25 September 2024
Dear Friends, 
I wonder if you've ever asked anyone a question and been told, “I'll tell you, but you're not going to like the answer!” Such a reply leaves you feeling apprehensive about what's coming; concerned that you may have opened Pandora's box! But at least there is a chance to steel yourself for the uncomfortable reply.
When Habakkuk makes his first complaint to God about the state of the nation, crying out “how long, oh Lord?” The LORD’s response to him (see 1v5) gives Habakkuk just that kind of chance. However, God's response rocks Habakkuk to his core. God has seen the wickedness amongst his people. He is going to act. But God’s response to his people’s sin is a severe judgement at the hands of the Babylonian army. The description of this in verses 6 to 11 is so frightening, that it stuns Habakkuk. He wanted God to act, but not like this! And not through people like this. It was just too much!!!
Habakkuk's response to God's answer is to speak about God's holiness and justice, and to ask how a holy and righteous God could allow such a wicked and violent nation to wreak such havoc upon God's people? It seems that it is not only Habakkuk who has questions about God’s plan because having raised the question, chapter 2 begins with these words: “I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.”
What was God’s response?
What follows for the rest of chapter 2 is a reminder that there will be a day of judgment for all the wicked - including the Babylonians. So although the Babylonians may be God's chosen means of showing his righteous anger on his own people, they will not escape from facing God’s justice. But whilst that may be of some comfort, the fact remains that God's people are about to face, by God’s own decree, terrible devastation at the hands of the Babylonians. Ultimately, God's response in chapter 2 is simply this: I am God, not you. I am just, so trust me. Or, to use the prophet’s own words: “The LORD is in his holy temple; Let all the earth be silent before him.”
In our, modern liberal democracy where we elect our leaders and where even the monarchy has been de-mystified, the sense of awe and wonder at the power, majesty and authority of God has also diminished somewhat, even within the church. Faced with difficult or frightening circumstances our response is rather like Tom Cruise’s character in A Few Good Men when he bangs his fist on the desk and demands “I want the truth!” We demand that God answer us and act for us in the way we would like, or else we turn from him.
But whilst we can demand all we like, God is God, not us. And oftentimes we are not told answers to our urgent questions of why and how. Often the only response we will get is “I am God, not you. I am just, I am good, I do love you, so trust me.”
And the only response we can rightly make in that situation is to do just that, and to trust in God’s goodness and power and might. To trust him that the future and our future is in his hands, and that whatever he sends will ultimately be for our good. We may not understand it. We may think, like Habakkuk, that what we’re going through makes no sense at all. But God is God, not us. Our only response must be to take his hand, and trust.
Habakkuk’s response is a model for us here: Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my saviour.
Everything in Habakkuk’s life was falling apart and he didn't understand God's purposes for the nation. Yet he was determined to trust and rejoice in God, after all, God was God, and he was not.
We are in a far stronger place to trust God in all circumstances than Habakkuk was for we have seen the depths of God's love demonstrated for us in Jesus’ death on the cross. The cross of Jesus gives us no reason to doubt God's grace, mercy, love or his power to use even the darkest circumstances for our good and his glory.
So whilst we can, like Habakkuk, bring our questions, doubts, fears and complaints to God, ultimately we need to trust that the God who gave his Son for us, will continue to rule over his world and bring all his plans to completion at the right time. For he will. And we can rest in that certainty, no matter what today or tomorrow brings.
Song for the week: Shane & Shane: I Will Wait For You (Psalm 130) (youtube.com)
Grace and peace,
Dave
18 September, 2024
Dear Friends, .
My dad tells the story of a family holiday to Germany when I was about eight years of age. Apparently, by the time we’d travelled from mid Bedfordshire to just outside Dover to catch the ferry, I was already asking, “Are we nearly there yet?”
That feeling of wanting things to be over, of wanting to arrive at our final destination, isn’t just something for little children on long car journeys. It’s the same feeling we get when building work on our house seems to take forever. When illnesses roll on and on and on, and we long to be healthy. When we look at our world and see all the mess and violence and evil flourishing, and we long to know when there will be true and lasting peace. In those circumstances and many, many more we can all cry out: “Are we nearly there yet?” Or, to put it another way: “How long O Lord?”
That cry of, “How long O Lord?” is exemplified in the Bible by the prophet Habakkuk. His whole but short book- just three chapters – orbits this question: “how long O Lord!?”
As Habakkuk looked out over God’s people, he saw a nation that had lost its way. Violence was endemic. Injustice was rife. Conflict abounded. The wicked were taking advantage of the righteous and justice was perverted. He knew it shouldn’t be like this. He knew that gods people were meant to be a beacon of righteousness, justice and peace. But it was not so.
And so he cried out “How long, O Lord? How long must I look at this awful mess? How long will it be until you act?” The first few verses of Habakkuk are a lament, and in his lamenting Habakkuk is doing a number of things.
He’s reflecting biblically on the state of the world, looking at what he sees and comparing it to God’s standards.
He’s pouring out his heart – Habakkuk doesn’t just know things are wrong, he feels it!
He’s bringing his concerns to God, praying for him to step in and do something. In doing so, recognising God’s sovereignty over all things.
When we look around the world, or our country, or God’s church, what do we see? Are we judging what we see by God’s standards as revealed in Scripture? Are our hearts breaking over the mess that we have made of God’s world? And are we seeking him in prayer, pleading with him to have mercy and intervene?
The book of Habakkuk teaches us to do all three of those things – and then, as well, see next week, to wait and trust that God will deal with sin and wickedness in his way, in his time.
For now, though, let’s learn to lament like Habakkuk, and to bring our prayers to the One who does see and who will act.
Song for the week: (16) We have sung our songs of victory (How Long?) - Lyrics - YouTube
Grace and peace,
Dave
11 September 2024
Dear Friends,
This coming Sunday we’ll finish our mini-series looking at the life story of Abraham, the father of faith. Working systematically through these chapters in Genesis has caused us to look at some passages which we might normally skip past, but the life of all the great Biblical heroes includes many very ordinary days as well as some extraordinary times, just as ours do too. We’ve seen partings and arrivals, family celebrations and disputes, business successes and regional disputes, births, marriages, and deaths. Yet through all of Abraham’s days, God has been ‘working his purposes out as year succeeds to year.’
Those purposes called Abraham to leave his father and his family home and set out for the land the LORD had prepared for him. It took faith and courage and, despite various hiccups, Abraham came to the end of his life having seen God’s promises start to be fulfilled.
I say start because at the time of his death Abraham had but one son and heir and he owned but one field in the Promised Land. God’s promises of more descendants than stars in the sky, and a land in which they could dwell and flourish in safety were still a long way off!
