Newsletter August 2023 Part 2

Word and life

 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.  But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict.  For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.  But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.  For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness.  Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.  But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. (2 Thessalonians 2:1-8)

     The apostle Paul had been called by the Spirit of God to preach the gospel in Macedonia. (Acts 16:9-10)  He had won people of different walks of life to Jesus Christ and established fledgling churches in Philippi and Thessalonica, but due to the persecution that immediately arose, he was not able to stay with these believers for long.  During his time with them, however, he poured into their lives, teaching them in word and by his example.  To him, these new believers were like children who needed nurturing to grow spiritually.  What would he do to ensure they did not succumb to the pressures of life and opposition from those hostile to Jesus? 

     It is this concern that prompted Paul to write the letter to the Thessalonians, reminding them of the message of salvation, commending them for their openness to receive it and their example in sharing it with others, and pointing to his own conduct as an example for Christian living and ministry.  And it was this concern that caused him to send Timothy back to Thessalonica to find out how they were doing.

     Ministry is about sharing the truth of God’s word, but it is also about sharing our lives with others.  Church is not just a place where we go on Sunday mornings to receive an infusion that will hopefully see us through another difficult week.  It is not just an opportunity to listen to a few worship songs and a sermon – something that can easily be done online.  True church is community, a space where we can share the hope we have found in Jesus and our lives, with all the joys and struggles we experience as we follow Jesus.

     Paul recognised this and therefore he wrote, we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.  Yet he also realised his own limitations; he could not be with them all the time and they would have to learn to receive that same support from his fellow workers to who he entrusted their care and, ultimately, from each other.  New leadership would have to arise from among them, modelled on what they had seen in him. 

     It was on that same journey, just before receiving the call to go to Macedonia, that Paul met Timothy. (Acts 16:1-3)  He and Barnabas had decided to go separate ways, and Paul’s small missionary team of ministers needed new recruits whom he could train up for the great task that lay ahead; and God provided, as He always does.  Paul took Timothy under his wings like a son, and soon this young man became Paul’s most trusted fellow worker.  Writing later from prison to the Philippian church, the first he had established together with Silas and Timothy in Macedonia, Paul could say confidently, I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.  For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. (19-20) and “you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. (v.22)        

     Today God is still looking for Timothys – those who are willing to answer His call to serve by sharing His word and their own lives, those who will pour into others what God has given them.  Can you hear Him calling you?           

Newsletter August 2023 Part 1

true worship

 Then Nadab and Abihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer and put fire in it, put incense on it, and offered profane fire before the Lord, which He had not commanded them. 2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured them, and they died before the Lord. 3 And Moses said to Aaron, “This is what the Lord spoke, saying: By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; And before all the people
I must be glorified.’”  So Aaron held his peace. (Leviticus 10:1-3)

     When God led the Israelites out of Egypt, He first led them to Mount Horeb, where He would reveal Himself to them and they would receive His laws.  There God instructed Moses to build a Tabernacle as a dwelling place for His presence among them.  He also appointed Aaron, Moses’ brother, and His family to serve as priests before Him.  It would be their job to offer sacrifices for sin and sacrifices of worship to Him.     

     God’s instructions for building the tabernacle were very specific (design, measurements, materials, etc.) as were His instructions for worship.  All this was to teach the people that their God, who had delivered them and called to serve and worship Him, was holy.  He could not be approached on their terms, but only on His.  Everything had to be done according to His specifications.  Every sacrifice had its particular purpose and timing, and the incense that the priests would burn continually as an act of worship had to be made to a precise recipe and it was to be used for worship alone. (Exodus 30:1-9 & 34-38)

     So Aaron and his sons did what God had appointed them to do, until one day two of them, Nadab and Abihu offered what God saw as profane.  We are not told exactly what it was that God disapproved of, but evidently the offering that was presented to Him did not please Him, and consequently fire of judgment went out from God and they died. 

     God is still the same: He is holy and He can only be approached on His terms.  As sinful people, we cannot come into His holy presence of ourselves.  That is why He sent Jesus as our sacrifice, that through His death our guilt could be taken away and we could enter into His presence, not by our own righteousness, but by the righteousness of the Son of God. (Philippians 3:9 & 2 Corinthians 5:21)  For this reason we can approach our God to worship Him in spirit and in truth.  (John 4:23-24) 

     Before this tragic event, Nadab and Abihu had entered God’s tabernacle to offer incense many times.  Until that day, it appears, God had been pleased with their offering.  So what had gone wrong this time?  Had they perhaps become too familiar with their task?  Had it become a routine rather than sincere worship to their God – the almighty Creator?   Had they taken a short cut when mixing the spices and fragrances instead of adhering to God’s instructions?  Or did they simply come with a casual, irreverent attitude?  Whatever the reason, God was displeased with their offering – so displeased that they were consumed by the fire of His glory. 

     Like the Israelites in the days of Moses, we too can grow familiar with what we do in worship.  What once came from a sincere heart of gratefulness towards God can turn into a routine – be it on a Sunday morning or in our private time of worship.  We can lose focus by succumbing to distractions or cut our worship short in order to attend to things we regard as important.  Whatever our reasons, God will not accept anything less than true worship from a grateful and reverent heart. 

     So let us worship God in spirit and in truth – whether in our private time with Him or when we gather together as a church congregation.  Let us come to service on time with our hearts prepared to meet the almighty God, our Saviour.  Let us make it our priority to draw near to our Maker and defer all those conversations that seem so urgent until after our audience with the King of the universe.  Let us make sure that Jesus’ words, “These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honour Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me” are not true of us. (Matthew 15:8, quoted from Isaiah 29:13) 

     We may not be consumed by fire like Nadab and Abihu, but neither will we enjoy the true life only God can give if our hearts are divided.  God expects us to approach Him single-heartedly with reverence and awe.  He is holy, so let us give Him the worship He is due – in spirit and in truth.

Newsletter July 2023 Part 2

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 time, we may easily feel as they did.  The general pressures of life seem to be getting greater with the cost of living rising and many people genuinely struggling to make ends meets.  Our society seems in turmoil as trust in and respect for authority is diminishing and many family relationships are at breaking point.  In addition, the world around us seems to be turning increasingly against Christians as it rejects traditional values.

     The Book of Psalms contains many laments, cries to God in times of distress.  Usually such psalms end on a positive note, as the psalmist recalls God’s faithfulness and consequently turns his focus back on God and on the hope of His deliverance.  This particular 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).

