Wrestling in the arena of life!

Readings & Notes from 2nd August 2020 

Galatians 5:13-26 

[13]  You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love. [14] For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.” [15] If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other. [16] So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. [17] For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever you want. [18] But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. [19] The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; [20] idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions [21] and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. 

2 Peter 1:1-15

 [2Pe 1:1] Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Saviour Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: [2] Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. [3] His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. [5] For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. [10] Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. For if you do these things, you will never stumble, [11] and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. [12] So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. [13] I think it is right to refresh your memory as long as I live in the tent of this body, [14] because I know that I will soon put it aside, as our Lord Jesus Christ has made clear to me. [15] And I will make every effort to see that after my departure you will always be able to remember these things.

 Genesis 32:22-32

 [22] That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. [23] After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. [24] So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. [25] When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. [26] Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” [27] The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. [28] Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” [29] Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. [30] So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” [31] The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. [32] Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon attached to the socket of the hip, because the socket of Jacob's hip was touched near the tendon. 

Talk 

Wrestling in the Arena of Life 

- Genesis 32:22-31

 Introduction

 Jacob's night of wrestling may not be the easiest concept especially when we consider that the one he is wrestling with (who?) can't overpower him! If you follow the Scripture Union readings then, as you know, we read this last Wednesday and might have a few ideas. 

The first thing I want to do is put some verses from Romans into our thoughts which we have seen before and not least last Sunday, 

Romans 8:26-39, and the opening bit today

[26]  In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. [27] And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God's people in accordance with the will of God. Paul wrote this 2000 years after Jacob but it is close to what was happening and may help us understand it better.

 1. Running

Jacob is Abraham's grandson and twin of Esau who was the elder twin.

 In the schemes of family life, Esau sold his birth right and lost his blessing because mother Rebecka helped Jacob deceive his father Isaac. He then fled to his relative's home on the advice of mother to find a wife - he got two, he was conned by Uncle Laban and the process two mistresses. Through the four women he now has 11 sons and one daughter! He has yet to have his 12th son, Joseph who will help land the whole family in Egypt for 400 or so years. At this point Jacob is fleeing from Laban because life has gone a little sour with ongoing changes to working conditions and complaints about Jacob and his rearing techniques! He went, Laban caught up, not happy, and they parted amicably because of plain talk and an agreement. Where was he heading, back to his home country and is about to meet and have to face Esau who when he left, some twenty years earlier, was breathing death threats. As he fled from home to Laban, he had his first encounter with God (Genesis 28:10ff) who reaffirmed the covenant he made with Abraham and had ratified it with Isaac and Jacobs response was positive. 

Just before our passage (32:1) he encounters angels and then sends the family ahead with all his flocks and a host of gifts for Esau - placation offerings? 

2. Wrestling 

So, what is he wrestling with? I think we can see - the complexities of life and the promises of God. Do they clash? Maybe, but perhaps better to say they intertwine. 

It becomes clear that he is wrestling with God, he gets a blessing from him, but he is also wrestling with himself and his life - past and, about to come! The question is, 'why can't God overpower him?' He is all powerful. Perhaps he didn't want to! I found this part of Wednesday's notes helpful: It is interesting that the name ‘Israel’, which God gave to Jacob and then became the name of the nation, means ‘he struggles with God’. Does this indicate that God approves of us wrestling and struggling with him? Physically, the more a muscle is exercised, the stronger it becomes. Is this passage a challenge to exercise our spiritual muscles by wrestling with God? Our trust in God is often a tension between what we know about God, and the questions and unresolved issues which we are struggling to understand. This can be painful, as Jacob discovered – but perhaps this story gives us hope. (Esther Bailey writing for SU) 

The other writer, Andy Bathgate said this, again, helpful 

Our experiences may not approach this level of drama, but similar principles apply. God needs to bring us to a place where desire for him eclipses every other; where we long for his work in our lives, knowing there is no one else and nowhere else to turn. 

I think, again, all this resonates with Romans 8:26-27, and, going back again to the Lord's prayer - Your will be done . . . 

I also note - What God doesn't do is force Himself or His will on us. Jacob encountered God, was blessed by him and started changing and as the account continues, we start to see a different man but he is not perfect and shows his old ways a bit as well. I think many of us may be thinking, as we consider Jacob, I can relate to this. We may be running, looking, frightened (he was of his brother Esau), saddened by aspects of life etc. God was at work, and we start to see that, oh, and he still is with you and me and we have other material we can take heart from and be challenged by. 

