Cairns Emmanuel Uniting Church

Pastor Bill Hollingworth, benediction, Emmanuel worship 26^th June 2011

Thank God for the opportunity today, to be present and to share this moment with you all. With Hedley, with Amelia and family. Just a short while ago, in prayer, in the last few weeks, regarding this situation here, I felt the Lord speak to me and say, “Give Hedley this message. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords loves you and it doesn't really matter what anybody else says or thinks.” Tell him that God loves him and that last Sunday the Lord had me speak that there is a rest to the children of God. Since Israel’s time, there is a resurrection, and He now is able to convey that message to us and give us the faith to enter into his rest.

And I was looking at Jesus sleeping in the boat while the storm was raging around and the disciples are all in a dither but he is asleep. And they woke him up and he said, “Oh ye of little faith.” What are you getting worried about? He speaks to the storm and the winds and the sea, and the winds settle down. He conveys, he imparts, his rest, even to the elements.

And then at the Last Supper and he is on his way to the cross, he turns to his disciples and says, “My peace I leave with you.” What kind of peace is that when you are going to the cross and you can share something that this world can’t give, and the world can’t take away. But we have that peace in Jesus Christ.

Let’s bow our heads and pray.

Thank you father, great is your faithfulness. Lord we thank you that if you be for us, then who can be against us? Father thank you for your loving kindness and your tender mercies. Thank you that you passed this way before us. And you called us to follow you even to the top of that hill called Golgotha, there to be crucified with you. You said, unless we ourselves do not take up our cross daily and follow you, we cannot be your disciples. So father we thank you for the courage and the strength to face whatever adversities, whatever obstacles, the heartaches and the grief, Lord that confront us as servants of the Lord, disciples of Jesus Christ, and sons of God.

Father we see the whole world in disarray, we see the winds of change taking place across the whole of the globe, and even creation is groaning and travailing in pain, waiting for a manifestation of the sons of God, Father, nations rising against nation. Father we thank you that you are coming again to rule all of the earth to be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. Until then, with joy we go on singing. Until then with joy we carry on. Father we praise you and thank thee for that day, which we believe is not far hence.

May we prepare our hearts through the grace of God given unto us, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, go forward in Jesus’ name regardless of the cost and the consequences and knowing full well that the knowledge of the God of the ages is in the everlasting arms and that, Father, it will be worth it Lord, when we see Jesus.

Thank you for the fellowship today. Thank you for the songs of praise, Lord, and everything that has taken place to your honour and glory. Unite our hearts to fit in your name, and that in everything Jesus Christ will have the pre-eminence, the honour, the praise and the glory be thine alone, and to thee be all the honour and the praise and the glory for we thank you in the name of your son and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.