Tag: knock

Articles, Roy Porter

OPEN HEAVEN

| Roy

MATT. 7:7 – ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU, SEEK, AND YE SHALL FIND; KNOCK, AND IT SHALL BE OPENED UNTO YOU.

THE DOOR TO THIS GREAT PROMISE IS JESUS. ASKING MUST BE DONE, BECAUSE WE HEARD SOMETHING OR READ SOMETHING, STATING,THAT WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE WILL OF GOD.

THE BIBLE SAYS  THAT WHOSOEVER SHALL ASK, OR CALL UPON THE NAME OF THE LORD SHALL BE SAVED. IF WE BELIEVE THIS, WE CONFESS JESUS AS OUR SAVIOUR, AND ASK HIM TO COME INTO OUR HEART.

NOW THIS IS THE BEGINNING OF ASKING, WHEN JESUS COMES INTO OUR HEART, WE BECOME COVENANT CHILDREN, THIS IS THE DOOR WE OPEN BY FAITH TO LEGALLY ASK.

THE NEXT STEP IS SEEKING THE PERSON OF  GOD HIMSELF. SEEKING THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS CHRIST BY THE HOLY SPIRIT. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS INSIDE OF NOW, DIRECTING OUR SPIRITUAL JOURNEY. THIS IS THE GREATEST, MOST REWARDING JOURNEY OF YOUR LIFE. SEEKING THE PERSON OF CHRIST. MANY PEOPLE HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD, BUT DON’T KNOW HIM. THEY KNOW ABOUT HIM, THEY HAVE KNOWLEDGE OF HIM, BUT DON’T REALLY HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH HIM. YOU CAN ONLY GET TO KNOW PEOPLE, THROUGH SEEKING A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM.

SEEKING THE LORD WILL BECOME YOUR PASSION. I DON’T WANT TO JUST READ A BOOK AND KNOW ALL ABOUT HIM, I DESIRE TO KNOW THE PERSON, NOT JUST THE HISTORY OF THAT PERSON.

THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT WE CAN SEEK THE FATHER THROUGH JESUS OUR LORD, WE CAN SEEK JESUS, WE CAN SEEK THE HOLY SPIRIT.

MY PRAYER IS  SO OFTEN LIKE THIS: HOLY SPIRIT TEACH ME HOW TO HELP PEOPLE, DID JESUS SAY THE HOLY SPIRIT IS OUR TEACHER. HOLY SPIRIT SHOW ME WHAT YOU ARE DOING IN THIS WORSHIP SERVICE, SO I CAN FLOW WITH YOU. I SEEK YOU LORD, SHOW ME WHAT YOUR WILL IS TODAY FOR MY LIFE, CONNECT ME WITH THE PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS THAT ARE PURPOSED BY YOU THIS DAY.

WHAT A TRIP, WHAT A JOURNEY, WE HAVE IN LIFE SEEKING OUT THE LORD OF PURPOSE, THE ONLY WAY WE CAN ACKNOWLEDGE HIM IN ALL OUR WAYS, IS TO MAKE HIM THE LORD OF OUR WAYS. ONLY THROUGH SEEKING HIM CAN HE DIRECT OUR PATHS.

I LOVE THE LORD SO MUCH, THE HOLY SPIRIT HAS PUT A PASSION IN ME TO SEEK THE PERSON OF GOD, MY LORD, MY SAVIOUR,MY KING. 

I DON’T SEEK HIM TO KNOW ABOUT HIM, THATS RELIGION, I SEEK HIM TO KNOW HIM, TO BE INTIMATE WITH HIM.

THIS IS THE JOY OF MY SALVATION, ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. WHAT A PROMISE, WHAT A SAVIOUR.

KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING. THE WONDERFUL THING ABOUT ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING IS THAT TO DO ANY OF THE THREE STEPS, WE MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH GOD. THE WHOLE MESSAGE OF THE BIBLE POINTS US TO OUR CREATOR.

AGAIN, KNOCKING IS THE LEGAL PART OF ASKING, SEEKING AND KNOCKING. 

IN PRAYER, IT IS LIKE GOING BEFORE THE GREAT JUDGE OF THE UNIVERSE, HAVING LEGAL PROFF OF PETITION. BRING SCRIPTURE TO HIS REMBERANCE, QUOTING HIS WORD BEFORE HIM, THE PROMISES OF GOD, THE WORD OF THE KINGDOM. SAYING LORD THIS IS THE GROUNDS FOR MY RIGHT TO REQUEST THIS TO BE DONE FOR ME. YOU PROMISED THIS .

