Br Rodrigo Limpot of the Philippines shares: we have been founding a church in Cebu City. We are going to plant churches in the houses of the poorest of the poor people in the slums and villages, where people- especially children, are dying because of extreme poverty. We care for 1,200 destitute children, aged from 1 to 10 years old, in feeding outreaches, by God's miraculous provision. Before nourishing them with hot, nutritious food, we first give them Bible stories, lessons, and verses to memorise. We minister God's Word to both the children and their parents. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ makes them happy. People devastated by the works of the devil have joy, as we lead them to the Lordship of Christ.
Br Leonard Fwati of Zambia reports that he was called to pray for a lady who had gone mad, and was totally taken over by the devil, in mind and soul. She afterwards described herself as being in a darkness so thick that it seemed possible to bite a chunk out of it. Ps Fwati prayed for her, and led her to Christ. The next day she was a totally different person.
Sis Glenda Vio of USA shares how a biker recently ran out of petrol near the home of Travis Covey. He walked over and asked to use the phone. Before he left he was saved. The next day this young man was arrested and put in jail. Travis is the assistant chaplain in his jail. Praise God, the biker had used "crack", and was delivered before he went to jail. Now he is a testimony to others; he got saved before he came in, and now he has no desire or withdrawal from drugs. This is astounding to the inmates. He's even turned it down while in there. God can turn lives around.
Reverse Evil, and Live.
Meekness is that quiet acceptance of the will of God. His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than our thoughts (Isa. 55:9). It is the humility which surrenders to Him our pride, so that He can fashion us as the clay is fashioned in the potter's hand. It is that Christ-like spirit which enables us to take rebuke graciously, to do our work without craving for the praise of men, to recognise our own shortcomings and seek to overcome them, and to note the excellencies in others which we ourselves lack and to rejoice in them. Its most cherished longing is to unlearn all else but Christ, and to be subdued unto Him in all things (Phil.3:21). Lastly, it is the "ornament.. which is in the sight of God of great price" (1 Pet. 3:4). (Br Gordon, evangelising in New Zealand)
John Wesley said, "There go I, by the grace of God". He knew that but for the undeserved love and grace, and imputed righteousness through Jesus Christ, he would be as a drunk in the gutter. (Br Jaensch, Mt Barker, SA)
Prayer, worn knees, and a rusty hoe have never raised a good crop yet. Get your tools ready, and the Lord will find plenty of work for you to do! (News Review 3/93)
Br Texe Marrs of the USA, believes that the UN's armed forces will be given total military control and enforcement power for all of planet earth. National armies will be mere branches of a global defense network. God's prophetic Word talks of such a world government and army (Rev.13 and 17).
Mr Ramos, the first non-Catholic President of the Philippines, has proclaimed personal faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. (Australian Gideon, 4/93)
Br Mehdi Dibaj of Iran has spent eight years imprisoned for his faith, two of them spent in a one metre by one metre cell with no lights. He writes: "I thank our loving God so much that He has counted me worthy to be here because of my love for the Lord Jesus Christ. I am prepared, for the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, not only to remain in prison but to give my life in His service as well. Truly, living with God is glorious! The darker the night, the closer the dawn! The darker the clouds, the more plentiful the life-giving rains! The greater the troubles, the greater the comfort of God! The person who lives under the shelter of the Name of the Lord is always secure and safe. (Open Doors, 4/93)
To reach sinners, we must go where they are- on the street, in bars, their homes, on the job. Jesus told us to go in to all the world- not the church and preach the Gospel. The church is the place for teaching the Word of God, not preaching, to equip us to minister to a lost world- right where we are. "Preach the Word: be ready in season and out of season" (2 Tim 4:2). If it is inconvenient to witness at times, it doesn't mean the Spirit does not want us to share. We don't need to wait for dreams, visions, or ringing bells before we start sharing our faith. We are called to be active witnesses for Him wherever He has placed us (1 Cor. 7:24). Your job, family, neighbourhood, etc., are ready-made situations in which God has placed you to be His witness. Step out in faith and witness today- right where you are! (Danny Lehmann)
In our modern world almost 1,000 believers die for Christ - every day. More than 100 Christians have been crucified in Sudan in recent days. Several Islamic countries are imposing brutal persecution upon modern day Christians. Over 41 million Christians have been martyred since AD33 for their faith in Christ; of those, 27 million were killed since 1900. Since 1950 over 10 million have died for their faith, mainly at the hands of communist and muslim persecutors. (Frontline Fellowship, 3/93)
Br Carl Lawrence of Haven of Rest relates an account of a stunning miracle, received from reliable sources in the nation of China. A 70 year old Pastor, "John", was a prominent house church leader. At great personal risk, he had taken on the task of receiving 10,000 Bibles for distribution.
