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Wise to Win Souls – Rick Bagwell
Tag: souls
THEY ENDURE BUT FOR A TIME
There are many times in the book of Revelation, where we are instructed to endure to the end. Today we are going to discuss endurance out of the account of Mark four. For those who are not familiar with this text: Jesus is the sewer and the Word of God is the seed. We are the soil.
Whether we are the good ground or the stony:
is up to us.
Mark 4: 16,17 —- And these are they likewise which are sown
on stony ground; who, when they have heard the Word, immediately receive it
with gladness;
And have not root in themselves, and so
endure but for a time: afterward, when affliction (or hardship, trouble) or
persecution ( or torture or oppression) ariseth
for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.
Many of us have gotten a
glimpse of heaven in a mighty service or a revelation from God in our private
time with Him. The word we received was
alive to us and in us. We knew it was
just what we needed. Everything was so
clear: God had it all under control, and we were in His hands. Nothing could shake that. It was settled. But then, afterward, when
affliction or sorrow or persecution arose, because of the Word, we immediately
become offended, displeased, indignant, and resentful. Our affections are divided. We had more of the rocky than the good soil
in our hearts. No wonder we could not
endure. The Word of God could not strike
a deep root in our souls.
This is when we were not
constant in the faith; and in our hour of temptation, we faltered.
I see this so much among
believers. They are rooted in the
Word. They didn’t take what Word they
got, and meditate on it until it could get down in their spirit man. It seemed to only help the hour or the day
they heard it. Then, BOOM! It was gone.
Brothers and sisters, we
have all been there.
Getting rooted and grounded
takes time.
The Word has to become alive
in our spirits to produce faith to endure.
We have to speak it everyday; eat and digest it, so to speak.
You could say, “I spoke the
Word over Aunt Lucy, but she died. The Word don’t work”.
Our Lord warns, we will
encounter such cases, which first excite hope, and expectation, and then clouds
the soul of the Christian laborer with disappointment and grief.
The Word in us is supposed
to produce fruit. But to endure, we have
to prepare the soil.
How do we prepare the soil?
Look at Matthew 13:19-21
—- When anyone heareth the word of the
kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one (Satan) and catcheth away that which was sown in his
heart. This is he which received seed by
the wayside.
But he that received the seed into stony
places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon (or in a while) with joy
reveiveth it.
Yet hath he not root in himself, but
dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the
word. By and by he is offended.
From this
account in Matthew we see this same story which we know as the Parable Of The
Sower. We know Satan is the one who
steals the Word, and we know He is the one who causes trials and persecution.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH SATAN’S
ATTACKS
So, to prepare the soil, we
have to deal with Satan’s attacks. He
comes immediately to rob from us, the Word we received with joy.
It’s no wonder he hates the
Word of God, and does all in his power to steal it from us.
Look at what Psalm 119:105
has to say about the Word:
Thy
word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.
It shines like a light on my feet and directs
them where to go. It keeps us from
stumbling.
Verse 11 —– Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might
not sin against Thee.
Acts 17:11 —- These were more noble than those in
Thessalonica, in that they (talking about the Jews in the synagogue at
Berea) received the word with all
readiness of mind (or we could say with a ready-mind), and searched the scriptures daily , whether those things were so (or
true).
The word shows us what is
true and what is error.
We could go on to John 17:17
were we are told we are sanctified through God’s truth, because His word is
truth: That God will , through His word,
set us apart to Himself.
In II Timothy 3:15,16, we
find the word is …able to make us wise
unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
And that it is
God-breathed …and is profitable for
doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.
God reveals Himself through
His word; and in it, He shows us how we
are to live after we become a Christian.
His word has an authority
which far reverses the ambition for greatness seen in secular philosophers.
And I Peter 2:2,3 tells us,
His word causes us to grow up in Him.
