Week Commencing Sunday 18th April 2021
Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Bow down before Him. His glory proclaim.
The primary reason for our existence on earth is to worship God. So let’s worship together in song:
Hymn
Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time
To give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are
Before your God
Come
One day every
Tongue will confess
You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure
Remains for those
Who gladly choose You now
Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time
To give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are
Before your God
Come
One day every
Tongue will confess
You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still the greatest treasure
Remains for those
Who gladly choose You now
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done;
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation;
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the kingdom,
the power and the glory,
for ever and ever.
Amen.
Reading. Psalm 100
A psalm. For giving grateful praise.
1 Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Worship the Lord with gladness;
come before him with joyful songs.
3 Know that the Lord is God.
It is he who made us, and we are hisa;
we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.
4 Enter his gates with thanksgiving
and his courts with praise;
give thanks to him and praise his name.
5 For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
his faithfulness continues through all generations.
Hymns
Yesterday, today, forever,
Jesus is the same,
All may change, but Jesus never!
Glory to His name,
Glory to His name,
Glory to His name;
All may change, but Jesus never!
Glory to His name.
Albert B Simpson
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fH1f1OKf3I
Faithful One so unchanging
Ageless One You're my rock of peace
Lord of all I depend on You
I call out to You, again and again
I call out to You, again and again
You are my rock in times of trouble
You lift me up when I fall down
All through the storm
Your love is the anchor
My hope is in You alone
Brian Doerksen
Intercessions
Lord God we pray for all who work for peace and unity, and for all world leaders that they will continue to seek for an end to the suffering caused by war and violence, injustice and inequality, disease, prejudice, poverty and hopelessness and bring healing to the world. We pray especially for those fighting terrorism in Syria and for peace in the Holy Land. We continue to pray for those who are refugees and seek safety in another country, despite the dangers of the journey. We pray for the leaders in Europe especially that agreement can be reached on how to cope with so many in a way that is fair and achievable, and that does not lead refugees and migrants into danger and exploitation. Lord Jesus – as a child you were a refugee and were kept safe in another country – help us to hold that example, as a solution to the current crisis is sought.
Gracious God we pray for the work and service of all care homes and day centres for elderly and sick people, and for those carers who look after family and friends in their own home. And thank you for the many charity organisations who raise money and provide supportive services to help. We pray for all finding their life painful, lonely or uncertain, especially those who are ill or vulnerable. Help them to sense your comfort in times of need and bless their families and carers. We pray for all those who are struggling in their lives. Bring them hope of an end to their sufferings, and a resolution of their difficulties. Show us the best way to help those who suffer, without being intrusive but without simply turning away from their pain either. (Hertford St Andrew’s)
Reading. Ephesians 6: 10-24
610 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on the full armour of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. 14 Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, 15 and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. 16 In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. 17 Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
21 Tychicus, the dear brother and faithful servant in the Lord, will tell you everything, so that you also may know how I am and what I am doing. 22 I am sending him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage you.
23 Peace to the brothers and sisters, and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.
Hymn
In Heavenly Armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon fashioned against shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord
Refrain. We sing glory and honour, power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory and honour, power and Strength to the Lord
The enemy trembles as he starts to rise
The battle belongs to the Lord
Fear not my friend your redemption Is Near
The battle belongs to the Lord.
Refrain
In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon fashioned against shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord
Refrain x2
Jamie Owens-Collins
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9-81wKQJCQ or high octane version by Petra:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLZJZsRJIC0
Three points: Where is the battle? Are we unfit for the battle? How do we counter attack?
Where is the battle?
Essentially we are shaped by what our minds think about most often. The spiritual battle is our real battle. However, because this battle is invisible and therefore inconspicuous we are sometimes ignorant of it all together. Satan is cunning, he not only prowls about but he devours. The devil our adversary walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. His strategy is to get our mind, to lull us into mediocrity, to blunt the edge of our thinking.
In his The Screwtape Letters, C S Lewis has a fictitious correspondence between a senior and junior devil- Screwtape and Wormwood respectively. Here we get an insight into the schemes of Satan:
“You will say that these are very small sins and doubtless like all young tempters, you are anxious to be able to report spectacular wickedness. But do remember the only thing that matters is the extent to which you separate the man from the enemy.
It does not matter how small the sins are, provided that their cumulative effect is to edge the man away from the light and out into the nothing.
Murder is no better than cards, if cards can do the trick. Indeed the safest road to take is the gradual one- the gentle slope, soft underfoot without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts”
On any day Satan can launch a surprise attack that within minutes can torpedo our testimony, char our character and sink our spiritual life. Satan never calls in sick, he is relentless in his attempts to thwart the work of God in us and through us.
Satan is out to usurp God’s place in our lives, and whenever we live independent of God focusing on ourselves instead of on the cross, preferring material and temporal values to spiritual and eternal ones, he has succeeded.
