I came home today after the end of a week of Vacation Bible School, and our first ever outdoor Worship Service/Baptism/Picnic at the park. Following this week, I experienced one overwhelming feeling...tired.
After a nap however, I began to feel something else. I felt like I had just won the Superbowl! Victory seemed like an applicable word considering everything that went into the week as well as its outcome. Suddenly, I felt something else creep in...guilt. "Why am I feeling victorious about something God clearly did?" I began to wonder if it was prideful of me to think I had done anything to create victory this week.
Then I considered the words of Jesus in Philippians 2:12-13: Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Through this I remembered that God is doing His work through His believers. Therefore, His victories are our victories. Even if I feel humbled to be on the winning team. I think about the backup players on a championship team. Most of them will not see one minute of playing time in the championship game, but they still share in the victory. That's how I feel. I may not have been the one making it all work out, but I feel proud to be on the team with that kind of play-caller.
In 1 Corinthians 15:57 we are reminded "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." See that? He gives US the victory through Jesus Christ. That guilt I was feeling about enjoying a victorious week of ministry was not of God. The enemy does not want me to recognize God's victories, let alone celebrate them. So, understanding God is the executor of our victories, but we share in them, I say "Congratulations Glenvar Baptist!"
Thank you to everyone who allowed God to work through them this week. From the VBS workers that led children, and crafted, and prepared food, and plotted games, and prayed, to those involved in today's special service: those that setup, and tore down, and sang, and were baptized. If you even attended you were a part of that victory. Look at the results:
Almost 30 children attending VBS each night
3 children making decisions to accept Jesus as Savior
A special service with 99 people (and 1 dog)
7 Baptisms
Sweet Fellowship
So yes...congratulations Glenvar. Enjoy the victory! It belongs to God, but He shares it with you.
- Pastor Matt
After a nap however, I began to feel something else. I felt like I had just won the Superbowl! Victory seemed like an applicable word considering everything that went into the week as well as its outcome. Suddenly, I felt something else creep in...guilt. "Why am I feeling victorious about something God clearly did?" I began to wonder if it was prideful of me to think I had done anything to create victory this week.
Then I considered the words of Jesus in Philippians 2:12-13: Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear. For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
Through this I remembered that God is doing His work through His believers. Therefore, His victories are our victories. Even if I feel humbled to be on the winning team. I think about the backup players on a championship team. Most of them will not see one minute of playing time in the championship game, but they still share in the victory. That's how I feel. I may not have been the one making it all work out, but I feel proud to be on the team with that kind of play-caller.
In 1 Corinthians 15:57 we are reminded "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." See that? He gives US the victory through Jesus Christ. That guilt I was feeling about enjoying a victorious week of ministry was not of God. The enemy does not want me to recognize God's victories, let alone celebrate them. So, understanding God is the executor of our victories, but we share in them, I say "Congratulations Glenvar Baptist!"
Thank you to everyone who allowed God to work through them this week. From the VBS workers that led children, and crafted, and prepared food, and plotted games, and prayed, to those involved in today's special service: those that setup, and tore down, and sang, and were baptized. If you even attended you were a part of that victory. Look at the results:
Almost 30 children attending VBS each night
3 children making decisions to accept Jesus as Savior
A special service with 99 people (and 1 dog)
7 Baptisms
Sweet Fellowship
So yes...congratulations Glenvar. Enjoy the victory! It belongs to God, but He shares it with you.
- Pastor Matt
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