During this period of Lent, we need not only to be prepared to give up things but to take on new attitudes and ways. If we are to avoid the sins of hypocrisy and pretence – looking good on the outside but being rotten inside, whitewashed sepulchres, as Jesus described the Pharisees – then we have to learn to be transparent.

This is harder than it sounds for most of us, because we are not used to honesty and transparency and are afraid that if others really see us as we are, they will reject us. Kutless remind us that ‘it’s always easier to hide behind that camouflage that keeps our hearts so guarded.’ (‘Identity’) The purpose of camouflage, of course, is to blend into the background in order to be hidden and unseen, but the truth of the gospel is that we are fully known by God and fully loved (1 Cor 13:12, Ps 139:1-12). This security frees us to be authentic people, living out our God-identity without subterfuge or disguise.

Most of us feel naked without pretence. Just as a woman often feels reluctant to go out without make-up or we like to be fully dressed before we meet people, we feel that we always have to be on our best behaviour with God and other people, never admitting to doubt or fear or loneliness or struggles. Casting Crowns capture our behaviour in their song ‘Stained Glass Masquerade’:

‘Is there anyone that fails?

Am I the only one in church today feelin’ so small?

‘Cause when I take a look around,

Everybody seems so strong;

I know they’ll soon discover

That I don’t belong.

So I tuck it all away, like everything’s okay,

If I make them all believe it, maybe I’ll believe it too,

So with a painted grin, I play the part again,

So everyone will seem me the way that I see them.’ (‘Stained Glass Masquerade’, Casting Crowns)

Ironically, however, the church is meant to be a place of acceptance (Rom 15:7) where we can confess our sins to each other and pray for each other, that we may be healed. (James 5:16) As we approach Easter, we can resolve to become transparent people, without guile or hypocrisy.

We had two birthdays to celebrate, though Pat had double celebrations since this morning’s meeting was at Cherry Tree Court:

Our other birthday girl:

Mark gave us a taste of India (literally) in a curry-tasting game:

The winning pair:

Other prize winners:

Garry’s quiz tested our general knowledge (the currency of India is the rupee; New Delhi is the capital; India gained independence from the UK in 1947 and the official languages are English and Hindi…)

At the end of the meeting, the whole church prayed for the mission trip and we look forward to reporting back in due course!

Paul’s words to the Ephesians remain relevant to us today. ‘Pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.’ (Eph 6:18-19)

We can pray at any time, not only for the eight on the trip, but for their families back at home in the UK, for the church in Goldthorpe during their absence and for Christians everywhere, especially Fredrick and Reeba and the church members in Bangalore. Our prayer is for God to give us the words we need and the courage and boldness to make known the mystery of the gospel fearlessly. Each of us is very aware of our inadequacy for this task in our own strength, but we know God is able to supply the words and strength we need (see Jn 14:26, Mk 13:11).

Practical prayer needs include:

• God’s protection in travelling & during our time in India
• the need for good health and strength while we are away
• good relationships among the eight of us and with the people in India, for unity and single-minded vision and purpose
• good spirits and patience in dealing with all the different aspects of the trip, for each one of us to be full of the joy of the Lord
• help in ministry
• God’s blessing on all we do and all the people we meet. We especially want to be a blessing to Fredrick and Reeba and the ministries they serve.

Regular updates and photos will be posted on the GPCC – Trip To India site and confidential prayer requests will be shared through the GPCC Prayer Group Facebook page. If you want more details about this, please see Garry.

Tonight’s meeting focussed on the forthcoming mission trip to India (9-23 April). Eight of us are going out to Bangalore to visit Fredrick and Reeba whose ministries we support.

This does not simply affect the eight of us, however, for all of us are involved in this trip through giving and prayer. Paul urged the Ephesians to ‘pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel.’ (Eph 6:18-19) This kind of prayer encompasses all of us, at all times of day and night, and helps us to understand that the main purpose of the trip is to be Christ’s ambassadors as though God were making His appeal through us (see 2 Cor 5:14-21).

An ambassador is a representative for a country, ‘an accredited diplomat sent by a state as its permanent representative in a foreign country.’ We go to India as representatives of GPCC, but we also need to understand that this calling applies to all of us at all times. Whatever we do in India, whether it’s in a gospel meeting, meeting with the ladies on the tailoring programme, talking with children on the streets, praying with people in their homes, teaching the children in Sunday School, or anything else which may come up during these two weeks, we believe it will be as though God is making His appeal through us. Everything we do, as Paul tells the Colossians, is done in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, with thanksgiving to God. (Col 3:17) – and this applies to each of us in our ordinary, everyday lives, whether we are at home in Goldthorpe, at work, living in our neighbourhoods or on the trip to India.

John spoke this morning at Cherry Tree Court about God’s grace. In John 8, we see how the woman taken in adultery was brought before Jesus by people who wanted to embarrass and humiliate her and trip Jesus up at the same time. Jesus’s response was to show grace to the woman, for in saying that the one without sin should cast the first stone, He highlighted that all present, with the exception of His sinless self, were not blameless either. The woman was indeed guilty of breaking God’s law, but she found freedom and grace in Christ’s response.

Grace has been defined as the ‘unmerited favour of God’. We do not deserve it and cannot earn it. The following acrostic gives us further clues into what grace is:

God’s gift to us (Eph 2:8-9)

Restores relationships (since we can only enter God’s holy presence because of His grace)

Always available (‘anytime, anyplace, anywhere’)

Calvary’s Cross (the means by which Jesus purchased our salvation)

Extends to everywhere (for God loves the whole world, Jn 3:16)