Newsletter March 2021 Part 1

Hope of eternal life

 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.  Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

     The apostle Paul wrote these words to the believers in Thessalonica who had recently turned from pagan idol worship to the living and true God by putting their faith in His Son Jesus Christ, whom He raised from the dead.  (1 Thess. 1:9-10)  Their faith and commitment had become known in the entire region, causing others to turn to Christ.  At the same time however, they were experiencing trials through persecution and some had evidently lost their lives. 

     When Paul speaks of those who are asleep in Jesus he means those who have died after coming to Him as their Lord and Saviour.  While he understands their sorry at the loss they have suffered, Paul seeks to comfort the bereaved by reminding them of the fact that Jesus Himself overcame death and all those who have put their faith in Him will share in His life – eternal life. 

     One day the Lord will return and those who are asleep, merely resting, will be raised.  Of this hope every believer is assured.  Thus, in a sense, those who have already passed on from this life are in an even better position than those who remain alive, serving God in this world of tribulation.  They will rise first. 

     So what about those who remain?  Should they desire death so as to enjoy the hope of eternal life?  Paul answers this question by explaining what is commonly described as ‘the rapture’ – the catching up (or gathering) of the believers at the time of Jesus Christ’s return.

     There are many different opinions regarding the timing of this ‘rapture’.  Will there be an interval between the raising of the dead and the transformation and catching up of the living? (1 Cor. 15:51-52)  Or will this all happen at the same time?  If so, where are those who are asleep now?  Are they conscious in God’s presence?  Whatever our understanding may be, one thing is sure: whether we live or die, we are with Christ. For the moment we come to know Him we receive eternal life.  His Spirit comes to live in us and imparts His life to us.  The same power that raised Jesus from the dead now works in us. (Eph. 1:20) 

     This is why Paul was able to face the prospect of death at the hands of the opponents of Christ with confidence.  His sole concern was that Christ [would] be magnified in [his] body, whether by life or by death.  He was able to proclaim, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”  (Phil. 1:21)  He was looking forward to eternal life in God’s presence, but he was also willing to endure a little longer for the sake of the believers if they still needed his ministry to them.

     Although the date and place of writing are not certain, Paul’s words suggest that he still had a work to do and that he probably was indeed released on this occasion.  Nonetheless, the time came when he knew that he would leave this life, and he could say with full assurance, I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.        

     Ultimately, our lives are in God’s hands, and we cannot be sure when our time will come, but we have the assurance of eternal life in Jesus Christ.  And we know that those who have gone before us are resting in God’s presence.  Let this knowledge always be our comfort – be it in grief or in the face of death! 

Newsletter February 2021 Part 2

Conform or transform?

 Soon it will have been a full year since we first went into lockdown.  Who would have thought in February 2020 that the pictures from the other side of the globe would soon become a present reality for us too.  And even then, how many of us realised that we would still find ourselves in this situation in 2021?  All the plans we had for 2020 suddenly evaporated and even now there are so many uncertainties that we dare not plan ahead.  We don’t know how long it will be before we return to any form of ‘normality’ and we cannot fully envisage the long-term economic and social impact of this pandemic. 

     When Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem in 586 B.C. the people of Judah must have felt like everything familiar was taken from them. The Babylonians not only looted the temple of the true and living God and took its precious articles to their country to be used in the worship of their idols (Dan. 1:1ff); they also took some of the most gifted young nobles of Judah as captives to be transformed into Babylonians so they could incorporate them into their elite and thus make use of their abilities.  They were given Babylonian names and presented with the best food from the king’s table with the expectation that, after a three-year period of training, they would be ready to serve their new masters.  However, these young men from Judah were determined to keep their identity as God’s people and refused to eat meat that was unclean according to God’s Law. 

     As the king’s chief officer Ashpenaz feared that the young men would grow weak and that he would be held accountable for this, he urged them to eat.  However, Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah requested that they be allowed to abstain from the forbidden meat for a trial period of ten days, fully convinced that God would keep them strong and healthy.  (Dan. 1:11-14)  And so Ashpenaz agreed and,   at the end of the trial, their appearance was healthier than that of any of their fellow trainees who had eaten the king’s food.  And God blessed them for their faithfulness and gave them great knowledge and skill, and to Daniel He gave an understanding of visions and dreams far beyond that of any of the Babylonian learned men.

     Like these young men of Judah, we have suddenly found ourselves in a type of captivity.  Much of what we were used to has been taken from us – both in respect our personal freedoms and our worship.  We have had to adapt to restrictions to the point that we have come to accept them as a ‘new normal’.  We are compliant because we recognise that it is both in our own interest and in the interest of our society as a whole that we stop the spread of Covid, and we hope that one day we will see the benefits of our compliance.   Meanwhile, however, political and societal changes are taking place which will impact our lives well beyond this pandemic. 

    As God’s people, we have always lived in a world that constantly seeks to shape us into its image; but now, it appears, the pressures to conform are increasing at an alarming rate.  The pandemic and the resulting lockdown is creating new facts and, before we know it, we may find ourselves conforming to the ways of this world and adopting its value systems more than we would ever have imagined. 

    Paul’s words to the believers living in the capital city of the pagan Roman Empire should therefore challenge us today: I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Rom. 12:1-2)

    In these times, we must withstand the pressures to conform to the ways of this world and instead be transformed by the power of God’s Spirit.  Despite all the challenges we may face in our personal lives, we need to focus our minds on God’s purpose more than ever.  Instead of worrying about the future, we need to trust in His leading and His provision.  Our God is faithful, and He will make a  way where there seems to be no way!

     As Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah received spiritual understanding of God’s purpose when they stayed faithful to Him, He opened up doors for them to proclaim His name to their captors.  Like these young men from Judah, we live in a world that is not our real home.  We are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom and, as such, His ambassadors.  As Daniel and his companions impacted Babylon, we too can impact our world if only we allow Him to transform us.  If we renew our minds through God’s word and prayer, we will be able to see the world through His eyes and understand His purpose for us and for the world in which we live as foreigners.  His purposes are ours and therefore we must be determined, like Daniel and his friends, not to adapt to the ways of this world.

     Daniel always remembered who he was and put God first in everything.  Therefore, when Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that no one else in Babylon could interpret, it was Daniel who interpreted it.  (Dan. 2:1ff)  Giving glory to God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe and the source of all wisdom, Daniel explained the dream’s meaning to the king.  Consequently Nebuchadnezzar too gave glory to the true God and appointed Daniel chief administrator over all his advisors. (Dan. 2:46-49)

     If we follow Daniel’s example and seek God and His kingdom first, He will open doors for us and add to us all that we need to progress in this life.  (Matt. 6:33)  We may be distracted by our difficult circumstances and tempted to trust in our own ability as we strive to make it in this life, but we will always find that we come to a place where we recognise our limitations.  If we did not know this before, Covid and the resulting lockdown has certainly revealed it to us. 

