Friday 26th September 2025

“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: You can be sure that I will rescue my people from the east and from the west. 8I will bring them home again to live safely in Jerusalem. They will be my people, and I will be faithful and just toward them as their God. 9“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! ” Zechariah 8:7-9 NLT

“When Jesus heard this, he was amazed. Turning to those who were following him, he said, “I tell you the truth, I haven’t seen faith like this in all Israel! 11And I tell you this, that many Gentiles will come from all over the world—from east and west—and sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob at the feast in the Kingdom of Heaven. 12But many Israelites—those for whom the Kingdom was prepared—will be thrown into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Matthew 8:10-12

Lord of Heaven’s Armies,

Jesus says this when the Centurion comes to ask him to heal his servant. He says Jesus need not detour to his house but just say the word and healing will happen. Jesus is amazed – encouraged? Because he sees into the future. Those who would believe in HIm.His divinity His authority, His compassion.

So often we see glimpses of You Jesus in the Old Testament in Your Father. But then You are One. And just as the exiles came from the East and the West back to Jerusalem You promise us that we also will come from the East and the West (all over the World) to sit in the Kingdom of Heaven in the New Jerusalem (Revelation 21:1-2.) We will meet with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – I have no idea how that will work. But then we have eternity to meet with every one there . . . Some things are beyond our imagination Father. But they amaze us and encourage us.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen

Worship Friday 26th September 2025
Then he said to me, “These are the ones who died in great tribulation. They have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb and made them white (Revelation 7:14).

They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
Both the rich and the poor, the despised, the distressed,
They’ll sit down in the Kingdom of God.
And none will ask what they have been
Provided that their robes are clean;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.

They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
To be met by their Father and welcomed and blessed,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.
The black, the white, the dark, the fair,
Your colour will not matter there;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.

They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west,
And sit down in the Kingdom of God;
Out of great tribulation to triumph and rest
They’ll sit down in the Kingdom of God.
From every tribe and every race,
All men as brothers shall embrace;
They shall come from the east,
they shall come from the west.
And sit down in the Kingdom of God.

Lyrics: John Gowans

Thursday 25th September 2025

“At the same time Tattenai the governor of the region beyond the River and Shethar-Boznai and their companions came to them and spoke thus to them: “Who has commanded you to build this temple and finish this wall?” 4Then, accordingly, we told them the names of the men who were constructing this building.” Ezra 5:3,4 NKJV

“Now therefore, if it seems good to the king, let a search be made in the king’s treasure house, which is there in Babylon, whether it is so that a decree was issued by King Cyrus to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send us his pleasure concerning this matter.” Ezra 5:17 NKJV

King of all Kings,

Tattenai the jealous, concerned neighbour. He did not come to make treaty or peace with those returned exiles. He came to question the legality and hopefully get the Babylonians, to keep them oppressed and in check. The problem is they did not have all the facts and though time had passed there was a legal record. One small scroll was found out in the province of Media. The Babylonians certainly searched high and low! Ezra tells us about it in Ezra 6:6-12

Not only did Tattenai have to leave the builders alone he was commanded to provide them with livestock, wheat, salt, ine and olive oil for their every day needs! Miraculously he does so rather than upset the Babylonians (Ezra 6:13). I wish I could have seen his face when he read the letter.

But then we should not gloat. It was You God that enabled a pagan King to give permission and provision for the return from exile and rebuilding of the Temple. To a people who had consistently let You down. You who enabled one obscure scroll to be found in another country. Sometimes we are no better than Tattenai and we are jealous or question what others are doing. We do not always see the whole picture. And You protect us. Keep us serving You when opposition comes in its various disguises. Help us stand against it and even help us turn it to good.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Thursday 25th September 2025
Whenever I think about standing against the lies or the enemy – this is the hymn that comes to mind most . . .

In heavenly armour we’ll enter the land
The battle belongs to the Lord
No weapon that’s fashioned against us shall stand
The battle belongs to the Lord

We sing glory and honor
Power and strength to the Lord
We sing glory and honor
Power and strength to the Lord
(repeat)

The power of darkness comes in like a flood
The battle belongs to the Lord
He’s raised up a standard, the power of His blood
The battle belongs to the Lord

Chorus

When your enemy presses in hard do not fear
The battle belongs to the Lord
Take courage my friend, your redemption is near
The battle belongs to the Lord
Repeat Verse . . .

Chorus
Power and strength to the Lord

Chorus
The battle belongs to the Lord . . .

Lyrics: Jamie Owens-Collins

Wednesday 24th September 2025

 “In the eighth month of the second year of Darius, the word of the Lord came to Zechariah the son of Berechiah, the son of Iddo the prophet, saying, 2“The Lord has been very angry with your fathers. 3Therefore say to them, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Return to Me,” says the Lord of hosts, “and I will return to you,” says the Lord of hosts. 4Do not be like your fathers, to whom the former prophets preached, saying, ‘Thus says the Lord of hosts: “Turn now from your evil ways and your evil deeds.” But they did not hear nor heed Me,” says the Lord. 5“Your fathers, where are they? And the prophets, do they live forever? 6Yet surely My words and My statutes, Which I commanded My servants the prophets, Did they not overtake your fathers? “So they returned and said: ‘Just as the Lord of hosts determined to do to us, According to our ways and according to our deeds, So He has dealt with us.’ ” ‘ ” Zechariah 1:1-6 NKJV

God of Your Word,

Zechariah was the grandson of Iddo the prophet. He would have been born in exile and returned with his grandfather to Jerusalem, as Iddo is listed as head of his family in Nehemiah 12:16. So Zechariah would not have been relatively young and his name means ‘the Lord has remembered’. Even if he has no memories of Jerusalem. But which was prophetic when You, Lord, remembered and brought them out of exile!

Return to me and I will return to You. The exiles are hearing this same message not just once through Zechariah, not just twice again through Haggai, but three times as also through Ezra. Over and over again so they cannot say, they did not know or You never told them or they miss heard. Some times I think You need to make me to hear something three times before I catch on. And You are so generous in Your patience. Because I think I have heard something from You and then I need someone to confirm it and I often look for confirmation the next few days! Just to be sure!

I pray that I only need to hear You for direction and not for correction. And I apologise that I often am like a child needing reassurance and encouragement and am so grateful for Your patience.

In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 24th September 2025

Oh, I’ve heard a thousand stories of what they think You’re like
But I’ve heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You’re pleased and that I’m never alone

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Oh, and I’ve seen many searching for answers far and wide
But I know we’re all searching for answers only You provide
‘Cause You know just what we need before we say a word

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

Because You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us,
You are perfect in all of Your ways
Oh, You’re perfect in all of Your ways
You are perfect in all of Your ways to us

Oh, it’s love so undeniable I, I can hardly speak
Peace so unexplainable I, I can hardly think
As You call me deeper still, as You call me deeper still
As You call me deeper still into love, love, love

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

You’re a good, good Father
It’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are
And I’m loved by You
It’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am

(You’re a good, good Father)

You are perfect in all of Your ways (it’s who You are, it’s who You are, it’s who You are)
(And I’m loved by You)
You are perfect in all of Your ways (it’s who I am, it’s who I am, it’s who I am)

Lyrics: Tony Brown, Pat Barrett