To God's Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
This week I am on standby to help out in A.W.A.N.A.! Why? Because Pastor Thomas and Julie-Ann are getting closer to their babies due date. Please pray for them, and this precious new life. There is always great joy in our church when babies are born, and it is a reminder for us of the joy in heaven when a person is born again. We are excited as a church for the coming of the Calamunce baby, may this celebration remind us of the celebration in heaven and the joy of God in new birth and help us to treasure children here, and pursue people for there.
Culture Of Evangelism: We are seeking to build our culture of evangelism and to be a church where we have each one reaching one. Encourage you to pray for those in your sphere of influence and this week to take another step towards sharing the Gospel with those God has in your path. If each person in our church family takes this seriously we will have great fruit in the coming year! So often in our culture we think that sharing the Gospel is a pastors job (and it is), but we often forget that we all are ambassadors for Him (2 Corinthians 5:11-21); and are called to good works which He prepared in advance for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). So this week, look for those, live those, and report to us how God has used you to accomplish His work!
Culture Of Prayer: This week please be in prayer for your elders (we meet Tuesday night at 6:30). We long for the mind of Christ, unity, and incredible wisdom as we lead humbled as those who must give an account to God for Cloverdale Baptist Church. Please also be in prayer for Wes and Gail Bowers, as they continue to seek to engage in an internet ministry as well as share the Gospel with Canadian and Foreign military personnel. As other individuals in our church family are brought to mind, we covet your prayers for them as well, as we seek to more and more be a family that prays continually! This week please pray with someone from our church for our church. We long to do all we do in God's power, and your prayers are key to our success in this!
Revival: Tozer's Marks Of Revival: 1. Get Thoroughly Dissatisfied With Yourself; 2. Set Your Face Like A Flint Toward A Sweeping Transformation Of Your Life; 3. Put Yourself In The Way Of Blessing; 4. Do A Thorough Job Of Repenting; 5. Make Restitution Wherever Possible; Bring Your Life Into Accord With The S.O.M. & Such Other NT Scriptures As Are Designed To Instruct Us In The Way Of Righteousness;
7.Be Serious Minded: This is a difficult one in our culture where entertainment is one of our highest virtues. This does not mean you can't love watching the Canucks, but it does mean that you are aware of the realities of life as God defines them and have set your mind on things above (Colossians 3:1-3). Hebrews 12:1-3 compares our Christian life to a race, and at times we can carry way to many things with us, and this is an encouragement to take life as God desires, "there must be a radical change of your habits or there will not be any permanent impressions in your interior life".
8. Deliberately Narrow Your Interests: This is similar ot the last one, but even more focused. THIS ONE THING I DO, Paul stated, and it is a deep desire to be a JESUS ONLY person. "To know Him in growing intimacy is to increase in appreciation of all things good and beautiful." Make Jesus the centre of your life, and the person you pursue the most!
I long for revival, for we live in a world where no matter how hard we try to bring about change in our own lives, or world...we will fail unless it is done in God's strength for God's glory. One of the ways we pursue this change is through the preaching of God's Word and your willingness to actively prepare for what He has for you...
Sunday Is Coming:
Title: Learning To Count
Text: Romans 6:1-23
Once we have realized we are, "IN CHRIST", the struggle is not over, in fact it intensifies.
So Romans 6 goes on to develop a pattern of the pursuit of holiness in victorious Christian living.
As you reflect on this text this week:
- What do you think it means to COUNT YOURSELF DEAD AND ALIVE?
- How does this passage of Scripture help you to not only see who you are, but to be who you are...IN CHRIST?
Looking forward to a great week of serving Jesus with you, and the report SOON of a new Calamunce baby...
Pastor Rob