     Yet with God there are no such limitations!  Therefore let us always put Him first, live in obedience to Him and allow Him to transform us into the perfect image of Christ.  Let us give ourselves as sacrifices to Him as He gave Himself a sacrifice for us.  If we remain faithful to Him His presence will be with us – even in the fiery furnace of a hostile world.  (Daniel 3:24-25)  God is able to do far more than we can imagine when His power works in us and through us – to His glory.  (Eph. 3:20-21)    

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter February 2021 Part 1

Conscience, liberty and love

 Therefore concerning the eating of things offered to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God but one.  For even if there are so-called gods, whether in heaven or on earth (as there are many gods and many lords), yet for us there is one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we for Him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, through whom are all things, and through whom we live.  However, there is not in everyone that knowledge; for some, with consciousness of the idol, until now eat it as a thing offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.  But food does not commend us to God; for neither if we eat are we the better, nor if we do not eat are we the worse.  (1 Corinthians 8:4-8)

     By the time Paul wrote these words to the Corinthian church that had been established as a result of his missionary work, the church was faced with many issues both from within and without that threatened its unity and witness.  One by one, Paul addresses these issues, always coming back to the one solution – unity is found in Christ alone.  It is the cross of Jesus that brings people from all walks of life together, as all recognise their sin and their need for forgiveness.  The execution of God’s Son on a Roman cross might be an offense to Jews and foolishness to Greeks but to those who believe, irrespective of their background, it is the power of God and the wisdom of God. (1 Corinthians 1:24)  

     One of the questions that caused division was whether or not Christian believers should eat meat sacrificed to idols.  This might seem a petty matter to us today but, in a society where sacrificing animals to a multitude of different divinities was common and much of the meat available for purchase would (or at least may) have been used in religious rituals, to eat or not to eat was a fundamental matter of faith.  Moreover, business transactions with the mainly pagan population generally involved religious ritual and were consequently often concluded in pagan places of worship with a meal. 

     Whether or not to eat meat sacrificed to idols was therefore a daily decision to make and could affect relationships as well as business.  How would one be viewed by one’s fellow believers if one did partake?  And what would be the implications for relationships in a predominately pagan society if one did not? It could mean not only missing out on business opportunities but even rupturing friendships and family relations.

     Paul outlines some principles for navigating one’s way through this dilemma:

In actual fact, there is only one true God and everything comes from Him.  Idols are ‘nothing’ and therefore cannot contaminate food.  However, if believers have any scruples because they have turned from idol worship and feel they should now keep away from anything associated with their previous religion, they should not act against their conscience.  On the other hand, those who felt at liberty to eat should not boast about their ‘knowledge’ but consider the weak whose faith may suffer as a result.  Particularly as a leader, Paul was keen to bear with the weak and forego what he could have for the benefit of those he was called to serve.  For him, love and unity of the body of Christ took precedence over his own liberty.

     We may not have to make decisions regarding food in our day and our society, but we do face issues that have potential to divide God’s people.  Since the start of this current pandemic, there has been much discussion regarding its origins.  Is it God’s judgment on a society that has rejected Him?  Or is it a manmade ‘plandemic’ to justify the erosion of human rights and usher in a totalitarian one-world government?  Some even go as far as denying the existence of the virus, claiming that facts and figures are in fact manipulated.  And then, of course, there are the many who simply see Covid-19 as a deadly disease which has spread so widely that the world (including politicians, scientists and the general public) has to come together to defeat it by means of stringent control measures and ultimately a vaccine.  

     Whichever explanation we favour, we all have to make a decision: will I take ‘the’ (or rather ‘a’) vaccine or will I not.  Some will regard vaccination as every citizen’s duty to help overcome the pandemic and its economic and social consequences and therefore see those who refuse it as irresponsible.  Others may struggle with the idea of having something injected into their bodies that they are not sure about.  Still others may regard compliance as facilitating an anti-Christian agenda.   While being vaccinated may, for many, be a matter of choice with few consequences, some (particularly health and social care workers) may be required to take it for the safety of their patients or clients.  In such cases, refusal could even result in risking one’s employment and consequently one’s livelihood.

     This pandemic may well go away before we (all) have to make a decision but other issues will come and other decisions will have to be made, and many of these decisions will depend on our personal Christian conscience.  It is therefore good to consider Paul’s guiding principles:

     There is one true God who reigns supremely and has come to us in His Son Jesus Christ to bring us to Himself.  All powers of this world, whether they be human or spiritual, are ‘nothing’ in comparison to God and therefore we should not worry unnecessarily.  When we realise God’s sovereignty and love for us, we are able to rest in His peace.  If we do have scruples about something and believe that we are offending God by partaking in it we should not go against our conscience, for whatever is not from faith is sin. (Romans 14:23) 

     Finally, if we have the ‘knowledge’ that nothing is greater than God and we are convinced that we what we are doing does not offend Him we are at liberty.  However, we must not insist on our liberty to the detriment of our fellow believer.  We will have to make decisions in life and we will not always agree on what the right decision is, but we must not condemn our brother or sister in Christ for their decision. 

     Love must always take priority over liberty so that Christ’s body can be unified and God’s people can be the light to the world that we are called to be.  Therefore Paul wrote to the Corinthian believers, if food makes my brother stumble, I will never again eat meat, lest I make my brother stumble.  (1 Corinthians 8:13)  What sacrifices might you and I have to make for the sake of God’s kingdom and the love and unity of God’s people?            Pastor Konrad

Newsletter January 2021 Part 3

Living Water

 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns — broken cisterns that can hold no water. (Jeremiah 2:13)

     Through the prophet Jeremiah, God calls His people to return to Him.  He expresses His indignation at the fact that they have turned from Him, the source of life, and instead have put their trust in powerless idols.  He compares these false gods with broken cisterns: man-made structures designed to hold water, which have been cracked and therefore cannot serve the very purpose for which they were made.       

     The nation of Judah had submitted themselves under the rule of Assyria and had consequently exchanged the worship of the LORD for that of the idols of Assyria.  Rather than trust in the true God who had delivered their fathers from the Assyrians in the days of Hezekiah, this generation had accommodated themselves with their oppressors and adopted their ways.  Rather than worship the Creator of the universe who had delivered their ancestors from Egyptian bondage and revealed Himself to them at Mount Sinai, they were, just like the ignorant nations around them, making themselves gods of wood, stone and metal that possess neither life nor power. (Jer. 10:1-5)

     What about us?  We too live in a world that does not know God.  Don’t we too so often follow the example of those around us, those who place their trust in their own resources and abilities, not recognising that everything comes from God?  Do we really, as we profess, depend on the Almighty, the source of all life, to meet our needs?  Do we look to Him to sustain us, or to things that can never satisfy?  Do we build our lives, our careers and even our churches on God’s unshakeable promise or on unstable foundations that we ourselves have laid?  Where does our sense of security and self-worth come from?  Is it from the fact that God loves us and has accepted us as His children?  Or do we depend on the recognition we may or may not receive from other people?             

     God loves us and cares for us.  Everything we need is found in Him.  Jesus said, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.  He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” (John 7:37-38)  When we put our trust in God and His Spirit rules our hearts, we will be secure in every circumstance.  He will take care of us, and His life will emanate from us to others.

     Our world is currently being shaken in ways that we could never have imagined.  Things we have depended on are no longer there.  Circumstances are changing at a rate and pace that make it impossible to plan ahead.  Yet we do not have to fear, for we know the One who holds the future.  Nothing comes as a surprise to the Eternal One.  Those who trust in the sovereign Lord find that He orders their steps.  He delights in the way of those who are led by His Spirit.  Though they fall, they shall not be utterly cast down; for the Lord upholds them with His hand. (Psalm 37:23-24).

     Let us look to God and depend entirely on Him.  Let us drink from the fountain of living water.  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25) As we do so, others will see His presence in our lives and will turn to Him.           

