Greetings from the Elders

A task of eternal significance

Dear brothers and sisters,

Just before Jesus’ ascension to heaven the disciples approached Him together. They had a question. “Lord,” they asked, “is it at this time you are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” (Acts 1:6)

Jesus had spent the previous forty days, since his resurrection, teaching them about things “concerning the kingdom of God” (v.3). As a consequence they clearly assumed that an immediate physical restoration of Israel, with the risen Christ as its king, was at least a possibility. But Jesus’ response must have deflated their excitement: “It is not for you to know the times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority.”

Though the disciples may have been disappointed, Jesus’ followers today can draw great encouragement from the record of this exchange.

Firstly, because it’s authentic. The disciples do not look good here: they’re impatient for the establishment of an independent theocratic nation which will throw off the yoke of its Roman oppressors; God, however, has other plans. The author Luke clearly didn’t have an agenda to make the disciples look bad – elsewhere in Acts he describes them being used powerfully by God – and therefore had no motive to fabricate their question. So the most likely reason he included this dialogue is that it actually happened. As a historian, he was simply rendering a faithful account of that day’s events on the Mount of Olives, drawing on the testimonies of those that were actually there (cf. Luke1:1-4).

Secondly, God has fixed the time for the revelation of His kingdom by His authority. Though Jesus redirects the disciples’ focus from their immediate present, he doesn’t flatly contradict them. His kingdom will come and He will reign over Jews and Gentiles from a restored Jerusalem, bringing righteousness, justice and healing to a creation that is now groaning in its bondage to the curse (Isaiah 65, Zechariah 14, Romans 8:19-22). This will certainly happen when that fixed time – ordained by God’s providence and guaranteed by His authority – arrives, when the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled (Luke 21:24).

And finally, Jesus has left Christians a very clear and straightforward purpose as we wait for his return. Promising the power of the Holy Spirit, the Lord directs his disciples to “be my witnesses both in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” Though their natural impulse is to stand looking up into the sky (v.11), they, and all Christians, have a job to do. A task of eternal significance.

We are all naturally distracted in this uncertain and abnormal time. Perhaps, like the disciples, we’re asking the wrong questions or, stupefied, staring at a metaphorical sky, not knowing what to do next. But the authentic truth of God’s word reminds us that this temporary confusion will pass – Jesus will come again from heaven just as he ascended, to bring in His kingdom. And as we wait for that appointed time, fixed by God’s authority, we have the greatest, most significant employment: to be his witnesses.

May the Lord bless you and keep you this week. Please feel free to contact us if you would like to discuss this or any other topic.

Mark McCormick

For the elders

The Word on the Week

Irish Blessing

The WhatsApp site, created by Chinese Malaysian student returnees as a vehicle to sustain fellowship between those who studied in Dublin back in the 1980ies, hosted “A Malaysian Blessing” this week.   This was sung by singers from 80 churches in a fine show of unity.    They sang it first in English then in their local dialects.

What was the blessing they chose?   It was the Aaronic Blessing; an inspired choice.               

“The Lord bless you and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
    and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
    and give you peace.”                           Numbers Chapter 6 verse 23 – 26.

When the Lord gave this Blessing to Moses it was with the instruction that Aaron and his two sons (the clergy of the day) were to use it to bless the people.   It starts with the request for (probably) fruitful harvests, children, health, the presence of God   and that they be kept secure.  

Looking at the remaining lines; God’s face is inexpressibly holy (Exodus Chapter 33 verse 20).   It has not been seen on earth.   It is perhaps an expression of ultimate desire (Psalm 80 verses 3; 7; 19).    The peace referred to is not simply the absence of war but ‘shalom’ meaning complete well-being.

This longing to see God was met when Jesus came to earth.   The Apostle John puts it succinctly “No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known” (Chapter 1 verse 18).

Blessings by their very nature must be selfish.   They are seeking God’s favour and protection on the person or thing being blessed.    Probably the best known Irish one is: –

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

the rains fall soft upon your fields and until we meet again,

may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

This blessing which is sometimes used as a prayer shows Ireland’s intimate attachment to the weather!   The imagery used of Wind, Sun and Rain feature as God-given gifts.   The last line speaks of the eternal security of the believer.             “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (St John Chapter 10 verses 27 – 28).   

