Mission Month: July 1st to 31st 2020
Click or tap here to go to the two-part lesson “A Mission-Shaped Church”, with Bishop R Ncube.
Day 31 “Plan of Action for the Mission Month”
Day 30 “For Such a Time As This”
Day 29 “What do you do when the tables turn in your favour?”
Day 28 “Be a World Changer”
Day 27 “A Servant Heart”
Day 26 “The Harvest is Plentiful”
Day 25 “Celebrate the Harvest”
Day 24 “Does God Care?”
Mission Month message Day 30 with Mr Ivan Chigwada.
Good evening to the Church of God at Hillside, Barham Green, Nketa 7 and other places. My name is Ivan Chigwada. I trust God has been and will continue to be good to us as we serve Him.
ESTHER 4:14 ‘If you keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die. Who knows if perhaps you were made queen for just such a time as this?’
‘For such a time as this’ is the Methodist Church in Zimbabwe’s annual theme for the year 2020.The message in this phrase is that at His opportune time, God elevates or relegates you into a situation in which you will be able to serve and accomplish His set purposes more effectively, a task you would not achieve had your situation not been changed by Him. Joseph was relegated from being a free dreamer to a slave, and after a term in prison he was elevated from being an imprisoned slave to the position of prime minister of Egypt. When we look around us here in Zimbabwe we see a country with a troubled economy, we see a people who appear to be very uncomfortable with the political set up in their land and as if that is not enough the world is subject to a pandemic caused by a completely new and unknown virus and of course Zimbabwe cannot escape from the effects of that virus. Ten years ago Zimbabwe was a country that looked set on the way to prosperity. Today things have taken an unsavoury turn and the Church of God and us, find ourselves in such a country. As children of God we are being told to live through such circumstances serving God with all our strength since this is our lot! Whenever times are hard, we assume that we are the only people in trouble and get very scared, we start feeling small and go on to assume that God has abandoned us and feel like running away. It is when the chips are down that we need to look at how other children of God conducted themselves when the tables were turned on them. When we do we may be able to sing with them that we are in this our situation at such a time as this because it is God’s doing.
Brothers and sisters when things seem to be going the wrong way may we find comfort in the words of Jesus to His disciples just before he was betrayed into the hands of those who crucified Him. Here is what Jesus said ‘I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart because I have overcome the world.’ John 16:33. When horror rears its ugly head Christ wants us to have peace in Him and not in ourselves nor in our circumstances as we take our place in His service. We can have hope, we can have faith, we can have trust and we can have courage but as long as it is not hope in God, faith in God, courage in God and trust in God we will not make a stand and will fall when all that is required is stand.
Let us look at an example of the hard times that the people who are the subject of our opening scripture lived through. The life setting of the book of Esther was that the Jews were under the Persian rule, and by God’s design and providence Esther was elevated to be the Persian Queen after the dethronement of Vashti. At the same time Hamman was appointed to be in command of the whole empire. Drama unfolded when Mordecai refused to bow down to him, and Hamman sought not only to have him killed but to totally annihilate all the Jews in terms of a royal decree. This prompted Mordecai to seek the assistance of Esther as she was the Queen. He asked her to approach the king for a reversal of the decree. It was a difficult task for Esther since gaining access to the King without his invitation attracted a death penalty, and Esther had last seen the King about a month earlier. Mordecai challenged Esther being a Jew to remember that there was a reason why she had been elevated to that position at such a time.
At the time of believing in Jesus Christ you were elevated to the position of the child of God. That is not a small position. The theme ‘for such a time as this’ challenges us as a church and as individuals to stand for what we believe against all the odds not in our strength but in the power of God. Each and every Christian is strategically positioned to serve God in this perverse generation. We live at a time when Christianity is being threatened by the counterfeit ministries. There are many preachers who twist the Word of God to suit themselves and gain popularity. 2 Peter 2 : 1- ‘But there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them. In this way they will bring sudden destruction on themselves. Many will follow their evil teaching and shameful immorality. And because of these teachers, the way of truth will be slandered. In their greed they will make up clever lies to get hold of your money. But God condemned them long ago and their destruction will not be delayed.’ While the situation we are in is difficult and it seems impossible to serve God, we should soldier on with zeal, using the positions of influence and the resources God has given us, for the furtherance of the Kingdom. Like I said earlier we were elevated to being children of God when we believed, you cannot wish for a more powerful and influential position as that. The power of God, is fully on your side.