The civil authorities were seeking to locate the Bibles, and were trying to track down the Bible distributors. John hid the Bibles, carefully burying them under a friend's barn, with the aim of circulating them later. The police arrested him, and special investigators from Bejing questioned him on the whereabouts of the Bibles. Pastor John refused to talk. During the interrogations and beatings he would close his eyes and pray. The interrogators were frustrated by this small, frail man who was not afraid to die.
John was taken into the prison courtyard, where he was made to stand upright on a tall wooden box. About 4 foot high and very narrow, the top of the box had just enough room for his feet. The police put a noose tightly around his neck, fixed to a wooden cross-beam just above him. His interrogators shouted at him, "We have given up on you. The moment you move, or your legs collapse, you will hang yourself. This is the penalty for your stubbornness." You see, they were afraid to kill him. If they let him kill himself, they would call it suicide.
Two policemen were assigned to watch Pastor John's last moments. The interrogators also watched through a hidden window. The policemen hardly looked up at Pastor John, they gambled. John said: "As they gambled at my feet, I felt a great surge of power in my body. I felt like Jesus Christ on the Cross. He, too, must have looked down and felt the same power when He saw the soldiers casting lots for His clothes, utterly indifferent to His agonies." And there were agonies. Pastor John's body cried out for sleep. His legs began to swell, and the day passed into night. Night into another day, and Pastor John remained still. He didn't move. He started talking to the policemen. He told them about Jesus. He told them that he was not afraid of death because of Jesus. They laughed at him.
Pastor John's legs developed cramps. All feeling was gone. Four days and four nights. Five days and six, and seven days and nights. His only relief was the rain. He stuck his tongue out to gain a few drops of moisture. It almost seemed to wash his filthy body. Eight days, nine days. The word was getting around the prison. An almost holy hush gathered over the compound. "No man can survive that long", they would say. "No food, no water, no rest; this is impossible."
Ten days, eleven days, twelve days. Thirteen days had passed, thirteen long nights. Pastor John still stood on the narrow box, the noose tight around his neck. But he would not let go. His legs were swollen almost beyond recognition. The policemen continued to mock him, but everyone in the prison seemed to be holding their breath.
A huge thunder storm hit the prison. The sky went black, the rain pelted down. Pastor John's resistance finally ended. As a crack of lightning, followed by a crash of thunder shook the prison, he knew it was all over. Through his delirium he vaguely heard the thunder and fell forward into the arms of Jesus, as the noose tightened around his neck.
In a few moments he awakened. He was soaking wet, lying in a small room, not in the arms of Jesus, but in the arms of two policemen. One was splashing water on his face, the other was massaging his legs. All Pastor John could do was to cry in pain as the policemen cried as well. "Please, " they shouted, "don't die. Please don't die." "Why?", he answered, " Why can't I die?" They said, "Because we want to know your Saviour Jesus. You see, He saved you. A flash of lightning cut the rope above your head just as you fell. Don't tell us that Jesus didn't save you."
Pastor John was released. There was no more interrogation. The guards did accept the Jesus who sent the lightning. The Bibles were later quietly dug up and distributed, and became a source of comfort to many Chinese people. Br Lawrence observes that in China there are no special ministers travelling about performing miracles. Miracles happen when God wants them to, in a way that only God can do them. And they are only a part of what is accepted as normal to a man like Pastor John. (Condensed from "Report of the Church in China", of June 92)
As I look around me at the grey walls, concrete, and iron bars that make up Yatala Labour Prison, and feel so very insignificant, I remember the words that Paul spoke about sinners, how he, being the worst... I think to myself, wanna bet? Anne's death, and the fact that I am responsible, is the most traumatic thing I've ever had to endure. But it's broken me enough for God to finally get through. It made me desperate enough for God to finally get through and begin re-directing my life. It made me desperate enough to listen to Him and give Him the reins. I know that blessings and growth can come through pain. I know that God can put my life together more beautifully than ever before, if I turn to Him, allowing Him to be Lord.
