Good morning church,
I hope that you had a good week in the Lord and that you can identify ways in which you are seeing God at work in your life and in the world around you. It is important that we take time to evaluate our walk with Christ in order to continue to seek to grow in our faith.
I ask you to keep the family of Pastor Manuel Estebane in your prayers. After a lengthy battle with colon cancer, Manuel passed away earlier this week. Pray for Martha, his wife, and Aaron his son, as they make preparations for the service tomorrow. Pray also for the church, Iglesia Bautista del Valle, as they begin a new chapter in their life without their beloved pastor that has served them so faithfully for many years. Pray that God would call the right man to the church to become its next pastor.
If you are able, please plan on being at church tomorrow as Pastor Fitsum will be bringing a message from the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk. Just last Sunday, we were blessed to baptize once again and, at the end of the service, two youth came forward to make decisions for Christ. Friends, that is nothing short of amazing. What an incredible thing if you think about it. Several others have expressed interest in baptism just this week.
As I was thinking about it this week, the last six months have been really incredible in the life of our church. We have been privileged to witness numerous decisions for Christ. It hasn’t been one or two (even though that would be enough to rejoice in), it has been a lot. That is something that we should never take for granted. To have the opportunity to witness someone literally going from sin and death to forgiveness and eternal life, is nothing short of a miracle. And God allows His followers to participate in it by proclaiming His Gospel and living their lives for Him. Even though He could have the rocks cry out, He has chosen people like you and me to be the means in which He spreads His Word. That is an awesome privilege and a frightening responsibility. The recent baptisms we have been able to have at church have also been very special. It is such a beautiful thing to see someone declaring their faith in and their obedience to Christ in a public manner. It is a visual reminder to all of us of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. Furthermore, we have some young people that are on fire for the Lord. They are studying the Bible every day and seeking to tell as many as they can about the Lord. We have a growing number of people that are serving in the church in a variety of ways. We have people that are serious about their faith and the advancement of the Gospel. God is using Pastor Fitsum and Pastor Edwin in a variety of ways as they truly expand and enhance what God has called Community Impact Church to do and be. Since Pastor Fitsum is preaching from Habakkuk, it made me think of the verse that Pastor Steve used to like to use with his vision messages, “Though the vision tarry, wait for it, for it will surely come.” One thing that I can say for certain is that we are seeing the vision of Community Impact Church right before our eyes. We have become a multi-ethnic church that is reaching people with the Gospel and seeking to disciple people in their faith. I encourage each of you to take a moment and praise God for what He has done. Thank Him for allowing each of us to get to use our gifts, talents and abilities for His glory.
By the way, just know that with spiritual victories comes spiritual warfare. If you are wondering why things are difficult some days, why there are times you don’t feel like serving or praying, why you aren’t rejoicing in the midst of the incredible things going on, it just might be a spiritual issue. I was talking to someone this week about it and said, “you can’t expect to play on the devil’s playground and not fall and skin your knees once in a while.” We are clearly doing the Lord’s work and there are times when our adversary pushes back. Kids or youth get spiteful, deliberately disobedient, and/or go freak-a-zoid. People get in foul moods. Adults say things that are hurtful or discouraging. Things break. Stuff happens. Much of this will cause us to take our eyes off of the victories if we let it. That is why it is good to reflect on the great things that God is doing.
10 Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by his vast strength. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers of this darkness, against evil, spiritual forces in the heavens. 13 For this reason take up the full armor of God, so that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having prepared everything, to take your stand. (Ephesians 6:10-13)
Stand firm church. The Lord is using you to advance His kingdom. Rejoice always and pray without ceasing. We are engaged in a spiritual battle. Let us press on knowing that the Lord is victorious.
From our neighborhoods to the nations,
Pastor Larry
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