Saved by the Water – Richard Few

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THE CONCERNS OF A DEAD MAN

LUKE 16:23  – AND IN HELL HE LIFT UP HIS EYES, BEING IN TORMENTS AND SEETH ABRAHAM AFAR OFF, AND LAZARUS IN HIS BOSOM.

LUKE 16: 24 –  AND HE CRIED AND SAID FATHER ABRAHAM, HAVE MERCY ON ME, AND SEND LAZARUS, THAT HE MAY DIP THE  TIP OF HIS FINGER IN WATER, AND COOL MY TONGUE: FOR I AM TORMENTED IN THIS PLACE.

THE CONCERNS OF THIS MAN HAVE CHANGED.

HIS FORMER CONCERN WAS TO MAKE MORE MONEY AND ENJOY LIFE AND FAMILY. HIS CONCERN WAS TO PREPARE FOR LIFE AND NOT DEATH.

WE READ IN A PREVIOUS CHAPTER ABOUT A PRODIGAL SON WHO CAME TO HIMSELF IN A FOREIGN LAND AND WENT HOME TO HIS FATHER. HE WAS DEAD AND ALIVE AGAIN, HE WAS LOST AND WAS FOUND.

THE PRODIGAL SON CAME TO HIMSELF AND WENT HOME TO BE WITH HIS FATHER BEFORE HE DIED.

THE RICH MAN CAME TO HIMSELF IN HELL.

PRAYER LIFE CHANGES IN HELL, IF A PERSON GOES TO HELL HE WILL PRAY A LOT.

THE RICH MAN’S CONCERNS CHANGED IN HELL.

HIS PRAYER WAS FOR A DROP OF WATER ON HIS TONGUE.

LUKE 16:27  – THEN HE SAID, I PRAY THEE THEREFORE, FATHER, THAT THOU WOULDEST SEND HIM TO MY FATHERS HOUSE:

LUKE16:28 – FOR I HAVE FIVE BRETHREN THAT HE MIGHT TESTIFY UNTO THEM, LEST THEY ALSO COME INTO THIS PLACE OF TORMENT. 

THIS MAN IN HELL HAD A CHANGE OF CONCERN, BUT IT WAS TO LATE.

HE PRAYED FOR A WITNESS TO BE SENT TO HIS FATHER HOUSE, TO HIS BROTHERS WHO WERE LOST. 

TESTIFY TO THEM HE PRAYED.

THIS MAN IN HELL HAD NEGLECTED THE MOST IMPORTANT DECISION IN ANY ONE’S LIFE, HE REJECTED HIS CREATOR, HE HAD CHOSEN TO SEEK THE TEMPORAL INSTEAD OF THE ETERNAL.

HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WITNESS TO HIS BROTHER’S. SOMEBODY HAS TO BREAK THE MOLD IN A FAMILY OF LOST PEOPLE. PEOPLE WHO PUT NO VALUE ON GOD AND THE LIFE OF GOD, USUALLY LEAD THEIR FAMILY TO HELL WITH THEM. THEY CHOOSE SPORTS OVER CHURCH,THEY CHOOSE SIN OVER RIGHTEOUSNESS. THEY NEVER READ THEIR BIBLE IF THEY OWN ONE. THEY SELDOM IF EVER GO TO CHURCH. THEY TESTIFY TO THEIR FAMILY THROUGH CONDUCT.

ITS NOT THAT THEY HAVEN’T HEARD THE MESSAGE THEY JUST REFUSE IT. THEY MIGHT NOT EXPRESS IT VERBALLY BUT WITH THEIR CONDUCT. THEY MAKE THEIR OWN RULES OF LIFE.

LAZARUS WAS A BELIEVER THAT WAS LAID AT THE GATE OF THE RICH MAN DAILY.

IF THE RICH MAN HAD STOPPED LONG ENOUGH TO TALK TO LAZARUS, HE WOULD HAVE HEARD ABOUT THE MESSIAH.

THE RICH MAN COULD HAVE WENT TO HIS BROTHER’S HOUSE’S AND TESTIFIE D ABOUT THE ONE WHO AROSE FROM THE DEAD.

THE ONLY MESSAGE THAT WOULD KEEP THIS MAN AND HIS FAMILY OUT OF HELL WAS IGNORED.

