BH Bulletin - Wednesday 9 December 2020

Thought for the Day by Alex Forrest
​(Voluntary Staff Worker)

6 For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. 7 For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 8 So do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me his prisoner. Rather, join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God. 9 He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet this is no cause for shame, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until that day.
13 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. 14 Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.

One of the most amazing testimonies I’ve ever heard came from one of my best friends. She suffered severe social anxiety for most of her childhood, struggling to speak to people. Then she read the words of 2 Timothy 1:7 “the spirit God gave us does not make us timid but give us power, love and self-discipline”. She began to feel more and more confident in who God has called her to be and threw off the spirit of timidity that had trapped her. She became far more confident talking to people and later became president of her university Christian Union, getting up the front, speaking to big crowds and talking 1-to-1 with non-Christians about Jesus. The Holy Spirit has the power to do things like that within us. As someone who’s often a stutterer and a stammerer myself I always find this such an amazing encouragement.

The Spirit of God resides in each of us as Christians. It is an incredible gift from God, given to those he has chosen through his power and not ours, and it is our job to fan into flame that amazing gift that God has given us and grow it more within ourselves each day. Why do we do that? For the same purpose that God has chosen us, to tell others about him. To use that Spirit to grow the power, love, and self-discipline, our greatest weapons against the suffering we may endure when we share our testimony about the work Christ has done within us and seek to bring others to that knowledge. That is the Spirit of a God who has saved us and called us to a holy life. That is the Spirit of God that was present within Jesus as he destroyed death and brought us to life immortality. That is the spirit that will empower us to be the people God has called us to be.

And yet, how often do we fall into the trap of mumbling our invitations to come to a church event or join our online service? How often do we change the subject when people bring up the fact that we’re Christians and go to church? How often do we forget the power that drives out timidity within us? How often do we feel ashamed of our testimony?

Last week many of our prayers were dedicated to having boldness to talk to our friends about Jesus and invite them to online services over Christmas. Let’s keep praying that we would be fanning into flames the powerful spirit God has gave us, so that we might be the answer to those prayers.
Alex

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James Hannington Memorial Trust Christmas Appeal

As we look towards Christmas the James Hannington Memorial Trust (JHMT) highlight projects we would like to invite the church family to support.

This year we are supporting the work of our local charity Off The Fence. Paul Young was in church last Sunday to tell us more about the work they are doing locally.

We are also supporting the work of Martin Povey who has been working as an evangelist with the Association of Evangelists (AofE) travelling around the UK proclaiming the good news of Jesus in schools, colleges, universities, and churches! This Sunday we will be hearing more about Martin's work.

Please see this week's and last week's BH News' for more information on both projects. If you wish to support either or both please make payments direct to the JHMT bank account as follows.
CAF Bank Account Name: The James Hannington Memorial Trust
Sort Code: 40 52 40. Account Number: 00016678

If you would prefer to use a cheque, please send direct to Roger Bellamy at 1 Beechwood,
Millglade, Small Dole, West Sussex BN5 9YS with the cheque made payable to JHMT.

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Alpha resumes tonight.

The next session for Alpha is running tonight 19:30 to 21:00.  If you are not joining please pray for Alpha this evening and those attending.

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