If Satan hindered Paul imagine what he can do to us. Anybody who could delay the answers to Daniel’s prayers for twenty one days is a force to be reckoned with. (Daniel 10: 12-14). However, this passage teaches us that our prayers are heard from the first day. No matter how discouraged and low we feel and no matter how long we wait for an answer- our prayers are heard. We also learn our prayers move God to deploy angels on our behalf.
Satan looks for cracks in our character to trip us up (2 Corinthians 4: 3, 4). The attack comes at our weakest, perhaps when we are tired. Satan also loves to divide Christians. We need to be one as Jesus said in John 17. The in-fighting between denominations is ammunition for non-believers to disregard us as Christians, which is very sad.
Are we unfit for the battle? First of all we must be clean vessels. Sin cuts us off from the fullness of God’s presence. We need to constantly ask for forgiveness from God and others. The redemptive process is a great mystery hidden in the heart of God. Confession and forgiveness are realities that transform us.
Secondly we are unfit for battle if we have low self-esteem. We must realise our value in God’s sight. We are written on the palm of His hand. We are the apple of His eye. We are chosen- He lavishes his love on us. We are sealed by the Holy Spirit. We have a glorious inheritance to look forward to.
Thirdly, we are unfit for battle if we have not tasted the fruit of the Holy spirit- joy, peace, love, longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, temperance and goodness.
Lastly we are unfit for the battle if we are not totally dedicated to the Lord, ‘All to Jesus I surrender…’ All means soul (heart, mind and will), spirit and body.
Every day we need to ask to be filled with the Holy Spirit. To yield, embrace and serve Him only.
How do we counter attack?
Our counter attack begins with our knowing we have a great Captain and under Him, victory is assured: “The Lord your God is He that goeth with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you” (Deuteronomy 20:4).
Romans 8:28 is another wonderful promise: “We are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” God is our Rock.
God is our fortress and high tower.
He has ensured the conquest of the powers of darkness. God is waiting for His people to rise up and take hold of the victory He purchased on the cross.
Spiritual warfare is living daily aware of the enemy but totally committed and surrendered to God. To walk consistently and victoriously, standing on His promises from the Word of God (‘the sword’ described in Ephesians 6. See also The Parable of the Vine, John 15).
A practical help which has helped me in my most recent dark night of the soul is to replace the negative thinking and worry with a disciplined Bible study. To be free from shackles of Satan’s lies by the amazing truth of God, ‘And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free.’ John 8:32.
Let’s treasure God’s word in our hearts and thought by thought the battle for our minds will be won. Hallelujah! This includes a further safeguard for our minds- ‘The helmet of salvation.’ We must remind ourselves that the devil was disarmed and defeated 2000 years ago when Jesus died for us on the cross. This is an essential part of our counterattack.
We have heard much about it, but prayer is essential to the counter attack- ‘And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. 19 Pray also for me…’ Every significant event and movement in church history has been brought to birth through prayer. From Pentecost through to Billy Graham’s crusades. The influence of Christians on the earth praying has been proportionate to the influence the church has had on her knees.
Jesus lived praying. He died praying. He went up into heaven praying. The Lord Jesus is our ultimate example of a life lived in humility, faith and prayer. He totally depended on the Father.
Prayer is the act of bringing God into every situation and asking Him to change it from something natural into something supernatural. In this way God is glorified. Non-Christians pay attention to people who live above the natural; who react and respond to difficulties with love for Jesus and for others.
I would like to finish with an Overcomer’s Prayer, all based on Scripture:
The devil has no place in us, no power over us, no unsettled claims
All has been settled by the blood of Jesus.
We overcome Satan by the blood of the lamb
And by the word of our testimony
And we love not our life unto death.
Help us Lord to keep our spiritual antennae up this week. To soak our minds as much as possible with Scripture- to be battle ready for what this week brings.
Hymn
These are the days of Elijah,
Declaring the word of the Lord
And these are the days of Your servant Moses,
Righteousness being restored.
And though these are days of great trial,
Of famine and darkness and sword,
Still, we are the voice in the desert crying
"Prepare ye the way of the Lord!"
Refrain. Behold He comes riding on the clouds,
Shining like the sun at the trumpet call,
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
These are the days of Ezekiel,
The dry bones becoming as flesh,
And these are the days of Your servant David,
Rebuilding a temple of praise.
These are the days of the harvest,
The fields are as white in Your world,
And we are the labourers in Your vineyard,
Declaring the word of the Lord!
Refrain (repeated)
Lift your voice, it's the year of jubilee,
And out of Zion's hill salvation comes.
Don Marsh, Robin Mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjZ_IlP9c5A (American marines singing this hymn)
Blessing The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Lorna Sivyour