Welcome and Greeting
This week we posted letters on our F5 Facebook page, from Bishop Mark explaining the situation of meeting again as churches. He highly recommended that we do not meet at the moment, with this recent spread of COVID, and that there definitely be no singing. We continue to review the situation weekly.
It was good to meet with many of you in our Zoom Morning Tea on Thursday.
Thank you for joining with us this evening. May God bless this worship and bring us into His presence as we praise and worship Him.
Opening prayer
God has made us, with all the saints from every generation, one in Christ.
He has set his seal upon us and, as a pledge of what is to come, has given the Spirit to dwell in our hearts. Thank You Father, that You are here with us tonight and that You love the worship of Your people. Please help us to open our hearts to You now.
Peace to you from God our Father who hears our cry.
Peace from his Son Jesus Christ whose death brings healing.
Peace from the Holy Spirit who gives us life and strength.
The peace of the Lord be always with you.
And also with you
Song: Blessed Be Your Name
Verse 1
Blessed be Your name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
When I’m found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed be Your name
Pre-Chorus
Every blessing You pour out
I’ll turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in
Lord still I will say
Chorus
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name
Verse 2
Blessed be Your name
When the sun’s shining down on me
When the world’s all as it should be
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there’s pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name
Pre-chorus
Chorus (x2)
Bridge
You give and take away
You give and take away
My heart will choose to say
Lord blessed be Your name (x2)
Chorus (x2)
CCLI Lic No384593
Romans 8:26-39
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. 31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. 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. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.
Matthew 13:44-58
44 “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field.
45 “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought it.
47 “Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the blazing furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
51 “Have you understood all these things?” Jesus asked.
“Yes,” they replied.
52 He said to them, “Therefore every teacher of the law who has become a disciple in the kingdom of heaven is like the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as old.”
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked. 55 “Isn’t this the carpenter’s son? Isn’t his mother’s name Mary, and aren’t his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren’t all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?” 57 And they took offense at him.
But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town and in his own home.”
58 And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
Devotion: Robyn
The Small becomes Great
I was so touched this week to read the stories of some of you, as to how a small word or gesture from someone had such great influence and effect on your life. One of the stories recounted different family members and friends who had been a blessing and stimulus to growth. Thank you for sharing those.
Our Matthew reading is a review of all the parables we have looked at in the last month. The small becomes great and brings meaning with it. As I thought about this, I was reminded of the Corona Virus, A minute virus, so small that the eye can’t see, but able to become a pandemic. It has become a destructive force that has consumed our attention and our resources. And that has been nationally and world wide.
However, these parables give us hope, not fear. They describe the Kingdom of Heaven emerging as something almost visible, offering us a treasure worthy of all our attention and our expectation of God being with us, caring for us and doing great things in our lives.
So this leads on to our reading from Romans. Remember as Jesus was teaching His disciples in John chapters 12 to 17 He spoke to them about the coming of the Holy Spirit as our comforter and our counsellor. As you read through these chapters in John there is so much hope and promise for our own lives. We have our own personal counsellor who will teach us all about God, about the Kingdom and about our daily living as one of God’s precious children. I challenge you to read through these chapters this week to build your faith and expectancy.
Now to these verses from chapter 8 which tell more of the way the Holy Spirit works in our lives. These words are probably very familiar to you and also very comforting.
These verses reassure us that God does not abandon us and is working through the past, present and future of our lives. Since reading through these parables, and then Romans 8 I have been reminded of so many ways God has taught me and led me, and brought about spiritual understanding and growth in my life. I have always been one who has searched for more in my relationship with God and He has used so many different people to teach me, encourage me and strengthen my personal relationship with Him.
I have told some of you that over 25 years ago, someone prayed for me and then prophesied that one day I would be ministering and teaching in rural NSW. When we were asked to help establish F5, I knew it was right because of these words. Our daughter even reminded me of that prophetic word at our ordination..