Newsletter July 2023 Part 1

Conformed or not conformed

 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)

     When Nebuchadnezzar, the king of Babylon, conquered Jerusalem in 586 B.C. he looted the temple of God and took its precious articles to his home country to be used in the worship of its idols.  (Dan. 1:1ff)  He also took some of the most gifted young nobles of Israel as captives and instructed his chief officer Ashpenaz to form them into a new elite for his kingdom.  He gave them Babylonian names and presented the best food from the king’s table to them, hoping that after a three-year period of training they would be ready to serve him.  However, the young men from Judah were determined to remain faithful to their God and keep their identity as His people, and so they refused to eat what was unclean according to the Law. 

     Ashpenaz feared that they would grow weak and that the king would notice this and would punish him with death.  So he urged them to eat, but Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah made an agreement with him: they 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 He did.  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.

     As God’s people today, we live in a world that seeks to shape us into its image.  The enemy of God, the devil, constantly tries to lure us through temptation, pressure and fear in order to distract us from serving the Lord.  Before we know it, we find ourselves squeezed into the mould to this world and serving its idols rather than the living and true God. (1 Thess. 1:9)  This is why Paul pleads with the believers in Rome that they present their bodies to God as living sacrifices for God’s glory.  He warns them, and us, not to be shaped by the surrounding world but instead to be transformed by God’s Spirit so we can fulfil His perfect will for our lives. 

     As Daniel received spiritual understanding of God’s purposes, we need our minds to be transformed to think God’s way in order for us to understand His purpose for us and the world within which we live as foreigners.  We are citizens of God’s heavenly kingdom and, as such, His ambassadors in this world.  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 his God first in everything.  Therefore, when Nebuchadnezzar had a dream that none of the wise men of Babylon could interpret, it was Daniel who interpreted it to him.  (Dan. 2:1ff)  Giving glory to God, the Creator and Ruler of the universe and the source of all wisdom he explained the dreams meaning.  Consequently the king too gave glory to the God of Israel, the true God of gods, 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 face the challenges of our time.  (Matt. 6:33)  We may be 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.  With God, however, there are no such limitations!  Let us therefore always put Him first, live in obedience to Him and allow Him to transform us into the perfect image of Christ.  As long as we are in this world, let us give ourselves as sacrifices to Him as He gave Himself a sacrifice for us.  In doing so we will impact those around us with His power and love rather than be impacted by their sinful ways.

Newsletter June 2023 Part 2

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.      

      We too are surrounded by opposing forces.  It is important for us to be aware of what is coming against us in respect of social, political and economic challenges and, particularly in respect of the increasing attacks being mounted by the spiritual forces of darkness against God’s people.  However, like Jehoshaphat, we must immediately turn our focus on God, the sovereign Creator and Ruler of the Universe.  Rather than fear and become discouraged, we need to rest in the assurance that God will fight for His own.  It is not by our strength and ability that we overcome, but by our surrendering to Him and His purpose – to reveal Himself to the world He created.  God can confound our enemies if we only believe His word and praise His name as the people of Judah did.   Come what may, God will always fight for those who put their trust in Him.  So let us watch and pray together.  Let us as one body united by the Spirit keep our eyes continuously on the almighty God revealed in our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.   

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter June 2023 Part 1

God’s voice from the fire

So it was, when you heard the voice from the midst of the darkness, while the mountain was burning with fire, that you came near to me, all the heads of your tribes and your elders.  And you said: ‘Surely the Lord our God has shown us His glory and His greatness, and we have heard His voice from the midst of the fire. We have seen this day that God speaks with man; yet he still lives.  Now therefore, why should we die? For this great fire will consume us; if we hear the voice of the Lord our God anymore, then we shall die.  For who is there of all flesh who has heard the voice of the living God speaking from the midst of the fire, as we have, and lived?  You go near and hear all that the Lord our God may say, and tell us all that the Lord our God says to you, and we will hear and do it.’  (Deut. 5:23-27)

     Moses spoke these words to the Israelites who were about to enter the land God had promised them.  He addresses them, but in fact it is the generation of their parents that had heard God’s voice and lived.  Nonetheless, that entire previous generation, with the exception of Joshua and Caleb, were unable to enter Canaan, instead dying in the course of their 40-year sojourn in the desert.   It was because they had drawn back in fear rather than near to God in order to hear Him speak to them that their faith later failed.  It was because they preferred to receive God’s word indirectly through the mediation of Moses that they did not believe they would be able to overcome their enemy. 

     So what would this next generation do – those to whom it was granted to take the land?  Would they truly know God and hear His voice?  Would they walk in obedience to Him?  As we know from the Book of Joshua, this new generation failed to obey.  Instead of destroying all the inhabitants of Canaan, they left some alive and soon ended up following after their gods and emulating their sinful ways.

     The Jewish feast of Pentecost commemorates the Sinai Covenant and the giving of the Law – that momentous encounter with God which Moses was referring to in the passage above.  By appearing to him in the burning bush, God had already shown Moses that He desires to dwell with His creation without it being consumed by His presence.  His desire was a people who would respond to His call and give themselves entirely to Him, so that He could be their God and they could be His people.  Yet instead of coming near, they drew back in fear.

     It is no coincidence that God chose Pentecost, that time when Jewish worshippers from every country and language were gathered together in Jerusalem to commemorate the giving of the Law, as the time to pour out His Spirit on the disciples in the form of divided tongues of fire.  God once again was speaking from the fire, but this time His presence remained on each of the disciples, communicating to and through each of them, so that all those present could hear them declare the wonderful works of God in their own languages.  And they were able to receive His Spirit without being consumed.

     God’s intention has always been to dwell in the people He calls to Himself.  He wants to speak to each of His own individually, so that they can hear Him and walk in obedience to His voice.  However, God’s presence cannot dwell with sin.  Where sin prevails, His fire consumes.  Therefore He first had to deal with sin by providing the ultimate sacrifice Himself – Jesus.

     When John the Baptist saw Jesus of Nazareth, he exclaimed, “Behold, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”  (John 1:29)  He then went on to testify, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him.  I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.” (John 1:32-33)

     After Peter had explained on that Pentecost what was happening, those listening to him asked, “What shall we do?”  The apostle replied, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.” (Acts 2:38-39) 

     God wants to dwell in His people by His Spirit – in all who will turn to Him and call on the name of His Son Jesus for the forgiveness of sin through His sacrifice on the cross.              

