Theme 2026 - Walk Worthy of His Calling - By Alex Afriyie

 

Introduction:

In this world of confusion where good is called evil and evil is called good; I believe God is speaking to us as a church to walk worthy of His calling in 2026.

In Ephesians 4:1 Paul speaks of being a prisoner for the Lord. He said this in the context of being in a physical prison because of his commitment to preaching the gospel that “Jesus is Lord” in the Roman empire which proclaimed, “Caesar is Lord”. In the same way we need to be so committed to Jesus that even if it means standing against the flow of political correctness and popularity, we choose to share that “Jesus is Lord and Saviour”.

There are three ways we can walk worthy of Jesus in 2026 that Paul brings out in Ephesians 4:

1)      Being Jesus Centred (Ephesians 4: 1 – 6):

This year I believe we will need to live as Jesus lived in radical obedience to God. This will stand in contrast to the compromise of the world.

Paul says our unity depends on being in intimate relationship with Jesus. There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and father of us all (Eph. 4:4-5). If we want true unity, it is only as we relate to Jesus that we can be united to each other. We cannot be united in compromise. There is no true unity without Christ. He died for us and broke down the walls of division between us and the Father and between each other so we can be one (Eph. 2:14-18). The only way that we can access true peace is by following the teachings of the “Prince of Peace” and by having His peace in our hearts through the Holy Spirit (Isaiah 9:6). We are called to maintain the unity of the Spirit through Jesus, who is the bond of peace (Eph. 4:3).

Practically to do this in 2026 we will need to take time in prayer to participate with Jesus by His Spirit. Do you run from personal prayer and prayer meetings, or do you make time available to pray? Martin Luther has been reported as saying, "I am so busy now, that I cannot afford not to spend three hours a day in prayer." 

“And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God to observe and to do all His commandments which I command thee this day, that the Lord thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth² and all these blessings shall come on thee and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God” (Deuteronomy 8: 1- 2). There is something powerful about aligning with the voice of Yahweh that sets our hearts and minds in the right place with God and causes us to obey Him resulting in being in His flow of blessing.

2) Being An Anointed Community With Purpose (Ephesians 4:7,11-13)

I believe we need to radically represent our diverse triune God by collaborating with all the multifaceted gifts, ministries and personalities he has placed within His body. It does not glorify Him when we compete, we need to collaborate with each other by completing what lacks in each other. It would be ridiculous for a hand to compete with a foot in the same body. No, each should play their role as a member of the one body taking instructions from the head. That way we are all equipped for our purpose as we go into the world. God has put the 5 fold ministry there to help us be fully equipped for ministry in the world and church (Ephesians 4: 11-12).

This is a year to really dedicate ourselves to using the spiritual gifts and ministries we have been given. These may be very different to each other. God loves the diversity of His Kingdom Family and the diversity of gifts that He has given them. Some of the gifts may seem ordinary to those who have them, but they are a supernatural answer to those who need them or are praying for them. Will you seek God in 2026 to understand the exact gifts or ministries God wants you to move in this year (1 Corinthians 14:1)? And then will you be obedient to move in them as a good steward (1 Peter 4:10)?

As you do your part the whole body will be built up, become more like Christ and grow in love (Ephesians 4: 12-13, 16). Will you step back or step forward and take action with your gift this year. Daniel 1:32 says, ‘the people who know their God will be strong and take action.’ When we hide our light then we don’t shine out what God has given us for others. They are left in the dark and we are left unfulfilled. Patrick Lenciono said, “Avoiding discomfort doesn’t build trust. Going through it together does.” True community goes through the good times and bad times together and keeps on forgiving and serving. This way we equip each other to move forward in God’s purpose for us in the church and the world (Ephesians 4: 11-12).

3) Being A Mission Community – Speaking Truth In Love In A Confused World (Ephesians 4: 15)

I believe God wants us to prioritise time and space in our diaries to make radical disciples of Christ this year. After all this is part of the great commission (Matthew 28:19).

