Then and Now, We are God's People

Introduction (5m)

Why do we celebrate anniversaries?

Why remember special events like birthdays, weddings, moving house, or in communities, opening of new buildings, shops, etc.

Anniversaries mark time, but they also remind us of something good that happened

When we do, we feel thankful.

Some people go around grumbling that they can’t remember the last time anything good happened here!

Today is an opportunity for us all to be reminded.

Today is the Anniversary of our Corps. 137 years. A happy occasion.

A reminder we are part of the Body of Christ which worships as Maidenhead Salvation Army Corps today, just as those who preceded us were.

Explanation (5m)

To help us remember and celebrate, I have six words from Genesis 28 and 1 Peter 2:

Dream

Why did Jacob have a dream? Something he ate? Fact his head was lying on a stone rather than a nice, soft pillow?

Primarily, it was to reveal God to him. To this point, Jacob hadn’t even been aware God was there.

We are reminded that God was in Maidenhead before TSA came to town.

God was in this building, before we moved in.

Once Jacob recognised God’s presence he was filled with awe. He calls the stony, deserted place where he had lain down to sleep the “house of God, the very gateway to heaven!”

This building is made of very ordinary bricks, plaster, wood, lights, fabric, etc. It has had various uses over the years, but now God’s presence with us within it turns our building into “the very gateway to heaven”.

We may not all dream dreams like Jacob.

But someone did before sending Salvationists to open fire in the town.

Someone dreamed a dream before taking on the Bridge Street Chapel and then into Queen Street.

Some of you will remember the dreams that were dreamed before we moved here in 1982.

They were all dreams to turn ordinary bricks and mortar into the very gateway to heaven.

Promise

God’s promise is one of the most thrilling we can ever read in the Bible:

Genesis 28:15 NLT

What’s more, I am with you, and I will protect you wherever you go. One day I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have finished giving you everything I have promised you.”

Hasn’t God promised us the same over these 137 years? He has been with us! He continues to be with us! He continues to give us everything he promised us.

In a tangible, personal way, God continues to give us the gift of his presence.

Blessing

God promised Jacob that as he and his descendants worshipped in the place Jacob found himself:

Genesis 28:13–14 NLT

At the top of the stairway stood the Lord, and he said, “I am the Lord, the God of your grandfather Abraham, and the God of your father, Isaac. The ground you are lying on belongs to you. I am giving it to you and your descendants. Your descendants will be as numerous as the dust of the earth! They will spread out in all directions—to the west and the east, to the north and the south. And all the families of the earth will be blessed through you and your descendants.

God’s promise to Jacob is with us as we reach out west, east, north, and south of the building.

As we scatter from this place today, the building will continue to be a place of blessing to those around us. And you will be a blessing wherever you find yourself this week and beyond.

Chosen

Jacob’s family and descendants were God’s chosen people in the Old Testament. In the New Testament, that is mirrored by all those who belong to God, descendants of Jacob or not.

That includes us. We are God’s chosen people.

Twice Peter says that Jesus Christ was chosen by God and precious to him.

Then he goes on to say that in the same way, as Christ’s followers, we are chosen and precious too:

1 Peter 2:9 NLT

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

Dedication

Jacob could have simply woken up in the morning, rubbed his eyes, banged the side of his head as he wondered if really had dreamed what he thought he had, and been on his way.

But he wanted to dedicate the spot. To name it. A way of recalling God’s wonderful revelation, promise, and blessing.

Genesis 28:19 NLT

He named that place Bethel (which means “house of God”), although it was previously called Luz.

What does our name say about us?

Our name carries our location - Maidenhead - reminding us that we belong here in this town and are called to serve it.

Our name includes the word Citadel - reminding us that we can find protection here during the spiritual warfare we are waging, so that we can regroup and go back into battle again.

Our name includes the name of our Movement - TSA - reminding us that we are an Army, mobilised by God for the salvation of those around us.

Application (5m)

Living Stones

This is a rather lovely building. Granted it’s not a Cathedral or beautiful country church. But it is well looked-after and has some lovely features.

But, whilst we celebrate our Anniversary today, let’s not forget that what we celebrate isn’t a building, isn’t this building, it’s the Body of Christ.

You and I are the corps we are celebrating today. As Peter puts it, we are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple.

This spiritual temple is invisible, but it includes those Salvationists who were once living stones in it on earth but who have now been Promoted to Glory to be with God in eternity. They are still part of it.

It’s an incredible structure and God has promised it can never fall down. It never needs repairing.

Its purpose is simply to declare the praises of God.

We are here just now, today, to play a small part in that.

As a part of something that is far greater than we can imagine, let’s continue to be God’s people here in Maidenhead, continue to declare his praises, and show others the goodness of God.

Next Steps

Video - Find Us Faithful

Stand if you want to promise to be faithful now and into the future.