Tag: God is working His purposes out

Saturday 27th December 2025

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, 5 who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. 7 These have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” 1 Peter 1:3-7 NLT

“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” 1 Peter 3:8-9 NLT

Father,

You write to us the faithful, in each generation, directly through these letters! Technology, employment, politics may change but life, relationships and suffering remains the same. Peter writes to the scattered church. Living as foreigners across Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia which is modern day turkey I believe. They had it tough.

He builds them up and reminds them of who they are and what they have in Jesus. If we take this personally – as it is for us too – it is amazing. The best Christmas present ever! And to picture ourselves of great worth to God. Sometimes I question how You could know me personally among so many believers and how small I am. Yet here Peter reminds us that each one of us is precious, known and prepared for. With an inheritance yet to come.

So Peter challenges us to live out our hope in unity as we wait together. Regardless of our struggles help those around us and do not be like the rest of the world seeking vengeance and getting our own back! And he ends on a positive note, “In his kindness God called you to share in his eternal glory by means of Christ Jesus. So after you have suffered a little while, he will restore, support, and strengthen you, and he will place you on a firm foundation.” (1 Peter 5:10).

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Saturday 27th December 2025
Drawing on Habakkuk 2:14 and the promise of what is to come, to keep us going. As year succeeds to year . . . a new year is coming.

God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”

Let us go forth in the strength of God,
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world.
Let us all fight with sorrow and sin
to set the captives free,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

4 All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

Lyrics: Arthur Campbell Aiger

Friday 4th July 2025

 “Jehoram son of King Jehoshaphat of Judah began to rule over Judah in the fifth year of the reign of Joram son of Ahab, king of Israel. 17 Jehoram was thirty-two years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem eight years.” 2 Kings 8:16,17

“Joash began to rule over Judah in the seventh year of King Jehu’s reign in Israel. He reigned in Jerusalem forty years.” 2 Kings 12:1

“Jehoahaz son of Jehu began to rule over Israel in the twenty-third year of King Joash’s reign in Judah.” 2 Kings 13:1

“Amaziah son of Joash began to rule over Judah in the second year of the reign of King Jehoash of Israel.” 2 Kings 14:1

“Uzziah son of Amaziah began to rule over Judah in the twenty-seventh year of the reign of King Jeroboam II of Israel. 2 He was sixteen years old when he became king, and he reigned in Jerusalem fifty-two years.” 2 Kings 15:1,2

God of our ancestry,

It becomes confusing trying to follow the order of Kings in Judah and Israel and whose relations they were! And who was reigning in one when the other changed. Even the scholars can only show it in complicated charts and spreadsheets. Do we need to know the detail? I must confess I find I read it and do not really take the dates in! But we need to know You are in the detail. You know intimately who assassinated who. Who murdered possible heirs and who was not a good king.

Nothing escapes Your notice and no-one can ultimately ruin Your plans. No king, no ruler, no evil despot. And we too have to trust You, God in our present and our future. As Paul explains in Philippians (2:12,13), “Therefore, my dear friends . . . continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”

Your people in Israel and Judah continued to be a split family and they did not totally return to worship You in these generations. Though You were always there calling them to return to You. And it cost Your spokespeople greatly. Then You sent Your living Word and spoke into all nations. Now we have believers all around the world giving testimony and Your Holy Spirit as our strength and guide. And still nothing will or can stop You working Your purposes out.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Friday 4th July 2025

God is working this purpose out,
as year succeeds to year;
God is working this purpose out,
and the time is drawing near;
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be:
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west,
where human feet have trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
“Give ear to me, ye continents,
ye isles, give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.”

All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed.
Vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed.
Yet nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled with the glory of God
as the waters cover the sea.

Lyrics: Arthur Campbell Ainger

Wednesday 7th May 2025

“So Absalom and all the men of Israel said, “The advice of Hushai the Archite is better than the advice of Ahithophel.” For the Lord had purposed to defeat the good advice of Ahithophel, to the intent that the Lord might bring disaster on Absalom. 15 Then Hushai said to Zadok and Abiatha the priests, “Thus and so Ahithophel advised Absalom and the elders of Israel, and thus and so I have advised. 16 Now therefore, send quickly and tell David, saying, ‘Do not spend this night in the plains of the wilderness, but speedily cross over, lest the king and all the people who are with him be swallowed up.’” 2 Samuel 17:14-16 NKJV

Lord and Father,

It does seem sometimes that evil men know what to do and when and we long for the day when sin, pain, death will be no more (Revelation 21:4). But here we see that You had purposed to defeat the good advise the priest gave Absalom so that he could not hurt David your anointed king. As the New Living Translation clearly puts it, “For the Lord had determined to defeat the counsel of Ahithophel, which really was the better plan, so that he could bring disaster on Absalom!”

Sometimes Lord and Father God we need to step back and just look at a verse and see it in terms of eternity. You Lord are determined to defeat evil council, which seems the better plan, but so You can bring about Your eternal plan. For us You did not send Hushai, who in 1 Chronicles 27:33 is called Hushai the Archite and king David’s companion, but You sent Your Son. To show us the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6). You are determined and though we do not understand how, we know You will finally defeat evil as You defeated death at the cross (1 Corinthians 15:56)

When we are in two minds help us to clearly hear Your Holy Spirit. Help us in our decisions, Thank you for the wise Hushai’s in our lives. Thank you for You Holy Spirit who is our life giving companion. Hand us to find HIs joy today.

In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Worship Wednesday 7th May 2024
Back to a traditional hymn. The end gives the name of the choir and where they are from. It reminds me of 1 Chronicles and the listing of the children of Israel. God knows every one of us and by name.

 God is working his purpose out,
as year succeeds to year:
God is working his purpose out,
and the time is drawing near:
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled
with the glory of God,
as the waters cover the sea.

From utmost east to utmost west,
wherever man’s foot has trod,
by the mouth of many messengers
goes forth the voice of God:
give ear to me you continents,
you islands give ear to me,
that the earth may be filled
with the glory of God,
as the waters cover the sea.

What can we do to work God’s work
to prosper and increase,
the brotherhood of all mankind,
the reign of the Prince of Peace?
What can we do to hasten the time,
the time that shall surely be,
that the earth shall be filled
with the glory of God,
as the waters cover the sea.

March we forth in the strength of God
with the banner of Christ unfurled,
that the light of the glorious gospel of truth
may shine throughout the world;
fight we the fight with sorrow and sin
to set their captives free,
that the earth may be filled
with the glory of God,
as the waters cover the sea.

All we can do is nothing worth
unless God blesses the deed;
vainly we hope for the harvest-tide
till God gives life to the seed:
nearer and nearer draws the time,
the time that shall surely be,
when the earth shall be filled
with the glory of God,
as the waters cover the sea.

Musical interlude . . . listing members of the choir

Lyrics: Origin lyrics by Arthur C Ainger (1841 – 1919)