Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Easter – We preach Christ raised

1 Corinthians 15v1-8 “I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you … that Christ was raised on the third day … and he appeared to Peter … the Twelve … 500 … James … all the apostles … me.”

1 Corinthians is a very practical book, dealing with several life issues; so, it is fascinating that it begins with “Christ crucified” (see last week and chapter 1) and ends with “Christ raised”. The events of Easter are at the heart of being Christian; everything else, and I mean everything else, must stand or fall on the Easter account. Our Christian approach to everything is rooted in Easter.

Hence, between a strong recounting of the cross and the resurrection, Paul sandwiches the following issues:

• unity in the church and how we show love for our brothers and sisters;
• sexual conduct, marriage and morality;
• order in church meetings and the use of spiritual gifts
• rights and responsibilities as servants of God
• how we deal with matters where we disagree – both with each other, and with the world
• our total consecration to God over anything the world may idolize.

Paul demonstrates clearly that Easter is not some mythical story, but a fact witnessed by many. Over these next 5 weeks until 13^th May, the risen Lord Jesus walked this earth appearing to many. Just imagine the excitement for those that saw him!! Wow! And one day, we will see him too – either through our death or through his return. No wonder the apostle John cries out “Come Lord Jesus” (Revelation 22v20)!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Easter – We preach Christ crucified

1 Corinthians 1v23 “We preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, …. Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

We might be disappointed, but we should not be surprised that many people ignore the Easter truth of Christ’s death on a cross. It seemed foolish and irrelevant to the people of Paul’s day too – why celebrate someone who has been crucified? How can it have any benefit for me?

However, for those of us to whom the Holy Spirit has revealed the spiritual realities (2v7, 10-14), the cross is both the “wisdom” and “power” of God.

• “Wisdom” because it is the way that works. The cross is the only way, in line with his character, by which us humans could be saved from the kingdom of Satan and become the children of God. The cross shows spiritual and practical truth, and it leads from condemnation for sin into forgiveness and grace.
• “Power” because it has the power to work. The cross is effective to free us from both the power and consequences of sin. Christ’s death on the cross actually takes our sin away and sets us free. The power of Christ over sin is now able to be within us. “No condemnation now I dread, Jesus and all in him is mine.”

Let us thank God for opening our eyes to the cross by His Spirit. May He increase our understanding and appreciation of what Christ has done this Easter time.

“O make me understand it, help me to take it in,

What it meant to thee the Holy One, to take away my sin.”

With love and blessing,

Roland

Thought for the Week

Revelation – The Saints at Prayer

Revelation 8v1 “Then there was silence in heaven for half an hour … .”

Unusually for Revelation here there is silence – what does this silence imply?

–              A reverent worship of God as all stands in awe of him?

–              A sense that everything is under control and there is no need for busying around?

–              A sense of anticipation of what might be coming next?

–              A willingness to listen?

It may be a mix of all of these, but it is noteworthy that there are two actions attached to the silence.

Firstly, the prayers of the saints are being offered to God with incense (i.e. being made sweet). John is being shown that God is listening to your prayers. Yes, your prayers are acceptable and pleasing to God and heaven is even stopping to listen … do I stop to pray?

Secondly, maybe we naturally think of the trumpets, fire, thunder, lightning and earthquakes as representing judgments. But this is not necessarily the case in prophetic symbolism. When God appears to Moses and Israel on Mount Sinai (see Exodus 19v16-19), all these “effects” are mentioned, but it is not about judgment: it is about the presence, power and awe of God as he comes to make a covenant with his people; it is the Almighty God visiting earth. Additionally, in Revelation, John has recorded these “thunders and lightnings” also being in heaven, right at the throne of God (see Rev 4v5).  In other words, in answer to the prayers of the saints, God comes.

So at the start of chapter 8 as the 7th seal is opened, we have: silence – prayer – God visits!!

Is it time to imitate heaven? Be still. Be silent. Pray. And expect God to visit!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Revelation – The Saints are Protected

Revelation 7v4  “Then I heard the number of all those who were sealed … .”

