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Yes, I think it is right to stir you up by reminding you
of Jesus our Lord's power
by which He has given us all things
that pertain to life and godliness.
2 PETER 1:3, 13
The above photo is Stephen Olford (1918-2004), a humble, yet bold, passionate preacher and a mentor of many preachers, including Billy Graham.
I first met Dr. Olford at Luther Rice Seminary during a crisis period in my life in 1989. I went to listen to him to learn more about living the Christian life. Instead, he stirred the life of Christ in my heart like I had never experienced before.
I studied, and was stirred, under Dr. Olford's teaching one week each year for the next 7 years. I believe this Rest Stop ministry is a fruit of the Spirit from that stirring. For you see, when we received Christ, we received all things we need for life and godliness -- His life, His hope, His faith, His truth, His joy, His thoughts, His words, His humility, His authority, etc.
GRACE DISCIPLESHIP
Discipleship is not teaching principles for others to follow in living the Christian life. Discipleship is believing you have living words of God in you that can stir up the living words already in a fellow Christian's heart!
Jesus said in John 6:63, "The words that I speak to you are spirit and
life." The Spirit of Christ speaks these words through us to
affirm our brothers and sisters as disciples of Jesus Christ.
So, we are called to stir up our brothers and sisters to believe the
truths already planted in their hearts by God. We simply remind them of who God says He is and who He says they are in His beloved Son. These are truths that set us free indeed.
GRACE ACCOUNTABILITY
Some Christian accountability groups focus only on being held accountable for how one behaves. Transformational accountability focuses on what one believes. Freedom never comes through right behaviors, but only through right beliefs.
You can't stir right behavior into a Christian, but you can stir up right beliefs already in a Christian. And right beliefs produce not only right behavior, but the manifestation of Christ through a Christian's personality. And this behavior is not only Christ-like, but is Christ-filled!
CLOSING
The Greek word for to stir up means to raise up truth and to kindle a flame already in our hearts. I hope this Rest Stop helps to do this for you. Have a good week!
 
PS, The following link will take you to a most amazing testimony by Billy Graham of him being stirred up by living words proclaimed by Stephen Olford. This testimony will for sure stir you up! Excerpts of this testimony are in the right column.
Billy Graham (left) Stephen Olford (right)
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