God-seekers

Jun 22, 2025

This morning we looked at our identity as ‘God-seekers’. In Psalm 27:8, David declares that the one thing he needs is to seek God’s face. To seek God means to put Him first, something we need to do both individually and corporately. We must learn to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness. (Matt 6:33)
A God-focussed life is not without problems, as Psalm 27 makes clear. David had enemies, armies besiegning him and even talks of his family forsaking him. Yet he is confident in God’s goodness and knows that God has never forsaken those who seek Him. (Ps 9:9-10) Those who seek the Lord lack no good thing, for God’s abundant provision is promised to them (Ps 34:10, Phil 4:19). Blessing and vindication from God are promised to those who seek Him. (Ps 24:3-6)
The practicalities of seeking God involve setting time aside to pray and read His word, which requires prioritisation and (at times) renunciation. Nehemiah and Daniel were both busy men who still made time for God and who served Him faithfully. We need to look to the Lord and His strength (rather than our own.) (Ps 105:4, Ps 127)
We must also seek God collectively, learning to humble ourselves, pray, repent and seek God (2 Chron 7:14), relishing the time spent in His house. Seeking God leads us to obey His commands, to do what He tells us, as Asa demonstrates (see 2 Chron 15:2-15).
The benefits of seeking God are manifold. As we seek God, we find joy (see Ps 40:16, Ps 70:4), life (Amos 5:4, 6, 14) and the assurance that those who seek will find. (Jer 29:13, Matt 7:7-8) God’s desire is to be found by us and to bless His people. We need to enter into covenant with Him and be determined to seek His face.

Another David Song

Jun 20, 2025

In 2 Samuel 22, we saw David the psalmist proclaiming God’s deliverance and salvation. At the start of 2 Samuel 23, we see another song of David, this time one written towards the end of his life, when he speaks ‘divine utterance’, knowing that the Spirit of God is speaking through him. Paul tells us that all Scripture is God-breathed (2 Tim 3:16-17) and Peter tells us that prophets speak as they are ‘carried along’ by the Spirit of God. (2 Pet 1:20-21). We desperately need the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and God’s words to guide, direct us and help us in our lives, and Scripture becomes the place where we can find this inspiration.

David is aware that a fear of God is necessary for right living, for we need to live life in right relationship with God. The book of Proverbs talks about this fear (which is reverential awe and not simply terrified fear). It is the beginning of knowledge (Prov 1:7) and wisdom (Prov 9:10). It leads us not simply to academic knowledge, but to a knowledge of God Himself. (Prov 2:5) It ‘is a fountain of life, turning a person from the snares of death.’ (Prov 14:27) It helps us to avoid evil (Prov 16:6) and leads to life itself: ‘then one rests content, untouched by trouble.’ (Prov 19:23) It is vastly different to a fear of men, which ends up being a snare. When we fear God, we can live righteously, as He wants us to. We could say that the fear of the Lord is the pathway to right living; if we have no fear of God, we will live arrogantly and as we see fit, rather than listening to and following God’s commands. David speaks of the illumination that a righteous reign brings to God’s people, reminding us of God’s perspective (evil will be sorted out by God ultimately.) We can live blessed lives when we understand the key to greatness is serving others and obeying God. (Matt 20:25-28)

The Fatherhood of God

Jun 15, 2025

Dave spoke this morning on the fatherhood of God (see 1 Cor 4:15, 1 John 1:1-3). Human fathers often influence our thinking and how we live enormously. Jesus often referred to God as His father and encouraged us to pray to ‘our Father’. A family relationship with God is essential to the Christian life, and there are five characteristics of God as our Father which are vitally important to life.
1. God is our Creator. He made us, humans being the one thing that was made in His image. Just as a human father is necessary for conception to occur, so new life comes when God breathes on us by His Spirit and brings us to life. He made us, and this gives us both significance and worth.
2. God is our Provider, providing for all our needs (see Matt 6:31-34). He gives us the rain and sunshine needed for crops to grow; He provides us with food and clothing. Just as earthly fathers seek to provide for their families, so God provides all we need. (Phil 4:19)
3. God is our Protector. (Ps 50:15) He keeps us from harm and sends angels to guard our way. He will never leave us or forsake us. Just as earthly fathers seek to protect and help their families, so God protects and guards us.
4. God gives us both peace and joy. He leads us besides still wtaers and gives us abundant life. Just as an earthly father seeks to comfort and help his children, so God promises us peace that passes all understanding.
5. God gives us eternal life. Eph 2:5 reminds us that we have been made alive in Christ. Belief in Jesus gives us access to eternal life (John 6:47) and we can live fulfillled lives on earth with the guarantee of heaven in the future.

