Recently attended the Southern Baptist Convention. Not for denominational sake, but I was really interested to hear a few speakers and learn from the folks gathered. Thought I'd share from some of the speeches given. Apologies in advance if the quotes aren't exact...I was jotting quick as I could...
This would be the first time I'd hear Pastor David Platt preach. Oh my - won't be my last. It was powerful and spirit filled. Through God's word, He challenged the heck outta me, then affirmed some stuff I'm been thinking on for the past two years.
Here's the part of Platt's message that rocked me...A month ago I'd been doing some Bible reading one morning, & came across Hebrews 13. I was so excited about the chapter, I told Rache immediately, I loved it & read a portion to her...
"The high priest carries the blood of animals into the Most Holy Place as a sin offering, but the bodies are burned outside the camp. And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood. Let us, then, go to him outside the camp, bearing the disgrace he bore. For here we do not have an enduring city, but we are looking for the city that is to come. Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased"
Then, I made this blog post & from that time forward been thinking & reading on the passage. Shared with my pastor, & even applied it to some video work we've been doin for Operation Care - a local ministry outreach meeting people's tangible needs - in the name of Jesus Christ - all outside the church camp/building gates.
Back to Platt - As he opened up God's word - he went directly to Hebrews 13:11-13. My mouth dropped. Then he said, "Risk it all or Retreat." "Risk it all for the countlesss millions" "Jesus died outside on the tree - For the abandoned,pour,destitute" "We have prioritized our comfort over the needs of others" Then, the kicker...Platt finished, "Do we want to die in our religion or die in our devotion?...I pray that we choose the latter."
Big deal for me & Rache. God's word is active & moving. That, was indeed a God thing. You can hear more of Pastor Platt here.
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