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Friday, February 11, 2005

WAKE UP, MY BROTHERS!

Wake up my brothers in Christ, it’s time we take our rightful position as leaders in our families and take charge. Let’s love our wives and children the way God intended us to. Let’s stop abusing them physically, emotionally and spiritually and start loving, nurturing, and caring for them. Let’s usher the presence of God in every area of our lives, be it as sons, husbands or fathers. In the book of Proverbs, chapter 24 and verse: 16 The Bible says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief”…therefore, Men Of God, get yourself up from where the devil my have knocked you down and be a man!

Here I give to you what I would consider God’s ten most wanted men.

Here we go...

1. The man who puts God’s business above any other business (Matthew 6:33) But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

2. The man who brings his wife and children to worship rather than sending them (Hebrews 10:25) Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

3. The man who is willing to be the right example to every person he meets (1 Corinthians 11:1) Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

4. The man who thinks more of Sunday school than of Sunday sleep (1 Peter 2:2) As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:

5. The man who gives what he should to the Lord’s work and lives on what is left (2 Corinthians 9: 6, 7) But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver.

6. The man who goes to church for Christ’s sake rather than for himself or someone else (John 4: 24) God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.

7. The man who has a passion to help others rather than to be helped himself (Philippians 2:4) Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others

8. The man who has a willing mind rather than a brilliant one (2 Corinthians 8:12) For if there be first a willing mind, it is accepted according to that a man hath, and not according to that he hath not.

9. The man who can see his own faults before he sees the faults of others (Matthew 7:1) Judge not, that ye be not judged.

10. The man who is more concerned about winning persons to Christ than about winning worldly honors (Proverbs 11:30) The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.

Now, I ask... Are you in?

Elder J. A. Vazquez
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About Me

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I'm just, a nobody, trying to tell everybody, about Somebody who can save anybody. First I want to give love to the Father for giving me the opportunity to be an instrument for him to live in and live through for the glory that belongs to only him and Him alone. I served in the United States Navy for twenty one years and retired September 2003. During the last 3 years of my naval career, I served as co-pastor of Greater New Refuge COGIC in Fallon, Nevada under the tutelage of Pastor Gregory L. Brown. While there, I diligently served my pastor and church with the construction of a new sanctuary, and caring for the needs of all ministries, while simultaneously striving to stay focused on the mandate that the Lord had placed upon my life to preach the Word of God without compromise. I was licensed to preach November 2002 and Ordained June 2003. While stationed in Virginia Beach, Virginia, I proudly served and as constituent of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church for seventeen years under the leadership of Bishop Elect W. D. Scott, Sr. and presently serve under the leadership of Bishop B. Courtney McBath at Calvary Revival Church in Norfolk, Virginia.

MY THEOLOGICAL TRAINING:

It brings to my face a unadulterated smile each and every occasion I am asked, “Elder Dre, What Theological Training do you have?”

My heart beams with joy at the opportunity to humbly give full glory to God as I reflect on on how the prophets, patriarchs and apostles of old would have respond: Noah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joshua, Gideon, King David, Elijah, Elisha, Jeremiah, John the Baptist, Matthew, Mark, Peter, James, John and the other disciples, not forgetting the Saviour Himself.

How would they have answered the question: “What theological training do you have?”

The words of the prophet Amos also came to mind: “Then answered Amos, and said to Amaziah, I was no prophet, neither was I a prophet’s son; but I was an herdman, and a gatherer of sycomore fruit:” Amos 7:14

I surely am not impliedly decrying theological preparation, education or training: I consider it essential, but not as much as some think. For the fact is, the Almighty raises up believers according to His own standards.

Educational qualifications, wealth, fame, talent, social standing, outward appearance etc. are useful; but they are secondary in His sight. Qualities like faith, obedience, holiness, humility, honesty, absolute loyalty to one’s spouse, the ability to raise one’s family to fear God and keep His commandments etc.; these are the things the Most High values.

“Man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart.”

Only on the Day of Judgment will it be known how truly educated, weighty and effective I have been. That is why I have to smile when the question arise.

The vanity of the question is only matched by the foolishness of my answer.

As the wise man wrote: “Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher; all is vanity.” Ecclesiastes 1: 2 or as the apostle Paul commented in 2 Corinthians 11:16-30 when rattling off a long list of impressive qualifications “... I speak as a fool.”

Furthermore, we have seen with our own eyes and now testify that the Father sent his Son to be the Savior of the world. All who proclaim that Jesus is the Son of God have God living in them, and they live in God. 1 John 4:14-15 (NLT)

I am a preacher, but most of all, I proclaim that Jesus is the Savior with various applications of that truth in my everyday life. My dear friend, if you are a Christian, you are a preacher also. Whether you have been ordained or not, hired by a church or not, or ever been recognized as a preacher or not is beside the point. All who have God living in them are called to proclaim the Savior to the world. It is a Holy calling, and a demanding one. It will pull you out of your comfort zone, challenge your commitment, and help to develop you into the person God has created you to be.

John spoke as an eyewitness to Jesus' saving power. We speak as heart-witnesses; ones who have not seen Jesus with our eyes, but have experienced Him through personal transformation. I speak, and you speak, as a representative of Christ on earth. The message that we bring is simple, yet profound; that God the Father sent God the Son into the world to save those who are lost to bring them into relationship with Him. As you tell the story, and I tell the story, some will listen and receive the grace that God has sent us into the world to proclaim.

PRAYER THOUGHT: Father, what a privilege to be a spokesperson for You.

Thank you for stopping by. Stay encouraged and please do come back.