LIFT. BLOG 3. 30/6/19

CONTENTS 

1. Come to Jesus Daily devotional

• Monday – Be lifted by knowing God is ‘Ebenezer’ 
• Tuesday – Be lifted knowing God keeps His promises 
• Wednesday – Be lifted knowing God is Almighty 
• Thursday – A small saviour is a world of big problems?  
• Friday – Be lifted by finding strength in God

2. Community Group/Family Study

You can listen to the message at: Link for audio content

For more information visit: www.communitychurchputney.com

1. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

One of our goals as a church is to spend at least 20 minutes every day in prayer and worship out of the bible. I hope you find this devotional helpful toward that end. 

This series, LIFT…

…is different to our usual practice for working through a book of the bible. I felt thought that, for this season, it would be refreshing to seek God for what He wants to say and to simply share that. 

I trust that such an approach will help remind all of us to be prophetic - to listen to what God wants to say as a lifestyle. 

These daily studies, likewise, are from my, and other church member’s devotions. I will also include devotionals derived from the various contributions that you share, as a church, in various settings. 

Matt Beaney June 2019 

MONDAY – BE LIFTED KNOWING GOD IS ‘EBENEZER’ 

Today’s reading finds the people of Israel coming out of a period of mess and defeat because they have strayed from God. 

It could appear that God doesn’t care or that circumstances and enemies are greater than He. 

At a very low moment, the wife of one of the priests who has just been killed, gives birth and names her son ‘Ichabod’, which means “The Glory has departed from Israel” (1 Samuel 4:22). 

However, through this period of history, we learn that God is always on the throne (sovereign) and is working, for good, even through these most dire of circumstances. After the final defeat fo the Philistines we read,

1 Samuel 7:12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen. He named it Ebenezer, saying, Thus far the LORD has helped us.

Ebenezer means “stone of help.”

Samuel declares, “Thus far the LORD has helped us”. Through all of this dark season we have passed through, God has been helping us! He is our “Rock of help”! 

RESPONSE

Difficulties of all sorts assault us. We have a choice to fear or faith. Will we name our circumstances ‘Ichabod’ - the Lord has deserted me? Or will we name our hard places ‘Ebenezer’ - declaring that God is still my rock of help?

TUESDAY – BE LIFTED KNOWING GOD KEEPS HIS PROMISES

BY BEN BELCHAK

Psalm 71:18 Even when I am old and grey, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Almost 20 years ago, I was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. The tumoUrs had spread into my abdomen (a giant one, the size of a real football, had surrounded my aorta) and all the way to my lungs. My oncologist put me on a very aggressive chemotherapy regimen. The doctors doubted if the treatment would even work, and if it did, Kimberly and I would definitely never be able to have children. 

God gave us the above verse when I was sitting in a hospital bed confronting my mortality at only 20 years of age. He gave us comfort in that moment, assuring us we would be okay, and that we would be able to declare His power to the next generation. Not just some random people that would come after us, but our own offspring! Years went by before that promise was fulfilled, and we were starting to doubt if what we’d heard was really God, but eventually, Zackariah was born. His name means “The LORD has remembered.” 

If you know anything about our family, we have been blessed with four wonderful children, and God has definitely kept his promise in abundance!

RESPONSE

What promises has God made to you that the world says are impossible? Are you putting your hope in Him? What are you holding back in reserve instead of giving it all to Him? Take some time today to submit your future back to God and renew your faith that He always comes through on His promises.

WEDNESDAY – BE LIFTED KNOWING GOD IS ALMIGHTY 

BY SUSIE HOWE 

God is all-powerful and has total and complete authority over all realms seen and unseen and over all the laws of the universe. He can make the sun go backwards; heal the sick and raise the dead; bring salvation to the most hardened sinner; raise up kings and remove them; part the sea; defeat armies with a single word and much, much more. The whole Bible speaks of God’s omnipotence.

But do we really believe that nothing is impossible with God? (Luke 1:37) 

More often, we relate to the father in Mark 9. His boy is oppressed by an evil spirit and he begs Jesus to help him… if he can! ‘’What do you mean, ‘If I can?’’ Jesus asked. ‘Anything is possible if a person believes.’’ (Mark 9:23). The father instantly cried out, ‘’I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief.’’ Jesus then instantly heals the boy.

