{"id":2608,"date":"2022-09-15T16:34:29","date_gmt":"2022-09-15T16:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2608"},"modified":"2022-09-23T18:24:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-23T18:24:37","slug":"28-september-2022-the-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2608","title":{"rendered":"18 September 2022: The valley of the shadow of death"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text alignwide is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:27% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"510\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2609 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am.jpg 510w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am-24x16.jpg 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am-36x24.jpg 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/20220918am-48x32.jpg 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 510px) 100vw, 510px\" \/><\/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>18 September 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=2602\"><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=2628\"><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<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Welcome<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Please keep praying for Bethel to flourish, Amen!<\/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-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"The Lord&#039;s my Shepherd - Stuart Townend [with lyrics]\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/-eIQQayhpak?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><figcaption><sup>Stuart Townend. Copyright \u00a9 1996 Thankyou<\/sup><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Please read: <\/strong>Psalm 23<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The Lord is my shepherd.<\/p><cite>Psalm 23:1<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Yea, though I walk through the valley of&nbsp;the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You&nbsp;<em>are<\/em>&nbsp;with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.<\/p><cite>Psalm 23:4<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, people don\u2019t like talking about death. I have heard a number of people say that if only they had known how sudden death was to come to a loved one they would have talked, and talked deeply. If they could just rewind the clock even a few months, they would talk about it. It\u2019s as if something is missing when a loved one is suddenly taken and there hasn\u2019t been anything spoken about it beforehand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the light of David\u2019s words in this Psalm he will fear no evil and the reason why is that he is confident that the Lord his Shepherd will be with him and will comfort him. The promises of God are sure and certain, even in the valley of the shadow of death, He will be with us and will comfort us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can also claim other promises of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">(a) Light will be given<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The same word appears in Isaiah:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; Those who dwelt in the land of <strong>the shadow of death<\/strong>, upon them a light has shined.<\/p><cite>Isaiah 9:2<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Jesus our Good Shepherd is also the Light of the World and He will give His light to those who love and follow Him even in the darkest valley, He gives the light of life, not the darkness of death (John 8:12).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">(b) Grace is given<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Generally, weakness increases as we near our time and yet is this not when God\u2019s grace is sufficient,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me,&nbsp;<em>&#8220;My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.&#8221;<\/em>&nbsp;Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ\u2019s power may rest on me.<\/p><cite>2 Cor. 12:8-9<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>Grace is available for the time we need it, not before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">(c) Goodness will result<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>And we know that in <strong>all <\/strong>things God works for the good of those who love Him<\/p><cite>Rom. 8:28<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p>And the apostle finishes off this passage:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.&nbsp;For I am convinced that neither death \u2026 nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.<\/p><cite>Rom. 8:37-39<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">(d) Jesus\u2019 death has removed death\u2019s sting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The venomous poison of the serpent is swallowed up in Jesus victory, see 1 Corinthians 15:54-58, Amen!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Quote of the week<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\">Where is death\u2019s sting? <em>\u201cIt is but the shadow of death: the shadow of a serpent will not sting, nor the shadow of a sword kill\u201d.<br><\/em><br>Matthew Henry<\/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>For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.<\/p><cite>Philippians 1:21<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Gracious Loving, Heavenly Father we thank and praise You that through Your Son we have the victory over sin, fear, and death itself. Strengthen us by the power of Your Spirit that when we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we will fear no evil, for You are with us always even to the very end of the age, in and through Jesus Christ, our Lord, Saviour and Friend, Amen!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome Please keep praying for Bethel to flourish, Amen! Worship Word Please read: Psalm 23 The Lord is my shepherd. Psalm 23:1 Yea, though I walk through the valley of&nbsp;the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You&nbsp;are&nbsp;with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 Generally, people don\u2019t like &#8230; <a title=\"18 September 2022: The valley of the shadow of death\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=2608\" aria-label=\"Read more about 18 September 2022: The valley of the shadow of death\">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-2608","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2608","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=2608"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2634,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/2608\/revisions\/2634"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}