1st Advent Candle - HOPE

Faith is being sure of what we hope for. It is being certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1

Christian HOPE is not some sort of positive thinking …

… a kind of ‘hoping for the best’.

As we sang last Sunday

‘My hope is built on nothing less

than Jesus’ blood and righteousness’.

The HOPE of the world has come!

The Word Made Flesh is here!

Emmanuel … God with Us!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13

2/12/25

Do you Pass the Test?

Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. 1 Corinthians 13:5

Wow! This is heavy!

· Am I really a Christian?

· Am I really Saved?

· Do I really have Eternal Life?

How do I ‘Test’ myself???

· It’s not so much about Success

· It’s not so much about Holiness

· It’s not so much about Fruit

The clue is in the next part of the verse …

Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you--unless, of course, you fail the test?

When you look inside …

Is Jesus there?

Is the Holy Spirit witnessing that you are His?

Do you know Jesus?

Yes!

Then you’ve passed the test

No!

Then Repent; Believe and Receive!

27/11/25

What Really??

"But will God really dwell on earth with humans?” 2 Chronicles 6:18

Solomon realised that the wonderful temple he was building could not contain, or define, the Lord God Almighty.

It would be a focal point for the manifestation of His glory, at best.

For we all know that God could never “really dwell on earth with humans” …

… Or could He?

Wise as he was, Solomon could not imagine or comprehend the Incarnation.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

4/11/25

Carried Along

For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2Peter 1:21

This verse makes it clear ….

The Bible …

Is not man’s idea

is not a massive fairy story

is not a human invention

is not about moral tales or philosophy

The Bible …

has its origin in God

the writers are divinely inspired at every point

will only be understood through the Holy Spirit acting on the reader

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. Psalm 119:18 20/11/25

Go Away!

Then birds of prey came down on the carcasses, but Abram drove them away. Genesis 15:11

In this story the carcasses in view represent a tangible expression of the covenant that God is making with Abraham.

They are important …

They are Abraham’s response to God …

They are confirming the promises God has made …

Abraham needs to keep them safe!

As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up. Matthew 13:4

Don’t let the birds take your offering!

18/11/25

Together

Now you are the body of Christ and each one of you is a part of it. 1 Corinthians 12:27

We are in this together!

You have a unique part to play ... I have a unique part to play ... and together with all the saints we make a wonderful whole!

I am less without you and you are less without me.

11/11/25