Worthy is the Lamb

Communion by Colleen Podmore

Worthy is the Lamb –Why is the Lamb worthy?

He is worthy because He secured our freedom. He is worthy to be praised and honoured because He has been victorious in defeating our enemies –sin and death at the cross! Amen!

God is Righteous – that is He always does what He says He will do. He always keeps the law and when He said, ‘The soul that sins will die’ – both physically and spiritually – He couldn’t change His mind.

Instead he paid the price for our salvation – it’s like a judge pronounces the verdict –guilty and then comes down from His judgement seat and pays His own righteous penalty and so the person who was guilty, through faith is redeemed.

Jesus is worthy of all praise glory and honour because He was obedient to the Father’s will and secured my pardon, our pardon and God granted us His Righteousness when we believe and trust in Jesus as our substitute, as my substitute, I can go free, we can go free because our sins are paid for – the law has been upheld! Hallelujah!

Bread and Grapejuice – the Lord has asked us to remember Him –to remember His death and resurrection until He comes back to earth again, through these simple emblems of bread and grape juice. Some people use wine which may or may not contain alcohol. We just use grape juice, unfermented wine.

If you are not sure whether to take and eat the bread and drink the wine – then it is better not to - don’t feel compelled but ask someone about it afterwards.

Let’s pray

Father God, thankyou for Your great plan of redemption, to bring us back to You. We were lost without any way of keeping the law, of being righteous as You are Righteous.

Lord Jesus as we take this bread and break it and eat it together, we ask that You bless it as we remember Your body given as a sacrifice of atonement for our sins. As we take the wine we remember that life is in the blood and Your life was poured out 2000 yrs ago in my place, in our place to satisfy the righteous requirements of the law. We ask that You bless it now.

Spirit of God we welcome You in this place, in our lives, convict us of sin and righteousness and the judgement to come so that we will be counted worthy as He is worthy. Amen!

Romans 3:22-25: ‘This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ. God presented Him as a sacrifice of atonement, through faith in His blood’

In your own time, eat and drink, giving thanks.

Inspiration from the Olympics

Olympians And God's Pleasure

from the August 07, 2012 eNews issue
http://www.khouse.org (visit the website for a FREE subscription)

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure." – Eric Liddell
In the movie Chariots of Fire, based on the true story of Olympian Eric Liddell, Liddell's sister complains that he should be doing more important things with his life than running. Liddell responds with the above quote, basically saying that, no, God was pleased when he ran fast. His doing what God made him to do was a blessing and a joy to both him and his Creator. As we watch the Olympic games in London, it is easy to see the glory of God displayed in human beings, especially when they recognize His hand on them.

Gabby Douglas has caught the attention of America and the world for several reasons; she gets beautiful height in her leaps and flips, earning her the nickname "the flying squirrel;" she is the first African American to win the all-around gold medal in women's gymnastics (the fourth American ever to do so at all); and she loves Jesus Christ.

After winning the gold medal for the all-around, Douglas notably said, "It is everything I thought it would be; being the Olympic champion, it definitely is an amazing feeling. And I give all the glory to God. It's kind of a win-win situation. The glory goes up to him and the blessings fall down on me."

This determined young lady is an inspiration to everybody. Her dedication to God, her hard work, and her history-making win are an encouragement to those who dream of following in her steps.

Gabby Douglas is not alone, though. There are a significant number of Olympians dedicated to giving God the glory.

Jacob Wukie loved to go bow hunting as a child. He won a bow hunting world championship at age 15 and went on to compete in archery at the college level. His perseverance in his passion for archery has led him to the 2012 Olympics, where he and the U.S. archery team captured the team competition silver medal after the team had suffered a "medal drought" since 2000.

Wukie credits God with his Olympics success. He had a poor attitude after he just missed making the 2008 Olympics team. He came in 17th in the first round of trials, when the top 16 archers moved on to the next round.

"Instead of trusting God and knowing that He was in control and had a plan for me, I was anxious and frustrated," Wukie said in a Beyond the Ultimate interview. Another archer pulled out in those 2008 trials, and Wukie was able to move forward, but his attitude was negative and he continued to shoot poorly.

