Proverbs 18:1 states, “Whoever isolates himself seeks his own desire; he breaks out against all sound judgment.” What led me to Bethel Colony of Mercy was, in all honesty, an addiction to self, being bound-up in error, confusion, more self-righteous than humble, more boastful than honest, impatient, forgetting my true identity in Christ, and projecting my character flaws onto others.
Truth be told, I had completely abandoned the joy of my (His) salvation, which I know-in-my-knower occurred on September 23rd, 2010, in Atlanta, GA, after responding to a Charles Stanley sermon on breaking the chains of bondage. And today, more than ever, I can relate to King David’s 51st Psalm, verses 10-12: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me; cast me not away from Your presence, and take not Your Holy Spirit from me; restore to me the joy of Your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit.”
During my 63-day journey at Bethel, I indeed learned to live Bethel's five principles (*see below*), having my joy restored, my spirit renewed, and my heart cleansed. Highlights include:
-From Pastor Paul Pruitt, “The answer to depression is expression (NOT isolation!)”
-From Pastor Zac Starnes, “Base your life on faith (Truth), NOT feelings”
-From Pastor Don Loss, “Passivity (inaction) leads to captivity”
-From Pastor Paul Ritchie, “The Gospel in six words: ‘It is finished’ ‘I am pleased’”
-From Pastor Heath Benfield, “I ain’t just gonna talk about it (the Word), I’m gonna BE about it”
“Where the Spirit of the LORD is, there is freedom” (2 Corinthians 3:17), and there is freedom at Bethel!
From a moral inventory standpoint, today I stand firm (Ephesians chapter 12) fully suited in the Armor of God, far more humble than self-righteous, far more honest than boastful, far more patient and far more grateful, knowing I’m set FREE from my desire to isolate, knowing-in-my-knower the Truth of the last sentence of the Gospel of Matthew, where Jesus Himself promises, “I am with you always, Eric, to the end of the age.”
-Amen
*Bethel’s five principles:
1. Live by the scriptures
2. Learn to praise God continuously
3. Protect and guard your thought life
4. Cultivate right relationships
5. Submit to discipline
