Sitting at the feet of giants
I feel incredibly blessed by having the opportunity to sit with, and learn from the group of senior pastors who make up the churches of the ARC, both domestic and international. Today (Thursday, 10th), we are together as each man shares his experiences of the past year. We are asked by Ned Berube, our president to share our the one thing that the Holy Spirit has done in the past year that has really blessed us, and the thing that has been our biggest challenge. I sat and listened as senior pastor after senior pastor shared really wonderful stories of God working in their lives, in their churches, and in their families. Not every story was one of victory. Some were tales of heartache, disappointment and tragedy. Yet in everything was the word of Christ, beaming out, lighting the way, illumining the stories of fellow pastors who were still, after many years in the pursuit of Jesus.
The conference was highlighted by the prophetic words of David Bryant, a dear friend of Lamb and now a friend of the ARC. He spoke fire. I simply can’t find another word that better describes his messages. He is a man so throughly shot through with Christ that to get near him is to be drawn closer to Jesus. I’ve actually heard his message at least three other times, and yet each time I find myself weeping, broken and at the same time built up and renewing by what God has saturated his heart and life with - Jesus Christ. David Bryant is a gift of such value to the body of Christ, I feel that He is like a great Old Testament Prophet or John the Baptist and that someday all of us will know and be stunned by what his life and ministry has accomplished. David is also an incredibly humble man - several times I shared encouraging words with him and his response was tears. Man, I love that guy!
I think you will see a direct impact of the Leadership conference in the coming months. We have made it a point in our discussions about worship, and the liturgy and focus to find ways to flavor our Sunday gatherings with an emphasis on the Supremacy of Christ. I mean, it is so plain from the Word that faith comes by hearing, and according to Paul, hearing by the Word of Christ. Therefore I am convinced that we must hear about Christ again, and again and that we must be saturated with the Word about him again and again. He is the Wisdom of God. He is fulness of God in bodily form. He is the Living Water, The Bread of Life, The Vine, The Light of the World, The Good Shepherd, and so much more. Hearing this again and again builds faith, causes us to step out and act on behalf of this One who is the One in whom all creation is being summed up in and towards.
May Christ, who is our life fill us. Peace - Black Dwarf