And Joshua 1:8 —- This book of the law shall not depart out of
thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate
therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all
that is written therein: for then thou
shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
In this verse alone, we are
told we can be prosperous and successful if
We speak the Word
We meditate the Word day and night
We do what it says
It’s no wonder the devil wants to steal it!
Jesus used the Word against
Satan. During His temptation in the
wilderness, Jesus said, “It is written, It is written, It is written,” after
which, Satan left Him for a season.
We are instructed also, in
Mark 16, to use the name of Jesus. He
has given us that authority. Look at
verse 17a —- And these signs shall
follow them that believe: In My name they shall cast out devils;…
This is one of the last
instructions given by Jesus before He ascended into heaven, —– and verse 20
reads like this —-And they went forth,
and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word
with signs following. Amen.
They were not alone in their
commission, this verse says the Lord was working with them. Also we see here, that
signs follow the word.
DON’T GET DISTRACTED, STUDY THE
WORD
Another way to prepare the
soil, for the Word is not to let distractions, around us, keep us from studying
the Word of God.
II Timothy 2:15 —- Study to show thyself approved unto God, a
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
It is not enough to read and
study the Word, we have to be able to know how to use it.
USE THE WORD AGAINST SATAN
Jesus knew which part of the
Word to use against Satan during His temptation. He quoted the Scripture that fir the
situation.
Look at Matthew 4 starting
with verse 1
Then
was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
And when He had fasted forty days and
forty and forty nights, He was afterward
ahungered.
And when the tempter came to Him, He
said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
But He answered and said, It is written,
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the
mouth of God.
THEN Satan did a strange
thing: He quoted a Scripture to Jesus: verse 6 —- And saith unto Him, If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down: for
it is written,
He
shall give His angels charge concerning thee;
and in their hands they shall bear the
up,
lest at any time thou dash thy foot
against a stone.
Now, let’s read that verse
from the Old Testament, from which He is Quoting, Psalm 91:11 —- For He shall give His angels charge over
thee, to keep thee in all thy ways …
He left out that last
part. Why? Look at it again …. to keep thee in all thy ways…—-
Because the omission of this sentence alters the whole character of the
quotation, taking into account that the word, ways, implies ways
appointed by God.
Then once again, the devil
tempted Jesus; and once again Jesus used the Word of God against him.
In the next part to this
temptation of Christ, Satan said in verse8 and 9
—-Again, the devil taketh Him up into an exceeding high mountain, and
showeth Him all the kingdoms of the world, and the glory of them;
And
saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and
worship me.
Verse 10 —- Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hense (or
be gone!), Satan: For it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord
thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve.
Ten, in verse 11, the devil
left Him, and angels came and ministered unto Him.
Jesus was tempted on three
levels:
1-
Physically
2-
Spiritually
3-
Intellectually
Each of which, He won, using the Word of God.
He quoted the right Scripture for each attack.
He knew how to combat every blow.
If we know the Word, we should know who we are in Christ. This will give us an advantage over the enemy
of our soul.
If we know the Word, we know our future.
If we know the Word, we know God will always fight our battles, and
bring us the victory.
If we know the Word, we know Satan’s future. Aso it would be good to remind him and
ourselves, of this fact.
Say it with me,
“Satan, your kingdom is
coming down”
“The blood of Jesus is
against you!”
“I can do all things
through Christ which strengthenth me.”
“No weapon formed against
me shall prosper”
and on and on, we can go.
All of God’s children go through attacks of Satan, trying to steal the life
out of us: which is God’s Word; but isn’t it wonderful, that when we are rooted
and grounded in the Word, we can endure until the end.
At that point, he will never again cause us to doubt God and His word,
nor can he steal from us.
I will leave you with these last two verses:
1-
Romans 8:31b —- …If God be for us, who can be against us?
2-
Isaiah 40:8 —- The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but
the Word of our God shall stand forever. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!
Bless the name of the Lord!!!!
