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More Than a Lifestyle
Luke 4:18 '[Jesus said,] "God's Spirit is on me; he's chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor, Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and recovery of sight to the blind, To set the burdened and battered free..."' (The Message)
 I once heard a legendary evangelist say this: 'The world wants what we have when we believe what we say.' I think that's true, especially in the post-modern world in which we live, where people are overloaded with lifestyle options and confused by the vagaries of political correctness. As followers of Jesus, our primary role is to do three things. First, to witness about Jesus, to tell the story of what he's done for the world and, more directly, what he's done for us. Second, to believe what we say, to live as if the message is true. The greatest witness, said one writer, is to live a life that makes no sense unless there's a God. People find it relatively easy to argue with a point of view, but it is difficult to argue with a life that, over time, demonstrates the reality and relevance of faith in God. Our third task is to heal people as Jesus did -- physically, spiritually and emotionally. Without the power of the Holy Spirit working in miraculous ways, Christian teaching is little more than another philosophy. Jesus backed up his preaching and teaching with acts that can only be described as interventions by God into human need. He has called us to do the same. People need to see Christians who live as if the Bible they declare is actually the word of God; as if the promises contained therein are fulfilled in the lives of real people, right now. We must truly believe what we say -- enough to stake our reputations, and even our lives upon it. Then it becomes more than opinion or a lifestyle option.
Prayer: 'Jesus, please help me today to live as you did, fulfilling the great world-shaking ministry you began. Help me to demonstrate the power of the truth behind the gospel, by bringing miraculous breakthrough in people's lives.'
© 2003-2004 Mal Fletcher
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A great article on 'Hybrid Stem Cell Research'! It is not only highly relevant to current research but also shows how just a little initial compromise will eventually cause an unstoppable downslide in ethical standards with irreversible outcomes.
Ann, Australia
I've just been browsing this site for the first time & am feeling very blessed to have such valuable resource at my fingertips. If you need any help with editing, I'd love to assist by correspondence.
Emily, Australia
Mal, I heard you speak at Abundant Life Church.
I came straight home from hearing you to send this email & will follow Next Wave & EDGES TV.
Jack, United Kingdom
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