And yet Abraham died as he had lived; in faithful trust that God had far more in mind! Something even far better than the physical land he knew was coming. The writer of Hebrews describes Abraham’s life of faith in these words:
“By faith, Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to a city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God… a better country, a heavenly one.”
It's now been almost exactly 2 years since my induction as Rector, and despite the health challenges that Judy in particular has faced since moving down, we are so glad we came. Not only do we feel so blessed to live in such a beautiful part of the world, but we have seen God do his work amongst us, stirring faith, bringing new life, giving new life and growth. We long for more of that in the coming days and are praying that the trickle of souls being saved and steady church growth would increase.
But even if Newton Abbot and Ogwell were to find themselves in a time of true revival as in times of old so that our churches were no longer large enough to contain all those who wanted to worship God with us; we would still not have reached our final destination. We will only arrive at that final destination when the Lord Jesus comes as king and judge. That means that however settled we feel, we too should always have our eyes fixed on the city whose architect and builder is God, that heavenly country, the New Jerusalem, the place the writer of Hebrews speaks of and that the apostle John describes so wonderfully in the last chapters of the Bible.
Until that day, our task is to keep walking and working and praying and trusting that God’s purposes would be fulfilled in our day, that the eternal city might be filled with many more souls who have come to a saving faith in Jesus because of the witness and work of all of us in our Parish.
Song for the week: (9) Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah - Lyrics - YouTube
Grace and peace,
Dave
4 September 2024
Dear Friends,
The first newsletter of September seemed like a good time to give a general update on news from across the parish and to look ahead to the rest of the year.
Preaching series for Sunday mornings
We have two weeks left of our current series looking at Abraham’s life and learning from the father of faith. Then we turn back to Mark's gospel for four weeks before starting a series in 1 Corinthians. I've entitled that series “lessons from a messy church” because it certainly was! Despite having been planted by the apostle Paul himself and having benefited from some outstanding teachers, the church was divided over its leaders, confused over the gospel message, and mixed up about how it should live a life of faith. We will only cover the first 3 chapters before Advent, but will return to this letter next year.
Prayer gatherings
Hopefully you noticed that our prayer gatherings have restarted this week with the daytime gathering at the new time of 9:15 AM on a Monday morning. We had 11 people praying on Monday, which was so encouraging. Please do come and join us as we alternate our meetings between Monday mornings at 9:15am and Monday evenings at 7:45pm. Prayer is the engine room of the church, and the more we pray, the more the Lord will be at work amongst us. Might you be able to make one meeting a month?
Harvest Festivals
October will see our Harvest services spread over the first three weeks of the month. On Sunday 6th October, there will be harvest thanksgivings at Abbotsbury, St Paul’s and St. Mary's. All Saints will celebrate harvest on Sunday 13th October, and St Bartholomew’s in Ogwell on Sunday 20th October. Once again, any produce brought along will be donated to the THAT food bank in Buckland. They would be particularly grateful for the following items
Sugar Cooking Oil Eggs
Jam Custard Pasta Sauce
Tins of Sweetcorn Tins of Soup Women's Deodorant
Men's Deodorant Washing up Liquid Ketchup or Mayonaise
Anti-Bacterial Spray Anti-Bacterial Wipes
5th Sunday services
September has five Sundays and so on Sunday 29th September we shall be worshipping together at Saint Paul's church at 10:30am. The service will include Holy Communion and there will be a chance to enjoy one another's company over coffee and refreshments after the service. That same evening, we have the next of our evensong services, this time at Highweek church beginning at 5:30m. Will be an opportunity to worship with our brothers and sisters from Saint Luke's, who will be having a joint service with St. John's Bovey Tracy on the Sunday morning. Do come along to one – or both – of the gatherings.
Autumn Concerts
On Saturday 26th October Abbotsbury church will play host to the Saint James’ Trio for an evening of classical music. Do look out for the posters! This will be followed by a ‘Come and Sing Messiah’ on Sunday 8th December, again at Abbotsbury church.
A Christmas Journey – an event for children in Year 2 (6-7 year olds)
Next week I will be sending letters to all of the primary schools in the town and surrounding area, inviting them to send their Year 2 children to our dramatic presentation of the Christmas story. Once again we will be transforming Abbotsbury church into the shepherds’ fields, the wise men's tent, the temple courtyards and the home of Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus. As last year we will be looking for lots of volunteers to take part. The event will run during the first full week of December. Why not block off that week now and make the decision to come and be part of the team. It will be a wonderful way to get your heart and mind ready for Christmas!
Ben and Sarah and the Maynard family…
We praise the LORD that for the last two Sundays, the whole of the Maynard family has been able to come to church together as Noah's progress has been so good he has been granted weekend leave from his hospital rehab. There is obviously a long way to go and some prayer points are below, but if things continue to progress the hope is that Noah will soon be able to continue his recovery at home full time, meaning that Ben and Sarah can also think about moving house and Ben starting his new job. As soon as dates for their move become clear, we will let you know so we can say a proper goodbye to Ben and the family and support them as they begin a new stage of their ministry. For now, please pray…
- That Noah will not need another operation to fit a new shunt in his head.
- That Noah’s recovery continues so that he is able to come home on a permanent basis and for wisdom for the consultants who will make that decision.
- For renewed strength for Ben and Sarah, and the LORD’s protection over them, Noah and the whole family.
Gareth’s Sabbatical and a few thank yous…
Having enjoyed a wonderful family holiday in Canada, the Regan family are now home with Gareth continuing his sabbatical studies. His first Sunday back at work is not until 6th October but do keep him in your prayers that the final month of his sabbatical will be of huge benefit to him and to God's church.
With Ben having been sidelined as well, I am hugely grateful to the clergy who have stepped into the breach and taken services over these months: Rev David Witchell, Rev David Harris, Rev Alan Jonas and Rev Sam Leach. Our ordinand in training Jon Bealey and our reader Keith Butler have also taken on extra preaching, and the leadership team at Abbotsbury have taken on new responsibilities. I am grateful to them and to all who have stepped into the breach over these 3 months.
PCC Meeting with a difference
Our next PCC meeting will be on Wednesday 25th September at Abbotsbury Church at 7pm. The first part of the meeting will be a joint gathering with Saint Luke's PCC, and after all opening worship, we will hear from the Teignbridge lead for Christians Against Poverty. Our hope is that CAP will not only become one of our nominated mission organisations next year, receiving financial support, but that we may be able to work with St Lukes to set up a CAP hub to support people struggling with their finances. This is one of the practical ways we want to develop our relationship with Saint Luke's over the coming years. Please pray for both PCC's as they meet.
