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Yesterday’s message to kick off the New Year at The Angel Church .
New Year message: The desert, the devil, and dominion
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Regan opens the New Year with a reality check from Matthew 4.Going through a hard time? Tempted to give up? Here are 6 things you may want to do, but for your own well-being you mustn't fall into.
When You’re Tempted to Give Up
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Satan wants you to stop praying, stop feeding, and stop serving when suffering comes. God wants to give you his strength to persevere. Don’t ever give up.Please pray for local Islington pastor (St. Giles Christian Mission) Brad Franklin and his family who are in the middle of a tragic situation. Pray that God would work a miracle.
Brads words today. “Good morning everyone. Thank you for all your prayers and concern. What can I say, this is really really hard. The children and I have wept a lot and laughed a lot (if you don’t understand the laughter, I can try to explain later, but we’ve all done a lot of both). I woke up weeping this morning, and Stephen (in bed next to me) put his arm around me. I love Megan dearly. I love my children dearly. We are praying for God to bring about her recovery. Of course He can and might - her heart is still beating and her lungs are taking in air. Even if they weren’t, He could still bring life (He’s kinda done that before). He may not. We’ll talk with the doctors today. We have a good plan for how we want the doctors to proceed. We want them to do everything to preserve Megan’s life, we want to test the ‘brain dead’ analysis. At some point they will take her off the drugs they are giving her. And at some point all the kit they that has been so helpful in preserving her life until now, will be taken away. This is what we want, and the doctors seemed very willing to work with us. We’ll keep you posted.
Can I share one passage of scripture with you? Read this with James G in hospital yesterday morning. It hits the spot. We read it with/to Megan. The context for David was obviously different, but his thoughts (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) perfectly encapsulate where I and I think the children are at (by the grace of God). Read Psalm 31. We really can say v10. We are praying the end of v1 and the start of v2. I know it sounds strange, I really do feel like v14-15. I couldn’t put how I feel better than v19-20. I am saying and will say v21 - ‘Praise be to the Lord for He has showed His wonderful love to me’. Vv 23-24 are my encouragements to all of you. Seriously. ‘Love the Lord, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud He pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord.’
We’ve tried to be an open book with all of this. I think that’s the right way to be? Feel free to spread this text as widely as you like. The more people praying, the better! Seriously, pray for me this morning. I know our two year old (Mikey) is gonna come in here at any minute. He always does. He’ll come to Megan’s side of the bed and probably ask where mummy is (he did yesterday). He (and obviously Euan) haven’t been told anything yet. I’m gonna try to explain this to him this morning. A family friend texted me personally this morning, and she just shared a hymn we sometimes sing together at St Giles. I’ll put it in full below. I’m not just saying this: I/we really do believe it (don’t we St Giles?). Now more than ever. Thanks again. Here’s the hymn:
When I fear my faith will fail
Christ will hold me fast
When the tempter would prevail
He will hold me fast
I could never keep my hold
Through life’s fearful path
For my love is often cold
He must hold me fast
Chorus:
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast
Those He saves are His delight
Christ will hold me fast
Precious in His holy sight
He will hold me fast
He’ll not let my soul be lost
His promises shall last
Bought by Him at such a cost
He will hold me fast
Chorus:
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast
For my life He bled and died
Christ will hold me fast
Justice has been satisfied
He will hold me fast
Raised with Him to endless life
He will hold me fast
Till our faith is turned to sight
When he comes at last
Chorus:
He will hold me fast
He will hold me fast
For my Saviour loves me so
He will hold me fast
Last Sunday, Regan broke down the meaning and significance of the angel's words to the shepherds:
"Don't be afraid, for look, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people."
Taking the verse from the end and working backwards, we looked at "...all the people" and saw a snapshot panoramic history of humanity and God's working out His plan for creation up to the birth of Jesus through the Genealogy of Matthew 1 and the backstory of the characters in Luke 2.
We then considered the "great joy" of the angel's words referring to the historical miracle that was the incarnation of God the Son via the virgin conception of the one who would be know as "Immanuel" (God with us): Jesus (for he will save his people from their sins) Christ (Messiah/Deliverer/anointed and appointed).
The "good news" is that all people, regardless of who they are, what they have or don't have, and the baggage they carry can be among those who have joy in Christ and so know God's peace, having become pleasing to Him. (Luke 2.14).
This story is the best Christmas story even over the rather fun tale of the jolly red cloaked grandfather character of Santa.
Jesus is better than Santa because he is an actual, living, historical miracle. We may sing "Santa Clause is Coming to Town!", but Jesus actually came to the world - God the Son made flesh.
What's more, Jesus is better than Santa because his gifts are about mercy not merit. God knows about that naughty and nice list and we would all make the former. We don't really deserve God's goodness, yet in Jesus Christ He gives such to us and enables us to be right with Him and with our fellow man.
Jesus is so much better than a once a year fictitiously present Santa because he is God with us always to the end!
Come along on Sunday at 11am - Jesus: God with us today?
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The Angel Church
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Street parking is available during our meeting times.
Address: The Angel Church, Chadwell Street
Angel, Islington, London, EC1R 1XD
Phone: 07944 221 112
Email: theangelchurch@gmail.com