This week's meeting began with a time of praise and worship led by Debbie Fiddy, singing with Jackie on keyboard, also with Natalie and Natasha being accompanied by Jon, Dave and Reg on guitars with Josh on drums.

Pastor Jon Fiddy then spoke with authority on the subject of being made alive in Christ. He began by quoting Ephesians 2 which states that we were all once spiritually dead, following our own selfish desires, but because of His great love and mercy, God made us alive with Christ, demonstrating that it is by grace we have been saved.

God holds the power of life and death in His hands. God is spirit and we commune with Him spirit to spirit. Mostly this is by listening to the still small voice speaking in our inner most being, but occasionally by an audible voice or even a vision.

Adam disobeyed God (so sinning) hence realising that he was naked and feeling shame for the first time.

He was separated both spiritually from God, losing the intimate communion he had enjoyed with Him and also physically by being banished from the garden of Eden.

In John 10 v 10 Jesus tells the Jews that: "The thief comes only to kill and steal and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus has restored that part of Adam that died and we can now live in His presence, enjoying communion with Him throughout our lives. In 1 John 5 v 11 and 12 we are told that: "God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life."

We need faith in Jesus in this life and any sufferings will be as nothing compared with the Glory that awaits us in eternity when we will receive new bodies untouched by sin and decay. God is the source of life, giving the divine spark that produces the miracle of life itself. His decrees are eternal and will stand forever, His word is powerful and full of authority.

When we are willing to give what we have to God, because we are connected to the source of God's supply, He will meet all our needs according to His riches in Glory. When Jesus walked this earth He acted as well as spoke. He has literally taken us from a pit to a palace. We are now seen as adequate and accepted in Christ. We should run with endurance the race set before us, throwing off everything that hinders, with our heads held high, trusting in Him.

Emmanuel Gospel Church Manorbier, meets every Sunday, at 10.30 am, with Bible study on Monday evenings at 7.30pm. For more information, please 'phone (01834) 871975.

Special meetings

There is to be a weekend of special meetings with Allan Jones, the Healing Evangelist, on April 25 and 26. These include breakfast at Tudor Lodge, Jameston, at 8.15 am, on Saturday 25th, cost £7.50 (booking essential), also at Emmanuel Gospel Church, Station Road, Manorbier, on Sunday 26th, at 10.30 am and 6 pm. All welcome. Further details from (01834) 871975 and breakfast bookings to (01834) 870381.