What is so important that you are willing to be imprisoned for it? Paul was a prisoner, apparently under house arrest in Rome. He writes, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Did you hear what Paul said? . . . I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus.

Paul writes, I, Paul, the prisoner of Christ Jesus. Paul is not in prison because of Roman law. He is not in prison because of some crime. Paul is not a prisoner of the Romans. He is not a prisoner of the Jews. He is not Nero’s prisoner. Paul is the prisoner of Christ. What a staggering statement. What an amazing declaration.

No wonder Paul pauses before praying … In view of all that God has done for us in Christ . . . Paul is about to pray for the Christians in Ephesus but he pauses mid-sentence, he is arrested by what he writes.

Ephesians 3:1-13

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Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. That’s how the New Living Translation begins this passage. Don’t forget that you Gentiles used to be outsiders. And yet we do. We forget this fact. We were outsiders!

Just recently, I was reminded about the film ‘The Outsiders’. It is based on the 1965 coming-of-age novel by S.E. Hinton and it follows two rival gangs, the Greasers and the Socs. The book has the same title as the film — The Outsiders.  The Oxford dictionary defines an ‘outsider’ as a ‘foreigner’. It is someone who is excluded from or is not a member of a group. It is a person who does not belong to a particular organization or profession.

The dictionary gives an example of usage, “There were the popular kids and then there was me, the outsider who didn’t belong to any of the categories that made up our school.” Do you identify with that picture? Have you ever been made to feel an outsider?

Reading: Ephesians 2:11-22

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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.

profile

“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

more

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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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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