RESPONSE

As Christians and perhaps as a Church, we put limits on what we think is possible for God. We put him in a straitjacket. Our prayers are human-sized instead of God-sized, because, like the father with the boy affected by the evil spirit, we have doubts as to the power of Christ in all situations and circumstances. We then wonder why we don’t see the power of God at work in our lives and ministry.

Let’s acquaint ourselves more fully with El-Shaddai, the Almighty God revealed in the Bible. (Genesis 35:11)

Let’s pray for his Holy Spirit to clothe us with all power for doing his will and raise our expectations of how he can use us as individuals and as a church to extend his rule and reign here in Putney (Acts 1:8).

THURSDAY – A SMALL SAVIOUR IN A WORLD OF BIG PROBLEMS? (BY AUSTIN LOKE)

I often have a tendency to assume the role of the problem solver in my life, and I’m probably not the only one. All of us, made in God’s image, are endowed with a measure of creativity in order to solve problems. However, too often, we overplay our own problem–solving abilities, and depend on our own self-prescribed solutions, turning ourselves and our schemes into a kind of saviour. The following incident will help to correct our perspective, 

‘When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 4:6-7)

Jesus meets a man who believes that this water, when stirred, will save him, and he had been trying this for 38 years! Is it possible to focus so intensely on a problem in our lives, and what we think is the “solution”, that we stop seeking Jesus for His solution. 

Jesus steps in by grace and frees Him from his sickness and from trusting in the wrong things; This water is not his saviour! Likewise, that job as a... / Mr or Mrs perfect / having a child / fixing up your health/ etc. are not your saviours! Jesus says, “Rise, take up your bed and walk”… stop trusting water, trust in me! 

RESPONSE

This man was trusting in a small saviour (this water) in a world of big problems! Reflect on how God in His grace, has provided a grander, greater solution than you could ever have imagined; better than any man-made solution. Are you ‘waiting at this pool’ - trusting in small, saviours? Will you plunge fully into Jesus, the solution to your sin and salvation? And, having believed, will you use your unfettered access to Almighty God, to seek His help?

FRIDAY – BE LIFTED BY FINDING STRENGTH IN GOD

Today’s study finds us at a very challenging time for David and his followers. He returns home to utter disaster. We read,

‘When David and his men reached Ziklag, they found it destroyed by fire and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive.  So David and his men wept aloud until they had no strength left to weep. David’s two wives had been captured’  (1 Samuel 30:3-5).

Things continue to get worse for David as even his own men turn against him, 

‘David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him; each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.’ (1 Samuel 30:6)

David was greatly distressed over the situation and the way he was being treated. However, It was not the improvement of any of these things that strengthened him! Strength comes from God. 

Blessings in life and the love of friends and family are encouraging and supportive, but these must never be our ultimate source of strength; indeed, let's endeavour to recognise God’s hand working through these gifts. However, it’s vital that we learn how to draw strength from the Spirit when these things are lacking or removed. 

RESPONSE

Too often, I rely on and garner strength from, the support and approval of others. The people became bitter in spirit. This is a danger for all of us. When everyone else is blaming others, how will you find strength in God in order to call them to trust and action? Perhaps we could become like a Jonathan to David, 

‘And Saul’s son Jonathan went to David at Horesh and helped him find strength in God.’ (1 Samuel 23:16) 

2. FAMILY STUDY

(No groups this week due to hospitality week) 

BE LIFTED BY KNOWING GOD IS ‘EBENEZER’ 

Opener – Have you ever been tempted to believe that God had deserted you and why? 

Read 1 Samuel 7:12

Introduction

Ebenezer means “stone of help.”

Samuel declares, “Thus far the LORD has helped us”. Through all of this dark season that Israel has passed through, God had been helping them! He was always their “Rock of help”!

Discuss together

• Read 1 Samuel 4:21-22. Why did she feel deserted by God? 
• Read 1 Samuel 4:21-22. What does this narrative teach us about God’s rule, even when things seem to be out of control or evil seems to be winning? 
• Read 1 Samuel 1:1-4. Pain is a great teacher. What do all the preceding dreadful events achieve in the people?
• Read 1 Samuel 7:7-10. What could they have done, but how do they actually respond, to another attack which reveals that they have truly turned back to God? 
• Read 1 Samuel 7:12. What is challenging your faith in regard to God being your ‘Rock of help’? 
• Over to you: What has God been speaking to you about this week, and how is this helping you? 

