Christ is King! No power-mongers for me, thanks!

In John 18 we read about the hearing of Jesus before the Roman judge and governor, Pontius Pilate.

The drama told here is about two contrasting types of power. On the one hand we have Pilate - the institutional authority, whose power resides in the Empire and the army that stands behind him. On the other hand we have Jesus, whose power comes from the fact that he tells the truth.

When Pilate asked Jesus whether he is a king he said: “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice." (v.37)

Power given by the truth is not imposed on anyone. It is a power that people give you because they trust you. When the people said of Jesus, “He spoke as one who had authority, not like their scribes and Pharisees”, this is authority he received form his followers because of his integrity.

Jesus said, “everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice”, because they recognise that he speaks the truth and so they hold him as an authority and listen to him, regardless of whether he has any official position given by any institution.

Christ is King! He is the one whom we acknowledge as our ultimate authority. We are subjects of his Kingdom of heaven. His rule is the one we recognise above all others.

And so we will not serve any of the power-mongers of this world who would turn us against each other in hatred and distrust. We will not play their games and we will not compete with them on their level.

Our Kingdom is not of this world. Their ways are not our ways. Their goals are not our goals. We do not want their power. Their kingdom is not our Kingdom.

We follow King Jesus who gave his life for his friends.

We belong to the Truth. 

Lent: Humility is a virtue.

To be humble means that you have a clear perspective of your place in life, in context with God and other people. It also means that you know your short comings and that you submit to the Word of God.

Humility is the direct opposite of being in love with yourself, an overestimation of your own competence and accomplishments and being a person motivated by pride. 

The most famous phrase of C.S. Lewis on humility is:  "Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less."

The New Testament goes to great lengths to persuade us of the value of humility.  "Blessed are the meek" Jesus said (Matthew 5) and "he who exalts himself will be humbled and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Matthew 23:12).

In the life and ministry of Jesus Christ it is his humility that is held up to us as an example of righteous living and of pleasing God.  Peter says of Jesus that "when they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”(1Peter 2:23,24).

Humility is a fruitful recipient of grace, according to the words of James, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble". (James 4:6.)

Jesus, in walking the way of suffering did not think less of himself.  He acknowledged before the high priest and governor Pilate that he is the Son of God and that he is a heavenly King.

But he thought about himself less than thinking about our salvation, our need of atonement and that we would be lost without his ultimate sacrifice.

Well-knowing that he is the eternal Son of God who became a man for our sake, he washed the feet of his disciples, he allowed the soldiers to crown him with a thorny bush and crucify him, he allowed Pilate to sentence him to crucifixion and willingly chose to carry the wrath of God for our sins in our place.

There is no following of Christ and there is no Christ-like life and service without imitating the humility of Jesus. And as children of God it does not mean thinking of ourselves less than the Holy Spirit teaches us to think, but to be thinking less about ourselves and more about the needs of others, sacrificing our rights and privileges to bring others to God’s joy and glory too.

Daily Lenten Prayers

Loving Lord,
You gave us your Son to be our food and our life!
Help us to listen carefully to the message of the cross
that we may celebrate your love every day of our Lenten journey,
that our lives may reveal him more clearly
and we may be witnesses to him.
Help us to experience joyful praise in Lent!
Help me to understand and embrace
the mystery of the Lamb of atonement,
the beauty of this season, and not to run from the pain,
but to see your saving grace and how your loving touch in my life
can fill me with the joyful praise of the salvation
you have sent to me.
In Jesus Name.
Amen.

Loving Father,
So many times we turn away from you
and you always welcome us back.
May we walk in the newness of life in you, our Saviour.
Your mercy and love give us confidence.
As we journey during Lent, give us a new heart
filled with compassion, as you have compassion on us.
Help us to await the Easter joy with hope in you,
the hope in Christ who died and rose for us.
Amen.

O God of mercy who understands my needs!,
I know that with the help of the Holy Spirit
I can open my heart more fully
to the  deepest meaning  of the suffering and death
of your only begotten Son, our Lord:

The meaning of the submissive humility of God who became a man

and his compassion that nailed Him to his cross.

Help me to imitate his modesty during my Lenten journey,

to become a true neighbour to those in distress,

and a good Samaritan to those in trouble,
while I remember that the mercy I receive
is a gift from you, my Lord and my God.
Through Jesus my Redeemer.  Amen.

Lord, 

do not deal with us as our sins deserve.

Remember not my iniquities of the past;
may your compassion today come to us,
even though we do not deserve your compassion or love.
Lord, do not deal with us as our sins deserve.
Help us, O God our Saviour,
that your Name may be glorified,

that your Kingdom may come

and your will be done!
Deliver us and pardon our sins
that we may be set free and for your name's sake.
Lord, do not deal with us as our sins deserve. Amen! – see Psalm 79

God of Love,
through this Lenten journey,
cleanse my desires to serve only you.
Free me from the temptations to judge others,
to place myself above others.
Deliver me from my impatience with others,
that with your love and by your grace,
I might be less engaged with myself,
and more filled with the desire
to follow you, in laying down my life
according to the example of Jesus Christ, my Lord.  Amen

Loving God,
I hear your invitation, "Come back to me"
and I am filled with such a longing to return to you.
Show me the way to return.
Show me the Truth, the Way and the Life!
Show me Jesus!
Lead me this day in good works I do in your name

and for your sake
and send your Spirit to guide me and strengthen my faith.
Let me only know your love today.
Amen.