MANY NATIONS ONE BLOOD
ACTS 17:24-28 GOD HATH MADE THE WORLD AND ALL THINGS THEREIN, SEEING THAT HE IS LORD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH, DWELLETH NOT IN TEMPLES MADE WITH HANDS:
NEITHER IS WORSHIPPED WITH MEN’S HANDS, AS THOUGH HE NEEDED ANY THING, SEEING HE GIVETH TO ALL LIFE, AND BREATH, AND ALL THINGS:
AND HATH MADE OF ONE BLOOD ALL NATIONS OF MEN TO DWELL ON ALL THE FACE OF THE EARTH, AND HATH DETERMINED THE TIMES BEFORE APPOINTED, AND THE BOUNDS OF THEIR HABITATION.
THAT THEY SOULD SEEK THE LORD, IF HAPPLY THEY MIGHT FEEL AFTER HIM, AND FIND HIM, THOUGH HE BE NOT FAR FROM EVERY ONE OF US:
FOR IN HIM WE LIVE, AND MOVE, AND HAVE OUR BEING; AS CERTAIN ALSO OF YOU OWN POETS HAVE SAID, FOR WE ALSO ARE HIS OFFSPRING.
TODAY IS A DAY OF THANKSGIVING IN AMERICA, THE GREATEST BLESSING I HAVE EVER RECEIVED WAS WHEN JESUS CAME INTO MY HEART.
GOD MADE THIS WORLD AND ALL THINGS THAT ARE IN IT, GOD IS OUR CREATOR, HE GAVE EVERY MAN A FREE WILL TO CHOSE, BUT HE OWNS US ALL.
HE GAVE US ALL LIFE AND BREATH AND ALL THINGS, WE ARE ALL OF ONE BLOOD, GOD PLACED US ALL IN DIFFERENT PLACES OF THE WORLD, BUT WE ALL HAVE ONE PURPOSE, AND THAT IS TO BRING GLORY TO OUR CREATOR, TO HONOR HIM AND TO WORSHIP HIM.
IN HIM WE LIVE AND MOVE AND HAVE OUR BEING.
AS A NATION WE HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT WE ARE HIS CREATION, WE HAVE FORGOTTEN AS A NATION HOW TO BE THANKFUL. WE HAVE FORGOTTEN HOW TO SEEK HIM.
I KNOW GOD HAS A REMNANT OF PEOPLE IN THIS NATION THAT STILLS SEEKS HIM WITH ALL THEIR HEART, THOSE PEOPLE ARE THE ONLY REASON THIS NATION STILL STANDS.
I PERSONALLY ENJOY THE BLESSINGS OF GOD, BUT WE DON’T NEED MORE STUFF, WE NEED HIM AND WHEN WE FIND HIM WE FIND THE GREATEST BLESSING EVER RECEIVED.
THE GREATEST BLESSING WE COULD HAVE IS TO BE IN HIS PRESENCE AND TO BELONG TO HIM.
HE IS NOT FAR AWAY, HE DOESN’T NEED ANYTHING, BUT HE DESIRES OUR LOVE AND APPRECATION, HE IS LOOKING FOR A THANKFUL HEART, NOT SO MUCH FOR THE STUFF, BUT FOR THE PERSON OF JESUS CHRIST WAS THE LAMB OF GOD, WHO TAKETH AWAY THE SINS OF THE WORLD.
PERSONALLY I SHOULD BE IN HELL TODAY, UNTIL THE YEAR OF 1978 I WAS SO REBELLIOUS, I WAS EVEN ANGRY WITH GOD. BUT GOD CAME AFTER ME WITH HIS GREAT LOVE AND MERCY AND HE TOUCHED ME SO DEEP IN MY LIFE, THAT AT TIMES I STILL WEEP OVER HIS LOVE FOR ME. HE SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME IN MY CONDITION, BUT HE DIDN’T.
AS MY FRIEND GEARLD CRABB WROTE IN HIS SONG, HE CAME LOOKING FOR ME.
GOD IS SEARCHING HEARTS IN AMERICA AND AROUND THE WORLD, LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO WILL RESPOND TO THAT LOVE AND FORGIVENESS.
