Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Compromise with the world”

1 Kings 11v4 “As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God.” (NIV)

One of the saddest stories in the Bible is that of Solomon. He started well when he asked the Lord for wisdom rather than riches or power. He continued well as he built the temple in Jerusalem for the Lord and spoke great words of wisdom (see the books of Proverbs and Ecclesiastes).

But as he grew in wealth and power, he began to compromise with the world – he began to worship the world’s gods and follow the world’s practices. The gods were a set of things that were believed to control your fortune, happiness and wellbeing. Of course, Solomon didn’t stop worshipping the LORD – oh no – he was just no longer “fully devoted” to the LORD. It wasn’t a rejection, but a compromise.

For us today, we are so easily compromised from being fully devoted to the LORD by the “gods of this age”:

• Consumerism – continually wanting more, new and better.
• Materialism – putting the material things before the spiritual and relational
• Status – seeking to appear good to ourselves and others, or to be of a particular group
• Wealth – seeking security and financial security
• Sex & Pleasure – seeking our own happiness, rather than the happiness of others

These “gods of this age” are a distraction from who I am in Christ – a child of God. My identity and wellbeing are not based on the above worldly gods at all: they are literally a dead end. Paul writes in Galatians 5v6 “The only thing that counts is faith [in Christ Jesus] expressing itself through love.” This verse fits so well with Solomon’s context as Paul continues, “You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth?”(v7)

May we each:

• Be aware of our natural desires,
• Pray “Lord lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” and
• Find the victory by the power of the Holy Spirit flowing through us. Paul says a few verses later, “So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” (Galatians 5v16).

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Concealing sin … ”

Proverbs 28v14 “He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” (NIV)

From the fall in the garden of Eden, us humans have tried to cover up our sin. Adam and Eve, when they had disobeyed God, made garments and hid from God (Genesis 3v7-8). King David, when he had committed adultery with Bathsheba, thought he could cover his tracks; he seemed successful for a time, until the prophet Nathan came and brought revelation from God (2 Samuel 11-12). Despite their attempts to cover it, Adam and Eve lost the garden, and David would find calamity coming in his own household. We can also easily fall into the deflection technique as we highlight another’s sin in order to camouflage our own.

In the well-known verse in Numbers 32v23, Moses says, “ … you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.” In its context, it was hard for Moses to tell the motives for what the tribes Gad and Reuben were doing, he could only take them at their word. But he was warning them that any sin is against God, and sin has a natural tendency to come out in the end. In the New Testament, the Greek word translated “sin” in our Bibles literally means “to miss the mark so as not to share in the prize,” and hence Paul is stating the obvious when he writes in Romans 3v23 “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

But Proverbs 28 also has the alternative action: to “confess and renounce” our sins. This is to admit our wrong doing or thinking, and determine to not repeat it. The result is to “find mercy”. The writer of Proverbs confirms this mercy in 10v12, “Love covers over all wrongs.” His point is that love is shown in forbearance and forgiveness. King David has a similar appreciation in his Psalms of confession ( 32 and 51). Psalm 32 begins “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sins are covered.” While we cannot cover our own sins, the New Testament teaches that the blood of Christ completely and permanently covers our sins.

Our response to sin, whether our own or other people’s, is important. When we have confessed, renounced and received forgiveness for our own sin, we are then able to help remove the speck from another person’s eye (Matthew 7v5). The true Christian response to sin is therefore to confess and renounce my own sin, then help others deal with their sin, and at the same time offer love shown in forbearance and forgiveness. This is not easy, but with God’s help, we will.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“It is finished … ”

John 19v30 “Jesus said, ‘It is Finished!’ With that he bowed his head, he gave up his spirit.” (NIV)

An amazing verse to dwell on as we remember the events of the trial and crucifixion over the next twenty four hours. He did it all for you and me.

My mind goes to the words of the 19^th century hymn:

1 Man of sorrows what a name

for the Son of God, who came

ruined sinners to reclaim:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

2 Bearing shame and scoffing rude,

in my place condemned he stood,

sealed my pardon with his blood:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

3 Guilty, helpless, lost were we;

blameless Lamb of God was he,

sacrificed to set us free:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

4 He was lifted up to die;

“It is finished” was his cry;

now in heaven exalted high:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

5 When he comes, our glorious King,

all his ransomed home to bring,

then anew this song we’ll sing:

Hallelujah, what a Saviour!