Judy and me
A final thankyou to all of you who have been praying for Judy. After 3 rounds of chemotherapy, Judy will be heading to Truro Hospital for a major operation on Tuesday 10th September. Judy is likely to be in hospital for 5-7 days (although it may be longer) before coming home to rest and recuperate. I won’t be around for much of that time, but I will be contactable on email. Judy will then have another 3 rounds of chemo in the lead up to Christmas, so do continue to keep Judy and I in your prayers.
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Like many of you, the last few months for Judy and I have been difficult and testing. But as we have walked through this dark valley, the beauty and encouragement of Psalm 23 has become more precious than ever. Judy and Lorna led 2 women’s breakfasts on this theme in the early summer, and as I’ve been reading the same book I’ve been struck again by the wonder of the fact that the LORD Almighty is our shepherd; and that He not only walks with us, provides for us, protects us and blesses us, but that He himself, for his good purposes and for our sanctification, leads us into and walks with us through our darkest valleys.
Whatever you are going through right now, and whatever these coming few months holds for you, I pray that you would also know a renewed closeness in your fellowship with the Lord Jesus, and that you will trust him every single step of the way.
Song for the week: The Lord's My Shepherd - Stuart Townend (youtube.com)
Grace and peace,
Dave
28 August, 2024
Dear Friends, .
For the last of this short series of reflections on themes from the book of Ecclesiastes, we turn to the theme of injustice, a topic the Teacher returns to again and again. Here is a just a short sample of his comments on the subject.
3: 16 And I saw something else under the sun: In the place of judgment—wickedness was there, in the place of justice—wickedness was there.
4: 1 Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed— and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors— and they have no comforter.
5:8 If you see the poor oppressed in a district, and justice and rights denied, do not be surprised at such things; for one official is eyed by a higher one, and over them both are others higher still.
I could go on. The Teacher touches on the subject in almost every chapter and it isn’t hard to think why. When we see evil in the world it weighs heavily on mankind. (6:1) We are all impacted by bad news whether of illness, disaster, violence or death. We all notice when justice isn’t done, when the wicked walk free or the innocent suffer. We all know, deep down, that the world is not right; that it shouldn’t be like this and we long for it to change.
That recognition of wickedness and evil as well as the longing for the world to be different are, I believe, signs that human beings are made in the image of God (Genesis 1: 26-27). We may not agree on the details, but every human culture has this sense of right and wrong. We all want good (however we define it) to flourish and for evil to be stopped and punished. It’s a natural human instinct, and where that is missing in an individual (as it very occasionally is) it can lead to then committing terrible evil.
The Teacher would have us see the world as it is, not to try and pretend like the character in the Lego movie ‘that everything is awesome!’ It isn’t. Life is hard, and oftentimes injustice flourishes and wickedness does win the day, at least temporarily..
So how might we deal with it better? In some of his reflections, the Teacher seems to leave his readers with the attitude of: “Life sucks! Get over it!” But he does have more positive advice too. He encourages thankfulness in what we have- which is a great start. He praises those who do act justly, who are honourable and good, who do carry out their responsibilities with integrity. In this he calls us to a pattern of life mirrored throughout the scriptures, the kind of life that Jesus exemplified perfectly.
But he goes one step further. He tells us to remember that one day “God will bring into judgment both the righteous and the wicked, for there will be a time for every activity, a time to judge every deed.” Remembering this truth, that God will be the ultimate and final judge of all people and of all deeds, brings us the comfort that although we may not see justice done in our lifetime, one day, God will see it done; and done perfectly. This knowledge frees us from despair because we know God will see justice done; it frees us from the need for vengeance, because God will see justice done; and whilst the Bible encourages us to be salt and light in God’s world, seeking to act justly and love mercy as we walk humbly with our God; if our efforts don’t succeed in making the world a better place- we know it’s only a matter of time before God himself will see it done. What an encouragement to know that if we work for justice and the relief of suffering, we are working in step with the LORD who will have the final word on the subject when the Kingdom of King Jesus comes!
So in these difficult days when our TV screens and newspapers are full of woe and fear and injustice and suffering, let’s learn from the Teacher of Ecclesiastes. Let’s be honest about what we see. Let’s call out injustice and wickedness for what it is. Let’s live righteous lives that point to the LORD and let’s live with the sure and certain hope that God’s kingdom will come, and that one day, justice and peace will come when Jesus returns as King.
Song for the week: It Is Well With My Soul (Hymn 407)
Grace and peace,
Dave
21 August 2024
Dear Friends, .
One of the things I love about sport is its unpredictability. Great teams can lose to minnows. Terrible players can have games when they play like Pele! Moments of madness or moments of greatness can turn a game on its head and leave supporters open mouthed with something to chat about for years to come.
But the unpredictability that makes sport so exciting isn't quite so welcome when it comes to our lives. We don't mind so much if the unexpected event is one that brings great joy. Not long after we had been married, Judy and I won a holiday! We didn't mind that unpredictable event one little bit! But when the unexpected shatters our illusion of indestructibility and leaves us broken and weeping on the floor, it’s a whole different ball game.
But that is what life is like isn't it. It is unpredictable. In the words of that great philosopher Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates; You never know what you're going to get!”
The writer of Ecclesiastes knew about life's unpredictability. He knew that life is made up of seasons of every kind: times to plant and uproot; Times to tear down and times to build; Times to weak and to laugh; Times to mourn and dance; Times to search for what is lost, and times to give up that search. And with our limited understanding of the future, and I dare say of the present, we simply do not know what seasons will be coming our way.
So how do we live in such a world?
The teacher in Ecclesiastes has some good advice for us. In Chapter 11 verse 2 he writes: “invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; You do not know what disaster may come up on the land.” It's a slightly long-winded way of saying ‘don't put all your eggs in one basket because we do not know what will happen in the future.’ That makes good financial sense, and it’s great advice for young people deciding what to do with their lives. A broad education which gives different options for future careers makes great sense.
But this advice rests on the premise that life is uncertain. So often we think we can control our lives, and if we make wise decisions and plan well, then everything will turn out just as we want. But life isn't like that. Disasters do come upon us. A drunk driver. A terrible diagnosis. The financial collapse of our employer. A worldwide recession. A worldwide pandemic! And suddenly everything we hoped and planned for is swept away. The Teacher would want us to be ready for such eventualities to come, both practically but also emotionally. Recognising that life is uncertain, being honest with ourselves that our plans may not workout, is a great way to help prepare us for disappointment and disaster.