Reader, may you know this security in your own life.          

The Word on the Week

Darkness into Light

Darkness into Light                 Word on the Week                       9th May 2020.

This is the morning when those wishing to empathise with the suicide prevention work of Pieta House get out of bed at sunrise and go on a fundraising walk.   The sun rises early and the recommended time of 4.15 am may not appeal to everyone!    However, there is the added bonus for those who venture out of hearing the birds singing in their dawn chorus.

The walk was started in 2009 by psychologist Joan Freeman, as a fundraiser for suicide prevention and counselling.   At the first event 400 attended while in 2019 the event was attended by an estimated 150,000.    It has been replicated in five continents.  Dr Freeman has pioneered a similar work in New York called Solace House.   The ministering to self-harm and potential suicides is of increasing value.

Secular society has presided over a gradual reduction of human worth.   Having denied the existence of creator God humans now have the status of intelligent animals.   These ‘animals’ are misusing the planet to such an extent that we are led to believe that imminent destruction will come about.    Indeed, with global warming predicting floods and the current pandemic making inroads into elderly people the future looks bleak.                                                                                                                                        Once upon a time people looked to families for support.   Now our problems are not seen to be so much relational but physical and can be addressed by rewiring human instincts, forgoing procreation and tampering with gender.    In addition, the abortive worldview would encourage pregnant women to make war on their own bodies and that of the children they are carrying.

In this present darkness many are tempted to see themselves as part of the problem and turn against their own bodies in seeking a solution.                                                             When Jesus healed the man born blind he described himself as the light of the world (St John Chapter 9 verse 5).   The man was not only given sight but could see error!                                                                                            From the beginning the Bible has made a distinction between humans made in the image of God and animals (Genesis Chapter 5 verses 1 to 2).   Jesus shed light on human worth (St Matthew Chapter 6 verse 26 and Chapter 10 verses 29 to 31).   He also made the promise to those who follow him that they would never walk in darkness but have the light of life (Chapter 8 verse 12).

Isaiah points to a future we can look forward to where peace and light replace darkness (Chapter 60 verses 18 – 19).                                No longer will violence be heard in your land,
    nor ruin or destruction within your borders,
but you will call your walls Salvation
    and your gates Praise.
The sun will no more be your light by day,
    nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,                                                                                               for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
    and your God will be your glory.

Greetings from the Elders

We’ll meet again!

British streets echoed to the sound of a Second World War favourite song this week, as our neighbours commemorated VE (Victory in Europe) day – the 8th May 1945. ‘We’ll meet again (don’t know where, don’t know when)’ was first sung by the ‘Forces Favourite’, Vera Lynn, during the dark days of the war, and was referenced by the British Monarch in her address to the nation at the height of the Coronavirus pandemic some weeks ago.

I wrote about separation a couple of weeks ago in this blog and I reminded you that nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. What an encouragement! I was reminded of the issue of separation again when I was looking through the list of folks who attend Grace week by week. Nearly two-thirds of you are not from Ireland. It’s hard when you are not in your own country, you are separated from your family and there is not much prospect of an early reunion – especially at this time when you may be concerned about their health and well-being. We pray for you. Please get in touch if we can help you in any way. Use the details on the Contact Us page.

We have been encouraged at the number of you who are taking part in weekly fellowship activities – whether it is house groups, young adults, women, older men or the Thursday prayer time. Get involved if you are able to – you will find it a great encouragement!

I suppose none of us wants us to be in the place we find ourselves right now: It’s not very comfortable and we should pray that the Lord will help those who are in authority over us to lead and guide us well and bring us out in God’s time. But I want to encourage you not to wait until your circumstances change to praise God and give thanks to Him. Paul says this:

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. (1 Thes 5 vv 16-18)

Right now, we can say to God: “I’m going to praise you, I’m going to rejoice in you and I’m going to give thanks to you right where I am!” That’s the will of God.

