BE WISE BY ASKING GOD

“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1: 5 NIV)

The year 2017 has already brought its fair share of trials, tribulations and unrest! Many innocent people – young and old – are still suffering in the violent “hotspots” of this world; lives have been lost in the aftermath of an Italian snow avalanche; many in a party of Hungarian students died in a terrible coach crash also in Italy, and hundreds of thousands of women felt they had no option but to join protest marches around the globe against the inauguration of a highly controversial United States president.

The fact is that these trials and tribulations – along with others much closer to home such as bereavement, sickness, job losses and broken relationships – will stay with us so how do we cope? James tells us that we need to obtain God’s wisdom to endure such trials. We need to ask God in faith to meet our needs.  There are three parts to this:

ASK

The verb (1:5) is in the present tense, indicating that probably we will need to ask more than once to obtain what we need. But it’s a simple command, “Let him ask.” There is no magic formula or special incantation that we need to utter. James does not say, “Let him work for or earn or buy wisdom.” It is not for sale; it is God’s gift. Just ask.

ASK GOD

“You should ask God” (1:5).  We believe in the priesthood of all believers. We do not need to approach God through any human intermediary. If we know Christ, then in His Name we must ask God directly. Since God commands us to ask Him for wisdom, we are disobedient and unbelieving if we do not ask.

ASK GOD IN FAITH, WITHOUT DOUBTING

Faith is essential in approaching God, because: “Without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.” (Hebrews 11:6)

If you need God’s wisdom for how to endure any major or minor trial with joy, ask Him in faith and He will generously give it.

Standing, standing,
Standing on the promises of God my Saviour;
Standing, standing, I’m standing on the promises of God. 

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MISSION DAY – 4 MARCH 

The Gwent Baptist Association will be holding a special Saturday morning training event at Tabernacle on 4 March as part of its continuing drive to encourage churches and individual members to be more mission-minded.  All are welcome because we all have a part to play in leading others to Christ.

The Rev Simeon Baker, Director of Mission at the Baptist Union of Wales, will lead a special “taster” session on how to make the best use of the Tool Box resources available on the BUW website www.buw.org.uk/tool-box-new-missions-resource/. The morning will open with a light “continental” breakfast at 9am and prayer with the session getting underway at 9.30 hrs and ending at 12 noon.

The Tool Box is a menu of six topics from which churches can select one or more as ‘building blocks’ for mission within the church context. The topics are: OPEN THE DOOR – preparing to welcome new people into the church; CHANGING WORSHIP – exploring new ways of worship; UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMUNITY; REACHING OUT TO FAMILIES; WE ARE THE CHURCH – who is the church today? and CONFIDENT CHRISTIANITY – sure of what you believe?

The training will be particularly relevant to Sunday School and Youth Club volunteers as well as our evangelist teams and there will be opportunities for general discussions and feedback.

Pastor Peter Cho said prayer and mission work are the oxygen of the  church.   He has  asked  for as  many  people as  possible to attend this important event which could be the precursor of  a series of similar events to be held at Tabernacle when our new facilities become available in the early summer.

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Speakers for Sunday Services in February 

 5th:         a.m.   Pastor Peter Cho

                   p.m.   Pastor Peter Palmer 

   12th:         a.m.   Pastor Peter Cho

                   p.m.   Pastor Peter Palmer 

   19th:         a.m.   Pastor Peter Cho

                   p.m.   Pastor Peter Palmer 

   26th:         a.m.   Rev Susan Stevenson

                   p.m.   Pastor Peter Cho 

Beginning this month on Sunday evenings, Pastor Peter Palmer is   presenting a study on Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians.

 Dates for your Diary: 

Wednesday 1st:    7.00p.m. Deacons’ Meeting

Thursday 9th:     12.30p.m.Community Luncheon Club

Thursday 16th:    2.00p.m. Pat & Marge’s Evangelism group meeting at Tabernacle

Friday 17th:         2.00p.m. Geoff’s Evangelism group meeting at Phyllis’ house (Manor Park)

Monday 20th:      7.00p.m. Men’s Fellowship meeting. Speaker: John Palmer

Tuesday 21st:   —   No meeting (changed to Thursday)

Thursday 23rd:    7.00p.m. Asia Link with Martin Dudgeon

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WELCOME TO LEAH

 Tabernacle is hosting a visit from Leah Smith, a  theology student from Boston, Massachusetts.  We give a warm welcome to Leah who wants to get a taste of life in a church in the South Wales valleys as she rounds off her studies. She has already joined our teams of volunteers who run the High Five Club, Wednesday football sessions, Saturday discipleship class and door-to-door evangelism. She was also the guest speaker at our Community Luncheon Club on 26 January. Leah  plans to return home in early May.