Church Plant

Our culture is in a state of upheaval, but God's people have the resources to confront cultural trends that are harmful and unbiblical.  Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world, 1st John 4 says.  There's a passage in Isaiah 59 that is reminiscent of the passage in Ephesians 6, describing the
armor of God. We can read:
17 For He put on righteousness as a breastplate, And a helmet of salvation on His head; He put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, And was clad with zeal as a cloak.
18 According to their deeds, accordingly He will repay, Fury to His adversaries, Recompense to His enemies; The coastlands He will fully repay.
19 So shall they fear The name of the Lord from the west, And His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.

It seems the enemy is working overtime to destroy and discredit the Church, and we have to make sure that God's Word is being proclaimed in culture.  It's important that His words concerning abortion, sexuality, marriage, racial issues, and more are being accurately communicated to a culture and Church which are being infiltrated by ideas that don't line up with Scripture.  The enemy will come to deceive; we can raise up God's standards in our own individual lives and culturally, as well, so that people will see the power and presence of Jesus.

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There are numerous areas of spiritual warfare in which God is calling us to engage.  As we will talk about on today's Meeting House program, this is certainly applicable in the area of sexuality.  And, it is certainly seen in the area of our attitude toward the unborn.  Ephesians 6 tells us:
12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.
13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

We've seen so-called people of faith and church leaders who have cozied up to Planned Parenthood, which is the nation's largest abortion provider.  CBN reported on a dedication for a new clinic in Ohio:

Billed as an "interfaith gathering," the Ohio Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice dedicated a new abortion clinic in Cleveland, Ohio Monday by having a United Church of Christ minister on hand to bless "the sacred space of decision."

This was published in October.  The story also related:

On Nov. 9, the group will also have "faith leaders" perform a blessing of a Planned Parenthood abortion clinic in Columbus, Ohio. The "blessing" will feature prayers, "testimonies about receiving and providing abortion care," and a message from Rev. Susan K. Smith of Crazy Faith Ministries, according to the website Christian Headlines.com.

Franklin Graham responded strongly, saying: "Can you believe that? In reality, they are 'blessing' murder. They are blessing actions that are against the laws of God. That would be like priests standing outside the gas chambers at Auschwitz and blessing the murder of innocent Jews. Such evil."

LifeNews.com published a report this past fall on an attempt by a church in Berea, Kentucky to welcome Planned Parenthood there:

Planned Parenthood tried to have a sneaky meeting at Union Church (the pastor said having PP in town would be “good for business” – we aren’t sure what that’s supposed to mean). But over 100 pro-life advocates showed up to protest and make sure Planned Parenthood knew they aren’t welcome. They even made local news!

Hopefully it’s clear to Planned Parenthood that they aren’t welcome in Berea, despite what the aggressive pro-abortion population in town has to say. We don’t need Planned Parenthood – not in Berea. Not anywhere.

The article mentioned how the state of Kentucky is down to one abortion clinic, and it isn't even a Planned Parenthood center.

And, a group of churches in Spokane have banded together to form what is now known as The Church at Planned Parenthood, but it's not what you might think!  Its website says:

The Church at Planned Parenthood is NOT a protest. It’s a worship service at the gates of Hell. The Church at Planned Parenthood is a gathering of Christians for the worship of God and the corporate prayer for repentance for this nation, repentance for the apathetic church and repentance of our blood guiltiness in this abortion holocaust.

Founder Ken Peters, pastor of Covenant Church in Spokane, told CBN News that "We gotta put legs to our faith," adding, "We've gotta find that balance between being mean and nasty and yelling, we've got to find the balance between that and doing nothing."  He believes the Lord directed the church to plant another church right there at the clinic site.

The article says:

Peters and members of his congregation go to the local Planned Parenthood and share a message of God's love and hope. They host a full service complete with a worship band and prayer teams.

It goes on to report:

Peters added that as news of his church has spread, other ministries are joining in.

"Our last service, we got about 65,000 people viewing in live on my personal Facebook feed," he said. "We had over 300 people there outside in the freezing cold, cars driving by. It's been unbelievable."

