SPLLING THE BLESSING

I was recently asked to speak at a Lent Lunch.  The text on which I was asked to speak is Romans 15:13. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  As I pondered on the text and started to plan the outline for the talk, I was surprised that I had not thought deeply about is previously.

The outline was easy, and the talk went well.  I began by speaking about the nature of Christian hope.  I explained that this is not about wishful thinking, or the kind of optimism Mr Micawber exercised (“Something will turn up”).  It is about something not yet experienced but about which we can be confident.  I suggested that since hope is more commonly used for wishful thinking or uncertainty, we could do with a better English word to express what it means for Christians.  For me it is about eager anticipation.

The second point that the text suggested to me is, ‘the source of our hope’.  Paul prays that the God of hope would fill them with peace and joy and cause their hope to overflow.  It seems to me that he is stating that our hope as Christians comes from God.  But is God the source of our hope, or the object of our hope.  The writer of the Letter to the Hebrews in the New Testament, keen to encourage confidence talks about “two immutable (unchangeable) things” (Hebrews 6:18).  As Christians, our hope is based on the promises God has made to us.  His promises will never fail, and he supports this with his own unchanging nature.

Some people worry that their faith is not strong enough.  But the real issue is not the strength of our faith but where we place our faith.  If you are trying to skate on ice that is paper thin, you can believe as hard as you like but you will still get wet!  You would do far better to tentatively trust yourself to ice that is many inches thick.

Trusting promises is not something new to most of us.  We often visit shops where we exchange a small piece of paper for a basket load of shopping.  Of course, it would be ridiculous if we thought a piece of paper was of equal value to a basket of shopping.  It is not the value of the paper, or even the quality of the printing that that gives it value.  It is the words “I promise to pay the bearer on demand the sum of £20” and the signature of the Governor of the Bank of England.  We put our trust in the person making the promise, backed up by the resources of the Bank of England.

But what particularly grabbed my attention in this verse from Romans 15:13 were the words “fill” and “overflow”. Paul prays that as the Christians in Rome placed their trust in the one who has given us precious promises of eternal life with him in glory, that they would find God filling them with joy and peace. Note that he adds the word “all” to that joy and peace.  No doubt we could all do with a little more joy and peace, but what is on offer is a total or absolute experience of it!  I don’t want to settle for less.

These blessings come from our trusting in God.  In a world that casts dark shadows across our lives from time to time, we can experience joy and peace instead of dread and anxiety, simply by trusting in an unchanging God and his unchanging promises. But note, there is one more thing to experience.

Paul’s prayer, or his aspiration for the Christians in Rome, was that their hope in God would be an overflowing experience.  The hope, peace and joy available from the God of hope, does not come by the glassful, nor even the bottle full, not even on draught.  It comes from everlasting source that is God himself.  The Greek word used here means to have something in abundance – above and beyond.  It means much more than is needed.

So intrigued was I with this concept that I looked to see where else overflowing was mentioned in the epistles in the New International Version of the Bible. Remans 5:15 speaks of grace that overflows. 2Corinthians 4:15 speaks of an experience of grace that cause overflowing thanksgiving.  2Corinthians 8:2 speaks of overflowing joy during severe trials.  There are two other references to overflowing thankfulness. 1Thessalonians 3:12 speaks of our love for one another and everyone else, increasing and overflowing.

I have personal experiences of overflowing.  You may be aware that I have an inherited problem of what is called an essential tremor.  My hands shake: sometimes slightly, sometimes more noticeably.  Under stress, or in cold weather, or having carried anything heavy it is very noticeable.  At such times, if I have a cup of coffee in my hands, it is as well not to stand too close!  I usually ask for cups not to be filled as this will reduce the risk of spillages.

Imagine a church where every Christian was so filled to overflowing with hope and consequential joy and peace, that it was constantly spilled, so that the overflow touched the lives of others around.  Are you filled and overflowing?  Who, then, is feeling the effect of your overflowing by the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  God grant that we may be so filled and overflowing that increasing numbers experience the splashes!  Let’s be spilling the blessing and not spoiling the blessing.  Amen?

Barry Osborne - 03 March 2018

From the Diary

Despite the cold, snow and icy weather of the past few days I have been able to get out and bout and share God’s word in schools and various meeting.  We give thanks for the privilege of bring God’s word to others, and for the obvious blessing it has brought.

Please pray for safe travelling and God’s blessing on his precious word over the coming days this week.

We rejoice that someone has shown interest in developing some aspects of our vision for ministry to and with young people.  Please pray for Gordon Banks and me as we meet this Wednesday with Joy to explore this further.

Please pray for the Churches Group for Evangelization meeting in London on Thursday.  Unfortunately, I have had to send my apologies this week because of personal circumstances.  I will miss the fellowship with good friends who share my passion for evangelism, and I pray that it will prove very helpful.  They will bring me up to date afterwards with what God is doing across the churches.

It makes you smile

While I am cautious about the practise of applying for oneself verses of Scripture, given in one context or to a particular people, it did seem strangely apposite that on the day when I gave up the secular employment to work full time in a mission (for a fraction of my former salary) the text on my calendar was “You shall go out with joy and be led forth with peace” (Isaiah 55:12 AV).  I have to say, looking back over the years, that although there have been times of deep sorrow there has also been a lot of joy.