HE BOUND HIMSELF BY HIS WORD. WE HONOR HIM WHEN WE HONOR HIS WORD. HIS WORD IS TRUTH, THE MOMENT HE SPEAKS IT, IT BECOMES TRUTH. IT BECOMES LEGAL, IT IS LAW.

KNOCKING IS REMINDING HIM OF HIS PROMISE. SOMETIMES WE ARE IN TROUBLE AND NEED HIS HELP AND WE QUOTE HIM HIS WORD AND THE JUDGE SAYS, I SAID THIS BUT THERE ARE TWO PARTS TO THIS, MY PART AND YOUR PART, I SAID I WOULD DO THIS, BUT YOU MUST DO THIS. YOU HAVEN’T DONE YOUR PART, YOU DID THE OPPOSITE. THEN WE MUST ASK FOR THE MERCY OF THE COURT AND CORRECT OR REPENT OF OUR DISOBEDIENCE. THANK THE JUDGE FOR MERCY AND TRUTH. IF THERE WAS NO MERCY AND ONLY TRUTH WE ARE IN TROUBLE. 

ALL THREE ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK HAS A PURPOSE, EVERYTHING GOD DOES, HE DOES IT FOR MAN, TO BRING MAN TO HIM AND TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH MANKIND, HIS CREATION. HE LOVES US, DON’T REJECT HIM OR IGNORE HIM. ASK SEEK AND KNOCK YOU WILL LOVE THE JOURNEY.                  

Share
Articles, Roy Porter, Roy Porter, Services

YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER

| Roy

ACTS 1:8 – BUT YE SHALL RECEIVE POWER, AFTER THAT THE HOLY GHOST IS COME UPON YOU: AND YE SHALL BE WITNESSES UNTO ME BOTH IN JERUSALEM, AND IN ALL JUDEA, AND IN SAMARIA, AND UNTO THE UTTERMOST PART OF THE EARTH.

THE NEW BIRTH IS A WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

JESUS SAID IN THE GOSPEL OF JOHN – JOHN 14:17 –  EVEN THE SPIRIT OF TRUTH; WHOM THE WORLD CANNOT RECEIVE, BECAUSE IT SEETH HIM NOT, NEITHER KNOWETH HIM: BUT YE KNOW HIM: FOR HE DWELLETH WITH YOU, AND SHALL BE IN YOU.

THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS WITH THE DISCIPLES, BUT AFTER THE RESURRECTION OF JESUS, HE CAME INSIDE THEM, AND AT PENTECOST HE CAME UPON THEM WITH POWER.

THE BIBLE TEACHES US, AT THE NEW BIRTH, THE HOLY SPIRIT LIVES IN US. WE CAN SEEK THE LORD AND AND GET FULL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, BUT WE CAN GO A STEP FURTHER AND BE BAPTIZED IN THE HOLY SPIRIT.

POWER FROM ON HIGH.

WE DON’T CHOOSE OUR MINISTRY, BUT WE DO CHOOSE THE LEVEL OF ANOINTING WE WALK IN.

IN THE BOOK OF LUKE, CHAPTER ELEVEN, VERSE THIRTEEN, JESUS TAUGHT US TO ASK FOR MORE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. WE CAN HAVE ALL OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WE DESIRE. IF WE WILL ASK, SEEK AND KNOCK. PENTECOST WILL COME UPON YOU WITH POWER. JESUS SAID IF ANY MAN THIRST LET HIM COME UNTO HIM AND DRINK, AND OUT OF YOU INNERMOST BEING WILL FLOW A RIVER OF POWER AND BLESSING.

Share
Articles, Roy Porter

DESPERATE PRAYER

| Roy

ASK, SEEK, KNOCK

Mark 10:46 – And they came to Jericho: and as He went out of Jericho with His disciples and a great number of people, blind Bartimaeus, the son of Timaeus sat by the highway side begging.

Jericho means place of  fragrance.  Jesus was passing out of Jericho on His last journey to Jerusalem when He passed blind Bartimaeus. Jericho was the home of someone in the lineage of Jesus, a woman named Rahab, a Gentile harlot, who helped spies sent out by Joshua to spy out the land. 

