{"id":1926,"date":"2021-09-02T18:45:48","date_gmt":"2021-09-02T18:45:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=1926"},"modified":"2021-09-24T18:22:11","modified_gmt":"2021-09-24T18:22:11","slug":"5-september-2021-seeking-and-finding-god","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=1926","title":{"rendered":"5 September 2021: Seeking and finding God"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile is-vertically-aligned-top\" style=\"grid-template-columns:15% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"180\" height=\"292\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210905.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1927 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210905.jpg 180w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210905-15x24.jpg 15w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210905-22x36.jpg 22w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/20210905-30x48.jpg 30w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 180px) 100vw, 180px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<br>5 September 2021<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=1878\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1006\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/leftarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/> <strong>Previous Service<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-black-color has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color has-text-color has-background\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=1940\"><strong>Next Service<\/strong> <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"15\" height=\"10\" class=\"wp-image-1007\" style=\"width: 15px;\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow.png 120w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-24x16.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-36x24.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/rightarrow-48x32.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 15px) 100vw, 15px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=72\">Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;page.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"5 September 2021: Seeking and finding God\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-Qxy3YGIwUE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Elders and Deacons are meeting on Zoom tomorrow, Monday 6 September, at 7pm \u2013 please pray that we know God\u2019s wisdom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Church Weekend-Away \u2013 <\/strong>The rescheduled church weekend away has been confirmed for 3rd \u2013 5th June 2022. If you would like to go please contact Andrea for an info. letter and sign-up form.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\">Dan Walker achievements are numerous \u2026 fronting BBC One\u2019s flagship morning show Breakfast \u2026 viewed by 11m people a week \u2026 regular appearances on Football Focus and Match of the Day. When he was 12-13 years, he first started thinking in great depth about his place in the universe. <em>\u201cI know that\u2019s a bit of a deep question to think about when you\u2019re only 12 or 13, but for me it was an understanding of who I was; who God was; what my relationship with Jesus Christ was.\u201d<\/em><br><br>As a youngster \u2026 he entered a sports commentary competition\u2026and won. The prize \u2013 two weeks of work experience \u2013 helped launch his career in radio, and the move to TV quickly followed. The fact he\u2019s reported on some of the world\u2019s biggest sporting events, including the Olympics, the football World Cup and Wimbledon is even more striking when you consider his stance of not working on Sundays. His determination to follow the biblical commandment to keep the Sabbath holy has not hampered his career, but his faith has been ridiculed. Simply expressing his belief that God created the world was all one national newspaper needed to jump to the conclusion that Walker wasn\u2019t fit to be a TV presenter. <br><br>Walker describes his faith as \u201cstrong\u201d and an \u201cimportant part\u201d of his life. He doesn\u2019t shy away from it. Neither does he ram it down other people\u2019s throats. Criticism, has helped him <em>\u201cdevelop the skin of a rhino<\/em>&#8220;. <br><br>Read in a Premier Magazine Excerpt<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Worship<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Thank you for saving me\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/x7lFYvJHi8k?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><sup><br>Ingrid DuMosch. Album: Shout! &#8211; Top 100 Praise &amp; Worship Songs Volume 4<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Reading: <\/strong>Jeremiah 29:10-14<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.<\/p><cite>Jer. 29:13<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Introduction<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is an interesting balance in the Scriptures between God\u2019s Sovereign will and human responsibility. There is much \u201ceither\u201d\/\u201cor\u201d debate and dialogue amongst theologians, scholars, and all Christians at some time will come across it. I\u2019ve moved into the camp of the \u201cand\u201d and \u201cand\u201d for we see both in the Scriptures and it seems that the OT and NT writers were quite comfortable with both, even in the same passages. It will all become clear one day when we meet Him face to face. Here God is promising great things to His exiled people but at the same time He requires a response of faith from them, a wholehearted response of them seeking Him, and He will be found by them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(1) God will fulfill His good promises<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All God\u2019s promises are good and He will fulfill all His good promises: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>This is what the Lord says: \u2018When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfil my good promise to bring you back to this place.