Loving God and Father,
I am your child and yet I too often turn my back
on your love.
Accept my acts of sorrowful repentance today
and release me from the selfishness
that closes my ears to hear your Word

and closes my heart to your love and forgiveness.
As I journey through Lent,
let me remember the feast you have prepared for me,
the wedding feast of the Lamb, in the resurrection
and let me be filled with gratitude that helps me to live for your glory.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Lent: Repentance and Penitence

Lent:  Repentance and Penitence

Repentance is about reviewing one's actions and feeling sad regret for our wrongs of the past!

It involves a commitment to change our lives and correct our mistakes, resolving to live a more disciplined and obedient life that honours God and his authority over us.

It includes an admission of guilt, a promise not to repeat these sins and an attempt to make restitution for the consequences of what we did wrong, or in some or other way reverse the harmful effects of our sins.

Penitence emphasizes the regret for one's wrongdoing. Everyone makes mistakes, but not everyone feels bad (or sad) about it afterward, and if you have regretted something you did, that sorrowful feeling was penitence.

The word Penitence shares the same root as the verb repent, which means “to express regret.” It is also connected to the word penitentiary, another word for prison and has a strong association with the expectation to be judged, found guilty and to be condemned.

Sometimes penitence is so painful you might think you deserve to be in prison or you feel that you are imprisoned by shame and remorse.

Romans 8: 1 – 4 address our fear of condemnation.

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,  because through Christ Jesus...  the Spirit who gives life, has set you  free from the bondage of sin and death.”

Those who are “in Christ Jesus” are released from the prison of guilt and the judgment of God. Those who are “in Christ” are “out of prison and condemnation”!

During Lent we are set free of blame and receive forgiveness when God responds to our repentance, our penitence, with mercy, grace, forgiveness and the restoration of our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit.

Never beyond the reach of the power of Jesus. (John 11)

Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, three adult siblings from Bethany, are friends and followers of Jesus.

Lazarus has fallen gravely ill, and his sisters Mary and Martha urgently send for Jesus, who is “across the Jordan” to come and help them.  (11:1-3).

Jesus’ response to their situation seems surprisingly indifferent. “Though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was” (11:5-6). Jesus expresses confidence that Lazarus’ illness will not lead to death, but rather to the glory of God (11:4), yet by the time Jesus finally gets to Bethany, Lazarus is already dead and buried. He is in the grave for 4 days, already.

We can understand the anguished cries of Martha and Mary to Jesus, who greet him separately but with the same words: “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died” (11:21, 32). Implied in this statement are some pointed questions.

Where were you, Jesus? Why did you take so long getting here? I thought you loved my brother. I thought you cared about us. Some of the neighbours gathered also ask among themselves, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (11:37).

Aren’t these exactly the kinds of questions we ask, or would like to ask, when tragedy strikes? Where were you, Lord? How could you have let this happen? Couldn’t you have prevented all this horrible pain and heartache? Couldn’t you have acted faster and more decisively?

To Martha, he responds with a promise: “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (11:25-26).

Jesus pulls the hope of the future resurrection into their present hopelessness, promising abundant, eternal life that begins here and now.

With Jesus, we find out, it is never too late. Even when we are convinced that all is lost, even when we are ready to give up, Jesus demonstrates that there is no loss, no tragedy, no power in heaven or on earth that can place us beyond the reach of his infinite love, abundant life and divine power.

He is deeply moved by our sadness and at the same time he is the almighty Christ who can bring life where the stench of death already seems to have the upper hand!

Liturgical prayers during Lent

Call to Worship:

Psalm 52: 8 and 9:   I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever.  For what you have done I will always praise you in the presence of your faithful people.  And I will hope in your name, for your name is good.

Give thanks to God, because through his mercy we received the spirit of discipline that we may triumph over evil and grow in grace.

Glory to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, gracious and merciful, world without end!

Come, let us worship the Lord, our God!

Prayer of praise:

Gracious, merciful Lord, how hard is it to read and hear of the abuse your only begotten Son suffered even prior to his crucifixion. What can I say in response, but "Thank You" for Jesus walking the path of grief, suffering and shame for my sake. Our Lord took the abuse that I deserved, and gave us his glory in return.

Dear Lord Jesus, you chose the cross. Those who led you to Golgotha were simply working out what God our Father had willed and you, Lord Jesus, had freely and lovingly chosen.  How can I thank you for this costly choice?  Because you took up the cross, I am forgiven and can take up life in all of its fullness. Make me eternally grateful, Lord Jesus.

Father -   glory, honour and praise to you, who gave us your Son. Help us to believe in him and we will never perish, but praise and worship you, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Amen.

