When things go well for us, our reaction is usually favourable: we enjoy celebrating; we may even remember to praise God for the good things and good times! When something bad happens, however, we are usually full of questions: ‘why has this happened to me? Whose fault is it? Does God even care?’

Life will inevitably bring us a combination of good times and bad times and how we react is vitally important, for these incidents become pivotal points for us, with our reactions reflecting who we are. Job 7:20 reminds us that Job struggled at times, feeling that he had become ‘God’s target.’ He felt that he was a burden to God and tha he had been thrown into the clutch of the wicked (Job 16:11), just as Naomi felt the Lord’s hand had turned against her when her husband and sons died in Moab (Ruth 1:12-13).

Jesus reminded His disciples that the Holy Spirit will never leave us and is our comforter (see Luke 11:9-13). In good times and bad times, God does not leave us and in all circumstances, the best response is to praise God. There is power in praise (see Rev 4:8-11) and as we praise, we find that we can cope with the unexpected and that God picks us up and carries us through the trials.

We also had a belated birthday to celebrate:

Throughout April we’ll be praying especially for families: our own families and families of people we know. There is so much pressure on families these days: financial pressure, emotional pressure, time pressure, to name but a few. The family is God’s idea and we so need God’s love to guide us and help us in the reality of living alongside others. Forgiveness, communication, appreciation and kindness are the essential ingredients that make a successful family: Virginia Satir says “Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible — the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family.” 

Pray this month for:

• stability and healing of relationships within families – so many families are estranged and there are often complicated relationships throughout extended families, but God can help us to be stable and to demonstrate faithfulness and love in all our relationships and bring reconciliation and hope to painful situations
• children and young people in our families and in families associated with church to be saved
• new parents as they adjust to the pressures of parenthood and cope with the demands of sleepless nights and adjustments to their relationships
• grandparents to have wisdom and insight in helping each generation
• God’s transforming power to be seen in our families and in local families
• for people to be saved and welcomed into the wider family of God

There are many organisations seeking to work with the family. Check out the following resources:

• http://www.careforthefamily.org.uk/family-life/parent-support
• http://www.crosswalk.com/family/
• http://www.focusonthefamily.com/
• http://www1.cbn.com/family
• http://www.todayschristianwoman.com/topics/relationships/parenting/

Mark spoke about living in God’s presence this morning at Cherry Tree Court. If you want to meet someone famous, you usually have to wait for an invitation or go to a particular place where you may meet that person. God extends an open invitation to each one of us, however, to draw near to Him.

Ps 27:1-6 is a psalm written by King David who, even in the midst of trials and in the presence of enemies, prayed that he would dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life. He not only wanted to live in God’s presence, but actively pursued that desire. We are part of God’s family and are therefore granted access to His presence night and day; God is our Father and can come to Him at any time and in any place.

Ps 23:1-6 also looks at the fact that God is our guide throughout life and prepares a table for us in the presence of our enemies so that we may dwell in the house of the Lord not only for our lives on earth but forever. God’s blessings are so abundant that our cup overflows and we can be with God for eternity.

 

I’m reading a book on Revelation at the moment, and in it the author is talking about the number of biblical allusions in that book. John is soaked in Scripture and it’s not really possible to read Revelation properly unless we too catch these allusions. There may well be no direct quotations from other parts of the Bible, but the whole of the rest of God’s masterplan as revealed in the Bible is part of the spirit of the book.

For me, good songs are like that too. They may quote Scripture directly, but quite often there is allusion (expressions designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly). The songwriter has a limited number of words available in a song lyric and so often cannot quote directly, but by rephrasing a well-known Scripture or giving us just that jolt in the right direction, our imaginations are stirred and we are ‘hooked’.

Bryn Haworth’s song ‘New ID’ does that for me. Even using the modern abbreviation ‘ID’ in places as well as the word ‘identity’ gives me a new angle from which to explore my identity in Christ. The lyrics contain so many references (direct and indirect) to Scripture that it’s like having a condensed Bible study in 6 minutes! If you have the time to spare, listen here and enjoy!

I’ve got a new identity[1]

Now there’s a friend in me[2]

I’ve found a masterplan[3]

I know just who I am

I’ve got a new ID.

 

I’ve got a new identity

They say salvation’s free,

But when I look at that cross,

I see how much it cost to get my new ID[4].