We’ll meet again as a church in Pearse Street and we’ll meet with our loved ones – though we don’t know where and we don’t know when. But, you know, even when we do, there will still be a longing in our heart for something more. And when you dig down deep, what it is it? It’s a longing for Heaven. The ultimate home-coming that awaits every believer in Christ. What a wonderful day that will be. But don’t wait for that day to praise and give thanks. Do it now, right where you are – in fact in all circumstances – for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

God bless you!

Jon Blackwell

For the Elders

The Word on the Week

Normal People

Normal People                         Word on the Week                          2nd May 2020.

Our Vox Pop guru, Joe Duffy, in his Friday chat show teased out the TV production ‘Normal People’.   His purpose was to see what impact it had on his audience of ordinary people.    The show had been given some salacious publicity all week by RTE so Joe could have anticipated the comments people would make.

Apparently there is some nudity in it.   This always drives up the ratings.   Interestingly the Lord clothed our first parents and a sure sign of our rebellion against Him is when clothes come off.   Some of the callers to the programme remarked that this was pornographic and Joe was in his element!   He chided them for being back in the 60ies and implied that they needed to move on.

In the absence of any moral guidance from Church and the Scriptures being a closed book to many, we can anticipate ‘the Arts’ continuing to lead the downward spiral.   It is perhaps surprising that the National Broadcaster promoted this material but then there is so much of it available on the networks that they probably felt the need to compete.   What was perhaps more surprising was to hear an enthusiastic commendation from the broadcaster Ryan Tubridy.   He sought to verify his comments by referring to his 21-year-old daughter who apparently enjoyed it!

For the believer salvation comes in three tenses.   He can say “I have been saved” referring to the time when he bowed the knee to Christ and was justified by faith (Romans Chapter 5 verse 1) He is now at peace with God through the work of Jesus.

It is God’s will that we should be sanctified that is live a life of purity exercising self-control (1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 verses 3 to 8).   This is the second tense of salvation where the Holy Spirit’s work in us is ongoing.   We can say “I am being saved” and will continue until we are taken into glory or Jesus returns.

The third tense, “I will be saved” applies to the life hereafter when God’s work in us will be complete.   This is the glorification of the believer.   He has now taken up his citizenship of heaven.   He has a new body like Christ’s glorious body (Philippians Chapter 3 verses 20 to 21).

This complete salvation Christ accomplished on the Cross.   The work has been done.   Jesus has made a complete atonement for sinners such as us (St John Chapter 19 verses 28 to 30).    Jesus has done the heavy lifting.   He went the long journey to Calvary.    We go our little journey of faith.   He died that we might live – not as ‘normal people’ but as redeemed people who live to please Him and Him alone.

Greetings from the Elders

Growing in Grace

Dear brothers and sisters,

In 2 Peter 3:18 the apostle instructs his readers to “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.” Growth is a normal and necessary condition of the Christian life, indeed of all life – failure to grow is often either a sign or cause of death.

Of course not all believers have achieved the same level of growth: in his first letter, John addresses those in different categories of maturity as “fathers”, “young men” and “children” (1 John 2: 12-14). New believers, like children, require patient care and attention. But they should not be so indulged in their childishness that they don’t progress through the appropriate stages of development to fully-formed adulthood.

So how do we recognise that we are in fact growing in grace? The signs should be numerous, but they will all consist in either one of these two general principles: putting off the old man and putting on the new (Ephesians 4:22-24). J.C. Ryle, in his book Holiness, provides a very helpful description of one of these signs: “The man whose soul is growing takes more interest in spiritual things every year. He does not neglect his duty in the world. He discharges faithfully, diligently and conscientiously every relation of life…But the things he loves best are spiritual things. The ways and fashions and amusements and recreations of the world have a continually decreasing place in his heart. He does not condemn them as downright sinful, nor say that those who have anything to do with them are going to hell. He only feels that they have a constantly diminishing hold on his own affections, and gradually seem smaller and more trifling in his eyes…Would anyone know if he is growing in grace? Then let him look within for increasing spirituality of taste.”

