Partakers Christian Podcasts

Worship Wednesday

Worship Wednesday

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Order of Service

Today on Partakers Wednesday Worship we have special time to lift the nation of England to God, in light of the recent social unrest and riots.  I will say a quick prayer, then there will be time for you to offer your own if you so desire, and we will finish with the Lord's prayer. Thank you.

Father,

We lift to you the situation in England today, with social unrest. Help the politicians, authorities and officials to wisely administer justice! Help them to also protect civilians and the innocents, O God.Father, keep those who are helping to clean up and right the wrong to be safe and for them to use wisdom in making decisions!

Amen

And now a time of silence for you to reflect and offer your own prayers.

Lord in your mercy, hear our prayers!

We now say the Lord Prayers together:

Our Father in heaven,

hallowed be your name,

your kingdom come,

your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us today our daily bread.

Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.

for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

See you next time on Partakers! www.partakers.co.uk and if you have prayer requests, visit www.facewall.co.uk, post your request and we will pray for you.

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Think Spot

Think Spot - 8th August 2011

 

Matthew 6:14-15 "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins."

God takes the forgiveness of others very seriously. Notice it does NOT say forgive others if they are sorry for hurting you, or forgive others if you can understand why they behaved in that way. We are to forgive everyone who has wronged us full stop.

In Matthew 18:21-22, "Peter came to Jesus and asked, ‘Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother when he sins against me? Up to seven times?'  Jesus answered, ‘I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.'"

Jesus meant that we have to go on forgiving someone who hurts us again and again... No matter how many times they hurt us. Forgiving someone means not telling others what they did to us so we can get sympathy. It means doing good things for them, praying for them blessing them.

Matthew 5:44 says "Love your enemies and pray for your persecutors."

Luke 6:35 says "Love your enemies, do good to them" and Romans 12:20 commands "If your enemy is hungry feed him."

If someone has hurt you so badly that you find you self replaying what they did in your mind. Try thinking of something kind that the person has done for you, every time their misdemeanour pops into your thinking. If that is not possible, then just actively think about something completely different. It will get to the point that you can think of the person without thinking of what they did, though this can take years.

Actually, like every other thing that God asks us to do, forgiving others is in our best interests. Being angry with someone else just hurts us - it doesn't affect the other person at all. Not forgiving leads to bitterness and resentment which eats away at us from within and can lead to physical symptoms as well. So forgiving others should be a priority   if you're a Christian.

A prayer for this week: Father, thank you that you were and are willing to forgive us for the wrongs we have done against you! Help us with the power of the Holy Spirit to forgive us and also may we be willing to forgive ourselves and accept the forgiveness of others. Thank you for the cross of your Son, Jesus Christ, so that forgiveness is possible! We ask these things through the name of the Son, Jesus! Amen!

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Develop Character

Develops Character

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Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28v18-20

As the church, we are to obey this command of Jesus. In order to do this, all Christian Disciples we are to develop leadership, for all Christian Disciples are leaders in some form or shape. The five attributes all Christian Disciples should develop are: Character, Conviction, Creativity, Stewardship and Shepherdship.

We start with the Christian Disciple developing Character, for without developing character; the Christian Disciple can quite simply be a better rip-off artist. If the Christian Disciple is not developing character, it is because they have not determined what they want to develop. In the developmental process the first task is to determine what the Christian Disciple wants to develop, then to develop what has been determined. It is impossible to develop what has never been determined.

Essential Characteristics

These characteristics measure how much the Spirit of God has been free to develop the character of a Christian Disciple. It also shows what it is being sought in the progressive development in the Christian Disciple.

1. Persistence & Endurance - Persistence & endurance is developing staying power, to hold courageously under fire. This is a key to leadership - bulldog tenacity. Things like criticism, circumstances, opposition & problems stop a leader. The Christian Disciple who hangs in through these things is the one who accomplishes their objectives. The problem in Christian leadership is that we sometimes think it is a sprint race, when in fact it is a marathon, where a second wind of the long hard grind is necessary. What is it that stops you? The size of a person is determined by what it takes to stop him or her. Winners are people who have formed the habit of doing things that failures hate to do.