Newsletter May 2023 Part 2

Advancing God’s kingdom

All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  Matthew 28:18-20

     These were the last words Jesus spoke to His disciples before He ascended into heaven.  He had completed His time on earth.  He had fulfilled His purpose.  Through His death on the cross, He had provided the sacrifice needed to reconcile humanity to God.  He who knew no sin had become the sin offering for the world, so that all who believe in Him could be transformed into the righteousness of God.  From now on, the disciples were to be His ambassadors, proclaiming the gospel and imploring men and women to be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ. (2 Cor. 5:20-21)

     Jesus begins by telling them that all authority has been given to Him.  He has been seated at the right hand [of the Father] in heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come. (Eph. 1:21)  From this position of authority, He commissions them to proclaim the gospel.

     Jesus had called them - ordinary people, like you and me, from every walk of life – to be with Him (Mark 3:14).  For three and a half years, they had travelled with Him, observed Him, heard Him.  They had listened to His teachings, they had watched Him perform miracles, heal the sick, cast out demons, and even raise the dead.  At times He had rebuked them when their own ideas and ambitions had taken over.  They had shared in his popularity, as the crowds in Jerusalem welcomed Him with cheers of “Hosanna!”, and they had deserted Him when the shouts later changed to “Crucify Him!”  When they had lost all hope, He had appeared to them – alive, risen from the dead.  He had restored their joy by conquering the last enemy, death (1 Cor. 15:26) and putting an end to all authority and power that would oppose God.   

     Next Jesus commissions them to go out into the world and to call others – from Jerusalem to Samaria and to the ends of the earth. (Acts 1:8)  As He had previously called them and discipled them, He now charges them to disciple others: to tell them the message of the cross, to bring them into a relationship with God, to baptise them as a sign of their commitment, and to teach them to observe all they have learnt from Him.  As He had shared His life with them, they are now to share their lives with others.

     Finally, Jesus gives them a promise: ... and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  He gives them a formidable task: He challenges a handful of ordinary men to bring a lost world back to God.  They had seen the unbelief and the open hostility He had encountered.  He had warned them that they too would experience opposition.  But He also gave them the promise that He would never leave them nor forsake them.  If they now do what He has commissioned them to do they can be sure of His presence wherever they go.  Before going to the cross, He had promised to send them the Holy Spirit, the Comforter, who would live in them.  He would come to them so that they would never again be alone. (John 14:15-18).   Now they are to wait for the Spirit, and once He has come to them, they will be able to carry out their commission in His power. (Acts 1:8)

    Do we want to experience His presence?  Do we want to know His power and authority? Then let us hear His voice that calls us to Go and make disciples of all the nations ...  As we obey His command, we will also hear His promise ... and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.  The world is becoming increasingly hostile and restrictive towards God’s church and the message of salvation in Jesus Christ, and there is therefore an increased urgency to proclaim the good news of His kingdom.  Do you sense this urgency? Who will you disciple?  Who will you tell about Jesus?  Who will you disciple by teaching them to live for His glory by the power of His Spirit until He returns to judge His world in righteousness? 

                                                                                                                                    Pastor Konrad

Newsletter May 2023 Part 1

Rebuilding the wall

 And they said to me, “The survivors who are left from the captivity in the province are there in great distress and reproach. The wall of Jerusalem is also broken down, and its gates are burned with fire.” (Nehemiah 1:3)

     As Nehemiah was serving in Susa in the palace of the Persian king, some men came from Jerusalem and reported to him the state of the city and the plight of their Jewish compatriots who were living among the ruins of that once great city.  King Cyrus of Persia had issued a decree allowing the Jews to return home, but the task of rebuilding was great and made even more difficult by the opposition they faced from those who had since taken over their land.  When Nehemiah heard the bad news, he immediately turned to God in prayer.  He repented, on behalf of the people of Judah, of the sin that had led to their exile, and then asked the Persian king for permission to go to Jerusalem and rebuild its defensive wall. 

     We too face an enemy, albeit an invisible one.  When we look at our lives, our church and our community, we too see distress and reproach.  As God’s people, we expect our lives to be blessed and yet we so often feel overcome by the adverse circumstances we face, not realising that our spiritual enemy, the devil, is doing everything to hold us back in our walk with God and experience the life of fullness we have inherited in Christ.  Maybe we too need to repent of sins we have committed, of our self-centred attitude, or simply of our complacency when it comes to matters of God’s kingdom.  What are our priorities?  What are we doing to rebuild the walls that the enemy has torn down?

     Nehemiah’s initial response was to weep, to lament the situation, but his sadness moved him to action.  He prayed and soon realised that he himself would be the answer to his prayer.  God was calling him to leave the comfort of a foreign king’s palace, where he held the eminent position of cupbearer, and return to Jerusalem to rebuild its dilapidated wall.

     What is your response when you see the distress and hardship in your life and in the lives of those around you?  Do you simply lament and feel sorrow for yourself?  Or do you turn to the Almighty in prayer?  Do you recognise that He has called you to labour in prayer to rebuild what the enemy has destroyed? 

     As our lives are being impacted by the present economic decline and society becoming increasingly hostile towards God’s people, we need to focus on prayer more than ever.  For this reason, we will be holding prayer meetings more frequently and encouraging all to engage.  However, let us not be limited to those meetings; let us seek God in our own homes in our own time.  Let us experience God’s victory in Christ as we tap into His power through concerted prayer.     

     Before Jesus went to the cross He said to His disciples, “…the ruler of this world is coming, and he has nothing in Me. (John 14:30).  Let us share in Jesus’ victory that He purchased for us when He disarmed principalities and powers, [and] made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in [the cross].  Let us stand against the wiles of the devil (Ephesians 6:11b) and, through persistent prayer, build God’s wall of protection around ourselves, our church and around all those the Lord is calling in our community.      

               Pastor Konrad

Newsletter April 2023 Part 2

The presence of the risen Lord

In Luke 24:13-35, we read of two men who were walking from Jerusalem to the village of Emmaus.  They had been disciples of Jesus, but their faith had just suffered a huge blow.  Their teacher, whom they had believed to be the Messiah, had been arrested and sentenced to death as a false prophet.  Then, however, three days later, they had heard from other disciples that His body was no longer in the grave where it had been laid.  One of the women, Mary, even claimed to have seen Him alive and spoken to Him.  Could it really be true that Jesus had risen from the dead as He had foretold?  Or was it simply a figment of a desperate woman’s imagination? 

     The two men were confused.  And as they discussed the matter between them, they were suddenly joined by another man, who asked them about their conversation and the reason for their sadness.  When they explained what had happened and what they had heard, the stranger began to expound to them the Scriptures, showing that the Messiah, their Saviour, had to die and rise again from the dead.  They were so captivated by what He said to them, that they would not let Him go further, but insisted that He stay with them for the night.  And when they sat down to eat, He took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them, as He had done with the twelve on the night when He was betrayed.  And immediately their eyes were opened and they recognised Jesus.

