Latest / Eurasia Region Podcast / S1-E119 | Everyday Eurasia | João Cruz

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S1-E119 | Everyday Eurasia | João Cruz · Eurasia Region Podcast

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Hello and welcome to the Everyday Eurasia podcast,
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Inspiring Faith for Every Day. Each day we are on a journey
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with Jesus in our churches, our homes, our workplaces, and in so
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many different places around the world.
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Is it beautiful that no matter where we are, we can walk with
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him every single day? Jesus is the one who connects us
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all and stands at the very center of our lives day after
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day. Through this podcast, you'll
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hear voices from across the region sharing devotionals that
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reminds us of God's presence in our everyday moments.
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This week we will join the Western Mediterranean field as
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they share about the team new wine.
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Across the field, they are witnessing a fresh movement of
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God within the body of Christ. People from around the world are
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coming together to celebrate and take part in what God is doing
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in these countries. Meet Joao Cruz, just 90 years
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old but already carrying a journey that spans continents.
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Born in Angola, Joao moved to Portugal at the age of five,
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growing up in Caskais where his identity, passions and purpose
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began to take shape. His story is one of heritage and
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growth, holding on to where he comes from while embracing who
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he is becoming. Music plays at the heart of it
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all. As a drummer in his church's
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worship ministry. To Bow doesn't just play, he
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expresses through every beat. He share his faith, his energy
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and his joy. Hello, I am John Cruz, I'm a
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part of the Portugal district and have the joy of serving as a
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drummer in the worship ministry of the Church of the Nazarene in
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Geschkaish. It is a great privilege to take
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these moments to share what God has placed on my heart today.
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Our starting point is a powerful truth left by Jesus.
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In Matthew 917, we read neither do people pour new wine into old
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wineskins. Otherwise, the wineskin birthed,
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the wine is spilled, and the wineskin are ruined.
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Instead, they pour new wine into new wineskins and both are
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preserved. This word touches me in a very
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special way because it summarizes my own history.
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You know, when I look back, I remember when I was a child, I
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used to come to church and fill Jesus with me in a very pure
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way. But as I grew up, the natural
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routine of childhood and the distractions of life led me to
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drift away. It wasn't something planned, you
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know? It was a silent drifting.
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Yeah. But the Holy Spirit as a unique
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way of steering us. It is.
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I began to feel that tightness in my chest.
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A calling to return where I had drift from.
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A calling to return to where I belong.
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And I remember the day I decided to obey it.
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I said to myself, I will return and never leave again.
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And that's what happened. I came back a few years ago and
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since then the Lord has been rebuilding my wineskin.
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He removed my dryness of the past so that I could hold what
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He wanted to pour out. Today, God has shown me that I'm
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a part of a new generation, a generation that does not settle
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from simply occupying a seat, but that brings Jesus to people
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through every note, every beat, and every music in the worship
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ministry. I realize that music is a
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vehicle for this new wine. When I'm behind the drums, I
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understand the technique is important, but the anointing is
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what makes the difference. We are living in a time when
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wineskins are being prepared and filled.
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I see this happening in my local church in Koskaish and I see it
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spreading throughout our portal district.
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There is a renewal in the air. Maybe you who are listening
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right now have also gone through this process of drifting away.
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Maybe you feel that your wineskin is old or worn out, but
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let me tell you, God's new wine is so powerful that He himself
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takes care of renewing the structure of your heart if you
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surrender control to Him. I choose to return and stay, and
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today what I feel is a fullness that the routine of the world
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could never give me. Portugal is experiencing the new
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wine, and you are part of this movement, believe me.
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May your life be a new wineskin, ready to overflow with the
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presence of God wherever you go. Heavenly Father, thank you for
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your presence in this moment. Thank you for Your Word, for
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speaking to our heart, and for reminding us that you are always
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doing something new. Lord, today we surrender
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ourselves to You. We lay down every old wineskin,
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every habit, every distraction, every part of us that can no
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longer hold what You want to pour out.
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Renew our heart to God. Make us new.
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Fill us with your new wine. Fill us with Your spirit, with
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your fresh passion, fresh fire, and a deeper anger for Your
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presence. Help us not to drift away, but
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to stay close to You every single day.
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Give us the strength to remain faithful even in the small
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things. And Lord, use our lives for Your
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glory, whether through music to your heart or to your actions.
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Letter everything we do point people to you.
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We want to be part of what You are doing in this generation.
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We want to be vessels ready to overflow with Your presence
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wherever you go. Thank you for calling us back.
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Thank you for never giving up on us.
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In Jesus name, Amen. Thank you for listening to the
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Everyday Eurasia podcast, Inspiring Fate for everyday.
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For more Everyday Stories, subscribe on this podcast
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channel, follow our socials, Facebook and Instagram, or our
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newsletter Snapshots. For our newsletter and further
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information about the Eurasia region, visit our website,
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eurasiaregion.org.