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New Year thoughts from Chelmsford 24-7  leader, David Gilbey

Her Majesty the Queen in her Christmas message quoted from John, Chapter 1, verse 5:  “It is true that the world has had to confront moments of darkness this year, but the Gospel of John contains a verse of great hope, often read at Christmas carol services: ‘The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.'”

Just a few hours before this before hearing this, I had read a prophetic word on Facebook. Part of it read as follows:

‘This year we will experience the first Christmas Day full moon in almost four decades. When my husband mentioned this to me, the Spirit immediately said that it is a sign in the heavens that God is releasing great light in the midst of darkness beginning Christmas Day.

If you have loved ones living in darkness, then take hope, because we are entering a time where His light will shine brighter than we have experienced in many years. The revelation of Jesus Christ as the Light of the World will be made known to many still living in darkness’.

The full Word, and its source can be viewed by clicking here. I would urge you to read it.

I personally witnessed the full moon on Christmas eve whilst driving to pick up my daughter Rachel from Ipswich, and it was indeed large and bright – reminding me of the star which shone so brightly over Bethlehem all those centuries ago, which heralded in the first coming of Jesus, as the Light of the World.

I was also reminded of my recent visit, on 14 December, to the World Prayer Centre in Birmingham, where we prayed fervently over the United Kingdom. There too, God spoke to us about Light and Darkness, that just as Jesus is the Light, we need to recognise that we are carriers and releasers of that same Light here on earth, here in Chelmsford, until He returns.

Whilst in that prayer meeting in Birmingham, I had a picture of God connecting up the Nation with Light. I saw the fibre optic cable network that crisscrosses an increasing proportion of the UK carrying Jesus to every household, every business. I saw the Gospel message flowing through the cables as bright light.

May I encourage you all. Even a single little candle prevents darkness being complete. On our own, we might sometimes feel we are such, but even in frailty and fallibility, with an often faltering faith in Jesus, we still tangibly illuminate the atmosphere wherever we go.

However, if as Christians we increasingly unite together, pray together, join as one Body, that little flame quickly becomes a blazing inferno – that gets everyones attention. Remember the hotel blaze in Dubai on New Years eve. That fire must have started off as a tiny flame, but oh so quickly it spread, within an hour or two literally the whole world was watching with bated breath!

I conclude with a Bible verse that I often quote, John 13: 34-35:

‘A new command I give you: love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.’

God’s Love will shine from us in greater and greater measure as we stand together in this City and will cause those who live and work here, who do not know Him, to be drawn to relationship and Salvation through Jesus. Revival is definitely coming, but we must still do our part.

Thank you all for your prayers and support in 2015. Wishing you all a most wonderful New Year as we walk and pray together more and more into 2016.

Blessings

David