Imagine people who lived through the wars that have been fought in this world. Can you imagine the horror that they went through? Only those who did know what they went through, the rest will never understand. History tells us of the great depression of the 1930s when literally economic activity ground to a halt and most people lost their jobs and incomes. Only those who have lived through depravity understand what is involved the rest do not. All I am trying to point out is that in the past people lived through tyranny, people lived through economic hardships, people lived through what were untreatable diseases at the time and people lived through times of total insecurity BUT we are saying they, because they lived since humankind did not end with them. Despite those hardships they did not stop serving God, in fact, most were delighted to be doing the work and will of God even if all seemed impossible and even if taking their stand for God could be fatal. We may need to learn that there is nothing new under the sun.
When adversity comes rely on the words of Christ ‘Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows,’ and whenever you are in earshot of fake doctrine remember the words of the Spirit of God through Simon Peter as He said ‘there were also false prophets in Israel, just as there will be false teachers among you.’ I know that in the Church of God is where you will find very courageous persons but the call is not for lone rangers, foolish bravery or the chance to show off to our friends. Christ calls you to have peace in Him. Why is this? It is because of the existence of the Devil, Satan, the Accuser that source of all evil of whom the Apostle Peter warns us that he ‘prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.’ When the roaring lion was about to devour all the Jews and in order for that to be stopped Esther advised Mordecai to ‘Go gather all the Jews to be found in Susa, and hold a fast on my behalf… I and my maids will also fast as you do.’ Together with other believers you can stand against the Devil and his machinations in the power of Jesus, you can challenge the propagators of fake doctrine and their master in the power of Christ because you were elevated to the powerful position of child of God. Others did and the Devil departed from them. In the power of God you surely will prevail. Stay blessed.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit Amen.
Mission Month message Day 29 with Dr Themba Hwalima.
Fraternal Greetings to you all sisters and brothers in Christ.
I thank our Father the Lord Jesus Christ for giving me this privilege and opportunity to share with you His Word and Message for today during this Mission Month.
Our theme for today is: “What do you do when the tables turn in your favour?”
Our Reading is from Philippians 4: 11 – 13
In today’s message we distil two very important lessons which the Apostle Paul is transmitting to the Church in Philippi. These are an anchor for every true Christian today.
For Paul’s message to be spiritually profitable we need to appreciate in the first place that life is never a honeymoon all the way. The Bible demonstrates to us that life is full of ups and downs, challenges and satisfactions; pleasures and sufferings.
We all routinely go through these experiences in various ways throughout our own lives. It is these rugged experiences of life that the Apostle Paul is teaching us about. He is telling us how Christians should respond to life either on their way down or on their way up.
This is why today’s theme appropriately asks: “What do you do when the tables turn in your favour?”
Paul tells us, through personal experience; that this is the kind of life he led. He demonstrates to us that this is the kind of normal life that will be led by all Christians. He is teaching us how we should respond to such a life as this one we are going through in Zimbabwe as Christians today.
The question is how do you live or cope with life during these ups and downs.
The call to you as a Christian living on this rugged terrain is that you must learn and acquire the capacity to live by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. That way you will be able to cope with the violent fluctuations in your daily life.
Our Lord Jesus Christ puts this message in a nutshell as we read the Gospel in Luke Chapter 12.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. . . . [For] your Father knows that you need them. Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you.” (Luke 12:22, 30–31)
The call to us is to live by faith in God the father, even when going through tumultuous times; for we know that God is with us and on our side no matter how desperate and hopeless our circumstances may appear to be.
Some may say I hear that, I always surrender all my tribulations to our Heavenly Father through prayer. It is when the tables are turned in my favour that I do not know how to respond. Many lose their heads and feel on top of the world when tables are turned in their favour.
Would you remain spiritually sane, for example; when you qualify to be described as stinking rich? Would you remain spiritually sober when you find yourself powerful and un touchable?
