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Join us each Saturday for our weekly gathering.
Sabbath School: 9:45 – 10:45 am
Church Service: 11:00 am
Lead Pastor Simon Liversidge 805.498.2300
A couple of years ago, Terry Bock and I got to visit the ruins of the old city of Phillipi in northern Greece (Macedonia, to be exact - remember "Come over into Macedonia and help us?" Acts 16:9). We both agree it was one of the highlights of our trip. There is a spot there that they suspect was the prison cell where Paul and Silas spent time because they had performed an exorcism on a slave girl (Acts 16:16-30). The place was called "Tullainium" and was a top security facility with iron bars and locks. Prisoners' feet were placed in stocks which caused continual pain.
In that setting, they certainly had the right to complain or wonder about God's leading; instead, they sang! And you know the rest of the story - the prison was open and they were set free. And the first thing they did was to convert the jailer! Talk about living what you teach!
Paul later wrote a letter to this group of believers which included the famous verse, "Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS, I'll say it again REJOICE!" (Philippians 4:4 - emphasis added). He then lists several ways I can "rejoice." The first one is, "Let your gentleness be evident to all." The Amplified Bible puts it this way, “Let your gentle spirit [your graciousness, unselfishness, mercy, tolerance, and patience] be known to all people.” I wonder, would others use those adjectives to describe my interactions with them? In another letter, Paul said, "It's the goodness of God that leads to repentance." (Romans 2:4)
So when I live my faith, is it more about living like the world, except on Sabbath, being right, or strong, or powerful - able to defeat someone in a theological debate? Or is it about being gracious, unselfish, merciful, tolerant, patient, and kind? God used and still uses goodness to lead people to repentance. What do I use?
Have a blessed day leading others to repentance in God's way,
Pastor Rich