CAN WE REJOICE WITH THANKSGIVING TOGETHER FOR THE SALVATION OF OUR SOULS THROUGH JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING, LOVE, PASTORS ROY AND JEANETTE PORTER.
THE HARVEST
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!”
THE MEANEST AND THE BADEST
THE SCRIPTURES RECORD MANY WHO WERE DEMON POSSESSED AND HAD ALL KINDS OF DISEASES THAT ARE INCURABLE, BUT ALL OF THESE ARE NO MATCH FOR JESUS. HE SOUGHT AFTER THEIR SOULS.
MANY CHRISTIANS ARE BOUND-UP WITH THINGS THAT KEEP THEM FROM GOD’S BEST FOR THEM.
JOHN 4:9-14 – THUS SAITH THE WOMAN OF SAMARIA UNTO HIM, HOW IS IT THAT THOU BEING A JEW, ASKETH DRINK OF ME, WHICH AM A WOMAN OF SAMARIA? FOR THE JEWS HAVE NO DEALINGS WITH THE SAMARITANS.
THIS WOMAN KNEW NOTHING ABOUT JESUS, SHE JUST KNEW HE WAS A MAN, ALTHOUGH SHE DID BELIEVE THE MESSIAH WAS TO COME. BEING A SAMARITAN, SHE DIDN’T UNDERSTAND WHY A JEW WOULD HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH HER, MUCH LESS TALK TO HER.
JESUS HAD A PLAN IN MIND. HE DELIBERATELY WENT THROUGH SAMARIA FOR THIS REASON; TO TALK TO HER. HE WAS ALWAYS AT THE RIGHT PLACE AT THE RIGHT TIME, EVEN IN HIS DEATH.
HE COULD HAVE GONE ANOTHER ROUTE WHICH WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER FOR HIM, BUT HE HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT UP THE ROAD.
THERE WAS A GREAT CONFLICT BETWEEN THE JEWS AND THE SAMARITANS CONCERNING WHERE THEY SHOULD WORSHIP.
BUT JESUS HAD A GREATER MISSION THERE THAN JUST ONE WOMAN. HE KNEW WHAT IT WOULD TAKE TO BRING REVIVAL TO THE PEOPLE OF SAMARIA.
HE WAS ABOVE ALL PREJUDICE.
HE WAS NOT INTERESTED IN WHERE TO WORSHIP, AS WHERE THE JEWS AND SAMARITANS, BECAUSE THE WORSHIP WAS ABOUT TO CHANGE. IT WOULD BE IN THE HEARTS OF THE BELIEVERS: THE JEW FIRST, AND THEN THE GENTILES.
MANY TIMES WE DON’T FEEL COMFORTABLE CROSSING OVER HE PREJUDICE BARRIERS TO WITNESS JESUS TO THOSE WE CONSIDER OUR ENEMY, OR DIFFERENT FROM US. THEIR CUSTOMS SOMETIMES TURN US OFF, AND WE ARE SOMETIMES INDIFFERENT TOWARDS THEM, MAYBE EVEN AFRAID OF THEM.
JESUS BEGAN TO TELL THE WOMAN ABOUT HER LIFE THROUGH THE WORD OF KNOWLEDGE. SHE HAD A BAD REPUTATION, AND ONLY THE MEN WOULD TALK TO HER.
HOW DO I KNOW THAT? SHE CAME TO THE WELL ALONE, NOT LIKE THE CUSTOMARY TIME OF THE DAY WHEN THE WOMEN GATHERED TO DRAW WATER.
JESUS GAVE HER THAT LIVING WATER THAT DOES NOT COME FROM THE WELL, IT WAS EVERLASTING LIFE!! SHE WENT AWAY WITHOUT HER WATERPOT, AND BROUGHT OTHERS TO THAT WATER THAT WAS NOT FROM THE WELL, AND THEY CAME TO JESUS AND RECEIVED SALVATION.
