WIC Weekly March 26th 2023
Warsaw International Church
Mobile +48 601 331 032
Worship every Sunday at ul. Miodowa 21 (near Old Town) at 11:00 AM
Entrance from Schillera Street
Email: pastor@wic.org.pl
Website: http://www.wic.org.pl
WIC WEEKLY 26 MARCH 2023 FROM PASTOR HARRY
Spiritual Nourishment
The Exaltation Of Christ by John Greenfield
One mark of a genuine baptism with the Holy Ghost is the exaltation of Christ. “He shall glorify Me,” said Jesus with reference to the promised Paraclete (John 16:14). One result of Pentecost in apostolic days was the determination “to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (Acts 2:23; 3:15; 4:10; 1 Cor. 2:2; etc.).
This is exactly what happened [three] centuries ago in Herrnhut, Germany (during the great Moravian Revival). They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and became witnesses of Christ and Him crucified. One of their number, John Cennick, truly set this forth in the stanza:
Christ is our Master, Lord and God, The fullness of the Three in One; His life, death, righteousness and blood, Our faith’s foundation are alone, His Godhead and His Death shall be Our theme to all eternity.
The baptism with the Holy Spirit caused the renewed Moravian Church to see no man save Jesus only. Their spiritual vision became so keen that they could “see Him who is invisible” (Heb. 11:27). The form in which He appeared to them most frequently was when He was “led as a Lamb to the slaughter, wounded for their transgressions and bruised for their iniquities” (Isa. 53:5-7).
In this divine presence of their bleeding and dying Lord they were overwhelmed with their own sinfulness and with His more abounding grace. Hushed were their controversies and quarrels, crucified were their passions and pride as they gazed upon the agonies of their “expiring God.” With the Apostle they learned to die daily unto the world, the flesh and the devil, and to live for Him who died for them. Henceforth their one passion was to gaze upon the King in His beauty and to proclaim the “slaughtered Lamb” as the “chief among ten thousand and the one altogether lovely” (Song Of Songs 5:10, 16).
Their prayers, their litanies, their hymns, their conversation and their sermons had one theme – the wounds, the blood and death of Jesus. Moravian sermons were just as full of Christ and His atonement as were Moravian hymns. In one of Count Zinzendorf’s letters we find the following declaration:
“Our method in proclaiming salvation is this: To point out the Loving Lamb, who died for us, and although He was the Son of God, offered Himself for our sins – to every heart, as his God, his Mediator between God and man, his throne of grace, his example, his brother, his preacher of the law, his comforter, his confessor, his Saviour, in short, his All-in-all – by the preaching of His blood, and of His love unto death, even the death of the cross.
“Never, either in the discourse or in the argument, to digress even for a quarter of an hour from the Loving Lamb; to name no virtue except in Him, and from Him and on His account; to preach no commandment except faith in Him; no other justification but that He atone for us; no other sanctification but the privilege to sin no more; no other happiness but to be near Him, to think of Him and do His pleasure; no other self-denial but to be deprived of Him and His blessings; no other calamity but to displease Him; no other life but in Him.”
Our News
Please note that clocks go forward one hour this Saturday night / Sunday morning. We lose an hour’s sleep.
This Sunday’s service (26 March) will last only one hour, plus 30 minutes fellowship afterwards, as the sanctuary will be used in the afternoon by its owners (Polish Lutheran Church). Therefore please get to the service on time. Also, a marathon will be run on Sunday, which could entail parking problems.
Similarly, our service on 16 April will exceptionally be held at a different location which we are still negotiating. Further details to be provided in a future newsletter.
We look forward to baptizing three of our sisters by total immersion on Friday 14 April at 7:30 pm at the International Christian Fellowship at ul. Puławska 326. Our three candidates are Sister Temwani from Zambia, Sister Loini from Namibia, and Sister Oleksandra from Ukraine/Lebanon. A Polish brother from City Church will also be baptized at the same service, which City Church is arranging. A truly inter-church venture.
Christian Films
Watch wonderful free Christian films of hope and encouragement! They include films about the life of Jesus, testimonies of Christians who have suffered persecution, and excellent cartoon films for both children and adults on Christian spiritual reformers and missionaries. The link is: https://www.vm1.tv/
Prayer Requests
Please continue to pray for an end to the war in Ukraine, for which Russia is entirely responsible. Fortunately the International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Putin as a war criminal, for giving his personal order to have thousands of Ukrainian children kidnapped from their families and forcibly resettled and indoctrinated in Russia. Let’s not stop praying for the Russian army to be scattered and withdraw completely from Ukraine. Many of the psalms make great reading in helping us to pray against the Lord’s enemies and for protection of the innocent victims.
