Selah2020: Pause and Reflect

[This reflection by Chris Ginter was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 28/May/2023]

Recently we attended a meeting where a young African man called Surprise Sithole was speaking. At the age of 15 he was sleeping in a mud hut with his Mum, Dad and sister by his side. He heard a loud voice saying “Get up and leave Surprise, if you don’t you will die”.

He is a well known speaker, you can watch him on you tube or read his book “a voice in the night”. God got him away from his community just before his parents were killed by a rival tribe.

Isaiah 30:21 says, ‘…your ears will hear a voice behind you saying this is the way, walk in it‘. Jesus is speaking to us all the time, but we fail to hear Him. Samuel in the old testament said “Speak Lord for your servant hears you”.

I want to hear the voice of God really clearly, just like the above people. Not only to hear His voice but to be totally obedient.

God has far more for us than we can think or expect, even in the small events of life. Why don’t we be like Samuel and say, ‘speak Lord for your servant is listening‘? We could end up doing far more than we thought just by being obedient.

Go on give it a go, the testimonies could be amazing and we could bring many people into God’s kingdom.

Bless you
Chris Ginter

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

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Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections
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Link to Index of Bible Passages
 
Last week’s reflection: Are you part of HBC? by Martin Shorey
 

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during May 2023]

When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. Luke 4 v40 [NKJV]

One evening recently I was in our local clinic (it has a 24-7 service) when two urgent cases arrived. One was a baby of a few weeks old with severe ear-ache. The other, a lady of more mature years with an acute abdominal pain. Neither was turned away because it was late. In a faint parallel to the verse above, our doctor was able to address both cases, giving immediate relief and, if not an actual cure, a recommendation for treatment that would resolve the problems in due course.

These two cases are typical of the type of sickness that would have been presented to Jesus each evening. No doubt, each person would feel that their own suffering would seem to be the most intense and, indeed there would have been some life-changing cures during those evening ‘surgeries’, but everyone came away healed.

What do we think of as the gift of healing in the 21^st century? Do we still think of some self-styled celebrity purporting to perform miracles in front of an effusive audience, claiming to be able to cure all ills, for a suitable reward? If this is a realistic perception then why do so many faith-healers still wear glasses? Can they not heal themselves?

Alternatively, we can think of the gift of healing as God inspiring the development of the medical sciences, adding to the collective professional knowledge and raising up talented people to act on his behalf. This does not preclude God from intervening in miraculous ways but in many cases the miracle is in the timing as much as any other aspect. Does this increased scientific understanding mean that we think that we can do without God? On the contrary, it enhances the marvel of our creation and the miracle of our day-to-day living.

In the parable of the talents^[1] those who made use of what that had been given were praised, even though the use of the talents involved some risk, whilst the man who did not attempt to use his talents was heavily criticised for his failure. The range of talents that God can give his people is diverse^[2] but our combination is unique to us as individuals. How are we using the talents that God has given us? Will we be rewarded for having been faithful custodians or will we be rebuked for our timidity?

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1 v7 [NIVUK]

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Resources:
[1] Matthew 25 v14-30
[2] 1 Corinthians 12 v8-11

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

~~~~~~~~~
Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections

Link to Index of Bible Passages

Last week’s reflection: What Have You Done?
 

[This reflection by Martin Shorey was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 21/May/2023]

The other day I was listening to a podcast where some pastors were discussing what it means to be part of a church. Now, as a Baptist church we have a formal membership process, where applicants are interviewed and then voted in. But in reality, belonging to a church is far more than a process, or maybe even a conscious decision, it’s a position you find yourself in.

One of the pastors I was listening to on the podcast put it like this; you know you are part of a church when two things happen:

Firstly you stop saying ‘them’, and start saying ‘we’ – rather than saying ‘they’re’ a lovely church, or ‘they’ do so much good work, you start saying ‘we’ are a lovely church, and ‘we’ are doing so much good work.

The second thing is this – you know where the silver-ware is. In other words, you start to help out. You know how many chairs go on a stack, you know how to operate the coffee machine, you know where the cleaning cupboard is. This is because the church has become your family, and the building has become a home. You feel comfortable, and you slot into what is going on, and help out where you can.

So are you part of HBC? Not an official, voted-in one, but one of the family? If not, do you want to be, and what do you need to be one? In September we will be looking at this in more detail, but to give you a preview, here are the next steps you could take…

• Find a place/group to offer your time, talents, and efforts
• Connect to others by joining a home group – know and be known
• Give financially to support the work of the church
• Invite friends and family to come to the church and join the family

 
Where are you at in your journey? What will your next step be?

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

~~~~~~~~~
Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections
.
Link to Index of Bible Passages
 
Last week’s reflection: The Disciples’ Second Bereavement by Helen Ruffhead
 

[This is one in a series of devotional reflections prepared for Horley Baptist Church during May 2023]

The 1960 film “The Magnificent Seven” was one of several films building on a common theme, initially established in the 1954 Japanese film “Seven Samurai”. The underlying theme is that of the triumph of good over evil, albeit at a cost to both the victims and their benefactors. In both films, only two of the original seven come back from their mission.