There is such a hunger in the UK for God right now, especially in the younger generation of millennials and Gen Zs. The Quiet revival report shows that “In 2018, just 4% of 18–24-year-olds said they attended church at least monthly. Today this has risen to 16%, with young men increasing from 4% to 21%, and young women from 3% to 12%”. (Riannon McAleer and Rob Barward-Symmons, The Quiet Revival, p.6) The report goes on to say, “…a large number of young adults now appear to be looking towards the Church as a space for finding healing and community as well as a deeper sense of meaning in their life.” (Riannon McAleer and Rob Barward-Symmons, The Quiet Revival, p.21)

I believe God wants us to boldly live and speak “The Truth” so that as we meet people they can clearly know how to be saved and delivered (Romans 1:16). As a church we need to tell the story of God’s love and truth in our postmodern world of subjective truth; where everyone thinks their own truth is the truth. As people see us living out “the truth in love” they will be attracted to live like Jesus too. Jesus said, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  (John 13:35)

Let’s continue to love God by loving our families, one another and our neighbour by speaking the truth to them. It’s the truth that brings transformation and sets people free. So, let’s be intentional in our discipleship of new believers by making time this year to welcome them, love them and share the truth through discipleship.

As God’s radical truth is displayed and spoken by us as a church it will pierce through society’s deception and people’s despair; and give hope to society that there really is an answer in Jesus – “The Way, The Truth, and The Life”. Let’s walk worthy of Jesus’ calling to us this year.

hhhhhidfWalking Worthy

THEME 2025 - THE POWER OF HIS WORD by Pastor Alex Afriye

Wow, we are already at the end of 2025. It has been great to focus on our theme "THE POWER OF HIS WORD" this year.

THE LOGOS
We have thought about how Jesus the logos (logic and Science of God, the Debar - Essential Revelation of God) who was with God and is God, through whom the whole universe was created (John 1: 1 - 3) and who holds everything together by the word of His Power (Hebrews 1:3) was made flesh, a human being and lived with us. He showed us what God is like - full of grace (generosity) and truth.

FLESH BECOMING THE WORD

We are now flesh (humans) becoming the Word as we listen and obey (shema) the voice (kol) of God (Deuteronomy 28: 1-3). As we listen to his word his blessings (barakah) come on us. These start with righteousness, peace and joy in our hearts but then extend out to shalom (peace, wellbeing and flourishing) in our relationships, and provision for us as his people. This then affects the wider community as we influence it by being and sharing the Good News.

TESTIMONIES

Isaiah 55:11 says "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." It's been great to hear the many testimonies there have been among us as a church community in terms of God providing for those in need, whether that be jobs, homes and relationships. We have learnt to speak what God speaks this year and it has been prophetically creative in people's lives.

GRACE & TRUTH

One of the challenges we have looked at this year is how to remain true to God's Word in a world that is constantly clashing in terms of what truth is. God's word is eternal and doesn't change, we are to live and speak that truth because it sets us and others free (John 8:36). We believe holiness is healthiness. Yet, just like Jesus we are to share the truth full of love, generosity and grace. The truth doesn't change but grace reaches people where they are trapped in sin (rebellion and bondage and guilt) and offers them the grace, forgiveness and spiritual freedom of Christ. They can then walk in the way, truth and life who is Jesus.

THE QUIET REVIVAL
Finally in this year where we learnt of the Quiet Revival it has been a joy to see many young men and women finding faith. Praise the Lord!

THEME 2024 - NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL - By Alex Afriyie

 This Year (2024) Our theme in London Network Church has been "being NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL as the people of God".

JESUS IS OUR MODEL

Jesus modelled to us how to walk naturally supernaturally. He would spend time with His Father even in busy seasons and obey what the Father said to Him. He would do his natural part and then His Father would step in and do His supernatural part.

35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” (Mark 1:35 - 38 NIV)

INTIMACY//OBEDIENCE//BLESSING

In our pressured world we have found that as we have committed to doing the little things in obeying God - like praying and meditating on the Word each morning, obeying the voice of the Father and listening to the voice of the Holy Spirit to be courageous, confront, forgive and love others, that God has stepped in.