This is the spiritual need the Apostle Paul is answering for us as Christians in today’s reading.
He says:
“11 ……. I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
This is the message and lesson for today my sisters and brothers.
That is living by faith, not trusting in one’s self. Be it in want, under whatever tribulations and suffering; be content, taking everything to the Lord in prayer.
Even when everything turns in our favour, even when we live in plenty, let us be content; knowing that all these come from the Father who is in heaven.
In short, let us learn to live in humility, by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Be it in want or in plenty, be it in tribulations or pleasure let us be humble and optimistic through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.
Amen
Mission Month message Day 28 with Mrs Tracey Chigwada.
READING Ps.139
Opening Prayer
A world changer is a person that makes life better for others. A world changer is not some one who blends in. A world changer stands up ready to make a difference, he/she transforms the world. A world changer is an encourager. A world Changer sticks out as sang in the song Lord Make Me A Mountain above. These are some of the attributes of a World Changer, which are synonymous with our Lord Jesus Christ. He is different and makes a difference wherever He is.
That is what Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour did when he stepped into the world to save you and me. That is what His mission and intention was when He commissioned His disciples Matt.28:18-20 to go into the world….. to make a difference, to Change The World, and indeed the world was never the same! As Christians, we should not be like other Christians but emulate Christ, we should be Christlike for us to be able to make a difference. We see God’s constant care in Psalm 139, and because we are His living temples, He made us fearfully and wonderfully to accomplish His purpose. You are unique, and can use that uniqueness to make a difference.. God wants us to work in His Vineyard to spread the Gospel to win souls for him. You can be the one who influences one person and then that person influences two more people thus getting more people saved – the snowballing effect….With God’s strength, you can save millions of lives.
In Matthew 5:13, Jesus tells us that we are the salt of the earth, meaning that by being salt, we are adding value, our contributions in our communities and beyond should be visible. Salt by its nature is medicinal and flavours or seasons food among other things. Therefore if you are salt then you should have those properties like being a channel of peace, where there is hatred, you bring love, where there is injury, you bring healing, where there is despair in life, you bring hope, where there is darkness you bring light, where there is sadness, you bring joy, you console. That is how as Christians we are the salt of the earth.
It is through love, encouraging and appreciating others that we can change the world. A lot of people in the Bible are known for making a difference e.g. Esther and Mordecai made history, they were bold and courageous enough to stand for the truth and to fight for the good of others. If God has put you in a position, it is for a purpose. To mention a few example in the Bible, be like Ruth, loyal in your relationships, walking an extra mile and not quitting when things get tough. Be like Dorcas, use your talents, however small they may seem, to bring a smile on someone’s face. St. Paul wrote letters of encouragement, e.g. 1 Thessalonians 5:11-23. And what about on the day of Pentecost when Peter in the Acts of the Apostles preached and about 3000 were converted, their lives were transformed Acts 2:41. As Change Agents, that is what we should do….pray and ask the Holy Spirit to help us.
Today we are called Methodists because someone made history and changed the course of life for many in the 18th century and his name was John Wesley. As Children of the kingdom we should all strive to make a difference and transform lives, point people to go God, show them the way to the Father, preach the gospel, at home and beyond. People need to hear the Good News to get saved, serve others. You are God’s flavour. Let your light shine so that people can see the glory of God!
Be who God meant you to be and you will set the world on fire. Never underestimate the difference you can make in the lives of others. Step forward, reach out and help. We are co-workers in God’s service ; we are God’s field, God’s building 1Cor. 3:9. Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins James 5:20.
A lesson to our Youth from St Paul’s charge to Timothy in 1Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone think less of you because you are young. Be an example to all believers in what you teach, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity.” (NLT) In so doing you are making a difference! It is God who works in you. Seek your full potential in Christ. You will be amazed at what God can do through you!
Prayer and Benediction
Mission Month message Day 27 with Rev Margaret James.
Our topic for today is leadership. We are greatly affected by the qualities of leadership which we experience in different areas of our lives.
Leaders can include school heads,
employers at work,
managers of sports teams
political leaders at the level of the municipality and the state and also ministers and lay leaders within the Church.
