Since graduating from the University of Manchester I’ve been working as a Graduate Bridge Engineer. Even though I’ve only been working for 5 months God has shown me his glory through the work that I do, from the design process right through to the finished product. The phrase ‘building bridges’ is commonly used when referring to reaching out to people or establishing relationships. We see this in many areas of society around us. It’s only since working on bridges that I have realised how complex they are, and how building bridges in reality and ‘building bridges’ in communities are very similar.

First foundations have to be established. Foundations are laid to stabilise the main structure. We believe the word of God is the foundation of our faith. Therefore, if we are all in agreement in what we believe then we cannot and will not compromise on what we stand for as the people of God.

A bridge doesn’t come as one huge structure just put in place by a crane. The size of the bridge determines the number of nuts, bolts, beams & plates needed to fix the whole bridge together. Each element is just as important as its counterpart. This is similar to how the body of Christ is described as having many parts. We are the body of Christ (Romans 12:5) and we need one another.

Finally, once the bridge is in place and is connected one side to the other, it serves a purpose, whether it supports pedestrians on top or allowing vehicles to safely pass underneath. The provision and reception of support and safety are so important within communities when circumstances are difficult. However our purpose is even more important. We are to glorify God in everything that we do, to be the salt and light of the earth (Matt 5:13) because God’s word says that they will know us for the love that we have for one another (John 13:35).

Me and my Dad went on a Mission 193 to Brussels, in Belgium. Our plane arrived there late afternoon. That evening we walked around the centre of the city and looked at the town square, and got chips.

The next day we went on some proper sight seeing. First we went to the Atomium. After we had been up to the top of the atomium we both declared all the Mission 193 scriptures over the nation of Belgium. Next we went to the European Union district. We found that the all the buildings were really big and designed very modern, in their shape. We then visited a park, which was opposite the buildings, where my Dad declared the scriptures over the country again, because you can’t over-read scriptures like: “ask of me, and I will surely give the nations as your inheritance” Psalms 2:8

We then went back in the centre and bought some chocolates and Tintin models for my brother and sister. Dave Emmett knew a couple in Brussels who were leading a church there and we had been in contact with them before we went. We were picked up by the co-pastor – Paul and his wife Jean who were from the Congo. They took us to a small building in a street with lots of houses on. I don’t speak French so I couldn’t really communicate with anyone very well. We sang a few songs (same as our songs, but in French) and prayed. Some more people arrived after about five minutes, so then there were eight of us altogether. We gave them the Bibles and took pictures of them. Then we gave them the church’s contact details because they wanted to write to us. He also was going to preach on the verses that we had read over Belgium. He then took us back to the hotel, and we went out to get some tea. It was great to have been an encouragement to another part of the body of Christ.

The next day we got the train really early back to the airport. Our flight was delayed which was a bit boring, but God is still amazing. But it was ok because it only took us 40 minutes to get to Manchester, thanks to the time difference.

“Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.”
(Galatians 6:7,8 ESV)

As those who passionately love the Lord Jesus we must each take responsibility for what we choose to read, watch and look at. It’s not that we’re frightened of the world. We live in this world with confidence as we boldly proclaim and demonstrate the truth of the Kingdom of God. But we are aware that whatever we sow into our lives will produce a harvest at some point. If we choose to take pleasure in that which is unwholesome or impure, we should not be surprised if we often find ourselves struggling with unrighteous thoughts and temptations. If we fill our hearts and minds with ideas that undermine the truth of who God is and what He will do in our world, we should not be surprised if we struggle to believe God for the miraculous.

You’ve probably seen the adverts for the forthcoming film, “The Golden Compass” due for release on 7th December. If you’ve got children they’ll almost certainly be aware of it as all their friends are likely to be talking about it. On the surface it seems a harmless family film. In fact, you might even watch it and think there’s nothing much wrong with it. But beneath the surface, it seems there is a hidden agenda.

“The Golden Compass” is based on the first book in a trilogy known as “His Dark Materials” written by Philip Pullman. Pullman is avowedly anti-Christian. He’s not just a non-believer but someone who intends to, in his own words, “kill God in the minds of children.” The first book in the series (called “Northern Lights” in the UK and “The Golden Compass” in the US) is reportedly the mildest of the three and the film is understood to have been slightly adapted to avoid offending the more conservative American audience. But the film will introduce children to the trilogy, encouraging them to buy the books and watch the other two films if they’re made.

We don’t have space to go into all the details of the stories here and admittedly I have not read them. (You can read a much more in-depth article by visiting http://www.licc.org.uk/articles/pullmans-purpose on the internet). Philip Pullman has said, “All stories teach, whether the storyteller intends them to or not. They teach the world we create. They teach the morality we live by.” In a 2003 interview with the Sydney Morning Herald he said, “My books are about killing God.” We’ve got every confidence in the overcoming power of the gospel we represent but we feel that every member of the church, and indeed the general population, should be aware of this agenda when deciding whether to watch the film or read the books. Judith and I have had an open and honest conversation with our children to explain why, despite all the hype, we’ve decided not to watch the latest blockbuster movie.

