BH Bulletin - Saturday 1 August 2020

Thought for the Day by Catharine Currell
​(Families Minister)

“When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralysed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city.”  Acts 8:6-8

Over the last few weeks we have focused on Sundays on the spread of the gospel in Acts and the prophetic visions of Daniel. In both of these parts of the Bible we see glimpses of the spiritual realities behind the events going on in the world and in our lives. In response we don’t want to become people who see the devil at work in every personal inconvenience or difficulty. But nor do we want to ignore the great truth that God’s enemies, though real and powerful are no match for the Lord Almighty. The culture we live in is very different to that of ancient Babylon or 1st century Samaria but Satan, it seems, is quite capable of adapting his methods to stir up doubt, fear and chaos in the world regardless of how advanced or sophisticated humanity may appear. But his machinations pale into insignificance in comparison with the Sovereign, Creator God who stands behind and above history and walks with us through 2020 just as he did with Daniel and Philip in centuries gone by.
Jesus! the name high over all,
In hell or earth or sky;
Angels and men before it fall,
And devils fear and fly.
Jesus! the name to sinners dear,
The name to sinners giv’n;
It scatters all their guilty fear,
It turns their hell to Heav’n.
Charles Wesley1749