The website lists six area churches that have partnered together to "corporately support The Church at Planned Parenthood and the spiritual fight against this abortion holocaust."

We can be reminded of a few principles from this story.  For one thing, when we see that the enemy is engaging the Church, we have to engage him.  Not shy away, but armed with the full armor of God, including the Sword of the Spirit, we may be called to be part of directed spiritual warfare.  We don't go looking for it, but quite frankly, it has been brought to our doorstep.

This story gives us a picture of the Church unconstrained.  God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.  This is applicable to trends in the culture, and harmful trends in the Church - we must not allow ourselves to be held back, but empowered and equipped to speak and act boldly.

Sometimes that will involve communicating the message in fresh ways.  We first have to be grounded in truth, and depend on the Lord to show us how we can live it out.  And, in this particular arena of pro-life activity, that comes from a position of having developed a passion for life, and allowing that passion to motivate us to action.

Up of Down

We are made according to the specifications of our Creator: fearfully and wonderfully, according to His plan, for His intention.  Moses was a man who certainly had perceived shortcomings, but God said that He would use him.  We read in Exodus 4:
10 Then Moses said to the Lord, "O my Lord, I am not eloquent, neither before nor since You have spoken to Your servant; but I am slow of speech and slow of tongue."
11 So the Lord said to him, "Who has made man's mouth? Or who makes the mute, the deaf, the seeing, or the blind? Have not I, the Lord?
12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say."

None of us are perfect, but God will work through our imperfections, that His works might be displayed.  Paul had an area of infirmity, a thorn in the flesh, but God said that His grace was sufficient; where Paul was weak, God is strong.  That is a great reminder of God's intent to bring us into relationship with Himself and to produce through us fruit that honors Him and shows what He has done.  He does incredible things through those who would submit to Him.

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God desires to produce His glory through every human He has created.  Jesus reinforced that idea in
John chapter 9:
1 Now as Jesus passed by, He saw a man who was blind from birth.
2 And His disciples asked Him, saying, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?"
3 Jesus answered, "Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him.

In this case, Jesus healed the blind man.  But, we also recognize that Scripture teaches that God will work through our infirmities and in our fallibility - for His glory!

The subject of the sanctity of life is quite prevalent these days, especially when you have lawmakers who are intent on allowing more instances of taking that life in the womb, and even outside of it after a child is born.  Yet, three-quarters of Americans, even those who would favor abortion in some circumstances, believe there should be restrictions, according to a Marist poll.

We can be grateful when the message of life is communicated, even when it is not necessarily communicated by someone who claims to be a Christian.  Take, for instance, a recent video shared by the actor, Ashton Kutcher.

He shared, according to ChristianHeadlines.com, a video on his Facebook page. The article states:

The five-minute video shared to his 17 million followers shows Frank Stephens, a man with Down syndrome, delivering testimony to a congressional committee in 2017. Although the hearing focused on Down syndrome research, Stephens in his testimony criticized prenatal tests that lead to unborn babies with Down syndrome being killed in the womb.

Kutcher wrote above the video: “Everyone's life is valuable.”

Stephens says, “I am a man with Down syndrome, and my life is worth living,” adding, “... Some people say that prenatal screenings will identify Down syndrome in the womb, and those pregnancies will just be terminated. It is hard for me to sit here and say those words. I completely understand that the people pushing this particular ‘final solution’ are saying that people like me should not exist. That view is deeply prejudiced by an outdated idea of life with Down syndrome."  Stephens also says, "Seriously, I have a great life."

An article at The Atlantic website from 2017 highlighted Stephens' testimony, pointing out that he is a Special Olympian and that he was testifying in support of designating Federal money to Down syndrome research.  The article pointed out that:

“The life expectancy for someone born with Down syndrome has increased from twenty-five in the early 1980s to more than fifty today,” Caitrin Keiper writes in The New Atlantis. “In many other ways as well, a child born with Down syndrome today has brighter prospects than at any other point in history...