3. Realising - 

Galatians 5:13-26 

We turn to Paul who, in writing about living life in the Spirt - a holy life, mentions a whole load of thigs that belong to the 'desires of the flesh' that we leave behind to walk in the Spirit [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, [23] gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. [24] Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. [25] Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. [26] Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other. First, note - fruit not fruits! There is only one fruit of the Spirit which is . . . . And in context', saying we have crucified the flesh and keep in step with the Spirit which means a life that looks like Jesus and is kingdom living. When I look into of myself, I see a lot I really don't like! This is not self-deprecation but realising reality! Being a minister doesn't make it easier, maybe, harder! So, I find a constant wrestle in prayer because I want to keep in step with the Spirit! You may feel similar to that. 

Paul gives us a light though: Romans 7:15-21 [15] I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. [16] And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. [17] As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. [18] For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. [19] For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing. [20] Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. [21] So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. 

Hence, in Romans 8 and here in Galatians 5 Paul is saying we should not walk in the way of our desires but of those of the Spirit - wrestling and seeking and praying deep within, in the power of the Spirit. A lifelong job! 

4. Reaffirming - 2 Peter 1:15

 I think Peter is saying 'keep at it, keep going, keep wrestling' - bit the same as Paul! Let’s reaffirm two things. 

1. It is a gift from God to walk in his ways because we have responded to his call - Jacob was doing that! [3] His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. [4] Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. The emphasis is on what we have from God to enable us. It is what Paul says but from a different perspective.

 2. Because is a gift of God, that is why we keep at it [5] For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; [6] and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; [7] and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. 

3. This constant reaffirmation of the outworking of our call and commitment produces fruit [8] For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. [9] But whoever does not have them is near-sighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins. This is not being 'holier than thou' / pious / self-righteous or the like but holy to share the nature of God. 

Conclusion 

I am going to finish by quoting just one verse from Jesus, John 15:5 [5] “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. 

Biblically, the vine is the people of God who flow from the promise to Abram, Isaac and Jacob - a people that can't be counted. 

The children of Israel who went into Egypt were 12.

 Thousands came out 400 + years later and three and a half thousand years or so later, flowing through and from the cross, millions who confess Jesus is Lord and Saviour. 

A massive vine trailing, right round the world. It, the vine, the people of God, the Church, struggles with all sort of problems: divisions / hardships / persecution / arguing and so many more things. Oh, and if you look at Jacob's children before and as they end up in Egypt, what do you see? 

Similar things. They wrestled with all sorts. We wrestle with all sorts but need to keep deeply into Jesus and bear fruit, fruit that endures allowing him to prune the dead and unproductive bit o more fruit is born in us - individually and corporately; locally and worldwide.

Roof Raising Rhetoric - Matthew 11:16-30

Matthew 11:16-30

 [16] “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: [17] “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.” [20] Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you.” [25] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. [27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

 Talk

 Roof Raising Rhetoric 

Matthew 11:16-30 Introduction 

Title = Straight, strong and convincing talk - but mine is 3 R's! 

    There is a tendency by us and others to have Jesus fit our understanding and preconceived ideas of who he is and what he is like and that doesn't really work well. When we look and listen, we must hold in our thinking the he is the eternal son of God, Lord, creator, saviour and king of eternity - and of course a friend we are on first name terms with - Jesus!

 1. Reflection on society - vv 16-19 [16] “To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: [17] “ ‘We played the pipe for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.' [18] For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.' [19] The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.' But wisdom is proved right by her deeds.”

            In this case the critics of the message of the Kingdom first spoken of by John The Baptist and now being taught more fully and comprehensively by Jesus. He says they are like children in a playground and setting up a 'loose, loose, can't get it right and please' scenario. The music is bright, you won't dance. The tune is sombre and you won't mourn. - no winning. 

John the Baptist had a frugal lifestyle and he was deemed as demonic; Jesus goes and joins in feasts and banquets and is called a glutton and drunkard. - no winning / no pleasing some, at least. 

Has anything changed? 

If and when people are against the good news of Jesus and the kingdom there is nothing you can say and do that will get you / us anywhere. 

They'll knock the church / Christians / the bible etc with anything that's disparaging and usually far from the truth. Fault finding rather than truth seeking! I am sure you have come across it and in the next section we see it from another angle altogether. 

2. Rough on the locals - vv 20-24 [20] Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. [21] “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. [22] But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. [23] And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. [24] But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you. 

           I note that this section is not included in the cycle of readings, only what comes before and after - the compilers don't want you thinking about tough words from Jesus on a Sunday morning - well, we are going to! 

            Jesus said it and it is important on 2 counts: 

            • Jesus calls people to repent and follow him and that those who reject are under condemnation - Romans 8:1 states the reverse Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, And the passage goes on to say how we are being changed as we live in the sovereignty of God and the Holy Spirit who adopts us a his children.

                  • It is good for us to remember when people don't want to hear or know about Jesus that he was rejected too and actually by some of those who were the closest to him. He lived in Capernaum for a time and had healed people - they had known the power, presence and love of God but even then didn't want to know! We looked at Jesus prayer in John 17 a few weeks ago, I go back to v 14: I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. And a little earlier the same evening there in the upper room on the night before the cross John 15:19: If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. I also recall that the three parables of Luke 15 - lost coin / sheep / son were told because his critics (Pharisees and teachers of the law) accused him of eating with eating with tax collectors and sinners! 