We continue to pray for a great spiritual awakening in our own countries and in Poland, particularly among English-speaking foreigners in Warsaw. May each one of us also have the boldness to proclaim Jesus the Saviour to those with whom we are in touch.
Last Sunday’s sermon was preached by Pastor Harry on reassurance for the followers of Jesus (Ephesians 1:3-14)
Today’s psalm – Psalm 53 – gives us an accurate picture of the world today, and of every person’s spiritual condition in their natural state. In our natural condition, every one of us is rotten and corrupt – every one of us has turned away from God in the past, and also sometimes in the present. The world is full of evil, and more and more people are saying: “There is no God”. But God is angry with their foolishness. Even scientists tell us that, for us to have life on our planet as we know it, so many conditions have to be exactly right, exactly in place. No way can all this have happened by accident. Yet the millions of foolish people in the world continue to think: “There is no God”. And of course, they continue to live as if that were true. We see the results everywhere. I find it strange that people who call themselves atheists and agnostics are always so proud of their reasoning powers, yet they deny what reason shows us to be obvious: the signs of God wherever we look.
But Psalm 53 also contains a message of hope: God will rescue and restore His people, and they will shout with joy! And the Bible tells us that we are those people: the people who follow Jesus are God’s people – the new Israel. And so God is with us, and He loves us, and He has restored us! We may not be perfect – but we can be sure He’s working on us. And we have felt His love, peace and joy in our hearts. I know that many of you are on fire for the Lord right now, and can’t wait to attend the next spiritual meeting, whatever it might be: worship, prayer, Bible study, sharing in a home group, or whatever. And that is as it should be – the normal Christian life.
But you know, it’s difficult for us to be always joyfully worshipping God on the mountain tops. Sometimes we find ourselves down in the dark valleys, and what then? – our enthusiasm fades. We seem to have so many other concerns pressing in on us. Life can get very hard, very routine, very depressing. Actually, at those times, we need the support of other Christian brothers and sisters. We need someone to talk to, to share our worries and feelings with, and to pray for us. Basically, we – in the Body of Christ – need each other. We need reassurance.
I’d like to say that I’m no different from you – I need your reassurance too. I have hard times too. But today I can do my best to provide you with the reassurance that the Bible gives us, about our position in Christ: our situation as followers of Jesus. And one of the best accounts is the first chapter of Ephesians, which reminds us of our spiritual blessings as Christians. We need to believe those blessings.
Firstly, we are told that we have these spiritual blessings because of one thing only: we are united with Christ! When a person is “born again”, and becomes a Christian, the Holy Spirit of Jesus comes into their life and starts to transform them. Of course, God is leading them before then as well, but it really all takes off when Christ’s Spirit comes into us, because we are then united with Jesus, through His Spirit! But now look at the blessings this conveys: verse 4: “Even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes!”. God hadn’t yet created the world, hadn’t yet created you, but He already loved you, and chose you, to be holy and without fault. God is already looking into your future. He’s telling you that one day, He’ll arrange it so that you will be without any faults whatsoever! This is His promise to you.
Look again at what He’s already done for you, or is still doing – verse 5: “He decided to adopt you into His own family”. How? By bringing you to Him through Jesus. Not through anybody else – but through Jesus alone. Many of you are already followers of Jesus. Others are perhaps on the way – but you can already claim the promise of being adopted by God. When we turn towards Him, He rushes out to greet us – like the father in Jesus’ story of the Lost Son. And that makes us want to praise Him so much more, for His wonderful grace and goodness in coming to you and me, a helpless sinner.
As followers of Jesus, we can be reassured of some more things: that God purchased our freedom! God set you free from the power of Satan and of evil forces. God set you free through the blood of Jesus! Jesus set you free with His blood, so you could become His follower! Don’t take it lightly that you are a follower of Jesus – because it cost Him dearly to make it happen. And of course, when He did that, your sins were all forgiven. But you don’t get the benefit of it until you become a follower of Jesus.
In verse 8, we discover some more blessings for those who follow Jesus: wisdom and understanding. With God’s Holy Spirit in you, you will discern and understand things which others can’t see or comprehend. God has given you that wisdom through the Spirit of Christ in you! You will see much more clearly what is true and what is false, what is good and what is bad, what’s troubling other people, and so on. And according to verses 9 and 10, you will understand God’s Will better: God’s Will for Christ, God’s Will for you personally, God’s Will for the planet. God’s Will to bring everything together under the authority of Christ. The rest of the world might be surprised at what is happening today. But we are not surprised, because God has already shown us what will happen, in His Word: global revival, global catastrophe, Second Coming of Christ.