2. Resistance – This is not resistance to ideas but resistance to opposition. Criticism is the occupational hazard for leaders (1 Peter 2v20-24). Leadership is the process of developing a thick skin and a thin heart. Discouragement is cancer of the Spirit.

3. Servanthood - Matthew 20v26-28 “Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave.” The first shall be last and the last shall be first. Priority should be given to serve.

4. Training - Jesus often sent people home,, so kicking people out of the nest at the right time is good Disciple making.

5. Consistent Example - Modelling is the greatest unconscious form of learning what we know. As Paul writes in Philippians 3v17 – 4v9 "Follow me as I follow Christ". Whether we say it or not, people are following us, but are we following Christ closely? Those you are leading do not do what you tell them to do, but follow what you do.

6. Self-mastery - If you only had 6 months left to live, what would you do? Keep on doing what I am already doing, if not you had better change what you are doing. We need to be unencumbered by the things that weigh us down. This is the danger of an affluent society. (Hebrews 12:1-2) “Travel light”. This is where decision-making comes to the fore, deciding what is good and evil. The real decision is between that which is good, that which is better and which is better or best. Choose the best!!

7. Virile Private Life - Two things to keep in balance are involvement & isolation. You cannot do enough for others if you are constantly in the company of others. You also need time alone but not as a complete hermit!

8. Confidence - The number one problem in our culture today, is a lack of confidence. Paul said in Philippians 4v13: "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". To the Christian Disciple, self-confidence is Christ-confidence. The Christian Disciple says to them selves “I can't lose. I can only make mistakes”. Confidence is spawned by the ability to say no. The New Testament is the doctrine of moderation in all things. You don't have to do everything you are capable of achieving.

9. Teachability - A Christian Disciple who is teachable is a person who has an unlimited ceiling of being taught. The Christian Disciple must be willing to be taught by other people, even if they themselves are in a teaching role!

10. Positive Attitude - A danger in becoming negative, is that a root of bitterness sets up. The greatest therapy is that of thanksgiving & prayer. God says you can do it. Satan says you can't do it.

11. Your capacity to believe God - What is there in your life that you are trusting God for that He alone can do (2 Corinthians 4v7)? God selects each Christian Disciple in order that in all things Jesus would have the supremacy and glory (Colossians 1v18)!

12. Humility - Jesus is our example as Paul exhorts us in Philippians 2v1-3 “If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves.” If Jesus could be humble in that He came to earth as a member of His own creation, then as Christian Disciples and leaders, we should be clothed in humility.

For more to think about please do ask your self the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together.

Q1. After reading 2 Timothy 2v11-13, what motivates me to endure and persevere?

Q2. After reading Philippians 3v17, how can I follow Jesus Christ more closely?

Q3. After reading 2 Corinthians 4:7, what is there in my life that where I show trust in God for that which He alone can do?

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Friday Prayers 05082011

Partakers Friday Prayers

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Order of Service

1. General Opening prayer

2. Praise!

3. Time for your own praise

4. Prayers for the world

5. Prayers for others

6. Prayers for church services worldwide

7. Time for prayers for your own concerns

8. Benediction

Welcome to Partakers Friday Prayers on Friday 5th of August, 2011. Let us pray together!