                  Jesus can speak a little bit 'rough and tough' - so let's get away from 'gentle Jesus meek and mild' because he isn't in the way we often use those words!

Back to these verses and what he says about the places where he has been ministering and that his words are uncomfortable, we can also remember that love and justice are two sides of the coin which reflects the image of God. 

Finally on this section: when it came to the cross Jesus bore in his body, once and for all, our sin so we can be called to repentance and faith, receive purification from sin and be deemed righteous and therefore able to enter the presence of God now and in eternity. 

          3. Revelation to his followers - vv 25-26 [25] At that time Jesus said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. [26] Yes, Father, for this is what you were pleased to do. It follows on and brings us to something that I think we'll be looking at next week from another angle and of course the phrase 'little children' are those who humble themselves, whatever their background, and listen to and receive Jesus. 

The Pharisees and teachers of the law thought they knew it all and that only they got it 'really right' - Jesus begs to differ and is on and continuing on his disciple training course. We saw last week in Acts 4:13 that when Peter and John were cross examined after the healing of the lame man by these self-same critics and opponents of Jesus When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus. Jesus did a good job and do you know what? He still does! 

4. Reality of the Father and the Son- v 27 [27] “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. Again, it follows on and these words are a bold declaration but fully in accord with the message of Jesus in the Gospels. I go back again to the upper room and to another passage we looked at a while back, John 14:6: [6] Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. [7] If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” No wonder so many people wriggle and squirm and will throw out anything to discredit all things Christian because once you start to acknowledge statements like this to be true, well, atheism, agnosticism, cynicism start to collapse and fall apart.

5. Refreshment for life and service - vv 28-30 [28] “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I haven't said this for a bit but now seems a good time to do so as it is all through this passage and that is that so much, if not all, of what Jesus says centres on him and the Father through him! Come to me . . . And I will . . . . 7 occurrences of I / me / my in just 3 verses! 

Next, I wonder how these verses are seen. Is Jesus saying - when everything is bad and falling apart come to me and I give you some rest? I certainly think that is all part of it but not all of it. 

The 'more' is that this is a general invitation to all in all circumstances and like all that Jesus says it is about our starting and ongoing relationship with him. He seems to be saying with me you'll be in a better state all round and we'll keep tweaking it when it goes out of shape! 

Observe the following: • The world and life without Jesus is wearying and we get loaded with a lot of unnecessary baggage - burdens. • At the heart Jesus says learn from me, take on who I am and what I give for life, caring and service in the Kingdom then we receive not just rest, but rest and refreshment so we can continue. • Then there is the phrase by which I suggest we get misled - I am gentle and humble in heart. The word for gentle is that which was used for an animal that had been tamed and with reference to humble, Jesus humbles himself - see Philippians 2:5-11.

In his book 'Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe' C S Lewis casts Jesus as the lion called Aslan. When asked by Lucy if he is safe she gets the answer, “Safe?” said Mr. Beaver; “don’t you hear what Mrs. Beaver tells you? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” Jesus is the King and he is all loving but as we saw earlier not to be trifled with.

• Then we have the other part about Jesus' yoke and his burden. If you have your bible look at v 30 - easy and light - now that sounds good, we can just chill. No! • Remember what a yoke is. It is used to carry whatever and go round you neck and shoulders. Jesus the carpenter says it is well fitting. It won’t rub and cause sores and blisters it's carved and moulded to fit. Light means well balanced. Not 5kg and 10kg but 7.5kg on each side! 

Boats, planes, ships and lots of other things have to be well balanced or they sink, crash or wear out. Even car wheels are balanced to maximize tyre wear! 

• Jesus 'burden' is that of the good news about him and the Kingdom with focal point at the cross and resurrection. Then, with all our other cares / anxieties / burdens whatever, we listen to Peter's encouragement: 1 Peter 5:6-7 [6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. 

[7] Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Then, in response to the invitation from Jesus we follow and keep on following him: your kingdom come, your will be done . . . . Conclusion No messing with Jesus. He's the best friend we can have and so much more. Many have been using this time of lockdown, and now by many of us more reserved freedom, as a time to get closer to Jesus and understand a bit better all we are when we are in him and our prayer is that we continue in that. Trusting, following, receiving at the gracious and loving hand of our Heavenly Father. Refreshed and renewed to continue from where we are to wherever we end up through it all. He sustains - bread / water / vine / light / good shepherd etc. And we shall conclude our time this morning reflecting on John 15:1-17 - below

Sunday 10th May 2020 Virtual Worship

Good evening my friends, here are the readings for tomorrow virtual worship,  Sunday 10th May 2020

Psalm 100:1-5
Psalm 30:1-12
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Revelation 21:1-7
John 14:1-10

See you tomorrow! 

