“For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave His life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.” Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)
STOP!!! Before you read this any further stop and say a pray for the “Addictions Victorious” ministry… Go ahead…I’ll wait……………..Amen!!
This past Saturday morning a good brother in Christ and myself went to a seminar hosted by “The Calvary Assembly of God” in Pennsauken, NJ. I had been looking forward to going to the “Addictions Victorious” seminar titled “Helping Others Change” but after getting lost in Camden (as it was waking up) and having to call my wife and ask her to use our Google Map program on the home computer to get me out of where I was (please don’t ask) all I wanted was a safe haven. This church was most definitely all that and then some. Pastor Glenn Marshall of the Park Avenue Community Church in Somerdale, NJ was the main speaker and Pastor Dan Astuto of the hosting church had closing remarks. I would like to borrow some of what they spoke on and give you my take on it.
“We are eager to wear an Eagles/Phillies jersey, so why is it hard to wear the character of Christ” OUCH!! I’m a fan of both teams but I proclaim Christ. And in that it is easy to indentify as an Eagle/Phillies fan but do I declare my identity in Christ? Here’s something I ponder…when these teams do not win the big games I am an irate fan. Am I this way when I ask Christ to show up for what I think is the big game and He has other plans? Here’s the bottom line: If you are going to serve Christ you must serve in His character, you must know the Way!! We should have suffering in common with Christ? Remember The Cross? OUCH!!!
Masterpiece in the Greek means “A product or creation with a designated purpose.” and in the NLT version of Ephesians this word is used in chapter 2:10. So if you have been made anew in Christ Jesus you can do the good things He planned for you long ago. If you’re one of the insecure, God can use you. When Moses doubted Moses (Exod. 4:10) God said “I’ll give you the words to say.” If you’re one of the unlikely, God can use you. When the obvious was in doubt (1 Sam. 16:6-7) God anointed a shepherd boy. If you are thinking you are a failure, God can use you.
Peter will always be known for two things. The first is taking his eyes off of the Savior when Jesus said “Come.” (Matt 14:28-29)And the second will be his denial of knowing Jesus after it was predicted (Luke 22:34, 60-62). This failure was used and turned around by God. Peter was restored by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee (John 21:17) “Feed my sheep.” And Peter went on after that to preach on the Day of Pentecost. “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know”(Acts 2:22)
I got lost in Camden and wasn’t too comfortable with it but had I not stepped out of the boat I would have never been blessed by these two Pastor’s. So Pastor Dan if you’re reading these, your right, “You have to step out to find out!!” SANTO!! -- Chris Hughes is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and a contributor to Freedom Fighter. Addiction Victorious is a ministry that America's KESWICK loves and respects. Their Executive Director, Dan Gavin, is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy.
Check out this week's STEWARDSHIP INSIGHT from George http://keswickgeorge.blogspot.com/
DIGGING DEEPER: Proverbs 20; Genesis 49-50; Matthew 13:31-58DIG THIS QUOTE: “Consider for a moment what we know about the early, apostolic model for the church. Take a look at the disciples Jesus chose. What a motley crew they were! Dirty, smelly fishermen. A tax collector. Not the kind of people we’d put in charge of the church. They had no formal education, no degrees, no credentials. They had only one claim for their authority—they’d been with Jesus. Their relationship with Jesus changed their lives. It gave them character. On this foundation, the church began. These weren’t perfect men. The women who surrounded Jesus weren’t perfect either. Far from it! But being with Him changed then forever. Oh, that we’d pray for and realize the same for our own lives.” “Reclaiming God’s Original Intent for the Church”
Wes Roberts and Glenn Marshall
DETERMINED DIGGING: Level 1 -- Joshua 1:8 Level 2 -- Psalm 15
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