Hope Church Newham

February Update

Mark Waterfield — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 09:00:24 +0000

What a great start to 2012 it has been! We had a great week of prayer to start the year with some immediate and amazing answers to prayers! There has been the joy of baptising Eileen and lots of guests, visitors and new people coming along to Hope Church in these first few weeks of the year – praise God!

On Sunday 5^th February we will be celebrating the 2^nd Birthday of Hope Church – unbelievable but true! We have seen so much of God’s goodness and provision over the past two years as we have grown and seen God build a community of His people. Do make sure you don’t miss this special Sunday and do invite friends, family and others to join the celebration.

There is an Ultimate Gold Olympic training day with the other churches in Stratford at Highway Church in Stratford on Saturday 4^th February. Do put this date in your diary and make every effort to attend. It will be a great chance to get the big picture of outreach during the Olympics and practical training on different forms of evangelism and outreach. There really is something for everyone and so come along and be inspired to play your part and use the gifts God has given you.

Let me remind you again of a couple of prophetic words that have come in the past couple of months. Ian had a great picture a few months ago when we were praying about this year – a number of pyramids of great things in 2012 that God is going to do at Hope Church – not just the obvious one of the Olympics. Then there was prophetic word after prophetic word that came during January about the coming flood of God’s presence and power to change the people and communities around us in east London – in much the same way that a flood engulfs all in its path – God is going to send His power – are you ready?

I thank God for each of you – the way you serve and bring so much to the Church.

You are all wonderful gifts from God.

Love and prayers, Mark

“Be Free” Part 13 – Galatians 4:21-31

Graham Crosbie — Sun, 29 Jan 2012 18:00:36 +0000

This week we looked at Galatians 4:21-31 as part of our series “Be Free.” Paul uses the story of Sarah and Hagar from the Old Testament book of Genesis to highlight differences between grace and the law. There are three things we can learn from this story.

The life of Isaac illustrates the Christian life

Isaac was born of God’s power. Ishmael was born through nature Galatians 4:23. Isaac birth was contrary to nature. Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90 years old when Isaac was born. Isaac was born of the spirit Galatians 4:24. We are born again through God’s divine intervention. We are born again by the Holy Spirit working in our lives. Isaac picture of grace.
Isaac brought joy to his elderly parents. Our salvation brings joy that is not dependent on our circumstances. Isaac matured and became a father himself. He didn’t stay a miracle baby but had a future. When we become a Christian there is a moment of salvation it is the beginning not the end of our Christian life. We are to grow and mature as Christians. Perhaps sometimes when we sin and mess up it is because we are bored. We’re not growing and going after God for the next thing (the next big thing, the adventure) He has for us. We don’t want to be stuck as spiritual babies but want to grow up and mature.
Isaac faced struggles. Ishmael born of the flesh and caused problems for Isaac (Genesis chapter 21). Our flesh will struggle against us at any opportunity Galatians 5:17. Things that you might not have been aware of before you were a Christian can become problems that you need to deal with as a Christian. We will face struggles and conflict with our old nature.

Hagar and Sarah contrast law and grace

Hagar was a slave Galatians 4:24. Children born to her were born into slavery. Sarah’s child born was born into freedom. Isaac’s birth represents grace. Both are clear symbols of the difference between law and grace. Can you see the difference?

God always begins with grace. God began with Sarah. The promise came first not as an afterthought. God provides for Adam and Eve even after they have sinned Genesis 3:21. Genesis 3:15 contains the first promise of and reference to Jesus. God operated with grace not law even from the very beginning. The law was added later. In our lives God begins with grace Romans 5:8.

Law and grace never mix

Look at the family problems that happened. This is a story of compromise. Sarah and Hagar could not remain in the same home. Law and grace will not work in your life. The Jewish nation had been in slavery to the law Galatians 4:30. Jesus fulfilled the law. The law was no longer necessary. Grace has come through Jesus and brings freedom. No place for legalism. It’s not about measuring ourselves against someone else. We need to cast that out and embrace the freedom that grace brings.

Why do we live under guilt and condemnation? It is because we live under the law and not grace. We try to mix law and grace. Being a Christian is about being under God’s grace.

Conclusion

This story brings clarity. Clarity between law and grace: the slave woman and the free. They do not mix. Christianity is all about grace and it begins with grace. We need to first to know God’s grace and then to be careful not to mix grace and law in our lives.

