Stand - identity, Inheritance, Destiny

Testimonies from the prayer room

To begin we shared testimonies of what God is doing in the prayer room.

Joy. Pictures. Healing. Intercession. God's beautifying presence. Expectancy!!

• I keep finding great joy in God's presence

• Prayer with a family whose son has advanced cancer. He is worship leader in the new Totton site of Kings Community Church. Last week he stood and led worship there. The first of many victories we hope for. When the family came to pray in the sacred space one of them said they had a picture from the Lord - and this was the first time that had happened for them.

• It was the Friday night worship in the prayer room. During the week I had a fall and hurt my back. I had a streaming cold. I came to the worship night anyway. Catherine prayed for me. Back was significantly better. Coming was a sacrifice but God really blessed me. There is healing in the house of prayer.

• At the worship night I was crying out for God's mercy. A desperation for our nation. I have not had this kind of prayer in a long time.

• On Saturday I had a strong sense of God's presence. He said "I'm not just purifying my church, I am beautifying my church". At church next day there were a couple of really beautiful things that happened.

• I see a palace with the flags flying - the King is at home!

• I have a strong sense of expectancy!

Reflections from plymouth

Richard gave a report back on time spent in Boston and Plymouth, Massachusetts, USA. There is a link between Southampton and Plymouth due to the sailing of the Mayflower in 1620. 

Remembrance Day - StaNding

Remembrance day reflections on the sacrifice of the military. 

There was a purpose as they went off to fight. A clear sense of an evil domineering enemy to fight. For freedom and the people at home. To liberate nations. Can see the achievement at the end of it. Makes it easier to go and face the costs.

With more recent conflicts it has been harder to see an obvious change for good. But in WWII it was a discernible danger and obvious result.

It was like this for Jesus. Is 53 tells us about the suffering servant. Hebrews 12 tells us about what he did "for the joy set before him". He suffered for his Father, for the kingdom, for the ultimate end of evil. Colossians tells us how he has qualified us to share in his inheritance. We have been transferred into the kingdom of Jesus. We were once locked up, messed up, cut off. Destined for destruction. Jesus broke it all and released us. It was Father's good pleasure and through Jesus to reconcile all things to himself. Formerly we were alienated but now he has reconciled us. We are beyond reproach!! The enemy has nothing to point to to accuse us of.

But Colossians 1:23 says ... if indeed you continue in the faith and stand firm in the hope of the gospel. 

Here are three things for us to stand firm in:

1. Our identity as born again believers. Resist any wrong teachings. We have not moved on from the cross of Christ. We need that daily. If we don't stand firm we will end up living in a way that displeases Him.

2. Our inheritance as Jesus' brothers and sisters. We have every spiritual blessing in Christ. Do we settle just for the basics? We have been given everything we need for life and godliness. Lets not live on just the smallest bit of the inheritance!!

3. Our destiny as those seeking the advance of His kingdom. We are not settling for just better churches. We are seeing the kingdom of God advance. When the going gets tough do we settle for the minimum and just wait for heaven? No!

So lets make Jesus' suffering worthwhile, standing our ground for our identity, inheritance and destiny.