Wukie had given his life to Jesus as a child, and during the trials he asked God to change his heart and fix his perspective. "The Lord did change my heart, and I became genuinely excited about the future, even though I didn't know what the future held," says Wukie. "I was right where God wanted me, and, as a result, I was very content."

He easily made the 2012 U.S. Olympic archery team, and he, Jake Kaminski and Brady Ellison won the silver medal in the team competition this Saturday. Wukie believes that God's will for him is to keep training and improving in archery, "…[B]ut regardless," he said, "I will be living my life for Christ, seeking to know Him more, and seeking to be used by Him to influence the lives of those around me so that they might know Him as well."

Reid Priddy is on his third Olympics, and at age 35 is considered an old man in U.S. men's volleyball. Like Eric Liddell, Priddy believes that God is glorified by his hard work and striving to be the best he can be with the talents he's been given.

"I believe that God is most glorified when I use the gifts He has given me to the best of my ability, whether I am on international TV or just training," Priddy told Beyond The Ultimate.

Priddy won a gold medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The men's volleyball team did well this year too, though they lost to Italy in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.

Priddy credits God with using volleyball to make him a better man in all aspects of his life. He gives 110 percent to the game, not for personal glory, but as part of seeking excellence in everything he does, from playing on the volleyball court to living at his home with his family. He believes our goal as Christians should be "to pursue greatness (no matter what you are doing) in the name of God and clinging to the strength He provides. Not with the end goal of winning - though it can be a goal and is part of the process - but rather to become more like God and glorify Him."

Those who serve God do not always win. Sometimes we Christians fall short of the "best" according to the world's definitions. Serving God is not a magic good luck charm. It doesn't guarantee success. It does mean we give Him everything out of our love and dedication to Him. We work our hardest, and then we trust Him with the results. We praise Him whether we win or whether we lose, letting Him work His work in our lives whatever happens.

Jamie Nieto: Seattle native high jumper Jamie Nieto cleared the 2.29 meter jump at the Olympic games this week, the same height as the three co-third place winners, but because he'd had more earlier misses than the three bronze medal winners, he fell to 6th place. He thus lost his last chance at an Olympic medal. At 35, Nieto will be too old to compete in Brazil in 2016 (barring Abraham-like miracles). At Athens in 2004, he also lost the tie for bronze because of his earlier misses - to Jaroslav Baba of the Czech Republic.

Yet, Nieto has reached the Olympics and has succeeded despite being the oldest on the U.S. high jump team. "Your only limitations are what you believe them to be, and as long as you put God first, you can achieve all things through Him," Nieto posted on his website.

He told the Christian Post, "I need God in every aspect to help me move forward in my career and being here at the Olympics is a testament."

These are just a few of the Christian Olympians competing for the U.S., and this list does not even touch on the non-American Christians at the London Olympics.

Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce called her home church in Jamaica on Sunday to thank the congregation for their prayers. Fraser-Pryce won the women's 100-meter final on Saturday with a time of 10.75 seconds. "I am just excited and if I never knew how powerful God was, I found out yesterday," she said. She has hardly kept her faith in God a secret.

Then there is Leo Manzano, who carried flags for both Mexico and the U.S. when he stood Tuesday in honor of the silver medal he'd won in the 1,500 meters. While he lives in the United States, he says his "roots are still in Mexico."

Manzano's dependence on God comes out constantly in the things he says. He gives God the credit for his victory in London, especially in his ability to race into second place at the very end of the race, despite the blood that oozed down his leg from spike wounds. He calls his final kick ability his "amazing gift from God."

"My legs just felt like they were bricks," said Manzano. "But really something inside me said, 'Keep going; keep going; keep pushing; keep pushing.' As I was coming down the track, I definitely prayed. I said, 'God give me the strength to push through,' and I definitely felt a surge of energy drawn from my body. The next thing I know I'm in second."

"It's been a long time," Manzano said. "I've been on five U.S. teams now. It's finally my turn. Last year, I came off the track, and I was limping off. From that to this, I couldn't ask for more."

Men and women from across the world are competing for medals, demonstrating not just their own abilities, but the amazing beauty and power of the human body and spirit. We are the treasures of God; He made us for excellence, and He is glorified when we push to the limits the talents He has given to us. When we recognize that our gifts are truly from Him, we get to enjoy the blessing of knowing His direct influence in our lives and His joy in us. We get to feel His pleasure.