But, these chilling statistics exist, according to Keiper:

“...the abortion rate for fetuses diagnosed with Down syndrome tops ninety percent.” In Iceland, nearly every fetus with the condition is killed. CBS News reports that “the United States has an estimated termination rate for Down syndrome of 67 percent (1995-2011); in France it's 77 percent (2015); and Denmark, 98 percent (2015). The law in Iceland permits abortion after 16 weeks if the fetus has a deformity––and Down syndrome is included in this category.”

By constrast, consider what Clemson head football coach Dabo Swinney did the other day.  According to Faithwire, he...

... gifted one of his team members with two tickets to the biggest sporting event of the year — Super Bowl LIII. David Saville, who has Down syndrome, works as the team’s equipment manager. In a touching video posted to the Tiger’s Twitter account, Coach Swinney gathers his team together and delivers some beautiful words before presenting the prized tickets.

“You do so much for this team,” Swinney said in the video. “The joy you bring every day. The perspective. How hard you work. You are one of the hardest workers we got around here. We all love you, so we got a special gift for you.”

What a great way to show value to a person with special needs who is not allowing disability to hold him back.

Certainly, these stories serve as a reminder to keep your eye on the ball - life in the womb in precious.  We can be involved in a variety of issues, but the question of what constitutes life is a foundational one.  Frank Stephens was allowed to live, under conditions in which many babies with Down Syndrome have their lives taken.  And, live he has!

And, we have to be cautious.  There does seem to be an agenda out there to reduce single-issue voting in order to de-emphasize the abortion issue so someone will feel OK about voting for a pro-abortion candidate.  This will lead to the implementation of more radical candidates who do not regard life in the womb and are committed to policies that are contrary to Scripture.

We can also remember to stand with those with disabilities and their families. Churches have launched disability ministries.  Tim Tebow's Night to Shine proms are being used to affirm the value of the lives of those who are disabled; the first one in Montgomery is occurring tonight at Wynlakes, sponsored by Thorington Road Baptist Church.  Hope Heals, the ministry of Jay and Katherine Wolf, provides encouragement for those who have special needs, and will be offering two camp sessions this year at Camp McDowell in North Alabama - check our website to learn more.

The so-called "final solution," to which Frank Stephens referred is no solution at all.  And we can, as it's been said, pursue a culture of life and reinforce the idea that all lives are precious and have value because we all reflect the creative hand of our Maker.

Worried

Our humility can be a helpful component in dealing with worry and anxiety; 1st Peter 5 says that:
(5) "God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble."
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time,
7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

When we allow Christ to carry our burdens and take our cares, we can share in His peace.  When our minds are troubled, we can isolate those cares and replace them with God's promises; that's what the Bible calls "taking every thought captive."  The enemy will tempt us to think in a manner that produces fear and worry, but we can rely on God's power, recognizing that we don't have the spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind.

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Jesus is our Prince of Peace, and when we are worried or anxious, we can appropriate His wonderful
peace. Isaiah 26 states:
3 You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.
4 Trust in the Lord forever, For in Yah, the Lord, is everlasting strength.

Seems like there is certainly plenty to worry about - it could be safety; it might be health.  It might be our loved ones and their decisions, or our wealth: our financial well-being or lack thereof.

An organization called SafeWise has just released a survey that ranks the states in the U.S. according to their worry - about crime.  The survey article states:

With the 24/7 news cycle, it’s hard not to feel like the world is full of danger. But which issues make us pace the floor, bite our nails, and grind our teeth? SafeWise conducted a nationwide survey to find out. Our State of Safety survey polled residents in all 50 states to find out what’s really keeping them up at night.

We tallied up the numbers to identify the states that are the most and least worried about safety issues like violent crime, property crime, and digital crime.

The most worried state, with a 55.8% overall level of concern, is Louisiana.  At #2, wait for it - it's Alabama, with 55% of those surveyed indicating a worry about crime, with property crime being the highest-rated worry area.  The remainder of the top 5: Massachusetts, Hawaii, and Nevada.   Vermont is the least worried state, according to the survey.

The article relates that:

• Digital security was the biggest worry overall, across both most worried and least worried states. Property crime was the second-biggest worry.

Also, "Violent crime wasn’t rated the number one worry among any of the states we’ve listed."