Fathers’ Day

Jun 15, 2025

Today is Fathers’ Day, a day when we celebrate our fathers. Since God is described as ‘our Father’, fatherhood is clearly something vitally important. To be a father is more than being a sperm donor. To be a father means modelling selfless love to children, providing security and stability in the home, disciplining and guiding children through the maze of life. This is a daunting job for which there is no training manual and we often expect much from men and offer little support to them.
Today will be a difficult day for many people. Those who have lost their fathers will mourn. Those who have no experience of a father’s love will feel perhaps bitter or resentful. Fathers separated from their children through divorce or conflict will hurt. Children who have no experience of consistency or stability but who live with fear, condemnation and scorn will feel vulnerable. But it’s still right and proper to thank those who daily strive to be good fathers and to share God’s Father-heart for us all.
God’s Father heart towards us means we have a model of fatherhood and an experience of true love. To be loved unconditionally sets us free from condemnation, shame and failure. Our experience as children often shapes our entire lives. When we know the love, discipline and teaching of a good father, we can grow.
No father except God is perfect. But we pause today to thank the fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers in our midst and to pray for fathers in the faith, men who, like Abraham, can model faith, hope and love to us.

Keys to overcome frustration

Jun 8, 2025

This morning our guest speaker Yan Hadley spoke on the subject of frustration. To overcome the frustration we often feel in life, we need to be filled with the Holy Spirit; He acts as the key which opens the door to life and fulfilment. Jesus gives us satisfaction and purpose in life.
Keys speak of potential and access if used. Acts 1:8 gives us key principles by which to live, for we need God’s power to live successfully for Him. As we receive God’s power, frustration is countered.
Four key principles to overcome frustration include:
1. We must take a decision to take positive action, demonstrating faith through our actions. This may well mean going against our natural inclinations or against natural wisdom. We are in a spiritual battle and must be strengthened by God’s power inwardly. James 4:7-8 urges us to submit to God and to resist the devil, which opens the door to God drawing near to us.
2. We must defend our minds against thoughts which are not from God. (Rom 8:5-6) We have to change how we think, dwelling on God’s word and God’s thoughts. Right thinking will always lead to right priorities.
3. We must develop a resurrection perspective. God has the last word; He can reverse the irreversible. The disciples on the road to Emmaus ‘had hoped’, but had lost hope. Jesus wants us to believe Him and see with God’s eyes (see Heb 12:2) Learning contentment is part of this perspective, because we are secure in God. (Phil 4:11)
4. We must determine to keep a joyful attitude and practise gratitude. Joy gives us the strength to combat frustration (see Neh 8:10) Habakkuk reminds us that we can rejoice no matter what the circumstances (see Hab 3:17-18) and can therefore conquer frustration because we are secure in God’s plans and purposes.

The Road To Emmaus

Jun 8, 2025

Last Sunday (1 June), Dave preached from Luke 24:13-35, a passage traditionally associated with Easter. The story tells of Cleopas and his companion walking to Emmaus from Jerusalem, dejected and disappointed that Jesus had been crucified. All of us, if we are honest, can admit to identifying with those emotions: the loss of dreams, the sense that life hasn’t always turned out the way we thought and hoped it would. If God cannot be relied upon, where can we turn?

Jesus came alongside these two dejected travellers and asked why they were so forlorn. He then proceeded to take them back to the Scriptures, which is something we also need to do, for there, we will find living water for our souls. All Scripture is God-breathed and can therefore speak into our personal situations (see 2 Tim 3:14-17). We are reminded there of God’s faithfulness and our perspective is restored.

After they reached their destination, Jesus shared a meal with them. Sharing a meal together is important; it was in this process of breaking bread that they recognised Jesus as the risen Lord. Fellowship with Christ and with each other re-energises us (they immediately returned to Jerusalem after this!) We have friends in the church, people who can help us in our difficult times. We have a friend in Jesus. We are not alone!

Disappointments hurt. But if we look back to the Scriptures, look to the fellowship of other Christians and look ahead for the resurrection, we can come through our disappointments restored and renewed.