A Church with a Heart for our Community

October 23rd Thursday

Greetings to you in the name of the one who is ‘beautiful beyond description and too marvellous for words’, Jesus Christ – THE Crucified and Risen Saviour! What an absolutely delightful morning in the kingdom….and can you hear it: creation shouting the praise of the Creator! I pray that you are appreciating the peace and security of your corner of the country. I will be praying for you today, asking Father to sense the strength of his presence around you and within you.

Today as I was reading my devotional I was given three verses of scripture that lead to a verse from an old hymn that lead to understanding an important principle. First, the verses: Yet the news of him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sickness. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. One day as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law, who had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem, were sitting there. And the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick.  Luke 5:15-16 NIV.

Now the verse from the hymn: Take time to be holy, the world rushes on – Spend much time in secret with Jesus alone – By looking to Jesus, like Him thou shalt be – Thy friends in thy conduct, His likeness shall see – William D Longstaff. Okay, okay: you can pause for a moment or two and sing that verse, or some of the other verses to that song.

Now the principle: if I (and you) want to be used for the glory of God I (we) need to: withdraw from the crowds and spotlight to be in the Lord’s presence and pray, then to teach (speak) the words of God (which is to release the manifest presence of God – ‘the Word became flesh), and to surrender to the power of God (who is the healer). Even as I write these words I am aware that the most productive and exciting times in ministry have come when least expected, but as the principle was being lived out. Interesting it is, that the next teaching from Luke is the healing of the paralytic who arrived through a hole in the roof and ends with the verse: Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.’ Luke 5:26. Prayer released – power responds – praise resounds.

Be blessed!