DECEMBER 2013 DEVOTIONAL POSTPONED TO JANUARY 2014 DEVOTIONAL ‘HE WILL COME TO SAVE YOU'

The film ‘Gravity’ started showing in cinemas last month and has been very popular, grossing huge ticket sales of £250 million. Ryan Stone played by Sandra Bullock, in a desperate scene, alone in space with little hope of survival, says ‘No-one ever taught me to pray.’ The loneliness of a woman who is lost in space with no hope, not knowing even how to pray to her God, is captured with the help of powerful Hollywood cinematography. With a barely concealed ‘double entendre’ this film which is called Gravity, penetratingly uncovers the gravity of her plight. She is separated from communication with NASA. She is thousands of miles from home and from every other living human being. Is there any hope?

Do we know how lost we are? Do we know how to pray? Has anyone ever taught us how to pray? Jesus’ disciples asked him ‘Lord teach us to pray’. They had seen him pray. He clearly had a relationship with his Father in heaven. He had come down to earth and identified with their people, the Jewish people who were in a desperate place. They knew they were in a desperate place. They were oppressed by the Romans. Jesus’ death and his life was all about restoration of relationship ,communication and communion with God the Father in heaven. It wasn’t about political salvation.. it was about spiritual salvation., but the Jewish people and the disciples themselves were in an extreme place of need and the Lord had their attention. This was the context when the disciples asked Jesus …’Lord, teach us to pray’. How desperate are we to be rescued.. to be saved from oblivion. How desperate are we to learn how to pray?

Following years of oppression, in the 70s and 80s by Idi Amin and then by Obote, Christians in Uganda learnt how to pray in the jungle crying out to God for their very lives. When the AIDS crisis hit Uganda in the 90s worse than any other nation in Africa, they continued to cry out to God but began to ask 'Why?'. God started to show them that if they only prayed about the problems that there would always be problems but if they started to seek to draw His presence into their nation then they would see something tangible. The Ugandans have recently had a Christian president, the AIDS crisis has abated and the Lord has clearly heard their prayers.

Other African nations have been coming to prayer conferences in Uganda to learn how to pray. John Mulinde a Ugandan leader from World Trumpet Mission teaches around the world on how the Lord taught the Ugandan church to pray. One of the keys for the Ugandans has been reading large chucks of scripture, asking the Lord to speak through his word, and inviting the Lord’s presence and from that place of hearing from God and enjoying his presence, then moving into petition and intercession.

Following the thirty day devotional based on the book of Psalms in October this January 2014 blog, learning from the Ugandan church will encourage the daily reading of the New Testament, over thirty days, covering on average about 8 chapters a day depending on the length of the chapter. There will be a daily devotional taken from each day’s bible reading, aimed at stimulating and encouraging our prayer lives, particularly inspired by Andrew Murray’s ‘With Christ in the School of Prayer.’

1. Mathew 1-8
2. Matthew 9-16
3. Matthew 17-24
4. Matthew 25-28, Mark 1-3
5. Mark 4-9
6. Mark 10-16
7. Luke 1-5
8. Luke 6-10
9. Luke 11-17
10. Luke 18-24
11. John 1-6
12. John 7-13
13. John 14-21
14. Acts 1-7
15. Acts 8-17
16. Acts 18-26
17. Acts 27-Romans 5
18. Romans 6-16
19. 1 Cor 1-10
20. 1 Cor 11-2 Cor 5
21 2 Cor 6 - Gal 4
22. Gal 5 - Eph 6
23. Phil 1- 1 Thess 5
24. 2 Thess 1- 1 Tim 6
25. 2 Tim 1 - Heb 3
26. Heb 4- Heb 13
27. James 1 - 1 Peter 5
28. 2 Peter 1 - Jude
29. Rev 1- Rev 10
30. Rev 11- Rev 22

As we seek the Lord for an awakening in our nation and as we devote ourselves to prayer and to the reading of the Psalms and New Testament, let’s be praying that the Lord would restore the Gospel in us and in our nation ONCE AGAIN and that he would teach us how to pray!! If you would like to continue to subscribe to this devotional, the first daily devotional will be delivered to your inbox on 1st January 2014.

