SUNDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER 2025
 

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me” (Jn. 17:20-21).
 
In the above passage Jesus having prayed to his Father for his disciples that he would “protect them from the evil one” and to “sanctify them by the truth,” the truth of God’s word (vv. 15, 17), he prayers that all who would believe in him through their message “may be one.”
 
The unity of the church which Jesus speaks of is described as being in the same way in which the Father is in Jesus and Jesus is in the Father. In other words, the intimate relationship and unity that exists between the Father and the Son.
 
Elsewhere Jesus describes his intimate relationship with the Father by saying that “no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him” (Mt. 11:27). So here Jesus is teaching us that the unity of the Church should be of the same essential nature as that of between the Father and the Son.
 
So, whilst there may be differences between believers as reflected in the many denominations and movements that exist in our day, they centred around secondary issues such as: views regarding church government; women in ministry; the role of spiritual gifts; styles of worship, views on end time events, etc, rather than core beliefs and practices of Christianity.

Genuine believers have all confessed faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and are indwelt by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 10:9-10; 2 Cor. 12:13). Without the indwelling of the Holy Spirit a person is not a Christian nor can he or she genuinely declare that Jesus is their Lord and Saviour (Rom. 8:9; 1 Cor. 12:3). In fact, the unity of the Church results from the union of believers with the Father and the Son through the indwelling of the Spirit (cf. Jn. 14:23; 15:4-10).

But not only will genuine believers confess faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and be indwelt by the Holy Spirit, but they will be committed to core beliefs and practices that have been “revealed by the Spirit to God’s holy apostles and prophets” and have been “entrusted to God’s holy people” throughout this gospel age (cf. Eph. 3:5; Jude 3).

Such beliefs include the belief in: one body of Christ – the Church, that is indwelt by one Holy Spirit; one blessed hope in the appearance of our great God and Saviour in the person of Jesus Christ at the end of this age; that salvation is found only through faith in the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ; that genuine discipleship is expressed by water baptism in the name of the triune God; and that there is one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all (cf. Eph. 4:4-6; Tit. 2:13; Acts 4:12; Mt. 28:19; 1 Cor. 8:6).

Because there is only one true church indwelt by the Holy Spirit, there should be no sectarian attitude among true believers regardless of what denomination or movement that they belong to. When Jesus’ disciple indulged in such sectarian attitude by telling a man to stop driving out demons in Jesus’ name because he was not one of them, Jesus rebuked them and said, “for whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk. 9:38-40).

So, whilst we must be committed to the core beliefs and practices of Christianity and certainly be on our guard against all forms of false beliefs and practices, we are commanded to “love each other” just as Christ has loved us (Jn. 15:12-13).

As believers we might belong to different denominations and movements within Christianity, however, scripture understands that all believers through the Spirit have been baptized into one body and made to drink of one Spirit (1 Cor. 12:13), and irrespective of their denomination or movement they all belong to the body of Christ and so if one member suffers, we all suffer together; and if one member is honoured, we all rejoice together (1 Cor. 12:27).

So as believers there are two ways that we can demonstrate the unity of the church that Jesus prayed for. Firstly, we can pray together. Jesus promises his church that where two or three believers gather in his name, he is with them (Mt. 18:20). So, as we gather to pray together from different denominations and movements the Lord is among us by his Spirit (cf. Rev. 1:13; 2:1).

Secondly, closely linked with praying together is worshipping together. In Jn. 4:20-24, Jesus teaches us that the true worship that the Father is seeking is no longer limited to a particular place (i.e. in Jerusalem) and a particular ethnic group (i.e. Jews), but is now worship that comes from a people that will worship him “in spirit and truth”. Such people are believers who are indwelt by the Holy Spirit and have accepted the truth of the gospel (1 Cor. 2:13; Gal. 2:5).

As a consequence of these two key practices, believers demonstrate their love for one another and to everyone around them that they are true disciples of Jesus (Jn. 13:34-35). Such prayer and worship together will serve as a witness to the world, that God has sent Jesus into the world to save sinners (Jn. 17:21). May the Lord continue to bless WHBC and the NTCG as we celebrate a joint service this afternoon. God bless you.
 

SUNDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER 2025

“After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. ¹⁰ And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” (Rev. 7:9-10).

The “great multitude,” refers to “those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel,” and speaks of God’s people from every nation on earth, consisting of Jews and Gentiles, of which he knows the exact number (cf. Mt. 28:19; 2 Tim. 2:19).

In these verses, we have the fulfilment of the promise to Abraham that he will become the father of many nations (cf. Gen. 12:12:1-3; 13:16; 15:5; 16:10). Scripture spiritualizes the promise of Abraham and interprets the offspring of Abraham to be Christ and all those who put faith in Jesus for salvation (cf. Rom. 4:16-18; 9:6-13; Gal. 3:16).

The internationality of God’s people is reflected even at the point of Jesus’ crucifixion, at which a certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country. They forced him to carry the cross (Mt. 27:32). Cyrene was a Greek city in Libya, North Africa, hence, Simon was a darked skinned African disciple of the Lord (Acts 2:10b). He was also the father of the disciples Rufus and Alexander (Mk. 15:21; cf. Rom. 16:13)

Before his ascension to his Father in heaven, Jesus reminds his disciples that all authority in heaven and on earth had been given to him by the Father (cf. Phil. 2:9-11), and gives them the great commission, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Mt. 28:18-20).
 
With the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on 120 disciples gathered in the house, Peter preached the gospel to various nationalities of both Jews and converts to Judaism gathered in Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost (Acts 1:15; 2:1, 11, 14).
 
In the book of Acts, we see the fulfilment of the great commission to make disciples of all nations (Mt. 28:19; Acts 1:8), being carried out by the early Jewish church, first in the conversion of the Jews in Jerusalem (Acts 2:37-42; 4:1-4); the Samaritans, and Philip the evangelist preaching the gospel to an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means “queen of the Ethiopians”), another dark skinned African believer in Christ.
 
In fact, it was for at least the first 15 years that Christianity centred around the Jewish diaspora in the Middle East and North Africa, before it eventually spread to the Gentiles. The apostle Peter, following a vision from the Lord, preached the gospel to the Gentiles, and he declared to the household of Cornelius in Caesarea a Roman city in Palestine, that he now realises “how true it is that God does not show favouritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right" (Acts 10:34-35).
 
The gospel is then proclaimed in Europe. It was during the night that Paul had a vision from the Lord of a man of Macedonia (Greece) standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” After Paul had seen the vision, his missionary team concluded that God had called them to preach the gospel to the Macedonians (Acts 16:9-10). Finally, the gospel is spread throughout the Roman Empire and Asia Minor (Acts 28:11ff; Rev. 2-3). The church of Jesus Christ is now an international church consisting of “every nation, tribe, people and language” (cf. Rom. 9:6-13; Gal. 3:28).
 
This international church of Jesus Christ is a worshipping and serving church, “standing before the throne and before the Lamb” (v.9b), speaks of having fellowship before God, and tendering service and sharing in the honour of the Lamb. It is also a holy church “wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands” (v. 9c), which speaks of festivity, blessedness, and their whiteness symbolizes imputed righteousness, holiness, heavenly existence or worthiness of heaven, and the immortal physical life of the resurrection. The holding of palm branches in their hands anticipates the second coming of Jesus, which coincides with the Feast of Tabernacles (cf. Lev. 23:26-32, 39-44; Ps. 118:26-27; Jn. 12:13).
 
Finally, this international church is a church that has experienced the full salvation of the Lord, as “they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb” (vv. 10-12). They cry out their “deliverance” or “victory” from sin and over persecution and tribulation, which is expressed in them falling “down on their faces before the throne” and worshipping God with audible praises and thanksgiving.
 
As an international church let us not hold back in our demonstrative worship of God, but as believers, let’s allow the Lord to build his multigenerational and multi-national church to God’s glory. God bless you.

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Eph. 2:8-10).

In this passage of scripture, Paul explains that we are saved by faith through grace and that there is no human works that we can do to aid our own salvation. However, although we are not saved by works, God has called us “to do good works” (Eph. 2:10), which God has prepared for us to do. These works come out of a life that is lived in the Spirit through allowing the Lord to work in us “to will and to act in order to fulfil his good purpose” (Phil. 2:13; Gal. 5:16).

