“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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

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

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.

If my people,

who are called by my name,

will humble themselves

and pray and seek my face

and turn from their wicked ways,

then will I hear from heaven

and will forgive their sin

and will heal their land.

This is God speaking.

The occasion follows on from the dedication of the temple.

This is God speaking

It is God speaking to you this morning.

It is God speaking to the church this morning.

Reading: 2 Chronicles 7:11-16

Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.