To God’s Beloved At Cloverdale Baptist Church:
I am hoping that this NEW NORMAL is the beginning of re-connecting with God’s people at CBC for our entire congregation. I know this may not be over, and I know many more things are coming in a broken world, but for now, my longing is that each of us would find joy and purpose in serving Jesus and His bride at CBC!
It has been a hard journey as we have been forcefully disconnected, as well as faced attack from the flesh, world, and demonic realm that has only intensified what we have gone through. I am hoping and praying that we are now able to begin the journey to connecting more effectively and following God’s call to impact our world more passionately. To unity in heart and mission for God's glory, and to a new fixation on Him and His mission for us in this world.
How do we do this? We have to make five choices to flourish coming out of these challenging times!
- Choose To Love God With An All Defining Love: (Matthew 22:36-40)
I suppose this is obvious and yet with so many distractions over the last few years, we must actively choose to turn our back on other things that have marked us, and face towards Him so that we truly display our love for Him always and in every situation!
If all we do is done to glorify God, then truly it will not matter if we disagree on some minor things. Our connection on God will be so strong and so powerful that nothing will be able to divide us. It is often said that the enemy of my enemy is my friend, and I believe this has proven to be true…HOWEVER, if I have an all defining love for Jesus…it will connect me with others that feel the same. Loving God is the most important thing we can do, and if we are mature, this love will drive and define us!
If you love Him, you will talk about Him, and share the Gospel with others. If you love Him, you will love His people and build peace and unity. If you love Him, then your fixation with Him will define everything else you say and do. Oh that we would love Him more!
- Choose To Love One Another As He Has Loved You: 1 Peter 4:8; 1 Corinthians 13
This is how we show we love God (John 13:35-36). This kind of love sets aside self, and chooses the others best. Love chooses death to self, and personal opinions for the good of others. It asks how it can serve, not how to get its own way.
When we experience God’s love, this love imitates His love (Ephesians 5:1-2). This is so key to connecting with one another, as it makes choice after choice to die to self and live for God with others (Luke 9:23). It is not like the world around us, but it is like Jesus (1 John 4:19-21). Ask how you can love and serve others, and almost all critique and loneliness will be swallowed up in service of your King.
- Choose To Surrender To His Lordship & Fight For Holiness & Love:
As you can tell, these are all related, and build. Surrender to the Lordship of Jesus means that we obey Him no matter what the cost. That His narrative from His Word is our guide, not what others share with us from the silo of our news or worldly narratives. Surrendering to Jesus Lordship means obeying His Word no matter what the cost (Matthew 7:21-27). Jesus is LORD! Those who submit to His Lordship obey His Word and it shows in holiness and love always. So often in our COVID world we have seen people do what is, "right in their own eyes", and I am thankful for you as a church family and the willing submission to God and His ways (Hebrews 13:17) that has unified us.
- Choose Joy: 1 Peter 1:8
We are called to be JOYFUL always, and to be marked by Joy! This always comes from a relationship with God, and is in every situation. If you are struggling with JOY, grow deeper in your love for God and trust of His love for you and Sovereignty over all things.
If you find yourself not filled with thanksgiving and joy, spend a lot more time with God then you are currently doing. A relationship with Him will always produce love, joy and thanksgiving and the deeper you grow in your experience of your relationship with Him, the more you are filled with the Spirit, the more these things will be on display as an overflow of your heart for Him.
Joy always overflows, and will impact the local church and cause others joy. A joyful hearts builds joy in others!
- Choose Humility:
One of our elders shared with me the other day that he thinks this is the most important attribute of church health in the coming months. It is the key way of fighting the spiritual battle in James (chapter 4), and the key way that followers of Jesus will get along. Humility means we prefer one another (Romans 12:10), and choose to serve before we are served, to connect when we feel disconnected, to love first and most. Humility sets aside self, and chooses to wash feet (John 13). It notices needs and meets them! If a church is filled with humble people it will be a healthy church!
Make these five choices personally and with the people of God, and we will discover the best years of CBC’s history regardless of what happens around us. The church is God’s plan A, and we are privileged to be a part of His bride for His glory to represent the Gospel in this lost and hurting world. Make the choices that will make you a healthy part of her and call others to do the same!
I am excited about investing my life in you and this family in the coming years because in the power of the Spirit we are here for such a time as this. Thank you for walking with me over these past few years, and for the most part making them a blessing. Please join me in the coming years so that we will bear fruit together for His glory. Connect with Him, and one another and we will succeed in His strength for His glory!
Sunday is Coming
Worthy Is The Lamb
Text: Revelation 5
Read the text as you prepare your heart to worship the Lamb!
- What is the problem that is found in this text?
- What is the solution to this problem?
- Why do you think this chapter is found in this place in Revelation?
- How does your life send praise to the Lamb?
- How can you unify with the bride of Jesus and worship Him in unity?
Privileged to be connected with you, and to serve you for His glory,
Pastor Rob
Reminder: Newcomers Luncheon is on March 27th. If you are a newcomer (haven't been to one of these, and new in the last six months) join us, and for the rest of us, remember to welcome in grace all you see. Your smiling face might make the difference between someone joining us in our service of Jesus or leaving our family. If each take this seriously we will be the most friendly church in the world :)
Reminder: Our passion for Jesus will show in our lives. 1 Peter 2 shows that this will be displayed in our response to difficulties, government, work, and really all of life. May we live in such a way that our lives show the greatness of God, the glory of the Gospel, and His love through our lives.
Join us and seek to share the Gospel with those God brings across your path!