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are called to be fruitful. We can only be fruitful through having a genuine relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. God’s will for us is that we will “bear much fruit,” showing ourselves to be disciples of Jesus (cf. Jn. 15:1-5, 8, 16).

As believers who have participated “in the divine nature,” and have “escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires,” we are called to grow in the Christian qualities of faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, mutual affection, and love. If we possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep us from being ineffective and unproductive in our knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 2 Pet. 2:4-8).

So, although as believers we can never be saved by human works or the law, but only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. Gal. 2:16), genuine saving faith is a faith that will produce good works and deeds. True faith will be reflected in a Christian life that produces spiritual fruit and good deeds by the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer (cf. Jam. 2:17-18).

Hence, if as believer there is no growth in spiritual fruit, good works or Christian qualities, scriptures says that we are “nearsighted and blind,” and we have forgotten that we have been cleansed from our past sins to grow in the Christian qualities of Jesus (cf. 2 Pet. 2:9).

As believers and local churches, the Lord is constantly judging us with regards to our current “deeds” and “works.” “I know your deeds or works” is a repeated phrase to the seven churches of the book of Revelation (cf. Rev. 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15). Here “deeds” and “works” refer to every form of labour that directly involves ministry, i.e. service to others and contending for the truth of the gospel. The exalted Christ is fully aware of the conduct of all members and factions of every local church; we cannot hide from the blazing fire of the eyes of the Lord (cf. Rev. 1:14; 2:18).

It is so important that as believers that we “do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” and that these “works” are in line with God’s will and purpose for our lives, and that they do not find their origin in manmade and selfish motives (cf. Eph. 2:10; Phil. 2:13; Mt. 6:1; 23:5).

On the day of judgement, true believers will not be judged with regard to their salvation. Still, they will be judged as regards the fruit and works that they have produced (cf. 2 Cor. 5:10). Sadly, some professing Christians will claim the use of their prophetic, deliverance and miraculous ministries as evidence of their good works. Still, Jesus will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ (cf. Mt. 7:15-23).

Such, professing Christians are rejected by the Lord because they did not develop an intimate relationship with the Lord, although they were busy ministering for the Lord. Do you love ministry more than you love the Lord? Are you like Martha “distracted by all kinds of preparations that have to be made….and worried and upset about many things?” Or are you like Mary who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said and so choose what is better? (cf. Lk. 10:38-42).

On the day of judgement all true believers will have their works tested by the Lord as to whether its foundation is built on Jesus Christ and it is motivated by the Holy Spirit. “For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person’s work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.” (1 Cor. 3:11-15).

It is therefore important that as believers we should regularly test and evaluate ourselves before the Lord to discern if our fruit and works are truly of the Lord (cf. 2 Cor. 13:5; 2 Pet. 1:10-11). However, failure to evaluate and judge ourselves can lead to the discipline or chastening hand of the Lord upon our lives as a means of bringing about his holiness in our lives (cf. 1 Cor. 11:27-32; Heb. 12:4-12; Rev. 2:20-23). Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election. God bless you.

SUNDAY 24TH AUGUST 2025

“But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Pet. 3:15-16).

In the above passage, the apostle Peter encourages the believers in the churches “scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia” (1 Pet. 1:1), to always be prepared to give an explanation of the hope that they have. What is this hope?

This hope is the result of the new birth experience by which we receive eternal life by faith and have the hope of immortality, which Jesus shall give us when he returns to judge the world and establish the kingdom of God (cf.  Pet. 1:3-5; 2 Tim. 1:9-10; 1 Cor. 15:24).

As believers and disciples of the Lord Jesus, were called to preach this gospel of hope, that is, the message of Jesus Christ, and that through his death, resurrection, and ascension, all who will repent and believe will experience the forgiveness of sin, reconciliation with God, eternal life and a future hope of immortality (Acts 10:43; Rom. 2:7).

We will become effective witnesses of the gospel of hope by practicing two important Christian disciplines in our Christian Walk.

Firstly, we must practice the Christian discipline of prayer and listening to the Lord for direction on how and whom He would have us share the gospel with.