And a few verses down, the Teacher points us to the truth that whilst we may not understand what is going on, God does. This is how we can be spiritually ready for the unexpected. The sovereignty of God over all things is a doctrine that brings huge comfort to the Christian, especially in times of struggle the difficulty. Such is God’s power and authority over all things, that whilst the chaotic events of the world may look random and destruction to us, God is able to weave his purposes into and through even the worst acts of violence. Just meditate on Jesus’ death on the cross to see how this played out in history. Even in our own lives we can be comforted that “in all things, God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28)
We may not know what is coming tomorrow, nor what God’s plan for us is in those times; but we can know that He will still be at work in and through the uncertainties of life. Events may shock us, but nothing shocks or surprises the LORD.
In pagan times, people would offer sacrifices to any number of different gods with the hope that one of them might have the desire and power to intervene. In life’s uncertainties, let us fix our eyes on the one true God who will shepherd us through every twist and turn of life until we see him face to face in glory.
Song for the week 🔴 HE WILL HOLD ME FAST (with Lyrics) Keith & Kristyn Getty (youtube.com)
Grace and peace,
Dave
18 August 2024
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends
Last week I had the privilege of taking the funeral of our dear friend John Blanchard and listening to the wonderful eulogy given by his 3 children. One of the things that stood out was the number of long-lasting friendships that John had enjoyed. I hope that is the case for you as well. But funerals also remind us of the continual march of time, and how, despite our best efforts, we continue to get older and frailer as the years roll on.
Towards the end of his book, the writer of Ecclesiastes focuses on the ageing process, using plenty of metaphors to plot the physical decay we all go through if we live long enough. The metaphors he uses in chapter 12 are sometimes amusing, but the overall tone is rather sad and poignant.
He remarks about fading eyesight by saying that ‘the sun and the light and the moon and the stars grow dark’, and that ‘those looking through the windows grow dim.’ He speaks about ‘strong men stooping’ and eating getting harder because ‘the grinders (teeth) are few’. He notes that the sounds of birds fade with hearing loss, as the fear of heights and dangers increases, keeping the aged inside. He remarks that ‘the almond tree blossoms’ (grey hair comes), that the energy of youth fades – ‘the grasshopper drags itself along’ - and that desire is no longer stirred.
As I head towards my sixties (still a little way off but coming up fast!) I’m beginning to experience more and more of these changes. My running pace is slower, my hair is now grey, and I’ve had bifocals for several years now. I’ve still got a good amount of energy, but after a long walk or a round of golf, there are now often aches in places that used to give me no trouble at all! And of course I know where it is going. That one day ‘the silver cord (will be) severed, and the golden bowl broken… and the dust (will) return to the ground it came from, and the spirit (will) return to God who gave it.’
We know all this of course. We know life is fragile. We know that it will end in death. But somehow it is still a shock when it starts to happen to us, or to our children. Why is that? Why isn’t the thought of ageing and life ending something that we naturally hold in our minds? Why are we so reluctant to speak honestly about our inevitable physical demise?
I suspect that it may be because of a lack of a certain hope and knowledge about what comes next. For the Christian, that confident hope flows from a deep trust in the One who gave us life and into whose hands we must one day return. So if we do not truly know him, we can have no hope for the future beyond the grave. The writer of Ecclesiastes doesn’t want us to make that mistake. As he draws his book to a close he calls on us, whatever age we might be, to ‘remember our creator’ before the days of trouble come and our life ebbs away. This is partly because of the reality of final judgment where ‘God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.’ But is also because living life as God meant it to be lived, with the greatest peace and joy and fulfilment, demands that we walk with our creator through all our days.
And this brings us full-circle to the topic of friends and indeed, to the best of friends. You see, as we grow in our knowledge of and joy in the LORD our friend and saviour, so we will find that we are able to trust him and rely on him completely even when the shadows lengthen, and the evening of life comes.
You may no longer be in the full-flush of youth. Even middle age may now be in your rear-view mirror! But the advice of the writer of Ecclesiastes is still pertinent to all of us: get to know God while you can, before you stand before him and he asks what you did with the life he gave you, and how you treated his Son that he gave for you. For then you will be able to face physical demise knowing that you will be welcomed into a glorious eternal home where the very best is still to come!
Below is a song that I hope will lift your eyes to our eternal home and 3 links to books that might help you deal with the problem of aging. All the books are available elsewhere too.
Song for the week (youtube.com)
Almost Home - Matt Papa & Matt Boswell
Links to books: Get from 10ofthose.com or from our local Christian bokshop Choice Words
The Good Life in the Last Days (Paperback) by Mikey Lynch
Making The Most of The Rest Of Your Life (Paperback) by John Chapman
On My Way To Heaven (Paperback) by Mark Ashton
Grace and peace,
Dave
11 August 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends
One of the aims of the Olympic movement is to build links of friendship across national borders, hence the Olympic symbol being 5 interlocking rings representing the 5 inhabited continents. It seems to work well in that regard, and away from certain rivalries between individual athletes and between certain countries, it’s common to hear athletes talking about how much they have enjoyed meeting people from all over the world.
Building strong and lasting friendships obviously takes longer than two weeks, but sharing a common task or common aim is a good place to start. Most friendships start in that way. Perhaps some of you have friends you met in secondary or even primary school, or through shared sporting of cultural activities, or simply by working with or living near each other. Over time, good friends become invaluable; they support us, encourage us, celebrate with us, grieve with us and stay with us when others fall away. And we in turn, get to return those priceless gifts to them. Such long lasting friendships are precious.
Despite his scepticism about many aspects of life, the writer of Ecclesiastes recognises the value of good friends. He expresses it this way in chapter 4 verses 9 to 12:
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labour: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up. Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But, how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
With a friend by your side, work is more productive, and help is close at hand in times of trouble. So pity anyone who has no one to help them…
But like any relationship, good friendships need time to develop and time to keep them strong. They require honesty and openness, and a willingness to ask for help and give help when it is asked for. True friends know when to speak and when to be quiet, when to speak words of encouragement and when to speak blunt truth to bring us to our senses.
So who are your best friends? Do you value them and let them know that you do? And do you thank God for them? Good friends are, after all, a wonderful gift of God.
I’ve actually preached on this passage several times at weddings. There’s lots here about true partnership and togetherness, standing with one another through life’s challenges. But at the end of these verses is a hint that the strongest friendship is one where both partners are, first of all, united to Christ. This is an unbreakable and eternal bond; a bond which can strengthen friendships and marriages to a whole new level. Two people who are united to Christ and then united to one another in friendship gives an even deeper bond, a bond than can stand the test of even greater dangers, toils and snares.
How might we grow more friendships like this? Time is the main ingredient, mixed with generous helpings of openness, honestly, patience, kindness, mercy, grace and the ability to forgive. Such friendships must, obviously, also involve Jesus himself. Speaking of him together, speaking to him together, and almost certainly working with him together.