Opening Prayer

Father, as we commence, let our hearts and minds be right before you.  We thank for your Son Jesus. It's in His name we offer you these praises, prayers and petitions in the power of the Holy Spirit who lives inside those who are your children. Amen

Psalm 113

Lets now have a Psalm of praise! Its Psalm 113 and our reader today is Sharona! Over to you, Sharona! Praise the LORD. Praise the LORD, you his servants; praise the name of the LORD. Let the name of the LORD be praised, both now and forevermore. From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the LORD is to be praised. The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people. He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the LORD. Thanks be to God! Alleluia! Christ has risen! The Spirit has come! Praise you, God! Amen! And now a time to offer your own praises to God! If for some reason words are failing you, simple pray "Lord God, I lift up thanks and praise to you alone." Alleluia Father God, accept these praises as sweet smelling perfume! Amen!

Prayers for the World!

We lift to you once more, Father, the people affected by the drought in the Horn of Africa.  How can we not look at the scenes coming to our eyes without compassion? Those people fleeing drought, famine and fleeing conflicts.  Help those people Father, in ways which only You can achieve. Fire the imagination of people to solve these ongoing problems. Enlighten people to give generously, to share and to be looking to the interests of others. Father, help the aid being sent to reach its destination instead of being stopped by insurgents and war-mongers. Father, be the strength for all those who are grieving and mourning the loss of loved ones. Father, we pray that those in despair will be helped and where there is darkness there will be light. May justice and peace come to places where injustice, strife and conflict currently dominate! Where there is chaos, bring order. Where there is hatred, may love be sown.  We pray that in areas of need following natural disasters, that aid will get through and infrastructure rebuilt. Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children! Amen!

For churches and Christians worldwide

Our Father God, we lift before you all those who are preaching, leading, serving and participating in church services around the world this weekend, we ask that the Holy Spirit would guide their minds and that the worship will be in Spirit and in truth, that the Word as it is faithfully preached. For those in countries where to meet other Christians is illegal or not condoned by the government, we ask that you continue to strengthen, guide, grow and uplift them. Let them know through Your Spirit, the Spirit that lives within all believers that we are praying for them. Amen!

Prayers for others

We come now to praying for the needs of these individuals. Kath, Elsie, Ian, Billy, Karen and Adam, Ruth, Kathy, Lynn, Zachary, Patti and Amanda.  O Great God our provider, we ask for a healing touch and wisdom for the medical staff treating them. O Lord God, give strength to the week, particularly Sarah. Finally, Father, we lift before you, all those facing challenging situations: such as loneliness, confinement at home, geographical isolation, lack of employment, health issues, and financial pressures.  O Father, please meet their needs in what ever challenging situation is being faced, particularly for C and her daughter! and we put ourselves in your hands to help meet those needs where we can. We ask these things, our Father God, in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ, and in the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

Your own petitions

Now there will be a short time of prayer where you can give to God things that are on your own mind and heart. If for some reason, words are failing you, then pray this short prayer based on Psalm 40 "O God, Help and deliver me from this pit for I am poor and needy!" Father, we pray that your love will take over our lives! We also pray that we would follow you faithfully, live lives obediently and give praise to you alone in all circumstances we face together. Lord in your mercy, hear these prayers of your children.  Amen

Benediction

And now, as we close: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope and faith through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen! Thank you for joining us on Partakers Friday Prayers.

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ADD - Testimony

Christian Disciple and Testimony

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The Apostle John, writing in 1 John 5v9-12 - "We accept man's testimony, but God's testimony is greater because it is the testimony of God, which he has given about his Son. Anyone who believes in the Son of God has this testimony in his heart. Anyone who does not believe God has made him out to be a liar, because he has not believed the testimony God has given about his Son. And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

Why Is It So?

A testimony is an assertion offering firsthand authentication of a fact. For the Christian Disciple, classically it is generally expressed as how they became a Christian Disciple. But I think it is more than just how, and should expressly include why you are a Christian Disciple. I wonder what is your testimony about how you became a Christian Disciple? When was the last time you thanked our God for your testimony? Have you even thought about your testimony of how you became a Christian Disciple? I am sure you have all heard kids in the supermarket yelling out "Why?" to their parents. We all have, I am sure, questions we want to know the answer to. Why? The question I am often asked is "You are a Christian. Why is it so?" My father, was and remained throughout his life a convinced agnostic and in the few conversations we had about religion and Christianity, he could never understand why it was, that I could not just admit that I would never know if God existed or not, far less a God who was personally interested in me. My reply as ever, was that the very question "Why is it so?" needed to be answered, in order for me to be satisfied.