It was during Peter's regular noon prayer time that he had a vision from the Lord to preach the gospel to the Gentiles (Acts 10:1-18). In his personal prayer life, he was willing to wait on the Lord and listen to what He had to say, then obey Him. "While Peter was still thinking about the vision, the Spirit said to him, "Simon, three men are looking for you. So, get up and go downstairs. Do not hesitate to go with them, for I have sent them" (Acts 10:19-20).

Are you praying daily before the Lord? Do you take the time to wait on the Lord and listen to His instructions for you? Make it a point to practice regular and continuous prayer throughout the day and to hear what the Lord is telling you to do (cf. Ps. 55:17; Dan. 6:10; Acts 2:15; 3:1; 10:3, 9).

Not only is your personal private prayer before the Lord important (cf. Mt. 6:5-6), but your corporate prayer life with other believers is also important. It was after the believers in the Jerusalem church had “prayed,” and the place where they were meeting was shaken, that they were “all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly” (Acts 4:31).

Cooperate prayer as a church is important if we are to preach the gospel with boldness in a secular world that wants us to be quiet about the gospel (cf. Acts 4:18-20; 5:28). As a committed member of WHBC make it a priority to join in at every opportunity of corporate prayer, i.e. pre-service prayer on Sunday mornings and our all-church prayer meeting on the first Thursday of every month. As we pray corporately as a church, the Holy Spirit will give us His strategy for reaching our community with the gospel of hope.

Secondly, if we are to become effective witnesses of the gospel, we must practice the Christian discipline of holiness. Peter went on to say “keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behaviour in Christ may be ashamed of their slander” (1 Pet. 3:16). Another of the Lord’s apostles put it this way, “all who have this hope in him (Christ) purify themselves, just as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3). In other words, if we really have the hope of God in our lives, then we will be like the Lord in our behaviour and attitude.

In fact, our lifestyle will speak more loudly about the gospel than our words. If believers criticise us for being a Christian “it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler” but because of our “good behaviour in Christ,” and such criticism should make them ashamed of their unjustified slander against our godly character (cf. 1 Pet. 4:15; 3:16).

If you were brought before a secular court accused of being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ, would there be enough evidence to convict you? Or would the cry from the jury be “hypocrite”?  God had called the nation of Israel to be “a light for the Gentiles,” and that through their lifestyle His “salvation may reach to the ends of the earth” (cf. Isa. 49:6; 60:3). However, because of Israel’s hypocrisy and idolatry God’s name was “blasphemed among the Gentiles” (cf. Isa. 52:5; Ezek. 36:20-21; Rom. 2:24).

Today God commands His Church to be “a light for the Gentiles,” and to “bring salvation to the ends of the earth” (Acts 13:47). Jesus commands you today as a believer to “let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven” (Mt. 5:16). Let us proclaim this gospel of hope through a life of prayer, being led by the Spirit, and a life of holiness. God bless you.

SUNDAY 17TH AUGUST 2025

"And they cried out in a loud voice: ‘Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.' (Rev. 7:10)

In the passage above from the book of Revelation we read of God’s people singing and praising him for their “Salvation,” literally, for their “deliverance” or “victory” from sin and over persecution and tribulation. They attribute their salvation to God alone.

God is the author and the initiation of the salvation of humanity. When Adam and Eve sinned The LORD God said, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” In other words, the Lord promised that there would be an offspring from a woman that will give a death blow to the work of Satan.

Christ is that promised offspring and through his crucifixion, resurrection and exaltation to the Father’s right hand, he has dealt a death blow to Satan (i.e. the dragon and the beast) (Gal. 3:16; cf. Lk. 10:17-24; 11:14-22; Jn. 12:31-33; Col. 2:15; Rev. 1:5; 5:9; 13:3). By the cross Jesus bruised the serpent’s head (cf. Rom. 16:20). God is the source and initiator of all salvation that we experience today. Jesus taught that no one can come to him unless the Father who sent him draws them (Jn. 6:44).

However, although God is the source of each person’s salvation, as believers we have a responsibility to proclaim the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ because, “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).

Like the people of God in the OT – the nation of Israel, the people of God in the NT - the Church, have been commanded by the Lord to be “a light for the Gentiles,” and to bring God’s message of salvation throughout the earth (Acts 13:47). The church is called to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name” and to teach them to obey the teachings of Jesus (Mt. 28:19-20).