Over the coming months, perhaps we might all pay more attention to our friendships and consider what part – if any - Jesus plays in our closest friendships, and seek to strengthen that third cord. It will take effort and determination, but it will be worth it!
Songs for the week:
What A Friend We Have In Jesus
Grace and peace,
Dave
4 August 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends
After an hiatus to think about prayer, we return to the book of Ecclesiastes for a reflection on money and wealth.
If the author of the book was King Solomon, then he had more wealth than almost anyone in history. The writer of 1 Kings tells us that during Solomon’s reign gold was so plentiful that silver was considered of little value, and when you read the descriptions of the temple and royal palace that he built, the vast wealth of the king becomes abundantly clear.
What’s also clear is that all this wealth did not make him happy. “I amassed silver and gold for myself… I became far greater by far than anyone in Jerusalem before me… I denied myself nothing… yet when I surveyed all that my hands had sone… everything was meaningless; a chasing after the wind.” (Ecc 1: v8-11) He returns to the theme in chapter 5 verses 8 to 20. As I used to say to one of my grandchildren on a regular basis: stuff doesn’t make you happy.
Of course, wealth does have its uses, as the writer accepts. Money can buy certain pleasures and open opportunities. He also describes it as a shelter (7:12), no doubt thinking about the help and aid money can buy when times are tough. So given the choice, it’s better to be wealthy than poor. However, rather like Jesus in Luke 16:13, and the apostle Paul in 1 Timothy 6, the writer of Ecclesiastes argues that the love of money or living to gain more money is a path that leads to disaster.
Firstly, because those who love money find that however much they have it will never have enough (Ecc 5:10).
Secondly, the wealthy lose sleep worrying about the money they already have (Ecc 5:12).
And thirdly, seeking for more and more wealth robs the money-hungry of the enjoyment and appreciation for what they already have (Ecc 4:8).
In all these cases it is not money in itself that is the problem, but the desire for more and more wealth, for ‘the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.’ (1 Timothy 6:10)
Of course, this is something that can affect both rich and poor. The rich can become so proud, comfortable and secure that they turn away from God and stop doing good. After all, wealth can open so many doors that seeking first the Kingdom of God hardly gets a look in. On the other hand, the poor can so idolise wealth that seeking riches or financial comfort becomes their highest goal, and again, God’s will for their lives is laid to one side.
So how should we deal with our money? The writer of Ecclesiastes has several words of advice:
No matter much you have, enjoy all you have been given with a grateful heart. (5:19)
Don’t hoard it away. (5:13)
Don’t trust it to save you… for time and chance happen to all. (Ecc 9:11)
The rest of the Bible has more to say in terms of generosity and giving to God’s work and to meet the needs of others, but perhaps the greatest lesson from Ecclesiastes is about being content. This is also something the apostle Paul wrote about. He had, he said, “ learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Phil 4: 11-13)
As we reflect on all we have, and the opportunities our wealth (whatever level that is) affords us, are we content, or are we always grumbling about how little we have, and always seeking after just a little more? In these glorious summer months, when the beauty of the our Devonian surroundings is magnified, perhaps it would be good to check our contentment levels, and ask the LORD to help us find our true contentment in Christ and be more and more grateful for all we already have.
Songs for the week: Matt Redman - I Will Offer Up My Life
Dave
28 July 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends
Many of us will be praying on Thursday as part of 17 hours of continual prayer for Noah as he has his major operation to seek to remove the tumour in his brain. (If you haven’t signed up yet there is still time – see the next page!) At times like this, when there is literally nothing we can do to solve a problem, prayer is the obvious answer, even for those who normally demonstrate no religious faith.
Those prayers may be no more than a few words, “please God, help…” or they may be long supplications, reminding God of his promises to do certain things. But when we feel helpless, turning to God is the obvious thing to do.
In prayer we seek the help and intervention of the One far greater and more powerful than we are, that He might step in and bring about the desire of our hearts. We can’t do anything, but we believe, trust or hope, with varying degrees of confidence, that God can. And so, like a child coming to their parent, we ask God to act, knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us more than we can imagine, and has more power than we can measure. And there is nothing wrong with asking! In fact, the scriptures encourage us in numerous places to pray and make our requests to God, reminding us that God loves to give good gifts to his children, and rebuking us that sometimes we do not have because we have not asked!
Of course, prayer is not like putting a coin in a slot machine to get what we want. Most of us have lived long enough to know that God doesn’t always answer our prayers in the way we would like. Most parents know that they should not give their children everything they ask for, not least because not everything their children want is good for them at that point in their lives. Since our Heavenly Father is perfect, he knows far better than we do exactly what is best in every situation. God views all of history, for all of creation, and at the centre of his plans is his greater glory shown by the building of his kingdom and by us growing in holiness. That’s why praying for something we want will not always lead to that request being granted.
So what should our expectations be of prayers offered in trust and faith? Let me suggest 3 things.
God will hear us. Whether our prayers are never said aloud, or are uttered in secret, or sung from the roof tops, God always hears the prayers of his beloved children. There is never a time when our prayers hit the ceiling and go no further, never a time when God is too busy, or so fed up with us that he sticks his fingers in his ears. When we pray, our prayers reach the throne of the Most High God in courts of Heaven where God our Father hears every word we have said or whispered or thought. God always hears the prayers of his children.
God will answer. Sometimes the answer will be YES, and like Jairus in our passage next week, we will receive exactly what we asked for. That should encourage us to pray big prayers, for God has not changed nor is his power diminished. So let us be bold and ask! At other times, the answer will be WAIT. In such circumstances we are asked to trust God’s love and timing, relying on him for the strength and courage to keep going when the road is tough. Patience is not something many of us have in abundance, but it is something we develop as our faith in God grows. Sometimes, however, the answer will be NO. The Lord Jesus prayed a prayer which received that answer. Overcome with fear at what he would face on the cross, Jesus asked if there was another way to finish his mission. The Father’s answer was no. There was no other way. Like Jesus, we may not receive the answer we asked for, but God will answer.
God’s ultimate purposes for us are good. In those times when we are told to wait, or told no, we may feel let down or angry with God. But in the midst of such a time, indeed, even as we make our requests to God in prayer, Jesus’ response to his Father should be a model for us; ‘yet not my will, but yours be done.’ Reminding ourselves that God is good, that he does love us, and that he is all-wise and all-powerful, will help us keep trusting God even when the answer he gives isn’t the answer we wanted.
Over the course of the last few years, Ben and Sarah have modelled that kind of confident and trusting prayer for us over and over again. Confident that God has heard their prayer, confident in His power to do immeasurably more that we can think or imagine, trusting that God’s love is certain and that His hold on them, on Noah and all the children, is stronger than life or death. So let us follow their example and pray confident prayers this week. Confident that God will hear us. Confident that He will answer. And confident in His unfading love and purposes for Noah, for Ben and Sarah and for their family, this week, and always.