<\/p><cite>Jeremiah 29:10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Yes, the people of Judah had to go through a very difficult time in exile, God\u2019s way of purifying them, of refining sin, especially idolatry, out of them. But then the Lord promises restoration, that He will bring them back to the Promised Land. And when 70 years (not the two years being proclaimed by the false prophets \u2013 Jer. 28:3) had passed this promise was fulfilled. The Lord has made many promises for us and He will fulfill them; e.g. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. <\/p><cite>John 10:10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And what about the wonderful promise God gave to the people even while they were in exile and He was still dealing with them to purify a people for Himself: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>For I know the plans I have for you,\u2019 declares the Lord, \u2018plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.<\/p><cite>Jer. 29:11<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(2) For I know the plans I have to prosper you and not to harm you<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And reading further, <em>\u201cplans to give you hope and a future\u201d.<\/em> This must have been difficult for the people to believe as they looked at their 70 year period in exile, a time in which they had followed the instructions Jeremiah had given them: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Build houses and settle down; plant gardens and eat what they produce. Marry and have sons and daughters; find wives for your sons and give your daughters in marriage, so that they too may have sons and daughters. Increase in number there; do not decrease. Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper.<\/p><cite>Jer. 29:5-7<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">God always wants to bless us, do good to us, help us, and change us to become more and more like His Beloved Son, as well as for us to bear fruit in our lives, much fruit (cf. John 15:16)! On my desk are the words from footprints to the man who doubted Jesus\u2019 care and Presence with Him: <em>\u201cThe Lord replied, \u201cMy precious, precious child, I love you and would never leave you. During your times of trials and suffering, when you see only one set of footprints, it was then I carried you.\u201d<\/em> We can think of the truth the apostle Paul wrote about:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>For if, while we were God\u2019s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life!<\/p><cite>Romans 5:10<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If while they were in exile, or in the wilderness, God blessed them how much more when they were in the Promise Land.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(3) You will seek me and find me<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After Israel sinned greatly by making the golden calf, Moses sought assurance from the Lord that He would go with them into the Promised Land, and the Lord promised Moses: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest \u2026 I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.<\/p><cite>Exodus 33:14, 17<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So the Lord promises that His Presence will go with us, Jesus reassures His disciples: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>\u2026 surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.<\/p><cite>Matt. 28:20<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Our part in all this is to seek Him with all our hearts, that we might experience the reality of His promise that He is always with us: <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. <\/p><cite>Jer. 29:13<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Lord always requires wholehearted devotion from us \u2013 see e.g. Deut. 6:5; Psalm 119:34; Prov. 3:5-6; Matt. 22:37; John 21:15; <\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>You will seek me and find me when you seek me with <strong>all your heart <\/strong>and I will be found by you says the Lord.<\/p><cite>Jer. 29:13<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Amen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Questions for Discussion<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Share a testimony about the difference it made when you sought the Lord whole heartedly?<\/li><li>Share a time when the Lord refined you? Was it difficult? What did you think at the time?<\/li><li>Has the Lord given you a specific promise for your life?<\/li><li>How much time do you spend in devotions to the Lord each day?<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cAnyone can be saved by God\u2019s grace, but this does not remove human responsibility. The possible becomes actual only when Jesus\u2019 call to &#8216;follow me&#8217; is freely obeyed\u201d <br><\/em><br>R.T. France<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Verse of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.<\/p><cite>Titus 3:3-7<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Loving, heavenly Father, we thank You for ever saving us by Your great love. Thank You for Your amazing grace that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost but now am found, was blind but now I see.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Lord, empower us by Your Spirit, to bring others to faith in Jesus Christ, to bear fruit that will last, and to see Your Name glorified in Bethel and throughout this nation, in Jesus Christ, Amen!&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Service available on Youtube, or as text (below), or for audio see the&nbsp;Podcasts&nbsp;page. Welcome Elders and Deacons are meeting on Zoom tomorrow, Monday 6 September, at 7pm \u2013 please pray that we know God\u2019s wisdom. Church Weekend-Away \u2013 The rescheduled church weekend away has been confirmed for 3rd \u2013 5th June 2022. If you would &#8230; <a title=\"5 September 2021: Seeking and finding God\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=1926\" aria-label=\"Read more about 5 September 2021: Seeking and finding God\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1926","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1926","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1926"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1926\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1990,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1926\/revisions\/1990"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1926"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}