As someone said: It's wonderful what God can do with a broken heart, provided we give Him all the pieces. I will never forget the agony of shame and grief when I realised that I had killed my wife, in exchange for a small portion of whisky. Yet, even so, it helps me to understand and assist others who are hurting too. I can re-assure them that God cares and will help. I can help them say to God, Be my rock of refuge, a b fortress to save me. I can help them say it only because I know with certainty that He will respond. (Br Jim McKernan, Northfield, SA)
Robert and Jill Lawrie rejoice in the Lord's provision of a big old home with a restful atmosphere, near Kadina, which they have called, "Lighthouse Restoration Homestead". They minister here by having pastors and missionaries come and stay when they need a break. Br Robert reports that many people are coming for prayer for healing, and are being healed. Many also phone for prayer, and are being healed.
Christian, make your life a clear testimony. Be as the brook wherein you may see every stone at the bottom- not as the muddy creek, of which you only see the surface- but clear and transparent, so that your heart's love to God and man may be visible to all. You need not say, "I am true"; be true. Boast not of integrity, but be upright. So shall your testimony be such that men cannot help seeing it.
Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness. Your lips have been warmed with a coal from off the altar; let them speak as like heaven-touched lips should do. Watch not the clouds, consult not the wind; in season and out of season witness for the Saviour. If it shall come to pass that for Christ's sake and the gospel's you shall endure suffering, shrink not, but rejoice in the honour of being counted worthy to suffer with your Lord. Your sufferings, your losses, and persecutions shall make you a platform, from which the more vigorously and with greater power you shall witness for Christ. (C.H. Spurgeon)
I firmly believe that God is refining the church before He can use us to gather the harvest. I have endured events in my life that took me to the point of nearly giving up, but God was gracious to me and brought me through. I have come to understand that "on Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand." ( Br Ken, Murray Bridge, SA)
It seems to me that much of the Church has lost direction or lost the motivation to move forward. For many within the church, the sum total of their Christian activity is confined to the four walls of "the sanctuary" and is restricted to the "meetings".
God said to Moses; "Go, I am sending you to Pharoah." He said to Gideon, "Go, in this might of yours." He said to Jonah, "Go, to the great city of Ninevah and preach." Jesus said to the Disciples, "Go, and preach the Gospel," How would we feel if Moses, in response to his commission, had simply built a modern 3000 BC tabernacle in the desert; with all the trimmings; including stained leopard skin windows, at a total cost of 3000,000 camels, with an annual interest rate of 12,000 camels, and then proceeded to put up posters around the desert and sent leaflets to Egypt inviting people to come and hear him preach once a week, on the ordained day at the ordained hour? We certainly wouldn't dream of doing such a thing!
Moses did exactly what God commanded. He went to Egypt. He went to where the people were and to where the need was. (Yes, I know, it did take some persuasion, but he did go!)
Jonah, when he discovered that having a whale of a time wasn't always fun, did eventually go into the heart of a degenerate city, and preach the Gospel to those who were destined for hell.
These men may well have had their fears, like many others, and their logical human reasons for not wanting to go to Egypt or Nineveh respectively, but the challenge and conviction of the Spirit of God within them was far ber and greater than their fears or human logic.
Thus, the pioneer spirit was birthed in their hearts and caused them to move forward into uncharted territory. Thank God they did not have a committee to report to, otherwise their fears and human logic would have been confirmed, and the decision not to go into such areas would, most probably, have been unanimous.
The Pioneer Moves Forward
The pioneer spirit is that which causes a person to move forward, not because of a mandate from men, but because of a mandate from God. The task may well be confirmed by men, but not ordained by men. God is the originator, the implanter and the force that drives men forward to do His will.
Ask a person to tell you something about pioneers, and they will most likely tell you they were people who blazed a trail across America and became settlers in that great continent. They settled when they believed their task was done or that they had gone far enough. What we need to understand is that the task of the church is not complete. It is far from over, and yet many have become settlers within its walls. In many cases we have knocked down the walls of Jericho, only to build our own. I believe it is time for the Church to come out from behind its walls, to move forward into the battle zone, and to take the initiative over satanic forces in our nation.
A Pioneer Is One Who Experiments
A pioneer tries something new; is inventive, and innovative; takes risks, moves out of the safety zone, and exercises faith. My definition of faith is, "Having a God inspired go." Joshua had a "God inspired go" when he got the people to walk around the walls of Jericho and then to shout and blow the trumpets to make the walls fall down. Peter had a "God inspired go", when he climbed out of the boat and started walking on the water. The list is endless.