Songs for the week: I Will Wait for You (Psalm 130) Keith & Kristyn Getty
Grace and peace,
Dave
21 July 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends
During Covid, Judy and I bubbled up with one of my church wardens who lived alone. His regular visits would include food and chat and games of 5 Crowns. Being slightly geeky, I’ve kept a record of all the games, recording how many wins each of us has had, together with the highest and lowest scores, and I delight in sharing these statistics from time to time.
There were many statistics shared in and around the England-Spain game on Sunday. Statistics about the number of shots, percentage possession and the ‘shocking’ stat that England were the first team in Euro’s history to appear in 2 consecutive finals and lose them both. Spanish teams, on the other hand, (National and league sides) have now played in 23 finals since 2001 and won them all!
What would the writer of Ecclesiastes say to those glorying in or weeping over such statistics?
He’d say that there is a time for both rejoicing and weeping, (3:4) and that enjoying one’s work and successes is good (3:22). But he’d want to counsel that even the greatest of human achievements will soon be overtaken and the names of today’s heroes will be forgotten.
“What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; There is nothing new under the sun…. No one remembers the former generations, even those yet to come will not be remembered by those who follow them.” (1:9 and 11)
In other words, records are there to be broken, new heroes will arise, and the time will soon come when today's heroes, victors and record breakers will be remembered no more. That's not a reason to stop trying, stop working, stop seeking to excel, it is a call to see things in a proper and eternal perspective. It’s an encouragement to realise the fleeting nature of life and to find an identity, and a meaning and joy that truly lasts.
According to the Bible, that means living for the Lord, seeking to do his will and having an eternal focus in all we do. In that way all our deeds, however great or small, however public or private, can be for the praise of God’s glory and the building of his kingdom. Great feats done for our own glory and praise will perish and fade, (See 1 Corinthians 3) but God’s glory is eternal! Names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will never be rubbed out.
When he was interviewed in the run up to Sunday's game, Gareth Southgate commented that whilst the result might define his England managerial career, it certainly wouldn’t define him. I don't know whether Southgate is a Christian, but for all of us who follow Jesus, the successes or otherwise we have in life do not ultimately define us. Our true life is hidden in Christ, our eternal future secured by his victory on the cross, and so we are free to live and work to the best of our abilities without fear of failure or being overtaken, seeking only to hear God’s verdict: “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
That is the only verdict that will ultimately matter, so let’s live like it today!
Songs for the week: Before the Throne of God Above
Grace and peace,
Dave
10 July 2024
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends,
If you’re still following the Bible Reading plan we issued at the start of the year, this week sees the start of readings from the book of Ecclesiastes. In some ways it’s rather a strange book. The writer, almost certainly King Solomon, muses on the meaning of life from the perspective of one who has tried to find joy, satisfaction and meaning in ‘everything under the sun’. The writer seeks meaning in learning and wisdom, in pleasure and experience, in wealth and power, even in seeking to build a legacy for himself. But as he reflects on these things, he realises that none of these offers lasting satisfaction. Hence the rather bleak opening to the book: “Meaningless! Meaningless! Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!”
Here are some of the headlines:
Wisdom is a chasing after the wind, however much knowledge and wisdom you have it will never be all there is to know.
Seeking pleasure – and the writer denies himself nothing his eyes desire- left him with nothing but memories.
And all his toil and hard work, seeking to build a legacy to outlast him, would one day mean nothing, and may very well be undone by those who inherited their father’s fortune.
The world is not always just; fools sometimes prosper, the wicked sometimes have the upper hand, the innocent are sometimes convicted and punished, and not even the best laid plans, devised by the wisest of people, can be guaranteed to succeed.
In short, he describes a world where life is a struggle and where meaning and lasting joy are almost impossible to find.
But whilst it seems as if the writer is an Old Testament version of Eeyore, wallowing in a state of doom of gloom, encouraging laziness and a lack of effort and ambition, the writer is also quick to point out some things that do make life better.
Wisdom is better than foolishness, for the wise make better use of their opportunities and avoid many kinds of trouble.
True friendship is a blessing, providing support and encouragement in times of need.
Hard work is better than laziness, for the lazy bring many troubles upon themselves.
And contentment with one’s lot, and thankful enjoyment of what one does have are treasures to be sought after and guarded far more than great riches and possessions.
You may have noticed that there is no mention of God in the above. On the whole, that reflects the tone of the book as the writer seems to be trying to find real meaning in life without God. But despite his best efforts, he cannot stop himself from turning back to God again and again as the ultimate giver, power, Lord and judge. For the LORD is the source of true wisdom, the giver of life, the purveyor of truth, the measure of justice and righteousness, and the one who will, ultimately, call us all to account for how we have lived in his world. The last two verses of the book sum up his findings, and we would do well to learn from them.
Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.
I’ll pick up some more wisdom from this excellent little book over the next 2 weeks, but for now, let me leave you with a couple of songs that remind us that perfect wisdom, and indeed lasting pleasure, are gifts found in God alone.
Songs for the week:
Glorious Things Of You Are Spoken
Grace and peace,
Dave
7 July 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends,
Victory through defeat.
Those of you who endured the England V Slovakia last 16 tie at the Euro Football Championships were once again taken on a rollercoaster ride of emotions. For 95 minutes, the England team were hapless, hopeless and seemingly clueless about how to break down their opponents. Then Jude Bellingham, in the sixth minute of injury time, scored an outrageous overhead kick to level the match. England were, as one headline writer put it, ‘Saved by the Bell’(ingham), before a Harry Kane goal early in extra time sealed what looked like a most unlikely victory.
As Christians, we know all about unlikely victories, only in the case of the Gospel, the victory was secured AFTER final whistle blew. To all observers, even Jesus’ most loyal disciples, his death on the cross seemed to have brought an end to his life and mission. All the promise and all the hope he brought was now in tatters, as his body, bloody, bruised and beaten, hung dead on a Roman cross. Jesus’ final victory cry of ‘It is finished!’ seemed incongruous to the scene. Surely it was Jesus who was finished, and the hopes and dreams of his followers that were over. How could the cross be anything but a terrible defeat?
But then came the first Easter Sunday; the day of resurrection when the apparent result was declared null and void, and victory given to Jesus the sin-smashing, death-crushing, Super Saviour. Rather like the England supporters on Sunday evening, Jesus’ resurrection turned the disciples’ grief, mourning and anger into joy, hope and dancing. Jesus had won the ultimate victory through the defeat of the cross.