Why I am a Christian?

Now I could say that at the age of 12, we moved to a town on the coast of Australia, and was invited along to a local youth group and several weeks later, gave my life to Christ and became a Christian. Of course that is partly true. I can't even claim to be a Christian because I was raised in a Christian country. Australia was and is probably the second most secular country on this planet. Sure Australia has its moral base grounded in historic Christianity, but for the latter part of its history, Australia has been thoroughly secular and non-religious. Even if I had been raised in a country such as England, with Christian parents, that would also, only be partly true and I could have rejected Christianity as many people do. The reason that I am a Christian is not because I chased God, but rather He chased me. Unknown to me at the time, God was chasing me and following my every path with the urgency of a lover after the beloved, just as described in the Song of Songs (Song of Songs 2v2-14).

God had been pursuing me

This piece of poetic Scripture speaks about the love that God has for his people, and the energy He puts in to calling his people to Himself. He is always reaching out, for all to return to His arms. As for me, it wasn't until I was a 12 year old that I heard that I needed to accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour. Before that I didn't know I had to do anything with this Jesus. Jesus was only a curse word for me at the time. That or was just someone or something that the RE teachers bored me with at school. We are primarily Christians, not because we come to church services or just happened to have been born in a supposedly Christian country. We are primarily Christians, because God first chased and harried us into His arms. We are Christians, if you are one, because God first loved you. And as a tremendous lover, He beckons and calls people all the time to respond to His call, and back to Him. How does He chase us with His love? He chases each person differently, just as each Christian testimony is different. Take for instance the Apostle Paul in Acts 8 & 9. God chased him through Paul's mind and his religious upbringing and education. Paul had known about God from his childhood. Paul was a righteous Pharisee who saw persecuting these ‘Christians' as his religious duty, so that he may somehow find favour with God. As Paul was gloating over the death of the martyr Stephen, God was pursuing Him, probably raising doubts in Paul's mind as to why Stephen would say at the point of death "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit and forgive them for what they do" (Acts 7v54-60). Surely doubts must have been raised in Paul's mind as he approved of this death (Acts 8v1). Paul was also wrestling with his conscience. Externally he was a righteous man, a Pharisee of Pharisees. Yet when he internally examined himself and his heart, he found himself failing regarding covetousness, which is the last of the Ten Commandments. Then finally, Jesus himself makes a sudden and dramatic appearance before Paul and confronts him directly, "Why are you kicking against me? Why are you rejecting my advances?" (Acts 9) Paul's conversion to Christianity is often described as being sudden. But the only thing sudden about his conversion was this climatic appearance of Jesus. Just as that was true of Paul, it is true of me, just as it is true of all those who profess to call themselves a Christian Disciple. I am a Christian Disciple not because of anything I have done, but rather because He first chased me, and because He first loved me. Jesus himself said "I came to seek and to save the lost" (Luke 19v10). If you are a Christian today, it is not because of anything you have done. It is because of the events at Christmas and Easter that you are a Christian, when God entered this world as a human baby and took all the necessary steps so that all people could have the choice to be His people or not. In my more smug moments I used to congratulate myself for being a Christian. How proud I was that I, was a Christian and that God was a jolly lucky God that I had decided to follow Him. It was during one of my less self-deluded moments, that I examined myself and I found God pricking my conscience and correcting me, and I read the New Testament "For the Son of Man came, not to be served but to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark10v45). For more to think about please do read the Song of Songs 2v2-14 and ask yourself the following questions, writing them down if you can, and see how you respond or react to them. Then why not share your answers with your spouse or a close friend, so that you can pray over any issues together. Q1. What were the events leading up to my choosing to be a Christian disciple which symbolize God running after me? Q2. How am I, as a Christian Disciple, continuing to listen to God's voice? Q3. Will I be ready to give my testimony the next time somebody asks me as to why I am a Christian?