How wonderful it is that even though we have a past, being sinners, Jesus passes through our lives with the sweet fragrance of salvation,  if we will cry-out to Him in faith.

Bartimaeus was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Bartimaeus,  he was the son of Timaeus. The only thing we know about Timaeus, he was the father of Bartimaeus.

They were nobodies. They were unknowns until the Holy Spirit put them in the Bible. Jesus came to save us, nobodies and make us somebody: sons and daughters of God; a kingdom of priests.

Bartimaeus sat by the highway side, begging everyday, rain or shine. His day was the same old thing every day with no hope for things to be different. But one day, blind Bartimaeus heard about Jesus of Nazareth. He heard of the miracles and the signs and wonders. Someone must have told him about the teaching, preaching, and healings that Jesus did. Bartimaeus understood Jesus was the Jewish Messiah,the Son of David.

Bartimaeus heard a great noise coming from a crowd of people passing by. Bartimaeus asked, Who are all these people?

Mark 10:47 – And when he heard that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out, and say, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

Bartimaeus couldn’t see, but he could shout. He used his faith to cry out to Jesus. He was physically handicapped but his spirit and soul was determined to get the attention of Jesus and be healed. He cried out and asked, Have mercy on me. It was covenant prayer, confessing by faith. He knew who Jesus was: the promised Messiah, the seed of Abraham, the son of David, the Jewish Messiah, the One who came to give mercy to those who will believe in Him.

Everybody is not happy with a desperate person who knows who Jesus is and will not shut up.

Now,  Bartimaeus is shifted to a seeking mode, he is seeking Jesus for his need. Some people stop after asking. Not blind Bartimaeus, he has faith that will not be quiet, he will seek his Healer.

Mark 10:48 – Many charged him that he should hold his peace: but he cried the more a great deal, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me.

The number of people following Jesus, we do not know, but probably many of them did not have the understanding of who Jesus was, but Bartimaeus did, he knew Jesus was God, come in the flesh, Son of David,Virgin born Son of God.

This asking, seeking, confessing his faith, stopped Jesus, He stood still.

Mark 10:49 – And Jesus stood still, and commanded him to be called. And they call the blind man, saying unto him, Be of good comfort, rise: He calleth thee.

Jesus stood still and commanded them to call Bartimaeus. Jesus wasn’ t ignoring Bartimaeus, but was listening to his faith cry out. Jesus stood still and let a blind man come to him. This would seem cruel to some who don’t understand that true faith will overcome every roadblock, every hindrance, every handicap. Desperate people do desperate things to get to Jesus. He didn’t say to Jesus, I can’t come to You, I’m blind. He got up and throwed off his beggar’s garment. He would never need it again. And he went to Jesus Faith never complains, faith receives.

Mark 10:51 – And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto  Him, Lord, that I might receive my sight.

Why would Jesus ask a blind man a question like that? Couldn’t he see the man was blind? Bartimaeus had cried out and asked for mercy. he cried out again, seeking the Lord’s attention, now he is standing at the door, knocking for his miracle, crying, Lord, that I might receive my sight. God knows what we need before we ask, but we must ask and seek Him,  and continue to knock until the answer comes.

Mark 10:52 – And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received h is sight, and followed Jesus in the way.

Some people think God does not heal people anymore.  But the Bible says, Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. Salvation of a soul comes by faith in Jesus. Bartimaeus was healed by his own faith. So was the woman with the issue of blood. If faith in Jesus still saves the soul, Will it not bring healing to the body? Will faith not bring answers to all our prayers, to all of our needs? Yes, it will . God responds to faith when we pray in His will: His Word is His will  Barimaeus asked, seeked and knocked, and got his need met. So can we.

Matthew 7:7 – Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you;…

      

 

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

THE HARVEST

| Jeanette

 

I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE THE GREATEST HARVEST, IN THESE LAST DAYS, THAN EVER BEFORE. I BELIEVE ALSO, THERE WILL BE USED EVEN THE BABES-IN-CHRIST WHO ARE NOT EVEN READY TO GO OUT, BY CHURCH STANDARDS. MORE AND MORE OF GOD’ CHILDREN WILL FEEL THE CALL THAN EVER BEFORE. THE BIGGEST CHURCHES MAY BE INVOLVED; BUT SO WILL THE SMALLER ONE’S WHO DON’T EVEN HAVE A BUDGET TO GO-OUT.

