An Evening of Gospel – ‘Music and Message’ with Paul Wheater at St. James Community Arts Centre – Seamer Road, YO12 4DT. November 1st at 7.00.p.m. Ticket only and free tickets available by e-mail at:
tickets.gracefellowship@gmail.com
Showing posts with label Testimony. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Testimony. Show all posts
Monday, 23 September 2013
Gospel Music and Message with Paul Wheater
An Evening of Gospel – ‘Music and Message’ with Paul Wheater at St. James Community Arts Centre – Seamer Road, YO12 4DT. November 1st at 7.00.p.m. Ticket only and free tickets available by e-mail at:
tickets.gracefellowship@gmail.com
Sunday, 16 June 2013
John Newton and Amazing Grace
John Newton and Amazing Grace.
(Grace: the free and undeserved favour of God.)
Many people have heard or even sung the hymn 'Amazing Grace' but not many know the remarkable story behind the song. It was written by a clergyman named John Newton, nothing so remarkable about that, I'm sure lots of clergymen write hymns but this man had come on an amazing journey from atheism to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
John Newton was born in 1725, as a child he was taught the teachings of Christianity by his mother, he had a very retentive memory and learned extensive passages from the Bible. However by the time he reached his teenage years he had turned away from these teachings and by the age of 17 he had become a confirmed Atheist.
Newton's father was a sailor by trade and John had spent years aboard ship since the age of 11. He followed his father into the trade and eventually became a slave ship captain. He developed many bad habits aboard ship, his particular hobby was to invent swear words and blasphemous sayings, these weren't the usual sailor's swear words but carefully thought out expressions of rebellion against God, against the very idea of His existence.
Eventually Newton's rebellion was to come to a sudden and most unexpected end. Newton's ship was caught in a terrible storm, many sailors had been swept over board and the ship looked in danger of sinking altogether when Newton found himself calling on the mercy of God. He had no idea why he was even thinking about the mercy of a God he didn't even believe in. Hour after hour he toiled, pumping water out of the stricken ship but his mind was now recalling many Bible verses he had learned as a child, he became convinced not only that he was not alone but that his sins were too great to be forgiven, the mercy of God was not for him.
By the time the storm blew itself out, unknown to everyone else, John Newton had quite simply ceased to swear or blaspheme, it was not a pre-meditated decision, it just happened. He was no longer asking if there is a God but 'how do I get to know Him'.
Unfortunately John Newton had a very unclear grasp of the good news of salvation as found in the Bible and for some while after this he had periods of his life when he fell back into bad ways and other times when he tried hard to follow after the Lord.
Thankfully in the providence of God he met with an experienced Christian who started studying the Bible with him and answering many of his questions. After this period of study and searching he knew his faith rested in Jesus and His works and not in his own works, that he was forgiven because Jesus took the punishment for his sin when he died on the cross, there was nothing left for him to do. It was all done by God's 'amazing grace'.
John Newton became a Minister and in later years he and his friend William Cowper wrote many hymns, sometimes writing as many as a hymn a week. Amazing Grace was written during this period of time.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The world shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.
(Grace: the free and undeserved favour of God.)
Many people have heard or even sung the hymn 'Amazing Grace' but not many know the remarkable story behind the song. It was written by a clergyman named John Newton, nothing so remarkable about that, I'm sure lots of clergymen write hymns but this man had come on an amazing journey from atheism to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
John Newton was born in 1725, as a child he was taught the teachings of Christianity by his mother, he had a very retentive memory and learned extensive passages from the Bible. However by the time he reached his teenage years he had turned away from these teachings and by the age of 17 he had become a confirmed Atheist.
Newton's father was a sailor by trade and John had spent years aboard ship since the age of 11. He followed his father into the trade and eventually became a slave ship captain. He developed many bad habits aboard ship, his particular hobby was to invent swear words and blasphemous sayings, these weren't the usual sailor's swear words but carefully thought out expressions of rebellion against God, against the very idea of His existence.
