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Welcome Back

Martin Taylor

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2 Chronicle 7:14

If my people, who are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and will heal their land.

If you want to see a Biblical Revival, then you have to start with 2 Chronicles 7:14

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.�

Do you want to see revival in Harlington? Look at Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justly, To love mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

Take time now to confess your sins before God. Ask Him to bring to mind anything for which we need to repent. Those of you who remember the dream shared by Luci, consider whether you need to repent of attitudes or actions towards leaders of HBC present or past, or indeed towards your brothers and sisters here.

Let us take moment in quiet to confess our own personal sins before God. {quiet for silent prayer}

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Praying Repentance

O Lord, you are a great and awesome God. You keep your covenant of love with those who love you and obey your commands. Listen now O Lord to the prayer your servant brings before you night and day.

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Praying Repentance

I confess the sins that this nation has committed against you. This people, your church, my father's house, and I myself. We have sinned and done wrong. We have acted wickedly towards you. We have rebelled.

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Praying Repentance

We have not obeyed your commands and laws. We have not listened to your servants the prophets who spoke in your name. Lord, you are righteous, but this day we are covered with shame because we have fallen short of your standard.

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Praying Repentance

Disaster has come upon us. Our fields and gardens produce little. Our factories and mines have closed. We are looked on with scorn by the nations of the world.

For your sake, O Lord, look with favour upon us.

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Praying Repentance

We do not ask because we are righteous, but because of your great love. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! O Lord my God, do not delay, because your people bear your Name.

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Praying Repentance

O Lord, remember that the church is your body. If you are not present with us, we have no life. Put your Holy Spirit amongst us so that the world might know that you are God and that you are with us

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Praying Repentance

Change our hearts and our minds so that we become like you.

Lord show us your glory. Let your goodness dwell amongst us. Let your love shine out from us. Let us be your channel of compassion to the nation. Amen

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Practicing Prophecy

Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. ²For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. ³But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 1 Cor 14:1-3

We are going to try a spiritual exercise. You will note that in the verses shown, there is something of a definition of prophecy. Prophecy should strengthen, encourage and comfort.

So, I would like each of you to take a moment to think and to pray. To ask God to give you something to say, to someone here today. Either aloud over Zoom, or in the Chat or possibly here in the Chapel. Something that is strengthening, encouraging and comforting. That’s really important. It needs to be strengthening, encouraging and comforting.

So, first, I will lead in prayer, then allow a few moments of quiet individual prayer. Let’s pray...

Father God, we ask that you will speak to each one of us and give us a thought or an idea to share that will encourage someone else here.

And now take a moment to pray quietly - that the Lord will give you something to say.

{allow a while for people to pray that prayer for themselves}

{and now, you depend on God to answer those prayers? And say…}

And now, speak up and strengthen, encourage and comfort each other. Now is your time.

{pause, long enough for someone to be brave and speak out}

Would anyone else like to encourage someone?

{Pause long enough for people to gather their thoughts and speak}

{be prepared to encourage (prophesy over) someone yourself}

Back to Nike to lead the service.

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Whom Will You Serve?

Martin Taylor

{ 5Sep2021 Harlington BC}

It really is good to be back in person, to see actual smiling faces instead of a mix of pictures and icons on a small screen. Though of course, it is still good to be able to have Zoom working and allowing a wider group of people to take an active part in the service.

Now that we are, at least partly, back, it seems a sensible point to take stock. To ask basic questions about who we are, what we are here for, and, given we are Christians, Whom do we serve.

The initial answers might be quite sensible. I am a servant of Jesus Christ – Jeshua Meshiak – Joshua the Anointed One.

I am ‘in Christ’. The whole reason for my existence is to bring and give glory to God. But to what extent is that true for you – or me for that matter.

The pandemic has shut us in, walled us off from most other people. How much have we withdrawn? How fearful have we become? Those of us who have had both jabs might consider we can be a bit more carefree – but it won’t actually stop us catching or passing on COVID. Hopefully it will reduce the worst effects, but for how long?

Hang on a minute! Wasn’t I just trying to say that I am in Christ? Why am I being anxious about a virus?

Now do you see the subtle way in which our focus can so easily be moved away from Jesus.

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Joshua 24:15

Choose this day

whom you will serve

Heb 2:2; Jas 4:6; 1 Pet 5:5-6; Prov 3:34

Sometimes, we just have to put a stake in the ground or draw a line in the sand.

Sometimes, we just have to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith (as it says in Heb 2:2). Because when we take our eyes off Jesus, we fall, or sink or get anxious.

Choose this day whom you will serve. Make a decision this day about whom you will serve. Choose this day whom you will serve.

James 4:6 But he gives more grace; therefore it says, "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble."

1 Peter 5:5-6 Likewise you that are younger be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for "God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble." ⁶ Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that in due time he may exalt you.

Both those two verses echo Prov 3:34 He mocks the proud, but gives grace to the humble.

Oooh – let me pause for a minute. Is there an echo there back to where we started. Are we harking back to 2 Chron 7:14?

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What is Your Heart Attitude?

On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with your income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. 1 Cor 16:2

Mal 3:10 (Hag 1:1-2:23); Lk 6:38; Mt 6:25; Mk 12:41-44; 2 Cor 9:6

What is your heart attitude towards God? Do you think He is there just to provide for you? Do you find it unhelpful when He does not answer your prayers? Lord, I need more money. Lord, I need a better car. Lord, I need a bigger pay cheque.