When the church preaches the gospel of salvation all those who have been appointed for eternal life will believe the gospel (Acts 13:48). We must trust the Lord that as we faithfully proclaim the gospel of the kingdom, the Lord will add to our numbers “daily” those who are being saved. (Acts 2:47)

However, it is not enough to go out and proclaim the gospel; we must also be sensitive to the Spirit’s direction, sometimes through angelic appearances and visions, in guiding us in our missionary and evangelistic strategies for proclaiming the gospel.

The early church demonstrated this sensitivity to the Spirit. The evangelist Philip was commanded by “an angel of the Lord” to go South, where he met an Ethiopian eunuch, and then “the Spirit” told Philip to go to the Ethiopian and speak to him. As a result of sharing the gospel with him, the Ethiopian believed and was baptised (Acts 8:26-38). Following his baptism of the Ethiopian, “the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away”, and he “appeared at Azotus” (Acts 8:39-40).

The apostle Peter, while in prayer, received a vision from the Lord. While he was still thinking about the vision, “the Spirit” spoke to him about evangelising the Gentiles. On preaching the gospel of forgiveness to the Gentiles, they received “the gift of the Holy Spirit,” and they were “baptised in the name of Jesus Christ” (Acts 10:9-48).

There was an openness to the Spirit in discerning those who were called to lead missionary trips. While worshipping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ Consequently, they were sent on their way “by the Holy Spirit” (Acts 13:2-4).

Finally, Paul and his companions in evangelising their world were open to the Spirit changing their plans. “… having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to… During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them” (Acts 16: 6-10).

Even when in prison, Paul was encouraged by the Spirit that he was in God’s will “One night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision: ‘Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent. ¹⁰ For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city.’ ¹¹ So Paul stayed in Corinth for a year and a half, teaching them the word of God” (Acts 18:9-11). God bless you as you grow in sensitivity to yield to the direction of the Spirit.
 

SUNDAY 10TH AUGUST 2025

“Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Rev. 2:5).

The church at Ephesus is praised by Jesus for its orthodoxy, but rebuked for its failure to love, and is challenged to repent and return to its original high ground of love and commitment for each other and the Lord (Rev. 2:1-7; cf. 2 Jn. 5). Jesus’ reference to their “deeds” refers to every form of labour that directly involves ministry, i.e. service to others and contending for the truth of the gospel, while “perseverance” means that they have not flagged in doing ministry (v. 2a).

In Revelation the phrase “your deeds or works” occurs after the term “I know” (vv. 2:2, 19; 3:1, 8, 15), and reminds us as believers that the exalted Christ is fully aware of the conduct of all members and the various factions within every local church, we cannot hide from the Lord.
 
Christ commended the church at Ephesus because they had “… tested those who claim to be apostles but are not and have found them false” (v. 2b). Such false apostles arose within the NT church and were sometimes Paul’s chief opponents (cf. Acts 20:29-30; 1Cor. 11:5, 13; 12:11). They were “false” apostles because they preached a “false” gospel (2 Cor. 11:4; Gal.1:7-9).
 
The sin that Christ holds against the church at Ephesus was that she had forsaken the love she “had at first” (v. 4). Here Christ has in mind both their love for him and one another. The two aspects are inseparable. “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.” (1 Jn. 4:20).
 
When we fail to love as God demands the gospel is no longer good news for sinners, because Jesus says, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn. 13:34-35). In a quest for doctrinal purity, the church had become overly suspicious of its own membership and lacked the love of Jesus.
 
Jesus warns the Church at Ephesus that if they do not repent, “I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (v. 5). When a church closes down, it is not in spite of Jesus and despite of our prayers.  Jesus answers our prayers for the Church not just by blessing existing churches and new church plants, but also by closing down some churches after numerous warnings, which bring disgrace to his name. In the same way God chastened his people in the OT through captivity and oppression from their enemies, so today the Father prunes unfruitful branches so that the whole vine can be fruitful (cf. Jn. 15:1-2, 16).
 
The threat of the removal of the lampstand, i.e. a local church (cf. Rev. 1:20), illustrates the justice, providence, and intention of God. Neither God nor his kingdom is endangered by the removal of a church, even one as successful and strategic as the church at Ephesus.
 