There are some
who have been leaders in the past
Some who are leaders in our current situation and
Others who are planning to be leaders of tomorrow.
Leaders within the Church and those in the secular sphere need to take note that they exist for the purpose of serving the Kingdom of God and promoting the welfare of God’s people.
No-one who is self-serving, proud, lazy or hypocritical will be a good leader of God’s people.
The world we live in is suffering from selfish leaders who have enriched themselves and have not cared about the welfare of our created world or of the people who live in it.
This year we have been studying the story of Esther and she gives us an example of sacrificial leadership. We read in Esther chapter 4 that when Mordecai sent a message to her about Haman’s plot to have all the Jewish people killed, Esther realised that God had made her the Queen in order to save His people and in verse 16 she asks Mordecai and the Jewish people to fast and pray for her before she goes uninvited into the presence of the King.
“Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day I and my maids will fast as you do.
When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish.”
This is a demonstration of Servant Leadership or Sacrificial Leadership. She was willing to risk her position as queen as well as her life, in order to have an opportunity to persuade the king to stop Haman’s plot against the Jewish people.
Jesus gave us many examples of servant ministry.
He reached out to all the people of his community with love and compassion.
He fed the hungry, healed the sick and raised the dead.
He even washed the dirty, smelly feet of his disciples. (John 13 v 3 – 5)
And in verse 34 he said “A new commandment I give you; Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
Now let’s read Mark 10 v 35 – 45.
Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to him. “Teacher,” they said, “we want you to do for us whatever we ask.”
“What do you want me to do for you?” Jesus replied.
They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right and the other at your left in your glory.”
“You don’t know what you are asking,” Jesus said. “Can you drink the cup I drink or be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with?”
“We can” they answered.
Jesus said to them. “You will drink the cup I drink and be baptised with the baptism I am baptised with, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared.”
When the ten other disciples heard about this, they became indignant with James and John.
Jesus called them together and said, You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you.
Instead whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many”.
We can easily understand the anger of the other 10 disciples. How dare James and John think that they were superior to the rest of the disciples!!!
They had not yet learnt from the example of Jesus in servant ministry.
In order to serve God, we must be willing to serve others as Jesus did.
He laid down his life for us; and we ought to be willing to sacrifice our time, resources, gifts and all that we have for the sake of our brothers and sisters.
As life progresses, we discover that our lives consist of a succession of changed circumstances.
An illustration is in the typical life of a Methodist Minister. Fulltime ministers are called ‘itinerant’, because they can expect to be moved from one circuit to another.
In more than 40 years in the Ministry I have been in many different positions; Probationer, Circuit Minister, Superintendent Minister, Conference Secretary, and at the end of my full time ministry the Tutor of Theological Education by Extension. Now I am a Supernumerary and must co-operate with what the Superintendent wants me to do.
The lay people can be asked to take many leadership roles in the church such as Class Leader, Society Steward, Circuit Steward, and Lay President, but, with the exception of Class Leaders and Local Preachers, they are all part-time posts which can be held for not more than 5 years.
As our Covenant Service says,
“Christ has many services to be done; some are easy, others are difficult;
Some bring honour; others bring reproach;
Some are suitable to our natural inclinations and material interests; others are contrary to both.
In some we may please Christ and please ourselves, in others we cannot please Christ except by denying ourselves.
Yet the power to do all these things is given us in Christ, who strengthens us.”
Leadership is a difficult and responsible calling. We have the responsibility of leading the members in a way that helps the church to fulfil its calling to proclaim the Gospel and helps the individual members to develop their leadership skills.
We are all responsible to Christ who called us into his kingdom and also calls us to serve our fellow Christians with commitment, love and compassion.
Mission Month message Day 26 with Mrs Angela Penduka.
We come before the throne of Grace full of thanksgiving and gratitude for your compassion on us. Despite all the challenges we face we know you always have plans for us. May your word give us courage and zeal to work for you to the Glory of your name. Amen
Reading Matthew 9 vs. 35-38
The Harvest is Plentiful But the Workers are Few
Harvest is end of a process of growing i.e. gathering what we have planted nursed protected against disease and parasites. Most of us are accustomed to this process be it vegetables at a backyard a plot be it crops in a farm. We know if harvest is not done timeously with patience and precision all efforts will not count.