The historian Luke wrote an account recording the growth of the early church. Commonly called ‘The Acts of the Apostles’, it is probably better described as ‘Some of the Acts of Some of the Apostles and Other Members of the Early Church’. In chapter 6 of this volume we read of the appointment of what some have called the ‘Magnificent Seven’ of the early church. These were men of good report and integrity whose role was to oversee the more practical aspects of the church and, in particular, the care of those who had fallen upon hard times. The title of ‘deacon’ came to be associated with this role although some denominations have adopted the same name for a rank within the ecclesiastical hierarchy.

The names of this magnificent seven have been recorded but for five of them we have no further details. We can assume that they carried out their obligations with integrity, serving the early church to the best of their abilities. The achievements of the other two must stand as examples of the calibre of the rest.

The first-named in the list of the seven is Stephen. He is described as “a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit” who “performed great wonders and signs among the people”.[1] His actions led him to fall foul of the religious authorities of his day. The good news that he brought to those around him came at the ultimate cost to himself but his self-sacrifice made a lasting impression on the future apostle Paul.

Philip (not to be confused with Philip the apostle) later went on to become an evangelist in his own right. We read of the outcome of his preaching in Acts chapter 8, with a great number of conversions; then we read of his encounter with the Ethiopian traveller on the road to Gaza. The Coptic church in Ethiopia traces its origins to that encounter. Philip subsequently settled in Caesarea where he was host to the apostle Paul on his final journey to Rome.

Neither Stephen nor Philip could have foreseen the outcomes of their obedience. To what extend are we willing to serve in a junior capacity, with no earthly fame, simply with the knowledge that the Lord knows what we have done on his behalf? Are we willing to follow God’s instructions, even if that means leaving a healthy ministry in order to go into the desert?

In John’s vision as recorded in the book of Revelation we see seven churches. Their characteristics demonstrate that they were far from magnificent but the messages sent to them contain one phrase in common: “I know your deeds”. Are we happy that the Lord knows our deeds?

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Resources:
[1] Acts 6 v 5, 8

Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

~~~~~~~~~
Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections

Link to Index of Bible Passages

Last week’s reflection: What Have You Forgotten?
 

[This reflection by Helen Ruffhead was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 14/May/2023]

Next Thursday we celebrate Ascension Day, when Jesus was taken back up into heaven. Yet to the disciples, who were losing Jesus for the second time, this must have seemed like a cause for mourning rather than celebration. All their hopes had been dashed when Jesus was killed, but then he came alive again, proving that with God nothing was impossible, so surely now Jesus would establish his kingdom on earth?

In Acts 1 v 6 the disciples ask Jesus: “Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?” Instead he tells them that not even he knows when this will happen, but that the Holy Spirit will come upon them and that they will be his witnesses throughout the world.

Despite this promise, it must have been so hard for the disciples to see Jesus going away for a second time, but he sent angels to tell them: “This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven.” (Acts 1 v 11).

Ten days later the Holy Spirit came in power and the disciples saw miracles and mass conversions. They also had the hope that Jesus would soon return to earth. Decades later, when the believers were suffering severe persecution and Jesus had still not returned, I expect many of them were losing heart, but Peter in his second letter said: “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief.” (2 Peter 3 v 8-10)

Two days later (or 2,000 years in our time) we are still waiting and it is so easy to become discouraged when we see the state of our world, but we need to remind ourselves that the day will come when Jesus returns in power.

Connect in Faith will have a special Ascension Day praise on 13 May, followed by Pentecost praise on 27 May. Anyone who would like to join us on *ZOOM or by phone is very welcome.

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

~~~~~~~~~
Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections
.
Link to Index of Bible Passages
 
Last week’s reflection: Coronation Weekend by Dazz Jones
 

[This reflection by Dazz Jones was published in the weekly news bulletin of Horley Baptist Church, 07/May/2023]

The role of a British sovereign is a complicated one. Having a 6-year-old to talk to about these things, I have to say it seems easier to explain what our Kings and Queens can’t do, more than it is to talk about what they do.

Yet, there is an interesting parallel between our monarchs, who have great authority but have historically elected to delegate it to ‘the people’, and God. Our God who, for some reason beyond my understanding, has unlimited power and sovereignty but elects to delegate us free will and relative autonomy; to the point that many people around the world choose to believe that He doesn’t even exist. It is only because of God’s choice to give us free will that we can choose to believe (or not) in Him. We can make various choices and decisions about just how closely we follow Him, each and every moment of each and every day. How grateful are you for the free will you have? For it is a gift from God; he didn’t have to make us this way.

In much the same way that our British monarch delegated their authority to the representatives of the people (a move which we might be forgiven for feeling sceptical about in the current climate!), our God allows us to have opinions and make decisions about how we want to live and breathe and behave. Do you think you’re doing a good job?

What would your day look like if God took back that freedom?

Would you really want to know what God’s will would be for your life if you had the chance?
What time he’d have you getting up, where He’d have you going, who he’d have you meeting up with?

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Bible quotations: Unless otherwise specified, quotations are taken from the resources of Bible Gateway or Bible Hub, in accordance with the licencing conditions outlined on our Site Policies page.

Bible dates: Where appropriate, the dates given for Biblical events are based on the Bible Timeline resource
and are subject to the constraints defined on the corresponding webpage.

~~~~~~~~~
Horley Baptist Church online
HBC main site
Confidential prayer link

Link to Recent Reflections
.
Link to Index of Bible Passages
 
Last week’s reflection: The Darkness And The Light by Michael Goble