Man is like a breath his days like a fleeting shadow. Psalm 144: 4

This is the final October devotional. This devotional blog will resume on December 1st – December 30th during the season of Advent. You can unsubscribe if you wish or remain as a subscriber for the month of December. The Cambridge House of Prayer will be meeting, on the following days and times, in November and December :

Wednesday 6th November (Joint meeting with YWAM Cambridge - Lynn Green guest speaker) – Round Church 7.30pm -9.30pm

Thursday 28th November (Joint meeting with YWAM Cambridge – Andrew Taylor speaker)- Costa Coffee, Sidney Street. 7.30pm- 9.30pm

Thursday 5 December – 17 Rustat Avenue, CB1 3PF, 7.30pm-9.30pm

Thursday 12 December – 17 Rustat Avenue , CB1 3PF, 7.30pm-9.30pm

Thursday 19 December - 17 Rustat Avenue, CB1 3PF, 7.30pm-9.30pm

• DAY 30 MORNING PSALM 144-146

• DAY 30 EVENING PSALM 147-150

At 7am on Wednesday February 23, 1791, John Wesley now aged 87 years and nearly nine months set out in his two-horse chaise to preach in the country village of Leatherhead, where he preached what turned out to be his last sermon. A few days later his health deteriorated quickly and he had difficult even holding a pen to write his name. So John Wesley who had helped so many overcome the fear of death, lay happily awaiting his departure. He said goodbye and focused calmly on Christ, “ he is all, he is all,’ he murmured and ‘ we have boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Christ.’ Once he cried out in a remarkably strong voice, ‘The best of all is, God is with us!’ He died at about 10’oclock on Wednesday March 2nd. Memorial services were held in countless cities and villages throughout Great Britain.

One secular journal, ‘The Gentleman’s magazine' that had scorned and criticized him when he was alive said in its long obituary, ‘Though his taste was classic and his manners elegant, he sacrificed that society in which he was particularly calculated to shine; gave up those preferments which his abilities must have obtained and devoted a long life in practicing and enforcing the plainest duties. Instead of being ’an ornament to literature, ‘he was a blessing to his fellow creatures; instead of ‘the genius of the age ,’he was the servant of God!’

Because of his charitable nature he died poor, leaving as the result of his life's work 135,000 members and 541 itinerant preachers under the name "Methodist". It has been said that "when John Wesley was carried to his grave, he left behind him a good library of books, a well-worn clergyman's gown" and the Methodist Church.

He summarized his vision with these words: ‘The church has nothing to do but save souls; therefore spend and be spent in this work.’

• We began this devotional praying with Psalm 4:3 ‘The Lord has set apart the godly for himself.’ Lord, you set John Wesley apart to be your vessel to see a national awakening unto revival in the eighteenth century. Do it again Lord…We thank you for our godly heritage and all that you did in the past....but we call out to you today. Set your chosen vessels apart for a national awakening today. Do not let the candle go out. Let your church in this land catch the vision to do nothing but save souls, TO SPEND AND BE SPENT for this work. Restore the Gospel to England ONCE AGAIN we pray!

REFERENCES

Skevington-Wood, A. The burning heart John Wesley: Evangelist,Cliff College Publishing.

Pollock, J. The preacher, Kingsway, 257, 260-261

..if I settle on the far side of the sea Psalm 139:9

• DAY 29 MORNING PSALM 139-140

• DAY 29 EVENING PSALM 141-143

In 1769, Wesley and the Methodist conference set apart two lay preachers for the American colonies; their departure involved nothing new, for they were to behave like itinerant preachers in Britain.

Two years later a young itinerant from Midlands, Francis Asbury volunteered to join them and sailed for Philadelphia. Asbury is credited for recruiting and organizing a band of selfless and radical riders of whom the world was not worthy, that would change America’s future forever. This group of rough yet broken men would travel the frontiers of America for decades, taking the Gospel to the most remote places in America. In a time of American history where it was easier to stay in one place and live in the comfort of the few cities that existed, these men refused comfort and were driven by the ancient dream of Eden to see man and God live in intimate fellowship. They rode on. Over half of them died before reaching age 33 and their annual pay, if any, was around 50 dollars.

“No family was too poor, no house too filthy, no town too remote, and no people too ignorant to receive the good news that life could be better.”

They did not do it for the love of money, fame nor an affinity towards human comfort. They were marked by the same determination as Asbury that every home in America would hear and believe the Gospel. When Asbury arrived in America there were a few hundred Methodist followers and a few dozen preachers, but by the time he died there were over 210,000 followers and over 4,000 preachers. America would never be the same because of these wild-eyed revivalists. (These early American circuit riders are the inspiration for a new youth movement of radical evangelists in the USA at present see www.thecircuitrider.com)

Wesley rejoiced in the spread of the gospel in America through the work of Asbury and Coke who followed him. They shared his own vision that if Christians lived holy lives the heathen would be unable to resist the message of Christ. The “God of love” declared Wesley prophetically, “will then prepare his messengers and make a way into the polar regions into the deep recesses of America and into the interior parts of Africa; yea into the heart of China and Japan, with countries adjoining to them. And ‘their sound’ will then ‘go forth into all lands, and their voice to the ends of the earth.’”