We are aware that we can only reap what we have sown
“The Harvest is Plentiful But the Workers are Few” Jesus says this statement after going about teaching healing and preaching the good news. He sees the people’s suffering, has compassion comes up with a solution “ask the Lord of the Harvest therefore to send workers into the harvest field”
We need to look at the symbolic meaning of harvest in scripture
People are depicted as the Harvest
Harvest is God’s provision for us
Harvest is God’s blessing for us to pass to others
God is the Lord of the Harvest
We may as a church celebrate harvest once a year but we experience the spirit of harvest all the time, His provision in the form of a pay cheque, Love from family and friends, food on the table. Each time we experience closeness of God in a way that fills us spiritually we experience Harvest. We are called as Christians to pass this harvest to others, to pass this harvest to the Mission of the church Harvest is thus one of those words which is a noun the harvest we gather which we can pass on to others Or a verb (a doing word) Where one gathers that is the first definition I gave where we gather what has been sown and nursed.
Jesus says
“The Harvest is Plentiful But the Workers are Few” Jesus has healed the people he has delivered the Good news of forgiveness. The people are ready to believe & be welcomed into the Kingdom of heaven and experience peace joy and hope in an eternal home but they look lost they are harassed and helpless. Jesus has planted the seed of hope he has shown love and compassion he has planted watered cared what is required is the finishing touch. He even died and rose but people are still lost and helpless up to this present day. Where are the shepherds? Who are the shepherds who the labourers
Is it the Minister or preacher who is to harvest, who is to point the people to God? Is it the Sunday service or WA meeting, the MCU or Manyano meeting which is going to help us achieve the Mission of the church the strategic pillar number one of the Methodist Church of Zimbabwe which focuses on church growth? Are we going to plant any new societies in our circuit or district with or without Covid 19 pandemic? If I have learnt anything from the Covid 19 crisis it is that serving God is not specifically in a church building or congregation but through our daily activities taking care of each other sharing God’s love. I believe it takes all of us to play our part. The life style of each and every one of us. It is at this time when we have the chance to talk and assure our neighbour at such a time like this. It is at this time when we can share the messages with others through the social media. It is at this time when we can share food and all we can.
Jesus went through all towns and villages. He taught healed and preached the Good news, He observed the condition of his people he felt compassion and came up with a solution. Likewise let’s not just preach to each other but preach the Good news to those who are lost, let’s observe their needs and come up with solutions. We need to be a relevant church. Yes it is good to fellowship as fellow Methodists but even better to go out of our comfort zone.
The harvest is still plenty today just as it was then the labourers are still few. Who is the labourer? Jesus says ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers. I said earlier God is the Lord of the Harvest and the people the 12% we are targeting in our strategic pillar number one are the Harvest. The question now is who is the labourer? We know that a labourer is one who works in manual labour a wage earner normally without significant material possession but their labour. Jesus is calling out to you today as you are, to stand in the gap, with the small wage you have you will make a difference, He is not looking for the rich nor the eloquent to accomplish the Mission. Yes all we need like Isaiah is to say “here I am Lord send me”. The Lord is speaking to us even today the Mission of our church needs our support
As I was preparing the message I was touched, it is the labourer who is required which means the standards are not set beyond reach of anyone we all qualify. At times we think our contributions are insignificant we look down on our abilities and blessings
The significance of the harvest is the blessings which God gives us and we experience everyday
Pass the blessings to others and the church
God is the Lord of the harvest so put your trust in Him He will enable you
Do all to His Glory
It’s not the CEO, the shareholders who are being sought it’s the labourer, so we all qualify.
Jesus says pray to the Lord of the Harvest. Therefore It is God who has equipped you with that skill you are underrating it is God who has voted you into that commission.
Go ye then to the end of the World and make disciples. Say here I am Lord Send me. He will send us just as we are.
Mighty God creator of Heaven and Earth we thank you for your word that teaches us rebukes us. We thank you Lord for your love and mercy and compassion,
Mighty God who calls us to do your work in your Field which you have redeemed through the blood of the lamb. Make our life pleasing to you as you have called us individually.