 Pastor Konrad

Newsletter January 2021 Part 2

What’s the time?

 And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.  For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them.   But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well.  (Luke 12:29-31)

     Most of us tend to spend a considerable portion of our time worrying, probably even more during this present crisis.  As restrictions are temporarily eased only to be reintroduced and even further toughened within just a matter of weeks, we find ourselves constantly having to adapt and unable to make plans.  As we see our economy collapsing, many are losing their livelihoods and fearing for their future.  Meanwhile others are working longer hours than ever and wonder how they will manage.  How we spend the time we have is therefore more critical than ever. 

     If we added up all the time we spend wondering what to do next, the result would probably come as a shock to us – and hopefully as a wakeup call.  Countless hours are wasted through worry; hours that could have been utilised in a more productive way.  But how do we overcome worry?  What do we do when the future seems bleak and we don’t know what tomorrow will bring?

     Jesus challenges us regarding our worries.  As His followers, we are to be different to the ‘pagan world’, to those who do not know God.  We have a loving Father who cares for us.  He knows our needs and He is well able to supply them – even in a crisis like the one we are experiencing.  All we have to do is ask – and trust that He will take care of us.  If we would only trust our Heavenly Father instead of being overwhelmed by cares, we could spend our time seeking God for guidance, thanking Him for keeping us safe and for providing for us, and encouraging others. 

     Trust has little to do with knowing the future and figuring out how our needs will be met; it is all about the One in whom we put our confidence.  To trust, we do not need to know what lies ahead or even comprehend our present situation.  All we need to know is that the One whom we trust is trustworthy. 

     Jesus addresses this issue of focus – seek the kingdom of God, set your minds on His purpose.  And as you do so, your loving Father will take care of everything else.  God’s plans for us are plans to prosper [us] and not to harm [us], plans to give [us] hope and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

     So then we each need to ask ourselves the question: What is it that dominates my thoughts?  Where do I invest my time and effort?  Is it in His kingdom, or am I so preoccupied with my apparent needs that I have lost sight of His purpose for my life?  Am I missing out on His peace while I focus all my attention on what is happening around me and how it may affect me?

     One day this life will be over and we will have to give account for the way we have used the resources God has given us: our gifts and talents, our material resources, our physical strength, and our time.  Then there will be no opportunity to go back and do things differently.  Every day, every minute, every second that has gone by has passed forever; we will never get it back.  Whatever we have done with our time will remain our legacy - eternally.  That is why Paul warns us (Ephesians 5:15): Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 

     Time can be our greatest enemy, as it quietly ticks away; but it can also be our greatest gift – an opportunity to live a life of purpose, to make a difference.  God has given us this life so we can honour Him: through our actions and through our worship.  Let us resolve to live every day, every minute for His kingdom and His purpose.  Whether we currently have more time or less, God will reward those who trust in Him and utilise the time they have for His glory.

Newsletter January 2021 Part 1

By the Spirit of the Lord  

 This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,”
Says the Lord of hosts.  “Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain! And he shall bring forth the capstone with shouts of “‘Grace, grace to it!’” (Zechariah 4:6-7)

     In a vision, God shows the prophet Zechariah two olive trees from which oil flows into a bowel, which in turn feeds a golden lampstand.  Through seven pipes, the oil flows to the seven lamps of the lampstand.  God then explains the vision to the prophet: the oil represents the anointing of God’s Holy Spirit.  It is in His power that God’s people need to trust, rather than in their own strength and ability.

     Zechariah prophesied to the people of Judah who had returned to Jerusalem from Babylon under the leadership of Zerubbabel in the late 6th century B.C.  After 70 years of captivity, they were finally back in their homeland, only to find the city in ruins and the temple of God reduced to rubble.  Rebuilding the city and the House of God would prove an almost impossible task.  It is in this desperate situation that God speaks to the people and their leader through the mouth of the prophet to encourage them.  If they will only depend on His power rather than their own, they will be able to accomplish this seemingly impossible task.  God will make the mountain that stands in the way as a plain, and they will be able to complete the building of His House by His grace.

     Like the people of Judah at the time, we have experienced a difficult time and, as we try to rebuild in 2021 there will be mountains in our way that seem to stop us from moving forward.  We do not know how long we will face restrictions nor how this pandemic will affect our lives in the longer term.  Many areas of our society have been impacted: our economy, our politics, our health service and our personal lives.  Many people’s faith has been shaken by loss, uncertainty and the confusing messages that are making the rounds in the news and social media.    

     As we enter the new year, we must realise that we cannot rebuild what has been devastated and overcome the obstacles that will face us by our own strength and ability.  If, however, we depend on the power of God’s Spirit, every mountain will have to move out of our way and every purpose that God has called us to will be accomplished.  Like Zerubbabel, we will raise the capstone to complete the task that God has set before us.  It is not by might nor by power, but by God’s Spirit that we will prosper.  Therefore we must place ourselves in the position where we can receive the flow of God’s anointing.   

     The 1st Century church understood this truth.  That is why they waited patiently for that first outpouring of God’s Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  Once they had been baptised in the Holy Spirit, they continued to depend on His power as they went and did what God had called them to do: to go and make disciples of all the nations, to baptise them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and to teach them to observe all things that Jesus had commanded them.  And as they did so, Jesus kept His promise to be with them “always, even to the end of the age.”

     Like every new year, we will begin 2021 with a 21-day period of focused prayer.  Even though we may not be able to assemble as usual, we can join together online to seek God’s anointing in order overcome.  By His power alone every mountain will be turned into a plain and the purpose of God will be fulfilled - in our personal lives, our families, our church, and our community.

  Pastor Konrad

Newsletter December 2020 Part 3 Christmas

The King of Kings

 Wise men came to Jerusalem, the great city, carrying precious gifts.  They were looking for the newborn King whose star they had seen in the sky.  Where else were they to look, but in the palace?  Are kings not born in palaces?

     They passed through many gates, guarded by countless sentries ...  Until they saw him, elevated on a throne.  Clothed in riches, yet so poor.  Surrounded by hosts of servants and advisors.  People who continually reassured him of his greatness, a greatness – he knew deep inside – he did not possess.

    “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews?”  (Mat. 2:2)  Herod was troubled.  Had the true King come?  Would this child take his place, expose him as a mere man, an imposter?  The books predicted God’s Anointed One to be born in Bethlehem. 

    Immediately, an evil plan was conceived: ... when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.  “A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning.  Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more.”  (Mat. 2:18)  There can be no king beside me! 

    Led by the star, the wise men arrive in Bethlehem, at a stable.  There they find Him, lying in a manger, sharing His room with animals, surrounded by worshipping shepherds.  The King of Kings became poor so we might become rich (II Cor. 8:9).  He needed no guards, because His Father’s heavenly hosts protected Him; until one day, He would lay down His life for our forgiveness.  He needed no advisors, because in Him were hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col. 2:3).  He needed no servants, because He himself had come to serve. (Mar. 10:45)

    In his letter to the Philippians, Paul describes the coming of Jesus Christ into this world as follows:

 …who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

     Pastor Konrad

Newsletter December 2020 Part 2

The King has come

 

     We have arrived at the end of another year and will be celebrating Christmas to remember the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ into the world.  The prophet Isaiah foretold this event more than half a millennium before it occurred (Isaiah 9:2; 6-7):

The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined….

