Social Justice – an issue on God’s heart

Isaiah 1v 17 Seek justice, encourage the oppressed.  Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

Zechariah 7 v9-10 “This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’

Jeremiah 22 v3 This is what the Lord says: Do what is just and right. Rescue from the hands of their
oppressors those who have been robbed. Do no wrong or violence to the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place.Luke 4 v18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is on me because he has anointed me to preach good news to
the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.The verses above show God’s heart for all people. To speak out for those who have no voice, to promote justice and to welcome the foreigner. There is plenty of opportunity as Christians and churches to take action in our communities and in our nation. To read how to get involved, check out the Joint Public Issues Team https://jpit.uk/ A faith based grouping of denominations who work together to have a Christian voice nationally.We must remember while we are feeding, clothing and welcoming people as instructed, that we alone as the people of God have the good news to spread as in Luke 4 above. The love of Jesus, forgiveness and eternal life are the greatest gifts, the best way to help people. Let’s work with God who is still transforming
lives!

Micah 6:8 He has shown all you people what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

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Isaiah 43 v10-13

“But you are my witnesses, O Israel!” says the Lord. “You are my servant. You have been chosen to know me, believe in me, and understand that I alone am God. There is no other God— there never has been, and there never will be. I, Yes I, am the Lord, and there is no other Saviour. First I predicted your rescue, then I saved you and proclaimed it to the world. No foreign god has ever done this. You are witnesses that I am the only God,” says the Lord. “From eternity to eternity I am God. No one can snatch anyone out of my hand. No one can undo what I have done.”

This passage tells us:

1. Who we are – chosen to know Him, believe and testify that He has rescued us
2. Who God is – the only God and our Saviour who speaks, sees the big picture and saved us
3. Our purpose – His witnesses
4. God promises to hold us into eternity

This is not only for each of us individually, but also for each church, no matter what size. We need to remember and celebrate these truths often, keeping the cross central. We get so distracted by other issues, often about the work of the Lord, that we lose the joy of the Lord of the work!

It feels like time is getting shorter (definitely faster!) so there is more urgency to share our good news and the hope that we have. In the national news, people are dying unexpectedly every day. We don’t know how long we or anyone else will live. They need to hear the good news today!

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Hold and Be Held

God spoke these words through Isaiah to God’s people Israel. We are also God’s people, those who believe in God, Father Son and Holy Spirit. It is written to you, today.

Read this out loud, slowly, and meditate on each phrase…

Isaiah 43 v1-4 NLT

“But now, O Jacob, listen to the Lord who created you. O Israel, the one who formed you says, “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour…You are precious to me. You are honoured in my sight, and I love you”.

Many smaller churches are stretched and struggling as life has changed since covid. Many secretaries, treasurers, gifted members and givers have either died or moved away.

But rather than being downhearted and discouraged, they choose to look up to God and hold His promises close. Prayer has deepened, God is at work and new life is slowly rising from the ground. Some small churches are choosing to meet for regular encouragement, teaching and fellowship. We are stronger together especially through these difficult days.

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Isaiah 27

Isaiah 27 v2-3 “In that day — Sing about a fruitful vineyard: I, the Lord, watch over it; I water it continually. I guard it day and night so that no one may harm it”.

Earlier in his book. Isaiah explains the vineyard imagery – Isaiah 5 v7 “The nation of Israel is the vineyard of the Lord”. In chapter 5 he says things are not going well in the vineyard but by chapter 27, God is again looking after his people.

I noted the 3 words, which led me to other thoughts about God’s care:

Watch – interested – observe – keep an eye on – love

Water – refreshes – Holy Spirit – growth

Guard – protects – defend – shield

He continues…

Isaiah 27 v5 … “let them come to me for refuge; let them make peace with me, yes, let them make peace with me.” In days to come Jacob will take root, Israel will bud and blossom and fill all the world with fruit.

Refuge – shelter – sanctuary – safety

Peace – calm – order not chaos – stillness – wellbeing

Then signs of good life: Root then Bud then Blossom then Fruit. We are familiar with this cycle of life in plants. Do we see this cycle in our lives too? The deeper the roots, the more fruit.

Jesus says to us in john 15 v 5 “I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

All of these actions and growth have nothing to do with numbers of people! Pray for growth and fruitfulness in your small church.

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Re-Routing the Church

I do a lot of driving in my job encouraging churches so when the sat nav was invented, it quickly became my best friend on journeys to unknown parts of London. It tells me the quickest route to my destination, not necessarily the least miles, but the shortest time. Using it, I made it safely to a church in Enfield last Sunday (despite my usual junction being closed!) for my first preach in person since October! From time to time though, I miss a turning by accident and continue straight on. The sat nav then gives me one of 2 messages: do a U-turn or ‘re-routing’. If I follow either of these, I will get to my destination!

I love the way God works in the ordinary to teach us spiritual truths.

If the turn I have taken isn’t drastically wrong, God will work in such a way that despite my chosen detour, I still end up at His chosen destination for me. Experience says that if I do this, I have things to learn on the way! If I stray from God’s route for me by heading in a totally wrong direction, I hear the Spirit telling me to do a U-turn or ‘repent’.

Isaiah says that God keeps His eye on us to keep us on track in chapter 30 v21 And if you leave God’s paths and go astray, you will hear a Voice behind you say, “No, this is the way; walk here.”

If we walk in God’s way, there is great blessing for us. Moses outlines the 10 commandments in Deuteronomy 4 then says in chapter 7 v12-14 If you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the Lord your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors. He will love you and bless you.

We need to keep on walking in the Spirit daily, listening to His instructions.

• As leaders, do we need re-routing?
• Do our churches need re-routing?
• Are we just going back to the future we thought we had, or are we open to God’s new plan for us?
• Do we need re-routing from the path we used to be on, to care more deeply for our community in their grief and new circumstances?

Take time with God to review before moving on…

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2020 Vision

The Great Realisation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nw5KQMXDiM4

You will probably have seen this lovely 4 minute film of a father reading a story to a child of how the world changed after 2020. You may think this is just wishful thinking, but it is interesting that we are being challenged on all life fronts in 2020. It ends with the phrase 20/20 vision.

20/20 vision is a term used to express normal visual acuity (the clarity or sharpness of vision) measured at a distance of 20 feet. If you have 20/20 vision, you can see clearly at 20 feet what should normally be seen at that distance.

So, after this period of lockdown and change, we should hopefully see and appreciate both ourselves, each other and our world more clearly. We are being faced globally with our mortality, fragility and our deep need for relationship. Challenges with our health, finances and family have all beset us.

Our appreciation has grown for the small things – a phone/video call or a neighbour offering to help, as well as the big things – thousands of NHS and key workers risking their health to serve us, or the decision makers who advise boundaries for our safety.

We need to be praying that God would lift our eyes from ourselves in these times and enable us to see not only what He is doing but how we can be partners with Him to fulfil His plan.

Isaiah 43:19 See, I am doing a new thing!  Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. TNIV

We need to see and appreciate our health, the sunshine, the plants, the beauty of creation and lift out thanks to God in heaven.

We also need to open the way for God into those places that we have shut Him out of – our homes, our schools, our workplaces, our lives, and watch Him bring life, wholeness and peace to our land. Maybe life can be like the film suggests…..

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