“Wherever the marks of the Church are evident . . . that is, preaching, the Word, the sacraments, and church discipline . . . inevitably, the surrounding culture will be changed.” John Calvin.
TRANSFORMATION OF LIFE
It is at work in the toughest places in our society –– inside cold, barren prisons like Newton, Iowa. At least half of the prisoners were unbelievers when they arrived, and yet within a short time, the whole prison culture had been transformed. The staff explained that when the Christian inmates arrived, they began meeting for prayer regularly. The same thing has happened in our Texas and Kansas prisons, and is now happening in our fourth prison in Minnesota. The evidence is indisputable: The church when it is the Church, behind prison walls is transforming the surrounding culture. But there’s a lesson here for the rest of us –– we should reflect upon as celebrate the resurrection.
Evangelicals are shameful! You are casual about the Church. We hop from one church to the next; we act more like spectators than participants. Our lack of commitment to the Church is one reason 68 percent of Americans say there’s no such thing as moral truth. But when, we get serious and become the Church we’re supposed to be . . . worshiping, praying, studying the Word, celebrating the sacraments and ordinances, administering discipline . . . our culture will be transformed. If it can happen in the prisons, where people come from the most hopeless backgrounds imaginable, it can . . . by God’s grace . . . happen in your community.
Your marriage can be transformed by correct Biblical preaching! You have the right to be free in Jesus Christ! We have everything we need to grow in the fullness of Jesus Christ! According to (Jn. 8; 32), “An ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free.” If the Satan can deceive you into believing you’re not free, you won’t experience the freedom which is your inheritance.
You can be free from deep spiritual, mental and emotional turmoil.
- The truth will set you free!
- Once free, you will quickly mature!
- “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.”
Satan is opposed to our maturity and will do anything he can to keep us from realizing who we are and what we have in Christ. Since we wrestle against principalities and powers, instead of flesh and blood, (Eph. 6:12), we must experience victory over the dark side before we can fully mature.Believe, declare and act upon the truth of God’s Word, and you will block Satan’s strategy. (1 Pet. 3:3), says, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby”. Remember the power of Satan is a lie; while the truth of God is you liberating agent.The power of a believer is in knowing the truth.