What is your heart attitude towards God? Is it humble?

Have you not read Malachi 3:10? “Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.” (also the whole book of Haggai echoes that theme)

It is impossible to out-give God. Lk 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you.

Listen very carefully to me now. This is NOT the prosperity gospel. This is NOT ‘give your money to the Church or Pastor and God will make you rich’. Absolutely not. Do not give money to me! The Lord takes care of me. Yes, this building could use some extra money spent on it – but that is not the point. The point is, again, ‘What is your heart attitude to God?’

Mt 6:25 Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?�

Mark 12:41–44Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴²But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.” (also Luke 21:1–4)

On the screen, you should be able to see 1 Cor 16:2. Why did I put this verse in front of you? Because it has a couple of important learning points, in addition to the standard ones. Firstly, this verse is not about tithing! It is not about giving one tenth back to God. This is an additional offering on top of the tithe. Be generous to God! He will overwhelm you with His grace, and love and joy in return.

Secondly, take careful note of the wording. Each of you … saving it up… This is not ‘bring a few pennies to chapel to put in the collection’. This is not ‘put your loose change in the Home Mission or BMS box as you leave’. This money is yours, it stays in your pocket, or your house, or your bank account – but you make sure you are setting some aside on a regular basis for the work of God. That take planning. It takes courage. It takes serious, prayerful consideration of where the money should go – and when it should go.

What is your heart attitude?

Thirdly, it says ‘in keeping with your income’. Again, this is not a tithe. It is not the start point of your giving. This is extra, over and above, giving for some other purpose. But it still should be in keeping with your income. Count how much God has blessed you – and see if you can give back to God in proportion.

As it says in 2 Cor 9:6 Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.�

Are you serving God with your lips, or with your whole life?

What is your heart attitude towards God? Is it humble?

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Prayer

Sun 10:30-11:00
Mon 07:00-07:20
Tue 07:00-07:20
Fri 07:00-07:20
Sat 21:00-22:30

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Seeking His Face

Paying attention to Him
Which part benefits whom

Sermon
Praise / prayers

That is why we worship

Seeking His Face.

Seeking God’s face is more to do with paying appropriate attention to Him than it is handing over shopping list prayers. Educationalists talk about active listening. We need to actively listen to God – and actually that is really quite hard to do. We were doing a bit of practice of active listening this morning when we were practicing prophecy. We were trying to hear what God was saying, and then speak it out.

Tell me – this is a question that needs an answer, so you are allowed to talk to me – or put something in the chat – tell me, which is the most important part of our Sunday service? Which is the most important part of our Sunday service? Is it the worship part? Or is it the sermon part?

OK, let me ask the question a different way. If you arrive late, what part of the service do you miss?

Now some of you, the music & production team in particular, are always here early; and often are the last to leave - so they clearly value both parts. But if we consistently turn up late, that gives the impression that we don’t value the part we miss.

Now, who is each part for? Is it for us or is it for God? It is probably fair to say that the sermon is not really given for God’s benefit – he knows it already and better than I do. Now sure, sermons, teaching / proclaiming the Word is part of worship – but they are really for our benefit. The rest – well the rest of the service may benefit us, but really it ought to benefit God as well.

Now, if we are going to be serious about serving God; if we are serious about wanting to see a revival in Harlington, surely we ought to be serious about Seeking His Face? Surely we ought to be serious about praise and worship; about adoration; about giving Him glory. Is that not what the first part of our service is about? Maybe we should consider putting the sermon slot on first so that we can get it out of the way and concentrate on what is really important!

There is a correlation between worship and seeking His face.

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Turning (from bad ways)

Psalm 24:2, 3

Repentance

Ps 24:3-4 Who shall go up into the mountain of the Lord? Or who shall stand in His Holy Place? ⁴ He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted himself up to falsehood or to what is false, nor sworn deceitfully.

The COVID pandemic, in many ways, has made our lives smaller. We have been shut in, locked down. We have been, and still are, restricted in how we worship. We still have to keep masks over our faces. We have been cut off from physical contact with other humans – even from our children and grandchildren. All for good reason – to save lives.

And many of us have got used to it. Even though in theory, we are allowed out, some of us – many of us, are careful – even fearful – of crowded places. We used to be afraid of men in masks. Now we are afraid of anyone not wearing a mask.

Things have got a bit better – in the UK at least. Is it because we have been vaccinated? Or is it perhaps because the church has shown a little remorse and turned to prayer?

COVID has not gone away! Some countries are still suffering terribly – but it is no longer news. Even in the UK, infection rates, hospitalisations and deaths due to COVID are increasing again – despite nearly 90% of the adult population having been double-vaccinated. Oh, and schools are going back this week.

Who is in control? Who thinks the fight against COVID is being won? Last week, one in 70 people in England had the virus – just under 800,000 people!

It is time turn urgently to prayer; to seek God’s face; to humble ourselves; to turn (repent) from our bad ways. We prayed a prayer of repentance at the start of this service. That prayer is on our website {switch to show the website https://sites.google.com/view/harlingtonbaptist/online-church), didn’t work, so continued} I hope you will turn to it regularly, ideally daily, from now on, and pray it through.

We are back in our building, and that is to be celebrated, but there is a long way to go.

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Yes, We’re Back

Back to:

Humble ourselves
Pray
Seek God’s face
Turn (repent) from our bad ways