Related Links:
• Olympics 2012: Gabby Douglas, "The Flying Squirrel," Makes History - The Washington Times
• Shooting for Gold: Olympian Jacob Wukie - The Examiner
• Jacob Wukie Helps U.S. Claim First Medal Of The London Olympics - The Plain Dealer
• Olympian Plays For God And Country: Reid Priddy - The Examiner
• Veteran Reid Priddy Thinks U.S. Men's Volleyball Can Repeat As Gold Medalists - Detroit Free Press
• Men's High Jump Final: Jamie Nieto Loses Bronze Medal Tiebreaker Again, Falls To 6th - SB Nation
• Jamie Nieto Puts God First In The Olympics And Always - Praise 102.7
• Fraser-Pryce Thanks Church For Prayers - Jamaica Observer
• Jones Misses Glory In 100 Hurdles, While Manzano Wraps Historic 1,500 - Sports Illustrated
• Manzano Claims Silver In Men's 1500 - The Miami Herald

Conversation with Jesus (Part II)

By Colleen Podmore


Dialogue with Jesus



Jesus said, ‘Give me some fruit, woman’.


She replied, ‘Why do you annoy me, I’m busy’.


Jesus answered, ‘If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for fruit, you would have asked him and he would have given you fruitfulness’.


‘Excuse me, but who do you think you are?’ she said, annoyed at this person.


‘Everyone who works in their own strength will become tired and anxious, depressed and despairing of life itself, but whoever eats the fruit I give them, will always be fruitful. Indeed the fruit will bring victory in everyday situations and will also store up for you treasure in heaven’.


‘That’s what I’m talking about – give me some of this fruit, so that I won’t be tired everyday’ Colleen said, suddenly interested in what he had to say.


The man said, ‘Go call your friend’


She replied, ‘I don’t have any friends’


Jesus said, ‘That’s true, you used to have friends, in fact you had several friends, but they no longer like you. What you have said is true’.


Feeling exposed, the woman hit back, ‘What about you? How many friends do you have?’


Jesus said, ‘Believe me woman; a time is coming when all my friends will desert me. Friends in this life are valuable, but being friends with my Father is far more important and sustaining. God is Father and is looking for children to be a part of His family’.


The woman said, ‘One day Jesus will come back to earth and explain everything’.


Then Jesus answered, ‘Colleen, my child, I AM speaking to you, go and be fruitful’


‘Yes Lord’


(Galatians 5:22)

Coversations with Jesus (Part I)

By Colleen Podmore

A Conversation with Jesus

This study is based on the idea that there are different levels of conversation. We can choose to engage in small talk, nothing personal, just the immediate environment, the weather etc. Good idea to be widely read and be able to discuss intelligently current events. This would be Level 1. Level 2 would be more personal, sharing something about you, asking the other person about themselves. Maybe hobbies, families, jobs etc. What worries you, what your opinions are? This level can be scarey as we become more vulnerable. Finally, there is a spiritual level where the conversation is concerned with our faith and beliefs about life and death and what we trust in the most.

John 4:1-26 There is a conversation recorded in the Bible between Jesus and a woman. I’m sure you know the one I mean. This conversation is very revealing. We can read it and put ourselves in the woman’s shoes or we can use it as a way to talk to people.

John 4:7 Jesus was travelling home because he didn’t want to provoke the Pharisees. It was midday and he came to a well in Samaria. A woman came to draw water at the well. (Imagine being alone with the Son of God? What would you say?) Jesus takes the lead in the conversation and asks for a drink of water, ‘Will you give me a drink?’ (Would this be the only place in Scripture where God asks for help?)

I find the dynamics of helping people can lead to a power imbalance. They are placed in your debt. Here Jesus puts Himself at a disadvantage by asking for help but it is the start of a profound conversation. We should look for these little opportunities to ask for help. Can you help me? Can you show me the way?

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John 4:9 His request shocked her. It was culturally unacceptable for a man to speak to a woman and even more so for a man from Judah to speak to a woman from Samaria, a Samaritan woman. The two cultures just did not associate (vs 9). But Jesus is sensitive to convention – he speaks to the woman in a private place. He does not embarrass her in front of others. Are there people that you just would not look at, let alone speak to?