In Matthew 10:24 we read ‘A student is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master.’ Jesus was speaking to his disciples openly showing them that they would be persecuted because he was persecuted. Those who follow Him will be treated just as he was. This principle, of not being exempt from what the master went through, applies to several other areas of life, including prayer. Of course Jesus has promised that we will do great things in his name. He promises that we will heal the sick, just as he did; move mountains, raise the dead and do great and marvellous things. He even says greater things than he did shall we do when we believe. (See John 14:12-14)

In order for us to do the things that Jesus did, we ought also to live as Jesus lived. The bible is full of records of Jesus regularly in prayer. In Mark 1:33, he woke up early in the morning and went to a solitary place to pray. In Matthew 14:23 he went to the mountainside by himself to pray. In Mark 14:32 he left the disciples and told them ‘Sit here while I pray’. In John 17 we see Jesus actually praying for himself, his immediate disciples and for those who were later to believe. Therefore, in order for us to do the things that Jesus did, we ought also to pray. Perhaps we should wake up early in the morning. Or find a place where we can be alone. You see, for us to do the things that Jesus did, we ought to pray like he prayed; for a student is no greater than his master. As Dick Eastman says:

‘Those who learn to kneel in humility and weakness will soon feel God’s supernatural power. The man of prayer is the man of power.’

See related articles and the What’s On page for regular prayer times during November

“And the fame of David went out into all lands, and the LORD brought the fear of him upon all nations.” (1 Chronicles 14:17 ESV )

Inspired by God the Holy Spirit the writer of Chronicles recounts the history of Israel and how David takes hold of Jerusalem and many gather and join together to proclaim him as king. His kingdom is established and we read that his fame went out into all nations and all nations feared him. What a king! What a kingdom! Some foreign kings feared David and warred against him (and lost!); others, such as Hiram king of Tyre, feared David and loved him (1 Kings 5:1).

Chronicles was written around 500 years after David. At this time the mighty nation of Israel is no more; or let us say that following hundreds of years of division and ungodly rulers it has experienced a total eclipse. The kingdom is now only a fraction of what it had been under David’s rule. Then it had a king whose fame and fear was experienced by all nations; now there is only a governor responsible to a distant colonial Persian capital. Then, it had the finest army in the Near East with Joab its commander; now it has none. Then it overcame all its enemies, now many have been carried away by foreign troops into exile in Babylon and Persia. All in all you would say it appears to be a non-entity in comparison to the glory days of David’s reign.

Why cruelly mock the scattered Israelite readers reminding them of a past day of great things of such royal “fame and fear”? The fact is that at this very time when naturally Israel is nothing at all:

• Daniel stands up and repeatedly declares to the King of Babylon: “the Most High rules the kingdom of men and gives it to whom he will” (Daniel 4:17, 25, 32)

• With Persia as the world superpower, Nehemiah makes his request to King Artaxerxes and shows how God is absolutely in charge of the politics of that world power: “And the king granted me what I asked, for the good hand of my God was upon me.” (Nehemiah 2:8)

• In a world and a book where the name of God is not even mentioned, Esther shows how God is working behind the scenes and manipulating circumstances.

The power of God was plainly seen when David ruled and reigned; all nations knew of David’s fame and feared him. But now at the time of the writing of Chronicles the fame and fear of the King of kings is made even plainer when it is stripped of all earthly trappings and no longer embodied in a fallible man. People like Daniel, Nehemiah and Esther are those who spread the fame and fear of the King of kings as through faith they conquer kingdoms, obtain promises and shut the mouths of lions (Hebrews 11: 33) . All those reading Chronicles would have themselves witnessed the extraordinary statement of the Cyrus king of Persia when he said: “The LORD, the God of heaven, has given me all the kingdoms of the earth, and he has charged me to build him a house at Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Whoever is among you of all his people, may the LORD his God be with him. Let him go up.” ( 2 Chronicles 36:23)

What the Holy Spirit is making clear through Chronicles is that David’s power did not belong only to his lifetime; or even the 400 year period over which his descendants ruled a political kingdom. Those “good old days” merely depict one representation of the rule of God through human agents. The rule and reign of God is even more sharply seen when contrasted against the backdrop of pagan kings and the likes of Daniel, Nehemiah and Esther being made “strong out of weakness” (Hebrew 11:34).

Nearly two and half thousand years later we find ourselves in a similar situation. The throne has been set up in the person of a flesh-and-blood King. This King is a “son of David”. Although He is alive today with a never-ending life we do not see Him enthroned in Jerusalem. His people are often counted as nothing in terms of worldly political power. Just as in the Chronicler’s day some look back with nostalgia at past revivals and times when the people of God seemed to wield more earthly power. Today to talk of His Kingdom in secular terms is to be mocked and seen as irrelevant just as it must have been at the time of the writing of Chronicles.

As King’s Church we take hold of the message of Chronicles and we continue, even in our time, to spread the fame and the fear of the King. Yes, it’s true that at present most reject Him in our city, but many fear Him and spread His fame. His Kingdom stretches much further today than some 300 miles in the Middle East as it did at the height of David’s reign. Today the fear of Him and His fame stretch to the homes, offices, universities, hospitals and schools of Manchester. Yes, we are living in a nation, which rejects His rule, yet we continue to proclaim His authority to forgive sin, to heal diseases, to bring justice and freedom to the oppressed, to take the Gospel of His Kingdom to all 193 nations making His name famous and feared across the globe. This ever-increasing Kingdom (Isaiah 9:7) is what we give our lives for as we hasten the day when every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. (Philippians 2:10-11)

We are King’s Church – Making Jesus Famous in all lands and seeing the Lord bring the fear of Him on all nations!