Sermons

9 December Yvette brought us the word.

If someone asked you to name an important world event, would you have chosen the work of John the Baptist?

Luke thought this was so important he dated this and provided lots of evidence. It covered the period 28 to 29 AD.

The rulers mentioned here did not do a great job. They managed to antagonise the Jewish people. These rulers were supposed to keep the place stable. The Romans needed this place kept stable. John was a wild man separated for god. They have given themselves to god.

Like most of the important people in the bible  John the Baptist spent time in the wilderness. We may spend time in the Wilderness itself but it never lasts. John asked people to repent and be baptised. Luke makes sure people know that this for all not just a select group. But us important that we turn to God. We can’t earn our way into heaven . Just attending church does not get you in.

Keep trusting and obeying. Be the person God wants you to be. John was in the wilderness when he received Gods call. In chapter 30 Luke reinforces the importance of what John was doing. The Pharisees rejected gods plan by refusing to be baptised by them.

We have the same power and authority to speak whether we’re speaking to one or 10’000. Some of the people in this church have been called to be watchmen and women. We need to be obedient, don’t right off what might seem a bit crazy or weird. The bible is filled with the most unlikely people . There is a new horizon for god’s people. Being obedient and in the place god wants us to be is important. Whatever god has planned for the coming year may be not what we expect but let’s make sure we don’t miss it.

Esther brought us the word on 18 November. She observed that Don’t we just love our buildings,and asked what possessed the disciples?

24 hours before … Jesus is leaving the temple for the last time. Esther thinks Jesus was weeping inside. The building would be nothing in future. Jesus takes them to the Mount of Olives a fruitful place known for its abundance. Jesus knows this is the last opportunity for Him to share wirh his friends what will happen. The temple was a place for the poor , it was not a place for robbers and people to take advantage and Jesus had already thrown out those who sought to take advantage.

Esther came across a fantastic welcome statement St Paul’s church in Covent gardens. This is sometimes known as the Actors Church. They use the same welcome notice as Coventry Cathedral and we’ve decided to also display it as well in our entrance hallway.

Esther also thought she should extend a special welcome to those in need of prayer right now.

The Gentiles were not welcome,  the temple at that time was an exclusive god full of people who were not full of the heart of god. They were missing the point of the temple as a house of prayer to welcome everyone. God’s temple had become man’s institution. We find Jesus sitting on the Mount of Olives. He’s looking down on the temple. The disciples realised that they got it wrong in a big way. Herod remodelled it how he wanted it yet within 7 years of him finishing it was destroyed.

David them read Jesus last message to the disciples. Esther asked us to close our eyes and imagine ourselves on the Mount of Olives
Mark 13:3-8 NIV
[3] As Jesus was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John and Andrew asked him privately, [4] “Tell us, when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are all about to be fulfilled?” [5] Jesus said to them: “Watch out that no one deceives you. [6] Many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am he,’ and will deceive many. [7] When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. [8] Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom….

Be prepared is what Jesus says. We need to live as if we are in the last days, share the love of Jesus as we go through life as Christians as friends families and colleagues. He died for each one of use whether we know it or not. Jesus became the temple and gave us access to God. Describes the pain of child birth that all who are mothers can recognise. Yet the reward of the birth of new life means everything. When we see the changes in society, persecution and war we need to bring Jesus to others. We need to be careful that we don’t take salvation for granted. Today is the day for prayer for the persecuted churches. We don’t know that personally but we’ll show a video that sheds more light on that . We remember the case of Asia Bibbi tried to get water from a well she asked the question to try to share her faith and to understand the point of view of other people. Despite a judge deciding she should be free she’s still not free as too many people want to kill her. When we know Jesus has rescued us this should help us to stand firm. The passage says whenever you are arrested and brought to trial the Holy Spirit will be with you.

So glad that when things come against we don’t need to worry.

Think about the wider world. Think about Terry H’s map showing how WVBC sits in the centre of a cross of the community. Think also about Terry W reflecting on the  people who made the difference to him. We need everyone on board to help people pray for those teaching out. Be encouraged, stand firm with our persecuted brothers and sisters.

Esther shared the situation her brother Malcolm is dealing with. He’s assisting in a court case in London to help an Iranian man prove he is a Christian! Imagine if we all had to do this.

On 4th November we were joined by Vicky Thompson from Darlington Baptist Church as part of the pulpit exchange scheme. Vicky told a fast paced story to set the mood about the man who builds his house on rock and the man who builds on sand. She had the kids and adults enthralled with a familiar tale.

Vicky from Darlington brought us the word today from John 21. She quoted from Theodore Roosevelt.

“It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

Vicky said that what inspires her is the person who dares. Our world seems to only value success and achievement then you are loved. Think about the recent news coverage of Teresa May in the news where she did a terrible dance. We love to criticise as a nation. We’re loved according to our likes on things on Twitter or Facebook. What if it is ok for us to just be who we are, not because of what we have or what we’ve achieved. What if we just get applauded for who we are.