Eventually Newton's rebellion was to come to a sudden and most unexpected end. Newton's ship was caught in a terrible storm, many sailors had been swept over board and the ship looked in danger of sinking altogether when Newton found himself calling on the mercy of God. He had no idea why he was even thinking about the mercy of a God he didn't even believe in. Hour after hour he toiled, pumping water out of the stricken ship but his mind was now recalling many Bible verses he had learned as a child, he became convinced not only that he was not alone but that his sins were too great to be forgiven, the mercy of God was not for him.
By the time the storm blew itself out, unknown to everyone else, John Newton had quite simply ceased to swear or blaspheme, it was not a pre-meditated decision, it just happened. He was no longer asking if there is a God but 'how do I get to know Him'.
Unfortunately John Newton had a very unclear grasp of the good news of salvation as found in the Bible and for some while after this he had periods of his life when he fell back into bad ways and other times when he tried hard to follow after the Lord.
Thankfully in the providence of God he met with an experienced Christian who started studying the Bible with him and answering many of his questions. After this period of study and searching he knew his faith rested in Jesus and His works and not in his own works, that he was forgiven because Jesus took the punishment for his sin when he died on the cross, there was nothing left for him to do. It was all done by God's 'amazing grace'.
John Newton became a Minister and in later years he and his friend William Cowper wrote many hymns, sometimes writing as many as a hymn a week. Amazing Grace was written during this period of time.
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost, but now am found;
Was blind, but now I see.
'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed.
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
I have already come;
'Tis grace hath brought me safe thus far,
And grace will lead me home.
The Lord has promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be,
As long as life endures.
Yes, when this flesh and heart shall fail,
And mortal life shall cease,
I shall possess, within the veil,
A life of joy and peace.
The world shall soon dissolve like snow,
The sun forbear to shine;
But God, who called me here below,
Shall be forever mine.
Saturday, 11 May 2013
Lucy's Testimony
I was raised in a Christian household, going to church. I
have fond memories of all the clubs and summer camps I went to. After every
camp I would come home professing to be a Christian- I did believe in God, but
when I was back in the ‘real world’, surrounded by my peers I would go back to
how I normally lived- pleasing myself.
One of the sermons at the camp had a particular effect on
me. It was something along the lines of that God would only give you so many
chances if you knew that you had to turn to him and repent and kept ignoring
Him. It was the jolt I needed to get out of the seesawing I found myself doing
every year. I prayed that God would forgive my sins and come into my life.( I
had prayed this prayer a couple of times before in my younger years but I’m not
sure that if on my part it was more of a test to see what would happen or if
God was working in me from a young age.)
I probably kept this up for a little bit longer, but I
soon went back to my old ways when I went to high school and entered my teenage
years! I spent the years going along with everyone else, not wanting to miss
out, and experimenting with different things. Throughout these years I suppose
I was aware of my conscience telling me that these things were not right for me
but I continued to ignore it.
It was then, on a night out in London, in a club at about
3 or 4am, when I had this voice/very strong feeling that it was very much time
to stop what I was doing and turn to God once and for all- sort of like my last
chance!
It was quite a dramatic transformation (of course it
wasn’t a smooth or perfect one by any means!) but it did shock the daylights
out of my friends and boyfriend, Paul (now husband). I went from partying hard
to living for Christ, reading my bible, reading books and going to church. My
attitude and outlook on life changed, literally overnight. Even when the times
come when I feel a failure and slip back into my old ways, God picks me up,
dusts me off, teaches me and we carry on together.
Looking back God has always been there for me, even
though I hardly gave him a second thought until it suited me. I thank God for
this: if it was left to me I’d be in big trouble. He has even blessed us by
involving us in a church plant, which is something that I would have probably run
a mile from it’s such a daunting task, but it is wonderful when God reveals His
plans for you. It confirms that He is firmly in control.
My testimony is proof of the power of the Holy Spirit changing and renewing us daily from within and this will show externally. We are lost to ourselves and it is all to Gods’ glory when we are transformed and converted as a Christian.
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