The Bible is divided into two parts, the Old Testament and New Testament. Another word for ‘testament’ is ‘covenant’, and the Bible tells of these two covenants, made by God with people. There are two main words used to describe these, the first meaning an arrangement between equals with either party able to change terms of arrangement (such as is understood by marriage, for example.) The second word is used of the covenant between God and mankind, which is a formal arrangements to administer something, set by one party and not negotiated. This kind of covenant cannot be annulled; it is a simple fact.

In the New Testament, we see that God wants to be in relationship with people. Some people don’t want anything to do with God or even believe He exists (atheists). Others believe God may well exist but are not interested in a relationship with Him; others define their relationship with God on their own terms (we usually call these people ‘religious’!) God, however, is the one who defines this covenant and we see several fundamental points in His assessment of the situation.

1. People’s relationship with God has been broken (by people’s sinfulness, not by God) and therefore needs repairing. Acts 17:29-31 reminds us of the need for acknowledgment of this brokenness and the need for us to repent.

2. God has provided the way for our relationship with Him to be restored, but it must be on His terms, through His Son. (John 14:1-6, 1 Tim 2:1-6) These terms are non-negotiable. There are many religions seeking to find God, but only way to find Him.

3. In order to take hold of this offer of a new relationship, we have to have faith. (Heb 11:1-6, Rom 10:8-13) It’s crucial we believe God exists and that we trust Him to do all He has said He has done and will do.

We then become Christ’s disciples. (Matt 28:18-20) This involves learning, obeying and living out His teachings. Matt 10:32-42 outlines the need for us to acknowledge Christ and put Him first. Our open confession of Christ will cause division and problems, but will also lead to blessing as we set our priorities in alignment with His and surrender our ways, thinking and behaviour to Him.

The new agreement God has made is a way to come into relationship with Him, on His terms. We can believe and be brought into this relationship: we can become a believer. God, however, wants us to go further, to come closer and to know Him in a deeper way. He wants us to become disciples. This is the challenge to every one of us: are we willing to explore this arrangement, this agreement, this covenant and be, not just a believer, but a disciple?

This morning we looked at the questions involved in the conversation between two disciples and Jesus on the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35). For these two disciples (only one of whom is named, Cleopas), the events of the past week had been tumultuous and they were thoroughly bewildered about the turn of events which had seen Jesus go from being lauded on his entry to Jerusalem to being crucified. The rumours of resurrection were equally baffling; how could a dead man live again? It was as they walked and talked that Jesus came alongside them and asked them what they were discussing.

Conversation is one way of processing our feelings and emotions at turbulent times. Jesus knows this, and elicits not only facts but also feelings from the two people. Talking is a great therapy in itself, even if answers are not always possible. The Psalms encourage us to bring all our feelings to God; He cares about our daily lives, about the ordinary and extraordinary things that happen to us.

Jesus does not mollycoddle the disciples, though, calling them ‘foolish’ and ‘slow to believe.’ (Luke 24:25) He reminds them that all the answers they need could be found in the Old Testament and proceeds to open up the Scriptures to them. We may wonder how the Bible can be relevant to us today, but ultimately it provides the support, enlightenment and hope we need to persevere in faith, to endure opposition and persecution and to overcome. In Rev 2, Jesus brings words of admonition and encouragement to seven churches and promises rewards to the victorious; Paul reminds us that ‘in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.’ (Rom 8:37) Victory is possible not in an idealised world, but in the real world of struggles and strife, and as we walk with Jesus and delve deeper into His word, we can find the direction and help we need to navigate life.

The Lent period is the 40 days before Easter when traditionally Christians look at the Easter story in all its magnificence and complexity and prepare their hearts for the life-changing events which the death and resurrection of Jesus represent. Often, this period is associated with ‘giving up’ something (caffeine or chocolate, for example) in order to concentrate attention and devotion to God. This is not a negative experience; on the contrary, it’s often necessary to give up something in order to make room for something new, as any householder can tell you! (You need to de-clutter before new furniture arrives, for example.)

Lent starts this year on Wednesday 2nd March and we will be starting Lent Bible studies on Friday 4th March, looking at the themes of repentance, forgiveness, hope, trust, sacrifice, love and change and using Bible readings from a book by Sally Welch called ‘Sharing The Easter Story.’ This book encourages us to read the Bible each day, giving us specific readings which encourage us to listen to God’s word, help us to understand it, reflect on it, absorb its truths and then share these truths with other people so that we ‘become the story we reflect upon, live and share.’

