Nassi shares a message on having the right motives in Christian life and ministry.

In this message, Pegah shares a challenging message on Remembering Lot’s wife and how the greatest days of the Church are ahead of us.

Lot’s wife is one of 170 Women in the Bible, whom Jesus specifically calls us to remember in Luke 17.

Remember

26 But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.Gen 19:26

* Lot’s wife was torn between where God was taking her and what she was leaving behind* Lot’s wife was leaving her comfort zone* Lot’s wife was afraid of the unknown

Pegah challenges us all to be a Church that looks forward. Our greatest days are still ahead of us and not behind us:

I might be small but my God is big, I might be limited but my God is Limitless, I might be finite but my God is infinite and He’s able to do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond anything that we could ever ask. Hope for things according to that power that works in our salvation, Remember Lot’s Wife, Don’t Look Back press on forward in Jesus name. 

Sasan Tavassoli shares a message on the three promises of Christmas.

Starting with the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew 1:17.

17 Thus there were fourteen generations in all from Abraham to David, fourteen from David to the exile to Babylon, and fourteen from the exile to the Messiah.Matthew 1:17

14 Generations Abraham to David – Promise to Abraham in Genesis 12

12 The Lord had said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you.2 “I will make you into a great nation,    and I will bless you;I will make your name great,    and you will be a blessing.[a]3 I will bless those who bless you,    and whoever curses you I will curse;and all peoples on earth    will be blessed through you.”[b]Gen 12

14 Generations David to Exile – Promise to David son from your line who will rule forever – Isaiah 9:6

For to us a child is born,    to us a son is given,    and the government will be on his shoulders.And he will be called    Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,    Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.Isaiah 9:6

14 Generations Exile to Messiah

* Waiting is a big part of the human experience.* Jesus is the fulfilment of all of God Promises through all generations.

Three Promises for Christmas

* God is faithful to his promises.* God is in control of history and our lives – God is not surprised, He is not shocked, we can trust in him and his sovereignty* God can use everyone – No one is beyond hope, noone’s life is rejected just look at the genealogy of Jesus.

Brother Edward shares a timely message on our Eternal hope in Jesus Christ.

Worship led by Anita:

The book of Ruth was written in the time of the judges. When corruption and moral perversion prevailed in Israel (10th century BC), a man named Elimelech lived in Bethlehem, Judea went to Moab with his wife and two sons during the Israel famine. In Moab his sons married Moabite women and after 10 years both of his sons died. He died too.

After the death of Al-Malik and his sons, his wife Naomi, decided to return to Bethlehem so that she could live a better life there and be able to worship the true God because there was so much idolatry in Moab. His daughters in law went with her partly because of Naomi ‘s love for them, but Naomi encouraged them to return to their families because she could not promise to provide them with a husband or to provide for them financially (Ruth 1: 11-13) One of his daughters in-laws, Orpah, listened to her advice and went back to her family, but Ruth clung to Naomi. She was determined to return to Bethlehem with her mother-in-law.

Naomi and Ruth returned to Bethlehem.  The barley harvest was beginning in Bethlehem. Ruth went off to the farm of a wealthy man called Boaz (who happened to be a relative of Naomi) to collect leftover grains behind the harvesters. Her aim was to make ends meet. She eventually got to know Boaz and found favour in his eyes. He looked after Ruth well because he realized how well she had served her mother-in-law. She eventually got married to Boaz as per Naomi’s guidance. They had a son called Obed.

There are a few lessons we can learn from the life of Ruth:

1.     Ruth was determined to enter into an unknown adventure in her life, surrendering to God’s will and providence

It did not appear to be a humanly speaking wise decision for Ruth to stay away from her family and join her mother-in-law. As a widow in the culture of Israel of that time being away from her family could potentially make her more prone to being abused by some men or she would be neglected as a widow in the new land. But she seemed to have great peace of mind to join Naomi at this unknown journey. She was even willing to join her spiritually making her God as her own God. We can read Ruth 1: 16- 17

But Ruth replied, “Don’t urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Ruth 1: 16

She surrendered herself to the true God Naomi believed in. There was something about Naomi’s God that drew Ruth to it. She by faith set her eyes on something bigger than she could see. I believe she took this journey believing that God will guide them and provide for them.

Michael and I got to know each other over 20 years ago in Iran. Michael was working for a charity assisting Afghan, Kurdish and Iraqi refugees and I was heavily involved in church ministries. After we got engaged, we rented a place and furnished it. We were hoping to get married and live in Iran for many years. We eventually managed to have our church wedding. However, the authorities did not register our marriage legally for an unknown reason. Unless our marriage was registered according to the Law of Iran, we could not live there legally. We had no choice but to leave the country.

When we registered our marriage in the Iranian embassy in UK, we happily returned to Iran but the authorities stopped Michael from entering the country and he was deported back to UK. I knocked at any possible governmental doors as I could hoping to resolve the situation, but it was all in vain. I had to join him 3 months later.

We both thought it’s a logical decision for us to live in Iran and to serve there,  but like Ruth,

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. Rom 15:13​

People keep their distance from someone who is unhappy Churchill was despondent and depressed. Men of God lost hope how important it is to know God of hope

Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him, “So shall your offspring be.”Rom 4:18​

Abraham In hope believed and became the father of many nations 100 year man 90 year old woman have a child.

Jalal and Nasrin from Iranian church – 13 times pregnant and then miscarried. Confess sin becomes pregnant for 14 times.

Sadly lost 14th child Named child Elijah

Eze 37

God covers your flesh and spirit come to life Bones became alive and became a powerful army If all dried up don’t worry like Israeli.