“Be Free” Part 12 – Galatians 4:12-20

Graham Crosbie — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:00:11 +0000

This Sunday, Sam Nair preached from Galatians 4:12-20. Paul’s mood in these verses is different from the rest of the book of Galatians. In these verses, the apostle Paul comes over as weak and broken pleading almost begging for the church in Galatia to change.

Before their conversion to Christianity many in the church in Galatia were pagans. They strived to please their various gods/goddesses. When Paul came and preached the gospel, they were excited by it. But soon Jewish believers came and told them that they needed to follow Jewish customs to be a Christian. Paul was anxious for them as they were struggling with two opposing and equally controlling influences. On one hand they grappled with their pagan religion on the other hand they were struggling over the need to embrace Judaism. Very much a “Catch-22” situation.

We too come with past lives that constantly affect our present life. We are also continually bombarded by the media telling us what we must do to live a “good” life. Not all of these things line up with our beliefs as Christians. We are in a constant day to day battle in our minds over these things. How must a Christians live in a world like this? We looked at 3 areas: Access, Attitude and Action to help answer this question.

Access

The biggest thing that satan wages against us in is our access to God. We get bogged down by all the baggage we carry in our lives and start to believe the enemy’s whispers when he says “we are not good enough” or “God will never accept you because of that.” These lies are the enemy’s attempt to destroy our access route to God. Paul had taught the Galatians and teaches us that as Christians our acceptance by God is unconditional. We should not let the enemy lie to us. We can come boldly before the throne of grace. Our pasts do not matter – Hebrews 4:14-16.

We have access to God through Jesus. God wants more than this. He wants a relationship an intimate relationship with us. It is in our relationship with God alone that we can find joy, hope, provision and see our lives being transformed. We suffer an identity crisis. We do not understand that God is incredibly fond of us – God likes us a lot! God only asks for one thing from us – that is for us to relate to him in love. You need to believe that “what God says about you is who you are.”

You have access but God wants a relationship with you – an intimate relationship with you. In that relationship alone you will find joy, hope, provision, transformation.

Attitude and Action

When Paul first visited Galatia (Galatians 4:13-16) he was ill. In the Jewish worldview at that time illness was seen as punishment from God. Most scholars believe that Paul’s illness was an eye problem so severe that it disfigured him – a very visible problem. Despite that he was accepted. So why the sudden shift in attitude? Paul saw that the Galatians were caught in the grip of legalism. They were trying to walk a tightrope to gain God’s favour. Our salvation is through faith in Jesus Christ alone.

The Galatians now had a mix of grace and a bit of the law. Grace is undeserved unmerited favour from God. When we have a legalistic attitude we view ourselves and others differently. When we don’t live in grace we live in fear. Our lives can become devoid of grace, when this happens we “become greater than God.” We need to remember to live by grace and remember to treat others too by the grace we have received. We need to treat each other with the same kindness.

The Church is full of broken people that pretend to be saints. We are all broken people. The gospel is “One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” Church is the place where you come to celebrate grace. Grace is the backbone of Hope Church Newham. We need to get to grips with this. We need to make Hope Church a place where we are patient with one another. We need to always remember that we if it wasn’t for the Lord we are quite messed up people. The only reason we are here [church] is to celebrate grace and to get Jesus inside us.

“Be Free” Part 11 – Galatians 4:1-11

Graham Crosbie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 18:00:40 +0000

This week we returned to our current sermon series “Be Free” from Paul’s letter to the Galatians. The central theme of Galatians is all about be free in Christ. It not a case of what we do but what Jesus has done for us.

In Chapters 1 and 2, argues this from his own experience, chapters 3 and 4, Paul builds his case from scripture and chapters 5 and 6 Paul gives practical guidance as to how to live free in Christ.

In Galatians 4:1-11, Paul talks about our adoption as sons and daughters into God’s family. When we think of adoption we often think of people adopting babies and young children into their own families. The Greek word that Paul uses here speaks about being adopted as adults with all the rights and privileges that come with that.

Our position as adult sons and daughters of God is regardless of how long we have been Christians. Our adopted state does not depend on our maturity as believers. There are three things we can learn from this passage.

