Church in the Peak Church in the Peak

Phil reminded us that God's desire is for us to endure with him despite the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual stumbling blocks that are put in our way. 

[Apologies for the background noise. Due to technical issues this morning, this recording was done in a different way to normal. ]

A "POWERFUL" PRAYER FOR BLESSING - Hebrews 13 v 20-21

Intro

•Meditating on these 2 verses for some time 
•The writer of Hebrews final words / prayer of blessing for the reader

Now may the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, by the blood of the eternal covenant, equip you with everything good that you may do his will, working in us that which is pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Hebrews 13:20-21 ESV
https://bible.com/bible/59/heb.13.20-21.ESV

Topics in these 2 verses 
1.The God of Peace
2.Jesus is…
a.Our Good Shepherd
b.Our Chief Shepherd
c.Our Great Shepherd
1.The Blood Covenant Endures Forever!
2.Salvation based on the covenant
3.“Make you fully complete,” or “fully fitted”
4.The Goodness of God to works in us 
5.Real Holiness
6.The Glory of the Son 

The area that God has been speaking to me about from these 2 verses is about being equipped or Fully Fitted or Complete

Commentators put it this way 

“Equipped by God for a Superior Life In Christ”
God works in us, so we can work it out

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
Philippians 2:13

For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:36

There are many areas of equipping we could look at
•Ministry Gifting
•Spiritual Gifts
•Fruits of the Spirit
•Resources - Money, time, opportunity

Photo: Equipped for a day at Beach !!! - 
•Speaks of Pleasure, Fun, 
Although you can look at this picture in another way 
•Carrying so much stuff of our own for our own comfort or pleasure, if God was to try and give us something we could not possibly be able to pick it up. 

Spurgeon - “We ought to request earnestly that we may be qualified, adapted, and suited to be used of God for the performance of His will.”
 
one area God spoke to me about and Probably not what you thought we needed to be equipped with and I certainly didn’t

1.Endurance - (Side 2)

Lamentations 3 is entitled - The Faithfulness of God 
When you start reading you don’t immediately get that

It starts with a lot of negative complaining, grumbling, self pity, 

so I say, “My endurance has perished; so has my hope from the Lord.”
Lamentations 3:18
Jeremiah knew what is was to lose hope and the feeling he could not carry on, A great prophet appoint to speak to the nations yet was found in this place of despair and defeat

For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.
Hebrews 10:36

being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;
Colossians 1:11

and endurance produces character, and character produces hope,
Romans 5:4

Andy reminded us that God's desire is for us to belong and not to be lonely.

Apologies for the background noise. Due to technical issues this morning, this recording was done in a different way to normal. 

Jenny challenged us to consdier what is holding us back in our relationship with God. 

Apologies for the background noise. Due to technical issues this morning, this recording was done in a different way to normal. 

Vicki reveals the extra depth of meaning contained in some of the original Greek words used in the New Testament. 

Ian spoke from Jesus's prayer in John 17.

Pray boldly
 
Ephesians 6:19-20 
 
I am concluding the teaching on the armour of God today. 
 
We live in a time when people are divided into factions. The message of Ephesians and the gospel is that we are united - not by class, sex or race but at the cross. The whole of Ephesians explains this. Chapter 6 shows us how. By being in Christ, by walking in the truth , by sharing the gospel, by being filled with the Spirit, and knowing our salvation is secure in Christ alone. 
 
Paul prays for boldness. Acts tells of Paul’s visits and riots in Ephesus.
Acts 19:23-31 
 
It was definitely a “here! Hold my coat or toga” moment. 
Paul is in chains in Rome writing to the Ephesians. They will know that he has been in dangerous situations before and not shied away from confronting injustice and sinful behaviour. 
 
Paul prays for Holy Spirit boldness that his words will bring salvation because of the gospel (good news). 
Why did Paul have to be bold and courageous? What was the culture around at the time. 
Lesley touched on this a couple of weeks ago. 
The accepted way for men in the Greek and Roman culture was very much like Harvey Weinstein. They assumed that they could have sexual favours from any woman and even men. Hence the context of the teaching on the roles of men and women and marriage and slaves. Idol worship was part of the economy. They worshipped the gods but also turned leaders like Caesar into gods. Ephesus had the temple to Artimus or Diana and this created such a great deal of money. Ephesus became a banking centre for the region. They went to the temple to worship and sacrifice to Artimus. Paul uses the knowledge of the temple to explain the church and our individual security in Christ in Ephesians 2:19-22What should we draw from these two small verses in scripture?
In the context of the whole book we are to be bold to be counter cultural. 
Although our culture now rails against the behaviour of Harvey Weinstein, it still encourages sex outside marriage as a good thing. Heterosexual or homosexual. Christians should walk a different path not because it is a higher moral way but because that is Gods word and plan. Our culture is very similar to the Greek and Roman culture, worship of money, sexual experience and superstitious false gods. The Ephesian people believed that Artimus had fallen from heaven and they had to give sacrifices to her. Paul preached that God (Jesus) came from heaven to earth by choice, then made himself the sacrifice for us so that we can be seated in heavenly places. Ephesians 2 v 6. Paul taught that you could be seated with Christ but also filled with Christ by his Holy Spirit. All counter cultural points. 
All were highly contentious. 
All very relevant for our current culture. 
 
How do we apply this?
We see the deep divisions being played out in the CofE at the moment. Let us not stand by and carp. There are many very excellent Christians in the CofE. We must stand with them and hear their hearts as they are breaking as many of the leaders go with the culture and against the word of God. PRAY. Pray for ourselves to be as bold as Paul and our brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. It is very likely to be us soon if not happening already. PRAYPray for the evangelists in the church and those support them. Pray that the circumstances that we find ourselves in, God will use for His glory and purposes Pray that we will all know His purpose for us when we go through difficult times.