    How can we encounter the risen Lord?  How can we experience His presence in our busy lives?  By focusing our thoughts on Him; by reading His Word with an open heart and allowing Him to reveal its truth to us.  And when He speaks to us, we must not simply shelve what we have learnt and return to our daily business.  Like the two disciples in the account, we must ask Him to stay.  Jesus will not force Himself into our lives; He waits to be invited.  We must desire His presence above all else if we are to encounter Him, as these two disciples did. 

     As soon as they recognised Jesus, He vanished from their sight.  Yet now they were no longer left to speculate.  Now they didn’t have to rely on rumours about Him.  Now they knew for themselves: Jesus had truly risen.  He was alive, and He had appeared to them.  Now they had news to share.  Their previous plans no longer mattered.  All they wanted was to tell others, so they too could share in their joy.  They immediately rushed back to Jerusalem and went to the house where the eleven were gathered, only to find that Jesus had meanwhile appeared to Simon Peter as well.  And as they shared their own experience, Jesus suddenly stood in the midst of them all.

     What about you?  Have you had a true encounter with Jesus like these two men?  Do you make time to read His Word and allow Him to speak to you through it?  Do you seek Him with all your heart, putting everything else aside?  Do you invite His presence to abide with you?  Or do you merely depend on what you have heard in church, from the testimonies of others, or in Christian books or media? 

     Jesus wants to show Himself to you.  Don’t miss the moment.  Don’t let Him go on further; invite Him to abide with you.  He is looking for those who want His presence more than anything else.  They will know Him and be able to speak to others about Him from their own personal experience.  And as they do so, He will be there, right in the midst.  Are you such a one?      

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter April 2023 Part 1

He’s alive

 For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. (1 Corinthians 15:3-5)    

    At this time of the year we will again focus on remembering the death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.  The apostle Paul emphasised the preaching of the death and resurrection of Jesus because He understood – by revelation of the Holy Spirit – that it was the most significant event ever to have taken place in the history of humanity.    

    We can probably think of many individuals and events that “made history” – events by which something was set in motion that could never again be reversed, thus changing the course of human history.  Kingdoms that were once great and influential came to nothing as others rose up to take their place.  Discoveries and inventions opened up new doors, creating new opportunities, but also new dangers.

    All these events took place in the physical realm; they changed only the course of the history of this world.  However, when Jesus cried out on the cross of Calvary, “It is finished!” and His physical body died, the course of history was changed in the invisible, spiritual realm.  This moment that the prophets had foretold marked a change that could truly never be reversed.  The penalty of sin had been paid so that a lost world could now be redeemed.  The rule of Satan, which had brought so much misery to humanity and all of creation, had come to an end.  From now on humanity no longer had to remain subject to his devices.  Through His sacrifice on the cross, God’s sinless Son had taken away our guilt, thus restoring us to God. 

    And He did not remain in the grave.  On the third day He rose again from the dead, demonstrating the power of God through His resurrection.  Because of this one event all those who believe have now been saved from sin and death and have received the hope of eternal life.  History had truly been changed! 

    The real issues of victory and defeat are therefore not decided on the physical battlefields of this world, but in the spiritual realm.  Through Jesus’ resurrection the real war has been won on behalf of humanity.  The victory over sin and Satan’s power is available to all those who believe and receive it.  Paul therefore prayed for the believers in Ephesus that they would realise what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in heavenly places, far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion …

(Eph. 1:19-20)

    As we remember the events of Calvary, let us look to our Saviour, knowing that He has already overcome the world for us!  And remember, with God nothing is impossible. Earthly kingdoms rise and fall, but God’s kingdom remains forever.  As it is in heaven it will be on earth.

Pastor Konrad 

Newsletter March 2023 Part 2

Guided by the Spirit 

     Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. 7 After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them. 8 So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas. 9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them. (Acts 16:6-10)

     Have you ever had a plan and somehow things just didn’t seem to work out.  If so, what did you do?  Did you try to force things?  Or did you wonder if God might be shutting a door because His plan was different to yours?  Did you turn to God and ask for direction? 

     Paul and his companions had a plan.  The next station on their missionary trip was to be Asia, a region they hadn’t preach in until then.  Surely the people there needed to hear the Gospel message just as others had.  So why did the door seem shut?  Why did the Spirit of God forbid them to preach in that region?

     Sometimes things seem to make sense to us.  We have a plan and pursue it until we achieve our goal.  But what if God’s plan is different?  What if He has a different priority?  Whether in ministry work or in our personal career or family life, we often waste time trying to achieve the goals that we have set ourselves, when God’s plan for us is quite different.  Yes, Asia needed to hear the Gospel, but not now.  Just across the sea, in Macedonia, the entrance to the European continent, there were people ready to receive the message of the cross, and God wanted to use Paul to bring it to them. 

     Following Paul’s vision of a Macedonian man pleading for them to come, the group did not hesitate to obey God’s leading.  And as they arrived in the city of Philippi, they encountered Lydia, who readily received the gospel and invited them to her house.  Everything was working out just as one would expect if God is leading.

     However, events took a different turn.  A slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination followed the missionaries, crying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.”  Despite the truth of her words, Paul recognised their demonic source and cast the evil spirit out of her.  This upset her owners, as they had made money with her “gift” of fortune-telling.  Paul and Silas were arrested, beaten and thrown into prison.  Was God still there?  Were they still in His will?  Why then were things suddenly going so wrong?

     Paul and Silas knew who had called them; and they knew that He had called them to Macedonia.  If God had allowed them to be arrested and ill-treated as they followed the Spirit’s leading, there had to be a purpose behind their ordeal.  And so they worshipped in the midst of their trouble.  And God intervened spectacularly: the prison was shaken and their chains and those of all the prisoners fell off.  The jailer, about to commit suicide when he realised what had happened, heard the gospel and, instead, found new life in Jesus Christ.  Their stay in Philippi finally ended with a victory for God’s kingdom and embarrassment for those who had unwittingly violated the rights of these Roman citizens by beating and imprisoning them without trial.