WE AS BELIEVERS ARE TOLD IN MATTHEW 28:19, TO …GO YE THEREFORE AND TEACH ALL NATIONS… BUT SOMETIMES WE SHUN THOSE OF WHICH GOD REALLY WANTS US TO WITNESS.
THE MOST UNLIKELY ONE’S ARE THOSE WHO ARE THE BIGGEST CATCH IN GOD’S KINGDOM.
HERE, I AM REMINDED OF A MISSIONARY TRIP, WHEN BEFORE GOING, I PRAYED, “GOD, GIVE US THE SOULS OF THE ‘MEANEST AND BADEST’ (WHICH IS NOT VERY GOOD ENGLISH, BY THE WAY), BUT NEVERTHELESS, THAT’S THE WAY I PRAYED.
WE WERE HAVING A TENT REVIVAL IN SOTO, A VILLAGE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.
THE SERVICES WERE GOING WONDERFUL. GOD WAS MOVING.
THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN!! – THERE WAS A LOUD COMMOTION. I DIDN’T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON, I WAS ERNESTLY PRAYING FOR A LADY WHO WANTED TO GET SAVED AND WANTED PRAYER FOR HER HURT LEG.
I WAS STILL PRAYING FOR HER LEG WHEN MY HUSBAND AND BILL POSEY YELLED TO US TO GET OUT OF THE TENT AND RUN INTO THE FIELD BEHIND THE TENT.
ROCKS WERE SAILING INTO THE TENT WITH MIGHTY FORCE!!
SOME OF OUR FRIENDS HAD COME TO THE REVIVAL WITH THEIR CARS AND TRUCKS. THEIR WINDSHIELDS GOT IN THE LINE OF FIRE, AND WERE CRASHED AND SHATTERED.
SOME OF THE YOUNG MEN FIGHTING, WERE INTOXICATED.
WE FOUND OUT LATER FROM MISSIONARY MITCH MARTINEZ, THEY WERE TWO FACTIONS ROCK BATTLEING, AND WE JUST SEEMED TO BE IN THEIR CROSSFIRE.
THE WOMEN AND CHILDREN WERE RUSHED INTO VEHICLES AND SPED OFF, AWAY FROM DANGER.
I NOTICED MY HUSBAND, ROY PORTER, BILL , JERKED OUT TWO TENT POSTS, AND WERE READY FOR CONFRONTATION IF NEEDED BE.
THE NEXT NIGHT, ONE OF OUR FRIENDS, MIRIAM SANCHEZ, WENT TO THE POLICE AND ARRIVED WITH THREE POLICEMEN. ONE OF THEM WAS VERY BIG AND HAD KILLED SOME PEOPLE, SO HIS REPUTATION WAS WELL KNOWN AMONG THE PEOPLE.
EVERYTHING WENT WELL THAT NIGHT, AND THE POLICEMEN GOT SAVED.
THE THIRD NIGHT, WE HAD NO POLICEMEN. I GUESS THE POLICE THOUGHT WE DIDN’T NEED ANY BECAUSE THE NIGHT BEFORE WAS QUIET.
MY HUSBAND SPOTTED SOME OF THE ROCK THROWERS GATHER AROUND IN VARIOUS PLACES, SPREADING-OUT, HE HAD NO GUN, SO HE ASKED THE MISSIONARY FOR THIS WOODEN BRUSH. HE WRAPPED A HANKIE AROUND IT, AND STUFFED IT INTO HIS POCKET. IT REALLY DID LOOK LIKE A GUN.
THE WORD GOT AROUND, “THE PASTOR HAS A GUN.”
SOME SAID, “THE PASTOR????
HE ASKED SANDRA SLIGH TO PREACH FOR HIM, SO HE COULD KEEP AN EYE ON THINGS AND I WAS TO GIVE THE ALTER CALL IN WHICH ONE OF THE FACTION WHICH WAS INTOXICATED, GAVE HIS HEART TO CHRIST.