A couple of reminders for church members: 

Please be praying and preparing for our gift days coming up.

We have our week of prayer and fasting leading up to our Encounter evening on the 11th

How will you pray and fast?

Why fast? Fasting is going without something in order to make time and help us to focus on spending time with God.

Some suggestions on how to fast:

• The traditional fast: You could go the whole or some of the week with only water. 
• Fasting certain foods: One could not eat certain foods (such as meat) so as to make more time for God.
• Entertainment: refraining from watching or listening to things. 
• Fasting social media: using the time you might usually use to engage in social media in order to engage in prayer. 
• Be wise: if healthy, I encourage you to stretch yourself- you can do more than you think! If you have health concerns, you should avoid fasting that’s related to food, but do fast in other ways. 
• Be accountable: It’s helpful to share what you are going to fast with others so that you can encourage one another in what is a very difficult thing to do. 

An extract from Richard Wagner, Christianity for Dummies.

Fasting

The focus of fasting should not be on the lack of food. 

Fasting from food can be done for a variety of purposes, either physical or spiritual. So abstaining from food alone doesn’t constitute a Christian fast. Instead, a Christian fast is accompanied by a special focus on prayer during the fast, often substituting the time you’d spend eating with prayer.

Fasting provides a real-life illustration of dependency. 

Although modern man thrives on the idea of being independent, beholden to no one, fasting helps you put the facts in the proper perspective. It’s easy to believe in your independence with a full stomach, but when you start to feel hunger pains in your belly after missing a meal or two, you awaken to your body’s dependency on food to survive. Fasting reveals a physical reliance on food that points to the ultimate dependency — the fact that you’re dependent on God for things far more important than food.

Fasting fosters concentration on God and his will. 

Oswald Chambers once said that fasting means “concentration,” because when you’re fasting, you have a heightened sense of attentiveness. Food or any physical sensation can satisfy, fill you up, and dull your senses and spiritual ears. In contrast, a hungry stomach makes you more aware and alert to what God is trying to say to you.

Fasting offers a way to impose self-control in your life.

It gives you a “splash in the face” to awaken you to the need for the personal strength of will that you need to grow spiritually. When you restrain yourself physically, you’ll find it easier to apply this same self-discipline in your spiritual life.

One last thing — everyone can participate. Not everyone may be able to fast from food (pregnant women and diabetics for example), but everyone can give up something in order to focus on God (e.g. unplugging the television for 24 hours could also be an effective way of joining the fast)!

Read More

LIFT. BLOG 2. 23/6/19

CONTENTS 

1. Come to Jesus Daily devotional

• Monday – Be lifted by dressing in God’s clothing
• Tuesday – Be lifted by knowing our fulness  
• Wednesday – Be lifted by Jesus’ prayers
• Thursday – I’m lifted as I lift up my eyes 
• Friday – Lift your eyes to the King

2. Community Group/Family Study

You can listen to the message at: Link for audio content

For more information visit: www.communitychurchputney.com

1. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

One of our goals as a church is to spend at least 20 minutes every day in prayer and worship out of the bible. I hope you find this devotional helpful toward that end. 

This series, LIFT…

…is different to our usual practice for working through a book of the bible. I felt thought that, for this season, it would be refreshing to seek God for what He wants to say and to simply share that. 

I trust that such an approach will help remind all of us to be prophetic - to listen to what God wants to say as a lifestyle. 

These daily studies, likewise, are from my, and other church member’s devotions. I will also include devotionals derived from the various contributions that you share, as a church, in various settings. 

Matt Beaney June 2019 

MONDAY – BE LIFTED BY DRESSING IN GOD’S CLOTHING

BY JEM HOWE

Tabitha/Dorcas, was a follower of Jesus, whom Peter raised from the dead. We are told, 

‘In Joppa there was a disciple named Tabitha (Dorcas in Greek); she was always doing good and helping the poor’ (Acts 9:36). 

After she died, they sent for Peter. On arriving, we read,. 

