A domino effect or chain reaction is the cumulative effect produced when one event sets off a chain of similar events. The term is best known as a mechanical effect and is used as an analogy to a falling row ofdominoes. More metaphorically, the term is used to talk about how one thing can trigger other events, and this seems to have been the case for Paul and Silas in Philippi, when confronted with a slave girl whom they delivered from an evil spirit in the name of Jesus. (Acts 16:16-40)

Paul, troubled and annoyed by the girl’s persistent crying out testifying to their allegiance to the Most High God, recognised that she was being used by an evil spirit and commanded this spirit to leave her, which it did. This meant, however, that she was no longer able to earn money for her slave-masters by predicting the future, and therefore what could have been seen as a simple act of deliverance actually set in motion a train of events with political and financial implications and consequences which ended up with Paul and Silas being thrown into prison on grounds of sedition. Their one act of kindness – which set the girl free from demonic influence – had the effect of redounding on them, leading to being brought before magistrates and resulting in imprisonment. As Tom Wright remarks, ‘the combination of religion, money and politics is asking for trouble.’ (Tom Wright, ‘Acts for Everyone Pt 2’, P 65)

The domino effect in the natural world ends when all the dominoes have toppled over and could therefore seem to have an entirely negative effect. In this instance, however, we see how God is able to bring good from every situation, even that which involved severe flogging and imprisonment. (Rom 8:28) The apparently negative consequences did not cause Paul and Silas to fear or be troubled; instead, they spent their time praying and singing and praising God! (Acts 16:25) Ultimately, God sent an earthquake to shake the prison doors open and not only were they delivered and vindicated by the authorities, they had the opportunity to share their faith with the Philippian jailer and see salvation brought to his household. In God, they knew that every setback and disadvantage can be turned to good – and the same remains true for His people today.

Each chapter in the book of Acts brings us further proof (if it were needed) that we serve a God of miracles. Stephen spoke on this subject last Sunday, so it seems God definitely wants to underline this fact to us, stoking our faith to believe Him for the ‘immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine’ (Eph 3:20). When we see God moving in miraculous ways, our appetite for God grows and our faith muscle develops to ask and imagine even more!

As we journey through Acts (and through the world, starting in Jerusalem, moving on to Judea and Samaria and now reaching Philippi in Greece), we have seen people healed, delivered from impure spirits, raised from the dead and led by the Holy Spirit (being transported without transport to the desert in the case of Philip, being led to bring the gospel to Gentiles in the case of Peter through miraculous visions). We have seen the fiercest opponent of Christianity (Saul of Tarsus) become its greatest missionary (Paul), and now continue to see God moving in ways that cannot be explained naturally. Just as Peter was delivered from prison in Acts 12, now we see Paul and Silas given the opportunity to preach the gospel as an earthquake causes prison doors to open and chains to fall off. (Acts 16:16-40) The truth we find as we continue through this book isn’t that hardship and suffering don’t occur (in fact, as Jesus warned us, they are the constant companions of God’s people), but that God is in sovereign control and ‘hope is marching on.’ (Matt Redman) Time after time we see God’s miraculous interventions in people’s lives and we continue to believe He will do the same for us, demonstrating His power not simply to show us His reality but to draw other people into a living relationship with Him, as happened with the Philippian jailer and his family as a result of this latest miracle.

Your mindset determines, to a large extent, the course of your life. ‘Mindset’ is defined as ‘the established set of attitudes held by someone’ and can be simply expressed as the things you set your mind on. What we think about, focus on and ponder will determine how we live, where we go and what we do.