GOD BEGAN TO SPEAK TO ME:

“I WILL PROVIDE ALL THEY NEED AND I WILL SEND THEM. MANY WILL STAY HOME AND PRAY, BUT THOSE WILL RECEIVE THE HARVEST JUST AS MUCH AS THOSE I SEND. I AM READY, BUT MY CHILDREN ARE NOT READY. THE FIELD’S ARE ALREADY WHITE  TO HARVEST.

WHY ARE MY PEOPLE NOT READY FOR HARVEST? BECAUSE THEY ARE WAITING FOR ME TO DO IT. THEY WANT TO REST IN ME, BUT THEY DON’T WANT TO PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THAT GREAT HARVEST, WHY DO I CONTINUE TO DEAL WITH THEM? BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT IS IN MAN. I KNOW THEY HAVE THE DESIRE, BUT TO MUCH OF THIS LIFE CONSUMES THEM. THEY ARE MINE AND I LOVE THEM AND CARE FOR THEM, BUT THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THE PLAN I HAVE: THAT …NONE SHOULD PERISH… 

I DESIRE MY CHILDREN TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP ME, WHICH THEY DO, BUT I HAVE MORE FOR THEM———IT’S NOT THE BLESSINGS THEY SHOULD BE SEEKING, BUT THE BLESSER; THEN I WOULD GIVE THE CHARGE TO GO. THEY ARE WAITING FOR A SIGN, BUT IF THEY WILL SEEK ME, I WOULD GIVE THEM DIRECTIONS. THEY ARE SO CAUGHT-UP IN THIS LIFE, THEY FORGET WHY I CALL THEM.

MANY ARE CALLED BUT FEW ARE CHOSEN…  THERE IS A DOUBLE MEANING HERE. IT IS THE WILL OF THE PERSON INVOLVED. MY PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN SO INVOLVED WITH THE GOING-ON AROUND THEM, THAT THEIR MINDS ARE ON THE THINGS OF THIS LIFE.

AS I GIVE THIS MESSAGE, YOU MIGHT SAY, I’M NOT ONE OF THEM. WELL, I SAY YOU ARE! YOU HAVE A MIND-SET TOWARD TODAY! WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO; AND TOMORROW WHATMYOU MARE PLANNING. I SAY TO YOU…TOMORROW WILL TAKE CARE OF THE THINGS OF ITSELF…TODAY IS THE DAY OF SALVATION…  OF SOME WHO WILL NOT LIVE THROUGH TOMORROW.

SOULS ARE IN THEBALANCE.

WHAT ARE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SCALES FOR YOUR LIFE?

WHY THIS MESSAGE? BECAUSE I WANT MY OWN TO WAKE-UP TO THE FACT THAT I WILL NOT ALLOW THISN EARTH TO STAND FOREVER. I HAVE MY PLANS FOR THE NEW HEAVEN AND THE NEW EARTH AND THE LAST SOUL TO COME IS HOLDING BACK. WHEN IT…WILL LET…  IT WILL BE TIME FOR MY COMING. I HAVE YOU HERE TO BRING IN THE HARVEST SO THAT LAST SOUL WILL BE WON; SO I CAN LIVE ETERNALLY WITH MY OWN.

TO SET THIS IN MOTION, I WANT MY OWN TO WOK IN THE VINYARD. THE HARVEST TRULY IS READY, BUT THE LABORERS ARE STILL FEW. PRAY THE LORD OF THE HARVEST WILL SEND LABORERS INTO THE WHITE FIELDS.

I WILL CLOSE THE HARVEST, WHEN ALL IS READY.

YOU ARE TO GIVE THIS MESSAGE, AND GIVE MY OWN THE WARNING TO ALL WHO WILL HEAR. MY OWN WILL UNDERSTAND AND QUIT WAITING FOR A GREATER REVELATION; BUT SOME WILL SAY, TOMORROW I WILL CONTINUE WITNESSING, WHEN THEY MIGHT NOT OPEN THEIR EYES TO TOMORROW. GO AHEAD, CHILDREN, GET YOUR HOUSE IN OODER, BUT DO FIRST THINGS FIRST. YOU DON’T KNOW HOW MANY MISSED OPPORTUNITIES HAVE PASSED.