• Lord, raise up a new breed of wild-eyed revivalists in our day. We thank you for Francis Asbury and the early Methodist circuit riders and we say ‘Lord, do it again’ unleash another wave of passionate young evangelists with neither love of money or love of comfort but a passionate desire to take the gospel to the ends of the earth. Do it again in our day we pray Lord!

REFERENCES

Pollock, J. The preacher, Kingsway, 250-251

www.thecircuitrider.com/about-us/history

Wesley, J. Letter to Asbury , 1788.

You made me bold and stout hearted Psalm 138:3

DAY 28 MORNING PSALM 132 -135

DAY 28 EVENING PSALM 136-138

In Wesley’s latter years the West Country was proof of the change which had been wrought by Methodism. ‘On one visit in his old age he had attended a service in Exeter Cathedral. The Bishop of Exeter, invited him to dinner at the palace where a former Bishop of Exeter had written violent pamphlets against Wesley. As they parted the bishop said “Mr Wesley, I hope I may sit at your feet in the kingdom of heaven.”

On Wesley’s last visit to Cornwall when he was 86, in August, he came again to Falmouth, recalling: “the last time I was here, about forty years ago, I was taken prisoner by an immense mob, gaping and roaring like lions; but how is the tide turned. High and low now lined the street from one end of the town to the other, out of stark love and kindness, gaping and staring as if the king were going by. In the evening I preached on the smooth top of the hill, at a small distance for the sea to the largest congregation I have ever seen in Cornwall, except in or near Redruth… God moved wonderfully on the hearts of the people, who all seemed to know the day of their visitation.”

At Port Isaac the whole town seemed to be present. "How changed since the last time” when the man who had invited him ,dared not ask him to stay lest the mob pull down the house. As Wesley left the county on Friday August 28th, 1789, he commented, “So there is a fair prospect in Cornwall, from Launceston to Land’s End.” ‘

Wesley preached in the open-air for the last time aged 87 beneath an ash tree in the churchyard of Rye in Kent. His feeble voice was barely audible, but his reverend countenance, especially his long white locks, formed a picture never to be forgotten.’

• We pray for the turning of the tide in Britain. We pray that the Gospel would be restored to our land, ONCE AGAIN. Raise up bold and stout-hearted evangelists to preach the Gospel in the highways and byways, today. We pray for another day of visitation from you Lord - a ‘planting of the Lord for the display of your splendour.'Radically transform the morality of nation from the grassroots up and change the spiritual landscape beyond recognition through the powerful proclamation of your word with signs following.

REFERENCES

Pollock, J. Wesley:the Preacher, Kingsway, 255-257

I lift up my eyes to the hills Psalm 121:1

DAY 27 MORNING PSALM 120- 125

DAY 27 EVENING PSALM 126-131

The coal miners of Newcastle upon Tyne, in the far north of England, were illiterate, rough and godless. In May 1742 Wesley set out for the North, and when he arrived he ‘was dismayed by the uncouthness of the Tynesiders: half of them appeared to be drunk; even the children swore.

About seven o’clock in the morning of Sunday May 30, 1742, he walked with John Taylor down Sandgate, then the poorest part of the town, and stood at the pump. They began to sing ‘All people that on earth do dwell” to the “Old hundredth” a tune known to any Englishman who had ever ventured into a church. Three or four people came out to see what was the matter” Wesley called out the text from Isaiah 53:5,’ He was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him and with his stripes we are healed.” The crowd grew until the street and every side alley was packed; people stood on the town walls or hung our windows of the houses. Observing the people when I had done, to stand gaping and staring upon me, with the most profound astonishment, I told them, ‘If you desire to know who I am, my name is John Wesley. At five in the evening, with God’s help, I design to preach here again,”

At five the hill on which I designed to preach was covered, from the top to the bottom. I never saw so large a number of people together, either at Moorfields, or at Kennington Common. I knew it was not possible for the one half to hear, although my voice was then strong and clear; and I stood so as to have all in view, as they were ranged on the side of a hill. ‘After preaching, the poor people were ready to tread me underfoot, out of pure love and kindness. It was some time before I could possibly get out of the press. I then went back another way than I came; but several were got to our inn before me; by whom I was vehemently opportuned to stay with them, at least a few days or … one day more.” ’

• Lord we look to you, we lift our eyes to you. You are the one from whom our help comes. May the gospel go out to the poor in our nation once again. We pray that the thirsty would come to you and drink. Just as they responded to Wesley, eager to hear and respond to the good news, almost ‘treading him underfoot out of pure love and kindness,’ we pray for todays poor- the oppressed, the neglected, the elderly, the fatherless, the single parents, the lonely and those who face all their trials and challenges without God and without hope. Melt their hearts with your love today we pray.

REFERENCES

Wesley: the Preacher, Pollock, J. 157,158.