‘Peter went with them, and when he arrived he was taken upstairs to the room. All the widows stood around him, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.’ (Acts 9:39) 

When Peter is sent for, the people try and show him the quality of her “works”. Why do they do this? Maybe they are trying to show that Tabitha is worthy of Peter’s ministry. The account continues,

‘Peter sent them all out of the room; then he got down on his knees and prayed. Turning toward the dead woman, he said, “Tabitha, get up.” She opened her eyes, and seeing Peter she sat up.’ (Acts 9:40) 

Peter, discards these things. He sends them outside. He ignores them and prays. This act teaches us a gospel lesson: the salvation and raising of Tabitha from the dead is not due to her good works or her charity but to the grace, and power of God.

RESPONSE

Tabitha’s friends are keen to ‘show the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made’; however, God is keen to show us the ‘clothing’ that Jesus has made for us! If we look to our good works as the grounds for salvation or power in prayer, who could be confident of either?

Finally, read and worship out of Isaiah 64:6 and 61:10

TUESDAY – BE LIFTED BY KNOWING OUR FULNESS

BY JONNY EVANS 

From an early age, I’ve always known that the church was important. Not just the universal church, the one we all belong to, but the local church. The one that actually makes a difference in the world, and makes a difference to me as I belong to it. But it is still easy to forget the amazing truths that the Bible tells me about God’s church, and to see it for less than it really is.

An amazing verse I’ve been struck by repeatedly is, 

Ephesians 1:22-23 And God placed all things under [Jesus’] feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way”

The church is full of Jesus as it is filled with Jesus

This is an incredible truth – the church, our gathering of followers of Jesus, is “the fullness of Jesus”. I can’t begin to do justice to this verse in its entirety. But, just dwell on that for a moment: Jesus has chosen to fill his church was his “fullness” – not just a part of himself, but all of himself, poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, to then be those who go out and bring his fullness into every part of our lives, together and individually.

RESPONSE

How might this verse make a difference to how you view the church? Are you seeing it as just something to do, to make you feel like a Christian, because it is expected of you? Do you see those who gather with you on a Sunday, or during the week, as those who together with you are filled with the fullness of Jesus?! Do you see the church as the people of God, called to bring that fullness into the world through the way we act, speak and pray? Lord Jesus, we want more of your fullness!

WEDNESDAY – I’M LIFTED BY JESUS’ PRAYERS

Job 16:19-21 Even now my witness is in heaven; my advocate is on high. My intercessor is my friend as my eyes pour out tears to God; on behalf of a man he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend.

Job was going through deep distress. His life was falling apart and his friends were accusing him; he says of them, 

“I have heard many things like these; you are miserable comforters, all of you! Will your long-winded speeches never end?” (Job 16:2-3)

Sometimes it can feel like everything is going wrong…and sometimes everything is going wrong! Even at such a time, an amazing revelation is given to Job: he knew  “my advocate is on high…my intercessor is my friend…he pleads with God as one pleads for a friend”. He knew, in a way that we know more fully, that Jesus was praying for him! We read something similar from Paul,

‘Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.’ (Romans 8:34). 

RESPONSE

No matter what, if you are a Christian, God is for you. Like Job and Paul, you can now say

‘Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.’ (Romans 8:35-39) 

THURSDAY – I’M LIFTED AS I LIFT UP MY EYES 

Psalm 121:1-2 I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 

To whom or to what do we ‘lift up our eyes’ for help? There are many legitimate forms of help: friends, family, doctors, police, a calculator, google… but, over all of these, do we look to God as our help? For example, if we are faced with a challenging relationship in which we need help, do we seek advice, attack, run away… but forget to centre ourselves in our dependency on God, declare our need of Him, and pray for His intervention and wisdom, before taking action? In essence, do we ‘lift up our eyes to God’? 

Now, I’m tempted like all of you, to take action; after all, surely, if I do nothing, nothing will happen! However, I’m not advocating that you do nothing, I’m advocating that we ‘lift up our eyes to God’ in prayer! This means diverting some of the time that one might have used in trying to solve the problem, to seeking the God who is ‘maker of heaven and earth’ - now that’s really doing something! 