     God knows whom to send.  He has His purpose and His timetable for every one of us.  If we follow His leading we will fulfil that purpose, even though the journey won’t always be comfortable.  We don’t see the whole picture, and we don’t know what awaits us in the future, but God does.  Let us seek Him and trust the leading of His Spirit.  For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (Romans 8:14)                                                             

                                                Pastor Konrad

Newsletter March 2023 Part 1

First place    

Now as He was going out on the road, one came running, knelt before Him, and asked Him, “Good Teacher, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life?”  So Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good but One, that is, God.  You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery,’ ‘Do not murder,’ ‘Do not steal,’ ‘Do not bear false witness,’ ‘Do not defraud,’ ‘Honour your father and your mother.’” And he answered and said to Him, “Teacher, all these things I have kept from my youth.” 

(Mark 10:17-20)

     As Jesus travels towards Jerusalem where He will be arrested and crucified, He is approached by this man, commonly known as the “rich young ruler” (cf. Matthew 19:20 & Luke 18:18).  The man asks Jesus what he must do to inherit eternal life.  He appears to be quite sincere: he addresses Jesus respectfully as “Good Teacher” and nothing is mentioned that would suggest ulterior motives.  This man clearly knows the requirements of the Law and seeks to fulfil these to the best of his ability, yet something is lacking in his life.  He senses that there must be more to serving God than he has experienced so far.

     Then Jesus, looking at him, loved him, and said to him, “One thing you lack: Go your way, sell whatever you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, take up the cross, and follow Me.” (Mark 10:21)

     Jesus knows this young man; and He loves him.  He knows that his trust is in his possessions, and therefore He challenges him to let go of them.  For the young man, however, this is asking too much.  He would probably have been willing to give away something of what he had.  But everything?  Surely God would not require such a great sacrifice of him.  Had God not blessed him with his wealth in the first place?  Is God not a rewarder of those who serve Him?   

     Yes, God rewards of those who seek His face.  He blesses those who serve and worship Him.  But God wants us to trust in Him alone.  He knows our hearts; He knows where our affections are.  And He will challenge us on the things that are dearest to us.  Are we willing to forsake all for Him?  Will we set our minds on things above or on things on the earth?  (Colossians 3:2)  Do we find confidence and security in what we have and can do?  Or do we rely entirely on the Eternal One, the Creator, who holds the universe in the palm of His hand?  

     God has blessed us in many ways.  Every good and perfect gift comes from Him. (James 1:17)  Yet we are not to focus our lives on the blessings we have received - our careers, our wealth, our reputations, our ministries, or even our families. God wants to know that our sufficiency is in Him alone.  He will test us with the things dearest to us.  He will challenge us to see where our affections really are.

     So what if we do put God before everything else?  What if we really give up all to follow Him?  What if we have truly made Him the centre of our lives and live to fulfil His will rather than our own?  Jesus assures us that there is no one who has left [all] for His sake and the gospel’s, who shall not receive a hundredfold now in this time …and in the age to come, eternal life. (Mark 10:29-30) 

     We can only experience the fullness of God’s presence if we truly make Him the centre of our lives.  Therefore let us live our lives for God.  Let us invest in His kingdom.  Let us not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18). 

     In what area is Jesus challenging you?  Are you like the disciples, who let go of everything to

follow Him?  Or are you like the rich young ruler who held on to what he deemed his and walked away sorrowfully.  Jesus loved him but He could do nothing for him.  One day we will all have to give account and many who are first will be last, and the last first. (Mark 10:31)     

Newsletter February 2023 Part 2

God’s yoke

 Run to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem; see now and know; and seek in her open places if you can find a man, if there is anyone who executes judgment, who seeks the truth, and I will pardon her. (Jeremiah 5:1)

     To avert judgment on His rebellious people, God tells Jeremiah to search for any righteous persons, but the prophet cannot find even one person who seeks truth.  They have all departed from God’s way and refuse to receive correction and return to Him.  Concluding that their obstinance is due to ignorance, Jeremiah decides to go to the great men.  Surely, they should know the way of the LORD, the judgment of their God. (v.5).  However, his expectation is disappointed; those he thought would know better have wilfully rebelled against God.  Instead of remaining in God’s will and thus under His protection, they have broken the yoke and burst the bonds.  Therefore, they have fallen prey to wild animals.  The God whom they rejected has given them over to their enemies.  Soon they will be carried away to Babylon where they will remain for three generations.  After 70 years, when their descendants seek Him with all their heart, the LORD will bring them back to Jerusalem. (Jeremiah 29:14) His mercy will prevail over judgment, and He will again give them a future and a hope. (v.11)

     The story of God’s people is a story about His faithfulness despite their unfaithfulness.  He continuously seeks one who would be able to stand in the gap and intercede on behalf of His people.  Eventually He Himself comes into the world that He created.  The Word of God takes on human flesh and dwells among His people, yet the very ones who should know His promises declared by the prophets over the centuries fail to recognise Him.  Despite the demonstration of His divine power, they reject their Deliverer and King.

     Seeing their unbelief, Jesus responds (Matthew 11:25-27), “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight. All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father. Nor does anyone know the Father except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.  While the seemingly wise reject Jesus, the seemingly ignorant, those who are weak and needy, hear His call, put their trust in Him, and follow Him.  To them He says (vv.28-31), Come to Me, all you who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

     Jesus calls us to come under His yoke – his lordship.  His yoke is not heavy, His intention is not to burden us down.  He wants to guide us in His perfect way so we can enter into His rest.  Breaking His yoke and bursting His bonds of love leaves us lost and wandering in the wilderness, where we are easy prey for the enemy of our souls. 

     God does not call His own to be a lawless people, but to come from a law that could only condemn for sin to the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.  For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 

(Romans 8:3-4)

Newsletter February 2023 Part 1

Led by God’s Spirit

 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”  And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.  If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” (John 20:21-23)

     After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to the disciples as they were assembled with the doors shut for fear.  Despite the empty tomb and Mary’s testimony of her encounter with the risen Lord, they were still afraid of those who had killed Jesus.  Suddenly He stood in their midst, blessed them and commissioned them to continue the task He had begun – to reconcile a sinful world to God through the forgiveness of sins.  It was now for them to proclaim this truth, so that all who believe in Him could receive eternal life.  However, Jesus did not send them in their own strength and ability; He breathed His Spirit on them.  Because they believed in Him and received the forgiveness that His sacrifice on the cross brought they were now able to receive the Holy Spirit. (John 7:38-39)   

     Before going to the cross, Jesus had spoken to His disciples in private about the coming of the Helper.  The word Parakletos used in the original Greek text of John’s gospel and translated in a variety of ways in the English versions, means ‘one who comes alongside’.  Jesus had told the disciples that it was necessary for Him to go away, to ascend to the Father, so that the Spirit could come, not just to dwell with them but in them. (John 14:17)     

     Although Jesus is not with us in body as He was with those first disciples, He is present by the Spirit.  Through the Spirit He comes alongside us and communicates with us concerning every aspect of our lives.  He knows the future and therefore He is able to guide us through the uncertainties we face.  In a time when all we have trusted in seems to have failed, we can have the confidence that the presence of the almighty and all-knowing God is with us.  The Spirit of truth in us keeps us from deception by bringing to our remembrance all that Jesus taught and by telling us things to come. (John 16:13).  Whatever the future may bring, whatever our fears may be, we find peace in the knowledge that the One who has overcome the world remains with us. (John 16:33).