We find Peter a good fisherman , one of a long line of fisherman. He knew everything there was to know about fishing, yet follows Jesus when he was called. He leaves everything to follow Jesus. He even changes his name. Simon means reed Peter means rock. It’s Peter who climbs out of the boat..it’s this Peter, the only one that dared to get out of the boat. He’s the first to recognise Jesus. Peter has this amazing journey to this point. Think about this Peter” . In the lead up to this  passage, Peter had given up everything, this Peter who denies Jesus, he had all these experiences. Jesus has died and risen again and Mary is told to tell Peter. Peter the denier!

Vicky at this point offers a  a quick short story of the father who hears his son shouting “Dad Dad help!” It’s thundery and the little one is frightened. Dad tells him “You know Jesus is with you!” His son replies ” I know, but I  just need someone with skin on!”

Peter has gone fishing, after Jesus dies,  everything has gone wrong so he goes back to what he is comfortable with. Jesus come to find him. He doesn’t leave Peter there. It’s the same for all of us. Whilst we were still sinners Christ died for us. God is love and loves us regardless of what we do. Rely upon the fact that God loves us completely and we can never change that.

Think about an auction sale. The auction item only worth what people will pay for it. You and I are worth what God says we are worth. We are worth his Son dying for us.

Vicky then shares the story of a little boy learning piano. His parents take him to see great pianist. The boy had a look around. Sees piano, opens piano and plays chopsticks. His parents are mortified, but the great pianist hears this. Keep on playing he whispers. It becomes the most magnificent tune as the pianist plays along with him. We get it wrong. We can allow the great pianist who is God to whisper keep going it’s ok. Don’t be crushed by guilt, don’t go back to the comfortable , keep going your doing great let God fill in all the other notes.

In this moment Jesus comes to Peter and they sit down for breakfast. Jesus addressed Peter’s failure. He talks about whether or not Peter loves him. The three types of love Agape Eros phyllo.

Jesus asks Peter do you agape me. Peter can only respond saying I like you. He’s asked again twice and eventually responds you know I do.

When you go out walking with a child you holds his hand tight, different to a child’s holding your hand they can let go. Your holding tight, you won’t let the child go. Neither will God let you go.

Do you love me more than the other disciples your hobbies your cars your houses.

Do you love me more than anything else is the question right through the bible. The Jewish have a prayer  box that they put in the doorpost the forehead the wrist to show this love.

Examine how you spend your time and your money. That will tell you what you love. Do you love him enough to follow wherever he takes us. Our ambition is not to get from life to death safely. The call of Christ is one of obedience and love, it’s not comfortable or easy.

The credit belongs to the man in the arena , the one who has lived Jesus, who spends himself in a worthy cause. Let me encourage you to do the deeds of Christ. Follow Jesus to these places.

Ian led the service on 26 October and Amanda brought us the Word. Amanda was led today to offer anointing using the Balm of Gilead. She followed what she was led to do even though it seemed impossible. Where do you get Balm from Gilead? Is it even possible?  Well it turns out it is possible via the wonders of the internet, but  the delivery times meant this would not happen. It would take 21 days to get here  which would put it into late November. Amanda ordered it even though it would not get here in time. Terry even walked around shops in various towns to see if he could locate a source. Amanda followed where she was led and the oil, the Balm of Gilead, prayed over before it was sent out from Jerusalem arrived in seven days. Terry  had to leave the church as the service started, drive to the sorting office and return with the oil for the end of the service. A Just In Time God setting the foundation for an amazing service.

Today’s Word was from Mark 10:46-52 New International Version (NIV)

Blind Bartimaeus Receives His Sight
46 Then they came to Jericho. As Jesus and his disciples, together with a large crowd, were leaving the city, a blind man, Bartimaeus (which means “son of Timaeus”), was sitting by the roadside begging. 47 When he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to shout, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”
48 Many rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more “Son of David, have mercy on me!”
49 Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.”
So, they called to the blind man, “Cheer up! On your feet! He’s calling you.” 50 Throwing his cloak aside, he jumped to his feet and came to Jesus.
51 “What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus asked him.
The blind man said, “Rabbi, I want to see.”
52 “Go,” said Jesus, “your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus along the road.

Amanda asked us to try and visualise in our own minds the scene here. We already know from scripture that God’s kingdom is breaking out around Jesus. There were crowds and crowds of people gathering following Jesus as he was moving through Jericho and they were continuing to multiply along the way as they left the city.
(Imagine the crowds that gather to watch a football team and you’ll get the idea)
Only they were following Jesus…Why? Because they had heard of his miraculous healing power…word was getting out there! They didn’t have twitter or face book – they relied on word of mouth. And boy did the word on the street spread quicker than wild fire. We know this from Matthew’s account of Jesus healing two blind and mute people.
Matthews (ch9,27-34) account was slightly different to Mark’s. Matthew account was that Jesus had gone indoors and asked if they believed he could heal them it was then he touched their eyes and they gained their sight. Also, in Matthew’s account Jesus gives these men a stern warning not to tell anyone. However, they spread the word anyway.