RESPONSE

Ask yourself ‘Where does my help come from’? If we are not praying and meditating on God’s word then we are not relying on God. If we are not taking the time to thank God for what He’s doing, we are not relying on God. If we are not remembering the gospel of how God has saved us through the cross, we are not relying on God. David purposefully lifted up his eyes to God and His greatness. When do you make time to do this? Paul wrote,

‘Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.’ (Ephesians 6:10) 

You and I are weak! But, the good news is that there’s enough of God’s strength for all of us. 

FRIDAY – LIFT YOUR EYES TO THE KING 

INSPIRED BY A READING FROM GRAEME PARKIN 

Job 42:2 I know that you can do all things; no purpose of yours can be thwarted.

Recently, at our morning prayer meeting, this passage from Job, about God’s rule - His sovereignty, was read. I found this hugely inspiring and changed my ‘state’ – my lethargy was turned to faith. The Bible gives us a grand vision of God who is active, and has great plans that cannot be stopped. A. W. Pink wrote,

‘Only two alternatives are possible: God must either rule, or be ruled; sway, or, be swayed; accomplish his own will, or be thwarted by his creatures. Accepting the fact that he is the "Most High", the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom and illimitable power, and the conclusion is irresistible that he must be God in fact, as well as in name.’ 

RESPONSE

We would do well to learn from Nebuchadnezzar who, having come to his senses, declares the greatness of God, 

‘At the end of that time, I, Nebuchadnezzar, raised my eyes towards heaven, and my sanity was restored. Then I praised the Most High; I honoured and glorified him who lives forever. His dominion is an eternal dominion; his kingdom endures from generation to generation. All the peoples of the earth are regarded as nothing. He does as he pleases with the powers of heaven and the peoples of the earth. No one can hold back his hand or say to him: "What have you done?”’ (Daniel 4:34-35)

The words of John Newton poetically show us our natural response, 

‘Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring; For His grace and power are such, None can ever ask too much.’ 

2. COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

BE LIFTED BY DRESSING IN GOD’S CLOTHING

Opener – When were you dressed most smartly and why?

Read Acts 9:36-43

Introduction

This week we are talking about ‘dressing in God’s clothing’. No one can enter God’s presence or be in relationship with Him unless we are dressed in the righteousness that we can only have through faith in Christ. We will be reading our text in a more ‘spiritual’ manner - seeing the gospel behind a simple reading to the facts. 

Discuss together

• What might be the motive for the mourners showing Peter the things she had made? (Acts 9:39) 
• How easily do you fall into a ‘works’ mentality – believing that God loves, saves etc. by our good works? 
• It says that ‘Peter sent them out of the room’( Acts 9:40). What gospel principle does this teach us about how we are to treat our good works in regard to salvation? 

Peter discards these things. He sends them outside and prays. This act teaches us a gospel lesson: salvation and power in prayer are not due to good works but to the grace, and power of God.

• What do Isaiah 64:6 and 61:10 teach about how we are to ‘dress’ in the clothing that God gives us and how do we do this? 
• Over to you: What has God been speaking to you about this week, and how is this helping you? 
• Pray and plan: Our next hospitality week is coming up on the 1st of July. What are you planning to do as a whole group or smaller groups? 
• Begin to discuss the following note on Prayer/fasting/Encounter.

We have our week of prayer and fasting leading up to our  Encounter evening coming up. How will you pray and fast?

Why fast? Fasting is going without something in order to make time and help us to focus on spending time with God.

Some suggestions on how to fast:

• The traditional fast: You could go the whole or some of the week with only water. 
• Fasting certain foods: One could not eat certain foods (such as meat) so as to make more time for God.
• Entertainment: refraining from watching or listening to things. 
• Fasting social media: using the time you might usually use to engage in social media in order to engage in prayer. 
• Be wise: if healthy, I encourage you to stretch yourself- you can do more than you think! If you have health concerns, you should avoid fasting that’s related to food, but do fast in other ways. 
• Be accountable: It’s helpful to share what you are going to fast with others so that you can encourage one another in what is a very difficult thing to do. 

An extract from Richard Wagner, Christianity for Dummies.

Fasting

The focus of fasting should not be on the lack of food. 

Fasting from food can be done for a variety of purposes, either physical or spiritual. So abstaining from food alone doesn’t constitute a Christian fast. Instead, a Christian fast is accompanied by a special focus on prayer during the fast, often substituting the time you’d spend eating with prayer.