THIS IS WHY MY ENEMIES HAVE GOTTON SO MUCH ATTENTION. THEY CONTINUE TO KEEP SO MUCH STIRRED-UP, THAT MY OWN CHILDREN HAVE GOTTEN INVOLVED IN THE BATTLE INSTEAD OF ALLOWING ME, AND ASKING ME TO FIGHT THOSE BATTLES.

YOU ARE TO PRESENT THIS MESSAGE WHEREVER I OPEN THE DOOR.

I JUST NEED MY OWN TO SEEK ME DAILY; AND ALL AROUND THEM WILL CHANGE.

THEY WILL NEVER HAVE ANOTHER OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MISSED OPPORTUNITY TODAY.

BE GOD-CONSCIOUS AND NOT MADE-TO-BE WORLD CONSCIOUS.

I HAVE SENT YOU IN THE WORLD FOR A MISSION FOR ME. DON’T TAKE UP THE WORLD’S MISSION. THE WORLD’S MISION IS EARTHLY; MINE IS ETERNAL. ETERNAL LIFE SHOULD SHOULD BE YOUR MAIN CONCERN AND I WILL TAKE CARE OF THE REST.

MUCH IS DONE BY THIS ONE AND THAT ONE TO FIGHT THE BATTLES IN COUNTRIES, WHICH, GOOD FOR THEIR CALLING IS THIS; BUT MY HARVEST IS THE CENTER OF MY CREATION. MY REASON FOR CREATING MINISTRY , IS SOULS IN THE BALANCE.

TOUCH HEARTS. I WILL GET THEIR ATTENTION BY THE MOVING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT; BUT YOU HAVE TO BE IN LINE WITH ME TO RECEIVE THE MESSAGE THAT WILL BRING THEM IN. 

GET BACK TO THE BASICS OF CHRISTIANITY.

GET BACK TO MY WAY OF DOING THINGS.

THOSE WHO SEEK, KNOCK, AND ASK , RECEIVE MY DOORS OPEN FOR THEM.

ASK ME, SEEK ME, AND KNOCK.

I AM WAITING!”

Share
Articles, Jeanette Porter

PURPOSE AND WAITING

| Jeanette

THERE IS A PURPOSE FOR ALL GOD HAS DONE, IS DOING, AND WILL DO IN YOUR LIFE.

WE ARE ALL BORN WITH INTO THIS WORLD WITH A DESTINY OF GOD’S PURPOSE.

SOME OF US HAVE GONE OUR OWN WAY SO LONG, IT IS HARD FOR US TO IMAGINE GOD HAS A BEAUTIFUL PLAN IN MIND FOR US.  

GOD USES PEOPLE TO ACCOMPLISH HIS PURPOSES; AS WELL AS MINISTERING SPIRITS, WHICH HE ALSO CREATED FOR A CERTAIN PURPOSE.

WE ARE HIS CREATION AND WE BELONG TO HIM.

IN ECCLESIASTES 3:1 WE READ –    TO EVERYTHING THERE IS A SEASON, AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE UNDER HEAVEN:

SO BY THIS SCRIPTURE, WE SEE THERE IS A SEASON AND A TIME TO EVERY PURPOSE; SO THIS MUST MEAN THERE IS A TIME FOR US TO BE BORN AND A PURPOSE IN THE MIND OF GOD FOR US TO BE BORN AT THAT APPOINTED TIME.

PURPOSE IS DEFINED AS: END OR AIM DESIRED; DESIGN; SETTLED INTENTION.

GOD CHOSE THE FAMILY INTO WHICH YOU WERE BORN.

YOU WERE NEVER A MISTAKE.

HAVE YOU FOUND YOUR PURPOSE?

ARE YOU STILL FLOUNDERING AROUND WITH THE CALL OF GOD ON YOUR LIFE?

HAVE YOU, AS YET, NOT FOUND YOUR PLACE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST?

MANY HAVE FELT THE CALL OF GOD ON THEIR LIFE, AND HAVE NOT FOUND THEIR PLACE AS YET; BUT THAT DOESN’T STOP THEM FROM “BLOOMING” WHERE THEY ARE PLANTED NOW, EVEN IF THEY HAVE BEEN PLANTED BY NO CHOICE OF THEIR OWN.

THEY DO THE WAITING GAME. THEY WAIT ON GOD TO LEAD, AND THEY JUST FOLLOW, KNOWING THAT HE HAS THE RIGHT ROUTE FOR THEM TO TAKE AHEAD OF THEM. 

