Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10

On Thursday’ morning, I woke up with the word ‘PROFILE’ in my mind. It wasn’t as if I had gone to bed thinking about the word. In fact it wasn’t as if I had thought about it in the previous days. 

The word ‘profile’ was quickly followed by the word ‘IDENTITY’. I then knew what it was about — EPHESIANS Chapter Two  — Paul’s Letter to the Christians in First Century Ephesus. Just don’t ask me how I knew this, I just did.

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“Please, sir, I want some more.” 

Let it be crystal clear that when you come to God and ask for more, you are not coming to some hard or tyrannical workhouse master - you are coming to your loving Heavenly Father who lavishes his love and grace upon you.

We could spend eternity praising our Father God for the grace that he has lavished on us. But Paul does not stop there – he keeps pressing on for more. Are you hungry for God? In Psalm 34 the Psalmist says, Taste and see that the Lord  is good. Are you feeding on the living bread, but hungry for more?

Reading: Ephesians 1:15-23

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Some people have what is commonly called the gift of the gab. They can sit down on a plane or a train, a bus or a boat and strike up a conversation with a total stranger. Without appearing too inquisitive or in your face -  they seem to know the right questions to ask or the correct comments to make — they are masters of small talk. 

Others of us have to work hard at making conversation. Perhaps we do not identify easily with total strangers. Perhaps we are afraid that we will be rejected. Perhaps we feel we lack the necessary skills:

We don’t know the comments to make. We do not know the questions to ask. We are not good at small talk.

It can be a bit like that with prayer …

Reading: Ephesians 1:1-14

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Here at Wiveliscombe Evangelical Congregational Church . . .”we are personally and corporately committed to encouraging and enabling the church to know more of God expressed through the fellowship of prayer.” So how are we to understand this important command? What is the Bible actually saying in giving us this order?

Bible Reading: Ephesians 6:10-18

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On Thursday’ evening I attended a talk by one of our neighbours. The talk was about the importance of oil and oil reserves - about exploitation and proper management - about exaggerated claims for reserves - about the future and control - about the danger of war.

I could not help but think of the Book of Daniel and its message. Let me remind you once again of the message. God is in control. God Rules. God is in control.  God is in control so get on with your life, get on with living. This is God’s last word to Daniel, “Get on with it!” Twice over he is instructed, “Go your way.”

Bible Reading Daniel 11:1-12:13

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Blue Sky!  Warm Sunshine!  Beautiful Scenery! They make you feel grateful to be alive. Oh! How good is the Lord. But it is not always like this. There can be grey skies or dark clouds. There can be devastating floods and destructive fires. There are occasions when the heart cries, “How long, O, Lord?”

On this the official birthday of the church I bring you a word of great encouragement … In 1 John 4:4 we have this important reminder … The one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world.

Reading: Acts 2:1-41

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“More Power! More! Love! More of you Lord in my life.” Severine Bismes preaches on 2 Timothy 1:7

Severine and Ronnie (Mulema) were paying a return visit to Wiveliscombe. Easrlier in the year they ran a hoiiday club for the children and today included a reunion. Sev and Ronnie are part of the Children’s Ministry Team at All Saints Church, Peckham, London.

Reading 2 Timothy 1:3-10

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In Daniel Chapter Ten we are given three great realities before we are presented with the final revelation given to Daniel.

These three great realities are:

1. The Real Battle

2. The Real Enemy

3. The Revelation of Jesus Christ

Sometimes, when you have something difficult to say to someone you ask them to sit down and then you carefully prepare the wayfor the shocking news that you have to give them.

In the third year of Cyrus king of Persia,

a revelation was given to Daniel

(who was called Belteshazzar).

Its message was true

and it concerned a great war.

God has something disturbing to reveal to Daniel But before he unfolds the revelation he prepares Daniel. It is as if he sits him down and carefully prepares the man.

Reading: Daniel 10:1-21

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We are privileged to have this further record of Daniel’s prayer life and there is much to be learned from observing Daniel praying. However, the true focus of this passage is the Lord, and not Daniel.

Here in this passage we see:

1.    God’s Word

2.    God’s Character

3.    God’s Mercy

4.    God’s Honour

5.    God’s Answer     

Throughout the Book of Daniel the Lord has revealed his Sovereignty -iIn particular his Sovereignty over human history.In visions, dreams and events God revealed this to kings - and in terrifying visions God reminded Daniel that he is in control. I thought, we have been here before, this is the Book of Revelation.

Just as in Revelation, you see the awesome sovereignty of God, and the question arises in your mind, ‘What is my place in all this?’ So the same question arises in the Book of Daniel.

Reading: Daniel 9:1-27

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We live in what is a very fast moving society, where constant activity is the order of the day; Where change takes place at an alarming rate and where time is said to be money. We live in the country ..

We live in a old market town . . . but we are not sheltered from pressure … our lives are constantly under threat from stress.

We cannot avoid stress and strain. It’s the result of what happens in our own world.  - hat we need is to find ‘a place of real rest’ - for there’s a difference between leisure and real rest.

This is where David’s testimony is so instructive.

     “My soul finds rest in God alone;

     my salvation comes from him.

     He alone is my rock and my salvation;

     he is ray fortress,

     I shall never be shaken.”

Reading: Psalm 62

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