Fasting provides a real-life illustration of dependency. 

Although modern man thrives on the idea of being independent, beholden to no one, fasting helps you put the facts in the proper perspective. It’s easy to believe in your independence with a full stomach, but when you start to feel hunger pains in your belly after missing a meal or two, you awaken to your body’s dependency on food to survive. Fasting reveals a physical reliance on food that points to the ultimate dependency — the fact that you’re dependent on God for things far more important than food.

Fasting fosters concentration on God and his will. 

Oswald Chambers once said that fasting means “concentration,” because when you’re fasting, you have a heightened sense of attentiveness. Food or any physical sensation can satisfy, fill you up, and dull your senses and spiritual ears. In contrast, a hungry stomach makes you more aware and alert to what God is trying to say to you.

Fasting offers a way to impose self-control in your life.

It gives you a “splash in the face” to awaken you to the need for the personal strength of will that you need to grow spiritually. When you restrain yourself physically, you’ll find it easier to apply this same self-discipline in your spiritual life.

One last thing — everyone can participate. Not everyone may be able to fast from food (pregnant women and diabetics for example), but everyone can give up something in order to focus on God (e.g. unplugging the television for 24 hours could also be an effective way of joining the fast)!

Read More

LIFT. BLOG 1. 17/6/19

CONTENTS 

1. Come to Jesus Daily devotional

• Monday – Be lifted as you look up like Stephen
• Tuesday – Be lifted by listening to the heart 
• Wednesday – Be lifted by listening
• Thursday – Be lifted by sleeping in God’s presence 
• Friday – Be lifted by praying God’s word

2. Community Group/Family Study

You can listen to the message at: Link for audio content

For more information visit: www.communitychurchputney.com

1. COME TO JESUS DAILY DEVOTIONAL 

One of our goals as a church is to spend at least 20 minutes every day in prayer and worship out of the bible. I hope you find this devotional helpful toward that end. 

This series, LIFT…

…is different to our usual practice for working through a book of the bible. I felt thought that, for this season, it would be refreshing to seek God for what He wants to say and to simply share that. 

I trust that such an approach will help remind all of us to be prophetic - to listen to what God wants to say as a lifestyle. 

These daily studies, likewise, are from my, and other church member’s devotions. I will also include devotionals derived from the various contributions that you share, as a church, in various settings. 

Matt Beaney June 2019

MONDAY – BE LIFTED AS YOU LOOK UP LIKE STEPHEN

In the difficulties of life we always have a choice: will we look up or look down? Will we look up to God in faith, or look down in fear or self-reliance?  Stephen had good reason for doubting or being distracted from God. He had been doing God’s will, however, he was arrested and put on trial. When asked to defend himself, Stephen gives an account of God’s working in Jewish history which ends with him confronting his accusers of their rebellion to God (Acts 7:51-53).

We might expect God to step in and save this courageous man. However, as with Jesus, his opponents are given the freedom to kill him! As his death approaches, we read, 

‘But Stephen, full of the Holy Spirit, looked up to heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. “Look,” he said, “I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”’ (Acts 7:55-56) 

Anyone who is truly filled with the Holy Spirit will be enabled to ‘look up’ and see the glory of Jesus. We may not have a vision like Stephen, but we will have the eyes of faith to see Jesus; to know that He rules, He’s with us, We are in His hands. 

RESPONSE

We need to ‘look up like Stephen’. We need the Spirit’s grace to enable us to ‘see Jesus’ in all the circumstances of our lives. Meditate and pray out of the following text - pray that you would be such a man or woman. 

Acts 6:3-5 Brothers and sisters, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word…They chose Stephen, a man full of faith and of the Holy Spirit. 

TUESDAY – BE LIFTED BY LISTENING TO THE HEART

After I became a Christian on 9th October 1991, I had the experience of immense joy, but also inner conflict; I put my faith in Jesus as my Saviour, I had asked Him to be my Lord, but, I was still hanging on to things that belonged to my past. My heart was desiring to love Jesus, but my ‘flesh’ still wanted to go its own way. The art of living the Christian life is to listen to the heart - the heart, that, by the Spirit, has been renewed. David wrote, 

Psalm 27:8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, Lord, I will seek.

