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- See people living their lives as saved, forgiven and
redeemed in Jesus
- Greater evidence of the fruits of the Spirit
- Our personal relationship and dependence on Jesus will
be deeper and have a more profound affect in our daily living
- We will want others to share in that relationship with
Jesus
- We will see people being healed and set free in the
name of Jesus
- We will better understand and be able to share with
others:
- Jesus - before the beginning
- Jesus - promise of the Father
- Jesus - why did he come?
- Jesus - why a virgin mother?
- Jesus - as human as you!
- Jesus - teacher and story teller
- Jesus - why the Cross?
- Jesus - defeating death
- Jesus - sending the Spirit
- Jesus - more than a barrister
- Jesus - in us!
- Jesus - returning
- Enabled to fulfill Jesus' commands to ‘Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your strength and with all your mind’ (Luke 10:27) and to
'make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have commanded you.' (Matt 28:19-20)
We will challenge and encourage one another to:
- Make a commitment (or recommitment) to Jesus if not
done so already
- To pray for a friend, and commit to share our relationship
with Jesus with them
- To receive personal prayer specifically in regards
to deepening our relationship with Jesus
- Share personal testimonies about Jesus transforming
our lives
- Be encouraged to read 4 books, followed by an opportunity
to meet and discuss/feedback:
- The Shack by WM Paul Young
- The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
- Jesus Safe Tender Extreme by Adrian Plass
- Meet the real Jesus by John Blanchard
Key passages for the year:
- John 15:1-17 - The Vine and the Branches
- Hebrews 12:2 'Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author
and perfecter of our faith'
Words
of Prophecy:
The following words were given
to the Elders just before Christmas 2010, and were shared with the wider
congregation early in January 2011. We have considered them and believe
that they are indeed God given.
The first is a passage of Scripture
– Jeremiah 30:18-22 which says:
“This is what the Lord
says: ‘I will restore the fortunes of Jacob’s tents and
have compassion on his dwellings; the city will be rebuilt on her
ruins and the palace will stand in its proper place. From them will
come songs of thanksgiving and the sound of rejoicing. I will add
to their numbers and they will not be decreased; I will bring them
honour and they will not be disdained. Their children will be as in
days of old and their community will be established before me; I will
punish all who oppress them.
Their leader will be one
of their own; their ruler will arise from among them. I will bring
him close to me, for who is he who will devote himself to be close
to me?’ ‘So you will be my people and I will be your God.’”
The second word is –
“Watch as I move in
my church, but my warning is you must keep your eyes totally focused
on me and on my Son, accept no other substitute, because only from
me does truth come.
I have work for each person
here to do but it will not be easy; I will ask you to take risks to
lay everything you have on the line, but my rewards are beyond compare.
Learn to love each other
as I have loved you because it is through true love that unity comes
–unity amongst each other and unity with me. When we are all
united together, then my Spirit will move in great power and you will
be totally amazed at what we can do together. Remain close to me.”
It seems to us that the first
word is a promise which we need to receive and believe. It does not
require any action on our part at this time, although it may well be
that God will make plainer what he is telling us over the coming weeks
and months. The second word, on the other hand does require action on
our part, and three can be easily identified – 1) focus upon God
and his Christ; 2) total commitment to Him; 3) to pursue love and unity
within the church.
We are very excited about these words and look forward
to watching God fulfill His plans for Wymondham Baptist Church.
With His blessings,
Alan, Margaret and Nigel
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