Celebrate Recovery

Acts 8:35 – Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him.

This verse falls smack dab in the middle of a crazy story in Acts.  In the first part of the story we learn that Philip had been summoned by an angel of the Lord to go for a walk to Gaza.  On this walk he bumped into a very prestigious, devout Ethiopian eunuch headed for Jerusalem to worship.  The most interesting thing about this eunuch is that Philip found him reading the words of Isaiah in his chariot.  In the second half of this story, we learn that the eunuch confessed Jesus as the Son of God and was baptized.  From all this we can conclude that this eunuch did not believe in Jesus at the time Philip met him, but that God was at work in the eunuch ”both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”

Although this eunuch apparently had it going on (except for the eunuch part!), he did not have the most important thing in all of life, and yet God was at work in Him long before Philip showed up on the scene.  What does this teach us regarding our ministry at CR?  God is at work!  He is working in the heart of every person who shows up at CR.  They may not be Ethiopian court officials or eunuchs who have been reading Isaiah while riding in a chariot, but God is at work in them.  In fact, I believe that God is at work even in the midst of hurt, pain, suffering, addictions, pride, fear, or control.  Through these various trials, God is drawing them closer to the end of themselves and the realization of their need for Him. 

As I think about this, I am utterly amazed.  As leaders in CR, we have been invited by God to walk the dusty, dirty road to Gaza to meet with people on their journey to meet Him.  We are invited to participate with God and witness Him do an amazing transformation right before our eyes!

How do we participate in this divine invitation?  We preach Jesus.  The Word tells us that Philip opened his mouth and preached Jesus.  What a privilege and responsibility we have as CR leaders, to preach Jesus to the hurting and the lost.  Who have you preached Jesus to lately?  What was the response?  How can you grow in your knowledge of Him to effectively and boldly “proclaim the excellencies of Him who brought you out of darkness into His marvelous light?”

^“Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.” Philippians 3:17

“Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”  1 Corinthians 4:16

^“Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”  1 Corinthians 11:1

“. . . in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”  1 Timothy 4:12

How would CR function if all followed my example?  Would leaders speak the truth in love?  Would participants find intimacy in Christ?  Would there be a growing knowledge and understanding of our Lord and how to handle the brokenness of this world through the truth of scripture?  Would coaches, leaders and participants be trained and empowered to go and make disciples of all nations by tapping into the power of God through the Spirit by prayer?  If the heart of CR discipleship is to create fully-devoted followers of Christ by helping the hurting/lost/broken children of this world remove barriers to intimacy with God, how do I model and train people to do this and proclaim it to the world with passion?  What was Christ’s model for discipleship training?  The best I can tell it was through relational time with the disciples; some time with the 70, more time with the 12 and the most time with the inner circle (Peter, James and John). 

Effective training is one that is both informational and relational.  Information is needed for understanding, but the relational nature of training is what drives passionate devotion to Christ by the power of the Spirit working through one saint to another.  It was relational training that moved the hearts of Christ’s disciples to go and make disciples of all nations because they had “hands-on” experience with The Messiah. 

Lord, help me to follow your example passionately.  Let me lead those you’ve given to me by taking up my cross daily to follow you.  Help me to do it first within my marriage and family, and then outward through the ministry.  Empty my baskets and help me return to You for refills as we feed inner-circles and the masses through the miraculous  power of Your Spirit and Word.