Terry Virgo

“The Lord takes pleasure in his people” Ps149:4. Come worshipping today, conscious of that truth. Let the wonder of it stir & inspire you to worship him, celebrating that glorious reality.

“Admonish” is a Bible word, frequently in the NT, part of normal church life. Paul says he did it “day & night with tears”. He wrote to believers to “admonish them as my beloved children”. He urged others to “admonish the unruly”. Doesn’t happen much today. We want our space.

Heidi, another great granddaughter!

How horrified the disciples must have been to hear Jesus, who had transformed their lives, was leaving! Life without him would be so empty, so drab. But Another would come. Who’d have guessed He’d come as wind & fire from heaven & actually indwell them? Not empty but filled!

Jesus solved the problem at the Cana wedding not by rushing out to buy more wine but by taking over, giving his own instructions & introducing his supernatural kingdom. Mary’s great word, “Do whatever he tells you.” That’s the kingdom. We should try it. He manifested his glory!

When we first meet Gideon he’s hiding in a cave & God immediately calls him a “mighty warrior”. He calls Simon, who will deny him, a “rock”. He called Abraham “A father of many nations” when he’d fathered no-one. He doesn’t need impressive raw material when calling servants!

Worship that centres on my wellbeing, peace & joy might well be genuine, but worship that centres on Christ, his love, his suffering, his cross, resurrection & utter triumph is so much more honouring of Him. Around the throne all eyes are on him, his worth, his unique glory.

Pastors/elders lead their churches through teaching the Bible. They’re the ones who “labour in the word” & are to be followed. But “teachers will incur stricter judgement” Ja3:1. So it’s no light thing to be a pastor/teacher. Not for everyone/anyone. Serious stuff!

A big win for Christian freedom. UK Christians need to know: a.) that local councils really do pressurise churches in this way b.) that it's possible to fight it c.) that it's possible to win d.) that it's ok to win e.) that it's *good* to win! "Go therefore..." (Matt. 28)

Christ so loved his church that he provided it with LEADERS. “He gave gifts to men” Eph4:8. Different gifts, teaching, evangelising, prophesying, all God-given SUPERNATURAL SKILLS without which the church grows dull & sluggish & even resorts to democracy & man made organisation.

God calls us not only to be patient but to be patient joyfully. Col1:11. Maybe we can grit our teeth & demonstrate some long suffering, but to do it joyfully! Wonderfully he provides “strengthened with all power according to his glorious might” to do it. Holy Spirit power works!

Put high value on moments when God speaks to you, when particular scriptures “come alive”, when the sermon particularly speaks to you. It’s a huge privilege to hear God speak to you. Treasure it. Take it seriously. Act upon it. Don’t treat it lightly. Ponder, God spoke!

We’re so preoccupied with the present, its joys or challenges that we don’t give the same emphasis to our HOPE that the Bible does. Hope of glory, of eternal life, a new & incorruptible body, of face to face fellowship with Jesus, of a magnificent new creation in God’s presence!

I love the word “Fear not you worm Jacob…I will help you declares the Lord…I have made you a new sharp…Isa41:14. Not much is expected of a worm. He brings little to the table, but God can make him new & sharp & useful in his purpose. So fear not, you worm!

Anointed humble leaders are a wonderful gift to the church. Where true leadership is missing, churches can drift into mediocrity. Abusive leaders have hit the headlines making the saints nervous & true leaders tentative. But when genuine leaders no longer lead, everyone suffers.

Legalism is motivated by desire to be accepted, to look good, to gain points, to justify yourself. Discipline is a choice you take on, having already been freely justified by Christ’s righteousness, but not wanting to waste your life. They can look similar but are so different.

Amazing, yet comforting, to know that a courageous man like Elijah experienced complete burnout, ran for his life & wanted to die. God restored him with a mixture gentleness, kindness, & confrontation. “What are you doing here?” is a great question to ask when we yield to fear.

Anxiety is banned by Paul. “Be anxious for nothing” Ph4:6. But the alternative has to be effective prayer, WITH THANKSGIVING. Prayer can’t be “worrying out loud” but a genuine transaction of faith in your God where your cares are undeniably cast on him because he cares for you.

“Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS” (Ph4:4) Seems a strange command. Paul says it after referring to 2 women & serious division in the church. He rejoices when people preach the gospel with wrong motives. (Ph1:17) Even rejoices in prison with his back bleeding. He must know something!

Jesus’s first instruction to Peter was to cast his net. His first sign “fill the water pots”. Both were calls to awkward steps of faith, invitations into his wold. More than once he asked, “where’s your faith?” Above all he wants us to trust him, to let him lead, risk obedience.