SOON AFTER, I SAW MY HUSBAND WITH TWO MORE. HE SAT THEM DOWN IN CHAIRS AND BEGAN TO TALK TO THEM, AS THE HOLY SPIRIT WAS DEALING WITH THEIR HEARTS.
BOTH YOUNG MEN GAVE THEIR HEARTS TO JESUS, AND SHORTLY AFTER, ONE OF THEM PULLED OUT A BUTCHER KNIFE AND HANDED IT TO ROY.
HE STILL TODAY HAS THAT BRUSH AND KNIFE IN HIS STUDY.
SEVERAL OF THE ROCK THROWERS GOT SAVED, AND STARTED A BASEBALL TEAM. I’M SURE YOU KNOW WHAT FABULOUS BASEBALL PLAYERS THE DOMINICANS ARE!
THE NEXT YEAR WENT THERE, AND PRESENTED THOSE GUYS A BOX OF BASEBALLS, AND THEY, IN TURN, PRESENTED ROY WITH A BASEBALL OF ALL THEIR SIGNATURES, WHICH STILL IS A PRIZED POSESSION OF HIS. NOTHING IS IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD!!!
DON’T WORRY
PRAISE GOD FOR HIS SON JESUS, GOD BLESS YOU THIS DAY BE HAPPY GOD LOVES YOU. I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE SOME OF THE MESSAGE GOD GAVE ME FOR THE PRISON SERVICE WE HAD LAST NIGHT IN COLUMBIA, S.C.. PRAISE GOD MANY SOULS WERE SAVED AND SET FREE FROM WORRY AND ANXIETY . GOD IS OUR SOURCE ALWAYS .
HE SAID HE WILL NEVER LEAVE US OR FORSAKE US HIS WORD IS TRUTH WITH HIS GREAT POWER.
MATT: 6:25_34 – GOD IS AWARE THAT WE HAVE THESE NEEDS IN OUR LIFE, BUT SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS: AND ALL THESE THINGS SHALL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
IF YOU HAVE WORRY IN YOUR LIFE IT PRODUCES FEAR. GOD DID NOT GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR BUT OF LOVE, POWER AND A SOUND MIND. PRAISE HIS MIGHTY NAME. THINK ON THESE AND ASK GOD TO GIVE YOU PEACE. PUT ON THE FULL ARMOUR OF GOD. IN EPHESIANS 6:13-18 – PUT ON THE HELMET OF SALVATION, SO THE ENEMY CANNOT COME AT YOUR MIND; THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT,WHICH IS THE WORD OF GOD; AND PRAYING ALWAYS WITH ALL PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION IN THE SPIRIT.
CURE WORRY WITH PRAYER, PERMIT THE PEACE OF GOD TO KEEP YOUR HEART AND MIND. HAVE FAITH IN GOD, RENOUNCE ALL WORRY.
READ PHILIPPIANS: 4:5-8 PHILIPPIANS 4:7 – AND THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH PASSETH ALL UNDERSTANDING, SHALL KEEP YOUR HEARTS AND MINDS THROUGH CHRIST JESUS.
LET’S PRAY ABOUT THIS MATTER. FATHER I ASK THAT YOU GIVE ME THIS PEACE THAT YOUR WORD SPEAKS ABOUT, I RENOUNCE WORRY IN THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD. AMEN
GOD BLESS YOU
THE SERVANT OF THE LORD
EVANGELIST RICK BAGWELL
GOING THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE
SO MANY WITH CALLINGS ON THEIR LIVES DON’T GO THROUGH WHAT I CALL PREPARATION PERIOD.
THEY RECEIVE THE CALL, AND DON’T WAIT ON GOD, BUT GO HEAD-ON INTO DISAPPOINTMENT, IF THEY DON’T STOP AND ASK GOD TO LEAD.