Among the worried states, 50% said they worried most about digital crimes and 50% said property crimes.  Violent crimes was not the leading worry in any state. But, the summary article says, "Although it isn’t the top fear, every most worried state reported a level of concern about violent crime that was 55% or higher."

The article does offer some "things you can do to quiet those nagging anxieties:"

• Cut down on your exposure to bad news—limit the time you spend watching or reading the news.
• If you worry about being robbed, take measures to secure your home. Adding a security camera or security system that comes with a mobile app can help you feel safer all the time.
• To limit worry about identity theft, get a shredder for monthly bills and other financial records, make sure your computer is protected, and regularly check your credit report for suspicious activity.

There is also the exhortation to "manage your worries."  And, that is an area where some Biblical principles can be very helpful:

The Bible promises us perfect peace, a peace that passes all understanding.  That perfect peace, according to Isaiah, occurs as we keep our minds fixed on God. That supernatural peace, according to Philippians, is a by-product of presenting our requests to God.  When we are feeling anxious and are troubled by manifold fearful thoughts, we can meditate on God's promises and call out to Him.

The Bible, in 1st Peter, tells us to cast your cares upon the Lord.  We worry when we try to acquire burdens that we cannot carry.  And, much of what we worry about, as it's been said, never happens anyway.  We can recalibrate our thinking and follow the words of Jesus, who, when teaching about worry and anxiety, instructed us to seek first the Kingdom.

Remember Those in Prison

In Matthew 25, we can read a familiar passage, in which Jesus identifies areas of struggle, perhaps of
pain, people who need His touch. He rewards the righteous, and we see these words:
37 Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink?
38 When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You?
39 Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?'
40 And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'

No one is beyond the scope of being changed by Christ's love.  A person who has physical needs can be someone to whom we can minister the love of Jesus.  A person in crisis becomes a candidate for the life-transforming power of the gospel.  When we look into the eyes of someone who is desperate need of hope, who needs for something to be altered in their lives, in a sense, we are looking into the eyes of Jesus, because we are serving our Savior when we serve the needy.

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Jesus emphasized the importance of ministering to those in prison in Matthew 25, and in Hebrews 13, we can read:
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Do not forget to entertain strangers, for by so doing some have unwittingly entertained angels.
3 Remember the prisoners as if chained with them--those who are mistreated--since you yourselves are in the body also.

That third verse was referenced in a recent article, to which I'll refer, by a representative of a leading prison ministry organization.

Last night at the State of the Union address, President Trump had as one of his guests a Nashville man recently released from prison.  His name is Matthew Charles, described by WSMV Television as "first prisoner released through the FIRST STEP Act." That is the prison reform bill that was passed by Congress late last year and signed into law by the President.  A number of faith leaders were involved in helping to craft that bill.  The WSMV story says:

Charles was sentenced in 1996 to 35 years in prison for selling crack cocaine and other drug offenses. He was released on January 3.

"While in prison, Matthew found God, completed more than 30 bible studies, became a law clerk, taught GED classes, and mentored fellow inmates," according to a White House statement.

Heather Rice-Minus of Prison Fellowship wrote at Religion News Service back in December that:

The great hope is, of course, that incarcerated people will use their sentences to pursue significant changes in their lives, make amends for their wrongdoing and earn back the public’s trust. It makes sense, then, for prisoners to have access to as many transformative resources as possible — spiritual, educational and vocational.

Yet right now, few such resources are available. By the Bureau of Prisons’ own estimate, the wait list for a basic literacy course is 16,000 names long. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the recidivism rate for federal prisoners is 49 percent — a failure rate of 1 in 2.

The First Step Act would increase opportunities for faith-based and nonprofit groups to provide programs that reduce recidivism.

The Act also provides for sentences that are more tailored to the crimes committed, as well as to increase visitation privileges for people whose parents are in prison.

A large Texas church has stepped up to help prisoners to be transformed, which would ideally reduce the chances of those prisoners who have been released returning.  A Christian Headlines story highlighted a church plant - in a prison!

It says:

Fox News reports that 650 inmates attended the first Coffield Gateway service in November and since then over 500 men have dedicated their lives to Jesus.