For unto us a Child is born,
Unto us a Son is given;
And the government will be upon His shoulder.
And His name will be called
Wonderful, Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of His government and peace
There will be no end,
Upon the throne of David and over His kingdom,
To order it and establish it with judgment and justice
From that time forward, even forever.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

     Isaiah describes the condition of man before the coming of Christ as walking in darkness.  God had revealed Himself to the nation of Israel and had given them His Law and spoken to them through various prophets.  Nonetheless, they were still living in darkness, unable to discern the things of God.  Since Adam and Eve had turned from God, the intimate relationship they had previously enjoyed with their Creator had been severed.  As a result of their disobedience they lost their place in the perfect world of God’s garden and, instead of enjoying His loving presence, they now lived in the kingdom of darkness ruled by Satan, the prince of darkness.  This is the state that Isaiah was describing – until the coming of God’s Anointed. 

     The birth of Christ would usher in a completely new era, as those who would answer His call to follow Him would be born anew by the power of His Spirit and restored to the relationship God had always intended for them.  In his letter to the Colossians, the apostle Paul expresses this transformation as follows:

     He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins. (1:13-14)  He then goes on to explain to his readers that this man Jesus is in fact the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him.  And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.

     The miracle of Christmas is that God, who created the universe, came to us, his creation, became one of us.  He came in the flesh, fully man and fully God.  He lived among His people, but they did not recognise Him.  Yet those who received Him, those who believed in Him, received power to become children of God.  They were delivered from spiritual death and restored to true life through the miracle of the new birth.  (John 1:10-13) 

     What about you?  Do you recognise who He is?  Do you receive Him as your Saviour?  Do you believe that He came to die for you and to restore you to God?  As we celebrate Christmas, let us reflect on the miracle of Bethlehem, let us worship Jesus and thank Him for coming to give us new life.  And let us live the new life we have received in communion with our heavenly Father.           

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter December 2020 Part 1

Complete in Jesus Christ 

 As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in Him, rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.   Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power. (Colossians 2:6-10)

     In his letter to the Colossians, Paul admonishes them not to move away from the faith they have received.  It is through Jesus Christ and His sacrifice on the cross that they have been saved and they must not lose sight of this simple truth.  Like we today, these believers were bombarded by a variety of belief systems that were distracting some of them from what they had originally been taught.  They lived in a world of idolatry and values that were incompatible with their faith, but, again like today, it was relatively easy to draw the line between the world out there and their faith.  The confusing messages that were making their way into their own circles were much harder to identify and resist.

     The Christian faith has always been plagued by false teaching both on the nature of Jesus Christ and on Christian values and conduct.  Over the past century, however, the focus has moved increasingly away from God’s sovereignty and justice to the human-centredness that defines our world.  We have put our own human needs and desires before His purpose to reveal Himself to a world that has turned away from Him.  In doing so, we have in fact repeated the sin of Eden to be like God, knowing good and evil (Genesis 3:5) rather than depending on God and finding out what matters to Him.  We have built our own towers towards heaven and sought to make a name for ourselves. (Genesis 11:4) 

     Much of our Christianity has been about what God can do for us and how we can gain the respect of others rather than about His purpose.  In order to get God to do what we want, we have developed principles of faith and strategies for success by which we can manipulate God into doing what we want Him to do.  Even our prayers often sound more like magic spells than like the call of a trusting child to a faithful Father in dependence on His grace and submission to His will.  In effect we have created a new form of ‘works’ religion, not realising that we are cheating ourselves of the true life-transforming power of God.   

     Paul observed the church of his time making this fundamental mistake by reverting to legalism and observance of particular days and seasons.  Rather than embracing the simple truth of the gospel, they were taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, intruding into those things which he has not seen ... and not holding fast to the Head of the body, Jesus Christ. (Colossians 2:18-19) 

     As we approach the end of another year, admittedly a rather unusual one, and prepare to celebrate another Christmas let us make the most of the difficult situation we find ourselves in.  In many ways, this Christmas will be very different: we won’t be able to meet with many of those we would normally meet.  We may have to cut back on our spending due to the increasing economic pressures; we may have the money but simply not the time to do the usual Christmas shopping; some may have to work more than ever as colleagues are ill or self-isolating. 

     This could be a Christmas, even a whole year that we simply want to forget, to put behind us as we hopefully return to some kind of normality.  Yet this could also be a time to remember: at this point of crisis and uncertainty we could meet with the One Christmas is all about in a new and powerful way.  After all, God chose a time of crisis and uncertainty to come into this world.  Jesus was born into a world of oppression and injustice, of depravation and fear. 

   Just like today, people at the time of Jesus’ birth were speculating why they were suffering, why God didn’t seem to answer their prayers and deliver them.  Some tried to fight their oppressors to achieve freedom, others believed that they could move God to act through their works of righteousness, lamenting the fact that the rest of the nation were not godly like them.  While all these people were preoccupied with themselves and trying to find their own answers and solutions, the Son of God came virtually unnoticed. 

     Due to the inconvenient and seemingly irrational rules imposed by the government at the time, Jesus ended up being born in a distant stable rather than in the relative comfort of the family home in Galilee.  God’s purpose was fulfilled and the Saviour was born in Bethlehem, just as the prophets had foretold.  As the world continued with its busyness, an angel appeared to a group of shepherds out in the field, announcing to them, “There is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is Christ the Lord.  And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” 

     Where will you be this Christmas?  What will you be doing?  What questions will you be asking?  What worries will be occupying your mind?  Open your ears; let the angel of God point you to the One in whom dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily. In Him you are complete.  (Colossians 2:9-10)  In Him alone you find peace in the midst of the storm, rivers in the desert, and life in the face of death. 

     There is nothing we can add to His grace, for He has wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. (Colossians 2:14)  Rather than worry about what isn’t, let us, like those shepherds, come to Jesus in simple faith with thanksgiving (Colossians 2:7) and worship Him.                 

Newsletter November 2020 Part 4

 

Worship in a foreign land

 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.  We hung our harps upon the willows in the midst of it.  For there those who carried us away captive asked of us a song, and those who plundered us requested mirth, saying, “Sing us one of the songs of Zion!”  How shall we sing the Lord’s song in a foreign land? (Psalm 137:1-4)

     The words of this Psalm describe the feeling of the people of Judah who had been carried away into captivity in Babylon.  They had seemingly lost everything, and their hearts longed for the city from where they had been taken.  They felt that they could not worship God in their present situation even though their captors wanted to hear their songs of Zion.  

     In our present situation, it is easy for us to feel as they did.  This month we have once more had to close our church buildings, and even when we will again be able to meet face to face for worship it will not be quite like before as we will still have to follow tight restrictions.  In addition, the world around us seems to be turning increasingly against Christians as it rejects traditional values.

     Psalms which begin with a lament usually end on a positive note; the Psalmist turns his focus back on God and the hope of His salvation.  This Psalm, however, ends with the rather gruesome appeal to God for vengeance.  The final verses read, O daughter of Babylon, who are to be destroyed, happy the one who repays you as you have served us!   Happy the one who takes and dashes your little ones against the rock!   

     When God’s people take their focus off God and instead look to their adverse circumstances, worship of the Almighty is replaced by hatred towards the world.  It is then easy to forget that God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved (John 3:17).  Judgment belongs to God; the world is already condemned, but those who will receive the message of God’s salvation will escape His wrath, just as we who have put our trust in Jesus have been saved because of His mercy alone. 