And so Paul writes in verse 26, that the Spirit helps us in our weakness. In verse 16 of chapter 8 it says that the Spirit has helped us to cry ‘Abba Father’. In other words, it is the Holy Spirit who helps us to reach our to our heavenly father and he is also the ones who helps us to pray when we do not know what to pray. It is not only that we don’t have the right words, but do not even know what we want. Sometimes God can put a person on your heart or in your thoughts and you know you should pray for them. But what is it about. We don’t actually need to know. Here we are being told to hand that situation over to the one who can intercede on that person’s behalf. You only need to say, Holy Spirit, please intercede for this person (name them). Sometimes I will also say ‘Father see this person (name them), I bring before You now.’ We don’t ever need to know what the situation was, but the Holy Spirit has been our help in bringing about God’s will.
We then have that beautiful verse, 28.
28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
This verse reassures us that as God’s children, in all the things that happen to us and with us, God is working for us. We often can find no reason or meaning in terrible things that happen, like the virus. I know many of you have had really difficult times in your life when you ask God ‘WHY’?? Often there is no answer.
Bryan Wilkinson, a pastor of a large church in the States says
Romans 8:28 is about purpose not reasons. Romans 8:28 does not say everything that happens is good. It doesn’t even say that all things work together for good. No, it says that God works in all things, good and bad, to accomplish his purpose. He works. It’s the image of the strong hand of a potter taking a piece of clay that looks like nothing and working it over with skill and strength to fashion it into something beautiful. God works in all the events of our lives to accomplish his eternal purpose.
When our granddaughter died I did have many WHY questions for God. However, though there were no answers, God was so faithful in helping me get through the terrible days and nights of grief and giving me strength for each new day.
As we move further down in the chapter, we read in many promises.
In verse 31
‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’
In verse 34
‘Who then is the one who condemns? No one. 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’
In verses 37 to 39
‘in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.’
God’s love is so great that it is always with us. He has made us conquerors. Whatever we have to go through will not separate us from God, but will show His power in our lives as we walk through the situation. Jesus is interceding with God for us. He is praying for us as we go through difficult times. Nothing at all can separate us from God’s love for us.
We need to use our experience of difficult times and the recognition of how God helped us through it, as our testimony of our relationship with God and the power He gives us through His Holy Spirit. The small becomes Great. God uses the small things we experience to make great testimonies of His love and faithfulness.
Do you know the power of the Holy spirit in your life and the comfort He brings? Do you experience God walking with you each day? Do you know God’s love that is greater, wider and deeper than anything in creation? There is a chorus that we sang at Sunday school
Wide, wide as the ocean, High as the heaven above
Deep, Deep as the deepest sea is my Saviour’s love
I though so unworthy,Still I’m a child of His care.
For His word teaches me, that His love reaches me
Everywhere.
Song: Spirit & Truth
Verse 1:
We’re gathered here, the time has come
To praise the Father, Spirit, Son
Hearts that are ready, free to respond
We join the everlasting song
Chorus 1:
We will worship You in Spirit and truth
How we love to worship You
Let Your name be praised again and again
Lord, we love to worship You
Verse 2:
There at the cross You said it all
The poor made rich, the weak made strong
Hearts that are welcomed
through all You’ve done
This is our story and our song
This is our story and our song
Repeat Chorus 1:
Bridge:
We hear You calling, the lion roaring
The time is coming and it has come
Your Word is moving, Your river flowing
We praise You Father, Spirit, Son [Repeat]
Chorus 2:
We will worship You in Spirit and truth
How we love to worship You
Let our praises rise again and again
How we love to worship You
We will worship You in Spirit and truth
How we love to worship You
Let our praises rise again and again
How we love to worship You
Let our praises rise again and again
How we love to worship You
Writers: Ben Cantelon, Chris Lawson Jones, Chris Sayburn,
CCL Lic No 384593
Prayers
Confession:
Heavenly Father,
Thank you that your word says that as we draw near to you,
you will draw near to us, by the working of your Spirit in us.
We are sorry for doing those things that have displeased You
and we ask for Your forgiveness.
Please cleanse our hearts and hands and minds
Help us to walk in love and newness of life
so that we can be more like Jesus
and make him known to all we meet. Amen
If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. We thank you Father, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,we thank you for the gift of your Holy Spirit who is always with us to help us and to strengthen us. We thank you that the Holy Spirit intercedes between us and the Father when we cannot find the words to say.Thank you that we are more than conquerors because of all that Jesus has done for us.. We thank you that your love is great towards us and that you are slow to anger and rich in love.