Some years ago, when interviewing someone for a senior position in a Christian context, we asked the candidate if he could tell us what he considered to be his weaknesses.  He paused, and then said, “I’m told that I could smile more often”.  His unexpected response was not inappropriate.  Sometimes I think that I should smile more often.  It is all too easy to become intensely serious about Christian ministry and mission, and obscure the joy.

You may have heard me say, or have read previously, one of my favourite stories about a Church Secretary who was supposed to meet a visiting preacher at a train station.  Unfortunately, he found himself repairing his car and not in a fit state to meet the guest.  He therefore gave his young son the name of the man and sent him off to the station to meet him.

On the way the boy forgot the name but reasoned that the person he would be meeting would be wearing a clerical collar and so easy to spot.  The appropriate train arrived and the boy scanned the passengers alighting but failed to see anyone wearing a clerical collar.  Undeterred, the boy reasoned that the visiting preacher would be carrying a black briefcase.  But there were several men carrying black briefcases.  He looked at them carefully and selected one who he thought looked possible.

“Excuse me sir,” he said, “Are you our visiting preacher?”  The man looked at him kindly and said, “No son, it’s indigestion makes me look like this”!

Of course, our lives are touched by times of sadness, but in the darkest of valleys there should still be a spring of joy bubbling somewhere.  The word, happiness, I am informed has a root word meaning chance.  Therefore, happiness is a state of mind affected by circumstances.  Whereas joy, for a Christian, comes from the deep assurance that God has hold of us no matter what happens, and only wants the best for us. Such assurance lifts us up out of the mire of despair.

Paul’s letter to the Philippians, written from prison, is notable for its general joyfulness.  Paul encourages them to rejoice.  He writes about being content whatever his circumstances.  His trust and hope in God is evident.  I wonder whether his mind went back to the first time he and Silas came to the city and were falsely accused and landed up in jail.  You will remember what happened when they started to sing hymns at midnight.

Dear reader, if your present circumstances weigh heavily at this time, please do not try to work up some joy.  That is impossible.  But please rest in the knowledge that God loves you more than you could possibly understand.  The very worst we could experience in this life is still only temporal.  The writer of the letter to the Hebrews tells us that even Jesus in his darkest moment, was able to endure the cross for the joy that was set before him.  Don’t lose your confidence in God and the joy that “comes in the morning”. May God grant you is peace and gentle joy.

A few years ago there was a report from many quarters that the moving of the Holy Spirit was making people laugh.  I was sceptical until, in a meeting and standing next to a young woman in physical pain, I was suddenly aware of her shoulders shaking as she was overwhelmed with joy and could not resist laughing.  Looking back, I can recall others who had encounters with God that caused irresistible mirth. Isn’t joy part of the fruit of the Spirit?

I wonder sometimes what people passing by think of us when we come out from a church service.  Does our demeanour communicate that knowing God and salvation is something to smile about?

Once when going to a church for the first time in the middle of a bitter winter I was shown into the choir vestry before the start of the service.  I had been sitting in a very cold minister’s vestry and on the way saw a small congregation clearly feeling cold in the sanctuary.  The choir vestry, by contrast, was warm and cosy, so I suggested that perhaps we should invite the congregation to join us.  Most of the choir laughed, until a sonorous voice intoned, “Can we remember where we are”!  That certainly set the tone for the service!

If you are a miserable sinner, please become a joyful saint.  It will do you good and probably bless others.  I pray that you will have a really joyful Sunday this weekend.

From the Diary

This Sunday evening (17^th) will be my first time ministering at Welby Lane Mission, Melton Mowbray.

I took two school assemblies this past week.  One was my final visit to the school following my retirement from the pastorate at Yelvertoft.  I found that they had prepared a scrap book full of post-its on which children and staff had written such amazing things. Many said how much they enjoyed my assemblies but there were also references to things I had taught them which they had remembered, and a thanks for telling them more about Jesus.  Doreen said that she was moved to tears as she read what they had written.  Your prayers for my schoolwork contributed to this, so thank you.

On Tuesday morning this week (19^th) I shall take part in a video meeting of the Churches Rural Group, before going on my regular visit to HMP Gartree.  Please keep praying for more men to join the choir.

On Thursday (21^st) I will be back in Sussex to take the funeral of an elderly lady who was a member when I was minister at Herstmonceux Free Church.  Please pray for the family as I seek to share the Christian hope on this occasion.

Next Sunday (24^th) I will be taking the Family Service for Goodwood Evangelical Church, Leicester, and as I write, I am praying for a musician as their excellent team will be away.

If you have been praying for Elizabeth Ingram and me as we seek to manage a difficult situation for which we are trustees, then thank you.  We had a useful meeting with a solicitor and barrister in Eastbourne this week.  Sometimes, doing the right think is not comfortable but responsibility should not be shirked.  Please keep praying for grace and wisdom.

Having stepped down from pastoral leadership at Yelvertoft I am not desperate to fill my diary every weekend.  Some bookings have come in and I hope to use this new situation to get back to some churches I have not been able to visit for some time.  Please feel free to contact me if you think I might be of service to you and your church.

Finally, I would like to send you back to Isaiah chapter 55.  It is rich with wonderful words.  Which one blesses you the most?

Thank you for your support and encouragement,

Barry
15th July 2016