Transforming Lives
As the first mission imperative of the Australia Southern Territory, we begin to see the priority of The Salvation Army. It is in transforming lives. This describes people who have responded to the good news of the Bible that God loves them and has a wonderful plan for their lives.
At the point at which a person accepts that truth for themself, their life is transformed. God creates a new person in them that is focused on love and divine purpose. The balance of life is altered so that the individual begins to live at peace with himself and demonstrates a real concern for others.
All of this is possible because Jesus took our deserved punishment upon himself at the cross of Calvary. The victory becomes evident when we measure His resurrection power and authority. As we begin a relationship with Him, He allows us this joy of a new journey with Him.
Try it and invite your neighbour to do so as well.
16“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
The key to maintaining a Transformed Life is ‘Discipleship’, the missing link in the church today. Sounds like an old fashion word but I am told over and over and over from adult Christians who struggle spiritually – they accepted Christ and had no one pull up a chair and invest in them from the Word or how to develop a plan for growth. Just a thot!
Yes very true, William Booth was very hot on that by all accounts many souls were lost because no one followed up. I’ve just been doing research on my wife’s grand parents and I found that the person who invited her grandfather to follow the band from the open-air and saw him saved, followed up the next day and they became friends for life. My wife’s grandfather became the Colour Sargent for the corps and two of his son’s became officers. My wife’s father became Field Secretary for New Zealand.
So following up is important you never know were the journey will take you.
That’s the way to do it. Hallelujah!
Good word. Thanks, Cheryl.
How many times has it been said in various ways- if all the Christians were Christlike disciples, we would overtake the world-The Salvation Army was doing that for the first 100 years-my great grandmother was one of the first
Officers sent by the Founder to South Australia-we seem to have slowed down
in our missionary zeal since those world conquering days. Why? Are we too
affluent in the things of this world-poverty stricken for the next?
Pray we get more involved in Kingdom building.
Less comfort more worksharing. Come over and help us in The Pilbara.
Warren, I’m with you on this. If we take a global perspective, TSA is actually on the growing edge, now in 121 countries. Let’s have the courage and resolve to win the world for Jesus.
I’ve just got hold of a copy of “Talks with Officers” by General Bramwell Booth, if you can locate a copy it’s worth getting hold of and reading. Some chapters have quotes from the Founder, this one is at the end of “The spirit of attack”.
The Army, by its very success is ever in danger of drifting from the great ungodly mass for whose Salvation it was expressly raised up, and to whom it is essentially sent. The only remedy is attack. The gulf must be crossed, and recrossed, and crossed again. Aggression is the key to the indispensable, nay, the only means of conquest. To overcome, there must be skilful, persevering, systematic, desperate aggression….
We must go to the people. We must attack. New methods must be invented if the old ones do not bring us into contact with these godless crowds. For, no matter what the cost, we must get at them. We must attack. – The Founder.
A good case for continuous improvement don’t you think.
I like the words at the end of the book from Bramwell Booth:- And so I say to every officer -Agitate! Agitate!! Get up a commotion! Keep it up! Use every lawful means! Only go on – go on, and give the sinner no rest.
With that type of encouragement how can we lose.
Thanks, Roy. It’s music to my ears. God bless you.