ACTS 14:22 – CONFIRMING THE SOUL OF THE DISCIPLES, AND EXHORTING THEM TO CONTINUE IN THE FAITH, AN THAT WE MUST THROUGH MUCH TRIBULATION ENTER INTO THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
DAVID IS A GOOD EXAMPLE WHO WENT THROUGHT THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE.
HE IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF ONE WHO WAITED ON GOD.
I CAN SEE HIM ENJOYING HIS LIFE AS A SHEPHERD, AND KEEPING HIS SHEEP SAFE FROM THE BEAR AND THE LION, WHILE HIS SLING WAS IN REACHING DISTANCE, AND SPENDING TIME WITH GOD UNDER THE STARS: SINGING HIS INSPIRED PSALMS TO THE LORD, WHILE PLAYING THE MELODIES ON HIS HARP.
THERE IS NOTHING IN THE SCRIPTURES THAT COULD MAKE US THINK THAT GOD HAD A PURPOSE IN MIND FOR HIM TO BE KING DAVID (AT THIS POINT AND TIME), NOR THAT EVEN GOD WOULD CALL HIM …A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART…
HE WAS PROBABLY JUST AS SURPRISED AS ANYONE.
WHEN KING SAUL WAS TROUBLED BY THE EVIL SPIRIT, IT WAS GOD’S PURPOSE FOR DAVID TO BE THE ONE TO PLAY HIS HARP.
THE SAME THING FOR DAVID BECOMING A MIGHTY WARRIOR.
IT WAS GOD’S PLAN FOR HIM, BUT NEVER DO WE SEE DAVID TRYING TO MAKE A BIG NAME FOR HIMSELF.
MY FRIEND, DAVID PASSED THROUGH THE FIRE OF RESISTANCE FROM THE ENEMY OF HIS SOUL.
THE ONE HE HELPED AND HONORED, TURNED AGAINST HIM, AND EVEN DESIRED TO TAKE HIS LIFE.
THESE EVENTS JUST CAUSED DAVID TO BE STRONGER AND MORE PREPARED FOR THE PURPOSE AHEAD.
HE LEARNED WHAT NOT TO DO WHEN HE BECAME THE MIGHTY LEADER OF HIS PEOPLE.
HE WAS ANOINTED KING BY SAMUEL: I SAMUEL 16:1,13 – AND THE LORD SAID UNTO SAMUEL, HOW LONG WILT THOU MOURN FOR SAUL, SEEING I HAVE REJECTED HIM FROM REIGNING OVER ISRAEL? FILL THINE HORN WITH OIL, AND GO, I WILL SEND THEE TO JESSE THE BETHLEHEMITE: FOR I HAVE PROVIDED ME A KING AMONG HIS SONS.
THEN SAMUEL TOOK THE HORN OF OIL, AND ANOINTED HIM IN THE MIDST OF HIS BRETNREN: AND THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD CAME ON DAVID FROM THAT DAY FORWARD. SO SAMUEL ROSE UP, AND WENT TO RAMAH.
SO DAVID TAKES OFF TO THE PALACE OF SAUL, PUTS SAUL OUT ON THE STREET, AND MOVES IN THE PALACE AND THEY ALL LIVE HAPPY EVERY AFTER????
NO! THAT’S NOT THE WAY GOD DOES THINGS.
DAVID WENT THROUGH MANY BATTLES, WAS ON THE RUN FROM SAUL, AND HAD TO HIDE OUT IN CAVES.
THE LIFE OF ALL GREATLY USED MEN AND WOMEN OF GOD THAT I KNOW ABOUT, HAVE SUFFERED MANY BATTLES, BUT AS THEY WON EACH BATTLE, IT MADE THEM STRONGER TO FACE THE NEXT ONE WITH GREATER VICTORIES EACH TIME.
IT SEEMS THAT THEIR FAITH BECAME STRONGER AND STRONGER TO KNOW GOD’S WILL AND THEIR PURPOSE IN GOD’S KINGDOM WOULD BE FULFILLED.