 

I’m rich, my treasure’s in heaven now.[5]

Old things have passed away.[6]

Can a loser be a winner?[7]

Can a dead man live again?[8]

Can a thief become an honest man?[9]

Would you treat him like a friend?

 

I’ve got a new identity

This life has set me free[10]

I’ve been made one with Him[11]

Who died and rose again[12]

I’ve got a new ID.

 

Dressed up, clothed in His righteousness,[13]

So loved, just as I am[14]

And these prison bars can’t hold me,

There is freedom from the law.[15]

Now I live by faith in the Son of God[16]

Who gave Himself for all.[17]

I no longer have to be just a victim of the past[18]

Does the strongest always win the way?[19]

Can the first be last?[20]

 

I’ve got a new identity

Now there’s a friend in me

And when I look at that man,

I know just who I am

I’ve got a new ID.

 

‘What’s your name? What do you do?’

These are the questions that people ask you.

It doesn’t matter what they think:

I could be famous or the weakest link.[21]

More than a number on a government form

Not just a star sign the day I was born.[22]

I’m dead and buried, been crucified with Christ,[23]

Called out of darkness now I’m living in the light.[24]

I’ve been raised up and seated with Him[25]

Been reconciled, not strangers but friends.[26]

Holy and blameless[27], precious in His sight,[28]

No longer lost in the middle of the night[29]

I’m strong, there’s power in weakness now.[30]

My times are in His hands[31]

And I am a new creation,[32]

A holy work of art[33]

And one day there’ll be perfection,

Now we only see in part.[34]

 

I’ve got a new identity

Now there’s a friend in me

I’ve found a masterplan

I know just who I am

I’ve got a new ID.

 

[1] 2 Cor 5:17

[2] John 15:15, Col 1:27

[3] Jer 29:11

[4] 1 Cor 6:20

[5] 2 Cor 8:9, Matt 6:20, Eph 1:14-18

[6] 2 Cor 5:17

[7] Luke 19:1-10

[8] John 11, 1 Cor 15:20

[9] Matt 9:9, Luke 19:1-10

[10] Gal 5:1

[11] 1 Cor 12:9-20

[12] 1 Thess 4:14

[13] Is 61:10

[14] Rom 5:8

[15] Gal 5:1-6, Gal 2:19

[16] Gal 2:20

[17] 2 Cor 5:14

[18] Rom 6:4

[19] Deut 32:30, 1 Sam 17

[20] Matt 20:16

[21] 1 Cor 1:26-31

[22] Jer 1:5, Ps 139:1-5

[23] Rom 6:4, Gal 2:20

[24] 1 Pet 2:9

[25] Eph 2:6

[26] 2 Cor 5:18-21, John 15:15

[27] Eph 1:4

[28] Eph 1:4, Ps 139:17

[29] Luke 15

[30] 2 Cor 12:9

[31] Ps 31:15

[32] 2 Cor 5:17

[33] Eph 2:10

[34] 1 Cor 13:12

The blues are a particular genre of music which I like and so it was a great privilege last night to visit Harrogate to listen to Bryn Haworth, another of my favourite Christian musicians. Bryn Haworth is originally from Lancashire, a musician who has worked with all kinds of famous names (eg Jimi Hendrix, Cliff Richard, Gerry Rafferty, Chris de Burgh) in London and the US, and who became a Christian in 1974. He’s probably best known to our congregation (without being known at all…) for his song ‘What Kind Of Love Is This?’, but it’s his guitar skills which captivated Garry a long time ago and his unassuming, fun approach to music coupled with lyrics which have told the gospel story effectively which have kept us listening through the decades.

We have been to Bryn Haworth concerts twice before, both in Nottingham. One was particularly memorable, as during the encore there was a real move of the Holy Spirit and the event stopped being ‘just’ music and became one of those occasions when the curtain is drawn back and there is a real foretaste of heaven… Bryn is now in his 60s and I was half-fearful that his style of music and whole demeanour would have changed. I need not have feared. He was as gentle, unassuming and radiant with God’s love as ever (‘isn’t it just wonderful that God loves us? Not just the world, but that He loves me, knows me and died for me?’) and the songs were a mixture of old and new, all rooted in personal experience and leading to a connection between our lives and the Word of God.

