Last night we had dinner at Holy Smokes. This American restaurant is run by Mark Fogelman and Chad. They serve pulled pork, hamburgers, potato salad, macaroni, cole slaw, brownies and even sweet tea. Mark Fogelman is a cross cultural worker with TMS Global. TMS stands for Train, Mobilize, Serve. We give monthly support to Mark and his family, and we knew that we wanted to go there to see and hear about the work that they are doing in Tirana.
Today the church that we are attending is celebrating their 33rd anniversary. International Protestant Church (IPA) was established soon after the fall of communism in 1991.
Scripture: 1 Peter 3,4, 13-17
[3] Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, [4] to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
[13] Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. [14] As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, [15] but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; [16] because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” [17] If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth;
Music
Not many Albanians know their history. The pastor used to teach Albanian history.
Paul preached the gospel in northern Albania. In the Bible it is called Illyria. That was 2,000 years ago. The church in Albania was a leader in the first thousand years of Christianity. In fact, there have been four popes in Rome from Albania.
God sustains Albania for His purpose.
Skanderbeg gathered tribes of Albania and held off the Ottoman invaders. Twenty years later, the Ottomans overtook Budapest, but it gave the Astro-Hungarians time to build an army to keep the Ottomans from overtaking all of Europe.
Our eyes are on Him, but if we start to move with the group, we lose sight of Jesus who is always about his Father’s business.
Albanians had 1,200 years in Christian leadership and they wondered off.
In 1912 they were independent. And for 32 years, Albania was free and the church existed. Albania squandered the opportunity to bring back Jesus.
Then came communism which does everything to eradicate religion from the culture. The communists bragged that they were able to accomplish it in one generation by changing the way that people think.
In 1967 Albanians claimed that there is no God and became the first atheist nation. The vast majority agreed.
Albania had a purpose. We lost sight of it. With 520 years of Ottoman rule, Albania lost their way. They went the way of pragmatism, the comfortable way. If told to covert or die, one starts to question one’s faith.
Today there are only 10,000 professing Christians in Albania. We have squandered another 33 years. How many have died without learning about Jesus?
Albania does not look like the kingdom of God. It’s just as dark as it was before. We still hide that light.
This church started with a couple named Barta and Arta who opened their home. “Tell us the good news.”
We have more to do than to look back. So many still walk in darkness. Satisfaction doesn’t come with the EU or an election. The light comes from Jesus.
You can’t pray against things in which you participate.
Scripture: 1 Peter 2:1-2, 5,9
[1] Therefore, putting aside all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander, [2] like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation,
[5] you also, as living stones, are being built up as a spiritual house for a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
[9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;
Identity of a spiritual family. Not just Albanians, all that come here to worship. It isn’t about a passport.
A nation is not a country. It is a people, no boundaries. A culture that reflects a common bond. We have seen the light of that truth. We are God’s precious possession.We are called out of darkness into the marvelous light.
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 5:20
[20] Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
Albanians love to argue and debate. Albania is not a warrior nation, but it is a loyal nation. Faithful is in the Albanian DNA. The root of Albanian identity comes through Ottoman, communism, atheism. They are a faithful people but have lost focus of its faith. Albanians were good Muslims for 500 years. They were very faithful atheists. In the 1990s, Albanians became faithful capitalists selling corn on the street. We are mostly faithful to family.
There are two million in Albania who do not know Jesus. We are given authority, purpose, and identity. Be agents of change for His kingdom.
Scripture:
To the Church at Ephesus: Rev 2:2-4
[2] ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false; [3] and you have perseverance and have endured for My name’s sake, and have not grown weary. [4] But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.
Jesus just isn’t important anymore. However, we forget that Jesus is everything.
Revelation 3:1-3
[1] “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: He who has the seven Spirits of God and the seven stars, says this: ‘I know your deeds, that you have a name that you are alive, but you are dead. [2] Wake up, and strengthen the things that remain, which were about to die; for I have not found your deeds completed in the sight of My God. [3] So remember what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. Therefore if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come to you.
The Church at Sardis was dead. They can’t live on yesterday’s accomplishments. One cannot live if you only eat every few years. Wake up. There are unfinished deeds. Don’t squander opportunities.
Revelation 3:15-17
[15] ‘I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. [16] So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. [17] Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked,
The Church at Leodocia was neither hot nor cold. If cold, I would know how to reach you. If on fire, you would know how to preach to others. So many excuses, I don’t need a thing!
We need to only care about Jesus. Our church here in Tirana, we cared more about a building, sound system, chairs, etc. Now we have everything that we need. That is pitiful…to look at stuff instead of Jesus. (This could be said about many churches.)
Prayer: Light the fire again. Move, lead, empower.
Fellowship
Amla and Haidi sat with us during lunch. They were friendly delightful young Albanians. Their English sounded native. Amla said that she learned it from the British animated series, Peppa Pig. She is currently learning Italian and German on Duolingo.
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