August 12 was my 10th Anniversary as Lead Pastor of Old Powhatan Baptist Church. I have learned a lot, experienced a lot, and changed a lot over the past 10 years.

This past Sunday I presented 10 Convictions that have either strengthened or have changed over the past 10 years as God has worked in and through the people of OPBC.

The First 5 Convictions Have Grown and Strengthened Over the Past 10 Years…

Conviction #1: THE WORD OF GOD IS SUFFICIENT AND AUTHORITATIVE

1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Word of God is sufficient for our faith and for the order and direction of the church. Not my ideas or anyone else’s. Novelty, pragmatism, the wisdom of the successful must all submit to the revelation of God in Scripture. It will do the work it is intended by God to do… and God will not fail.

I am thankful for a church who receives the Word as from God and not from me. I am thankful for a listening and hearing church who is also willing to change and be obedient to God’s Word. I have sat in meetings through the past 10 years and presented a simple Biblical argument for a change that needs to be made and multiple times have had leaders say… “If the Bible says it, then we must do it.” What a blessing as a pastor.

Conviction #2: PRAYER IS OUR GREATEST STRATEGY AND ACTION

John 14:13-14 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it

Colossians 4:3 At the same time, pray also for us, that God may open to us a door for the word, to declare the mystery of Christ, on account of which I am in prison—

One major conviction that has most changed the culture and ministry of OPBC has been a commitment to corporate, intentional, faith-filled prayer. Pastor Roger has been a great encouragement in this and the reaction and reception of the church body to changes in our Sunday gatherings have been a source of great encouragement to me as Pastor.

We are committed to prayer NEVER being simply a transition in our worship gatherings. We are committed to prayer as our strategy for God’s power and for God’s saving work in the lives of our family, friends and to the nations.

It is a much better strategy to pray to the One Who has all the power and has promised to answer than it is to come up with great strategies and pray that God would bless them. Prayer is the most POWERFUL and most PRACTICAL method for God to work in and through our church.

Check back later for more Convictions…