Senior Pastor Robert Morris was quoted: “At Gateway Church, we’re all about people because God is all about people," adding, "Many of the men and women inside prison have been forgotten by society, but we want them to know we love them and God loves them, and they are our brothers and sisters in Christ."

The story says:

According to Fox News, the Coffield campus is set up to run like any other campus and gives inmates the opportunity to serve. Inmates are tasked with greeting service attendees, being ushers, operating audio and visual equipment, forming a worship team, and staffing the service, the outlet reports.

The campus is pastored by Stephen Wilson who is an ex-offender.

And, in Angola Prison, which is a state prison in Louisiana, a place from which most prisoners will never exit due to the state's strict laws, prisoners are learning about being set free from what imprisons their souls.  Paul Caminiti of the Institute for Bible Reading wrote on that organization's website:

In November I was invited to Angola to present Immerse: The Bible Reading Experience to the 28 Protestant churches that operate inside the prison. Thanks to a partnership with New Orleans Baptist Seminary, there is a seminary program within the prison that has trained and ordained over 100 prisoner/pastors.

Our relationship with Pastor Jim Cymbala at The Brooklyn Tabernacle opened the door at Angola. After Immerse was successfully launched to 5,000 people at BT, Pastor Cymbala caught a vision for Immerse in Angola. BT has a long partnership with Angola, with groups traveling there every year to visit the prison hospital and minister to the men on death row.

Upon sharing the vision for this program with four to five hundred people, Caminiti relates: "The meeting ended and I was swarmed with inmates, full of questions, wanting to know when the Bibles would arrive. There were tears. The hope of the gospel and the power of the Scriptures has shone a light into the darkness at Angola." He writes, "Beginning in February, all 28 Angola churches will begin reading the New Testament together with Immerse: Messiah."

God is doing an incredible work through prison ministry across the country.  And, we can remember that no one is beyond the life-changing power of God's love.  Through the reform of the heart, a person in prison can experience spiritual freedom, which can result in physical freedom as a person lives His life by Biblical principles.

We possess the powerful truth that the Bible brings hope.  We should be people in this fallen, crazy world reflecting a hopeful countenance, because we know Jesus, we love Him, and know what He can do.

The spread of Biblical truth, the reform of a heart, can deliver a person from a life of crime.  We need deterrents to crime in our society, and God's Word helps a person be at peace under man's law - and God's law.

Finally, we can admit that for all of us, the Bible offers freedom from spiritual captivity.  Sin works to repress us, to keep us from experiencing God's best - but Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead so that we could experience victory over the power of sin.

Response

God is working in us; He has saved us through the death and resurrection of Christ, placed the Holy Spirit in our hearts, and equips us by His Word to reflect His glory. Hebrews 13 states:
20 Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant,
21 make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.

His presence can work powerfully through us - He has provided the tools we need in order to respond to the challenges we face.  Perhaps it is a personal decision; He gives us wisdom.  Maybe we are feeling weak in a work situation; He has promised His strength.  Perhaps we have a deep struggle; He brings us His comfort.  And, when He brings people our way who have struggles, we can allow Him to minister through us.

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In Ephesians 5, we read about spiritual readiness. We see these verses:
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

The latest batch of Super Bowl commercials have now been seen on television, with quite of few of them, even in expanded versions, available online.  I'm not sure how many of them will be talked about very much in the days to come; actually, the game may not get a lot of discussion, either, having been the lowest-scoring Super Bowl in history.  And, it's the lowest rated game in almost a decade.

But, there were some moments during the breaks (and during my time watching the Super Bowl, I found myself tempted to switch away, but in a few breaks, I tried to leave the television set on CBS to watch the commercials.)

The USA Today Ad Meter results are in, and the top commercial was a 100th anniversary spot for the NFL that included current and past NFL players.  The 2nd one was for Amazon Alexa and featured Harrison Ford and instances of rejected designs for Alexa.  In the #3 position, it was Microsoft's ad featuring special needs kids and video games.  And at #4, Hyundai's "elevator" commercial featuring Jason Bateman as an elevator operator taking passengers to different floors of unpleasant activities, including...car shopping.

