Talk part 1.

Jesus enters Jerusalem to cheering and praising crowds, waving palm branches and putting them before the young donkey He was riding. Within days the crowds are shouting for his death and those who were with Jesus desert him.

Dramatised reading - Matthew 26:14-75.

Jesus is betrayed.
By Judas who handed Him over, by Peter who denied Him, by the disciples who ran in fear. Jesus’ pain came not just from the beatings of the soldiers, or the scourging, or the crown of thorns, or the taunts and insults of His enemies….but the emotional pain of betrayal.
Of being badly let down by those closest to you, friends who you trusted with important things, those whom you shared most intimately with.
After His arrest, Jesus was alone, and on the cross we believe that even God the Father turned away so to speak, as Jesus takes our sin upon Himself, and cries ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me’.
The amazing thing is that He knew it would happen.

Read Mark 10:33,34.

Jesus, with purpose and determination sets His face towards Jerusalem. And even though He knows Judas will betray Him, He still shows him love and trust. Even at the point of betrayal, calling him friend.
If that doesn’t teach us a lesson about trust, I don’t know what will.
Trust, …….not because a person is trustworthy, but because it’s right to do so. .
Were the disciples trustworthy, when things got tough ?
Was Jesus naïve ?
Was He gullible ?
No, He knew more of what was going to happen than anybody….but He still showed trust.

If we are to follow Jesus, to have the same attitude, then God wants us to be trusting people, even though it may be emotionally painful.
Jesus suffered and died for us, taking our sin on Himself, because He loves us.
He loved Judas who betrayed Him. He loved Peter who denied Him. He loves the disciples who ran away. He didn’t like what they did, but He loved them anyway….just as He loves you and me.

Talk part 2.

What is betrayal ?
Well, it’s not when someone disappoints you or doesn’t live up to your expectations.
It’s not when someone does something you don’t like or agree with.
Betrayal can be one of the hardest things in life to deal with, when someone you trust, who you are close to, who you think loves you, then hurts you terribly.
There is duplicity involved, maybe saying one thing to your face, but something quite different behind your back to someone else. Acting as a friend to you, but then doing something which badly hurts you and betrays your trust. Maybe using personal information you’ve shared against you.

I’m afraid this happens a lot in churches, and is one of the most destructive things in church leadership. Usually it comes of pride and people seeking power, rather than humility and a desire to serve. Satan gets in and causes havoc.

Those who have suffered sexual abuse as a child, from an adult that they trusted, will know this incredible pain that comes from betrayal. A betrayal that for a child can last for many years.
A betrayal which many people can’t face until they’re much older. But God brings these things to the surface at the right time, and can take the pain we feel and heal us.
Maybe your father or mother deserted you as a child, or rejected you, and you feel the pain of betrayal…..from someone who should have loved you and nurtured you.
Perhaps a good friend let you down, as Judas betrayed Jesus.

Maybe you are the betrayer. Perhaps it’s you that has betrayed someone close to you.

Sometimes we are just unthinking and make mistakes, and sometimes it is more deliberate, we are so focussed on our own agenda and getting our way, that we are unaware of, or don’t care about, the hurt we are causing along the way.

But Jesus is the healer. Whatever has been done to you by others, whatever you have done…Jesus has died on the cross for the sin involved,… and the pain caused.
He has taken our sin, and our pain or sorrows. Do you believe it ?

Read Isaiah 53:4,5.

Come to Jesus.
Let His Spirit fill every part of you, every memory.
Confess your sin and know His forgiveness and cleansing.
Give Him your pain, bring it to the cross, and let go, He doesn’t want you to carry this heavy burden.

Talk part 3.

In many places where you go around the country there is some very negative church history.
Divisions, splits, fights for power, betrayal, and so on.
Why is this ?
Because not everyone who goes to a church is a true believer, there are wolves in sheep’s clothing, …..and because even those who are true believers, are also human.
How we need God’s grace.

Lostwithiel is no exception. There has been freemasonry, splits, betrayals, that have occurred in the churches here. There are many hurts that people still have from the past. These will get in the way, unless they are dealt with. The Lord has been doing this cleansing and healing work, but there is more.
This time the move of the Spirit must not be allowed to be quenched, as it was in the past.
I believe that what God is doing here will endure.
A community transformed by the love and power of God, a community cleansed of evil spirits, a community known for Jesus.
I say what God is ‘doing’ very deliberately, because things happen first in the heavenly realm before we see the fruit of it in the physical, and there is much going on unseen.
Rejoice ! God is on the move. Prepare the way, in your life and in prayer. Welcome Him.
Jesus has died for Lostwithiel, He comes by His Spirit to claim it.
It may get messy, there will be changes and upheavals, as God establishes His Kingdom here. But that which He has spoken, that will He do. God finishes what He begins.
Believe it, take hold of it, live in it.

Let’s pray for it’s fulfilment, and give Him no rest and ourselves no rest, until we see it.