     So how do we hear His voice?  How can we know what God is saying to us?  By seeking Him in prayer.  It is when we take time alone with God, when we shut out the noises of the world around us, that we learn to hear His voice.  As a child recognises the familiar voice of a parent, those who spend time in the arms of the heavenly Father learn to discern the voice and prompting of His Spirit. 

     While He was on earth, Jesus Himself taught us by His example the importance of prayer.  Despite His busy ministry with people following Him, asking Him questions about the kingdom of God, and wanting Him to attend to their physical and spiritual needs, Jesus made time to be alone with His Father.  It was in those times, often at night when others were sleeping, that He received instruction.

     When the religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy, of making Himself equal with God by calling God His Father, Jesus told them, (John 5:19) “... the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does the Son also does in like manner.”  When He was about to leave earth and return from His human existence to His heavenly home, He said to His disciples, (John 16:23), “And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. ... (16:26-27) In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God.  Through the death and resurrection of His Son, God has made the way for His Spirit to live in us; therefore now, as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are the Sons of God. (Romans 8:14)

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter January 2023 Part 2

Fellowship with God and one another

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, concerning the Word of life—the life was manifested, and we have seen, and bear witness, and declare to you that eternal life which was with the Father and was manifested to us—that which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.  And these things we write to you that your joy may be full. (1 John 1:1-4)

     In this opening statement of his letter, the apostle John describes the intimate fellowship he had with Jesus during His time on earth.  The Word of Life, Jesus, came from the heavenly Father and was manifested to John and his fellow disciples.  They were able to see Him, hear Him, and even touch Him.  As reliable witnesses, they were therefore able to declare Him to those who had not had this experience.  However, John goes on to say that his reason for writing is that they might share that same fellowship with God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ – now. 

     Have you ever wondered what it would be like to sit with Jesus, to look in His eyes, and to hear His voice opening up to you the mysteries of the kingdom of God?  Have you ever imagined what it would be like to share with Him from the depth of your heart, knowing that one touch from Him could meet every need?  Wouldn’t it all be so much easier if He were physically present with us?  Well, when John wrote these words, Jesus had died, risen, and ascended to the Father, and yet John declares here in the present tense that his fellowship is with God the Father and with Jesus.

     John understood that Jesus had not really gone away.  On the contrary – He was now more present than ever before.  Before going to the cross to die for the sins of the whole world, Jesus had assured them that He would send His Spirit.  That way, He would not merely be with them but in them (John 14:17).  There would not be a moment in their lives that Jesus would be absent (v.18-20).  This is what John meant when he declared, “and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.”  He was keenly aware of Jesus’ presence constantly being with him and in him.  Therefore he was always able to call on Jesus for guidance, for strength (both physical and spiritual) and for power to do the works of God (John 14:12-13).

     So is this an experience reserved only for John and the other apostles?  Or is it something only a few chosen men or women of God can enjoy today?  Not at all.  John writes this letter because he wants every one of us to come to the realisation that this kind of intimate fellowship is available to all who believe – including you and me!  He wants us all to know the complete joy that can only come through fellowship with Jesus.  He is with us wherever we may be – if only we believe.

     This realisation was particularly important for the early believers at a time when they were facing increasing persecution.  How would they cope without being able to meet as they had been accustomed?  Who would they turn to for spiritual encouragement and direction when the last of those who had been with Jesus from the beginning was no longer with them?  

     We may not be quite in the same situation as they were – at least not now – but we still each need to consider: how would I manage if I were suddenly on my own?  The unexpected Covid lockdown in March 2020 gave us an idea of what that might be like.  Fortunately, as a church, we managed to adapt quickly by holding our services and meetings online until we could meet again face to face.  Nonetheless, it became very clear that we need to strengthen our relationships, both with God and with one another.  For this reason, we are encouraging all who are part of our church community to join one of our small groups.  These groups are not merely about holding meetings but about building deep and lasting relationships, so we can support one another in time of need and encourage one another to keep our eyes on Jesus.  Thus God’s purpose is being fulfilled, as Jesus prayed before going to the cross, that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. (John 17:21)         

Pastor Konrad

Newsletter January 2023 Part 1

His name – His purpose

 So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus.  But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge.  For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.”  (Acts 4:18-19)

     After healing a lame man who was begging at the temple gate, Peter and John explained to the astonished crowd that it was through faith in the name of Jesus, through His power and not their own, that this man had been made well. (Acts 3:11-16)  Yet, while those who had gathered to see the miracle and listen to Peter’s proclamation of Jesus’ resurrection, the religious leaders were greatly disturbed.  They had the two apostles arrested and, the following day, interrogated them.  As they could not deny the miracle, they decided the only way to stop the spread of this message of Jesus was to severely threaten the apostles that from now on they speak to no man in this name.  (Acts 4:17)

     For Peter and John there was no option of silence.  They had witnessed the death and resurrection of Jesus and had heard His commission to preach repentance and remission of sins in His name. (Luke 24:47) They were determined to continue in God’s purpose and advance His kingdom by proclaiming the good news of God’s salvation through Jesus the Messiah.  So they returned to their fellow believers and told them what had happened.  Immediately they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: (Acts 4:24-30) “Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: ‘Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’ “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.  Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

     This prayer reveals the believers’ understanding of God, His purpose fulfilled in Jesus, and their role in that purpose.  Rather than focusing on their own situation and the treat of arrest, beating or even death, they looked to the Creator.  They knew the promises concerning God’s Anointed from the Law, the Prophets and the Psalms (Luke 24:44) and understood that these had been fulfilled through Jesus’ death, resurrection, ascension and the pouring out of His Spirit.  All the worldly powers had gathered together as God had foreordained to accomplish His purpose of giving His Son for the salvation not only of Israel but the entire world.  They knew their role was to continue proclaiming the gospel message, and therefore they asked God to give them boldness in the face of opposition and threat.  And they knew their own limitation: it was not through their own power and godliness (Acts 3:12) that God worked, but through His Spirit in them.  Therefore they asked God to stretch out His hand to heal and do signs and wonders to confirm the message they faithfully proclaimed. 