Admittedly, I haven't seen them all, but one particular commercial made quite an impact on me. It was the #5 commercial on the Ad Meter.  It features an NFL coach, Anthony Lynn of the Los Angeles Chargers, speaking to a group of first responders - but, there is a plot twist: he was actually reunited with those who saved his life a number of years ago.  The ad was for Verizon, saluting the first responders and underscoring its dedication to making sure they get the call for help.

People Magazine's website had some backstory of the commercial itself.  It relates:

In 2005, Lynn worked on the coaching staff for the Dallas Cowboys football team. On October 20, he went out to dinner following a training camp session in Ventura, California. Afterward, while Lynn walked across the street, a speeding car — with a drunk driver at the wheel — came barreling at him.

“I just remember seeing the headlights,” Lynn recalled.

Another coach saw something far worse: Lynn flying 45-50 feet into the air, and crashing headfirst into a parked car. Lynn fell to the ground with two collapsed lungs, three broken ribs, and major facial and shoulder damage. He was choking on his own blood.

“I just prayed,” Lynn said. “I thought for sure I was dead.”

In a barrage of ads for alcoholic beverages, I thought it was notable that this commercial shared the story of the effect of alcohol.

The story shares quotes from two of the first responders who were there that night, who had treated the coach, but had no idea whether he had lived or died. The story states that:

“He didn’t realize we were there” for the surprise reunion, Skyla Bosco — who was a paramedic who arrived on scene shortly after Lynn’s accident — tells PEOPLE. “It was really emotional. He broke down. We were all trying not to cry.”

About that night in 2005, Bosco said, “He was in bad shape,” adding, “He kind of kept going in and out. He would open and close his eyes.”  He also had "mumbled that he couldn't feel his legs," according to the story.  Bosco said: “We gave each other the uh-oh,” Bosco says, adding, “Is he going to live? Why can’t he feel his legs?”

Firefighter David Mendoza said, “Coach Lynn had no idea that he was going to reunite with us...Seeing the look on his face when he got to meet us was amazing.” He is also quoted as saying, “I often don’t get the chance to meet the people I’ve helped,” adding, "It was so great to talk with him and see him doing so well, and to just give him a hug.”

Lynn had told ESPN, "[The doctors] said 100 percent of people die who get hit by a car going 55 to 60 miles per hour," adding, "Somehow, by the grace of God, I survived it."  Lynn is using his platform to speak at events for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes.

This ad told a compelling story, and it provides some great reminders.  For one thing, reflecting on past meaningful moments of your life can be very valuable, especially when you saw God show up.  The Verizon ad was part of a campaign of people whose lives were saved by first responders: people who you might say "shouldn't be here."  That phrase is an catalyst to consider that if we are here, then why are we here - and that is to fulfill God's purpose.

We can also have a sense of gratitude for those who have helped save your life; you may not have had a life-threatening situation, but perhaps there is someone who has helped you in saving your spiritual life.  We can thank the Lord for the people He has used to steer us in His direction and to help us grow.  And, maybe there can be an opportunity to thank them directly.

We cannot minimize those who are first responders; who work in police, fire, or military.  They are people who are in a risky profession and they come face-to-face with human suffering. It is a noble practice to tell those who serve in this way how much they are appreciated.  And, in a spiritual sense, we may be put on the front lines to be a first responder - we can consider how we respond to those in need, perhaps urgent.  As God points out the need, we can rely on His equipping to help.

Super Faith II

Paul may have been in prison, but his chains would certainly not hold him back.  He wrote in
Colossians 4:
2 Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;
3 meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains,
4 that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.

We read here about the importance of prayer, seeking God's face for opportunities to share His truth. Paul was intent on communicating the message of Christ, no matter what the circumstances, even from behind the prison walls.  We can consider how we can, as he suggested regarding God's Word, "make it manifest."  We can look for open doors and be faithful to share His love and truth as God provides the opportunity.

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We have been called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to share God's love. Galatians chapter 6 offers these words:
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.