May you know the joy of assurance your sins all forgiven and belonging to God this Easter.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Thought for the Week

“The Word of God … ”

Deuteronomy 8v3 “Man does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD … ” (NIV)

Ukrainians have, until now, had a choice of using an old Ukrainian Bible (a bit like our King James Version) or a modern Russian version. In 2018, the International Bible Society launched a project to produce a modern Ukrainian translation. It is still planned to be released in print in June this year.

However, with the current situation and the obvious emotional difficulty for many Ukrainians to read the Bible in Russian, the IBS worked to release the new translation in on-line form earlier this month. The result is that 150,000 downloads have been made in Ukraine in the first three weeks, and there have been many more downloads amongst the refugee community outside Ukraine. Imagine the excitement for these people who are now able to read God’s Word in their “heart language” for the first time – and all the more in their current situation.

When Jesus was in the desert and hungry, our Lord Jesus quoted the above verse from Deuteronomy to counter the Devil’s temptation to turn stones into food. The Word of God was vital to him. As in the Old Testament, so in the New, God’s word brings life (eg Philippians 2v16).

Do we take our access to the Word of God for granted? Do we eagerly seek to hear what he says in every situation. Do we seek God’s word both in difficulty and in joy? The song-writer writes, “I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you.” (Psalm 119v11)

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Children of God … ”

Galatians 4v4-6 “God sent his Son … so that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons … ” (NIV)

Not everyone is a “son of God”, but anyone can be – whether male or female, slave or free, or of any other human divide (Gal 3v28) . We struggle with the language “son of God” for two reasons: one it seems sexist, and second it can be confusing with The Son of God; so, for good reason, we tend to say “children of God”.

However, Paul had a specific reason for saying ‘sons’: firstly, we all have the privileges that sonship had in the 1^st century when inheritance and authority passed through the male line, and secondly, we all receive the ‘Spirit of The Son of God’. Hence v6 continues, “Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit that cries out, ‘Abba, Father.’ So you are no longer a slave, but God’s son, and since you are a son, God has made you also an heir.”v6-7

The thing about being an “heir” is that you receive by nature of who you are, not what you do. In the 1^st century, a slave could be in the household where they had to work hard – but even with all their work, there was no inheritance. You are a son, not a slave, and a son receives God’s inheritance.

The thing about receiving the “Spirit of his Son” is that this Spirit is conforming you to the likeness of Christ. God is changing you from the inside. His Spirit is at work.

Whoever you are, whatever the situation you face, and whatever your current feelings, as a follower of Christ, you have been born again as a child of God. That means that for now you have the Spirit of love, joy and peace, and for the future you have the out-of-this-world inheritance.

Let’s give thanks and praise to God for his goodness and complete provision in our adoption.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Compassion … ”

Luke 10v36-37 “ ’Who was a neighbour?’ … ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ ” (NIV)

Jesus loved telling stories – stories with a meaning. On one particular occasion he was discussing the command “Love your neighbour as yourself” (Luke 10v27), and the religious expert asked him “Who is my neighbour?” (v29) The expert was seeking to limit his responsibility, and to provide an explanation for why he might not care for some.

But Jesus turns the question around with the “Good Samaritan” story: firstly, he includes a foreigner as the hero of the story, and then, at the end, he asks, “Which of these do you think was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The question has turned from “Who is my neighbour?” to “Am I being a neighbour – even to those who are against me?”.

The expert in the law identifies the foreigner as the real neighbour, and so Jesus tells him, “Go and do likewise”. Jesus says the same to us today – what does it mean for you to be a neighbour?

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Peace for our … ”

Philippians 4v7 “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)

“Peace for our time,” are probably the most famous words of Neville Chamberlain. It is good to have a sense of optimism, but sadly, in this world, there is not always a positive outcome. One of the great hopes of the 20^th century was world peace and prosperity. There was the hope that education, democracy, technological advance and international organisation would bring peace – and it may be fair to say it has managed peace to a degree, but then the evil in human hearts still breaks out.

While it is good and right to pursue global peace, Jesus never promised this. Rather he said, “you will hear of wars and rumours of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed,” Matthew 24v6.

