Set the Captives Free!

Bad weather can affect a number of our older members reaching us on Sunday mornings, but there are some who always get through. Like Cliff and Sue, who are equally committed to the Norwich Full Gospel Businessmen, resulting in them spending an entire night in their car, stranded in a snow drift, a few years ago!

A time of praise, punctuated with prayers of thanksgiving and various scriptures,

was followed by communion, led by Cliff.

Barry H encouraged people to have an intimate relationship with the Lord, in order to hear him clearly, and gave a striking testimony.

He then spoke of how the Lord has given us many ‘visual aids’ to help us understand spiritual truths. Old Testament sacrifices, and baptism and communion are examples.

We looked at another picture the Lord gives us in psalm 107. In fact, there are several pictures in psalm 107, where we have been before.

Previously, we looked at the wanderers, who the Lord gathers into his city, when they cry for help. This morning, we looked at the captives. Our God wants us to be free, and yet so many are not. Unsaved people are slaves to Satan and to sin. But many, saved and unsaved, are captive. Addiction is rife. Alcohol is an obvious example, but there are many others.

What is our attitude when new people, who have addictions, arrive here? We befriend, and with sensitivity seek to help them. The Gadarene demoniac often smashed his shackles, but they only stayed off when Jesus set him free. Also, there are unseen captives within churches, where people secretly view pornography, or have behaviours patterns involving pride, lust, envy, etc. Point your finger, and 4 point back at you. We need to examine ourselves, as well as help others.

We are seeing new people in our gatherings, and some are speaking of bringing along others. We pray that people who are captives will come to us, and that with love and sensitivity, we will point them to Jesus, who alone brings real freedom.

Our next meeting is on Thursday. Prayer at Catfield, 2pm.

Next Sunday, Jonathan and Paige will be with us, and we will enjoy a traditional Christmas lunch together after the meeting. Please let us know if you intend to come in order to help Wendy with catering.