The key is to...

Phil.2:2 commands believers to be "like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose." What a challenge! Before I go on though I wanted to point out one word of interest. The Greek word translated "spirit" in Phil.2:2 is σύμψυχος (sumpsuchos); this is the only place it is used in scripture and it litterally means unified in what we desire so the challenge to believers there is to desire the same things as one another. I've been mulling this verse over all week, especially in relation to evangelism and wondering why it seems so few believers think about, love, desire or strive to accomplish His Great Commission. Often, and very unfortunately, Phil.2:21 is true in stead of Phil.2:2. Then it hit me! Mk.12:30 says "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength." If we each love God with all our heart we will inevitably be unified with Him and each other in love. If we each love God with all our soul we will inevitably be unified with Him and each other in what we desire. If we each love God with all our mind we will inevitably be unified with Him and each other in what we think about. And finally, If we each love God with all our strength we will inevitably be unified with Him and each other in purpose. Imagine that, the key to being like-minded, having the same love and being one in spirit and purpose is, like the key to every other command of scripture, is to love God! That of course will also result in more evangelism because the more I love Him the more I won't be able to stop talking about Him (Mt.12:34). If we are to ever achieve unity with each other, our spouses, our churches and our ministries we must get back to loving Him with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind and with all our strength! The result will be what was on Paul's mind when he wrote Phil.2:2, that being, Phil.1:27 - Christ's Body standing firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel! Have a great time in church this morning and get excited about getting unified with the rest of the believers in your community in order to accomplish His Great Commission together!

Standing Together as One and Sharing the Good News!

Yesterday we applied Sunday's challenge here in Durango; it was amazing! I have prayed for years and longed for the day we would see Christians in Durango standing in unity and sharing the gospel together (Phil.1:27). Yesterday was just the beginning! It has been raining nearly every day this week and there were clouds yesterday morning. We prayed before, during and after church that God would hold the rain until after the evangelism time. No longer than 10 minutes after we finished the outreach it began poring! About 40 people showed up at Calvary International at 3:00 pm (The pictures on the left were taken at the end of the day, after a bunch of people had already left). There were people from the River Church, Calvary International, 1st Baptist and New Hope. We did a short evangelism training (on how to use the Soularium and KGP tools) and then split up all over town. Erich and I shared with "T" and "M" for about 45 minutes at the skate park. They were both at very different points in their own journeys but were very interested in Christ and the gospel. Pastor Dwight saw a couple making out and yelled, "Cut it out, your making me miss my wife." They laughed at his funny but very creative way of starting a conversation and he was able to share with them! One former inmate was able to share with a guy he knew when he was in prison. A friend who has served for years with Muslims prayed he would be able to meet one and ended up meeting and sharing with a Palestinian. A group from Calvary International (a spanish speaking church) shared Christ with the Hispanic people at a trailer park in town while another couple of groups hit up Main Street and witnessed to the tourists. One lady stayed back at the church and prayed for us as we shared! It was a great afternoon of sharing the Good News together. These stories and those I couldn't fit in here were awesome but the greatest the greatest thing that happened yesterday was Christians from all over town, from different backgrounds, denominations and churches spent the afternoon unified in prayer and action, witnessing together, standing as one to see our city won for Jesus! Working together as a team we will see our city transformed. I trust this was just the beginning. Did you go out witnessing yesterday afternoon? If so, share your stories by commenting on this post.

There is an unbelievable update in the "A" post - check it out here.

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