Super Bowl LIII is in the record books, and while there was much concentration on what took place between the sidelines of Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, that stadium and the overall event represented, in a sense, a hub for ministry.

We talked about what God has done and is doing in some of the players in the game.  And, each year at the Super Bowl, one NFL player is honored by the Christian organization Athletes in Action.  This year, the winner of the Bart Starr Award was Calais Campbell of the Jacksonville Jaguars.  According to the Jaguars' website:

Campbell runs the CRC Foundation, named after his late father, Charles Richard Campbell, which is committed to enhancing the community through the teaching of critical life skills to young people.

In a Sports Spectrum article from last year, Campbell is quoted as saying:

“It’s simple for me. I know I wouldn’t be where I’m at if Jesus didn’t give me the opportunities, the many blessings that He’s given me,” Campbell said. “I ask myself all the time, ‘why did God choose me to be very successful?’ I know that He has big plans for my life that are much bigger than football, much bigger than money and everything else.”

But, there was much more that was going on in relation to the big game. For instance, around 150 volunteers from First Baptist Church of Atlanta packed 500 gift baskets in partnership with the organization Basket of Hope. The effort is called Super Baskets of Hope, and church volunteers provided gift baskets for children in local children's hospitals and their families.  Baptist Press reports that:

The organization's Super Baskets of Hope project in conjunction with the Super Bowl began in Indianapolis in 2012. The NFL became involved in the organization in 1999 when former St. Louis Rams quarterback Kurt Warner and his wife Brenda delivered baskets to children in St. Louis. Warner introduced the program to former NFL coach Tony Dungy, who has since become the group's national spokesman.

So what's in the baskets?  The article says:

The gift baskets include toys, games, stuffed animals, puzzles, books and other educational items. Super Baskets of Hope also provides tote bags for parents with snacks, a Bible, a journal and a devotional book by Charles Stanley, pastor of Atlanta First Baptist Church.

This year's baskets also included a book by Lynda Young, "Hope for Families of Children in Hospitals," that Young wrote specifically for this year's Super Baskets of Hope project.

 Young is a member of a Southern Baptist church in Snellville, GA.

Baptist Press also reports on an effort to address human trafficking during Super Bowl week.  Heather Havard, a student at Sam Houston State University in Texas, led a team of 10 people to "raise awareness during the Super Bowl about the problem of human trafficking."  Havard is quoted as saying, "The Super Bowl is the number one event every year where human trafficking rates skyrocket." The students planned to walk around the stadium and distribute literature about human trafficking. The story, released last week, says:

They'll also make rounds in parking lots to leave literature on vehicles. Havard said it's important for people to know that as of 2018, there were more than 40 million human trafficking slaves in the world. In the state of Texas alone, 78,000 children and infants are being sexually exploited.

The article also spotlights the work of Kasey McClure, who founded the organization 4Sarah. The story relates:

McClure and volunteers she recruited spent Jan. 25-26 at First Baptist Church in Conyers, Ga., which served as a call center. Volunteers combed through online personal ads of women offering themselves for sexual services and documented the information they gleaned from the various ads. McClure then made phone calls to the women, offering them resources to help them get out of the industry. Women in the sex industry -- and the men who exploit them -- see the Super Bowl as an opportunity to make money, McClure said.

And, as Baptist Press reports:

The church has provided McClure with a house that 4Sarah uses as a safe house for pregnant women and those coming out of the sex industry. Women can stay there up to 60 days and get medical care and counseling.

Also, yesterday, the special Football Sunday event was available, which included video material that could be used to share the gospel during a Super Bowl gathering.

The Super Bowl is now history, and there are some points to consider, the first being that ministry occurs as opportunities are utilized.  Calais Campbell has taken the platform of football and used it for God's glory.  An Atlanta church has taken the occasion of the Super Bowl and used it to reach out to children who are ill, as well as their parents.  And, others have seen the dark side of a major sporting event and seen the chance to shine a light.

We can understand that the world of sports offers ministry opportunities: for players to use their platforms, and others to reach out to the attendees.  This past weekend, Faith Radio team members had the chance to deliver halftime devotionals at Upward Basketball at Frazer Church.  This character-building program offers the participants and attendees the opportunity to hear a gospel-centered message.   Playing off the topic of the blown call at the end of the Saints-Rams NFC Championship game, I shared about how we can respond when life seemingly isn't fair.