Here is a sane and balanced view of a sanctified mind. Duty is recognised and innocent amusements are not condemned outright: God is glorified when Christians fulfil their obligations, and there are many ways for people to enjoy themselves without needing to feel guilty (though, it must be said, Christians need to be vigilant in this respect: much of today’s entertainments are, frankly, anything but innocent – battery acid for the soul, to quote Todd Friel).

But the growth in our desire for spiritual things will mean that there must simply be less space in our affections for even these innocent attractions which were so attractive to our old selves. As we grow, we will experience a greater hunger for spiritual nutrition, for spending time in God’s presence, in His word, and with His people; and our appetites for the old distractions must diminish in proportion.

In this period when so many of us find ourselves with a lot more spare time, it’s a good moment to reflect on what we really desire to fill it with. Innocent amusement is fine, but does it dominate our mind? Is it the first thing we seek when left to ourselves? If so, this is a warning we should examine our growth, put off our childish minds and seek to be mature.

If you would like to discuss this or any other issues with the elders, please contact us.

May the Lord bless you and lead you to greater maturity this week.

Mark McCormick

For the elders

The Word on the Week

Liberty in Lockdown

Liberty in Lockdown                        Word on the Week              25th April 2020.

Lockdown is a testing time for relationships!   To be confined to a single space with your loved ones over a period of five weeks endows one with the ability to clearly see their flaws!   It does not help that the date which the lockdown will end seems to be receding into the future. This does not reduce the tensions but increases them.

Domestic abuse has been recognised as a likely outcome and the Gardaí have been keeping a check on homes where it has occurred in the past.   But what of us ordinary mild mannered people?    Close proximity to others can bring out the best and the worst in us.   “God will not show you a sin in others that is not present in yourself” (paraphrase of St Matthew Chapter 7 verse 3).

Jesus gave us a check-list; “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.  For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person” (St Mark Chapter 7 verses 14 to 23).    We are all guilty before God.

And should efforts to keep the peace using the secular tools of ‘trying your best to be good’ and ‘not knowingly doing anyone any harm’ are seen to be particularly inadequate under lockdown conditions.   Some have increased the quantity of alcohol in the shopping list but found that drink doesn’t get rid of problems it merely floats them!     It’s always the other person’s fault and they need to fix it!

The only lasting way out of this is to confess your blindness to your own faults – first to the Lord then to the others.   Their acceptance of your need to be for forgiven will always seem inadequate, especially if it is not reciprocated!   But it’s your acceptance with God that matters.   He is a God of grace.   This means that acceptance with Him is not nor will ever be on the basis of your behaviour.

Everyone who trusts Jesus as their Lord is not welcomed into the Christian family because they have behaved in a particular way and kept the law of God but because Jesus did!   On the cross Jesus took our sins “When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the charge of our legal indebtedness, (the Law) which stood against us and condemned us; he has taken it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross” (Colossians Chapter 2 verses 13 to 15).

The foremost result of the Holy Spirit taking up residence in you is seen in your ability to forgive others their sins against you.   This flows from the forgiveness you have received from God and creates liberty – even in lockdown!

Greetings from the Elders

Nothing can separate us!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Sandra and I have had quite a few dogs over the years, mainly because we helped in the  training of guide dogs for the blind, by taking a puppy at eight weeks old and keeping it for a year or so to help socialise it, before the real guide dog training commenced. One thing we have noticed is that different dogs suffer from different levels of ‘separation anxiety’. Some dogs, if you go out for a couple of hours, are happy enough to lie around and wait for your return. Others become very anxious and when you finally get back to the house you discover that they have shredded their beds, or worse, chewed your favourite shoes! Whenever a puppy finally left us for its training in Cork, we were always asked to send something with them that had our scent, like an old T-shirt, to give them some reassurance in the new environment.

I guess there is quite a lot of separation anxiety going around these days amongst the human population, and whilst we may not be ripping up our beds, we do pine for contacts we can now, even at best, have only in digital form on Zoom – which is a poor substitute.

Social distancing is hard between people –  but the good news is that for the believer, it is impossible with God. Paul, in Romans Chapter 8 (‘the Great Eight’) says this:

35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? ….  37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Christian walk was never intended to be a solo run. We live in community; the Church is a body. We need each other and we miss each other. Yet there are some times when we must be separated. This is one of them. But separation from each other never means separation from Christ. Nothing can make that happen – not even death. Praise God!