The Christian’s heart speaks

The Christian’s heart has been renewed and it desires to love Jesus.

Read Romans 8:14-15

Christians have become children of God. This transformation is shown by a life that is ‘led by the Spirit’ – we have a new Spirit-given desire for holiness, and an attitude to God which cries out “Abba Father” – We now love God. Like David in this Psalm, all true Christians will say “My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” 

RESPONSE

How does God want you to respond to this word? There are two main ways: 

Firstly, a new commitment to holiness. Do you need to listen to your heart? Or, another way of putting it, keep in step with the Spirit. If this is you, you might want to meditate and pray out of Galatians 5:25

Secondly, some of us (and this is how I need to respond) need to give more time to seeking God in worship. If this is you, you might want to get your diary out, and put in an ‘appointment with God’ each day for this purpose. 

WEDNESDAY – BE LIFTED BY LISTENING

BY JONNY EVANS 

When I joined the church in Putney, I had a strong conviction that God was calling me to live in Roehampton. God even provided us with a property right in the middle of the estate. On the morning of our wedding, a friend prophesied over Shannon and I from Isaiah 35, during which he shared a prophetic picture of our block of flats exploding into life:

‘The desert and the parched land will be glad, the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom, it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy.’

However, through a number of disappointments, this vision did not come about as I’d assumed it would. I spent two-years feeling disappointed with God for what He had not done.

God is speaking, if we will listen

One day, I was walking and praying on the estate, I asked God a question that, looking back, I am not sure I really asked properly before: “God what do you want me to do here in Roehampton?” The answer popped into my head immediately: 

“I want you to learn to pray for, and love, this community, before you bring others in to do the same. My words for you before are true, but they are for you right now, and only you, not for others.” 

I felt foolish. God had been speaking, but I’d been presumptuous.  

RESPONSE

Do you feel like God is speaking to you, but you’re not seeing the result of what you think He is saying? Our impressions and feelings are never fool-proof, but I would encourage you to keep asking, and really listening, believing His promise, 

“Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” (Isaiah 30:21)

THURSDAY – BE LIFTED BY SLEEPING IN GOD’S PRESENCE

INSPIRED BY A READING FROM PHIL MASH

1 Samuel 3:3-4 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. Then the Lord called Samuel. Samuel answered, “Here I am.” 

Recently, in one of our Community Groups, someone shared about hearing God’s voice. He shared about how he had been struck by the fact that Samuel slept in the place where the ark was. He said, and I paraphrase, “Samuel slept in the presence of God and so it’s not surprising that he heard His voice and if we want to hear God’s voice we need to live in God’s presence.” One could say a lot on how to hear God’s voice but, foundationally, one must believe that God is with us and is interested in speaking. This episode with Samuel teaches us that God wants to speak to us. We may be the ‘prophet’ to and through whom God speaks, or we may hear God by listening to the prophet or teacher, but God speaks to all of us. 

God speaks to those who sleep in His presence

I love this image of God speaking to Samuel whilst he’s ‘laying down’. He’s not having a worship marathon…He’s sleeping. Christians know that God has come to them whilst they were asleep. As Paul says, ‘You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly.’ (Rom. 5:6)

RESPONSE

God spoke to us about salvation whilst we were sleeping and, those who know His grace know that he continues to come to us, to speak to us, because He is a God of grace.

Are you ‘sleeping’ in God’s presence? Do you know that He has loved and saved you without your efforts? If so, be confident that He wants an ongoing relationship with you.  

FRIDAY – BE LIFTED BY PRAYING GOD’S WORD

BY JEM HOWE

Begin by reading Psalm 147

Prayer, and how to pray, is a constant challenge to me. There are times when my prayer–life is great! I’m inspired and have a lot to pray about. But there are times when I can become stuck. It just feels like I am saying the same words over and over again. Why should I bother?

Just recently, I have been reading this psalm and using it to help shape my prayers - stopping and thinking about the sentences and what they mean. Letting them shape my view of and response to God.

‘Praise the Lord. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him!’ (Psalm 147:1) 

‘Praise the Lord' - just take a moment to think of what this means. what does it mean to praise? What, or who am I praising? The Lord - the one true God, the one who created the heavens and the earth, the one who holds time in his hands. 

