West Belfast: there and back again

Peanut Gallery: Can any good come out of Belfast? The answer is a resounding YES!

Belfast, Northern Ireland (UK) is Europe’s last best hope. But it is taking a movement of God.

“Some nations boast of their chariots and horses, but we boast in the name of the Lord our God.”
Psalm 20.7 (NLT)

Northern Ireland is struggling… and the communities that make up West Belfast are on the bottom of the pile. Economic stagnation, unemployment, poor health and education, cramped housing, general poverty, teen pregnancy, and crime… all contribute to the highest suicide rate in Northern Ireland. Kids roam the streets at night with nothing to do and nowhere to go. As they congregate, police move them on from one place to the next. It’s not an environment I’d want for my kid.

While some areas of Northern Ireland are prospering, predominantly Nationalist West Belfast is being left behind.

It’s been 15 years since the Belfast Peace accords (Good Friday Agreement) were signed and while everything has changed, nothing has changed. There is no peace… only a fragile truce, or cease fire, which is being strained to its limits by extremes in both the Nationalist and Unionist communities.

One woman said: “The young people involved in the current round of protest and violence never lived through The Troubles. We are reaping the harvest of my generation’s unforgiveness… and passing it on to our children.”

And yet, in the middle of it all, God is pouring out His Spirit… lives are being changed and the Kingdom of God is at hand… accompanied by signs and wonders. Believers from all sides of the divide are sacrificially pouring out their lives in worship and prayer… and in untold acts of kindness and mercy. The invisible Church is rising up… and God is moving among His people.

Robin Mark captures the mood in “Revival in Belfast” while the video background overviews the city. More later….
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Revival in Belfast – Robin Mark (with video of Northern Ireland)

I hear the voice of one calling, prepare ye the way of the Lord. And make His paths straight in the wilderness. And let your light shine in the darkness. And let your rain fall in the desert.

As sure as gold is precious and the honey sweet, So you love this city and you love these streets. Every child out playing by their own front door. Every baby laying on the bedroom floor.

Every dreamer dreaming in her dead-end job. Every driver driving through the rush hour mob. I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones. You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home.

I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. “Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.

From the Preacher preaching when the well is dry. To the lost soul reaching for a higher high. From the young man working through his hopes and fears. To the widow walking through the veil of tears.

Every man and woman, every old and young. Every fathers daughter, every mothers son. I feel it in my spirit, feel it in my bones. You’re going to send revival, bring them all back home

I can hear that thunder in the distance. Like a train on the edge of town. I can feel the brooding of Your Spirit. “Lay your burdens down, Lay your burdens down”.

Revive us, Revive us, Revive us with your fire!

Morning Reading: Acts 16:1-5 ESV – ouch

Reading: Acts 16:1-5 ESV

Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. A disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. He was well spoken of by the brothers at Lystra and Iconium.

Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

As they went on their way through the cities, they delivered to them for observance the decisions that had been reached by the apostles and elders who were in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and they increased in numbers daily.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – remove whatever stumbling blocks there are in my life that would prevent you from living in me and through me. And may I look to you for approval and not to any thing or any one else. To you be the glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “All to Jesus I surrender” – Judson W. Van De Venter (1896)

Morning Reading: Acts 15:36-41 NLT – second chances

Reading: Acts 15:36-41 NLT

After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.”

Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work.

Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care.

Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Prayer: Lord Jesus – We pray for unity, but sometimes you use disagreement for your greater purpose. Thank you for encouragers like Barnabas… who give people second chances. Thank you for people like John Mark… who make the most of the second chance they receive. Thank you for people like Paul… who is singularly focused on his mission. Thank you for people like Silas… who wait for the opportunity to serve and respond enthusiastically. Strengthen your church, Lord Jesus, and multiply your messengers. To God’s glory. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Bless the Lord oh my soul” – Matt Redman

Morning Reading: Acts 15:22-35 NLT – encouraging news

Reading: Acts 15:22-33 – 35 NLT

Then the apostles and elders together with the whole church in Jerusalem chose delegates, and they sent them to Antioch of Syria with Paul and Barnabas to report on this decision. The men chosen were two of the church leaders —Judas (also called Barsabbas) and Silas.

This is the letter they took with them:

“This letter is from the apostles and elders, your brothers in Jerusalem. It is written to the Gentile believers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia. Greetings!

“We understand that some men from here have troubled you and upset you with their teaching, but we did not send them! So we decided, having come to complete agreement, to send you official representatives, along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are sending Judas and Silas to confirm what we have decided concerning your question.

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: You must abstain from eating food offered to idols, from consuming blood or the meat of strangled animals, and from sexual immorality. If you do this, you will do well. Farewell.”

The messengers went at once to Antioch, where they called a general meeting of the believers and delivered the letter. And there was great joy throughout the church that day as they read this encouraging message.

Then Judas and Silas, both being prophets, spoke at length to the believers, encouraging and strengthening their faith. They stayed for a while, and then the believers sent them back to the church in Jerusalem with a blessing of peace.

Paul and Barnabas stayed in Antioch. They and many others taught and preached the word of the Lord there.

Prayer: Holy Spirit – Thank you for sending out itinerant encouragers… people who build up believers and strengthen their faith. And when they move on, bring to memory all that came from you… and let anything that came from them be forgotten. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Spiritual Song: “Your Love Never Fails” – Jesus Culture