On Sunday morning we were reminded that having been eternally reconciled to God through the Lord Jesus Christ, the way we live out our salvation is something that truly matters to God. Since we are now “light in the Lord”, we are to “live as children of light” (Ephesians 5:8). Having been graciously saved from our sin, we are to turn from it. We are to put off the old way of life and put on the new (Ephesians 4: 22-24).But why does it matter to God when we sin? What is it about sin that is so abhorrent to God?In the opening chapters of Jeremiah we are given a clear reminder of God’s hatred of sin and of why it is that He desires and expects that His people should purposefully turn from it.God, through the prophet, informs the people of Judah (His people) that they are to face His judgement on account of their sins. What sins had they committed? They had turned to other gods (Jeremiah 1:16) and trusted in other nations to rescue them from their enemies (Jeremiah 2:18). The people had been very foolish. Instead of looking to and depending upon the all powerful and living God, they had chosen to worship “worthless idols” (Jeremiah 2:11) and to seek  help from weak and fallible pagan nations (Jeremiah 2:18).Yes, the people had been foolish, but they had also been unfaithful to the God who had been so faithful to them – they had also rejected God; and this is why their actions were so abhorrent to God & would be judged by God. God hated what they’d done because at the heart of their foolish and sinful behaviour was a “forsaking” of God (Jeremiah 2:13); a “turning [of] their backs” to God (Jeremiah 2:27).Why should we turn away from sin? Why should we seek to put it to death? To sin is to reject God – to reject the faithful God who has shown us such merciful and gracious love in Jesus, to reject His Spirit’s transforming power, to reject His authority over our lives, to reject His wisdom, to reject His merciful and gracious love, to reject His promise to be all that we need, to reject the truth that He is enough for us.The call to put off sin and to put on righteousness is not merely about avoiding the harmful consequences of foolish sinful behaviour, it’s about honouring God, it’s about not forsaking the eternally glorious and faithful God who has graciously saved us through the death and resurrection of HIs precious Son and has made us His children by uniting us to Him.May God help us to see that our sinful thoughts, words, actions and attitudes are not just foolish behaviours that cause us and others harm, but that they are a rejection of our gracious God and Father. May this awareness of the awfulness of our sin cause us to not only share God’s abhorrence of it but to repent of it also. May it cause us to keep looking to Jesus for both the forgiveness and cleansing we need as well as the strength to turn away from our sin and live for God’s glory instead. Amen.
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
  Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
  Call for songs of loudest praise.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
  Wand’ring from the face of God;
He, to save my soul from danger,
  Interposed His precious blood.

O to grace how great a debtor
  Daily I’m constrained to be!
Let that grace, Lord, like a fetter,
  Bind my wand’ring heart to Thee.
Teach me, Lord, some rapturous measure,
  Meet for me Thy grace to prove,
While I sing the countless treasure
  Of my God’s unchanging love.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it;Prone to leave the God I love:Take my heart, oh, take and seal itWith Thy Spirit from above.Rescued thus from sin and danger,Purchased by the Saviour’s blood,May I walk on earth a stranger,As a son and heir of God.
Notices and Points for Prayer
As we examine our hearts in the light of His word, let us be mindful and thankful that as we confess our sins, God “is faithful & just to forgive all our sins & to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1John 1:9). We have a Saviour “whose obedience and blood hide all (our) transgressions from view”. Praise God!Please find attached a prayer letter from Clyde and Janice Briggs (Open Doors). As you consider it, please take time to pray for our persecuted &  suffering family.Our preacher on Sunday is Bernard Lewis. Please pray that he will know the Lord’s help as he prepares and delivers the word to us. Let us pray also that we will be ready to receive that word.
In Christ,Rich

Richard Jenkins 1cor6v11@gmail.com; 07761979015

News from Clyde & Janice Briggs – Open Doors

1. Christian Abductions

(a). Malaysia…..pastor Raymond Koh snatched by probably special branch police 4 years ago and not heard of since. Wife is Elizabeth. Pastor Joshua Hilmy and wife Ruth Sitpen also abducted then and Christian Anive che-mat

Pray for their release and for their families

(b) Robbo abducted by ISIL in Aleppo 4 years ago….possibly still alive in Idlib (last stronghold of ISIL in Syria).pray for his wife Jana and young son Abraham hoping that he is still alive.

(c) Dr Ken Elliot 81 year old medical mission doctor who has spent 40 years in Burkina Faso. Kidnapped by Boko Harlan affiliated terrorists over 4 years ago. His wife was released 2 years ago because her health was deteriorating. No news as to his whereabouts etc.

2. Nigeria 

Christian mother Hajoriatu terrorised by Fulani Tribesmen (proxy for Boko Haram) and in the process of escaping with her baby on her back. In crossing a river, the baby was swept away. She has 4 other children .Pray for safety and healing after her loss. Does not seem there is a husband. Open Doors involved in all these cases.

3. Iran.

There is a new hard line leader in Iran who was in charge of judging and many executions in the past. Pray that God will deal with this man as Iran was bad enough before he took over.

There are many in the notorious Evin prison at present. Here are just 3 of them. Pastor Joseph Nadarnkani.  Been in jail many times before. Mohammed Obidi – in jail for many years; and Maryam who has recently been re-arrested after having been released because her health was deteriorating. She is in for another year.

Thank you for your prayers for these issues.

God Bless your church, we look forward to seeing you again someday in the near future.

Clyde and Jan

Knowing Christ and making him known. Searching for timeless truth that’s relevant today. Connecting with others in authentic ways.

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