HE KNOWS WHEN IT IS THE RIGHT TIMING, AND THE THE RIGHT CROSSROAD WHEN WE CROSS OVER INTO THE BEAUTIFUL PLAN TAILORMADE JUST FOR YOU.

SO HOW DO WE KNOW IT IS THE RIGHT PLAN WHEN WE ENTER IT?

WE ARE TO SEEK GOD FOR IT, TO RECOGNIZE IT WHEN IT ARRIVES.

MATTHEW 6:33 –  SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS, AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU. 

WE ARE COUNSELED TO ASK, SEEK, AND KNOCK THROUGH PRAYER.

I HAVE FOUND, BY EXPERIENCE, THAT WAITING IS PART OF THE CALLING.

MANY DON’T LAST THROUGH THE WAITING PERIOD, THEY PROCEED AHEAD IN THEIR OWN WILL, AND I AM SORRY TO SAY, SOME FALL BY THE WAYSIDE. THEY REFUSED THE WAITING PERIOD OF THEIR CALLING OR APPOINTMENT.. 

I HAVE FOUND THE BEST THING TO DO WHEN YOU DON’T KNOW, IS TO REST AND WAIT.

ALSO, THERE ARE  THOSE AROUND YOU WHO NEED YOU. FAMILY. MINISTER TO THEM WHILE YOU ARE WAITING. 

BUT THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL RENEW THEIR STRENGTH; THEY SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS AS EAGLES; THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY; AND THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT.  ISAIAH 40:31

Share
Articles, Other Writers

FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART II

| Roy

IN CONTINUING, “FROM PRISON TO THE PULPIT PART I”, I FIND MYSELF STILL IN A PRISON, BUT THIS IS A STATE INSTITUTION CALLED PERRY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, INSTEAD OF FEDERAL.

A GOOD FRIEND, WHO WAS ONCE AN “ACQUAINTANCE IN CRIME”, ZEB OSBORNE, WAS ON THE YARD AS A PRISON MINISTER, AND WE STARTED TALKING OLD TIMES AND OUR PAST.

I NOTICED SOMETHING DIFFERENT ABOUT HIM. HE NEVER MENTIONED HE HAD GOTTEN SAVED, OR THAT I WAS ON MY WAY TO HELL. 

I THOUGHT HE HAD A POSITION WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, SO I ASKED HIM TO HELP ME GET TRANSFERRD TO A BETTER INSTITUTION. HE DID, AND I WAS TRANSFERRED TO DUTCHMAN, AND THEN TO GOODMAN WHICH WAS AND IS A MEDIUM SECURITY INSTITUTION.

I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT IT WAS AT THE TIME, BUT THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DRAWING ME INTO THE CHURCH SERVICES PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS. ON MARCH THE 12TH, 1986, LIBERTY MINISTRIES CAME TO STEVENSON INSTITUTION FOR A CHURCH SERVICE THAT NIGHT.

I RODE IN THE PRISON TO STEVENSON CHURCH SERVICE MANY TIMES. WHEN THE ALTER CALL WAS MADE, I WOULD WANT TO GO DOWN TO THE ALTER, BUT MY HANDS WOULDN’T LET ME TURN LOOSE OF THE PEW IN FRONT OF ME. BUT THIS NIGHT, I LET GO, AND GAVE MY HEART TO JESUS.

WHEN I DID, THERE WAS DEFFINATELY A CHANGE IN MY LIFE. THE LORD PUT A HUNGER FOR HIS WORD IN MY HEART. WHEN I RETURNED BACK TO GOODMAN, AFTER THE SERVICE, I TOOK A PAPERBACK BOOK AND STUCK IT IN THE BLINDS TO CAUSE AN OPENING IN THE WINDOW FOR THE STREET LIGHT TO SHINE THROUGH. THIS WAS SO I COULD READ MY BIBLE. I READ MATTHEW, MARK, LUKE,  JOHN AND A PORTION OF ACTS.

SOMEHOW, I KNEW GOD HAD MORE FOR ME.

WHEN I WENT BACK TO CHURCH, MARCH THE 21ST, LIBERTY MINISTRIES WAS THERE AGAIN. PASTOR ROY PORTER JUST HAPPENED TO BE PREACHING ON THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I RECEIVED THE BAPTISM IN THE HOLY GHOST THAT NIGHT. AND I TELL YOU, LIFE DON’T GET ANY BETTER THAN BEING SAVED AND FILLED WITH THE HOLY GJOST.