Our six Bible study sessions will start at 11.45 a.m. each Friday with a light lunch and will finish about 1.15 p.m. On Good Friday, our service and study will be at 5 p.m. when we will again start with a shared meal. Over these weeks we hope to deepen our appreciation of the Easter story and help each other to live out this story in our everyday lives throughout the year. Please see Julie if you wish to attend; the book will be provided beforehand so that you can begin readings on Ash Wednesday.

Haggai is a short prophetic book in the Old Testament dealing with a specific time and situation. Israel had returned to her land from exile (as God had foretold and as a result of His faithfulness.) They returned to devastation and destruction. The temple – that magnificent edifice built by Solomon – was gone. The city walls were destroyed. It was a deeply discouraging sight, and not surprisingly, the people were focussed on survival, building new homes for themselves from the rubble.

Haggai’s word challenged them to look to rebuilding God’s house, to put their spiritual priorities above their personal ones. (Haggai 1:3-11) This challenge remains pertinent to every day and age. It is always easier to focus on our personal needs rather than on God’s kingdom.

Haggai spoke specifically to Zerubbabel (the governor of Judah, the top political dog, so to speak), to Joshua (the high priest, the chief representative of the Jewish faith) and to the remnant of the people in the land. His message acknowledged that the task seemed daunting (especially to those who could remember the glory of the former temple), but urged them to ‘be strong and work. For I am with you… Do not fear.” (Haggai 2:4-5)

This message comes to us today with renewed force. Paul tells us to ‘be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power’, urging us to put on the full armour of God so that we can stand against the devil’s schemes. (Eph 6:10-11) We need to be strong and to work. The harvest is plentiful, Jesus said, and we must ask the Lord of the harvest to send workers into his harvest field. (Matt 9:37-38) There is much to be done and so many practical ways we can serve God. It’s time to consider our priorities, to seek God first above everything else and not to shirk. As Paul said, ‘whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.‘ (Col 3:17)

Psalm 22 begins in despair: ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? Why are You so far from saving me, so far from my cries of anguish? My God, I cry out by day, but You do not answer, by night but I find no rest.’ (Ps 22:1-2)

There is a place for raw emotion in our dealings with God. There is a place for us to pour out our anguish, distress, confusion, bewilderment, anger and pain.

But there is also a place for truth. The psalmist goes on, ‘Yet You are enthroned as the Holy One; You are the One Israel praises. In You our ancestors put their trust; they trusted in You and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were saved; in You they trusted and were not put to shame.’ (Ps 22:3-5)

Truth acts like antiseptic cream on a raw wound. It stings, but it also helps the healing process. Truth cleans us. So often, our feelings are not aligned with objective truth (and we live in a society which at present seems to elevate feelings above truth and even derides the idea of objective truth which does not change.) Scripture does not tell us to deny, suppress or bury our feelings. The psalmists demonstrate to us raw, unvarnished, inelegant feelings plonked unceremoniously at God’s feet. But they also demonstrate to us the ‘yet’ and the ‘but‘ of truth. Change comes when feelings bow to the authority and lordship of truth. Victory comes when we hold on to truth rather than feelings as the solid, unchanging foundation of our lives.

Bring your feelings to God. But don’t rely on feelings to get you through today. Rely on God. Trust in Jesus, ‘the way, the truth and the life.’ (John 14:6) Psalm 22 was the psalm Jesus quoted on the cross, the lowest point anyone could ever experience. The cross was not the end of the story, however. Resurrection followed. Psalm 22 ends with worship: “They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: ‘He has done it!'” (Ps 22:31) This is what happens when truth reigns above feelings. Victory follows.

Mark Burgin spoke tonight from Exodus 3 & 4, looking at the calling of Moses and how God works with who we are and what we have to do extraordinary and miraculous things. Moses was born in Egypt to Hebrew parents and was rescued from death by Pharaoh’s daughter. Brought up as a prince in Egypt, he had to flee when he murdered an Egyptian he saw ill-treating a fellow Hebrew and ended up as a shepherd. He went from riches to a reality which looked nothing like his dreams and probably felt quite useless at this point in life. Yet his encounter with God profoundly changed him.

In these chapters, we see Moses effectively listing many reasons why God could not use him. He felt inadequate to the task and may well have felt that it would have been easier if God had called him earlier in life when he had some standing in Egypt! But who you are and what you have are enough for God, for He is the one who turns the ordinary into extraordinary. Moses’s stick became a serpent when God’s power came upon it; He gave Moses many miraculous ‘proofs’ of His power and spoke to him about what would be achieved. Moses’s initial response (‘Here I am’) is the starting point for every great ministry, for what counts is not ability but availabiity. Ultimately, God told him that ‘I am who I am’ was sending him, and that had to be enough. It’s not who we are or what we have that defines us. Who God is what really matters, and He can use each one of us to do amazing things.