Freedom Fellowship

The New Testament notices things that do not seem worthy of notice by our standards. “Blessed are the poor in spirit….” This literally means, “Blessed are the paupers.” Paupers are remarkably commonplace! The preaching of today tends to point out a person’s strength of will or the beauty of his character— things that are easily noticed. The statement we so often hear, “Make a decision for Jesus Christ,” places the emphasis on something our Lord never trusted. He never asks us to decide for Him, but to yield to Him— something very different. At the foundation of Jesus Christ’s kingdom is the genuine loveliness of those who are commonplace. I am truly blessed in my poverty. If I have no strength of will and a nature without worth or excellence, then Jesus says to me, “Blessed are you, because it is through your poverty that you can enter My kingdom.” I cannot enter His kingdom by virtue of my goodness— I can only enter it as an absolute pauper.

The true character of the loveliness that speaks for God is always unnoticed by the one possessing that quality. Conscious influence is prideful and unchristian. If I wonder if I am being of any use to God, I instantly lose the beauty and the freshness of the touch of the Lord. “He who believes in Me…out of his heart will flow rivers of living water” (John 7:38). And if I examine the outflow, I lose the touch of the Lord.

Who are the people who have influenced us most? Certainly not the ones who thought they did, but those who did not have even the slightest idea that they were influencing us. In the Christian life, godly influence is never conscious of itself. If we are conscious of our influence, it ceases to have the genuine loveliness which is characteristic of the touch of Jesus. We always know when Jesus is at work because He produces in the commonplace something that is inspiring.

August 21, 2018August 23, 2018

Book Drive for Prisoners

Christian Book Drive for Prisoners September 9 – September 23

The TBM (Texas Baptist Men) Restorative Justice Ministry is collecting Christian books for prisoners in Texas prisons. Christians books at every reading level will be useful inside the prisons of Texas. Children’s level books will be read by children in “Hospitality Houses” and “Welcome Centers”. Elementary reading level books will also be read by prisoners who are just learning to read. Middle School and High School level books will be read by prisoners reading at those levels. College and Graduate level books will be read by individual prisoners, as well as prisoners going through Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary Prison Seminaries. These Prison Seminaries are equipping life sentence prisoners to be full-time, inside the walls, prison chaplains. Books will be picked up at Freedom Fellowship by a TBM Representative on September 24th. For more info, see Pastor Chris.