We could sum this up as intimacy, leading to obedience and then blessing in the context of our church community.

SOME OF THE GREATEST TIMES THIS YEAR

Some of the greatest times this year for me have been hearing people's testimonies on Sunday mornings of how God has transformed them, healed them and provided for them. How God has used them to share the gospel with those who don't yet know God. I've also loved discipling new believers this year and seeing how much God has been impacting their lives and setting them free from damaging habits.

God has also taught me personally to be at peace when the big challenges come and to do my natural part of just thanking Him and obeying Him. I have then seen Him step in supernaturally.

Thank you Jesus for your goodness.

ONE OF OUR KEY SCRIPTURES THIS YEAR

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. (John 5: 19 NIV)

Let's continue to model ourselves on the way Jesus related to the Father and do what we see the Father, Son and Holy Spirit doing.

Alex Afriyie - Senior Pastor London Network Church

How Should Christians Respond To The Crisis In The Middle East?

When Jesus was on earth He wept over Jerusalem because they had largely rejected him. They had also rejected many of their prophets before Him. He wept because He knew the destruction that would follow (Luke 19: 41 - 44). In AD 70 the temple was destroyed and the Jewish people were scattered all over the world.

In 1947 Israel was restored to their land as a nation which many prophetic words in the Bible had predicted (Jeremiah 30: 1 - 38: 22). So we can see that God is working prophetically fulfilling His word. But does this mean we should agree with everything the state of Israel does as Christians?

But does this mean we should agree with everything the state of Israel does as Christians?

I don't believe so. Although the early church started from the root of David, Jesus being the Jewish Messiah, it was also made clear that He came for the Gentiles (the nations) (Matthew 28: 18 - 20). The early church was a Jewish movement, however it soon became clear that the Spirit was sending the church into the whole world (Acts 1: 8). This caused tensions in the early church between Jewish Christians and Gentile Christians.  Slowly the church realised that it was to be a worldwide movement and that the only qualification for being a part was to accept Jesus as Lord and Saviour and be born of the Spirit.

The church gradually learnt you didn't have to practice the Jewish religion to be a Christian. Or as Paul puts it, you had to have a spiritual circumcision of the heart rather than a physical circumcision (Romans 2: 28 - 29). 

However, in case the non-Jewish Christians should become proud and persecute Jews, Paul also made clear that we as non-Jewish believers should always remain humble and grateful to God for grafting us into the fig tree (a symbol of the Jewish people) (Romans 11: 11 - 31). We should respect that Israel was chosen to have the original covenant with God and give Jesus the Messiah to us. Our job now is to show them mercy and share the Good News with them.

Does this therefore mean that everything that present day Israel does should be supported? 

Does this therefore mean that everything that present day Israel does should be supported? I do not believe so. We as Christians must always be followers of Jesus. He showed compassion to the poor, the oppressed, the up and outs and the down and outs. When the Jewish religious leaders rejected the Samaritans, Jesus spoke prophetically to the woman at the well and her whole town became believers and followers of Jesus.

The Forgiveness of the Cross

I believe that right now Jesus is weeping over the people of Israel and those who have had these atrocities carried out against them by Hamas. Hamas in the Hebrew Bible is the word for violence (Genesis 6: 7 - 11). God said he would wipe out the earth in the flood because of violence (Hamas). However in the New Testament we are told that God sent Jesus to cancel the record of debt and sin that was against us (Colossians 2: 14). The word for cancel or blot out is the same word in the Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible that God used to say he was going to wipe out the sin and violence in Noah's day. The gracious thing about the New Covenant established by Jesus death on the cross, is that everyone whether Jew, Gentile, Palestinian, etc. can have their violence and wickedness cancelled and forgiven.

How Should We Respond?

