Reveal Week 2 - The Glorious Father

'Many of us sigh when we hear this command to be perfect. We wonder how we will ever achieve the same quality of holiness that God possesses. Surely we will never attain the Fathers level of purity. Surely we will always have to settle for a less than perfect standard in this life, and at the same time hope that we will do enough to be made perfect in the life to come. ' Mark Stibbe - 'Orphans to Heirs'

The topic of the Glorious Father was one that Tom and I were really excited to tackle on this journey going deeper into knowing God during Reveal. We were looking forward to the prospect of tackling such a phenomenal subject, but it did leave us with a lot of questions. Chief amongst which was 'How on Earth do we creatively facilitate an experience of the glory of our Father in heaven?' After much discussion we came to the conclusion that there could have been two answers; either we do nothing and rely fully on divine intervention (which may have been the better option-who knows what could have happened), or we approach this subject with reverence, and consider what it means to come into contact with the glory of our Father.

We strongly feel that one of the tools that we want to use week on week during Reveal is taking people on a journey from what WAS, to what IS now, due to the gracious adoption we have received from our heavenly Father. As we considered in the first week, we first had to be orphans before we could become adopted children. But how does this relate to the gloriousness of God?

As we read books, scriptures and articles in preparation, one topic kept coming up. Holiness. Holiness seems to be, certainly from scripture, one of the most dangerous manifestations of Gods Glory. Very few people were able to come into the full presence of Gods holiness and live. Rabinnic culture teaches us that there was one day a year on which priests were able to come into the holy of holies, the place in the temple where the Glory of the Lord dwelt. The presence of God had such potential to overwhelm that a rope was tied round the foot of the priest in case they were overcome and had to be dragged out. Moreover they couldn't just walk into the holy of holies the way they were. There were ritual processes involving cleansing, anointing and sacrifice which needed to be adhered to. They had to make changes in themselves, physically and spiritually to prepare themselves to meet with this Holy God.

At Reveal on Thursday we took a journey through a symbolic process. Those in attendance were told they had to wash their hands, anoint themselves with oil, prepare a burnt offering (a small candle) and remove their shoes before they entered the most holy place. As they entered the sanctuary they found an alter representing the presence of God. They took their candles (burnt offering), lit them and placed them in front of the alter. We then allowed people some time to consider the process they had been on. The necessity for change before they reached this place. The process they had to go through. The old covenant.

I shared for a few minutes the reasons behind the journey we had taken. That before our adoption, through the work of Jesus Christ, we were distant from God. We had to change ourselves in order to enter his presence. If we didn't, it might not go so well for us. The processes which were put in place were there to protect the priests, and to treat with reverence the God whom they were serving.  But now...Through the Restoration that Jesus brought, and the gracious adoption from our Father, there is no longer any fear in drawing near to Him. We no longer need to alter ourselves in order to come into contact with his holiness. Now we can come into contact with his holiness and be altered by it. His adoption of us has removed the need for us to view ourselves as unclean, unworthy, separated. He sees us exactly as he sees Jesus, spotless and blameless. Through the work of Jesus the son, we are able, without restriction or constraint, to draw near to our glorious father.

The quote from Mark Stibbe at the beginning of this blog may strike a chord with you. It certainly does with me. I, at heart, am a people pleaser. I want to feel that I am doing well, gaining approval from people, and as such, I had applied that to my relationship with God; subconsciously trying to win his approval by my own piety. Always feeling like my standards never quite made the grade. But truthfully, he is our father. In his adoption of us, he has brought us into a place where his view of us is exactly his view of Christ, a child, a son, an heir in his kingdom. What is our response to that? Does this not alter our mindset? Are we going to continue trying to please him with our own efforts, or should we allow ourselves to be changed by the knowledge of his glory and respond with love, adoration, a life lived in his purpose.

There are many aspects of response to this; considering our view of God, our view of ourselves, the processes we have put in place to try and make ourselves worthy of the life he has given us. This week was 90 minutes to tackle subjects which may have been years in the making. It is possible that to varying degrees, every person in that room needed fresh revelation. We realise that in a short space of time it may be difficult to grasp such major subjects. But thankfully, we are not trying to do it in our own strength.  Through the course of the evening a few words were given that the participants had felt were from God. The overwhelming theme was his love for us; his desire for closeness, his commitment to unique and individual relationship, and his perspective on each of us.

One word was given which stated "Don't you know, he doesn't see your sin."

That is a glorious Father indeed.

Reveal Week 1 - Adopting Grace

'Our Lord bases prayer on personal relationship. He taught us to call God our Father, and the implication of sonship changes the whole aspect of prayer....The wonder is not that God hears prayer, but that He is our Father. The greater wonder includes the less. The revelation that God is Father establishes the possibility and reasonableness of prayer....There is no lowering of his majesty in the intimacy of the family relationship. He is still the Holy and Most High God; the High and Lofty One, that inhabits eternity....there are many such revelations of the Divine Glory and Majesty, and it is well to ponder them in adoring worship; but Jesus Christ turned them into terms of filial value.  He is our Father! That is the crowning fact. To the child he is just father. Others may cringe in fear, but the child heart is a stranger to terror.' --The Path of Prayer, Samuel Chadwick, 1931.