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John 4:10 - Jesus pretty much replied, ‘Don’t worry about that – the actual drink of water is nothing – I can actually give you living water’

He’s still speaking to her at Level 1, nothing personal just stating a fact.

John 4:11,12 - She is intrigued. He has her attention – ‘Living water –what is it?’

Still at level 1 – nothing personal – just talking about the water.

John 4:11 Imagine what she in thinking - She looks at Jesus and sees nothing that indicates his majesty – just a simple Jewish man in dusty robes with sandals on his feet – nothing about him that would attract her to him. She may have been thinking, ‘Who is this man?’ – no one but a carpenter from Galilee. I’m sure we can all relate to how this woman must have been feeling. We often neglect the small things, the little things, the non-spectacular things – but even children can teach us.

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John 4:13,14 Jesus again entices her with images of this living water. Still at level 1 – nothing personal just a little more information about living water. He doesn’t use the first person but talks generally about ‘everyone’ – very non-threatening.

This is really an important statement about the Holy Spirit and about eternal life. In John 7:38, Jesus says, ‘If anyone believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him. By this He meant the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were later to receive’.

(So the Living water is actually the Spirit of God who comes to live in the person who puts their faith and trust in Jesus and because they are sealed with the Spirit – they have eternal life – so the Living water wells up to eternal life. I’m sure this conversation is more for us today than for the woman of Samaria!)

When we speak with people we should speak the truth - just state the facts and not try to convince or argue or justify what we say. Let the words and the Holy Spirit do the rest

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John 4:15 He has her undivided attention! She says, ‘Give me this water!’ But she hasn’t quite understood the implications as her answer indicates. Now she has taken the conversation to the next level, not Jesus – revealing a need she has for rest from the burden of life. Jesus had made her thirsty for this kind of water because life is hard, but she has no idea He was talking about the Holy Spirit.

I think we need to learn how to listen to what people say and not to talk at them but it is a conversation that unfolds and not a monologue where we do all the talking.

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John 4:16-18 Jesus has her full undivided attention – time to close the sale. He wants to release this daughter from slavery, from bondage, but the next step is in her hands. She must admit that she is in need – she must admit that she needs help. Spiritual level stuff. But notice how Jesus deals with the question of her sin.

Jesus is so kind – ‘Go call your husband’ He says. He didn’t say – You are a sinner and must repent. Isn’t it marvellous the way she confessed to him –‘I have no husband ‘–(perhaps she thought Jesus would make a good husband and wanted to let him know she was available?)

In a way she has given him permission to continue speaking at this level and He reveals that He knows her situation. This is the thing that really catches her – not learning about the holy Spirit or the living water – but that Jesus knew all about her (in vs29 she says, ‘Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did’ – seems like a bit of an exaggeration but maybe we only have a summary of their conversation?)

We often do not know these details about a person. We know they are human beings with sinful natures who struggle as we do and who need to be set free and this is enough. The Holy Spirit knows the details as Jesus did in this instance. What is the role of the Holy Spirit in our conversations? Are we aware that a lot can be going on behind the scenes and are we aware of the clues indicating this? The tear in the eye, looking away etc?

Jesus can say what He said, but can we –when we are talking to people? Often we are given insight and knowledge but it is to help, to pray and not to expose - Let us not provoke people to anger. Let us be gentle and considerate and leave room for the Holy Spirit to convict of sin and righteousness and judgement (John 16:9)

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John 4:19,20 At this point the conversation is a little too close to home – enough of the spiritual level stuff, let’s get back to the more impersonal level- so the woman throws in a red-herring to deflect the conversation away from her. I think this is valid but it can be where arguments start. We must be careful not to get into arguments. We may win the argument but loose the soul.

John 4: 21-24 Jesus has touched her soul and freely gives her and us more information

John 4:25 Finally, she admits to being overwhelmed. This is what I know – this is who I will listen to

John 4:26 Jesus answers to her – I am Messiah!

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Who has God brought near to you? Let’s take what we have learned about conversations and draw near to people and with grace and gentleness, plant a seed, whisper in their ear and with our actions tell them about the Saviour who loves them. May God bless you.

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