November 10, 2021
Greetings and blessings to all of you. Paul killed Christians. He hated the people of God. Then one day he met Christ and he was changed. He became an Apostle. He helped build and taught and preached at churches that had many questions and many problems. He wrote the Epistles (thirteen books of the NT). Was life a bed of roses when he served Christ? No and No again. One of the churches he ministered to was in Corinth. That church was involved in immorality, incest, doctrines of demons, gossip, division and rebellious attitudes. Paul was attacked verbally. Some haters in the church told lies about Paul attempting to damage his witness. These same people seemed to have a strong influence in the church leading some of them away from the true gospel. But Paul knew that his strength and wisdom and peace came from the Lord. He did not operate on a “can-do” spirit. He said in 2 Cor. 4:8-9, “we are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed, we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed”. Like Paul we must shift our focus from ourselves and our ability to God and his ability. Luke 1:37 says, “for with God nothing will be impossible.” The world/culture trust in money, success, prestige, education, positive thinking, science, their politics. Their mantra is “You are the god of your life.” But God tells us to trust only in Him. In the book of Hebrews a group of Jewish Christians faced pressure and persecution. They were discouraged, weary of the many battles. Some wondered if they can go on. The writer encouraged them by saying” you joyfully accepted the plundering of your property since you knew that you yourselves had a better possession and abiding one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised for yet a little while and the coming one will come and will not delay but my righteous one shall live by faith and if he shrinks back my soul has no pleasure in him. But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but of those who have faith and preserve their souls.” (Heb. 10:32-36) Hallelujah for our anchor!
With the Love of Christ
First Lady Vivian C. Currie
Pastor ALC
First Lady Vivian
Pillar of Truth
Community Bible Church
206 715 0796
"Jesus is my Savior !"