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Thursday 13th March 2025

“The Lord spoke to Moses in the tent of meeting in the Desert of Sinai on the first day of the second month of the second year after the Israelites came out of Egypt. He said: ²“Take a census of the whole Israelite community by their clans and families, listing every man by name, one by one. ³You and Aaron are to count according to their divisions all the men in Israel who are twenty years old or more and able to serve in the army.” Numbers 1:1-3

Lord of numbers,

As we pass through the book of Numbers it is good to look back and see it as a whole. Beginning of course with why it is called Numbers. Because You asked Moses to number the available fighting men. It then charts their rebellion and lack of their trust in You, who never ceased to protect and provide for them.

Now, today we would list both the men and the women able and ready to fight. Today, encouragingly, Your family of Christians numbers over 2 billion! Of almost every nationality. It is incredible that Your family is growing in very dangerous and difficult places. We are a part of that family, adopted and committed. Marching together to our promised land.

So it is important that we keep fit in Christ, well trained and ready to do Your will. I love the way Peter puts it in His first letter, “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (Ch3:15).Keep us in step with You – all the time.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 13th March 2025
Love this rousing song

Chorus
Keep in step all the time,
Keep in step all the time;
Don’t fall out and rest for a while,
Follow Jesus all the way, and smile.
Keep in step all the time,
Keep in step all the time;
You will find each day your pathway easy
If you keep in step all the time.

Valiant soldier, marching to the fray,
Keep in step all the time.
Do not lag or falter by the way,
Keep in step all the time.
You may find the way is long and drear,
Many dangers may cause you to fear;
Do not give in but strive and persevere
And keep in step all the time.

Chorus

Valiant soldier, you must not despair,
Keep in step all the time.
Follow Jesus gladly everywhere,
Keep in step all the time.
March on bravely o’er the battlefield,
In the mighty conflict never yield,
But trust in Jesus, he’s your guide and shield,
So keep in step all the time.

Chorus

Valiant soldier, fighting for the Lord,
Keep in step all the time;
Don your armour, take your shield sword,
Keep in step all the time.
Forward, forward, ’tis the Lord’s command,
In the cause of right now take your stand,
Go marching forward to the promised land,
And keep in step all the time.

Lyrics: Albert Herbert Vickery

Wednesday 12th March 2025

“So the next morning Balaam got up, saddled his donkey, and started off with the Moabite officials. ²²But God was angry that Balaam was going, so he sent the angel of the Lord to stand in the road to block his way. As Balaam and two servants were riding along, ²³Balaam’s donkey saw the angel of the Lord standing in the road with a drawn sword in his hand. The donkey bolted off the road into a field, but Balaam beat it and turned it back onto the road. ²⁴Then the angel of the Lord stood at a place where the road narrowed between two vineyard walls. ²⁵When the donkey saw the angel of the Lord, it tried to squeeze by and crushed Balaam’s foot against the wall. So Balaam beat the donkey again. ²⁶Then the angel of the Lord moved farther down the road and stood in a place too narrow for the donkey to get by at all. ²⁷This time when the donkey saw the angel, it lay down under Balaam. In a fit of rage Balaam beat the animal again with his staff. ²⁸Then the Lord gave the donkey the ability to speak. “What have I done to you that deserves your beating me three times?” it asked Balaam. ²⁹“You have made me look like a fool!” Balaam shouted. “If I had a sword with me, I would kill you!” ³⁰“But I am the same donkey you have ridden all your life,” the donkey answered. “Have I ever done anything like this before?” “No,” Balaam admitted. ³¹Then the Lord opened Balaam’s eyes, and he saw the angel of the Lord standing in the roadway with a drawn sword in his hand. Balaam bowed his head and fell face down on the ground before him.” Numbers 22:21-31

Father God,

It is like stepping into history reading this and for some reason I have no problem imagining a speaking donkey. Balaam was the dumb one so to speak. He was so busy on his way because he wanted to go he had stopped listening. The donkey also kept him from harm. It had more sense than to confront an angel.

Sometimes we do not have the sense we should. It is at these times we are grateful that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love (Psalm 145:8). That You find ways to get our attention or You bring to nothing the things that we have tried to do alone.

