Hold the line

It was Thursday morning and I was doing a last minute pastoral check by phone on various members before setting off for the Bible discussion meeting.  Alan was due to come out of hospital a couple of days earlier and I wanted to check how he and his wife Jean were.  The dialling tone was interrupted by the phone being picked up at the other end.  But instead of Jean's usual "Hello" instead I got a computerised message, "Please hold the line".  Then again, "Please hold the line".  Then suddenly Jean and I were connected.

The strange thing was that I had just been preparing for our discussion on Hebrews 10.  If there is one word that sums up the message of the Letter to the Hebrews it would be 'persevere'.  The writer was clearly concerned that they would hold to the new faith they had found and not slip back to the old way of works.  They were to stand firm, or we could say they were to hold the line.  My mind went to the classic film "Zulu".  Hopelessly outnumbered a small band of British soldiers held the line against wave after wave of attacking Zulu warriors.  The battle conclude with mutual appreciation for the courage each side had shown.

I grew up in Hastings and knew the site of the famous battle in 1066.  The Saxons under King Harold held the higher ground.  Try as they might the Normans could not get through their lines.  Then some of the Normans looked as if they were running away and some of the Saxons failed to hold the line, and instead pursued them.  The battle was lost, King Harold was mortally wounded, and all because some men failed to 'hold the line',

Ephesians 6:11 speaks about the schemes of the devil against which we are called to hold the line.  The Greek word translated scheme is the word from which we derive 'strategy'.  Our enemy probes to find our weakest point.  Paul encourages us to have courage and stand firm, clothed in spiritual armour.  We need to hold the line - don't give him so much as a toe hold.

The verses that follow immediately after the description of the armour we are to wear turns the focus to prayer and intercession - especially for the ministry of God's word and the gospel.  It is said that when Charles Haddon Spurgeon, that greatly used Baptist, preached a small group of men met in a room below the pulpit praying.  I identify with Paul's sense of need to repeat the call, "Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel". I am thankful if you have been holding the line with me through recent days.

In addition to various ministry engagements through the week I have been busy following up on the important meetings related to Action for Christ.  We continue to make progress but there is much to be done and we need wisdom.

This week I will be going to Blackpool to meet with other members of the Congregational Federation's Inter-Church Board (ICB).  This is a small team that represents the Federation and its churches in relations with other Christian denominations in Scotland, Wales, England, Europe and inter-faith aspects.  It is not usually the most exciting of aspects of Christian work but it is important and we seek to bring our distinctive perspectives in our relationship with others, as well as being open to learn from what God is doing across the Christian traditions.

Sunday 21st  Yelvertoft Congregational Church

Tuesday 23rd HMP Gartree and afterwards travel to Blackpool

Wednesday & Thursday 24th & 25th ICB meetings in Blackpool

Sunday 28th Yelvertoft Congregational Church.

Please also remember my colleague, Monica, currently ministering in Malawi and Kenya over the next several weeks.  Please also remember two Congregational colleagues, both named Elaine, who were both recently diagnosed with cancer.

Ministry on Sundays at Yelvertoft is currently from the Song of Songs.  This Sunday we will be thinking about how her love and longing for him impacted on others around.  I pray that your love and longing for God will also impact others.  The apostle Peter wrote about giving a reason for the hope that is within us to anyone who asks.  If they haven't been asking much recently what haven't they been seeing?  What might make them take notice of our faith and devotion to Jesus?

May the Lord abundantly bless you and many others through you this week.

Barry