Morning all!

Monday 27/04/20

Morning all, it's a lovely new day today in Civray, south of Poitiers in France and we praise the Lord for it! 

I hope you managed to watch the Worship on line yesterday morning. We enjoyed it very much and it felt as if we were all together as the children of God exalting His holy name. 

There was no technical problems either phew!

 If you have missed it, these were the readings followed by Steven's notes.

Psalm 98:1-9 Psalm 116:1-19 Luke 24:13-35 Acts 2:36-42 

1 Peter 2:1-9

The Beginning of the New Era of the last Days
Acts 2:36-42

Introduction

I have chosen to look at the Acts reading this week because herein we see what is effectively the birth of the Christian Church and the advent of the Kingdom of God breaking in and reaching out to all nations.
Possible only because of: Passion / Resurrection / outpouring of the Holy Spirit
This passage is part of public declaration of the good news of the Kingdom and brings us to the first part of the responses to it.

Currently church is functioning in a different mode and beyond the lockdown, as with many other things, we may find ourselves making changes - who knows?
Going back to day 1 and just beyond, takes us to a very different place and not one we can go back to, but, we see principles that are still relevant and of which we need frequent and good reminders, so, under each of my 5 headings. I am going to list 5 reminders!

1. What God Did - v 36

"Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah."
1st reminder - God has to be in what we do and say and we should allow His voice to be heard through 'us'.
Lord and Messiah - the truth but highly subversive in the then political setting and for the next 250 + years
Caesar - was solely lord in the Roman Empire and later would be worshipped as such
Messiah - another king - see above and remember at the trial of Jesus 'we have no king but Caesar'
Today the message of Jesus, if not subversive, is certainly a serious challenge to people's allegiances: is Jesus King in our lives? To call Him Lord, biblically, is declaring Him to share the divinity of God!

2. What the People asked - v 37

When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?"
2nd reminder - we need to be drawing a response from people, not provoking but drawing a response. Too many will either stay where they are or go with the flow.

I think it was the revivalist preacher 'George Whitfield' who asked, after his evangelist students returned from preaching assignments, something like 'Were any converted? - did any react against you?'
If they answered 'no' to both questions then he told them they hadn't preached the gospel!
We are called to be catalysts - people, who in the name of Jesus, bring forth responses from others!
So, they asked what they should do!

3. What Peter told them - v 38-39

"Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. 39 The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off-for all whom the Lord our God will call."
3rd reminder - we need to guide people clearly. I think at times we soften matters too much.

Peter mentions three things to glance at

1. Repent for forgiveness of sin which comes in the name of Jesus and of course through what he did on the cross
2. Be baptised - a sign of belonging and identifying with Jesus and what he did on the cross and through resurrection - so, in baptism we die to sin and self going into the water, and rise to new life as we come up and out.
3. Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who:
a. is God's mark of ownership on us,
b. the one through whom we are adopted as God's children
c. brings the presence of Jesus to us
d. enables us to be the people we are called to be in Christ

There are scriptures behind all of those and if you would like them so you can think more about that, then please email me.

4. What Peter warned them - v 40

With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."

Peter's sermon wasn't short or quite as we have in Acts 2!

4th reminder - we all need to be realistic about society in general and the world at large. We need to see what is good and wholesome but we must also see what is bad, corrupt and down right evil.

5. What happened - vv 41-42

Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.
They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

5th reminder - when God is at work through his people, lives and ministry should be changing as we go along.

The first part reminds us of the huge response on the day of Pentecost - a massive start to the new era of the Kingdom.
The second, reminds us it isn't just about 'bottoms on pews' as the saying goes.
There was an 'active' response from those people
They involved themselves in a host of activities which would inform and energise them in their faith and living of the Christian life Being mature in Christ is not automatic but takes input, effort and output!

Conclusion

Someone wrote a parody based on the 1st verse of the hymn, 'Onward Christian soldiers'. I picked it up through David Watson:

"Like a mighty tortoise
Moves the church of God
Brothers we are treading
Where we always trod"

And I'll stop there as that was the relevant part of the quote.
Right now we are not! That is, treading where we've always trod!

The matters to consider are, amongst others:
1. How are we moving and changing
2. What you and I are doing so we grow in our faith and then can contribute more to the life of the people of God
3. The new paths we have to tread now and along the way and,
4. right now how we can use this different mode of gathering to invite people who may now enter a building! This is a new and different opportunity , so, invite family, friends and whoever - share the posts and videos - let's see what God does and says as we move on and out.
In the end we are here to glorify Him as was on that first day when Peter preached the gospel.

You are all welcome to watch the service LIVE and here is the link 

Steven Abram