The manner of Jesus’ victory should make Christians the most hopeful and optimistic of people. No situation is so dark that God cannot bring light to it; no circumstances so hopeless, that God cannot turn it around; no defeat so heavy, that God cannot bring victory through it.
We see this worked out in the life of the worldwide church across history where times of the greatest persecution have so often led to great growth both in terms of holiness and numbers. And isn't that also the way in our own lives? When faced with trials on every side, we can sometimes think that God has deserted us, that all God’s plans for our good and flourishing will come to naught. But time after time, the experience of Christians is that it is through persecution, grief and suffering, through pain and loss, through times of anguish, illness, cancer, that God does his most effective work in us.
1 God’s plan for our lives is not that we all enjoy long, healthy and wealthy lives, devoid of trials and tribulations. His great plan for us is that we are made more like Jesus, that we grow in holiness, and that our lives and our words and our works declare his glory to the world. He is the centre of history, not us. Our ultimate rest and reward is in the world to come, not in this one. But we can be certain that whatever comes our way in this life, we have God’s solemn promise to use all things, even the most painful trials and greatest ‘defeats’ for our good and for his glory.
So let's stay strong, stay faithful and stay hopeful. Let's keep our eyes on our ultimate prize and remember that in this life our awesome God is always to able to bring incredible victories through what appears to be our hardest defeats.
Songs for the week:
Colin Buchanan - Super Saviour
Lou Fellingham - Everlasting Arms (Lean Hard)
Grace and peace,
Dave
26 June, 2024
Dear Friends
Election Part 2:
Given that there hasn’t been a government chosen by more than 50% of the country since the election in 1935 (when the Conservatives gained 53.5% of the vote- down from an astonishing 60.8% in 1931), it’s almost certain that most of us will be disappointed on 5th July. In fact, given the state of party politics in the UK, even those of us who end up voting for the winning candidate or party may well feel underwhelmed. So what should our reaction be? How should we seek to relate towards those in office and authority in the country?
Helpfully, the Bible isn’t silent on this issue, and nor is the Book of Common Prayer (see articles 37 to 39! So to help us get ready for whoever is elected, here are 4 ways we should behave towards whatever government takes power on 5th July.
1: Worship God.
Romans 13 reminds us that “there is no authority except that which God has established.” So however you feel about the election result, remind yourself that God is sovereign over his world, that he is in charge, and that, for purposes that are perhaps beyond our understanding, the LORD himself will have ordained the results of the election. Such an attitude keeps us from despair, and lifts our eyes to the glory, power and majesty of our sovereign God and draws from us true worship.
2: Respect those given authority to rule.
Sometimes those in positions of authority behave in ways which make respecting them difficult to say the least! The media delights in exposing politicians who break the rules or break their promises, and it’s easy to join in the (often deserved) condemnation of the critics. However, at the very least, the position which our politicians hold is worthy of respect. Given the complexity of modern life and the pressure and scrutiny those in public life find themselves, under I for one, would not want to swap jobs with any of them. So let’s seek to honour their willingness to serve by treating them and their office with respect, and thinking as highly of them as is right.
3: Obey the law and submit to rightful authority.
It’s an amazing thing that once every four or five years we get to overthrow the government without any violence being threatened or shots being fired! But having used our vote, and a government having been lawfully elected, our calling as Christians is to submit to that authority and obey the laws of the land. For, “whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgement on themselves.” (Romans 13:2) That includes, and I'm talking to myself here, speed limits and parking restrictions, as well the more serious laws such as paying taxes, violence, theft and the like. The laws of the land all there to restrain evil and for the common good. We play our part as good citizens by obeying those laws. The exception, of course, is where the laws of the land directly contradict a command of God in the scriptures. (see Acts 4: 18 to 20) Fortunately, in our country and in our day, such clashes between the law of the land and the law of God are few and far between, leaving us no excuse for not seeking to be law-abiding citizens.
4: Pray for them.
But whatever government we end up with, whether supportive of Christian ethics, values and freedoms or even one that is oppressive, the command of the Scripture is that “Prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for all people - for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” Most Sundays we include prayers for our King and his government in our intercessions, but I wonder how often we pray at home for our Prime Minister, his cabinet and our local MP? The advice I often give to people who are struggling to forgive someone, is that they begin by praying for God's blessing upon them. Perhaps we would find ourselves more content with our leaders if we spent more time in praying for them. And who knows, God may answer our prayers and raise up leaders over us who are honest and trustworthy, righteous and just, who will defend the weak, care for the poor, stand up for truth and pursue peace and prosperity for all, in which the Church of Jesus Christ may faithfully and boldly proclaim the good news of Jesus without fear or hindrance. That is surely something we can all pray for over this election season and beyond.
Songs for the week:
The Lord Don’t Change At All (youtube.com)
CROWN HIM WITH MANY CROWNS (youtube.com)
Grace and peace,
Dave
16 June 2024.
FROM OUR CURATE
The Gift of the Holy Spirit - part 4. The Spirit and our Adoption.
If someone asked you the question ‘who are you?’ I wonder how you would respond. If someone asked me that question, I guess I would say, “my name is Ben” or “I’m a curate” and when they looked at me quizzically because they have no idea what a curate is, I might say “I’m kind of a vicar!” If I was slightly embarrassed about what I do at the moment (which I’m not!), I might talk about what I used to do in my previous job as a car mechanic. Alternatively, I might say “I’m a husband and a father” or I could talk about who my parents are. All these things are good, and they are all central to who I am but for us as Christians we can add another, even more significant, layer to the list of things we reel off.
In his letter to the church in Rome, St Paul’s systematically lays out the gospel and right in the middle we encounter the high point of Romans chapter 8. Verses 14-15 says,
For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
There are similar verses in Galatians 4:4-7,
But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba, Father.” So, you are no longer a slave, but God’s child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Can I encourage you to reread those verses because they are profound? They are not words to be rushed over, but ones to savour.
These verses teach us that we are God’s children and that we have been adopted into his family. The Greek text only contains the word son, but it is clear that both men and women are in mind. We are to see ourselves as God’s children, His sons and daughters. We are also instructed to relate to God as Abba, Father. This is an extremely familiar and an endearing term which virtually no one in Jewish culture would use for God. It would have stunned the disciples to hear Jesus talking in this way, as he does in the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:36). However,
what would have stunned them even more would have been the realisation that because of Jesus’ finished work on the cross they were included in the family, in the same way that Jesus is, and that they could now address the Father in the same personal, intimate way.