Now Mark personalises the account of Bartimaeus’ healing. Bartimaeus son of Timaeus had been blind since birth he was poor and destitute. In those days if you had any form of a disability you wore a beggar’s cloak. This was your right to earn your money it was also a responsibility if you like for bystanders to give them money, so they could eat or find shelter for the night. This cloak was Bartimaeus’ blue badge/his PIP. Remember this was his given right he didn’t have to work because his cloak warranted that he didn’t have to. Instead he was well known in Jericho he would of sat in a prime location so he was seen by travellers that passed by, this is Bartimaeus the blind man. (Amanda used my dressing gown as a prop for a beggars cloak…I didn’t think it was that bad!)

Can you begin to imagine the noise the crowds would create? It would have been very loud. Amanda asked us to wonder howwonder how Bartimaeus really felt? Confused, frightened maybe until he learned that it was Jesus coming along the way. Let’s not forget that Bartimaeus’ has already lost 1 of his senses so all the commotion would have been a bit of a sensory over load for his ears.
Amanda shared that she knew personally what it is like to lose eye sight! She lost my sight momentarily for about 2 or 3 minutes…She told us …I’m not talking blurry I’m talking BLACK I could only see the blackest black. (it was as if some switched the light off. The shock, anguish and fear raced through my body
I can remember crying out I’m going to have to learn to learn to walk again…you may think well that won’t affect your walking because you can already walk right?

Wrong once a sense instantly goes your body goes into shock and overdrive.

Yeah you know how to walk but to try and walk without sight was one of the hardest things Amanda  had to do. Amanda guessed Bartimaeus was used to this… Her question though was this,
Why was he sat there by the road?
Was he sat waiting for Jesus because he had heard he was coming his way and he’d already heard of his miraculous healing power. How people were healed with just one touch of his garments.
The crowd was beginning to get louder Bartimaeus started to call out son of David. No answer again son of David…. the people were telling him to shush be quiet. They were trying to push him back into the margins he had no rights! But the more they told him to be quiet the more he shouted the louder. Son of David Have Mercy on me. How many times have you heard /you said shush to someone, what was the reason, how do you think it made them feel? how many times have you walked passed a beggar at the bottom of the ramp in Hartlepool town centre?
Now Jesus was the son of God he had supernatural powers of course he would have heard him in the crowd, just like he felt the lady who was haemorrhaging touch the thread of his garment as she crawled along the filthy floor. Why did Jesus make Bartimaeus call out and why did he ask him again? To display the certainty of what Bartimaeus wanted.
Jesus called Bartimaeus. He told the other to get him when they approached him Bartimaeus flung off his cloak (right here we see from scripture that he didn’t just take it off he threw his cloak aside and … he ran to Jesus. Now I know it’s hard enough to try to stand without sight. But for Bartimaeus it was more. He wanted his sight he wanted to see the face of Jesus. He was ready to give up his security blanket in order to follow Jesus. Once the cloak was off the cloak he was declaring himself fit for work, he would now have to provide for himself.
Notice Jesus didn’t order him not to tell anyone instead he said your faith as made you well. This was one of the last recorded miracles of Jesus as he was heading to Jerusalem to fulfil the Father’s will.

Amanda then said that she didn’t know where this find you this morning maybe during this talk you have been going over the areas in your life that needs a healing touch from Jesus… Just one touch of his garment. She knew that for some of us we have deep wounds that need that healing touch. some of these wounds we think are too deep and far too complex
Ian joined Amanda in inviting people to come and receive prayer and anointing for healing.  Amanda knew people might be reluctant to go forward so she shared her own testimony of healing.

She was at a lady’s conference and knew the moment she walked in that she would be healed the lord had showed her through scriptures. At the end the lady had asked for those who need healing to go for prayer and anointing. Amanda was saying “I’m not getting up lord I’m not getting up you can heal me right here.” But she did get up because she was elevated out of her seat (She later found out that the group of ladies she’d gone with were praying for her to get up.) She was healed she felt the physical healing touch of the Lord. Now if  she hadn’t of got up she wouldn’t have received that blessing. Just like Jesus asked Bartimaeus he’s asking you what do you want?

Amanda and Ian stressed that people didn’t need to tell them what needed healing or prayer if they did not want , your father in heaven knows but come for prayer and anointing. They were simply vessels of the father following his instruction this invitation comes from him.

Amanda shared that James gives us instruction to anoint those we pray for healing
James 5; 13-20
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years.18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops., she9 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, 20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.

As the song Waiting here for you plays Amanda asked us to listen and pray it from your heart and come to receive your blessing. If you can’t come to the front, then put your hand up and we’ll come to you.

This oil should not be here by human standards it takes 14-21 days from it being dispatched this took 9 all the way from Jerusalem.

We played the song Waiting Her for You over and over whilst people came down for prayer and anointing. The service ran over by half an hour as people were moved to come forward.