As Elders, we do continue to be here to minister to you from a distance, as best we can. Please do not hesitate to contact us through all the ways set out on the Contact Us page of this site. Let’s pray for each other and stay connected.

May God bless you this week as you take time to be with Him.

Jon Blackwell

For the Elders

Greetings from the Elders

What troubles have we seen!

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

At times like this I am reminded of a hymn by one of the greatest hymn- writers in the English language – Charles Wesley. He writes: “And are we yet alive, and see each other’s face? Glory and thanks to Jesus give for his almighty grace!” He goes on: “What troubles have we seen, what mighty conflicts past, fightings without, and fears within, since we assembled last! We will certainly be able to sing that with gusto when next we meet, and, we trust, also say with Wesley:  “Yet out of all the Lord hath brought us by his love; and still he doth his help afford, and hides our life above.”

As George Morrison says in his excellent blog this week on this site

Fear penetrates our lock-down …!   The remedy is to ask Jesus for that faith which is not prompted by sight and is available to those who seek it. 

Sandra and I have been blessed by the daily five minutes videos of daily devotions produced by the Solid Rock church, Drogheda, led by Nick Park. On Saturday morning, Nick reminded us that in 1 Kings Chapter 18, Elijah saw God’s great miracle and victory over the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. Yet in the very next chapter we read in verse 3 that the mighty prophet was afraid and ran for his life! What a contrast! Alone – yes, self-isolated! – in the desert he just wanted to curl up and die. But God came and ministered to him and strengthened him. Not once but twice. We are all different and with different needs and God will minister to us in the way that we need to take away fear and give us faith as we wait upon him.

As Elders, we are also here to minister to you. Please do not hesitate to contact us through all the ways set out on the Contact Us page of this site. Let’s pray for each other and stay connected.

May God richly bless you this week.

Jon Blackwell

For the Elders

The Word on the Week

From Fear to Faith

From Fear to Faith                      Word on the Week                   18th April 2020.

There was some activity amongst the grandchildren this week as Ben put the finishing touches to his bird hide.   It had been a family affair and the finished shed looked like it would be difficult to move!   However, Grandfather’s doubts were dispelled when Stephen’s tractor attended to the heavy lifting and the hide took up its position at the edge of the fen.

To demonstrate the soundness of the construction Ben undertook to sleep in it!   The night passed uneventfully with the larger birds of woodpigeon, rook and buzzard taking to the sky.   At ground level one or two snipe were on the lookout for suitable nesting places.

We have been able to hear the bird-song better this year due to the relative absence of road traffic as a result of the Covid-19 lock-down.  Last night’s rain, after weeks of drought, has given the birds in the garden something extra to sing about.  

The feeding of the breeding birds is almost over.   Competition for the fat-balls can be quite intense with the rooks trying to outwit Betty as she attempts to preserve the food for smaller birds.   Right now I’d say the rooks are winning!

It was Mervyn Scott’s Baptist Mission’s Prayer News that alerted me to the lock-down that first Easter.   The eleven disciples and their friends were hiding in the house with the doors of the room locked for fear of the Jews (St Luke Chapter 24 verse 33 and St John Chapter 20 verse 19).    The fear must have been every bit as powerful as fear of the virus is today.  

When the Lord entered the locked room his visible presence created joy in the disciple’s hearts. But even after a further commissioning for service and breathing of the Holy Spirit on them their fears lingered.   A week later Jesus returned and entered the room, which was still locked, to reassure Thomas who had not been present the week earlier.     Thomas’s reply showed that his doubts were dispelled and in his declaration “My Lord and my God” faith was restored (St John Chapter 20 verse 29).

Fear penetrates our lock-down also!   The remedy is to ask Jesus for that faith which is not prompted by sight and is available to those who seek it.  Then Jesus told him because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”  

Then St John explains in the text the purpose of his Gospel. 

‘Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.’       

This is the new life referred to throughout the Gospel (St John Chapter 1 verse 4 etc.)

Christian Church in Dublin City Center