So how should we respond as Christians to this crisis in the middle East, between Israel, the Palestinians and Hamas. We should pray for the peace of Jerusalem. We should weep over the suffering of their men, women and children. But we should also pray for the peace of  the Palestinians and weep over the death of their men, women and children. Jesus, I believe is weeping over both Jew and Palestinian at this time. He is reaching out his nail pierced hands to them and saying you are forgiven, repent and believe in me to have your sin, violence and hatred wiped out by the cross. And then turn around and forgive and love your enemies.

Lets pray for this kind of reconciliation for the Jewish and Palestinian people towards God and each other. Let's pray for the healing of Ishmael and Isaac, the Ishmaelites and Israel. 

14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.

Ephesians 2: 14 - 18 NIV

BURN BRIGHT - PRAYER - PRESENCE - PURPOSE (THEME 2023)

ISAIAH 62: 1-12 MSG

For 2023 in London Network Church, we as a leadership felt God was calling us to burn bright through prayer. This leads to a greater sense of God's presence, which in turn leads to a greater sense of God's purpose.

BURN BRIGHT

Regarding Zion, I can’t keep my mouth shut, regarding Jerusalem, I can’t hold my tongue, Until her righteousness blazes down like the sun and her salvation flames up like a torch. Foreign countries will see your righteousness, and world leaders your glory. 

ISAIAH 62: 1-2 MSG

We are called to be God’s Prophetic Mouthpiece, Kings and priests who cast their crowns and adore Him, a people called to reign and rule. God will vindicate us and He delights in us.

There is a call… for the church to BURN BRIGHT as His people, His body, His bride. You can be secure in His covenant. We are to speak to the world through sharing the gospel and speaking God's truth in love this year. The world is looking for answers because everything is crumbling around them. There are wars, economic stress, health issues and political polarisation.

When God calls us something we become it - that is why the truth sets us free. The truth calls us from what we are into who He has purposed us to be.

You are precious to God. HIS HEART BURNS BRIGHT and He longs for us to draw close and be held by Him.

Remember that God WILL build HIS CHURCH. So what part are we to play? One of those things is to proclaim his gospel and prophetic word; but also we need to pray.

PRAYER IS THE ENGINE ROOM OF THE CHURCH

I have posted watchmen on your walls, Jerusalem;
    they will never be silent day or night.
You who call on the Lord,
    give yourselves no rest,
7 and give him no rest till he establishes Jerusalem
    and makes her the praise of the earth.

Isaiah 62: 6 - 7 NIV

Prayer is the engine room of the church, it’s the secret weapon for us to wield. Be tenacious, draw intimately close to the Father, call to remembrance the promises of God. Take seriously the call to PRAY. Prayer releases PROMISE, POWER and PRESENCE. It’s not about religious ritual, but intimate relationship. PRESENCE, PURPOSE and POWER is released through INTIMACY.

God is going to restore a love for His word.

There is going to be a release of finance, abundant radical provision that is almost counterculture.

God is going to restore mental health and true peace and joy. The church is going to clear the way for breakthrough in the nation. There will be fulfilment of promise and release into purpose, a Joseph season of abundance. Invest for the future. Turn your ear to the voice of the Lord and He will direct your steps.

So answer the call: BURN BRIGHT

Three Ingredients Needed To Build Leadership Trust By Alex Afriyie

 

Why did Boris lose his position as the Prime Minister of Great Britain? Boris Johnson had the biggest conservative majority since 1985.

He was popular even with those who didn't normally vote Conservative. He was admired for a number of accomplishments like getting Brexit done and introducing the vaccine early in the UK.

So what was the problem?

Aristotle talks about three things being important for winning an argument.

1) Logos (LOGIC)- Your argument needs to be logical. People need to see that what you are saying and doing makes sense. I think people could see that with Boris. Even if they didn't initially agree with him on something like Brexit, they could see it made sense to be strong and stand up for Britain and get rid of European regulation and get good trade deals for the country. People also supported his leadership in defending Ukraine. Jesus is described as the logos (John 1: 1) who created everything at the beginning and holds everything together with his divine logic (Word) and who is in fact God.