     Rather than resign, feel sorry for ourselves and wish disaster on the unbelieving world, we should at this challenging time focus more than ever on God’s purpose.  We should recognise His infinite grace that saved us, and we should seize every opportunity to share the message of His salvation with others.

     While the false prophets still announced that Zedekiah would lead those left in Jerusalem in a successful rebellion against the king of Babylon (Jeremiah 28:10-11), Jeremiah wrote a letter to the captives, instructing them to settle and prepare for a lengthy captivity, but – while they remained in Babylon – to seek the peace of the city where I have caused you to be carried away captive, and pray to the Lord for it; for in its peace you will have peace (Jeremiah 29:7). 

     God had a future and a hope for Judah (29:11), but right now they needed to endure their situation and refocus on God and His mercy.  If the LORD’s people would search for Him with all their heart, He promised that He would hear their cry and would restore them to the place from which He had allowed them to be carried away. 

     God’s plan for His people in every generation is to bless them, but we (His people today) must search for Him and pray for our world.  One day God will judge the world for rejecting Him, but meanwhile His desire is that none should perish but that all should come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  We are the ones to point them to Jesus, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved (Acts 4:11).

 Pastor Konrad

Newsletter November 2020 Part 3

Look up!

 So they asked Him, saying, “Teacher, but when will these things be? And what sign will there be when these things are about to take place?” And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore do not go after them.  But when you hear of wars and commotions, do not be terrified; for these things must come to pass first, but the end will not come immediately.”  Then He said to them, “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11 And there will be great earthquakes in various places, and famines and pestilences; and there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven. 12 But before all these things, they will lay their hands on you and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and prisons. You will be brought before kings and rulers for My name’s sake. 13 But it will turn out for you as an occasion for testimony” (Luke 21:7-13)

     When Jesus told His disciples of the coming destruction of the temple in Jerusalem, the centre of Jewish worship, they were keen to know when this would occur.  Jesus gave them a list of events that would signal the end, and when we read this list, we are reminded of things we see on the news and experience ourselves.  Just as he urged his disciples in their day, we too should look up, for our redemption is drawing near.  Jesus will return one day to establish his kingdom in all its fullness.  In that day, the world will be judged but those who have become part of His kingdom through faith in Him and forgiveness of sin will be received into their eternal home. 

     Throughout the past 2,000 years, people have time and again looked at such signs and expected Jesus’ imminent return.  Some even tried to figure out specific dates for the Second Coming of Christ, yet they were disappointed.  In the light of this knowledge, we can easily become cynical and question: Is His return really as close as we might think?  Or could it be another 2,000 years?  Or even, will He ever come?  Could Jesus just have spoken symbolically?  Was this message only for His hearers in the first half of the first century?  After all, Jerusalem and the temple were destroyed in A.D. 70 so all that remains today is the “Wailing Wall”. 

     While these questions are legitimate, there are current developments in the environment, in society and in politics that point to the ultimate fulfilment of prophecy.  We do not know the date; Jesus warned us not to speculate.  However, He did admonish us to take heed of the signs and look up and, as we do so, His words appear timelier than ever.

     As in those days, people’s hearts are failing them.  Scientists are considering where we could go when the earth becomes either too overcrowded or even uninhabitable.  People are feeling hopeless or looking for hope in populist leaders and/or new religious ideas.  Paul explains this to the Thessalonian church (2 Thessalonians 2:8-10): And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.  The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 

     Let us be alert.  Let us be true to God even in the face of opposition.  Let us not fear with those who have no hope because they do not believe.  And let us be ready to tell others about the hope that is in us (1 Peter 3:15) so they may share that hope in Christ with us.     

 Pastor Konrad

Newsletter November 2020 Part 2

A heart to know God

 Again the word of the Lord came to me, saying,  “Thus says the Lord, the God of Israel: ‘Like these good figs, so will I acknowledge those who are carried away captive from Judah, whom I have sent out of this place for their own good, into the land of the Chaldeans.  For I will set My eyes on them for good, and I will bring them back to this land; I will build them and not pull them down, and I will plant them and not pluck them up.  Then I will give them a heart to know Me, that I am the Lord; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God, for they shall return to Me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:4-7)

     At the time when God spoke these words through His prophet Jeremiah, Judah had been conquered by Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, and many had been carried away into captivity while others were allowed to remain in Judah under Zedekiah, the new vassal king appointed by Nebuchadnezzar.  It would seem at this point that those who were in captivity were in a worse place than those who had been allowed to remain.  However, in this vision of the good and bad figs, God says that He has carried them away for their own good.  It is precisely in their captivity that God would set His eyes on them for good.

     As we enter into another lockdown and have to close our churches for public services and resort to online platforms only, let us not be discouraged and complain.  Let us not think that God has forgotten us.  It is precisely in our apparent ‘captivity’ of government restrictions that God wants to reveal Himself to us in a deeper way.  While the first lockdown was a time of adjusting and learning new ways of doing things, let us now, in this second lockdown, be still and hear what God is saying to us.  As God promised to give to the captives of Judah a heart to know Him and make them truly His people, so He wants to do with us.  This is God’s doing, His initiative.  Yet there is, as always, a condition to His promise: we must return to Him, not half-heartedly, but with our whole heart.

     While God was working among the captives, raising up a new generation who would be faithful to His calling even in the face of death, the people left in Jerusalem continued to drift away from God’s presence.  Instead of submitting to the Babylonians as Jeremiah urged them to do by the word of the LORD, they followed the advice of false prophets, took matters into their own hands and rebelled.  As a result of their rebellion against Nebuchadnezzar, and ultimately against the purpose of God, they lost everything: their homes, their city and even their temple where they had worshipped God.

     God is not limited by our circumstances.  He does not dwell in buildings made with men’s hands.  What house can we build Him anyway?  What is there that He has not made and given to us for use?  After all, heaven is His throne, and the earth His footstool.  What He looks for is a people dedicated to Him, a people who will seek His face with all their heart.  He will look on him who is poor and of a contrite spirit, and who trembles at [His] word. (Isaiah 66:1-2)

     Let us not be discouraged.  Let us seek God’s face, believe His promise and wait patiently for His deliverance.  The God who makes rivers in the desert will do a new thing; He is forming a people for Himself who will declare His praise.  (Isaiah 43:18-21) Let us seek Him and trust in His grace alone.  He will surely look on us and deliver us. Oh, that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When the Lord brings back the captivity of His people, Let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad. (Psalm 14:7) 

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter November 2020 Part 1

God’s justice

“Your words have been harsh against Me,” says the Lord, “Yet you say, ‘What have we spoken against You?’  14 You have said, ‘It is useless to serve God; what profit is it that we have kept His ordinance, and that we have walked as mourners before the Lord of hosts?  15 So now we call the proud blessed, for those who do wickedness are raised up; they even tempt God and go free. (Malachi 3:13-15)

     Throughout the ages, God’s people have always complained.  So much of what we see and experience just doesn’t seem fair.  Good people suffer while those who practise evil seem to get away with it and even benefit from their wrongdoing.  So we ask the question, ‘Why does God allow such injustice?’

     Speaking through the prophet Malachi, God rebukes His people for their harsh words against [Him].  By suggesting that there was no benefit in serving God (v. 14), they were questioning the very integrity of their Maker and Lord.  By claiming that the wicked and proud were being blessed, they were implying that God was unjust.  By assuming the role of judges, they were in fact elevating themselves above God, who alone is just!