The implication that God is our father changes everything. Our lives as his children are irrevocably altered when we embrace this knowledge. However the process of embracing it is often much more complicated than we expect. It is relatively simple to comprehend the knowledge; to understand the facts of the situation. God through his grace has adopted us into his family. Simple enough. What most, including me, often find difficult is accepting, believing, and living in the truth of this knowledge. We could spend our time learning different ways to outlive this truth and apply it to different situations. We could do bible studies, exploration groups, we could set up a resource library or get experts to come in preach about it, but ultimately "The Path of Prayer" by Samuel Chadwick (from which the above excerpt is taken) tells us a better way; 'Whatever difficulties may remain, communication must be possible between father and child, and to suggest that a child may not ask of a father would be to empty the terms of all meaning. It is a child's right to ask, and it is a fathers responsibility to hear in affectionate sympathy and discerning love.'

This is where Reveal comes in. Our aim on Thursday nights is to allow space for us to commune with God; to come as children, and speak to our father. The only issue is that in order to do this, we must first believe and accept our position as his adopted children. This is easier said than done for several reasons. Some may have been part of the family of God for so long that they can barely remember they were once an orphan. Others may feel as though they are not worthy of such extraordinary grace (indeed that may be true for almost everyone.) Others still may have a very different experience of fatherhood which makes the knowledge of a loving, gracious father very difficult to comprehend. As we prepared for Reveal, we were keenly aware that many may come to the events with varying levels of baggage in this area. What we didn't want to do was allow the issues that had held us back in the past to become the focus. What we wanted to do was allow God to speak about the journey that he had already taken us on; to give us a chance to consider our new found position in the Kingdom of God.

'We were orphans'...the screen read as people began to arrive. The room was set up with several chairs dotted around, quite spaced out from each other, low lighting, and some reflective piano music on a loop. We considered the best environment to allow individuals to consider their lives before God. From what I understand, this room was particularly challenging for some. The prospect of thinking back to a life without God is unpleasant and uncomfortable. It forces us to remember how abandoned we felt, how hopeless, how alone. Whilst we knew this may push some, our aim was not to undo that which had been done, but to reflect on it. How often do we get a chance to look back and genuinely consider the journey on which God has taken us? How often do we forget that in order for us to become adopted we had to first be in a place of orphan hood? This space was designed for us to allow God to speak into the emotions that our status as orphans conjured. Where was HE during that time? Why were we in that place?

Thankfully this room was only part of the story of the evening. As those reflecting began to make their way to the sanctuary they were greeted with the sight of a vast, long table. The table was covered in fruit, flowers, bread, grape juice, plates and candles. A banqueting table fit for a King. But the seats prepared were not for dignitaries or VIP's; they were for us. You and me. We are seated at the table of the King. We are heirs in his Kingdom.

   'The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are Gods Children. Now
    if we are children, then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ...'  Romans 8:16-17a

This, our first evening of Reveal, gave us an opportunity to consider the transition we made from orphans, to heirs through the grace of God our Father. This evening was not a definitive answer to the question of our adoption. I am sure it evoked as many questions as it answered. I am also sure that we may need, as a church, to continually consider the journey we have already taken. However we began here for a reason. Reveal, as we see it, is an opportunity for us as the family of God to devote time to better getting to know our father. For us to do so, we must be able to approach him as his children; and to do this, we must first consider OURSELVES his children, and heirs with Christ. We do not claim that week on week you will go away with a neatly wrapped bundle around different issues, but we hope that as the time goes on we may be able to build a picture, as a community covered in his grace grace, of our Father in heaven.

Looking forward to seeing you all next week.


Debbie MacDonald


During lent, Reveal will be running every Thursday evening from 7:30. If you are unable to attend it may be possible for us to make any resources/music/PowerPoints/discussion topics/prayer points we used available to you. If you would like more information please contact Tom or Debbie.

What Kind of Father?

Exploring the fullness of God's character

Throughout 2013 at SBC we are going to be considering 'What Kind of Father?' God is to each of us. We are really excited to further explore the grace, love and compassion He extends towards us; but also just how reverent and Holy He is as our heavenly Father.

We hope this series is both a blessing and a challenge to all of us as we continue in our walk to know our father more.

As part of the series we are reading through a book together, and the preaching team will be exploring and expanding through its content as we go through Lent towards Easter. The book is entitled 'From Orphans to Heirs' by Mark Stibbe. If you are wanting to join with us through this season and would like a copy of the book please be in touch with out Staff Team.

Also throughout Lent we are hosting a weekly event called Reveal. This is an opportunity for us all to come and spend some time in the presence of God, and seek after Him. Although it is good for all of us to learn and grow in knowledge, we also believe passionately that our relationship with God is to be experiential. So it is an opportunity for us to try and connect with God in new and different ways. You are welcome to join us every Thursday evening from 7:30pm.

May God bless you in this season of Lent, and throughout our pursuit to discover more of our Heavenly Father.