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Dear Christian Believers,
On August 14th Rev. Juan Cabrera of
Venezuela finished recording the foundational teaching
series, “Living in God’s Power.” It
was an exciting day for us all. The climax to many months
of work, translating the 449 page English syllabus into
Spanish, and the completion of recording LIGP in both
tape and CD format. Juan was very happy to have this project
finished in time for their August 22-25 the training and
commissioning of Venezuela’s Ambassadors for Christ.
Having LIGP in Spanish will be a valuable tool for the
ambassadors to use this year as they reach out to others
with God’s Word.
The CFF Family Reunion was, “awesome!”
The theme was “Being Good Stewards of God’s
Grace,” and I want to personally thank all of our
teachers for sharing God’s Word, and also all that
came to be part of our Reunion.
The apostle Paul understood “grace”
and it’s importance to the believer. Paul was a
good steward of God’s grace because he manifested
it within himself and outwardly towards others as he lived
it and preached it. Paul had to renew his mind to God’s
grace, and forgiveness whenever he was tempted to think
of his past. Paul pressed on toward the mark of his higher
calling. Paul was a wonderful ambassador for Christ, but
he also faced many challenges. In both II Corinthians
11:24-29 and II Corinthians 12:7-10
it lists some of those challenges.
II Corinthians 11:24-29
Of the Jews five times I received forty stripes save
one.
Thrice I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, thrice
I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils
of robbers, in perils of mine own country men, in perils
by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in
the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among
false brethren.
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Besides those things that are without, that which cometh
upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is
weak, and am I not weak? Who is offended (made
to stumble) and am I burn not. (do
not burn with indignation)
II Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure through th
abundant of revelations, there was given to me a thorn
in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest
I should be exalted above measure. For this thing I
sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee:
for my strength is make perfect In weakness. Most gladly
therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that
the power of Christ may rest upon me, Therefore I take
pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities,
in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake:
for when I am weak, then I am strong.
Paul realized that his sufficiency was
of God, no matter what the challenge, and that God would
supply as much as was needed. To be sufficient is to experientially
know God’s grace is as much as is needed. Paul said
I have experienced first hand what it means to be misunderstood,
mistreated, forsaken, forgotten, abused, maligned, shipwrecked,
attacked verbally and physically, starved, imprisoned,
and left for dead. Despite all, Paul manifested God’s
grace, he was strengthened in it’s strength. Paul
gloried in his afflictions because in his times of weakness
the God in Christ in him shined it’s brightest.
God’s strength (His power) was made perfect in Paul’s
weakness, (perfect means .. is fulfilled). God’s
grace supplies more than we need to endure the challenges
of this life. By grace we are saved, by grace we are healed,
by grace we are delivered, by grace we are more than conquerors,
and the list of God’s gift of grace continues. We
need to manifest the grace of God moment by moment and
walk in believing victory. Let tile glory of God shine.
Love, John
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