Baptists Committed to World Evangelism

2Corinthians 7:3 I speak not this to condemn you: for I have said before, that ye are in our hearts to die and live with you. Paul spoke harshly sometimes to those that he loved. He reminds them in this verse that it is never to condemn them or not love them but rather because he does love them.

2Corinthians 5:9 Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted of him. We are already made accepted in Christ, the Beloved Ephesians 1:6. Since we are accepted and He has been so good and gracious to us it is only natural that our desire is to please Him. We want to do what He wants us to do. We work at it.

Titus 1:5 “For this cause left I thee in Crete, that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city, as I had appointed thee. If any be blameless, the husband of one wife, having faithful children not accused of riot and unruly.” I was reminded and challenged this morning about the requirements for an elder/bishop/pastor. I wanted to list these below as they are found in the book of Titus: Blameless The husband of one wife Having faithful children not accused of riot or unruly Blameless as the steward of God Not selfwilled Not soon angry Not given to wine No striker Not given to filthy lucre A lover of hospitality A lover of good men Sober Just Holy Temperate Holding fast the faithful word as he hath been taught Able by sound doctrine to exhort and convince the gainsayers The office of a pastor is a very high calling. Let us not forget the great example that we must set.

1: Spain is approximately 1.5 % evangelical Christian. Spain has a population of 46 million, with approximately 600,000 Evangelical/Protestant church-members ( FEREDE ). Over half of these are members of Pentecostal churches which teach a perverted form of the Gospel that tells people that their salvation is dependent upon their continued faithfulness. This leaves at best around 300,000 church members of various gospel-preaching churches. To put that in perspective, there are approximately 1 million Muslims in Spain, and 9.2 million who claim no religion ( CIS , 2009).

2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be of God, and not of us. God Himself indwells us. We are the temple of the Holy Spirit. We have been given truth and revelation far above what we deserve

2 Thessalonians 3:1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you.” Paul’s desire was that his brothers would pray for him. He wanted them to pray that the word of the Lord would have free course and be glorified. Free course was used of someone who runs in a race. They are striving hard to win the race. They are running with all their might

Colossians 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” For those who are saved, the following is true: We are risen with Christ. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away.

Colossians 3:1 “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.” For those who are saved, the following is true: We are risen with Christ. We are seated in heavenly places with Christ Jesus. We are a new creation in Christ Jesus. Old things have passed away.

2Corinthians 3:5 Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God; We were not sufficient to save ourselves. We are not sufficient to do ministry. We are not sufficient to do anything. But since we are new creatures now and Christ lives in us and the life which we now live we live by the faith of the Son of God, He is sufficient. It is Christ living in us.

Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true , whatsoever things are honest , whatsoever things are just , whatsoever things are pure , whatsoever things are lovely , whatsoever things are of good repor t; if there be any virtue , and if there be any praise , think on these things.” Paul is sitting in a prison cell.  He has been deprived of many things including his liberty.  He could have been so discouraged, depressed, angry, and frustrated.  He had no early reason to be joyful, yet his letter to the Philippians written while in prison is exactly the opposite.