In verse 11, something truly reassuring is stated: that because God chose you in advance, He’s going to make everything work out exactly according to His plan. No man or demon can stop Him. Even if you’re in a bad situation right now: be reassured. If you are a follower of Jesus, He knows about it, and will lift you out of it at exactly the right time. Be patient, and trust Him every step of the way.
God’s plan was that the Jews should hear about Christ first, and then the Gentiles. So when we believed in Christ and became followers of Jesus, we received His Holy Spirit, which was promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee to us – His downpayment – that He will give us all that He promised: His own inheritance, because we are His own people, entirely created for His own pleasure. And He wants us to praise and glorify Him.
Brothers and Sisters, we are here as followers of Jesus because God loves us. We already have the proof of that, in the Holy Spirit whom He’s given us. So if you’re feeling down, or your fire is not burning so brightly as it used to, take heart: ground yourself, not in your feelings or the absence of them, but in the promises of God. Feelings will come and go. But the Word of the Lord lasts forever. Amen.
Readings and Hymns for the 26 March service
Verse for the week: “You did not recognize the time of your visitation” (Luke 19:44).
Theme: Failure to recognize Jesus
Psalm: 118:19-29
Reading: Luke 19:29-48
Offering verse: Acts 20:35: “It is more blessed to give than to receive”.
Hymns:
(At the start) We Are Marching In The Light Of God
[:We are marching in the light of God,
We are marching in the light of God:]
[:We are marching, marching, marching,
Oh, we are marching in the light of God:]
[:We are living in the love of God,
We are living in the love of God:]
[:We are living, living, living,
Oh, we are living in the love of God:]
[:We are moving in the power of God,
We are moving in the power of God:]
[:We are moving, moving, moving,
Oh, we are moving in the power of God:]
All My Hope Is In Jesus
I’ve been held by the Saviour,
I’ve felt fire from above,
I’ve been down to that river,
And I’m not the same, a prodigal returned.
[chorus] [:All my hope is in Jesus,
Thank God my yesterday’s gone,
All my sins are forgiven,
I’ve been washed by His blood:]
I’m no stranger to the prison,
I’ve worn shackles and chains,
I’ve been freed and forgiven,
I’m not going back, I’ll never be the same.
Jesus Shall Take The Highest Honour
Jesus shall take the highest honour,
Jesus shall take the highest praise!
Let all earth join heaven in exalting
The Name which is above all other names!
Let’s bow the knee in humble adoration,
For at His Name every knee must bow;
Let every tongue confess He is Christ, God’s only Son.
Sovereign Lord we give You glory now!
For all honour and blessing and power
Belongs to You, belongs to You.
All honour and blessing and power
Belongs to You, belongs to You,
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the living God!
(After sermon) O The Deep Deep Love Of Jesus
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Vast, unmeasured, boundless, free;
Rolling as a mighty ocean
In its fullness over me.
Underneath me, all around me,
Is the current of Your love;
Leading onward, leading homeward,
To my glorious rest above.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Spread His praise from shore to shore,
How He loves us, ever loves us,
Changes never, nevermore;
How He watches o’er His loved ones,
Died to call them all His own;
How for them He’s interceding,
Watches over them from the throne.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
Love of every love the best:
It’s an ocean vast of blessing,
It’s a haven sweet of rest.
O the deep, deep love of Jesus,
It’s a heaven of heavens so true;
And it lifts me up to glory,
For it lifts me up to You.
(At end) Great Is Thy Faithfulness
Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father,
There is no shadow of turning with Thee;
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not,
As Thou hast been, Thou forever wilt be.
[chorus][:great is thy faithfulness:]
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me!
Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.
Pardon for sin, and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!
Services and Contributions
WIC is entirely self-supporting. Should you wish to make a contribution to WIC, our church's bank details are as follows:
Warsaw International Church
Santander Bank Polska S.A.
IV/Oddział w Warszawie
ul. Jana Pawła II 17
00-854 Warszawa
Polish złoty (PLN) account: PL 63 1090 1056 0000 0000 0600 9128
SWIFT CODE: WBKPPLPP
Contributions can now also be sent by PayPal. Just open the PayPal application and search for “Warsaw International Church”. You can also use this link for your PayPal payment: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=558F2VK2AJYPC
Our services are also livestreamed on YouTube (11 am CET). The link is: Warsaw International Church - Sunday Service
Recordings of our Sunday services are available on our wic.org.pl website or by googling "Warsaw International Church YouTube".