HE WAS NOT IN HELL BECAUSE HE WAS RICH, I PERSONALLY KNOW RICH PEOPLE THA LOVE JESUS AND I KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RICH WHO LOVE JESUS, BUT I ALSO KNOW PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT RICH THAT COULD CARE LESS ABOUT JESUS.

BEING SAVED HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH YOUR FINANICIAL CONDITION. BEING RELIGIOUS DOESN’T MAKE YOU SAVED.

PEOPLE THAT REJECT THE MESSAGE OF JESUS ARE LOST AND ON THEIR WAY TO HELL, THEY WILL KNOW THE TRUTH IN HELL AND WILL BE TORMENTED OVER THIER FAMILY COMING THERE.

PEOPLE MAKE THIS STATEMENT, IT IS A FALSE STATEMENT, BUT THEY MAKE IT, THEY SAY THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO HEAVEN. WHO GAVE THEY THE AUTHORITY TO SAY THAT? OUR CREATOR IS THE AUTHORITY, WHEN HE SAYS IT IS LAW, AND HE SAID I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE, NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.

JESUS PROVED HIS AUTHORITY WHEN HE AROSE FROM THE GRAVE. JESUS IS THE ONLY LAMB OF GOD WHO DIED FOR THE SINS OF THE WORLD.

ALL RELIGIONS CAN NOT PROMISE FORGIVENESS FOR SIN. IF YOU HAVE NOT ACCEPTED JESUS BY FAITH AND LIVE IN THAT FAITH, YOU WILL BE PRAYING IN HELL CONCERNED ABOUT YOUR FAMILY.

DON’T LET DECEPTION SEND YOU TO HELL, DON’T LET REBELLION AND PRIDE SEND YOU TO HELL. HUMBLE YOURSELF AND CALL UPON JESUS TO SAVE YOU.

PEOPLE WHO TELL YOU DIFFERENT THAN GOD’S HOLY WORD, DON’T HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO SPEAK FOR HIM. 

I TELL YOU AGAIN BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE WORD OF GOD, THERE IS NO OTHER NAME UNDER HEAVEN WHEREBY WE MUST BE SAVED, BUT BY THE NAME OF JESUS.

PRAY NOW AND ASK HIM INTO YOUR HEART AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOUR, TESTIFY TO YOUR FAMILY AND IF YOU LIVE IN A NATION THAT ALLOWS CHURCH ASSEMBLIES START ATTENDING CHURCH. IF BIBLES ARE AVAILABLE BUY A BIBLE IF YOU CAN. IF CHURCHES ARE NOT POSSIBLE SERVE JESUS WITH YOU WHOLE HEART.

I WRITE THIS MESSAGE WITH GREAT LOVE AND HUMILITY, FOR IF WASN’T FOR JESUS REVEALING HIMSELF TO ME, I WOULD STILL BE LOST AND GOING TO HELL. BECAUSE OF THE LOVE OF JESUS I HAVE A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE LOST.   

 

   

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JESUS PRAYED

AT JESUS’ BAPTISM, HE PRAYED. 

IN LUKE 3:21,22 – …JESUS ALSO BEING BAPTIZED, AND PRAYING, THE HEAVEN WAS OPENED, AND THE HOLY GHOST DESCENDED IN A BODILY SHAPE LIKE A DOVE UPON HIM, AND A VOICE CAME FROM HEAVEN, WHICH SAID, THOU ART MY BELOVED SON IN WHOM I AM WELL PLEASED.

AGAIN, JESUS PRAYED AT HIS TRANSFIGURATION:

LUKE 9:28-31 – HE (JESUS) TOOK PETER AND JOHN AND JAMES AND WENT UP INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY. AND AS HE PRAYED, THE FASHION OF HIS COUNTENANCE WAS ALTERED, AND HIS RAIMNENT WAS WHITE AND GLISTERING. AND, BEHOLD, THERE TALKED WITH HIM TWO MEN, WHICH WERE MOSES AND ELIAS:  WHO APPEARED IN GLORY, AND SPAKE OF HIS DECEASE WHICH HE SHOULD ACCOMPLISH AT JERUSALEM.

THEN AGAIN, JESUS PRAYED IN THE GARDEN:

MATTHEW 26:36,39,41 –  THEN COMETH JESUS WITH THEM UNTO A PLACE CALLED GETHSEMANE, AND SAITH UNTO THE DISCIPLES, SIT YE HERE, WHILE I GO AND PRAY YONDER.

