People of Blessing Ephesians 1:1-14 and Psalm 85:8-13
This week as we joined together in worship, Gill reminded us that we are people of blessing, part of God’s plan and purpose since the beginning.
We are starting this week to read through Paul’s letter to the Ephesians. He spends the first half of the letter exploring the wonder of what God has done in Christ and then the second half on what happens next because of that action.
The Psalmist paints a picture of heaven – truth and faithfulness springing forth from the Earth, justice and peace kissing. In the world as it is, this seems impossible, but it is part of God’s plan and purpose.
Paul writes of the riches of God’s grace lavished on us -all of us, no one is left out. Don’t ever think it’s for everyone else but not for you. He has given enough for everything you have ever done. There is nothing that Christ’s death and resurrection does not cover. In Christ, God has done what is needed for all people for all time.
The world has been gripped by the story of the boys in the Thai cave, we have heard the details of the narrowness of the cave, the difficulties of getting out and the seeming hopelessness of being cut off by the rising waters.
We too get caught up in the depths of the caves of sin and pain, unable to get out and feeling without hope.
Then comes the rescuer who comes through all the obstacles to bring us out to safety. As with the team who had to be taken out through the tunnels and then spend time recovering once out, recovering from sin is a process. We need the Spirit and the family of God (each other) to help us to leave behind the dead things of sin as we move further into God’s life.
Again we see God’s purpose His promise as He pours out His mercy on us. He stamps us with His seal, a down payment of the riches He has instore for us.
So often we question God’s gifts to us. “Is that really for me?” We stand awkwardly holding the parcel or simply looking at it instead of running childlike to tear off the paper and reveal the contents.
The promises He gives us are both for the end of time and for us to have a taste now. God has already blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ: joy in the midst of suffering, patience in times of challenge, love in the midst of hate, peace in the midst of the chaos that threatens to overwhelm us and more.
He chose us
- made us holy – set apart
- made us blameless – in Christ we are because He is, when God looks at us, He sees Christ in us and us as He intends us to be
He adopts us
- we are inheritors of the Kingdom
- we can ask our Father for anything we need in accordance with His pleasure and will
He forgives us
- He makes known to us His plan for ourselves and for the world
- Our words bring blessing or harm
As children of the promises of God, people of His plan and purpose, we are sent out to be people of blessing in the world, using the gifts God has given and speaking words of blessing as we go until we come to the day when justice and peace kiss.
Gill referred to a place in Wales where they have been speaking blessing to visitors and to the surrounding farming community. There has been a measurable increase in harvests and number of twin lamb etc. If you would like to find out more, ask Brett for the book ‘The Grace Outpouring’ by Roy Godwin and Dave Roberts $19.95
This Week
- We are still collecting money for the Ba-twa mental health training program, so far we have collected over $150 in the basket towards the nearly $3000 cost of this training. The team will be sent out from F5 next Sunday (29th) and all monies need to be in by then. If you prefer to contribute via bank transfer, use the F5 Refresh Ministries account BSB 702 389 Account 05209657 and label the transaction Batwa
Regular giving can also be made via this account use the label offertory
- The purple box is waiting at the front of the church each week for donations of non- perishable food and grocery items for those in need. Thanks to Bill who is our liaison
- If you are a family or a couple interested in free supervised confidential counselling with a student from St Marks talk to Sally who will give you further details
- Pray for teachers, families, students and SRE teachers as holidays end and school resumes Monday 23rd for teachers, Tuesday 24th for students
- Pray for Little Sheep team and families as they resume on Wednesday the 25th July
- Let young Fred know if you would like to be trained in the set up and use of the sound and AV equipment, it is a very important part of helping F5 to run smoothly
- Bless those around you in word and in deed, start with a smile as you go
Blessings from your F5 Team,
Robyn, Paul, Gill, Sally, Don, Ruth, Karen and Ken