Finally, we can be encouraged to seek the Lord regarding how He has gifted each of us to share His love.

Super Faith

When we accept Christ, the Holy Spirit comes to live in our hearts, to empower us to live a life that reflects the inward change that He has brought about in us.  While salvation is instantaneous, that moments begins a process of transformation into the image of Christ that lasts our whole lives.
Colossians 1 states:
27 To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
28 Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
29 To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.

God's presence will work in us mightily as we relinquish our dependence on ourselves and learn to depend on the power of Jesus, who lives within us.  He has placed us in the body of Christ and in this world in order that He may be glorified through our faithfulness.  We can have the expectation each and every day of Christ being shown through us because He is inside of us, expressing Himself as we lay down our own lives and embrace His life.

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In Ephesians 2, we are reminded about the faith through which we are saved, and through which we exemplify the power of the risen Christ:
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
9 not of works, lest anyone should boast.
10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

This year's Super Bowl features a number of athletes playing at their highest level with an enhanced sense of motivation to take home the championship trophy.  Perhaps there is no player who will be on that field Sunday who will be more motivated than Rams' receiver Brandin Cooks.

Last year, Brandin Cooks was in the big game, playing for the Patriots in their 41-33 loss to Philadelphia.  According to a Sports Spectrum article, Cooks was knocked out of the game with a concussion.  He was traded to Los Angeles during the off-season. The article states, referring to the win over the Saints in the NFC Championship:

After the win Jan. 20, Cooks revealed to FOX 11 Los Angeles reporter Pablo Alsina a prayer he’d been praying since the last Super Bowl.

“I’ve asked God to redeem me since that moment,” Cooks said in the jubilant locker room “A year from now, I’d always pray, from that moment to redeem me in such a way to glorify Him. And I think He’s doing that.”

In that game against New Orleans, he caught 7 passes for 107 yards.  The article says, "Leading up to the big game, Cooks is posting prayers and Bible verses on social media, as usual."  An earlier Sports Spectrum article, from October, said:

In other words, on a team full of superstars, Cooks is as productive and consistent as any of them.

Off the field, the former first-round draft pick has been just as persistent in his declaration of faith. A devout Christian who’s credited God for his gifts and called his relationship with Jesus the most important thing in his life, Cooks has rarely gone a day during the Rams’ hot start without sharing Biblical wisdom.

On the other sideline, Devin McCourty will be roaming the secondary for the Patriots.  He has overcome the loss of a father when he was young.  According to CBN, he had grown up going to church, but drifted during his time in the NFL.  But, that changed when he went to a Bible study led by a team chaplain.  The story states:

“He’s talking about that guilty feeling, there’s nothing we can do to earn the right to be Christians and earn what Christ has done for us. Like you can’t earn that. You know, that’s given to you. You know, that’s His mercy. And it just happened to be the day I walked in there and went. And it was kind of everything I was feeling that I was lacking. And was like it’s right there, you know, said Devin.”

Devin re-dedicated his life to Jesus Christ, giving Him full control. Now with God as a top priority, Devin learned to go to his Heavenly Father for big decisions. Like in 2014, when he became a free agent and was contemplating leaving the team.

He is now a husband and father, his daughter having been born just after Super Bowl LI against the Falcons.  The story relates that he is learning to depend on God the Father to strengthen him to be a good dad.

Movieguide has a story on 5 players who will be in the game this Sunday.

These are men who play at the highest level and have made their faith central to our lives.  God can enable us to excel in our endeavors, giving us strength and wisdom in order to glorify Him.

Sometimes it's the process more than the outcome.  God is working in us in our perceived victories and defeats.  It's our dependence on Him and the growth in our relationship that are the important things.

Our victory is not determined by the scoreboard.  We have victory in Christ, and we can walk victorious as we apply what we've learned and glorify the Lord.  Even if we seem to have "lost" in this life, the clock has not run out and God is continuing to do His work.