     How many times have we questioned God, when things have not gone our way?  How many times have we begrudged the seemingly undeserving for their apparent success?  Have we not, like God’s people in the days of Malachi, spoken harshly against God?  Who are we to decide who should be blessed and who should be punished?  Do we see as God sees?  Where were we when He laid the foundations of the earth?  (Job 38:4)  Are we more qualified to run the universe than the One who created it? 

     We are mere humans; our view is limited and we see only what is happening in the here and now.  Meanwhile God is watching and taking note of all we do and say (Malachi 3:16).  He is just, and His judgment will come – in His time.  He is in no hurry to bring justice to the world, but when it does come, what will be written about us in His book of remembrance? 

     Malachi states (3:16) that those who feared the LORD spoke one to another.  What would they have spoken about, as they meditated on His name?  Rather than complain and question God’s justice, they would have declared His glory and majesty.  Rather than focusing on the sins of others, they would have marvelled at God’s boundless mercy that had caused Him to forgive their sins.  That’s why God calls them His jewels! (v.17)  When judgment comes to the world, He will spare them.  Then all will be able to discern between the righteous and the wicked, between one who truly serves God and one who does not. (v.18)  Until then, we must trust that God is just and that He knows what He is doing – without our presumptuous instruction.

     As humans, we want to see justice done immediately.  We want God to deal with those who deserve punishment in our eyes.  God will one day judge the earth.  But He will do so according to His perfect justice – not ours.  And He will do so in His time.  To God a day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as a day.  He is still calling others, as He has called us, so they too can receive His grace and turn from their wicked ways to serve Him (2 Peter 3:8-9).  It is not His will that anyone should be eternally lost. 

     One day Jesus will return and then He will judge the world in righteousness.  On that day every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.  Meanwhile let us do all things without complaining and disputing, that [we] may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom [we] shine as lights in the world. (Philippians 2:14-15) 

Newsletter October 2020 Part 2

Walking in victory

“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel.  Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.  From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory.  No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you.  Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.  (Joshua 1:2-6)

     God spoke these words to Joshua when his time had come to lead the people of Israel into the Land He had promised them.  The land before them was theirs and all they had to do is enter it in the knowledge that God was with them and would give them the victory over anyone who would stand in their way.  However, for Joshua, who was used to being an assistant to Moses the prospect of himself the leader to whom everyone would look must have been daunting.  Therefore God reassures him that He will be with him and that he should be strong and of good courage.

     It is easy to miss God’s calling and fail to do what He calls us to do because we have no confidence in our ability.  Yet that is precisely the point – fulfilling our purpose does not depend on who we are, but on who God is in us.  We cannot do nothing of ourselves but through His power working in us we are able to do far more than we can even ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).  God reiterates that admonition to be strong by repeating it twice – but He links it to obedience.  God’s presence and the fulfilment of His promise is conditional on obedience to His will.  Disobedience, as we see later in the story, will result in defeat (Joshua 7).  However, it is our fear and lack of confidence that prevents us from experiencing victory in our lives and our ministry to others. 

     In the following chapters we read how Joshua and the people of Israel prepared themselves for the conquest of Canaan and cross over Jordan.  As they are about to attack the heavily fortified city of Jericho, Joshua encounters a man of war with his sword drawn.  (Joshua 5: 12)  Joshua asks him to identify himself. “Are you for us or for our adversaries?” But the man’s reply is quite unexpected. He says, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.”  Joshua recognises this Man (spelt in the NKJV throughout with a capital letter) as the Angel of the LORD.  He falls on his face and worships, and he asks “What does my Lord say to His servant?” (v.14). 

     Joshua needed to have this encounter with God’s presence (Theophany) before the impending victory with the conquest of Jericho to remind him who was in charge.  He was to be bold, have confidence, but his confidence was not to be in himself but in God.  It was not about getting God on His side, but about himself getting on God’s side.

     Our view of God is easily distorted; we want Him on our terms to do our will.  He promises to be with us, to give us the victory – but on His terms and for His purpose.  He is in charge, and we follow His command.  He is the Lord and we are His servants.  He will go before us and give us the victory if we remain faithful to Him.  Boldness and confidence in our ability depends on His power in us and consequently, on our obedience to Him.  As we pray according to His will and purpose, we have all that we ask. (1 John 5:14)

     Jesus is our Lord and Saviour; but He is also our example of perfect submission and obedience to the Fathers will.  He went the way of the cross, despising its shame, because He knew that His death would lead to resurrection and exaltation.  In Hebrews 12:1-2, we are admonished to lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 

     Therefore let us not become weary and discouraged in your souls (v.3) but let us take up our cross and follow Him.  For it is only the way of the cross that leads to victory; God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness! (2 Corinthians 12:9-10)

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter October 2020 Part 1

Our eyes are on You

And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah.  So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.  (2 Chronicles 20:3-4)

     In the days of King Jehoshaphat Judah faced a great crisis: all the surrounding nations had gathered together against God’s people to attack and destroy them.  Understandably, the King was afraid.  Yet his fear did not make him despair but rather turn to God.  He called a fast for the entire nation; and the entire nation actually showed up!  How was this possible?  Why was Jehoshaphat so sure that God was able to help?  Why did he not panic?  Why did he not focus on his military resources or seek allies to support him?  Why was it so natural for him and his nation to turn to God?  The answer is found in the previous chapters.             When Jehoshaphat ascended the throne of Judah, he made God the focus of his life and reign.  We read (2 Chr. 17:4ff) that he sought the LORD and walked in His commandments and, consequently, the LORD established his kingdom.  The people realised that God was with their king and honoured him with gifts and their allegiance.      

     Moreover, Jehoshaphat removed the idols that had been set up in Judah over the years and had caused the people to turn away from God.  He then sent his faithful leaders throughout his kingdom to teach the Law of God to the people.  As a result, the people of Judah honoured God and the fear of the LORD came upon the surrounding nations so that they were afraid to attack Judah and even paid tribute to them.  Jehoshaphat grew ever wealthier and ever stronger.  Yet in all this, Jehoshaphat never grew proud.  He remembered that God was the source of his blessings; so when he faced his greatest trial he knew where to turn: he did not rely on his own strength but on the God who had established him in the first place.     

     When they heard that their enemies had unified against them, the people of Judah gathered together in Jerusalem to seek God.  Jehoshaphat himself led the prayer, focusing on the greatness and the faithfulness of God and ending with a plea for help:  “O our God, will You not judge them?  For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”  (2 Chr. 20:12)       

     As they stood waiting on the Almighty, Jahaziel, a prophet of God began to prophesy, “Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s.  … You will not need to fight in this battle.  Position yourselves, stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you.”         

The people embraced the word of the LORD and went out the next day, not heavily armed and ready to fight, but praising their God for the deliverance they believed was theirs, as He had spoken.  And indeed, as they praised God, their enemies suddenly turned on one another and destroyed one another!      

     That day Judah celebrated a great victory; but the foundation for that victory had been laid long before.  It was during the good times that Jehoshaphat had prepared the nation for this crisis by his own example and by teaching the people all over the country to follow the commandments of God.  Therefore it was natural for them to turn to God in this desperate situation.  When a fast was called, they came, knowing that God was the answer to their problem.      

