August 13, 2001
TOGETHER:
Texas Baptists stand distinctly as they stand together
___The title of this weekly column is drawn from an often-repeated word in the New Testament book of Acts.
___"When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place" (Acts 2:1).
___In that Pentecost experience, God's Holy Spirit filled the believers with passion and courage. They went into the streets of Jerusalem declaring the story of Jesus, and 3,000 people were saved in one day. Publicly they declared their faith through baptism, and thenthey met together daily to learn from the apostles' teaching, to pray, to eat together and to share their needs and resources.
CHARLES WADE
Executive Director
BGCT Executive Board
___They rejoiced that they had become a fellowship, a people made into one by their love for Jesus. They discovered they belonged to each other. The God who had saved them in Jesus Christ had entered into their very being, was teaching them a new way to love and care for one another and was present with them so that together they could be the presence of Christ in the world.
___Paul Cedar is director of Mission America, a coalition of more than 80 denominational groups praying and working for revival and renewal in America. He spoke to our entire Baptist Building staff last week. He helped us to see that before the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the church, the disciples were friends who undoubtedly loved one another, but they were not "together" in the harmony and life of the church as they were after the Holy Spirit fell upon them.
___See how often the Gospel of Luke uses the word "together" to describe the unique quality of those disciples' friendship and care for one another. Notice also that it was a fellowship that moved outside itself. It prayed, and it boldly served.
___We emphasized prayer and spiritual awakening in our staff this past week because we know only God can help us be all that we should be in serving our churches and related ministries. We have prayed for you, and we have prayed for one another.
___Joining Paul Cedar in ministering to us were Jeanie Miley, contemplative prayer and retreat leader from River Oaks Baptist Church in Houston, and Don Guthrie, pastor of First Baptist Church in San Antonio. All three blessed our staff.
___The men and women on the staff of the Baptist General Convention of Texas Executive Board work for you. We are here to pray for you, to help you access resources, to stand with you as friends in ministry so that together we can be the saving and healing presence of Christ in the world.
___In the last two weeks, I have preached at the Woman's Missionary Union Texas Leadership Conference in Waco, First Baptist Church of Woden in East Texas, the Korean Baptist Fellowship of Texas and the 15th anniversary of Tillie Burgin and Mission Arlington at First Baptist Church of Arlington.
___Each place was different. But in every place the Spirit of God was present, and he united us and made us one.
___God really does continue to give himself to the world.
___Because that is true, we know him and not just about him.
___The Apostle Paul said it best in his prayer: "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings" (Philippians 3:10).
___We are loved.
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