{"id":3328,"date":"2024-06-15T10:02:59","date_gmt":"2024-06-15T10:02:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3328"},"modified":"2024-06-22T19:00:26","modified_gmt":"2024-06-22T19:00:26","slug":"16-june-2024-draw-near-to-god-and-he-will-come-near-to-you","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3328","title":{"rendered":"16 June 2024: &#8220;Draw near to God and He will come near to you&#8221;"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-media-text is-stacked-on-mobile\" style=\"grid-template-columns:33% auto\"><figure class=\"wp-block-media-text__media\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"433\" height=\"340\" src=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1052 size-full\" srcset=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101.png 433w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101-300x236.png 300w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101-24x19.png 24w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101-36x28.png 36w, https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/20201101-48x38.png 48w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 433px) 100vw, 433px\" \/><\/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>16 June 2024<\/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 wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3323\"><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 wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3333\"><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><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cUnless we put our cup under the tap, we will not fill it with water. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So let\u2019s come to Jesus, get close to Him, and receive what He has for us.\u201d<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-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"By Your Side I Would Stay\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/bRhv7-3Zqf4?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Word<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cCome near to God and He will come near to you.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>James 4:8<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Of all that the Lord would ask of us, this, I believe, is the most important, <em>\u201cCome close to me!\u201d<\/em> He desires that close, personal, intimate relationship with each one of us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Surely, the Father didn\u2019t give His Son to die that appalling death, for the kind of relationship that most people think is acceptable. We see in the Garden of Eden, after that first sin, Adam and Eve hiding from God. This is what the majority of people are doing on a Sunday morning rather than gathering together to Worship [literal meaning: \u2018towards to kiss\u2019] God. That is the sin we have inherited and it results in us hiding from God.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Oh, how God longed for His people to be freed from slavery in Egypt, that He told Moses to tell Pharaoh, <em>\u201cIsrael is my firstborn son \u2026 Let my son go, so he may worship me.\u201d<\/em> God dealt very strongly with the stubborn Pharaoh to bring this about. Of all the apostles, John was the one entrusted with the vital and final message to the Church as found in the Book of Revelation. John had a very close relationship with Jesus while He was here on earth and was referred to as <em>\u201cthe disciple whom Jesus loved.\u201d<\/em> Jesus loved all the disciples, but John put himself in the place of being close to the Lord. He drew close to Jesus, and Jesus drew close to him,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Now&nbsp;there was leaning on Jesus\u2019 bosom one of His disciples, whom Jesus loved.<\/p>\n<cite>John 13:23 <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even Peter was \u2018too far away\u2019 from Jesus to ask Him directly, so he had to motion to John to ask Jesus who was the one who would betray Him,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, <em>\u201cAsk him which one he means.\u201d<\/em> Leaning back against Jesus, he asked Him, <em>\u201cLord, who is it?\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<cite>John 13:24-25 <\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The greatest commandment emphasises,<em> \u201cLove the Lord your God with all you heart \u2026.\u201d<\/em> Henri Nouwen puts it like this: <em>\u201cThe main obstacle to love for God is service for God.\u201d<\/em> Therefore, service must only come out of this close relationship we enjoy with Him. This is evident in the lives of Mary and Martha, Martha was stressing over doing things that weren\u2019t at that moment in time required by Jesus. Mary was in the right place, close to Him, sitting at His feet, listening to what He said. Jesus verdict,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cMary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.\u201d <\/p>\n<cite>Luke 10:38-42<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jesus, in love (Rev. 3:19), rebuked the Church at Laodicea for its lukewarmness towards Him and offers them close and intimate fellowship,<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cHere I am I stand at the door and knock<\/em> (cf. Song of Songs 5:2). <em>If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person and they with me.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n<cite>Rev. 3:20<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-background wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>&nbsp;\u201cJesus offers to accept and renew intimate fellowship with those who repent.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Brian J. Tabb<\/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 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"background-color:#f8e9c8\"><em>\u201cTo fall in love with God is the greatest romance.\u201d<\/em><br><br>Augustine<\/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\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;\u2026 as for me it is good to be near God.&#8221;<\/p>\n<cite>Ps. 73:28<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Let\u2019s Pray<\/strong><strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Heavenly Father, we praise You that You want us to have a close, personal, and intimate relationship with Yourself. By Your Spirit place a thirst and hunger in our hearts whenever we neglect You. Lord that we might daily come close to You , in Jesus Christ, Amen.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome \u201cUnless we put our cup under the tap, we will not fill it with water. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit. So let\u2019s come to Jesus, get close to Him, and receive what He has for us.\u201dStella Worship Word \u201cCome near to God and He will come near to you.\u201d James &#8230; <a title=\"16 June 2024: &#8220;Draw near to God and He will come near to you&#8221;\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/?page_id=3328\" aria-label=\"Read more about 16 June 2024: &#8220;Draw near to God and He will come near to you&#8221;\">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-3328","page","type-page","status-publish"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3328","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=3328"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3328\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3335,"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3328\/revisions\/3335"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/bethelmacclesfield.org.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=3328"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}