The Church needs men and women who are prepared to take "God inspired goes", with the emphasis on "God inspired." No need to sit around waiting for that golden opportunity to do something for God, for there is a mission possible within the reach of all who seek. There is a world outside of "the Church", full of opportunities for those who would dare to "have a go". No need to look for someone else's platform, for though the world is the footstool of God, it is a large enough platform for us all, and is a more important place of service than the spot lighted, carpeted, foot high, 120 foot square, Holy Ghost anointed, sanctified, customised platforms found within the "sanctuary" of church buildings. The churches may be full on Sundays, but the fields are still white unto harvest outside, and still the labourers are few.
The Pioneer Is One Who Originates
A pioneer is one who originates or plays a leading part in the early development of something new. David pioneered a new form of worship that even yet is far from outdated. In fact, it still hasn't caught on in many places! Oh! I know all about the new cart! Just goes to show that even the best can get it wrong at times but, in spite of his mistake, David did eventually restore the Ark of the Covenant to its rightful place and thus restore the Glory of God among His people. Of course, some people pioneer things that never catch on like the "three day sub-merged, spiritual awakening retreat", pioneered by Jonah, or the "walking on the water experience" pioneered by the first Peter.
The Pioneer Clears the Way
The pioneer, in the military sense, is one who clears the way for the main body of troops. He constructs bridges and builds roads. He even digs trenches, not as permanent settlements, and not only as defensive positions, but as vantage points from which to launch an offensive into enemy territory. If there is to be a trench mentality within the Church, let it be that we might establish vantage points throughout our respective communities from which we will launch offensive action against the kingdom of darkness which has become so entrenched in our nation. Maybe the enemy of the Church is having such a field-day in our nation because we are so entrenched in our own religious in-house "family" squabbles, and our sabre rattling with those who are not of our fold or mould!
The Church needs a leadership that is motivated by a sense of Divine destiny, and is driven forward by that same pioneer spirit that caused our founding fathers to move forward in God. Not to do what they did, but to add to their achievements by making our contribution in a way that is relevant to our generation.
We need those who are willing to prepare, to initiate and to champion the cause of the Kingdom of God. It needs those who are prepared to be out front leading the way, and not wanting to always play it safe by waiting for others to make the first move.
The Pioneer Never Forgets
The true pioneer never forgets the struggles and the lean times, and does not use his achievements to look down on those who are in the early stages of progress. He never forgets from whence he came. He never forgets those who stood by him in the early stages of his journey. He never forgets every helping hand along the way. He demonstrates this by being just as mindful and helpful to those coming behind, and by recognising that the same spirit that drove him forward is driving others forward also.
May the same pioneer spirit which motivated the Disciples, the early church fathers, and the founding fathers of our movement be the motivating force that drives us forward in these days to further extend the Kingdom of God in our land and to drive back the kingdom of darkness. Let's do it together!
(By Jackie McKee, Belfast; "Direction" Magazine, 3/93; slightly condensed)
Sis Vio of Washington, USA, also comments:
You are a pioneer. The way is hard. Every time we rest and check our load, we see what things we can discard; what things we truly don't need. A way was made West over great mountains, seemingly impassable. Most everything they "treasured" was cast off so the trip could continue. Don't let the flesh be weakened with loads of care of this world; too much that you can't go on. The road is hot, dry, dusty, long. It's not travelled by many. But it's where they're headed that sustains us and refreshes our souls See the encouraging signs He sends you, be it the small cloud the size of a man's hand, or the dawn's light after a night of tears. Through much tribulation we'll enter the Kingdom. Fret not, he'll lead us along. May your eyes be opened to see the cloud of witnesses around us, and the angels in force helping us.
This Pioneer spirit is very real. I go where I know not, to a people I do not
know. I don't fit in, but praise God we're just passing through. I don't have
all the answers. Faith is easier than knowledge. I hold everything loosely in
my hand. We've been given so much- how are we using it? I shan't take anything
with me. I choose not to go by what I see. This makes me peculiar. I hear a
different drum. Many watch me and learn. Others are watching your walk and will
walk it after you, and it will be healing for them. Glory to God, who uses all
things for His glory. Who will go? Who will you encourage today?
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