      God has seen us through an unexpected crisis.  Yes, we have suffered but we have retained our faith in God’s care and provision.  What, however, if things really turn out as many are predicting?  What if this pandemic does continue for a long period, if there is a ‘second wave’ with a surge in hospital admissions and even death and further social restrictions?  What if the economic impact begins to affect our own livelihoods as it is already affecting many?  What if violence, crime and community divisions increase as a result of this?  What if we cannot meet face to face in church and privately?  Are we prepared? 

     Have we invested sufficiently in our relationship with God?  Do we know who is the source of our blessings when all other sources seem to dry up?  When trouble comes, will it be natural for us to turn to God as the people did under the leadership of Jehoshaphat – as individuals and as a body of believers?  Will we despair, or will we look to the One who is able to do exceedingly more than we can ever imagine?   Let us seek God during this trying time.  .  Let us draw near to him, come together in prayer.  Let us make the most of our online provisions as long as we have them.  Most of all, let us keep our eyes continuously on God.                        

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter September Part 2

See His glory

“Please, show me Your glory.” (Exodus 33:18)

Moses prayed this prayer at a time of crisis.  He was a great prophet of God, the greatest the world had ever seen.  He had experienced God’s power in the miracles that God had wrought through him: the plagues of Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and miraculous provision in the midst of the desert. Yet he reached a point where he could go no further – not without a fresh and deeper revelation of God’s glory.

     In the previous chapter, we read how Moses had gone up to Mount Sinai to meet with God and to receive instructions directly from Him.  As he delayed coming back down from the mountain, the people’s faith began to wane.  So they gathered together and persuaded Aaron, who was left in charge during Moses’ absence, to make them a god: one whom they could see and touch, one who fitted within their limited human minds.  And Aaron granted them their request.  He collected gold from the people and made them an image after their imagination, built an altar before it, and announced to them, “Tomorrow is a feast to the LORD (in Hebrew YHWH).” (Exodus 32:1-5)  So when Moses descended from the Mountain of God, carrying with him God’s Law written by God’s own hand on tables of stone, he saw the people dancing around a golden calf.

     Reading these verses, it appears that Aaron somehow tried to reconcile the making of this idol with worshipping YAHWEH, the invisible I AM who had delivered them from the Egyptian bondage by His powerful hand.  What a fallacy!  How can an image made by man represent the Almighty God?  “To whom then will you liken God?  Or what likeness will you compare to Him?” (Isaiah 40:18),

     It is easy for us to condemn Aaron or to pity him for his ignorance.  Yet could it be that we too have an image of God in our minds that falls far short of His Glory?  We may not actually make a physical idol, as the Israelites did, but so often our conception of God limits Him to nothing more than a human construct.  Instead of answering the call to serve the King of Kings, we all too often create for ourselves a god whose purpose it is to serve us – on our terms. 

     Moses had led the people of God up to this point.  He had been faithful in everything that God had called him to do.  Consequently, the Israelites had witnessed God’s power and experienced His loving care.  Yet they had failed to honour Him as God.  Moses recognised that in order to convey to them the awesomeness of the Almighty, he needed a fresh and deeper revelation of who God really was.  So he prayed, “Please, show me Your glory.”    

     Like Moses, we need a deeper revelation of who God is.  Only He can reveal Himself to us – by His Spirit (1 Cor. 2:11-12).  As we put aside the flawed images we have created of Him and seek His face, as we read His Word with an open heart, God will reveal Himself to us as He really is.  As we stand in awe of His Majesty, we recognise how far we fall short of His glory and, at the same time, we experience the infinite love of the Father welcoming us into His presence.  It is there, in His holy presence, that we become conscious of our sin and experience the joy and the freedom of complete justification through the cross (Rom. 3:23-24). 

    Our God is an awesome God.  Therefore let us plead like Moses, “Lord, show us your glory!”     

Pastor Konrad   

Newsletter September Part 1

Spiritual victory

Now Amalek came and fought with Israel in Rephidim.  And Moses said to Joshua, “Choose us some men and go out, fight with Amalek. Tomorrow I will stand on the top of the hill with the rod of God in my hand.”   So Joshua did as Moses said to him, and fought with Amalek. And Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.  And so it was, when Moses held up his hand, that Israel prevailed; and when he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed.  But Moses’ hands became heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him, and he sat on it. And Aaron and Hur supported his hands, one on one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were steady until the going down of the sun.  So Joshua defeated Amalek and his people with the edge of the sword. (Exodus 17:8-13)

     As the Israelites approach Mount Horeb, they suddenly encounter opposition.  Without warning and with no apparent reason, the Amalekites attack them just before they reach the place where they are to meet with God.  Moses immediately responds to this attack by appointing Joshua, a young man who has not been mentioned thus far, to lead an army of people who have not been trained in warfare and have never fought a battle before.  Meanwhile, Moses himself goes to the top of a hill overlooking the battlefield and raises his rod.  He knows that this battle cannot be won in the natural, but he also knows that every time he raises his rod, God’s power is released to bring victory to His people.

     We too have an enemy who attacks us when we least expect it.  How often do we progress in our spiritual journey and, just as we are about to enter into God’s presence, something happens that sets us back to where we were before.  We become discouraged and begin to doubt whether we will ever experience the fullness of His presence, which we so long for.  Our spiritual enemy will do everything in his power to stop us from reaching that place.  There seems to be nothing we can do in the natural realm, but, like Moses, we have a weapon that will release the power of the Almighty God – prayer. 

     As long as Moses holds up his rod, Joshua is victorious; as soon as Moses lowers his rod, the enemy gains the upper hand.  The real battle is not fought on the battlefield below but on the top of the hill, where Moses is.  And it’s no different with us.  When everything suddenly appears to go wrong, when problems take over at work or in our family lives, when we are struck with sudden illness – all these things can cause us to lose focus and to regress in our spiritual journey.  Rather than respond to such setbacks through natural means, we need to recognise our spiritual enemy (Ephesians 6:12).  We need to be vigilant and resist him (1 Peter 5:8-9).  We need to be aware of his devices, so he cannot take advantage of us (2 Corinthians 2:11).  And as Moses lifted up his rod, we need to lift up our voices in prayer.

     Eventually, however, Moses’ arms become weary and he struggles to hold up the rod on his own.   Aaron and Hur have to come to his assistance.  They sit him down on a stone and hold up his arms, one on each side.  None of us can manage on our own; we all need each other.  Just as Aaron and Hur bore up the arms of Moses, so that he could continue to hold up the rod, we too need to bare one another up in prayer.  That is why we are encouraged to pray together (Matthew 18:19-20).  That is why we have corporate prayer meetings, where we pray for one another’s needs.  That is why we are exhorted to pray continually for our spiritual leaders (Ephesians 6:18-19; Romans 15:30).  The victory is ours – but it comes only through prayer!                                            

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter August 2020 Part 2

Into His image

So they took their journey from Succoth and camped in Etham at the edge of the wilderness.  And the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, so as to go by day and night.  He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night from before the people. (Exodus 12:20-22)

     When the Israelites left Egypt, where they had been in bondage for almost 400 years, God led them on their way.  In Moses, He had given them a leader to follow, but He wanted all of them to know that He Himself was showing the way.  That is why He gave them a visible sign of His presence to follow: a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night. 

     As children of God today, we too have God’s presence in our lives.  We may not follow a visible cloud that goes before us, but we have God’s Spirit to guide us.  Just like God had a route planned for the Israelites to travel, He has a plan and purpose for us.  He does not leave us to wander about blindly, hoping that somehow we will get where we should be.  God directs our every step by His Spirit – but will we follow?