     In response to their faith in God and faithfulness to His purpose, the Creator demonstrated His power and gave His assurance by shaking the place where they were gathered, and they were all filled afresh with His Spirit.  As a result, they continued to speak in the name of Jesus and many were brought into God’s kingdom and added to His church.

     As we gather together in prayer at the start of a new year, what will our focus be?  Will we pray just to get through difficult times, or will we see the larger picture of God’s purpose to reconcile His world back to Himself in Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:19)

Newsletter December 2022 Part 2

The Sign of His coming

 Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid.  Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people.  For 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.” (Luke 2:8-12)

     When the angel of the Lord announced the sign of Messiah’s birth to these shepherds they would have understood.  Being responsible for tending the flocks in the country surrounding Jerusalem that were raised to meet the constant demand for animal sacrifice, this announcement of a child in a manger would have reminded them of the choice lambs they would separate from the flock and wrap in cloth.  This was to prevent them from incurring any injury that might lead to their rejection by the priests upon inspection.  Hearing the words of the angel, these shepherds realised the connection: the birth of the promised heir to David’s throne was, at the same time, to fulfil prophecy in the book of Isaiah of the one who would give His life as a sacrifice for the sins of God’s people. (Isaiah 53 and Acts 8:32-33).  This child, born like King David in the ‘Daughter of Zion’ Bethlehem (Micah 4:8 and 5:2) yet unnoticed by the religious elite who were anticipating Messiah’s coming, would grow up to fulfil all that was written in the holy scriptures (Luke 24:44-46).  Dying as a sacrifice for sin before rising from the grave, He would finally ascend and be seated at the right hand of His divine Father in majesty until His return to rule on earth, visible to all the world. (Acts 1:11)

     Having seen the child in the stable with His parents, the shepherds went about sharing the good news with everyone they met and glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen. (Luke 2:18-20) Mary, meanwhile, kept all these things and pondered them in her heart.  As she recalled the words the angel Gabriel had spoken to her (Luke 1:31-33), she now had to reconcile the joy of giving birth to the promised Messiah, of whose kingdom there would be no end, with the notion that one day she would see her son suffer and die. 

     Later, when Mary and Joseph took the child to the temple to offer the sacrifice required for the birth of their firstborn, the prophet Simeon blessed Him and, referring to His future rejection and crucifixion, said to Mary “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.” (Luke 2:34-35) We then read on how, at the age of twelve, Jesus sat in the temple with the teachers, discussing the scriptures with them so that all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. (v. 36)   As the family return home to Nazareth, we again read, Mary kept all these things in her heart. (v. 51)  

     Later still, after Jesus’ crucifixion, resurrection and ascension to the heavenly Father, the Apostle Peter wrote (1 Peter1:18-31) you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot.  He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.  Jesus was examined by the religious leaders, Herod and finally Pilate, but no blemish could be found in Him.  Yet He was falsely accused and unjustly judged as a sinner, so He could become our perfect sacrifice for sin. 

     When you consider in your heart the child in the manger, what do you see?  When you reflect on His birth, on His life and teaching, and on His death and resurrection, who is He to you?  Do you recognise and confess Him as your sacrifice for sin and Lord of your life?  Will you take up your cross daily and follow Him, no matter what others may think? Will you share with them the hope that is found only in Jesus?  Or will you be ashamed of Him and His words and find that He too will be ashamed of you on that day when He comes in His own glory, and in His Father’s, and of the holy angels. (Luke 9:23)

Newsletter December 2022 Part 1

The Sun of Righteousness

 “For behold, the day is coming, burning like an oven, and all the proud, yes, all who do wickedly will be stubble.  And the day which is coming shall burn them up,” says the Lord of hosts, “That will leave them neither root nor branch.  But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings; and you shall go out and grow fat like stall-fed calves.  You shall trample the wicked, for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet on the day that I do this,” says the Lord of hosts. (Malachi 4:1-3)

     The book of Malachi concludes the Old Testament by pointing to the New Testament – the coming of the Saviour of Israel and the world.  Like many other prophetic passages these verses speak of the Lord’s Day, - judgment of the wicked and vindication of those who have remained faithful to Him by depending on His grace.  However, there is something unusual about this prophecy: it is the only passage that refers to the promised Messiah as the Sun of Righteousness.

     Throughout the Bible there are many references to the sun.  In pagan religions the sun is revered as a god, as everything seems to depend on it.  The rising of the sun is the beginning of the day and, in our colder climates, it signals the end of winter and the beginning of a new life cycle.  The biblical account of creation, however, begins with God’s first utterance ‘Let there be light’, which separates light from darkness resulting in the first day.  It is not until the fourth day, after preparing the land through the separation of the waters in preparation for humanity, that God begins to populate His world. 

     In Genesis 1:14, God says, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be for signs and seasons, and for days and years; and let them be for lights in the firmament of the heavens to give light on the earth”; and it was so.  Interestingly, the sun is not named by the word shemesh (שֶׁ֣מֶשׁ) as later in scripture (including Malachi 4:2) but simply called the greater light to rule the day, the moon being the lesser light to rule the night. 

    The word shemesh is used in passages where God admonishes His people not to bow down it (Deut. 4:19) and where God demonstrates His power over it as its Creator, proving that it has no divine power.  During the plagues against Egypt, for instance, where worship of the sun was at the centre of religious belief and practice, the whole land was covered in darkness for three days (Exodus 10:21-22), and when the Israelites under Joshua’s leadership defeated the Amorites (Joshua 10:13) the sun stood still in the sky for a whole day.

     We today rely far less on sunlight than the people of Bible times, as we are able to produce light artificially.  However, with the climate and energy crisis we are currently experiencing, the sun has once again gained in significance.  As science is looking for answers, the focus is increasingly on solar energy as the solution.  There are even plans to beam solar energy wirelessly from space to earth.  It is therefore not surprising that images of the sun are appearing in all kinds of contexts.  Is humanity again looking to creation rather than the Creator?  Are we repeating original sin with our own endeavours by building towers to heaven rather than turning to the Lord of Heaven with repentant hearts?  Are we seeking to create our own perfect world of peace without the Prince of Peace?

