Author: a4cadmin1

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Are We Abiding in Christ?

I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. – John 15:5

All4Christ is based on our four core values. They are exultation, edification, equipping and evangelism. We were founded on these values and this is why we exist. They should also be the life and breath of all Christ-followers regardless of our traditions, denominational affiliation, background and nationality. 

Prayerfully consider this with me. Recently I read “Mission Drift” by Peter Greer and Chris Horst. They remind leaders of Christian nonprofit organizations, mission agencies, churches and charities to safeguard our founder’s mission. In short the reason our ministry was started. If we do not safeguard the values of the ministries we are tasked to lead we will drift in a different direction and act in ways that are not true to our founder’s original mission. Drift happens when small compromising decisions compound over time. Eventually our ministry is not what it was intended to be and do when it was founded. Drift happens slowly and subtly like a ship not being directed toward the crew’s desired destination.

What is my point? We as ministry leaders are stewards of the ministry entrusted to us by our predecessor. We are accountable to our Boards, donors, those we are called to serve and ultimately to Jesus Christ as to how faithfully we carried out our mission. The bottom line of all Christian leaders is our heart and character in Jesus Christ. Our skills, gifts and name are important but they are not the plumb line. Prayerfully consider this with me. We can be all *for* Christ but not all *in* Christ. There is a difference. Jesus tells his disciples  “I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.” (ESV)

Brothers and sisters in Christ, are we remaining in Christ or are only for him? We can perform our job for which we are paid. But do we personally study God’s word and meditate on it? Do we pray? Are we in fellowship with a local church and accountable it? Friends let us be all in Christ and all out for him at the same time.

Jeff Anderson
Resources

Living as a Disciple of Jesus Christ: Freedom and Discipline

The definition of the word disciple in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is “one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines (teaching, instruction, system of beliefs) of another.” In Matthew 16:24-27 Jesus lays out what He requires of *anyone* who wants to be a disciple of His. They apply then and now.

Recently I gave a message from 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 at a church in Silang, Cavite Philippines. I called it “Practicing what we Preach.” In chapters eight and nine the Apostle Paul tells the Corinthian believers that he has freedom in Christ within the bounds of Scripture. He also says his goal as a disciple of Christ called by Him to proclaim the Gospel to Gentiles is to glorify God and lead people to faith in Christ. Therefore he strictly disciplined himself so he could, by God’s grace, fulfill his calling and goals. He stayed away from endless philosophical debate and material entanglements which could sideline him. For Paul, and those of us called to preach the Gospel, both freedom and discipline are important as we follow Jesus.

Paul illustrates the life of a disciple by using running and boxing. The life of a runner and boxer requires self-denial and lots of strict training when no one is cheering them on to victory. As followers of Jesus and proclaimers of the Good News the essentials are reading, mediating upon and studying our Bible, prayer, worship and fellowship with like-minded believers in Christ. Much of this is when we are alone with God. These basics equip us to run and box, or live and minister, with vigor and stamina. We need to train diligently because our lives in Christ and ministries depend on it. All4Christ’s motto is “The Life of the Minister is the Life of the Ministry.” This is true because we cannot separate our personal lives from our calling and ministries. We serve Christ and others in order to win an “imperishable” wreath. Paul’s concern which should be ours’ also is not to be “disqualified” as a minister. This does not mean he or we would lose our salvation if we were disqualified but that we would lose the blessing of sharing the Gospel and being a ministry leader. Paul says in verse 27 “I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified.” Ouch!

There are many books and speakers teaching the “selfs” like; fulfillment, awareness, satisfaction and esteem but few teach self-disciple. Brothers and sisters in Christ and ministry colleagues we must practice what we preach. I am not promoting legalism or perfectionism but integrity. By God’s grace, day in and day out, we must practice what we preach. This requires honesty as we look at our strengths and weaknesses. We must learn to say “no” when strong temptations are screaming at us and “yes” to the Lord Jesus Christ. We need a friend to whom we can be accountable. Self-disciple is a long steady walk as we develop character qualities that do not come naturally. By the grace of God we can imitate Paul as he did Christ. (1 Corinthians 11:1)

Jeff Anderson

Monthly

“Shanah Tovah” ( Happy New Year! )

What a blessing to begin this year with a hopeful anticipation that “God makes everything beautiful in His own time”. What even a greater blessing to know that God brings us to a new reality of grace and experience. We experience God through the Holy Spirit as we keep in step with God’s word.
The question for this month is how do we keep in step with God’s word and Spirit as we live the Christian life.
Here’s a short reminder from Philippians 2:13. Paul sets out Christ as the perfect paragon in chapter 2. He is the believer’s richness in terms of wisdom, sacrifice, and what is ideal. This was the heart and mind of the Greek perspective and yet Christ came as the personification of these things.
Since Christ is the perfect model then we are to reflect Him in all areas of life, especially when we “do” the Christian life. The point is, we can know God works in us when we “do” the Christian life, when we light this world by our good deeds, when we are happy doing things for Kingdom’s sake and when we offer our lives just as Jesus offered himself on the cross. Paul took it as a delight to suffer, to be offered as a sweet smelling savor to God in behalf of the Philippians ( v. 17 ). In this way we can know we keep in step with the Word and Spirit of God. We’re responsible and God is overall. Fellow pastors, servants, and followers of Christ, let us keep in step!

Rev. Leonardo F. Galanza, Jr