{"id":2434,"date":"2022-04-27T18:47:34","date_gmt":"2022-04-27T18:47:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2434"},"modified":"2022-05-05T16:49:02","modified_gmt":"2022-05-05T16:49:02","slug":"1-may-2022-tbd","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2434","title":{"rendered":"1 May 2022 &#8211; A close relationship with the Lord"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:22% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"384\" height=\"266\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2245 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123.jpg 384w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123-300x208.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123-24x17.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123-36x25.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/01\/20220123-48x33.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 384px) 100vw, 384px\" \/><\/figure><div class=\"wp-block-media-text__content\">\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>Bethel Baptist Church<br>Worship Service @ Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"block-090a7876-6b6f-475f-bd24-2fdf9d5343ad\"><strong>1 May 2022<\/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=2426\"><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=2441\"><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>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<em>.<\/em><\/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=\"1 May 2022 - A close relationship with the Lord\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WRu4IF_4sbI?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<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Testimony<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#ffebc2\"><em>\u201cThe jars had a lid on very tightly, and no-one could pour anything into them. If we are not open to the Holy Spirit, we miss the blessing of being filled by Him. Alternatively, as we open up to the Spirit, we will be surprised, even amazed at the results\u201d (Acts 2:17).<br><\/em><br>Stella<\/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=\"Spirit of the Living God (worship video w\/ lyrics)\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BagH-zTfnsQ?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>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please read: <\/strong>Rom. 5:1-11<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>And hope&nbsp;does not put us to shame, because God\u2019s love&nbsp;has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,&nbsp;who has been given to us<\/p><cite>Rom. 5:5<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>We have a beautiful relationship with our heavenly Father, through His Son, Jesus Christ and by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us, as we are told in the text above. God has done everything necessary to enable this relationship to be brought about, so that we can draw near and enjoy a close and intimate relationship with Him. If this is not the case, we need to check things out on our side!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(1) In error because we do not know the Scriptures or the power of God<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus said these words on one occasion to a group of Sadducees who say there is no resurrection \u2013 they would have \u2018known\u2019 the Scriptures but were not sufficiently open to Scriptural truth which amounts to not knowing the Scriptures (Matt. 22:29). This could be a reason that many Christians don\u2019t enjoy a close and intimate relationship with their heavenly Father. But it\u2019s all there in the Scriptures including Romans as we will see in future studies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(2) Holding something back<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Interestingly, the above passage in Matthew is followed by one in which some Pharisees come up to Jesus with a question to which Jesus replies, Matt. 22:37-40: \u201cLove the Lord your God with <strong>all<\/strong> your heart and with <strong>all<\/strong> your soul and with <strong>all<\/strong> your mind.\u2019 This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: \u2018Love your neighbour as yourself.\u2019 <strong>All <\/strong>the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.\u201d All, all, all, and all. Our Father, who gave His all for us, requires us to give our all for Him. If we hold anything back, we lose out. Even our relationship with our neighbours affects our relationship with our heavenly Father cf. Matt. 6:14-15.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>(3) The work of the enemy<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>No sooner had His Father in heaven publicly expressed His love and delight in Him, His Son, Matt. 3:17: \u201cAnd a voice from heaven&nbsp;said, \u201cThis is my Son,&nbsp;whom I love; with him I am well pleased,\u201d when just around the corner the enemy started to question Jesus on that very matter, Matt. 4:3 and 6: \u201cThe tempter came to Him and said, \u201cIf you are the Son of God \u2026If you are the Son of God.\u201d Whatever blessing we receive from our Father in heaven, be aware of the enemy who will seek to snatch it away (cf. Matt. 13:19; 13:24-28). The answer, resist him standing firm in your faith, 1 Peter 5:8-9: \u201cBe alert and of sober mind.&nbsp;Your enemy the devil prowls around&nbsp;like a roaring lion&nbsp;looking for someone to devour.&nbsp;Resist him,&nbsp;standing firm in the faith,&nbsp;because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.\u201d So let\u2019s believe it when the Lord tells us through His word, the Scriptures, that His love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us and let us continue to love one another and love our neighbours, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJesus\u2019 Double-Love Command gives humans <em>a direction to face <\/em>and <em>a way to be<\/em>\u201d (Bruner).<\/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>Beloved, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.<\/p><cite>1 John 4:7<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gracious, loving heavenly Father, thank You that Your love&nbsp;has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit,&nbsp;whom You have given us. Help us to love You with all our hearts and to release this love to others we know and meet in our communities, in Jesus Christ, Amen.<\/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 Testimony \u201cThe jars had a lid on very tightly, and no-one could pour anything into them. If we are not open to the Holy Spirit, we miss the blessing of being filled by Him. Alternatively, as we open up to the &#8230; <a title=\"1 May 2022 &#8211; A close relationship with the Lord\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2434\" aria-label=\"Read more about 1 May 2022 &#8211; A close relationship with the Lord\">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-2434","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2434","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=2434"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2434\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2444,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2434\/revisions\/2444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2434"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}