May 2011

To know God and to make Him known

Dear Friends,

I wonder what the word ‘power’ conjures up in your mind. Are they negative thoughts or positive ones ? I suppose it all depends. The Arab world has been showcasing both the dark side of power as well as its liberating use by some mobilised groups. Power of course varies from an institutional power, to that associated with an office to that wielded by individuals through wealth, wisdom or influence. It can and is used for both good and evil.

The Passion story involves a power struggle. We have seen again in the Easter story the manipulative power of the religious and military authorities as they tried to overcome the One sent to save them. But Jesus demonstrated not just ‘power over’ death but ‘ power on behalf of’ sinful humanity. “The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God” (1 Corinthians 1 v. 18). The disciples sometimes were vying for positions of power – well at least Zebedee’s Mum was ! (Matthew 20 vv.20-22) But the wonder of the Gospel is that Jesus “being in the very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped….he humbled himself and became obedient to death – even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord”(Philippians 2 vv6-11).  Jesus exercised all his power on our behalf for we were powerless to overcome sin and death ourselves.

Somebody has said “power is the ability to take control of your own life so that you can give it away”. Jesus gave his life so that we might have life. He died first before rising in power. We are the beneficiaries and that life of power is available to all those who wish to receive it. We need to die to self first for God to raise us up in the power of his Spirit. As we submit to God as a church I believe He is beginning to do a new thing in us. The temptation is to try to live in our own strength. But I hope we can live as resurrection people in a world that more and more tries to marginalise Christianity and refuses to bow the knee. It is a world that needs to know that Jesus is alive today.  May our lives demonstrate that living hope.

As summer approaches and the new life that Spring promised now blossoms, may our lives, rooted in Christ, also blossom as we grow together in faith and fellowship. There is much work to be done and it is encouraging that others are joining us in this Kingdom work. I pray that God will give us wisdom and strength as we put our trust in Him and His ways. I look forward very much to what God has in store for us all. Let us remain faithful to Him in the face of the increasing muscle flexing of atheism and other false teaching. May God bless you all in your witness to the living Christ among us and in us.

With my love,

David