Robert Pease's blog

At our meeting on Wednesday 8th September we considered the essential subject of prayer. Here is the first of what may be a few comments, testimonies, book recommendations or questions on the issues raised last night. 

Sometimes God works on just one area of our life for several weeks or even months. It takes time to change ingrained character traits, habits, attitudes. Bad old habits are not suddenly eradicated and good new habits are not formed in one day. God teaches us new and good things through his word and people. He uses word to bring to our attention the particular area we need to change in (patience for instance); and he uses people or situations by putting us into their company to test and refine us (ie. annoying people and frustrating situations so as to test our patience).

There were tears in our service yesterday morning.  We wept with Yannick and Margaret as they shared with us about the death of their baby. We felt the Lord draw near to us in the Lord's Supper as we remembered him in his dying love for us.  We heard the word of God from Mark 7 and were challenged by the great faith of the Syro-Phoenician lady. We understood a little of why God tests us, and that during the testing he does love us. With God it is not "He loves me, he loves me not" etc - but "He loves me."  If I find him, if I follow, is he sure to bless?

Jesus said that the gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come. So many Christians look forward to the end, the return of Jesus. Engaging in missions is the way we show we are serious about this hope.  Like the church in Korea who have a goal to send out 100,000 missionaries in the next 20 years; the Chinese church and Filippino church have similiar goals.  If we cut back on missionary interest, zeal, passion and budgets then we are not serious about the return of the Lord.

Just popped in to see our Holiday Bible Club in action.  It looks great fun and also full of meaningful gospel content: a great combination.  Thank God for the 20 leaders and 40 something kids that attend.  The climax will be at our Sunday morning special all-age service.

In another place, Africa, there are other people, missionaries, who are trying to reach 120,000 shepherds in Lesotho.  Exciting but demanding stuff. Have a read here.

It was super to see so many turn out for the prayer meeting and Bible Study last night despite the terrible weather.  Hopefully, from our studies last night in the book of Revelation, we will understand why the Christian life can be so difficult at times; but remember don't let go of the testimony of Jesus - the word of God.

Working on Sunday evening's sermon (Zechariah 4) and I am encouraged to note that no matter how small the work is when it starts, yet if God is in it, it will surely grow.  So, note how gospel work amongst the Polish immigrants in Britain is growing, see here.  Note also how much good Christian microfinancing is doing amongst people in Peru. 

Gospel work in Afghanistan is hard and dangerous. See here for a summary of the present spiritual condition of Afghanistan.   Gospel work in London is hard and dangerous. See here for an assessment of the lawlessness and gang culture in our capital city.  Who would dare to say which is the toughest, most dangerous, neediest place of the two? Afghanistan or London?  Surely both equally?

Yesterday we spoke to the children about Proverbs 22v1"Choose a good reputation over great riches; being held in high esteem is better than silver or gold" and we asked what kind of reputation Jesus had?

We spoke to the adults from Acts 10:38 and saw Jesus as the One who went around "doing good", and said that this is a reason for living.  Are we like Jesus in this?

Someone once said, "It is the Word of God in the hands of the Spirit of God that accomplishes the work of God through a man or woman of God."  Three essentials are here (1) The word of God (2) The Spirit of God (3) a man/woman of God.  This combination is mighty to accomplish the work of God.