Your word is a lamp to my feet Psalm 119:105

DAY 26 MORNING PSALM 119:105- 119:144

DAY 26 EVENING PSALM 119:145- 119:176

Wesley travelled the length and breadth of the British Isles by horse, by carriage and by foot. Although preaching in the open air and travelling by foot was an innovation for his day, and was contested by the religious authorities, the reality was that there were many precedents for pedestrian evangelism, in England.

Skevington -Wood says 'the early emissaries of the cross in England had no alternative but to preach in the open. The indigenous church, planted as it may have been through Roman soldiers, had few buildings. Ninian and Patrick in the fifth century and Colomba in the sixth century preached in the open air. Northumbria was converted through Paulinus and Aidan who preached in the open air. The coming of the friars in the thirteenth century saw a renaissance of outdoor preaching. Travelling preachers were the heralds of the Reformation. They preached wherever they could get a hearing – sometimes in churches, but more often on the village green or by the roadside. The same practice of preaching in the open was carried on by George Fox and the early Quakers. When Wesley started to compass the land he was in good company.

The track which he came to follow in his travels was in the first place triangular. He had London at his centre and Bristol as his second major city, the third point Newcastle served as a kind of northern office, as well as a favourite retreat for Wesley when exhausted by his travels. Wesley was not confined to England. He went into Wales in October 1739 and found ‘most of the inhabitants ripe for the gospel.’ In April 1751 Wesley crossed the Scottish border for the first time.

In all his worldwide journeyings he had only one desire: it was to lead men and women to Christ. He said ‘wherever I see one or a thousand men running into hell, be it in England, Ireland, or France yea, in Europe, Asia, Africa, or America, I will stop them if I can; as a minister of Christ, I will beseech them in His name to turn back and be reconciled to God. Were I to do otherwise, were I to let any soul drop into the pit, whom I might have saved from everlasting burnings, I am not satisfied God would accept my plea, "Lord, he was not of my parish" '

• We pray for our nation that it would be reconciled to God. Thank you for the history of your Word being preached in the open air across our country. Let your word be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path, as we continue to take the gospel across the length and breadth of our land. Give us your heart for the lost that we would have a greater urgency to share our faith, a greater fear of God and a greater desire to carry the flame of the Gospel wherever we go. Do not let the candle go out on our watch, Lord let it burn even more brightly, we pray.

REFERENCES

Skevington-Wood, A. The burning heart John Wesley: Evangelist,Cliff College Publishing,107,108,113

….wherever I lodge. Psalm 119:54

• DAY 25 MORNING PSALM 119:33- 119:72

• DAY 25 EVENING PSALM 119:73- 119:104

‘In order to fulfill his mission throughout the land, John Wesley had to resign himself to incessant travel. He became the great itinerant. For the sake of the gospel, he was prepared to lead a gypsy life. We have caught something of the energetic momentum of the man as we have dipped into his Journal. He was in almost perpetual motion. At Oxford he had wondered "how any busy man could be saved…. God taught me better by my own experience."

As late as 1781 he was still on the move. "I must go on; for a dispensation of the gospel is committed to me; and woe is me if I preach not he gospel." He noted in 1777,"I have travelled all roads by day and by night, for these forty years, and never was interrupted yet." Although nearly shipwrecked when sailing to Guernsey, his boat was saved from disaster. Wesley was saved from serious accident throughout fifty years of travelling ministry.

For a season John Nelson travelled with John Wesley. There is an unforgettable picture in John Nelson’s journal of himself and John Wesley sleeping on the floor at St Ives and Wesley using Nelson’s top coat for a pillow and Nelson using Burkitt’s notes on the New Testament for his. One morning at 3am after enduring this hard bed for a fortnight, Wesley turned over, dug Nelson in the ribs and joked, "Brother Nelson, let us be of good cheer… for the skin is off but on one side yet."

Anyone who accompanied Wesley was in for a grueling experience. Duncan Wright discovered that. He joined Wesley for part of 1765 and 1766, but he found he was unable stand the pace. "As the exercise was too much I gave it up," he confessed. There is a graphic account in the Journal of the treacherous quicksands of the Solway Firth. Perhaps that was the last straw so far as Duncan Wright was concerned. Yet at this date Wright was only thirty years of age and Wesley was sixty-three.'

•Lord we pray that you would raise up labourers for today’s harvest. Thank you for the inspiration, and example of our spiritual forefathers. Unleash a new wave of firebrands, of young zealots who have the energy, the perseverance and the tenacity to complete the dispensation of restoring the gospel to England, to whomsover they are sent, wherever you call them, whatever the cost.

REFERENCES

Skevington-Wood, A. The burning heart John Wesley: Evangelist,Cliff College Publishing, 115-117, 122