Jesus did however promise peace when he said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14v27).  There have been and are many things that can upset our peace (e.g. Covid, cost of living, Russian invasion …), but Jesus offers you peace especially in these situations. Paul says it is not a natural peace, but a peace that “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4v7) because it is a peace from God. It is a “peace for our … ” minds and hearts.

We will explore more on Sunday about how we can fully receive this peace from God. In the meantime, may we both know God’s peace and exercise God’s peace.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“Our struggle”

Ephesians 6v12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the … powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” (NIV)

We don’t like what we see. Yet what our physical eyes don’t see is even more dramatic – as John pictures in Revelation.

Who is the very author of evil and pride, bloodshed and war? Is it not the Devil himself? John, in his vision, hears “a loud voice in heaven say, ‘ … woe to the earth and the sea, because the devil has gone down to you! He is filled with fury, because he knows that his time is short.’” Rev12v12

Here is a vital point: the devil knows that the end is coming and that his time is limited and so he is determined to cause trouble. Also, God may not have eliminated evil yet, but he has limited it and made Jesus Lord over all.

At a Christ Central global prayer day yesterday, I was privileged to join in a Zoom with one of the church leaders in Ukraine (similar to the one in the evening which a number of you joined). I was moved by his emotions, not over his safety as he sought to care for others, but over the likely restrictions to the freedom to proclaim the gospel in the coming days. This held a higher priority for him than anything else. This priority has been obvious amongst his team over recent years as we have seen them surmount amazing obstacles and go the extra miles for the kingdom of God. We are in a spiritual battle and the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ is central in that battle.

It is reported (Christianity Today, Feb 2022) that Ukraine has seen significant church growth since the introduction of freedoms in 1991 and is the main sender of missionaries in Eastern European. I quote, “As far as Europe is concerned, the Ukrainian church is perhaps the strongest and is doing the most for education, training, and sending out workers.” (though I have not found any corroboration of this).

Jesus said three times, “I am coming soon” Rev22v7, 12, and 20. The Devil knows there is limited time, and we know there is limited time. I am mindful of Josh Howard’s (speaker at Devoted) determination to reach the current generation as quickly as possible as we are passing away at a rate of 100 million a year.

Knowing we are in a spiritual battle drives us to our knees, to the place of prayer. You may like to listen to this 21^st century version of a 20^th century hymn “Facing a task unfinished …” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOpt_bulJxY .  Coming in prayer to God reminds us that while the devil is limited in both time and power, God is not limited. Our task is not yet finished, but, “He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world”.

Let’s continue to pray with compassion for our brothers and sisters, for the land of Ukraine and even for Russia. Let’s pray for the kingdom of God to come.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

“When Hopes are dashed”

Romans 4v18 “In hope, he believed against hope.” (NIV)

Sometimes we can “hope against hope” that it is not going to happen, but sadly it unfolds.

The term “hope against hope” is an expression meaning to hope in what seems impossible. It is taken from Abraham who “in hope he believed against hope that he would become the father of many nations as he had been told.” (Romans 4v18). The key to his hope in the impossible is the phrase, “as he had been told”. We can “hope against hope” with validity where God has explicitly said – but the journey to see it may be a roller coaster!

Today we have been greeted with news of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. How should we as God’s people respond? Maybe the following will help:

• Jesus wept over Jerusalem because he knew destruction was coming (Luke 19v41-44). It is right for us to weep over Ukraine and its people at this time. We feel compassion for the Ukrainian people.
• Paul taught us to pray “for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness” 1 Timothy 2v1-2. We should pray for those with authority in the situation.
• The New Testament is full of the care between churches in different regions. This is actively encouraged by Paul and was part of his ministry as he transported money from one region to another. We should follow their example and support our brothers and sisters in Ukraine both in prayer and materially (eg 2 Corinthians 8v14). We think particularly of Igor and the churches in his grouping and the work of BreadTrust.
• In Daniel, there is much about God raising up and casting down world leaders both in his own time and in prophecy for times to come. God is Sovereign. We may well ask why God allows this to happen, but he has said he will allow evil to continue to operate until the end when Christ returns. Our hope is not in this world, but in Christ, his return and his eternal kingdom.
• We also know that “in all things God works for the good of those who love him.” (Romans 8v28). We can trust God to bring good in some way through this – and because he has promised, we can pray that this is so.

May the compassion of Christ fill our hearts and the God of all hope give you assurance.

With love and blessing,

Roland