Pastor Jonathan Fiddy talked about how as Christians we should have 100 per cent commitment to God, and give Him our time, energy, money, etc. 

Jesus said: "If you love me, you will obey what I command." (John 14v15). He wants us to put aside our own ambitions and plans, and do whatever He asks us to do.  When we give our lives to Him, He helps us to do what He wants, and He changes our hearts' desires and helps us to seek after Him and do His will. 

A real follower of Jesus is someone who puts aside everything else and makes Jesus number one in their life.  He gave up His life for us – surely the least we can do is to live our lives for Him! 

Anything else is ingratitude to our Saviour who died for us. Too many people are 'Sunday only Christians', who think they can go to church for an hour or two each week and then live how they want for the rest of the time! But it doesn't work like that.  Jesus said "any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be My disciple.' (Luke 14v33). This means giving up what we want to do with our lives, asking God to show us what He wants us to do, and then doing it with all our hearts.

And God "rewards those who earnestly seek Him." (Heb11v6). When we give up anything to God - He always turns right back round to us and gives us back far more than we ever gave to Him in the first place! Why? Because that's God's character - He loves us far more than we'll ever understand, and He loves to bless His children with good things. There's nothing more satisfying in life than to know Jesus as our personal friend and our Saviour - He's amazing!  

In the evening, the church had another healing meeting. Jonathan taught from the Bible on the subject of healing, then several people shared how God had healed them miraculously at different times in their lives.

Then followed a time of prayer and ministry for anyone who had any health problems they wanted prayer for. It was a good opportunity to have physical problems dealt with, which can often hinder us from fulfilling all that God wants us to do with our lives.

God does not want us suffering with some illness which He has already paid the price for when He died on the cross!  Isaiah 53v5 says 'by his wounds we are healed'. When Jesus was here on earth, it's repeated again and again throughout the gospels that He 'healed all the sick', and 'all who touched him were healed'. That's a big part of what Jesus did  - He travelled around teaching, preaching, and 'healing every disease and sickness among the people'. (Matt4v23). Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever - He doesn't change.  It's part of His character to heal - it's part of who He is.  When He sent His disciples out, He commanded them to 'Heal the sick, raise the dead, drive out demons'. (Matt10v8). He said that 'these signs will accompany those who believe:...they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well'. (Mark 16v18).

In the days of the early church, Acts 5v16 says that crowds brought sick people to the apostles 'and all of them were healed!' 

James 5v15 says that if someone is sick and is prayed for by the church leaders, 'the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well'.

Faith is the key to it all.  Jesus repeatedly said 'Your faith has healed you' and 'Just believe'. If you don't have faith in Him then you can ask Him to give you the faith you need! He honours us when we honour Him. He is faithful to His promises. If His Word says He heals, then He heals!  Let Him be God, and don't try to limit Him!

All are welcome to the Sunday service at 10.15 am.  There will be no evening meeting this Sunday, but there will be another healing meeting on Sunday, October 11, at 6 pm. 

Pastor Fiddy is available on 871975, and the website is http://www.emmanuelgospelministries.org">www.emmanuelgospelministries.org.