On Wednesday evening we gathered for a church prayer meeting at Tyndale School. 30-40 of us met together and worshipped and prayed together – our time was described the following day, by one person who attended, as ‘precious’. It was a precious time in the Lord’s presence with a great sense of the Holy Spirit working among us.
As the meeting came to a close I asked whether anyone had a final word for us from the Lord. Cassie Jane responded saying she believed the Lord had a challenge for us for the next 12 months. This challenge was expressed in Philippians 2: 1-8, which Cassie proceeded to read over us as a church family. As Cassie read these verses there was a deep sense of seriousness and importance for us all.
Philippians 2: 1-8:
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
The very next morning we received the following email into the church office:
Dear Emmanuel church,
You won't know who I am - my name is Sylvia and I live just on the outskirts of Oxford. I used to be a regular church member in our village church but after contracting covid last year I have been housebound with the after effects of long covid and am still recovering. For someone who is 79 is see it as a blessing from the lord that I am still alive. And so I have dedicated my time to praying for all the churches in Oxford. I pray for them daily and at night I pray for one church in particular.
Last night I was praying for Emmanuel church Oxford and the lord gave me the verse from Philippians 2:1-8. I pray it gives you comfort over the coming year and that God will challenge and change you through it.
Many blessings,
Sylvia
It is remarkable that Sylvia, a 79 year old woman had been praying for Emmanuel Church the previous evening (just as we were praying at Tyndale) and had felt the Lord say exactly the same thing to her for us.
This remarkable coincidence is of course no coincidence at all. Having chatted as elders this morning we believe this to be a striking and clear word from the Lord which we each need to consider, weigh and respond to. Please would you join us as we reflect on this word, and pray and seek the Lord on this together?
Things that immediately struck us as we pondered these words today:
Timing: For two people to be praying for Emmanuel in different locations, precisely at the same time, and both to receive exactly the same word for us is striking and deserves our serious attention.
Internal / external: It is significant that we have received this word from two witnesses; one within the family who is known and the other from outside the family and unknown.
Uniformity of message: The themes in these two words are not similar (which would have been powerful enough!) but identical. The words, tone and scripture are identical.
The humility of the messengers
It is remarkable to observe the humility in both Cassie and Sylvia as they brought these words to our attention. Cassie began by sharing that she ‘wasn’t very good at this’ and that she ‘is not very good at speaking in front of people’ – she then spoke and read beautifully. Similarly Sylvia, in response to an email I sent her, thanking her for the word, said:
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! I didn't know you were having a prayer night the same night as I was praying and neither did I know about Cassie and her verses. This is encouragement to me as I have often prayed and the wrong thing has come out. Maybe after 60 years as a Christian I'm starting to get the hang of it!
I’m sure you will agree that both people brought their words of challenge to our church with gentleness and humility, in line with the very essence of Philippians 2:1-8.
Handling the Challenge
‘A challenge from God’: Both Cassie’s and Sylvia’s words used the word challenge. (Sylvia’s word also spoke of the Lord wanting to change us, as well as challenge us through this). It is clear that the Lord is challenging Emmanuel through this scripture. What do we understand from the use of the word challenge?
In studying the definitions of this word, I have helpfully discovered the following definition: ‘a summons to engage in something that by its character serves as a battle call requiring special effort’
Are these twin words a summons from the Lord for us to engage with ‘special effort’ in the teachings of Phil 2: 1-8?
A challenge for the whole church
Again, the clarity and replication of the words are significant. Each was addressed specifically to Emmanuel Church. So, this involves all of us, and each of us has a response to make as we pray and consider these words.
Making a Response
We began responding as elders today, praying together and bringing these words back to the Lord. We found ourselves asking several questions and turning them to prayer, which we have committed to continue doing.
Please would you join with us and prayerfully consider Philippians 2: 1-8 and listen to the Holy Spirit as he speaks and prompts you to respond?
The challenge requires us to ask questions posed within this passage:
How do we increasingly value unity of like-mindedness, sharing the same love, being one in Spirit and of one mind?
How can we avoid selfish ambition or vain conceit?
How can we best humbly consider others above ourselves?
Whose interests are we looking to? Ours or others?
In our relationships how can we carry the mindset of Jesus more clearly?
How can we engage with special effort in this kind of community – what will it take from us?
This is an exciting season for us as a church family. God is speaking and leading.
With much love and prayer.
Matt, Dave and Robert.