 AND HE WENT A LITTLE FATHER, AND FELL ON HIS FACE, AND PRAYED, SAYING, O MY FATHER, IF IT BE POSSIBLE, LET THIS CUP PASS FROM ME: NEVERTHELESS NOT AS I WILL, BUT AS THOU WILT.  

WATCH AND PRAY, THAT YE ENTER NOT INTO TEMPTATION: THE SPIRIT INDEED IS WILLING, BUT THE FLESH IS WEAK.

ALL THREE EVENTS LISTED: WE SEE THAT JESUS PRAYED.

HOW MUCH MORE DO WE SEE THE NEED TO PRAY MORE?

WHAT ARE WE MISSING?

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WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?

Today our message from God is:  

 

WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE?

 

This is the question of the ages.

Our Scripture reading for today is:

       Deuteromony 18:9-14 ,Isaiah 41:21-23,17,18

Future is defined this way = That which is beyond the present.

Many spend millions to find out their future.

Physic hot-lines and fortune tellers are paid thousands upon thousands of dollars each year.

 

Are you seeking to know your future?

Well, believe me, I know Who holds my future.

If these fortune tellers and these Physics know all the answers, why are they still working the phones, and live in houses of menial costs?

 

Have you ever asked yourself this question?

One of the most sought-out physics  gives their report every year of what is going to happen the next year.

Why do they keep missing it, and people still inquire of them?

Good question.

A famous President’s wife consulted a physic for her husband while he was still in the White House.  It was said, after he was shot, she sought the help of a physic before accepting any outside appearances.

The Scriptures are completely against any use of physic powers.

I talked to a palm reader one day and she was so deceived: she told me her powers came from God, and she wanted to help people.

I was not able to get her to understand, God would never give powers to anyone, that would go against His precious Word.

 

The Bible calls them Sorcerers which is defined as supposed possessors of supernatural powers.

They used, what the Bible calls, Divination, which is defined as an attempt to foretell the future by occult (or secret) means.

Divination is an abomination (evil practice) to God.  Look at Deuteronomy 18:9-14 —-When thou art come into the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of these nations.

      There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination (or fortune telling or channeling [interpretation of omens] , or an observer of times (which includes Horoscopes and also, I believe, Almanacs), or an enchanter (magician, wizard, witch ), or a witch (sorceress or enchantress),

      Or a charmer (conjurer or shaman [medicine man, witch doctor]) or a consulter with familiar spirits (these are generational demons, that follow a family from generation to generation, and can give information to the one practicing such powers, so that they can fool the one who is desiring to hear from their dead loved one.  They think they are actually  speaking to their loved one.  To me, this is the sickest of all deceptions of this line, because the people seeking to hear from their loved ones are experiencing grief and loss, and are so venerable to these deceptions.), or a wizard (a seer, diviner, charmer, and the list goes on),  or a necromancer (one who inquires of the dead).

      For all that do these things are an abomination unto the Lord: and because of these abominations the Lord thy God doth drive them  doth drive them out from before thee.

     Thou shalt be perfect (entirely obedient, upright, sincere) with the Lord, thy God.  

 

This also includes all secret orders, which are occults. If you don’t believe me look up occult in the dictionary     

 

I want you to know, we can put our future into the hands of our heavenly Father, who knows our past, present and future.  He wipes away all our past when we come to Him, and can reveal to us His future plans that always come to pass.  Only God knows the future.  Listen to this word from the Bible:

Isaiah 41:21-24 —-Produce your cause, saith the Lord; (or Set forth your plans) bring  forth your strong reasons, saith the King of Jacob.

      Let them bring them forth, and show us what shall happen: let them show the former (or past) things what they be, that we may consider them, and know the latter end (or the present)of them; or declare us things for to come.

      Show us the things that are to come hereafter, that we may know that ye are gods: yea, do good, or do evil, that we may be dismayed, and behold it together.

      Behold, ye are of nothing (or of no account), and your work of naught (or amounts to nothing): an abomination (detestable) is he that chooseth you.

God is saying, “Let your idols come and show what they can do.  Let them try to tell us what occurred in years gone by, or what the future holds.  If you are gods, tell what will happen in the days ahead!  Or do some mighty miracle that makes us stand amazed.

But no!  You are less than nothing, and can do nothing at all.  Anyone who chooses you needs to have his head examined!”

 

God is unhappy to say the least with His people who have gotten off into idolatry. He was mimicking their idol gods to their face.