What we were and what God did for us

In Galatians 4:1-5, Paul writes about how a child who might be an heir is often like a slave. They are under control and guidance of another. The imagery of a child here is symbolic of the Jews – Galatians 4:3. For 1,500 years, Israel was under the law effectively in primary school. Just at the right time (common language from the Greeks, peace, commerce and trade routes from the Romans) Jesus came. Jesus came to redeem God’s chosen people Israel and non Jews (the Gentiles) too.

Through Christ we are “sons” and heirs

Through Jesus our status is as “sons” (sons and daughters) of God and heirs of all God has. Three things about “sons”

A “son” is always accepted by the Father regardless of what they do. God loves us with an everlasting love. God sees us as we really are but He still accepts us.
“Sons” have an intimate relationship with the Father. The primary role of the Holy Spirit at work in us as Christians is for us to experience the intimacy with God that sonship brings. Galatians 4:6, the term “Abba” is close to calling God “papa”. This is a very intimate term. In the Gospel of John, Jesus uses “Abba” over 100 times to refer to God the Father. Christianity is not a religion but a relationship with God the Father. “Father is the Christian word for God.” J I Packer “Knowing God.”
A “son” and heir enjoys the riches of the Father. As “sons” we enjoy His grace, His mercy, His wisdom here and now. We get to enjoy this inheritance now, we don’t have to wait. We are “sons” and heirs to enjoy all God has for us now. The best part of our inheritance though is still to come – 1 Peter 1:4

How do we live this out?

How do we live the Christian life as “sons” and heirs? Firstly, We need to remind ourselves of who we once were and what God has done for us. Once we were slaves but now we are “sons” – Deuteronomy 15:15. Secondly, we need to keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit – Ephesians 5:18. Galatians chapters 5 and 6 deal more with the practical aspects of how we are to live in the light of these truths. We need to let the Holy Spirit help us experience what it means to be “sons” of God.

Conclusion

As Christians we are adopted as “sons.” We are part of God’s family and are intimately loved by God. The full riches of Christ are given to us as an inheritance that we can enjoy both now and in the future. We experience all of this by being filled continually by the Holy Spirit.

Week of Prayer: Prayer points for Sunday 15th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Sun, 15 Jan 2012 06:00:55 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Sunday 15th January 2012:

Thank God for all that has been accomplished over the last two years in planting Hope Church.
Ask God for many significant and great things to be done in the name of Jesus in 2012.
Ask God that Hope Church would be a place that proclaims the hope of Jesus and would shine ever brighter as a light in the darkness.

Week of Prayer: Prayer points for Saturday 14th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 06:00:21 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Saturday 14th January 2012:

Thank God for John-Martyn and all the gifts and talents he brings to the church.
Ask God to continue to sharpen and develop his gifts and use them powerfully for the building of the Church.
Ask God to bless and guide John and Andy as they set up Hope English School in the next couple of months.

Week of Prayer: Prayer points for Friday 13th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:00:12 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Friday 13th January 2012:

Thank God for the Stratford Churches that we are part of and the great unity for the gospel amongst the churches.
Ask God for a great advance of the gospel during the Olympics.
Ask God that we would see thousands saved and a great legacy of transformed communities locally over the next year.

Week of Prayer: Prayer points for Thursday 12th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 06:00:21 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Thursday 12th January 2012:

Thank God for individual lives changes, people who have become Christians and set free.
Ask God for a great harvest of people becoming Christians in the coming year.
Ask God for demonstrations of power, healings, words of knowledge and miracles every time we meet.

Week of Prayer: Prayer points for Wednesday 11th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 06:00:42 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Wednesday 11th January 2012:

Thank God for the worship team at Hope Church and the way they serve us so well.
Ask God for more musicians to join Hope Church and be raised up amongst us.
Ask God to develop in us a heart for worship and that we may experience the presence of God in a powerful way every time we worship together.

If you are able to please join us for our prayer meeting at 8pm at the Salvation Army building, Paul Street, Stratford.

Week of prayer: Prayer points for Tuesday 10th January 2012

Graham Crosbie — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 06:00:04 +0000

As part of our week of prayer, specific prayer points are available on our website. Here are the prayer points for Tuesday 10th January 2012:

Thank God for the community groups across East London – Beckton, Stratford, West Ham, and Leyton/Leytonstone.
Ask God to grow a deeper sense of community and love for one another.
Ask God for more community groups to be planted across East London in the coming year