These are the songs he played, with his usual dexterity and nimble guitar skills (click on the highlighted titles to listen):

• I Serve A Risen Saviour
• Help Me
• Summertime Blues
• Keep the Faith
• Instrumental
• One Way Ticket
• Only Believe  (instrumental)
• It’s Alright Now
• Rebel Man
• Why Are People Like That?
• That’s All
• People Get Ready
• When I Survey the Wondrous Cross (instrumental)
• What Kind of Love Is This?
• Nobody Loves Me Like You
• New ID
• Keep Your Lamp Trimmed & Ready
• Just A Closer Walk With You

Bryn is now heavily involved with prison ministry (see here for further details) and one key message shines out (see the song ‘New ID‘) that when Jesus comes to live in us, we are transformed: ‘These prison bars can’t hold me… I no longer have to be just a victim of the past… And when I look at that man, I know just who I am, I’ve got a new ID.’  The blues, traditionally associated with melancholy topics and mournful sad stories, are transformed by this message!

Tonight’s Bible study (looking at 1 Cor 12:1-11) looked at the practical question ‘How do you receive spiritual gifts?’ In actual fact, this was not the problem the Corinthians had, for Paul wrote to them on how to use the spiritual gifts they had already received (see 1 Cor 14 in particular). But it’s helpful sometimes to look at the Biblical teaching of the baptism of the Holy Spirit since this is a pathway into receiving the spiritual gifts.

When a person becomes a Christian, they receive the Holy Spirit (see Rom 8:9-11, Eph 1:13-14, John 20:21-23). It is clear from Acts 1-2 that those present on the Day of Pentecost (when the Holy Spirit came upon the believers) already believed in Jesus; this experience was separate to their initial coming to faith. Acts 2:1-4 shows us all the believers gathered together and all receiving the Holy Spirit, evidenced throughspeaking in tongues. Acts 8:14-17 shows Peter and John with people in Samaria who had already accepted the Word but who experienced the power of the Holy Spirit when Peter and John prayed for them. Acts 10:44-46 gives us an example of someone becoming a Christian and being baptised in the Spirit at the same time (the latter astonished the Jews with Peter because they were stunned that God would pour out His Spirit on Gentiles!) Acts 19:1-7 also shows Christians in Ephesus coming into a fuller experience of the Holy Spirit as Paul taught them more.

There are many who believe these accounts, but who would argue that the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in the ways described in the book of Acts or 1 Cor 12 & 14 is no longer happening today. However, God has been working through His Spirit in these ways throughout history. Mark Tanner, in his excellent book ‘The Introvert Charismatic’, has a chapter called ‘Charismatics Throughout History’, which looks at evidence for these spiritual gifts continuing through the ministry of the ‘church fathers’, Montanism, Messalianism, and other movements right up to the early 1900s when the Holy Spirit worked in Azusa Street in the USA through the ministry of Charles Parham and William Seymour, who preached that these spiritual gifts were available today long before they actually were able to speak in tongues themselves! On many occasions, those who preached these truths have been condemned as heretics and asked to leave churches; fresh revelation of truth often seems to result in new denominations largely because the old denominations cannot cope with their theology being challenged. We need to understand that we must preach what the word of God teaches even if this conflicts with our own personal experience. In determining truth, we must rest on the authority of God’s word, then on the witness and leading of the Holy Spirit within us and only then allow our own experience to guide us. We must always be careful not to dismiss the unusual as wrong; God moves in mysterious ways and often disturbs the comfortable!

The 20th century saw a great revival of God’s ‘power signs’ (such as are described in 1 Cor 12.) Pentecostal pioneers such as Smith Wigglesworth, Stephen Jeffreys and Donald Gee were reviled by many but saw many signs and wonders, with thousands saved through their preaching and many healings and miracles taking place. In the 1960s, the Charismatic renewal saw many Christians in ‘traditional’ denominations also receiving the baptism of the Spirit and becoming open to spiritual gifts. The Vineyard movement (led by John Wimber) and the ‘Alpha’ course (with its emphasis on coming to know Jesus and experiencing the power of the Holy Spirit, pioneered by Nicky Gumbel at the Anglican church Holy Trinity Brompton) have all been extremely influential in spreading the experience of Pentecost to different branches of Christendom.

We need to be aware of our heritage but must also understand that God gives ‘power gifts’ in order to build up the church and to draw people into a living relationship with God. We need to seek God in order to receive the baptism in the Spirit and the spiritual gifts He gives to the church. These gifts are necessary as they provide the power, revelation and evidence we need to witness to a sceptical world.