In Romans 8, the ‘Mount Everest’ of Scripture, we find Paul describing two different mindsets with vastly different outcomes. He says, ‘those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.’ (Rom 8:5-6)

Notice that ‘set’ and ‘governed’ imply a determined focus. Martin Luther differentiated between temptation and sin by likening it to birds flying and making a nest. You can’t stop a thought coming to you (temptation), but you can refuse to let it nest in your mind (sin). Similarly, ‘mindset’ is not something occasional or accidental. It’s a deliberate choice made by constant reflection. It’s what John means when he writes, ‘no one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him.’ (1 John 3:9, see also 1 John 5:18) It’s not that a Christian can’t or doesn’t sin, but we no longer live with our minds set on doing things that are hostile to God. (Rom 8:7-9)

Our mindset can be positive or negative, but for each of us the secret to ‘life and peace’ is to live with our minds set on God: ‘the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace.’ (Rom 8:6)

The more we live with an awareness of God’s presence with us and in us, the more we will move towards that family relationship, living out our identity as children of God. (Rom 8:15-17) God has lavished great love on us ‘that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!’ (1 John 3:1) Let’s live as children of God, eyes, heart and mind fixed on Him.

A friend of mine has been posting amazing photos of a sunflower in his garden. These inspired the following poem in the form of a Japanese haiku. Photos are used with permission (copyright David Trelawny-Ross).

Coiled up and curled up,

Hiding from sight till it’s time.

Promise unfulfilled.

A measured prelude

Tentatively reaching out

Towards a new dawn.

Stretching out shyly,

Inviting us to wonder,

Explosive colour.

Petals unfurling,

Sunshine drawing out brightness,

Mirrored yellow joy.

We are busy preparing to re-open our building for services on 2nd August. Things will look different, as we have spaced chairs out in family bubbles and for individuals to maintain social distancing, as required by government guidance.

There are new notices, reminding us of the need to practise social distancing both inside and outside the building and to wash hands and use hand sanitiser regularly.

Despite the restrictions, we are very much looking forward to meeting again in person and services on 2nd August will be at the usual times of 10:30 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. The morning service will involve Holy Communion and you are asked to bring your own bread/ fruit juice to avoid cross-contamination through handling these items. Because of the potential risks handling refreshments, we won’t be serving drinks after services at present.

We hope to run Sunday services and meetings on Thursdays (at the usual time of 7:30 p.m.) in the building, but will also be livestreaming Sunday services on Facebook live from the GPCC Facebook page to give all who cannot attend in person the opportunity to join with us in services.

On Wednesday12th August there will be a ‘Dearne Churches Together’ prayer meeting at Furlong Road Methodist Church at 10.45 a.m. (also livestreamed from the DCT Facebook Page.) Join us to pray for God’s healing for the world and stay for a picnic (bring your own food and drink!) if you can. All being well, we will meet outdoors and social distancing will be in place, but we can’t wait to actually connect in person after so many months apart!

Stephen spoke tonight on the subject of miracles, asking if they are relevant, possible and real today? He challenged us to consider two statements:

• God is who He says He is

• God can do what He says He can do

Many of us accept the first statement but struggle more with the second, largely because we doubt ourselves and wonder if God will really do what He says for us. When we consider who God is, we see that His names both reveal His identity and what He does. He is the Saviour – He saves. He is the Deliverer – He delivers. He is the Redeemer – He redeems. He is the Master – He is the boss. He is the Bread of Life who provides for us, the Almighty One who exerts divine strength, the Alpha and Omega. (Rev 1:8) This is who God is, but so often we stop at this point, failing to realise that God can do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. (Eph 3:20-21)

Heb 11:1 gives us a definition of faith which talks of confidence and assurance. The more confidence we have in God, the more likely we are to believe He is able to do what He says He can do. So often, our faith is lacking, as we feel we are not ‘good enough’ to have God do miracles through us. But faith is the vital ingredient, for miracles happen when God works. He is the One who does the miracle; we just need faith as small as a mustard seed to see great things happen. (Matt 17:20)

God wants to do miracles through us. Jesus the Miracle-worker is with us; His power is available to each one of us and no word from God will ever fail. (Luke 1:37) We are called to speak the ‘Amen’ of faith (2 Cor 1:20); Jesus is the ‘Yes’ man! We need to see with the eyes of faith (maybe we need to put ‘miracle glasses‘ on!) and understand that Jesus is the ‘Man Who Can‘! Just as athletes have to train hard to build up the muscle strength they need, we need to train our muscle of faith so that our faith can erupt like a volcano. Through faith in an almighty God, all things are possible.