Real Hope - Real Jesus

The talk for this Sunday is entitled “Will you compromise in the face of persecution?”. 

I looked on the web sites of Barnabas Fund and Open Doors for examples to add some weight to my talk but was overwhelmed by the amount of relevant content. I have Egyptian Christian friends who still have family living in Egypt so I chose the following article to share from opendoors.org.au.    

Christians experience limited rights and freedom in Egypt. Persecution, oppression and land theft are common for Egyptian Christians. Unfair laws imposed by the state ensure equality for Christians is limited. There have been more violent incidents towards Christians in Egypt recently, than in past years. Persecution continues from Islamic groups, government officials and even family members.

Story:

“I am thankful that he wouldn’t deny Christ even with his life in danger… He made the right choice.” – Hany, Christian mother in Egypt.

Hany is a mother from Egypt. In May 2017, Hany’s son was attacked by Islamic extremists in Minya, Egypt. He was martyred for refusing to deny Jesus.

Pray for Egypt:

• Pray for unity and for God’s hand to be on the church in Egypt.
• Pray also for the safety of those who leave Islam to follow Jesus.

“You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” Matt: 10:22

– ANDY PETERS

Saul was rejected from being king in the first few years of his reign, possibly as few as five, certainly no more than ten. 

When Saul was rejected God immediately chose another king; that man was the young David. 

But Saul reigned for forty years, the Bible tells us, which means that the young David waited thirty years before he could take the throne as King over Israel.

Twice in that time David had the chance to assassinate the discredited Saul and take the throne by force; twice he refused. When he finally came to the throne he may have been fifty years old. But he waited, because he knew God had chosen him, and he knew he would become king when God chose to make it happen. And Israel lived on for thirty or more years with the king God had rejected on the throne, and the new king, who God had chosen, hiding out in caves and living off the land. The business of being a nation went on; Israel continued to prosper, and defeat its enemies, God was still with His People; only at the level of government was there any difference, as the leader God had chosen was not yet on the throne.

You can see where this is going, can’t you?

God knows the end from the beginning and He has already chosen a new Pastor for His Flock at St Andrews Oak Flats. He probably doesn’t know it yet, the Bishop doesn’t know it and we don’t know it. But God has His man getting ready. He’s certainly not living in caves and fearing for his life, but he is in training for the task at hand here, when he gets to take it on.

In the mean time, the work of church goes on. We have gifted and dedicated leaders of our church departments. We have faithful Bible Study leaders. We have a fearsomely capable church administrator, and a fast-on-its-feet Parish Council. God has so organised things that bods like me and Andy and John Wilson and Geoff and others can preach, maintaining the ministry of the Word in worship. We could keep this up for years, not that I’m suggesting that we should, or will have to.

Samuel mourned the rejection of Saul; he had a lot invested in the son of Kish. But God said, “That era is over, I’ve chosen a new King, get on with the job while you wait for him to take the throne.”

So, let us continue on. Near the end of his ministry God said to Joshua, “You are old, advanced in years, and there remains yet much of the land to be possessed”. Leaders change, but the work of God continues.

– PAUL HALL