So last Tuesday, I submitted a challenge to those who were at the main gathering. If you were there, I hope you heard the full explanation of the challenge. And to make sure we are all on the same page, let me take a second a repeat the closing thought from last Tuesday's talk.
When Joshua was by Jericho, he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, a man was standing before him with his drawn sword in his hand. And Joshua went to him and said to him, "Are you for us, or for our adversaries?" And he said, "No; but I am the commander of the army of the LORD. Now I have come." And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, "What does my lord say to his servant?" And the commander of the LORD’s army said to Joshua, "Take off your sandals from your feet, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so. Now Jericho was shut up inside and outside because of the people of Israel. None went out, and none came in. And the LORD said to Joshua, "See,I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and mighty men of valor. Joshua 5:13 - 6:2 ESV
Many thoughts were shared on this passage. But the challenge for all of us is our willingness to follow the commander of the army of the Lord (not me, Jesus). His sword was in his hand...what are we doing with what is your hand? Joshua's question was actually irrelevant to the moment...are we asking irrelevant questions? (I know, I know...there should never be irrelevant questions.) Joshua asked the right questions when he began to worship...when was the last time you placed God's agenda above your own? And finally, the commander's eye was on the city...will we follow Jesus even if it means tough, sacrificial living? (See Hebrews 11:30-38).
As a result of these thoughts, I explained that those who weren't open to being regularly challenged in this way might want to rethink their participation in ACCESS218. (Let me finish before you close the browser). It isn't that I don't want all of the amazing people that attend our gatherings, have profiles on our community site and call us their community to remain in A218. (Actually, we need more people!) But my job and my role is to continue to spur you on to good works (Hebrews 10:24), to encourage you not shrink back from a life of faith in Christ (Hebrews 10:39), to challenge you to live daily as Jesus did (Philippians 2:1-10), and to fulfill your calling - both the personal and the collective (2 Timothy 4:1-5; Ephesians 4:11-16). I issued the challenge as I want to be completely honest about what it means to be a part of ACCESS218. There is a world out there that is crying out for restoration. There are lots of strategies for how to bring about change. Our strategy is Jesus and his way of doing things. And all who have any affiliation with A218 need to at least know that if not by into it.
So I want to invite ALL OF YOU to this week's main gathering to hear part 2 of this challenge. As I said last week, Part 2 will be a message for the army (figuratively speaking), And you never know...this kind of challenge might be the very thing that has been missing from your world. I am looking forward to seeing all of you there. In the mean time, fight for the love in your life! Be well...
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For His Dream,
Derrick Scott III
For His Dream,
Derrick Scott III
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