2) Pathos (EMOTION) - Your argument needs to make people feel something. They need to feel the anger of a cause with you, or sympathy for your point of view or even envy for what you are promoting. Boris also had the ability to win people through his open, humorous and enthusiastic way of speaking. He also related well to ordinary people by visiting them in their workplaces and wearing their uniforms. We are told the logos (the word) became flesh and dwelt among us. God related to us in Jesus. People could and we can connect with him.

3) Ethos (VALUES) - This is about values. You have to be trusted. That you are a person of integrity. You mean what you say and you say what you mean. This I think is where Boris failed.

People stopped believing what he was saying. Although many in his own party liked him and tried to defend him on numerous occasion it became obvious that he was liar. This meant he was a liability.

His party knew that even though his arguments were logical and people could connect emotionally with what he was promoting they just wouldn't trust him because his words and actions were not congruent. 

It is exactly the opposite with Jesus the logos (Word) made flesh. People beheld his glory, full of grace and truth, full of integrity.

CONCLUSION

It will be interesting to see who wins the Conservative leadership race and becomes the next Prime Minister of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Will it be Rushi Sunak or Liz Trust? Who will win the arguments and be most convincing in terms of logic, pathos and ethos?

Bear this in mind when you are leading others: Are you making sense in their eyes (logos)? Are you connecting with them emotionally (pathos)? And are you someone who can be trusted by them (ethos)? WWJD - Ask yourself What Would Jesus Do as a leader?

Photo by Alex Motoc on Unsplash

Theme For 2022 - Enlarge The Place of Your Tent

In 2022 we are sensing that God is speaking to us about 'Enlarging The Place of Our Tent' (Isaiah 54: 2). This means God is calling us each as the people of God to our full capacity; we might not know what that is or how we can get there but because God is saying it, He will do it.

This is about stepping out in faith even if we feel we don't have the energy or resources (Isaiah 54: 1). Good examples of this are Jesus with the feeding of the 5000 (Matthew 14: 13 - 21). 'You give them something to eat', Jesus said. But the disciples  only had 5 loaves and 2 fish from a small boys lunch. Or the widow who was about to get her children taken away because of a debt. Elijah asked her to find containers so God could fill them with oil so she could pay off her debt (2 Kings 4: 1 - 7).

This year God is saying to us that we are to move in actions of faith, where we stretch our capacity and He will meet the need. He will supply the emotional or physical strength. The Lord will supply the materials or finances needed. He will supply the relationships needed and the spiritual strength. All we need to do is offer what we have to him and he will increase our capacity. 

What Do We Need To Do?

We will need to be obedient to Jesus; the obedience of faith is key (Romans 1: 5). It's not about lots of self-effort or 'virtue signalling' but being governed by the Spirit of God (Romans 8: 14). As King Saul discovered, obedience is better than sacrifice (1 Samuel 15: 22).

As we engage with God and strengthen our tent pegs, by rooting them firmly in Christ we will see ourselves flourishing (Isaiah 54: 2). This does not mean things won't be hard or traumatic but it does mean we will see God bring about His purposes, His provision and increase, supernaturally. He is El Shaddai - God Almighty - the 'All Sufficient One', He is our Husband, our Maker (Is 54: 5) and He won't abandon us.

However, this will be a walk of faith. As the disciples and the widow had to offer what they had in the boys lunch and jar containers, so we have to make available what we have; our time, talent and treasure so God can increase them supernaturally.

So let's not hold back our hearts from God this year because He will increase our capacity and cause us to change the world as we pray, share his gospel, disciple new believers and serve Him and His world.

I truly believe the church, God's people, you and me, are the hope for our troubled world. So we need to lead the way in 2022 to demonstrate God's power, truth and steadfast love.

As Archbishop Desmond Tutu (who has just died) once said, 'Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.'

Like the heroes of faith that have gone before us and seen great change; Susanna and Charles Wesley, Charles Spurgeon,  Billy Graham, Desmond Tutu; we too can see transformation as we enlarge the place of our tent, our capacity.