You still used Balaam in the end. He pronounced blessings three times over Israel when he reached King Balak’s outpost. He was in danger as Balak went into a rage and he still went on blessing (Numbers 24:10). And then we read he went home safely. Phew.

We look to You Jesus for help when we overstep the mark. For confidence when we need to speak up bravely with the truth and it may not be liked. And for reassurance You will keep us safe from our enemies. And for us to find in You all we need for today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 12th March 2025

I know the Lord will make a way for me,
I know the Lord will make a way for me,
If I walk in heavens light shun the wrong and do the right,
I know the Lord will make a way for me,

The Lord has said, “Go tell the Word to all”,
The Lord has said, “Go tell the Word to all”,
If I walk in heavens light shun the wrong and do the right,
I know the Lord will make a way for me,

Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done!”
Won’t it be grand to hear Him say, “Well done!”
If I walk in heavens light shun the wrong and do the right,
I know the Lord will make a way for me,

Lyrics: Copyright 1942 Nazarene Publishing House.

Tuesday 11th March 2025

Then the Israelites traveled to the plains of Moab and camped along the Jordan across from Jericho. ²Now Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites, ³and Moab was terrified because there were so many people. Indeed, Moab was filled with dread because of the Israelites. ⁴The Moabites said to the elders of Midian, “This horde is going to lick up everything around us, as an ox licks up the grass of the field.” So Balak son of Zippor, who was king of Moab at that time, ⁵sent messengers to summon Balaam son of Beor, who was at Pethor, near the Euphrates River, in his native land. Balak said: “A people has come out of Egypt; they cover the face of the land and have settled next to me. ⁶Now come and put a curse on these people, because they are too powerful for me. Perhaps then I will be able to defeat them and drive them out of the land. For I know that whoever you bless is blessed, and whoever you curse is cursed.” Numbers 22:1-6 NIV
“⁹God came to Balaam and asked, “Who are these men with you?” ¹⁰Balaam said to God, “Balak son of Zippor, king of Moab, sent me this message: ¹¹‘A people that has come out of Egypt covers the face of the land. Now come and put a curse on them for me. Perhaps then I will be able to fight them and drive them away.’” ¹²But God said to Balaam, “Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed.”” Numbers 22:9-12 NIV
“But Balaam answered them, “Even if Balak gave me all the silver and gold in his palace, I could not do anything great or small to go beyond the command of the Lord my God. ¹⁹Now spend the night here so that I can find out what else the Lord will tell me.”²⁰That night God came to Balaam and said, “Since these men have come to summon you, go with them, but do only what I tell you.”” Numbers 22:18-20 NIV

Lord God of blessings,

In the end Balaam was flattered by the attention and the royal messengers He invites them again to stay another night in verse 19. Perhaps to see what else You would say that could be beneficial? Had he been definite in his refusal surely he would have sent them straight way home? And mentioning silver and gold I wonder if it was playing on his mind what he was giving up? Did he want them to persuade him because he wanted to go.

And You perhaps knowing his weakness allowed him to go knowing you would still have him say no. Nothing takes You by surprise and You would not allow anything to prevent Your people going forward.

Perhaps we should take heart. Even though there are battles going on around us, some we may know nothing about. But You, God are on our side and blessing us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ (Romans 12:14). You are our protection against the evil on (2 Thessalonians 3:3). And You, God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear (1 Corinthians 10:13). Balaam had a donkey to speak some sense into him.

Help us enjoy, recognise and rejoice in the blessings we have and not be tempted to meddle in what are not our battles.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Worship Tuesday 11th March 2025
First two verses set out the promise of the master, Jesus. The last verse is the promise for the pilgrim to make . . .

He who would valiant be
‘Gainst all disaster
Let him in constancy
Follow the Master
There’s no discouragement
Shall make him once relent
His first avowed intent
To be a pilgrim.

Who so beset him round
With dismal stories,
Do but themselves confound —
His strength the more is.
No foes shall stay his might,
Though he with giants fight:
He will make good his right
To be a pilgrim.

Since, Lord, Thou does defend
Us with Thy Spirit,
We know we at the end
Shall life inherit.
Then fancies flee away!
I’ll fear not what men say,
I’ll labor night and day
To be a pilgrim.

Lyrics: John Bunyan