‘It is good to sing to God’ - it is pleasant for me and it is right that I do so - because He deserves it. Maybe I can sing a song I know, maybe I can sing a new song? 

All this from just one verse! Just one sentence. 

RESPONSE

All of the Bible, and the Psalms in particular, can be such an inspiration to our prayer–life. Pick a psalm this week and spend time reading it, going over it, taking time to stop and think about what it expresses to God, what is it requesting from God. Jot down your thoughts. Use this to help you pray. Maybe even encourage someone else with your thoughts and reflections.

2. COMMUNITY GROUP/FAMILY STUDY

BE LIFTED AS YOU LOOK UP LIKE STEPHEN

Opener – What difficulties have helped to deepen your faith? 

In the difficulties of life we always have a choice: will we look up or look down? Will we look up to God in faith, or look down in fear or self-reliance?  Stephen had good reason for doubting or being distracted from God. He had been doing God’s will, however, he was arrested and put on trial. We might expect God to step in and save this courageous man. However, as with Jesus, his opponents are given the freedom to kill him!

Discuss together

• What did God speak to you about from Sunday’s message?
• Why and for what was Stephen chosen? What is the result? (Acts 6:3-7) 
• What does God’s ‘grace and power’ enable Stephen to do? What might one expect to be the results, but what actually happens? (Acts 6:8-10) 
• What, do you think, enabled Stephen to be so composed as we read in Acts 6:15?
• What does the Holy Spirit enable Stephen to do? (Acts 7:55-60)
• What, in your experience, and from scripture, will the Holy Spirit enable us to ‘look up and see’ about Jesus? How does the Spirit’s revelation help us in the troubles of life? 
• Over to you: What has God been speaking to you about this week, and how is this helping you? 
• Pray and plan: Our next hospitality week is coming up on the 1st of July. What are you planning to do as a whole group or smaller groups? 
• Begin to discuss the following note on Prayer/fasting/Encounter.

We have our week of prayer and fasting leading up to our  Encounter evening coming up. How will you pray and fast?

Why fast? Fasting is going without something in order to make time and help us to focus on spending time with God.

Some suggestions on how to fast:

• The traditional fast: You could go the whole or some of the week with only water. 
• Fasting certain foods: One could not eat certain foods (such as meat) so as to make more time for God.
• Entertainment: refraining from watching or listening to things. 
• Fasting social media: using the time you might usually use to engage in social media in order to engage in prayer. 
• Be wise: if healthy, I encourage you to stretch yourself- you can do more than you think! If you have health concerns, you should avoid fasting that’s related to food, but do fast in other ways. 
• Be accountable: It’s helpful to share what you are going to fast with others so that you can encourage one-another in what is a very difficult thing to do. 

An extract from Richard Wagner, Christianity for Dummies.

Fasting

The focus of fasting should not be on the lack of food. 

Fasting from food can be done for a variety of purposes, either physical or spiritual. So abstaining from food alone doesn’t constitute a Christian fast. Instead, a Christian fast is accompanied by a special focus on prayer during the fast, often substituting the time you’d spend eating with prayer.

Fasting provides a real-life illustration of dependency. 

Although modern man thrives on the idea of being independent, beholden to no one, fasting helps you put the facts in the proper perspective. It’s easy to believe in your independence with a full stomach, but when you start to feel hunger pains in your belly after missing a meal or two, you awaken to your body’s dependency on food to survive. Fasting reveals a physical reliance on food that points to the ultimate dependency — the fact that you’re dependent on God for things far more important than food.

Fasting fosters concentration on God and his will. 

Oswald Chambers once said that fasting means “concentration,” because when you’re fasting, you have a heightened sense of attentiveness. Food or any physical sensation can satisfy, fill you up, and dull your senses and spiritual ears. In contrast, a hungry stomach makes you more aware and alert to what God is trying to say to you.

Fasting offers a way to impose self-control in your life.

It gives you a “splash in the face” to awaken you to the need for the personal strength of will that you need to grow spiritually. When you restrain yourself physically, you’ll find it easier to apply this same self-discipline in your spiritual life.

One last thing — everyone can participate. Not everyone may be able to fast from food (pregnant women and diabetics for example), but everyone can give up something in order to focus on God (e.g. unplugging the television for 24 hours could also be an effective way of joining the fast)!

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