BH Bulletin - Wednesday 2 December 2020

Thought for the Day by Stephen Demetriou
​(Youth Minister at BH)

​Romans 8:14-17
Certain passages in the Bible are like old faithful friends who time and again lift weary and battered hearts up.
Romans 8 is one such friend that has walked alongside me in deep dark valleys and difficult roads.
An old faithful friend who keeps bringing up more reasons to praise and marvel at our Great God.

Romans 8:14-17.
14 For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. 15 The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship, And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. 17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
 
God, our Glorious Father sends His Son, and His Spirit; and on these two sendings hangs our entire salvation. As one writer put it: Without them, God would still be a Father, but He wouldn’t be our Father. He would still have a Son, but he wouldn’t have many sons [And daughters!]
The God of the universe invites us in to his family as children, with Him as our Father!?!?
Wow!!!
​
Yet, aren’t there days we doubt our adoption?
Days that we think, ‘no way I could ever be counted as one of God’s children, He’s so perfect and I’m so not…’?
Or days we say ‘God, how can I know that I’m one of your children?’
 
v16 provides the answer the Spirit who testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.
The Spirit. Like a last-minute witness in a court room bringing the missing evidence that puts the verdict beyond doubt, the Spirit testifies to our adoption once for all! His declaration over us is that we who trust in Christ, are sons and daughters of the Lord God Almighty, a status and adoption that can never change or be altered. He is our guarantee!
 
I think this works out practically in our prayers.
Every time we say the word Father; the Spirit is testifying to our adoption.
Every time we cry Father the Spirit whispers to our souls that we are sons and daughters of the Living God not by our effort but by Christ’s finished work.
Every utterance of the word Father is the Spirit preaching the gospel to our soul that we are cherished and loved and valued by our Father through the Son.
 
So today, when you call on God our Father, hear the Spirit testifying that you are His cherished child and rejoice.
​Stephen

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Week of Prayer - Day 3

​Today is the third day of the BH Week of Prayer.  Join together with others to pray on zoom for half an hour at 7am and also at 8pm if your Small Group meets today.

​Join via Churchsuite or the website under What's happening/Events/Featured Events

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Church Pigeon Holes are closed

Due to the restrictions caused by the Covid Pandemic the use and movement of paper around the church is very restricted. This year we are having to close the church pigeons holes to comply with this. Please do not try to leave any Christmas Cards there for collection.

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Books Alive Reopens Today

Now that Lockdown 2 finished early this morning Books Alive can now reopen and you are able to visit again. For all your christian books and other items please give them a visit. You may also order any books on-line or phone Gillian direct on 01273-738818.

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