Be with us Lord that even at a time like this we may stay focused on you
We pray through the Mighty name of our Lord Jesus Christ our saviour.
May the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with us now and ever more
Amen
Mission Month message Day 24 with Mrs Julie Caddick.
Good evening. The topic this evening is “Does God Care?”
If you are listening to this please pause and read
Psalm 30:4-10
Why do we ask the question “Does God care?” At the risk of sounding harsh but also from personal experience I wonder if, when we ask the question “does God care?” there is at the core a large degree of selfishness and self – interest. To some extent we are demanding attention and reassurance from God that He is paying attention to us and has our welfare at heart. We perhaps ask this question when like the psalmist we encounter times of trouble, when we believe that “God has hidden His face from us” vs 7. And when this happens then our thoughts focus on us. Though we have mentioned God, the focus is on ourselves.
Even to ask this question calls into doubt all we understand and know and have experienced about God, not only in the present but in the past. We are asking God if He feels any concern for us or has any interest in us? We are asking if He will look after us and provide for our needs?
Let us look a little more at this psalm.
Vs 4 the psalmist encourages the people to give thanks and praise. Why should they, why should we, do this? He tells us to do this because He knows the nature of God which is intrinsic to His holiness: it is to do with His faithfulness, generosity, mercy, goodness, love and trustworthiness. And He follows this call to praise with his understanding of these qualities of God.
Vs 5 the psalmist knows the hardship is temporary, that the anger God may feel towards us, the weeping and the night of our experiences are contrasted with favour, with joy with the morning.
Consider the words
Favour
Joy
Morning
I will not expand on them here as time is limited. But meditate on them and the images that these three words bring to mind.
In vs 6 – 9 the psalmist works through the problem and the answer to the question “does God care?” You see when things are going right when there is evidence of prosperity we think that things will always be so and in that thought lies disaster for us because we cannot think that there is any other way to live. We fall into the trap that we only praise God in this situation – the one of prosperity – but Matthew Henry says “ let us learn to pray in the dark”. When we perceive God has hidden His face from us when we think He does not care then should be troubled because we should be asking ourselves “where does our security lie?” and “in which God do we trust?” Do we ask for relief from our troubles so that we will continue to praise Him or will we continue to praise Him even in the troubles?
We need to come to an understanding and a deep – rooted knowledge and assurance that we are held secure and safe in the Lord’s favour and care, even during the times of hardship, loss and quite frankly over whelming odds which would cause us to despair of life itself. Perhaps you feel that you are in this situation right now. That you, and we, have hoped and hoped for many years and at this particular moment the disaster which we are experiencing and I do not make light of the situation because it is a disaster situation, a crisis which we are living through, is just too much to bear.
The psalmist is brutally honest about what he feels and thinks but vs 10 he gives us the words to use when we feel God does not care.
Hear, O LORD, and have mercy on me: LORD, be you my helper.
God cares very much and – it is not in His nature not to care but the reality is that He cares so much that He will not allow us to put our assurance in anything else but Him, not in any person, in any material possessions, in our own plans or in our own strength. He cares so much and wants to help us and does help us but it is all about Him and His assurances that He works everything for our good, that He has plans for us, that He will never leave us or forsake us – all about Him. God shows His care for us ultimately by His provision of Jesus Christ, His Son as our Saviour and Salvation which is the greatness need we have. It is the only news that reassures. No one can convince you of the care of God but God Himself. He may choose to show that care by using others but ultimately He cares. This is the mission of the church that is what mission is all about. The mission of God in sending His Son as Saviour and our Salvation and that is what we need to share with people.
Let us pray:
Dear God may we remember Your faithfulness in the past. May we remember that You have never let us down. May we never rely on what we had or on our own efforts but realise that all we have through times of plenty and times of need come from You that You have promised to supply all we need in every area of our lives, in its entirety and wholeness and You never let us down. My we praise You for your Son, Jesus Christ for our salvation and for Your mercy, goodness, grace, faithfulness and love which pass all our understanding. Amen
Methodist Church: Hillside Circuit 