end of Israel’s wanderings in the desert. Both mark periods of testing, for God and for Israel, and become future reference points in the Scriptures, which demonstrate the dangers of testing God to prove Himself to us, and the reason why God allows us to go through periods of testing. As His workmanship, God is not shaping our circumstances to suit us, but shaping us to suit His purposes. He will sometimes allow us to be tested beyond our limits, so that we rely solely upon the fresh living water, from Jesus, our Spiritual Rock. Water that tastes as sweet at honey! (Ps 81.16)
In the old Testament we read of the Israelites who receive water that gives them life from a rock. In the new Testament Paul tells us that, that rock travelled with them on their journey and that rock was a spiritual rock, and that Rock was Christ! We will look together at the abundance of life in The Rock, poured out for everyone.
In the last part of our New Year trilogy, we see that when Jesus ascended on high and poured out His Spirit He was empowering His church for its mission (Acts 1:4-8): proclaiming and demonstrating the good news of the Kingdom everywhere – and so completing what Jesus had started and preparing the way for His second coming! And we discover that the opening chapters of Acts show us in simple, practical ways what this looks like and how we can all play our part. Great strength and success this year will come from knowing Jesus is Unchangeable, His Kingdom is Unshakeable and His Mission is Unstoppable!…
In the second part of our New Year trilogy, we discover that Jesus is not only “the same, yesterday, today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8) but is also enthroned as Head over “a Kingdom that is unshakeable” (Hebrews 12:28). The Unchanging Person came into our world bringing the good news of an Unshakeable Kingdom! This everlasting, ever-growing Kingdom is God’s total answer to mankind’s total need, and is the new home of every follower of Jesus…
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