Many cultures worship and look to for their future to idol gods that cannot speak or hear. It is sad when people, intelligent people, follow after a deaf and dumb idol god, which is a waste of their time.

They should turn to the risen Lord, Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God, and is God, who came in the flesh and died on Calvary for all sinners, who are into any of these occults and witchcraft, thinking themselves so smart, they loose sight of the truth.

Jesus said in John 14:6 —-…I am the way, the truth, and the life; no man cometh unto the Father,but by Me.

 

Jehovah God is the only True and Living God, who knows and reveals the future.

You might ask, “Has God, the True and Living God, ever told you the future?

Well, I’m glad you asked that question. “Yes, more than once”.

 

I want to share with you one of them:

We go on missions trips twice a year, to different countries.  Most of our trips are to the Dominican Republic.

On one of these trips we became burdened about an Orphanage in San Juan de la Maguana.  There was no water there but a polluted river a few miles up the road from the orphanage.  Most of the time they had to carry containers, on the back of a small truck, to the town of San Juan to get water.  By the time they got back, much of the water was spilled because of the bumpy roads and holes in the road. We began to pray for good water for these children.  You see, they live in the desert area.

One day, as I was praying with a friend at my home, God gave me a verse of Scripture.  I cried as I read it.  I knew that I knew it was God speaking to me.  The Scripture is also found in Isaiah 41. Read it with me. Verses 17 and 18 —-When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue faileth for thirst, I the Lord will hear them, I the God of Israel will not forsake them.

      I will open rivers in high places, and fountains in the midst of the valleys: I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of  water.

 

I shared this with my husband, and he agreed, this was  from God.

We knew we had to drill a well for those orphans.

Later, a couple of godly men we know well, said, Roy it’s time we raised money for that well.

We, along with many of our friends raised  $10,000.00 and shortly after, made our plane reservations to go.  There was one American driller on the Island, who agreed to stop what he was doing in the Capitol and come to San Juan.  God is a God of humor, because He sent with the driller a  geologist  form Purdue University, who was visiting  on the Island.

Before we left home, the Lord spoke to my husband and said, “Don’t speak anything negative about that well, speak positive.”

My husband explained this to the whole group that was going, and all agreed.

 

You should have seen the children, when those big trucks drove up on the grounds.  They were so excited, we had to draw an imaginary line for them not to cross for their own safety. You know how children are.

 

The Geologist told my husband, “You won’ find any water here, the soil is not right”.

Roy told the man to drill anyway, we’ve heard from God, you will find water.

We had hired three men in town who just happened to be walking down the street with picks in their hands. Believe me I have been saved since I was five years old, and I know there are no coincidences in the lives of a Christian, especially those on a mission.

They diggers began to dig a long ditch that would lead from the orphanage to the location where they were drilling.

The well driller told my husband, “You’ll have a nice ditch, but you won’t find any water.”

They drilled 277 feet and the driller told the group to give up.  It was costing $25.00 a foot to drill and they had already gone down farther than they should and ran out of drill rod.

My husband knew what God said, so he asked the man if he had anymore drill rod on the island.  He said, “In Puerta Plata’.

Roy said, “Go get it.” When they came back with the rod our trip schedule was coming close to the end and we were all keeping our mouths shut to keep from saying any thing negative.  My stomach was hurting and I think my husband was close to getting sick. You see, if we didn’t get water, we were going to have to go home and face the people who worked so hard to raise the money, those who gave, and not to mention those, over sixty, little boys.

 

Before they began to drill again, they said they would have to clean out the hole.

I know nothing about drilling a well, so I asked the driller if the water would spew-up like a fountain, like those oil wells in the movies?

He said, “No. That’s only in the movies”.

 

I got out of the way, by this time, the children and others, formed a big circle of prayer and asked God to put water in the hole.

Many of the surrounding villagers heard what was going on, and you know how news travels, so they were gathered around to watch.

 

When they put the thing in with a light on it, they found out the hole had caved-in.  They went down to clean it out, and at about 37 feet, the water began to spew-out, Just like the movies.

I was so excited!

Everyone was cheering and praising God.

And the droller and the Geologist, who was examining soil every so many feet and showing us it was impossible for water to there, were so amazed.

One of them, who was a backslider, said he was going back to Church.  God made a believer out of them.

The word got around the San Juan area, that a group of crazy evangelicals had found water in the desert. 

But we know who holds the future, and we know who holds our hand.

As the old song goes, something like this:

Many things about tomorrow,

I don’t seem to understand.

