Recap
Title: What now? Time to restore the UK’s Christian foundation.
Key Text: Isaiah 58:12
The funeral service of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II was the biggest televised Christian event in history. At this moment when so many have been touched by the reality of the Queen’s Christian faith-which thankfully our new King Charles III shares- every Christian and every church needs to move up to a new level of sharing the good news of the gospel far and wide.
Isaiah 58: 12 says: Your people will re-build the ancient ruins and will raise up the age old foundations, you will be called repairer of broken walls and restorer of streets with dwellings.
Similarly, Isaiah 61:4 says:4 They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
The prophet Isaiah, who first saw the Lord in the year that King Uzziah died, also foresaw the return of the Jewish people from captivity and a rebuilding of many broken down cities which the Babylonians had laid waste.
Isaiah was looking forward to the establishing of God’s kingdom when through the coming of the Messiah and the anointing of the Lord, broken lives, broken families, communities and even nations can be rebuilt.
And that is what can happen today in the UK, just as it has happened many times before.
Millions of people were greatly affected by the gospel message, including members of the Royal Family and in particular Her Majesty the Queen.
All through the Queen’s life, she kept her faith and she faithfully and wisely shared her faith. But now she has gone, just like all the great Christians and past movements. Yet we are here. You are here and I am here.
The old foundations are there but we must built upon them. Our verse says: Your people will re-build the ancient ruins and will raise up the age-old foundations, you will be called repairer of broken walls and restorer of streets with dwellings.
Commit to blessing your nation
Raise up strong families
Build great churches
Apply
Commit to blessing your nation
God promised Abraham in Genesis 12:3 that ‘all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.’ Since all believers in Christ are spiritual descendants of Abraham, every Christian should be a force for good and for God in the land. How do we do this: well…
Receive God’s heart of love for the nation
Just as Jesus was moved with compassion for the multitudes, so we must be touched for all who are harassed and hurting, like sheep without a shepherd.
Get involved in serving the nation
This can be done in voluntary capacities such a being a school governor or through your profession. Christians need to be involved in key areas of local and national life, just as Joseph and Daniel were in the Bible.
We need more Christians being salt and light in politics, education, business, government, the media, law, the caring professions.
We need to seek the peace and prosperity of our cities and nations
This is what Jeremiah speaks of in chapter 29:7. We must aim to be people who are peaceful and who model peace in a violent world. Peace is a fruit of the spirit and an evidence of the kingdom of God.
Pray for the nation.
Prayer is the key to revival, and it is what keeps the revival alive.
Spiritual revolution in this country starts here…When we intercede before God for our communities and nations and cry out to Him to bring healing in the land.
If we really care for our country we will really pray, on our own and together. Pray for those in authority as the Bible teaches us to do. Pray for each part of our nation, pray for the people and churches in our nation. Evan Roberts prayed for Wales for 14 years for revival. ‘There wasn’t a day I didn’t cry out to God for my native land.’
Raise up strong families
Change in society and in the church begins with change in the home. Our society is broken and hurting because so many families are broken and hurting.
One of the greatest ways we can bless our nation is to increase the number of families who will love and serve God and model God’s love and purposes in their homes.
God has always achieved His purposes through families. God promised to make Abraham into a great nation, but first he had to birth and nurture his own family in the ways of the Lord. Such was the impact of Abram’s life that the blessings of God flowed through the generations to Isaac, to Jacob, to Joseph, to the people of Israel, to Christ and to countless others.
Joshua knew that the best way he could lead the nation was to decide that ‘as for me and my house we will serve the Lord.’ It’s the same today.
Your family can be a shining light of love and hope in your street and community. And together as godly families we can light up our nation. So stay close to one another in your marriages, with your children, grandchildren. Be gentle and kind and our example will impact many.
Build great churches
The church, that is local and global communities of Christians, has the potential to change the world. God has not given up on his church and nor must we. Ephesians 3:10, ‘His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to His eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.’
Churches that believe, teach and live by the Word of God
The scriptures have great power to challenge us, to change us for good, to comfort us and to guide us at all times. That’s why we must daily read the Bible and teach and preach the Word of God with confidence.
Churches that have a strong culture of prayer
Every church member should have a daily prayer relationship with God and meet together as a church to pray as many do each week on zoom.
The outstanding characteristic of the world’s largest church in Seoul, Korea, which had a big impact on the nation, was its total 24/7 commitment to prayer. I will never forget hearing 25,000 people at a time in their multiple services crying out to God. It was like a 747 revving up.
Churches that are filled with presence and power of God
Constantly we must hunger for God and welcome the Holy Spirit to work among us. For as we are open to God and value His anointing, we will see many miracles.
Churches that are united
The church has great influence when we model unity between men and women, older and younger, richer and poorer and from any and every ethnic group of which we have more than 50 in this church. Such churches will protect our nation against racism and anti-Semitism and bring great healing and reconciliation.
Churches that are financially strong
As members are faithful in generously giving tithes and offerings, resources are released to fund the church’s ministry to more and more people.
Churches that are mobilized to share the good news of Jesus
The early church grew rapidly in one generation throughout the roman empire because each member told their family, friends, colleagues and contacts the good news about Jesus. So too every Christian not just the leaders, need to share their Christian faith as a way of life.
Churches that multiply small groups to train committed disciples
Jesus ministered to multitudes but focused his attention on shaping and training a small group of committed disciples who would be able to carry on HIS work throughout the world. Small groups focussing on people who were serious about growing in their faith, were also foundational to the success of John Wesley and his Methodist movement.
Small groups stemming first from a core group of 12, are central to the effective discipleship and growth of great churches around the world like MCI, Bogota.
If you too want to be part an active service group in the Kingdom of God, please get attached to one of our Life groups.
Churches that are continually growing
Numbers make a difference and have an impact on culture. Today Islam is growing fast because of higher birth rates than non-Muslims. In the Bible, we read that the Israelites became powerful because of their numerical increase from a small group of Jacob’s 12 sons.
Exodus 1:7 ‘the Israelites were exceedingly fruitful; they multiplied greatly, increased in numbers and became so numerous that the land was filled with them’
We also can see multiplication of many Christians when those who are trained as disciples train others and teach them to do the same and so on. That’s why we are staying focussed on this vision. For it has the potential to reach and rebuild communities and nations. And finally, one more key to doing this…
Commit your life wholeheartedly to serving God
We live in an increasingly globalised, de-personalised world but one person really can make a difference.
There is nothing more powerful than a transformed life. When you change everything can change. A holy life where you radiate the love and beauty and justice will have a great impact.
When you turn your life fully over to God you will see how much God can use the example of your life for great good.
You can make a difference….in your home, in the church, in the community and nation.
You may be young. You may be older. You may be a new Christian or a long time Christian.
Today, make a decision, as our late Queen did, devote yourself first to God and then to serving this nation and the world as you have opportunity to do so.