Last Thursday we received the sad news that Spurgeon’s Bible College in South London closed after 169 years following the sudden loss of funding from a rich financier. When Charles Spurgeon founded the college in 1856, it was committed to training men and women for preaching, pastoring and evangelism and to plant evangelical Baptist churches throughout London at the rate of at least one church every year. However, today we seem more concerned with producing academic scholars and theologians who struggle to pastor, let alone plant a church. Many of our churches have an ageing and declining membership, and some have experienced closure.
 
Revelation 2:5 teaches us that no ministry, church, person or theological institution is indispensable regarding the establishment of the kingdom of God. This should motivate us to seek to know and do the will of the Father in this hour and to have a passion to preach the truth of the gospel, rather than seeking to please men.
 
Many believers and Baptist ministers today have compromised the gospel to please carnal Christians and the world. Like the Nicolaitans, a heretical group that affected many NT churches (v. 6; cf. Rev. 2:14-15; 20-21), we have colluded with our secular society today, in justifying that a sexually immoral lifestyle is compatible with being a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ (cf. 1 Cor. 6:9-10). Many claim to practice idolatry and immorality under the banner of God’s grace (cf. Rom. 3:8; 6:1); however, the Lord is calling a faithful remnant in the church to reject such false teachings (cf. 1 Jn. 5:21).
 
I believe that with the closure of Spurgeon’s College and many of our local churches declining and closing, the Lord is admonishing us to “hear what the Spirit says to the churches” (v. 7a; cf. Rev. 2:11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). The demise of Spurgeon’s College is a prophetic symbol from the Lord to his churches today (cf. Mk. 4:9, 23; Mt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Lk. 8:8; 14:35).
 
Each message that the Lord gave to specific congregations in Revelation was intended that all the other churches would learn from them (Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22). There is no such thing as a totally independent or autonomous local church. What is the Lord saying to the Baptist Union of Great Britain (BUGB) and our local Baptist churches today, through the closure of Spurgeon’s Bible College? He says, “Consider how far you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place” (Rev. 2:5). God bless you.

 SUNDAY 3RD AUGUST 2025

“Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth” (Jn. 4:21-24)

I.   Introduction

a.  Worship is more than singing, it is a way of life (Rom. 12:1-2). 

b.  To worship the Lord effectively involves worshiping Him in Spirit and in truth
     Rom. 8:14).

 
II.  There was an openness to the Spirit and the prophetic word within
     gathered worship. 

a.  The gift of prophecy and exhortation are important in building up the body
     of Christ cf. 1 Cor. 14:1-5, 8-19, 26, 39-40; 1 Thess. 5:11). 

b.  Sometimes the prophetic word may be used to bring about conviction and
     conversion of an unbeliever (1 Cor. 14: 22-  25). 


III. There was sensitivity to the Spirit’s direction, through angelic
     appearances and visions in their missionary strategy and in
     proclaiming the gospel. 

a.  The evangelist Philip in Samaria (Acts 8:26-40). 

b.  The apostle Peter in evangelising the Gentiles (Acts 10:9-23). 

c.  There was an openness to the Spirit discerning those who were
     called to lead missionary trips (Acts 13:1-4). 

d.  There was also an openness to the direction they should take in
     their missionary strategies (Acts 16: 6-10; 18:9-11).


IV. Demonstration of the gospel through conversions, miraculous signs and
     healings. 

a.  Jesus promised believers that signs would accompany those who believe
     (Mk. 16:15-18). 

b.  As part of their life of worship and the proclamation of the gospel
     the apostles performed conversions, miraculous signs and healings
     (Acts 3:1-10; 5: 12-16; 8:6-12; 13:6-12; 19:11-20).


V.  To corporately test the things of the Spirit to see if they are of the Lord. 

a.   Jesus warns us of false prophets and false disciples (Mt. 7:15-23). 
b.   Congregations are to encourage the use of spiritual gifts of tongues and
      prophecy; however, they are to test them and the people that deliver them
      (1 Cor. 14:26-33; 1 Thess. 5:19-21; 1 Jn. 4:1-3).


God bless you.