     The Israelites had their doubts about God’s leading, when they reached the shore of the Red Sea.  Having followed God’s cloud, they suddenly found themselves closed in with the Egyptians hard on their heels.  What would have gone on in their minds?  Why had God brought them to this place?  Was His plan really to destroy them? 

     We too may be led by the Holy Spirit to a place in our lives where there seems to be no going further.  We may begin to question: was it really God who led me here?  Did I get it wrong?  Or, even worse: does God not care about me?  Has he led me to this place in my life to abandon me?

     The Israelites asked these questions.  They complained to Moses, saying it would have been better for them to stay in bondage rather than die in the wilderness (Exodus 14:11).  Yet God knew what He was doing.  Not long after, they watched from a place of safety, as God caused the water of the Red Sea to come crashing down on their pursuers, killing every one of them.  God had led them to this place, not to destroy them, but their enemies.  He always fights for His own, even if it may not seem so at the moment.

     As Christians we can become discouraged when we turn our focus from God’s greater purpose to our immediate circumstances.  However, as God was with the Israelites when He led them through the Red Sea and the wilderness, so He is also with us in every circumstance.  As He brought them to Mount Horeb to make them into His special people, so He also wants to bring us into His presence.  He is able to make all things work together for good to those who love Him, to those who are the called according to His purpose.  He has predestined those whom He foreknew to be conformed to the image of His Son. (Romans 8:28-29)   

     God has our eternal destiny in mind, and therefore the shaping of our character is of greater significance than our immediate comfort.  It is precisely through the trials we experience that we are refined.  As we are tested in the fire of life’s adversities, the genuineness of our faith is revealed. (1 Peter 1:7) 

     Are you questioning God?  Are you asking why He has brought you to the place you find yourself in?  Do you doubt His love and His purpose for your life because things presently seem difficult?  Well, think again.  As long as we follow God’s leading, He will protect us and He will fight our battles.  As long as we remain in His will and follow the leading of His Spirit, we will overcome by His power. 

     We may not always understand what God is doing, but if we trust in Him we will experience His loving presence and enter into His purpose, no matter what our circumstances seem to suggest.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)  Let us allow the Creator to shape us into the perfect image which He always intended for us – that image which was revealed in His Son Jesus Christ our Saviour when He took on human form. (Phil. 2:7)

Newsletter August 2020 Part 1

A God so near

And Moses went up to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain, saying, “Thus you shall say to the house of Jacob, and tell the children of Israel: ‘You have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles’ wings and brought you to Myself.  Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.  And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.’  These are the words which you shall speak to the children of Israel.”  (Exodus 19:3-6)

    When the Almighty God delivered Israel from slavery to lead them into the land He had promised their Father Abraham for His descendants He first brought them to Mount Horeb.  For Israel to enter God’s promise they first had to meet the God of the promise.  YHWH, the eternal I AM, had revealed Himself to Moses on this mountain in a burning bush and had sent him back to Egypt to lead the Israelites here.  God had said to Moses that He would certainly be with him, and that the sign of Moses’ calling would be the people’s encounter with Him: “When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” (Exodus 3:12)

     Now here they were and God spoke to them through His servant Moses, reminding them of their deliverance and declaring to them His purpose for them.  He was calling them into a loving relationship with Him – that relationship which had been lost when humanity desired independence from their Creator over God’s presence and blessing.  He had displayed His power over their oppressors and had set them free.  Now it was for them to learn what freedom means.

     Freedom is often (mis)understood as the absence of any restrictions.  Freedom, for many today, means that I can do whatever I want, whatever feels good.  So why does God give restrictions?  Why did He give Israel the Law?  It is precisely so that they could remain free.  Freedom always means responsibility, and God’s laws were designed to enable His people to live responsibly – to fulfil their God-given purpose and potential through a loving relationship with Him and with one another.

     God wants those who have answered His call to be His special treasure.  God wants to form a people of priests, worshippers, who will reflect His glory and show His love and mercy to a world bound by sin.  God’s election of Israel was never for Israel alone; neither is our Salvation for us alone.  God wants His people to be a light to all the world.  From the beginning, when He called their father Abraham out of idolatry and promised him, against all the odds, that he would make from him a great nation.  He would bless Abraham’s descendants and make them a blessing to all other nations.

   This is why God gave a law – restrictions that would regulate relationships and thus ensure justice in a world of hatred and injustice.  As the Israelites prepared to enter into the land of God’s promise Moses reminded them to be careful to observe [these statutes]; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the peoples who will hear all these statutes, and say, ‘Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.’  “For what great nation is there that has God so near to it, as the Lord our God is to us, for whatever reason we may call upon Him? (Deut. 4:7-8)  Thus the nations around them would see God’s goodness and mercy and would come to know Him through them.

     In His last speech to His disciples before going to the cross, Jesus admonished them to love one another.  It was by their love for one another that the world would see Him and His purpose for all humanity.  The world today is desperately seeking unity and justice, but true unity and true justice can only come through God.   He is the Creator who made all things good.  Therefore He is the only One who can restore what humanity’s rebellion has destroyed.  As Israel were reminded of their deliverance and resulting responsibility through the Scriptures and feasts, let us be reminded, by looking to the cross, of God’s salvation and His call to love Him and one another, and to be His light in this world of darkness.

Newsletter July 2020 Part 2

Restoration

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,

We were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

When the people of Judah returned from captivity it was a time of celebration and hope.  They had suffered in Babylon and had yearned for 70 years for this return to their home country.  For them it felt like a dream can finally come true and they were ready to praise God for His deliverance.  Their tears had finally turned into laughter, their sorrow into joy.  Surely everything would be different now; surely they would experience the blessing and increase they had been praying for. 

     We too have been sowing in tears as we have not been able to see each other during the lockdown, and many have been affected by the pandemic through illness and loss of loved ones.  We now look to the future with hope as we are about to return to our church building for public worship.  However, things will not be the same.  As in the days of rebuilding Jerusalem, the enemy is still present.  We have to be on our guard as the threat of a new spike in Covid-19 infections persists and there is even talk of a second wave and the possibility of another lockdown.  Like Ezra, Zerubbabel and Nehemiah, we must always remain alert while we celebrate and rebuild.  We must follow strict guidelines while worshipping together. 

     And like Judah in those days, we will face further trials and afflictions.  For them the intertestamental period between the return from captivity and the coming of Jesus was a time of foreign oppression and desecration of their Temple and prohibition of their worship under the Seleucid king Antiochus Epiphanes.  While we may not (yet) face such trials, we can expect that the aftermath of this pandemic will be one of economic hardship and resulting societal issues.  We may well see a rise in crime and social conflict, and the world is increasingly rejecting many of the values we as Christians stand for.  We don’t know the future, but we recognise that the Saviour has come and that He is with us, no matter what may come.

     As we celebrate our return to public worship and rebuild what the enemy has destroyed, let us stay focused on God.  Let us thank Him for seeing us through this time of lockdown.  Let us stand together to confront any forces that try defeat God’s people.  Let us trust that God is able to keep us, no matter what we may come against us.  Jesus promised never to leave nor forsake those who trust in Him.  Through Him we are more than conquerors.  Nothing can separate us from His love!  And let us be ready to receive those who will come to us inquiring about the hope, faith and peace they see reflected in our lives.