THINGS REALLY STARTED CHANGING IN MY LIFE. I WAS GOING UP FOR PAROLE IN A COUPLE OF WEEKS, SO I PRAYED ABOUT IT. MY FRIEND ZEB OSBORNE, SPOKE ON MY BEHALF AT THE PAROLE HEARING. THEY TOLD HIM HE WOULD NOT BE MAKING PAROLE. SO HE CAME OUT AND TOLD ME THAT NEWS, AND I TOLD HIM, “I DON’T ACCEPT THAT.” THEN IT WAS MY TURN TO GOD BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD. I ANSWERED THEIR QUESTIONS. AND YOU KNOW WHAT? THEY GAVE ME MY PAROLE!!!

I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THIS WAS NOT MY FIRST TIME TO ASK THE LORD IN MY HEART: I WAS WAITING A NEW TRIAL FOR BANK ROBBERY, WHILE I WAS IN JAIL. I WAS READING THE BIBLE, OCCASIONALLY. THERE WERE NO PREACHERS COMING IN, SO I MOSTLY JUST READ. I THOUGHT I HAD GIVEN MY LIFE TO THE LORD, BUT IT WAS LIKE ALL THE TIMES I ASKED THE LORD TO HELP ME, AND I’D NEVER DO IT AGAIN, BUT I DID DO IT AGAIN.

I WAS JUST WANTING HIM TO HELP ME OUT OF A SITUATION.

IT’S WHAT YOU HEAR ABOUT A LOT, “JAILHOUSE SALVATION.” IT DOESN’T STICK. YOU ARE STILL ON YOUR WAY TO HELL, I’M SORRY TO SAY.

BUT IT HAS TO BE THE REAL DEAL.

WHEN I GOT OUT OF PRISON, GOD REALLY STARTED MOVING I MY LIFE. SOMEONE WAS PAYING FOR MY COLLEGE TUITION AT ERSKINE THEOLOGICAL SIMINARY. I WENT ONE SEMESTER AND FOUND OUT THAT THEY HAD EXPELLED ANOTHER STUDENT WHO WAS WORKING ON HIS MINISTRY LISCENSE FOR PRAYING IN THE HOLY GHOST, AND I KNEW IT WASN’T THE PLACE FOR ME TO BE, SO I LEFT.

I WAS AT HOME ON MY KNEES PRAYING AND WORSHIPPING AND ASKING GOD TO SEND A COMPANION IN MY LIFE. I HAD NOR MORE THAT GOT THE WORDS OUT OF MY MOUTH, THAN I HEARD A KNOCK AT THE FRONT DOOR. IT WAS MY EXWIFE. WE HAD BEEN DIVORCED 14 YEARS. SHE WAS SAVED, AND LIVING FOR THE LORD. WE SHORTLY REMARRIED. AFTER A COUPLE OF WEEKS, I WAS PRAYING AND ASKED THE LORD FOR A SON: THREE WEEKS LATER I FOUND OUT SHE WAS PREGNANT. IN ABOUT 3 OR 4 MONTHS, I FOUND OUT IT WAS A BOY. GOD IS GOOD.

GOD PLACED ME IN A MINISTRY OF GOING BACK INTO THE PRISONS TO MINISTER TO THE INMATES OF ALL AGES.

GOD HAS TAKEN ME TO PLACES I NEVER DREAMED I WOULD GO. I HAVE MINISTED IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 10 TIMES IN THE LAST 10 YEARS. WHAT A JOY IT HAS BEEN TO SEE PEOPLE GET SAVED AND HEALED.

I HAVE A TRIP COMING UP JANUARY 2011 TO GO BACK TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. I NEED YOUR PRAYERS. 

I AM OPEN TO GO INTO PRISONS, CHURCHES, AND OTHER COUNTRIES AS THE LORD LEADS AND PROVIDES.

O HOW WONDERFUL IT IS FOR YOU IF JESUS IS IN YOUR HEART!! AND IF YOU DON’T KNOW JESUS, YOU CAN ASK HIM TO COME INTO YOUR HEART AND CHANGE YOUR LIFE. REALLY MEAN IT AND HE WILL COME IN. IT WOULD BE THE GREATEST THING YOU COULD EVER DO.

Share