I just know who holds the future,

And I know, Who holds my hand.

 

Tell me, how can a person, who has seen many miracles, ever fall into the trap of the devil, and get involved in things are not even real?

Every other power, but God’s, is false, and will lead you into a place were there is no peace, and nothing but bondage and a future you will wish you never experienced.

 

Come to Jesus, Repeat this prayer with me.  Mean it in your heart:

Jesus, come into my heart, save my soul. I‘m sorry I had it my way. Please forgive me of my sins.

Now, I want it Your way.  I believe Jesus is the Son of God.  I believe He died for my sins, and rose from the dead, and is now seated at the right hand of God. I accept You, Lord, as my Lord and Savior.

Thank You for saving me.

Now, for those who were involved in demonic practices, repeat this prayer:

Jesus, I denounce all witchcraft in my life. Deliver me from every stronghold. I apply the blood of Jesus over me and my family.

Satan, you have no part of me. I belong to God from this day forth. I speak this with my mouth, and I believe it in my heart.

I love You Jesus.

Now, it is very important for you to get in a Bible believing Church.

Don’t look for a perfect one, you won’t find it.

Read your Bible everyday and make Jesus your best friend.

Talk to God in the name of Jesus.

He will hear You.

 

 

     

 

    

 

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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!!! 

 

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WHAT IS YOUR FUTURE? PART II

WE GO ON MISSIONARY TRIPS TWICE A YEAR TO DIFFERENT COUNTRIES; MOSTLY TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

ON ONE OF THESE TRIPS WE BECAME BURDENED ABOUT AN ORPHANAGE IN SAN JUAN DELA MAGUANA. THERE WAS NO WATER THERE BUT A POLUTED RIVER A FEW MILES UP THE ROAD FROM THE ORPHANAGE. MOST OF THE TIME, THEY HAD TO CARRY CONTAINERS, ON THE BACK OF A SMALL TRUCK, TO THE TOWN OF SAN JUAN TO GET WATER. BY THE TIME THEY GOT BACK, MUCH OF THE WATER WAS SPILLED BECAUSE OF THE BUMPY ROADS AND HOLES IN THE ROAD.

WE BEGAN TO PRAY FOR GOOD WATER FOR THESE CHILDREN.

YOU SEE, THEY LIVE IN THE DESERT AREA.

ONE DAY AS I WAS PRAYING WITH A FRIEND AT MY HOME, GOD GAVE ME A VERSE OF SCRIPTURE. I CRIED AS I READ. I KNEW, THAT I KNEW IT WAS GOD SPEAKING TO ME.

ISAIAH 41:17,18 –  WHEN THE POOR AND NEEDY SEEK WATER, AND THERE IS NONE, AND THEIR TONGUE FAILETH FOR THIRST, I THE LORD WILL HEAR THEM, I THE GOD OF ISRAEL WILL NOT FORSAKE THEM.

      I WILL OPEN RIVERS IN HIGH PLACES, AND FOUNTAINS IN THE MIDST OF THE VALLEYS: I WILL MAKE THE WILDERNESS A POOL OF WATER, AND THE DRY LAND SPRINGS OF WATER.

I SHARED THIS WITH MY HUSBAND, AND HE AGREED, THIS WAS FROM GOD. WE KNEW WE HAD TO DRILL A WELL FOR THESE ORPHANS.

LATER, A COUPLE OF GODLY MEN WE KNEW WELL, SAID, “ROY, IT’S TIME WE RAISED MONEY FOR THAT WELL.”

WE, ALONG WITH MANY OF OUR FRIENDS, RAISED $10,000.00, AND SHORTLY AFTER, MADE OUR PLANE RESERVATIONS TO GO.

THERE WAS ONE AMERICAN DRILLER ON THE ISLAND WHO AGREED TO STOP WHAT HE WAS DOING IN THE CAPITOL AND GO TO SAN JUAN. GOD IS A GOD OF HUMOR, BECAUSE HE SENT WITH THE DRILLER A GEOLOGIST FROM PURDUE UNIVERSITY, WHO WAS VISITING ON THE ISLAND.

BEFORE WE LEFT HOME, THE LORD SPOKE TO MY HUSBAND AND SAID, “DON’T SPEAK ANYTHING NEGATIVE ABOUT THAT WELL, SPEAK POSITIVE.”

MY HUSBAND EXPLAINED THIS TO THHE WHOLE GROUP GOING WITH US, AND ALL AGREED.

YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN THE CHILDREN, WHEN THOSE BIG TRUCKS DROVE UP ON THE GROUNDS. THEY WERE SO EXCITED, WE HAD TO DRAW AN IMAGINARY LINE FOR THEM NOT TO CROSS FOR THEIR OWN SAFETY. 

THE GEOLOGIST TOLD MY HUSBAND, “YOU WON’T FIND ANY WATER HERE, THE SOIL IS NOT RIGHT.”

ROY TOLD THEM TO DRILL ANY WAY, WE’VE HEARD FROM GOD. YOU WILL FIND WATER.

WE HAD HIRED THREE MEN IN TOWN WHO JUST HAPPENED TO BE WALKING DOWN THE STREET WITH PICKS IN THEIR HANDS. BELIEVE ME, I WAS SAVED AT AN EARLY AGE, AND I KNOW THERE ARE NO COINCIDENCES IN THE LIVES OF A CHRISTIAN, ESPECIALLY THOSE ON A MISSION.

THE DIGGERS BEGAN TO DIG A LONG DITCH THAT WOULD LEAD FROM THE ORPHANAGE TO WHERE THEY WERE DRILLING.

THE WELL DRILLER TOLD MY HUSBAND, “YOU’LL HAVE A NICE DITCH, BUT YOU WON’T FIND ANY WATER.”

THEY DRILLED 277 FEET AND THE DRILLER TOLD OUR GROUP TO GIVE IT UP. IT WAS COSTING $25.00 A FOOT TO DRILL AND THEY HAD ALREADY GONE DOWN FARTHER THAN THEY SHOULD AND RAN OUT OF DRILL ROD.

MY HUSBAND KNEW WHAT GOD HAD SAID, SO HE ASK THE MAN IF HE HAD ANY MORE DRILL ROD ON THE ISLAND. HE SAID, “IN PUERTA PLATA.”

ROY SAID, “GO GET IT.”

WHEN THEY CAME BACK WITH THE ROD, OUR TRIP SCHEDULE WAS COMING CLOSE TO THE END, AND WE WERE ALL KEEPING OUR MOUTH’S SHUT TO KEEP FROM SAYING ANYTHING NEGATIVE.

MY STOMACH WAS HURTING AND I THINK MY HUSBAND WAS CLOSE TO GETTING SICK. YOU SEE, IF WE DIDN’T GET WATER, WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO GO HOME AND FACE THE PEOPLE WHO WORKED SO HARD TO RAISE THE MONEY, THOSE WHO GAVE, AND NOT TO MENTION THEM, OVER SIXTY LITTLE BOY ORPHANS.

BEFORE THEY BEGAN TO DRILL AGAIN, THEY SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO CLEAN OUT THE HOLE.

I KNOW NOTHING ABOUT DRILLING A WELL, SO IASKED THE DRILLER IF THE WATER WOULD SPEW-UO LIKE A FOUNTAIN, LIKE THOSE OIL WELLS IN THE MOVIES.

HE SAID, “NO. THAT’S ONLY IN THE MOVIES.” I GOT OUT OF THE WAY.

 MANY OF THE SURROUNDING VILLAGERS HEARD WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND YOU KNOW HOW NEWS TRAVELS, SO THEY WERE GATHERED AROUND TO WATCH.

WHEN THEY PUT THE THING IN WITH A LIGHT ON IT, THEY FOUND THE HOLE HAD CAVED IN. THEY WENT DOWN TO CLEAN IT OUT, AND AT ABOUT 37 FEET, THE WATER BEGAN TO SPEW OUT, JUST LIKE IN THE MOVIES!!

I WAS SO EXCITED!!

EVERYONE WAS CHEERING AND PRAISING GOD.

AND THE DRILLER AND THE GEOLOGIST, WHO WAS EXAMINING SOIL EVERY SO MANY FEET AND SHOWING US IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR WATER TO BE FOUND THERE, WERE SO AMAZED.

THE WORD GOT AROUND THE SAN JUAN AREA, THAT A GROUP OF EVANGELICALS HAD FOUND WATER IN THE DESERT.

BUT WE KNOW WHO HOLDS THE FUTURE, WE KNOW ONLY GOD KNOWS; AND HE PERFORMS MIRACLES.

THIS IS REAL.