Last week, we saw imagery of a lot of suffering on the earth. This week, in Revelation 7, there is another side to what is going on as we switch scenes. We are still in the heavenly realms, but God is placing a seal on his people’s foreheads to protect them in the suffering. There are several points for us to take from this:

• God places a seal of protection on those who belong to him (v1-3). It does not mean we have no suffering, but it does mean we have hope. We may be reminded of the seal of the blood of the lambs on the doorposts of the Israelites in Exodus 12v13, or the mark of protection put on people’s heads in Ezekiel 9v4. The seal we receive is of course the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1v13). The seal demonstrates that we belong to God – and that remains the case even in suffering. Being assured of your identity in God is a huge protection against all that is thrown at you.
• Everyone who belongs to God is sealed (v4-8) The number “144000” is a number of completeness (12 x 12) and size ( times 1000). The tribes listed here with exactly 12000 from each makes clear that this is symbolic for completeness (note there were actually 13 tribes of Israel, but different lists have different ones to give 12).
• All nations in worship – The great multitude (v9-13) is the same crowd – with representation from every people group praising the Lamb for his salvation and God for his power and glory. It is an image of the universal church in praise.
• All will be well – These people have been through suffering, but they are now in a place of perfection and comfort with the Lamb as their shepherd! (v14-17)

As the anniversary of the lockdown comes next Tuesday 23^rd March, and there is a “National Day of Reflection” with many grieving the loss of loved ones ( https://www.cte.org.uk/Articles/605509/Home/Coronavirus/_National_Day.aspx ) , let us remember God has placed his seal on us and we belong to him. May that cause your soul to cry out to him not only in lament, but also in praise.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Revelation – The Lamb becomes central

Revelation 6v1  “I watched as the Lamb opened the first of the seven seals … .”

Last week, we saw how the Lamb is the one who has the authority to open the seals of the scroll which contains world history. The history of the world and the future of the world lie in his hands. (I launch into this section of Revelation with some trepidation as I know there are polarized views, but I believe this book has deep relevance to us today!)

In this chapter, the first four seals (v1-8) release “horsemen” who bring suffering in the world. They are sufferings associated with (i) those determined to gain power over others, (ii) those who are divided and slay each other, (iii) famine and the inability to afford food, and (iv) death whether by sword, famine, plague or misadventure. It would seem that our world is little different to the time of John.

By contrast, the fifth seal (v9-11) opens heaven to us and we see all those who have been martyred “because of the word of God and the testimony they had maintained”. They are offering prayers to God for him to exercise judgment and justice on the earth. Yes, believers who have died are now in fellowship and communication with the Lord, and they share his hatred of injustice. The Lord replies that the time for his judgment and justice is not yet. He also affirms that he knows all those who will give their lives for his sake, though this is also not yet complete.

The sixth seal (v12-17) gives all the prophetic imagery of an old world order drawing to an end for a new one to come in (e.g. see Joel 2v28-32). It portrays the sun, moon, stars and mountains falling in – they represent the things which we normally count on to be stable and reliable – the things we even worship: they are brought to an end. Understandably, the result is great fear in all mankind. Sadly, in their fear, they seek refuge in the very things which are crumbling rather than seeking refuge in Him!

The seventh seal is not going to be opened until chapter 8 – history is not yet finished! But there are three key things to draw from this vision:

• Jesus has authority over history, he knows what is going on and what is going to come, including the various sufferings the world is going through. For those of us who belong to him, we can draw great comfort and peace in this.
• Whatever we suffer in this life, those who belong to Christ will be with him when we physically die. We have a hope and a future.
• Such is the hardness of people’s hearts that they continue to cling on to the things which are crumbling rather than turn to God. This should spur us to prayer for God to have mercy and open spiritual ears, eyes and hearts to him at this time.

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week 

Revelation – The Lamb becomes central

Revelation 5v6-8  “Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing in the centre of the throne … he took the scroll [which no one else was worthy to open] and the four living creatures and the twenty four elders fell down before the Lamb.”

In heaven is a scroll. It is the scroll that states the destiny of the world. There is a lot of detail contained in it, and so both sides are written on (5v1). It is sealed with 7 seals so that only a part of it is released at a time (5v1). But seals can only be broken by authorized persons – who has that authority?

With this, the focus of heaven shifts to a Lamb. It looks as if it had been slain and is standing in the centre of the throne. This is a clear reference to Jesus: “the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1v29). He is the one who has been slain for our sin: and yet he rose again. He still has signs of his crucifixion on his hands (as shown to Thomas in John 20v27), yet he is now standing right in the centre of heaven.