Please help each one of us to be assured that You are always with us through the presence of your Holy Spirit. and that we are children of the Kingdom.
Father, help us to be people who are wise and discerning and who do have ears that hear. Please show us how we can be Your light in the world around us.
Father, we are conscious of the changes in the Covid situation and we do pray for all our health workers who provide us with the care we need. Please protect them from the Corona virus and give them strength and wisdom. We pray for researchers and ask that a COVID vaccine will be developed and available for all soon. Thank you for the trials that are going on around the world and that there is so much cooperation between countries.
We pray for those members of F5 who are unwell, and we think especially of Shirley Weeks, Robert Lawrence, Penny, Sue Duckitt, Anne Hunter, Anne Wilson’s Mum and any others known to us. Please bring Your comfort, healing and peace to them. We pray for people who are struggling because of loss of jobs and lack of income. We do ask that their needs will be met and that no one in Goulburn goes hungry or cold. Please show us how we can help bring joy and comfort to someone this week.
As winter is with us now, we pray also for protection from the flu and colds.
We do pray for protection for our families as our children and grandchildren are now back at school.We ask that our families may grow to know and love You. Thank You that SRE is beginning again. Please give wisdom and strength to those who teach SRE, especially as the conditions in the schools have changed so much.. We pray especially for Pat, Helen, Ange, Mick and Jen.
We pray for our local council, for our state and territory governments, and for our national parliament. Please be with all those who make laws and help them to do so with good judgement. Please continue to give wisdom to our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, and to all members of our governments and parliaments as they steer us though this Covoid time especially with the new outbreaks in Victoria and NSW.
We pray for people who are still battling the consequences of the bushfires, some of whom are living in very difficult, uncomfortable situations. We do ask that help will come for them soon and that they will be relieved of their distress.
We commit each one of us to you this week. May we be kind and forgiving, gentle and long suffering and may we know, and share with others, your love, joy and peace.as we continue in this time of continued changing isolation. We pray that you will protect each of us from a second outbreak of the Corona Virus.
In Jesus name.
Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name,
your kingdom come,
your will be done, on earth as in heaven.
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who sin against us
Save us from the time of trial and deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power, and the glory are yours
now and forever. Amen
Song: Standing on the Promises
Standing on the promises of Christ my King
Through eternal ages let His praises ring
Glory in the highest I will shout and sing
Standing on the promises of God
Chorus
Standing, Standing
Standing on the promises of God my Saviour
Standing, Standing
I’m standing on the promises of God
Standing on the promises that cannot fail
When the howling storms of doubt and fear assail
By the living Word of God I shall prevail
Standing on the promises of God
Standing on the promises of Christ the Lord
Bound to Him eternally by love’s strong cord
Overcoming daily by the Spirit’s sword
Standing on the promises of God
Standing on the promises I cannot fall
Listening every moment to the Spirit’s call
Resting in my Saviour as my all in all
Standing on the promises of God
Blessing
In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 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.
Now may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, evermore Amen.
Prayer Points
• Thank God that we can join together for our services, even though far apart.
• Ask God to show you ways you can contact others from F5, F10 and beyond to encourage them along. Pray for wisdom to know who to ring, who to send a message or note to
• Pray for nurses, doctors and hospital staff as they learn to work differently and wisely
• Pray for those who are going through difficult times with sickness, depression, loneliness, loss of work, separation from family and friends. Pray especially for Robert Lawrence, Penny, Sue Duckitt,,Shirley Weeks, Anne Hunter and Anne Wilson’s Mum and any others known to us.
• Pray that we will each have God’s strength and wisdom to be able to make each day worthwhile.
• Pray for Scott Morrison and our governments as they make unprecedented decisions regarding all things connected to the Coronavirus. We especially ask for wisdom for them as they direct the opening up again of Australia.
• Pray for teachers and students as they have their school holidays.
PLEASE SUPPORT THE MINISTRY OF F5
Direct Debit – for F5 – is now available through the Anglican Development and Investment Fund http://www.aidf.com.au/www/home/
The details of the account are as follows:-
Account Name: F5-Refresh Ministries; BSB: 702-389 Account Number: 05209657
Enquiries – Paul (0418 633 396) and Robyn (0414 254 154)
Website – www.f5refresh.org.au & Facebook