When a child is adopted, there is a long legal process for the child and the prospective parents to go through. At the end of this, the family court convenes and a judge sees that the paperwork is signed and the adoption is made official. When someone becomes a Christian, there is no official paperwork that they can provide to prove their new status. This lack of physical documentation could be a cause for uncertainty or insecurity, but God has given us something much better than a piece of paper: He has given himself. The verses above tell us that God has given us the Holy Spirit, that is the Spirit of Christ so that we will not be uncertain about who we are in God. In fact, we will find ourselves saying from a heart of deep conviction, “Abba, Father.”
Ben
9 June 2024.
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends,
The Gift of the Holy Spirit- part 3. The Spirit our Trainer.
How would you describe God's will for us as disciples of Jesus? Is it that we might be happy and content? That we might be successful in all we do? If we substitute the word joyful instead of happy, then that would certainly form part of God's will for us, as would being content. The apostle Paul said that he had learned the secret of being content in every circumstance, whether wonderful or woeful - and it would be great if we could learn that secret ourselves.
But success in terms of our discipleship isn't about material gain or positions of authority or even seeing our plans succeed. God's command to us is this: ‘Be Holy as I am Holy.’ In his High Priestly prayer in John 17, Jesus prays that the Father would ‘sanctify’ us. This is the same thing. And that’s where the Holy Spirit plays his part as our personal spiritual trainer.
I’ve almost completed the ‘Couch to 5K’ programme again- a set of programmed runs designed to take a person from the couch to running for 30 minutes (usually around 5 kilometres) in 9 weeks. As well as the carefully planned runs, one of the ways the programme helps is the voice of the trainer which comes over the app to tell you ‘You’re doing so well! Keep going! I’m so proud of you!’ It the case of the App, its all pre-recorded. The ‘trainer’ doesn’t have a clue whether I am doing so well or not! But imagine having a real live trainer running alongside, giving real-time advice of things to avoid, and things to do. Correcting, teaching, encouraging, every step of the way. That is one of the roles of the Holy Spirit in us. To act like a personal trainer as we run the race of faith along the track of growing more like Jesus.
Sometimes we do need correcting don’t we. Just as I can get into a terrible running rhythm or forget to do a proper warm up/down, so in our Christian lives we can sometimes forget the basics, get slack in prayer and worship, or give into sin and ignore God’s commands. In Ephesians 4, Paul calls this ‘grieving’ the Holy Spirit. In those times the Holy Spirit will prompt us to turn back, to change, to listen, like a personal trainer seeking to correct their trainee. If we hear and pay attention, then we will increasingly ‘walk by the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:16) and not gratify the desires of the flesh that will pull us away from God.
A key part of the Holy Spirit’s work is as our teacher. Jesus put it this way in John 14:26: ‘But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’ Just as the first disciples had Jesus by their side as their teacher, so we have the Spirit of Jesus in us. Like a personal trainer he will teach us new things to help us grow in our faith, and he will remind us of things we have already heard but may have forgotten. These things won’t be in conflict, just as God’s Word, when rightly understood, is unchanging through Old and New Testaments. And of course, the Spirit’s block of teaching is the whole of Scripture, which He inspired to be written in the first place!
And then there’s the role of the Holy Spirit as our encourager. This overlaps with being our teacher, as His words of encouragement will often come from the Bible. So when we are weak, He will remind of God’s strength. When we lack hope, He will encourage us with thoughts of God’s Kingdom. When we sin, He will bring us back to the cross and assure us of God’s love, forgiveness and adoption. And as the Spirit assures us of God’s work in the past, present and future, and tells us that we are almost home, so our strength will be renewed like an eagle. And when we feel too weak even to pray, then the Spirit does that work for us. (See Romans 8:26)
The Holy Spirit our trainer corrects us, teaches us and encourages us to run the race of faith. That’s an image that the writer of Hebrews uses to great effect in Hebrews 12 v1-3. I’ll close with his words.
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Song for the week: May the Mind by Emu Music
Grace and peace,
Dave
2 June 2024
FROM OUR RECTOR
Dear Friends,
The Gift of the Holy Spirit- part 2. The Spirit our Guarantee.
We all know what a guarantee is. It’s a solemn commitment to deliver on a promise. So, in what sense is the Holy Spirit a guarantee to believers? Let me suggest 2 ways.
By God’s presence with us.
In John 14, Jesus promises not to leave us (his disciples) alone, but to come to us. He explains that he will not come and dwell with those who do not belong to him, but only to those who accept him as Saviour and Lord. This is not just a promise for the ordained or uber-spiritual. The clear promise of scripture is that the Holy Spirit comes to dwell in Christians the moment they first believe. This has many wonderful implications, but I’ll just highlight 2.
Because the Spirit dwells in Christians now, we know that we belong to Jesus and have been adopted into God’s family as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. We therefore do not need to worry about what the world thinks of us, nor measure the success of our lives by worldly standards. However rich, famous, successful – or otherwise- we may be. The presence of the Holy Spirit assures us that our identity is now in Christ and no one and nothing can change that.
Because the Spirit dwells in Christians now, we can be utterly certain that our ultimate destiny is with God in his coming eternal kingdom. Some may think it rather boastful or proud to be completely confident that we are going to heaven, but this is not about our reward or our goodness. As you will have heard me say many times before, our good works and religious activities do not qualify us for eternal life. We can never be good enough to earn eternal life, nor do enough to merit God's forgiveness. Our only hope of forgiveness and eternal life comes through faith in Christ’s death on the cross in our place, where that faith itself is a gift! So we have no reason to boast, except in what God has done. The presence of Holy Spirit in us assures us that God will one day welcome us home into his perfect presence. Through God’s power at work in us.
Next week we’ll think a little about the Holy Spirit our trainer, the one who makes us more like Jesus. However, if we are able to look at our lives truthfully and see how God has changed us and made us more like Christ in our words, deeds and attitudes, the evidence of the work of the Holy Spirit in us should strengthen our confidence that we truly do belong to God.
Of course, this demands real honesty in our self-examination, something we’re not always good at, so perhaps this is a question to ask a good and honest friend. But if they can see evidence that we are seeking and, in some measure, succeeding to grow in faith and Christlikeness, the sign of Spirit’s work in us should show us that ‘he who has begun a good work in you will bring it to completion on the day of Christ Jesus.’ Philippians 1:6. Here then is wonderful promise of God that the Spirit’s work in us acts as a word of guarantee to our souls.
A word of comfort here too. If we realise that we have not changed much, and that in many ways we are just the same kind of person we were when we first came to Christ, we should not give up hope. Our grief over our sin and failure to live as we should is in itself a powerful sign of the Spirit’s work in us. We should worry far more If we no longer care how we live.
So, God’s presence and work in us by his Holy Spirit brings us peace and confidence that our trust in God is not in vain. May we grow in that confidence this week.
Grace and peace,
Dave