Moreover, Jesus is the one declared to have the authority to break the seals of the scroll of world history. The history of the world and the future of the world lie in his hands. You may not know what lies ahead, but Jesus does. You may not understand why various things happen in life, but Jesus has a plan. In the chapters that follow, we will see how tough life on the earth can be, but the difficulties we face do not undo the truth of Jesus being in ultimate authority.

Finally, the elders and the creatures who were worshipping God on the throne are seen and heard worshipping Jesus as they fall before him and sing a new song (5v9). Their song of praise celebrates his authority over history and his salvation of people of every nation. This praise party is joined by “thousands upon thousands and ten thousand times ten thousand” angels who sing, “worthy is the Lamb who was slain to receive … honour and glory and praise.” This mega praise party is further joined by all of creation singing, “To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.”

As we worship, we are joining in the activity of the angels. Even if we are physically alone in the room as we do so, we are not spiritually alone – you have one huge backing choir!!

Let’s turn our eyes to Jesus, join with the heavenly creatures in bowing down, and join with all the angels in song!

With love and blessing,

Roland

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Revelation – Worship in Heaven

Revelation 4v8  “Day and night they never stop saying; ‘ Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty, who was and is and is to come.’”

John is given the privilege of a “door standing open in heaven” (4v1). Have you ever seen a door standing open and wondered what was inside? John is invited in to have a look. What he sees is an awesome throne with God on it. Much of the imagery is carried from the Old Testament (e.g. Ezekiel 1v4-28). Around the throne are 24 “elders” and 4 intriguing “creatures”.

Both the creatures and the elders are worshipping God. Let’s consider their worship. Firstly, notice that their worship comprises three elements:

• What they say (“Saying …” v8, v10)
• Their posture (“falling down” v10), and
• Their actions (“laying their crowns before the throne” v11)

Secondly notice what they are praising and worshipping God for:

• His holiness (“holy, holy, holy” v8) – which means his total perfection and completeness
• His role as Creator (“you created all things” v11) – these beings worshipping him are created by him just like everything else. God is the only creator.
• His nature as Eternal (“who was, and is, and is to come” v8) – God is without beginning and without end – which is hard for us to fully comprehend.

As Christians, much of our worship rightly centers on Jesus.  But this first scene in Revelation focuses on God being worthy of worship, even without the provision he has made for us in Jesus.

Maybe it is time for us to participate with John in his vision, and allow our spiritual eyes to enter the door of heaven and see what John saw. Meditate on these words in this passage. Use this passage or other songs to keep your mind on the greatness, the holiness, the eternal nature of God. Let this worship rise up in the words of your mouth, the posture you take and the actions you make.

May our worship correspond to who God actually is,

With love and blessing,

Roland

Prayer

• Give thanks for your access to the holy and eternal creator!
• Continue to pray that God would send workers into this harvest field in Telford and that we would each be fully equipped. On that note, let’s pray for the Reassure courses running currently.
• For all those struggling with health at the moment.
• For all those in education as schools plan to return the week after next.

Dear Hope family,

Thought for the Week

Revelation – The Spirit speaks

Revelation 2v7  “These are the words of [Jesus] … he who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”

These words occur 7 times in Revelation 2 and 3: one time for each of the 7 churches. They are the common element of each message to each church.

The words are attributed to both Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus and the Spirit speak together. What the Spirit says is never incompatible with what Jesus says. This is why we can test what we believe the Spirit is saying against the words of Jesus recorded in the gospels. He is not going to speak out of tune with those words.

We can be tempted to think of God as either super-stern or as super-gracious in what he says. In reading Revelation 2 and 3, we see that Jesus and the Spirit bring both words of praise, rebuke and encouragement to different churches. What are Jesus and the Spirit praising you for today (e.g. 2v2-3)? What are they rebuking in you (e.g. 2v4-5)? What are they encouraging you to do (e.g. 2v10)?

Jesus and the Spirit encourage us to “hear”. This does not mean just an audible hear, but a heart-hearing. A willingness to take on board what the Spirit is saying and to apply it in our lives. This is true discipleship: as Jesus says at the end of the sermon on the mount, “Everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice …” (Matthew 7v24)

Lord, may our spiritual ears be open and our hearts be responsive to you,

With love and blessing,

Roland

Prayer

• Give thanks for the roll out of the vaccine.
• Continue to pray that God would send workers into this harvest field in Telford.
• For all those who are struggling with ill health at the moment.
• For our church family as we persevere in this time.