Prayer for the forgiveness of Sin:

O Lord, as much as I hate to confess it, there is a bit of Judas in me. Forgive me for the times when I pledged allegiance to you, made promises to you, only to discard you in the way that I live. Help me to see where my message to you is a mixed one, where worship and praise and betrayal and deceit live in the very same heart.

Forgive me, dear Lord, when I let fear get in the way of my relationship with you. Forgive me for all the times I have fallen short in my discipleship, because I've been afraid. Forgive me for failing to trust you when you've proven through your suffering to be completely worthy of my trust.

Dear Lord, help me to acknowledge my sins, both to myself and to you, rather than justifying myself through immature and pointless excuses and defences.  My hands will only be clean, Lord, when I am washed in the blood of the Lamb.

(Now let us all, during a time of silence repent of our sins and in faith expect the forgives of God)

O Father who forgives and restores - grant me faith in the atoning death and victorious resurrection of Jesus in my place and, by your Spirit, teach me how to live and how to love.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Prayer for enlightenment:

Guide us, O God, by your Word and Spirit, that in your light we may see light, in your truth find freedom, and in your will discover our peace;

through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Prayers of Intercession:

Eternally kind and gracious God and Father of us all, thank you for your mercy.

You give us what we need, not according to what we deserve, but according to your infinite grace and love.  Thank you for hearing our cries and responding, remembering even me. Thank you for the promise I have of Paradise beyond this life.

Father God, our hope and our salvation, listen to our prayers.

Oh Lord, through your Spirit, enthuse  all believers to carry forward the torch that saints have carried from generation to generation, since the beginning of the Church,  without compromise or fear, that the Light of the world, Jesus Christ our Lord,  will guide all nations to follow God’s reformation plan for their countries and for humanity.  And make your people holy, as you, our God, is holy!

God of mercy and love, send the Holy Spirit to enable every Christian to proclaim the Gospel in the rural areas and amongst the poorest communities and to liberate through Jesus our Lord,  everyone from fear, superstition and false religion. Save those who are lost as the result of human wisdom, worldly leadership and manmade schemes. May we all, because we are in need of salvation, put our trust in the only Saviour of the world, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Redeemer.

Holy and almighty God, unite preachers of and listeners to God’s work, both the leaders and the members of all faith communities, to work together without envy, personal agenda’s or personal politics to accomplish their best endeavours for the work of God, sparing nothing and giving everything for the redemption of all people and the growth of God’s work in local churches and in the worldwide assembly of the faithful. 

In your mercy, dear Lord, grant peace to peoples worn out by civil war, violence, unrest and military threats to their countries.  Provide for generosity to refugees, all foreigners, all who had to abandon their homes and motherlands and Lord, protect their safety and dignity.

O tender and gracious Creator, our Lord and God, heal all who suffer from depression and are lonely, sad and afraid and grant that your children will help them to see and experience the mercy and the love of God and his Church.

Call and help health workers who will bless community health programs, clinics and hospitals to provide for excellent care of all who are ill, treating those who are sick with respect and love.

And now, Father, listen to our prayers for those in our congregation who are ill, afflicted and in pain.

We pray for.......

Father, grant us and all your children a blessed Lenten Season. Make it a time of spiritual growth, commitment to you and your Kingdom and a time to strengthen and increase our love for you, our Redeemer and our Saviour.  

Prepare our hearts by remembering what Jesus did for us when he suffered, died and was buried for our sake to, at a time so soon to come, be truly able to celebrate that for our sake and for the glory of your name, your gracious Son rose from the dead, ascended to heaven and graciously reign over us as exalted Lord and God of your Church and of all creation.

Gracious Lord Jesus, how can I ever thank you enough for dying for me on the cross?  Your death has given me life. Your sacrifice has led to my blessing. Help me never to take your death for granted, forgetting what you did for me and neglecting its significance. May the reality of your sacrifice press itself upon my mind and flood my heart.

As we hear your eternal Word, even Jesus our Saviour, make us truly thankful, living your Gospel and sharing your gifts and your deliverance, as we seek your face and long for a closer walk with you.

Through Jesus Christ, our Lord.

Amen.

Was blind, but now I see...

I was blind, but now I see...

John 9 recounts the cure of a blind man, which more importantly is also the spiritual healing of one who has been in the dark about the truth that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God.   This event is an encouragement for all to recognize Jesus as the true Light of the world.

John 9: 36 – 38 Jesus said to the blind man that was healed, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

“Who is he, sir?” the man asked. “Tell me so that I may believe in him.” Jesus said, “You have now seen him; in fact, he is the one speaking with you.”

Then the man said, “Lord, I believe,” and he worshiped him.

This is the climax of the story! It is the miracle of faith based upon Jesus' disclosure of himself as the Son of God. The blind man now had insight added to restored sight. In this preacher from Galilee he saw the precious, long awaited Messiah, his Saviour.

Now we understand what Jesus meant when he said the blindness of this man was to demonstrate the power of God. (9:3) Great good came out of the blindness. If the man had not been born blind, he probably  never would have learned who Jesus was. He gained a Saviour and a Lord.

The greatest miracle of all is when the blind eyes of my soul are opened and I too can say, “Lord I believe” and I worship Jesus!