3-4000 soldiers lost their lives in Armenia Karabakh

24/4/21 Biden condemn Turkey for Armenian Genocide

“All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away.” John 6:37​

When intellect, money or fasting don’t open a way these are all so that we can put hope in the Lord Money had come to an end Put your hope totally in the Lord Woman with the issue of blood Paralysed man Jesus meets them touches them and heals them. Elijah met with him and heard his voice Is the Lord the hope of our family?

Truck driver facing problems wanting to Kill himself – wife unfaithful – children drug addicts – he was sick Your only hope is the Lord Jesus Christ

The message comes over the Radio he calls out to God He accepts the Lord Our hope is not based in this world

Have you got what it takes? – Looking at Moses and Paul.

11 He asked the Lord, “Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? 12 Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their ancestors? 13 Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ 14 I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me. 15 If this is how you are going to treat me, please go ahead and kill me—if I have found favor in your eyes—and do not let me face my own ruin.” 16 The Lord said to Moses: “Bring me seventy of Israel’s elders who are known to you as leaders and officials among the people. Have them come to the tent of meeting, that they may stand there with you. 17 I will come down and speak with you there, and I will take some of the power of the Spirit that is on you and put it on them. They will share the burden of the people with you so that you will not have to carry it alone. 18 “Tell the people: ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow, when you will eat meat. The Lord heard you when you wailed, “If only we had meat to eat! We were better off in Egypt!” Now the Lord will give you meat, and you will eat it. Numbers 11:11-18

Moses took 40 years to take out what Egypt put inMoses didn’t want to obey GodHe submits and obey Gods messageMoses wants to avoid the very man he wants to see ie PharoahIt’s easy to feel overwhelmed and that we can not take anymore

13 No temptation[a] has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted[b] beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted,[c] he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it. 1 Cor 10:13

Paul adresses church in CorinthChallenging the issues in the ChurchOnly seeking self satisfaction and pleasureIndulging in unGodly behaviour was the normalityCome to the Lord to walk purposelyServing God by being and doing what they use it

A state of war

The true believer is in constant war between what he ought to do and what he doesHow we respond do what we want to do and blame it on the devilEvery temptation is an opportunity to say no and do what Lord demandsNot without effort or pressure

And God is faithful

God will not move you on beyond what you can endureNo temptation has come to you beyond what you are able.

* God is faithful* God knows our ability

God’s Design

We did not create or design ourselves, God is the architectThe building doesn’t define how it should be built.Not possible for architect to redefine the building after the weight is appliedGod is not guessing when he puts you in difficult situationHe knows what we can bear.

Our test, temptation and burden determined by our designWhat I can do and go through, but it is something in commonWe feel heartache ans heart breakPaul goes on knee in intense prayer for the thing that is making him suffer

Paul my grace is sufficient

My grace is sufficient for you

7 If you remain in me and my words remain...

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.” Colosians 3:1-3

Focus on The Lord

Despondency is because we don’t meditate upon heavenly things. Christians shouldn’t focus on the blessings in This life. The Bible says we’ve just received the deposit

Jesus has not returned yet,We haven’t entered heaven yet,Satan is still ruling this world,This world is condemnedThis life is just a taster of what we will experience in Heaven

Hope

Many things happen in this world which are unjust. There are many examples of what a terrible world we live in i.e. Coronavirus deaths of people, diseases, famine, man inhumanity to fellow man.

We always need to have an eternal perspective. Hope is so important for a believer like the wings of bird if no wings then not a birda fish out of water will die.

Hope is key to our lives. Need to thing about our heavenly hope

Maranatha – Live in this hope of eternal life

Eternal life is the most important thing. Early Christians used the expression Marantha meaning the Lord is coming soon, this is our hope, In this life the things we receive are like a deposit

Bertrand Russell gave up hope – He did not know where he came from, Why he was living? Where he was going? Death is the end of life as we know it in his opinion.

Good news only comes from the living word of God. Apostles speak more about what is to come. 1-3rd century there were lots of persecution to Christians.

How did early Christians keep their hope?

They lived in hope and the reassurance of knowing what they believed in. Assurance that eternity is a realityShow me one thing that is stable. Health money or youth is not permanent. Which one of them is going to remain?

Life of human being is like a flower

Hamburtsum (member of the congregation)- attended church as often as he could. Whilst he was able bodied he attended church every week. He used to say, “If I don’t go to heaven I will come to church.”

We need to preach more about heaven, Jesus second coming and Talk about hell

No eye has no ear has heard, No mind can fathom.

Faith is putting out hope in eternal lifeLiving hopeReal and eternal hope

Deliver from despondency focus on heaven

Ask for heavenly things in your life

Mind controls the whole body

* Testimony* Always joyful thought about heaven* No police in heaven* No prison in heaven* No hospital in heaven* No war in heaven* No graves in heaven* All sorrow will be finished* That man always had a smile on his face* This man was normal I was not thinking correctly

He knew the secret of happinessBe comforted by hopeLet’s pray

Brother Charles shares a message on Jesus’s suffering on the cross.

Jesus suffered loneliness, silence, pain and punishment. The perfect man who had committed no sin took on all the sins of mankind.

God had forsaken him on the cross. Jesus paid the price for us all.

God is merciful and just. Jesus satisfied the justice and wrath of God, so that he can now be merciful to us.

Telestoy – Paid in full, Jesus paid the price in full for our iniquity and sin.

Jesus is risen and death is beaten, sins are forgiven.

We remember this through communion and Brother Charle’s leads us through communion.