EVERY OTHER POWER BUT GOD’S, IS FALSE, AND WILL LEAD YOU INTO A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO PEACE, AND NOTHING BUT BONDAGE , AND A FUTURE YOU WILL WISH YOU HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED.

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THE TRIED

BEING TRIED IS NOT THE EASIEST PART OF BEING A CHILD OF GOD.

WE ARE TRIED MANY TIMES BY THE USE OF FAMILY MEMBERS, FRIENDS, CHURCH MEMBERS, AND ENEMIES OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.

WE ARE TRIED BY OUR OWN IMAGINATIONS GOING WILD.

WE ARE TRIED BY BY OUR REACTIONS TO CERTAIN SITUATIONS.

WE ARE ALWAYS ON THE BATTLEFIELD AS WE SERVE THE LORD. BUT WHAT WE HAVE TO REMEMBER IS, I SAMUEL 17:47b – THE BATTLE IS THE LORD’S.

WE DON’T HAVE TO FIGHT OUR BATTLES.

TRIALS COME, MY FRIEND, THEY COME.

BUT WE SHOULD REMEMBER: TRIALS ARE LIKE A TUNNEL. THEY HAVE A BEGINNING AND AN END. WE CAN SEE LIGHT AT THE END OF A TUNNEL. BUT WHILE GOING THROUGH A TUNNEL, THERE IS DARKNESS BEFORE THE LIGHT.

BUT AS CHRISTIANS, WE HAVE THE SENSE THAT WE ARE STILL MOVENG FORWARD, NO MATTER HOW DARK IT MAY SEEM.

THIS IS LIKE THE TIMES WE ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF BEING TRIED. WE REALIZE HOW POWERFUL THE GRACE OF GOD REALLY IS: HOW HE IS IN CHARGE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NO STRENGTH OF OUR OWN.

OUR TRUST CANNOT BE THE FLESH; FLESH WON’T HELP: IT HAS TO BE GOD WHO IS CARRYING US THROUGH.

PSALM 66:8-12 –  O BLESS OUR GOD, YE HIS PEOPLE, AND MAKE THE VOICE OF HIS PRAISE BE HEARD:

WHICH HOLDETH OUR SOUL IN LIFE, AND SUFFERETH NOT OUR FEET TO BE MOVED.

FOR THOU O GOD, HAST PROVED US; HAS TRIED US AS SILVER IS TRIED

SILVER, ACCORDING TO ANCIENT METHODS, REQUIRED A PROLONGED PROCESS OF REFINING BEFORE IT COULD BE PRONOUNCED PURE.

SO YOU COULD SAY IT THIS WAY, “YOU, THROUGH A LONG PROCESS, HAVE PURIFIED US WITH FIRE.”

VERSES 11,12 – THOU BROUGHTEST US INTO THE NET; THOU LAIDEST AFFLICTION UPON OUR LOINS. THOU HAST CAUSED MEN TO RIDE OVER OUR HEADS; WE WENT THROUGH THE FIRE AND THROUGH  WATER: BUT THOU BROUGHTEST US OUT INTO A WEALTHY PLACE. 

THE MEANING IS, YOU CRUSHED US DOWN UNDER A HEAVY WEIGHT, OR LAID GREAT BURDENS ON OUR BACKS. MEN CAME AGAINST US TO HARM US, BUT IN THE END, YOU BROUGHT US OUT INTO WEALTH AND GREAT ABUNDANCE, A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY.

VERSES 16-20 – COME AND HEAR, ALL YE THAT FEAR GOD, AND I WILL DECLARE WHAT HE HATH DONE FOR MY SOUL. I CRIED UNTO HIM WITH MY MOUTH, AND HE WAS EXTOLLED (OR CELEBRATED) WITH MY TONGUE.  

IN ALL THESE VERSES, IT SEEMS THE PSALMIST HAS BEEN THROUGH A TERRIBLE TRIAL. HE BEGAN TO PRAISE GO WITH HIS MOUTH AND TELL OTHERS HOW GOD BROUGHT HIM OUT.

BUT GOD DID MORE THAN JUST BRING HIM OUT OF HIS TRIAL, HE MOVED HIM INTO A PLACE OF REFRESHMENT, A PLACE OF LIBERTY, A PLACE OF BLESSING.

HE WAS ELEVATED INTO ANOTHER LEVEL WITH GOD BY THE PASSING OF THIS GREAT TRIAL.

I BELIEVE THIS HAPPENS TO US AFTER WE HAVE BEEN TRIED.

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