Vicars Letter 16th May 2025

Rev Guy Benton

Kia ora All Saints

I have been pondering the phrase "Practice what you preach." We have all heard, thought, said, cussed, and muttered it. I was profoundly struck this week when I felt like it was put well and truly into action by Summer (a heroine of the faith in my eyes). God has called her and pressed upon her life a call to leadership, no doubt! And yet here she was saying, "For a season, I am going to take a break from vicaring and leadership to get myself and my family set!" What a radical stand, a moment that didn't just happen, one that required wrestling with oneself, family, and God, but one that will have a phenomenal impact for the kingdom going forward. One that resists the prompt of the evil one that says, "you'll be fine, why don't you carry on?", "Don't stop, otherwise people will think ill of you, right?", "You are your work, aren't you?", "Don't take a rest, God called you, didn't he? And you're meant to lay your life down at all costs."

Yet even the greatest biblical characters, even the Lord himself, said Hang on a minute, I need to take a break! Jesus withdrew to be with God, Elijah broke down and God tended to him, Jesus, following the wilderness, had angels come and tend to him. God is a restorer, a healer, a comforter; This has never been more evident in this season from one of our leaders. Take heart, everyone. Be inspired. As we seek unity with Christ, we are going to respond by serving and offering our lives, we cannot help it because we are compelled to serve the King, as Tony Hill mentioned on Sunday, but we are going to be redeemed, restored and healed at the same time and we cannot do that alone, we need God each other and ourselves.

Last year we looked at what it means to be an authentic community of Jesus followers, and this is a great example. Seek the comfort and support of others, and never be too proud to reach out.

Paul writes in Second Corinthians about asking the Lord three times to remove the thorn from his side, and the Lord responds with this; But he said to me, 'My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

You might be in a season of wrestling at the moment, you might be preparing for a season of wrestling, you might have just come through one and feel liberated and restored, wherever you are, know that in your weakness, he is strong and his grace is sufficient.

Gather with your people, read the word of God, pray together, and let's see God's Kingdom come here on earth as it is in heaven.

Praying for you always, excited to see you Sunday at 9 am, or as you gather your House Churches, dig deep together, and I can't wait to hear the stories of God at work.

Love in Christ