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Worship Wednesday

Worship Wednesday

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Order of Service

Welcome

Prayer of Thanksgiving and Joy

O Almighty God, great and wonderful are you! We praise you God the Father that you cares for us! We praise you God the Son, Jesus Christ, that you are our saviour and mediator! We praise you God the Holy Spirit, that you lives inside us as a deposit and seal of our salvation! We praise you Father, Son and Holy Spirit that You are the very givers of life! We come now to worship you! Amen

Confession

Old Testament reading

Psalm 119v76 - May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant.

New Testament Readings

Matthew 11v28-30 - Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Song "Here Comes Jesus" sung by Marjie Reece

Bible Talk - Jesus Christ and you

I wonder if you have ever felt like God is far away? Well you aren't alone! It is an experience that is common to all Christians, at some point or another. I know I have experienced that feeling!. But I also know from personal experience, that Jesus always comes through in difficult times. Although He may not come in the time I think He should come, because He knows when I need Him most. Jesus Christ is calling you to Himself! He wants you to be a partaker of the good news about Him. He wants you to be part of His family, the church. He is ever calling, ever beckoning people to enter into relationship with Him. His love for the church is indicative as he calls his beloved church, his beautiful bride. That is the church - warts and all - its His bride! By faith, He will see you through - Remember in the Gospels, when the disciples were in the storm and Jesus came to them walking on the water. Remember Jesus saying "Come" and Peter went to Him. This must have encouraged the other disciples, for upon seeing Jesus' power they worshipped him. Whatever troubles you are undergoing are temporary, and Jesus will see you through. I also know that to be true! Jesus is praying for you, will come to you, grow you and help you through troubles. By being obedient to God, you are encouraging others by showing your salvation and showing that faith is not blind, but active! Jesus wants to hear your voice talking to him... Not just for half hour in the morning but all day long. We are to yearn to talk to Him and for Him to talk to us. Prayer is a 24 hour communication exercise. God Himself assists as we pray: by correcting and strengthening the yearnings. Prayers express desires, praises and thoughts in a contributory way to the journey we are on. That means tell Jesus how you are feeling, both in the good and the hard times. Tell Him of your wants, your needs and all your cares.. Let His arms surround you! To him your voice is sweet and dulcet. Your face to Him is a delight. Seek him! Ask him! Talk to him! This is how you are spiritually energized! When you talk to God, you strengthen your relationship with Him! When we ask others to pray for us, Church unity is strengthened! Jesus feeds, nourishes protects, shelters and loves his church and all its members. Jesus loves His people, the Church. One day, Jesus is coming back for His church! We don't know when that will be but we are to encourage one another and spur one another on as we see the day approaching when our bridegroom, Jesus Christ comes again in glory! Jesus Christ, the great lover and bridegroom, loves to hear our voices, the voices of His church the bride, as we express our love, gratitude, cares, worries and feelings to Him. Go and be a voice of encouragement to somebody today. We all need encouragement at times and if you go and encourage somebody, you may just be helping them out. Thank you.

Prayer

Holy and loving God Open our eyes to see you Open our minds to trust you Open our hearts to love you This day and forever As we go now May we trust and love You each moment Showing this trust and love to others By being shining lights in darkness And gleaming mirrors of your love, power, majesty and glory. In the name of Jesus whom we trust for salvation In the power of the Holy Spirit whom we trust to transform us Amen

Doxology sung by Jeff Wooldridge

See you next time on Partakers! www.partakers.co.uk and if you have prayer requests, visit www.facewall.co.uk, post your request and we will pray for you.

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