     Malachi concludes (4:4-6) “Remember the Law of Moses, My servant, which I commanded him in Horeb for all Israel, with the statutes and judgments.  Behold, I will send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the Lord.   And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” This prophetic word was fulfilled when John the Baptist came in the spirit of Elijah to announce the coming of Jesus, and when Jesus returns in His glory the sun will again be darkened (Mark 13:24) so He alone will be the light. (Revelation 21:23)

Newsletter November 2022 Part 2

God’s voice in the desert place

 “Therefore, behold, I will allure her, will bring her into the wilderness, and speak comfort to her.
I will give her her vineyards from there, and the Valley of Achor as a door of hope; she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt.

(Hosea 2:14-15)

     When God calls Hosea he tells him to marry.  However, this is not a love marriage to a woman of his choice.  Hosea has to take a harlot as his wife so he can experience that pain God feels at the harlotry His people are committing by serving other gods.  Hosea’s wife gives birth to three children: a son whom Hosea is to call Jezreel (God shall sow), a daughter Lo-Ruhamah (no mercy) and another son Lo-Ammi (not my people).  These names represent three aspects of the message that God would give to His prophet.     

     God’s mercy seems to be exhausted; those who were once His chosen people will no longer be His people.  Yet the divine Husband’s love for His adulterous wife is too potent; He cannot put her away forever.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.  God still loves His people; He will restore them. 

     God does everything to keep His wife from her lovers.  He locks her in, prevents her from going out to chase after her lovers (v.6).  He takes everything from her – all the gifts she received from her true Husband but wrongly attributes to her lovers.  God will punish His people for worshiping idols while forgetting Him who brought them out of bondage into a land of blessing to reflect the light of His glory.

     When all is going well, when we are blessed and successful, we easily take things for granted.  We believe that it is through our efforts and our abilities that we have achieved what we have.  Instead of thanking the One who made us what we are and gave us what we have, we begin to worship the idol of self.  We create platforms to present ourselves.  We despise those who are not like us instead of reaching out to them with the same compassion that God showed us when we ourselves were nothing. 

     As Christians it is easy to become self-indulgent, critical and judgmental of those around us.  We feel that we are on a moral high ground and thank God that we are not like those other people (Luke 18:11).  We boast about our possessions, our achievements (Rev. 3:17) and our standards of morality.  We are only too happy to watch God judge the world in righteousness.  We think judgment will pass us by because we are God’s righteous ones, forgetting that we all have sinned and fall short of God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).  

    As we find ourselves affected by the present economic and societal crises, one thing becomes clear: when trouble comes it can affect us all.  We discover that we are as needy as those whom we have ignored for so long.  The harvest has been waiting in the fields for the labourers, but the labourers have enjoyed the comfort and security of their homes and church fellowships.  Much of this is being shaken so we will turn our focus on God’s purpose and depend on His grace.          

     Like Israel we have not really understood our calling as a light to the world.  Too often, we have used the gifts and resources God has given us on ourselves and we have limited our prayers to our own needs and desires.  We forget that God has blessed us so we can bring blessing to the less fortunate by sharing with them what God has given us – both materially and spiritually.     

     As we continue on this journey, let us allow God’s word to cleanse and transform our hearts so that we may love Him and others as He has loved us, and show compassion as He has shown compassion to us.  If we will listen to the words from His heart in the desert place, He will give us vineyards from there (v.15).  God is able to do a new thing right where it seems impossible.  He sows seed and gives rain in dry places; He will bring about a great revival, not by our effort and ability but by His mercy and grace.  God, by His Spirit, is creating a people for Himself who will reflect His justice and compassion and will bring His love and hope to those who know only fear and distress.  His kingdom alone, manifested through His people, can bring peace to this desperate world.      

Newsletter November 2022 Part 1

House to house

 So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.  (Acts 2:46-47)

     These two verses sum up the nature and impact of the Early Church.  Having been baptised in the Holy Spirit, the disciples boldly declared that Jesus had risen from the dead and that He was the promised Messiah, the Saviour of the world.  And Jesus was not only at the centre of their message, but of every aspect of their lives.  Everything they did was modelled on what they had seen in Him and inspired by His Spirit who now lived in them.

     The Early church did not have a church building.  Yes, being of Jewish background, they would meet in the Jewish temple in Jerusalem, which was one of the most magnificent edifices of their day.  They would go there to observe the worship requirements of the Law of Moses and to proclaim Jesus as the fulfilment of that Law.  For them, however, the temple was not the equivalent to our church buildings today – a place where they could come together and worship with those who shared their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  On the contrary, it was a rather hostile place, as the religious leaders who oversaw the temple worship were, for the most part, opposed to their message and soon persecuted them as they had persecuted their Master.  When we think of the temple, we must rather think of a public place where all kinds of people gathered – a venue where one could preach the message of the risen Christ to those who had not yet heard it.  

     So where did the first century believers meet?  Where did they worship the Lord and fellowship with one another?  It was in their houses.  As more and more people responded to the message to follow Jesus, the disciples opened their homes to these new believers.  They did not regard what they had as their own, but as God’s, and therefore it was natural for them to welcome others who shared their faith to also share their food, their fellowship and their entire lives.  This is what they had experienced when they had been with Jesus while He was on earth, and this is what they continued, as He continued to walk with them in the Spirit.

     Our understanding of church today has been shaped largely by what we have seen around us rather than by the experience of Acts.  Most people associate church with a building where we gather once a week on a Sunday morning to take time out for God.  Our busy lives and varied responsibilities do not allow us to “get involved” any more than that.  When we face struggles, we either keep them to ourselves or maybe share them with those whose “job” it is to look after the flock.

     Not so the Early Church: they had all things in common.  No one was left alone with their need – be it material or spiritual.  Everyone knew that the others cared for them, because their God cared for them.  Therefore they were not afraid to share their needs with their brothers and sisters in Christ and not too busy with their own lives to support those who were struggling.  Their faith was not merely a religious exercise tagged on to the end of a busy week – it was a lifestyle.  It reflected who they were in Christ, and it helped them survive and grow ever stronger, even in the face of constant persecution.

     Now, this model of church was not limited to Jerusalem.  As the church grew and spread throughout the Roman Empire, fellowships sprang up everywhere, meeting mainly in homes and gathering only sometimes in larger groups, as they were able.  For the first three centuries, the church was built on caring relationships lived out within small groups. 

This fact is reflected in Paul’s words in 1 Thessalonians 2:7-8 – we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.  So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.

     The New Testament model of church is built on small groups – now, as it was then.  It is in the caring environment of a small group that we can grow in the knowledge of God, discover the gifts He has given us, and bear one another’s burdens in true Christian love.  Let us share our faith and our lives with one another and discover the purpose and calling God has for us. 

 Pastor Konrad