Update from the Land of Enchantment 06/17/2010
Greetings in Jesus Name!! Just wanted to give an update about our time here in New Mexico. Things have finally started coming together and we’re just about finished with the work here. Everything was kinda put on hold due to an accident I had. Myself and another brother who was visiting us from California were working on a barn that we are converting into living space when I broke three fingers on my right hand (We still live in our trailer. We are converting the barn for other saints to use when that time comes). In New Mexico there are very high winds here. I had my hand right near the door hinges when a gust of wind slammed the door shut on my hand. It was very painful and I ended up with three fingers broken right below my knuckles. I just recently got the cast off and am able to bend my fingers enough to type. I’m still not able to make a fist but my range of motion is improving every day. Thank the Lord!  MINISTRY ON THE LAND For those who don’t know the state of New Mexico is called the Land of Enchantment. However, I think the majority of people, at least where we live, are Enchanted by evil spirit and are in bondage to all sorts of wickedness (especially drugs and alcohol). The Lord has bless us by having different contractors and people come to do various work here for us. So far everyone who has come is either on drugs or an alcoholic. The good thing is this has given me a steady stream of people to share the gospel with even when I don’t leave and go into town! We had an electrician do some work for us that was continually strung out on crack. In fact, he showed up one night at 2:00 am and worked till 5:00 without telling me he was coming. The whole time he was here that night all he did was hang one light! He was really strung out. But the Lord gave me so many opportunities to share the gospel with him and also to share how God through Christ delivered me from that lifestyle as well. This man would also bring a different worker with him every day which gave me someone new to preach too. Even though the guy took FOREVER to finish his work that should have taken him about two days to finish I saw that God had him here so we could continue to preach Jesus to him day after day. Even today we had a final contractor come out to give us an estimate to complete the barn conversion. After we finished talking about the barn he asked me if I believe in aliens. That really came out of nowhere. Nevertheless, it was a great way to be able to spend the next three hours talking to him about the Gospel. I could definitely see the Lord was testifying to what I was sharing. The Lord gave me the grace to answer everyone of his objections and questions and to point him personally to Christ. He had some very real and genuine questions like.. Why does God allow suffering? Why did an all knowing God allow sin to come into this world? How could God kill whole peoples in the Old Testament? ect…ect. Those are all really good questions and it reminded me of when I had similar questions before I was converted. We as believers, need to realize that those are real and valid questions. We need to have the patience and ability to share with people the answers to these questions all the while continually directing people to their need for Christ. I really felt the Lord was doing a work in this man and he acknowledge that God “probably” had him here as well…though I’m quite certain He did! We’ve also developed a great relationship with a family that lives about a mile behind us. It’s a husband and wife in their late 20’s and they have five children. Again the husband is an alcoholic but is very functional as far as still being able to talk and work. I met him one day in the winter when I was stuck in the snow. I was having a terrible day. One of those days where everything seems to go wrong. Then at night when I was trying to drive off the land, when I was about 20 yards from the exit, I got stuck in the snow and ice without a shovel. I was quite frustraighted at having to walk over a mile, in the dark, back to our place. When I finally got the shovel and made it back to the car our neighbor who I had not met, named Ben, had pulled up when he saw that we were stuck. He helped us get unstuck and I was able to share with him a little about Jesus. I realized that the whole ordeal was ordained by God. I was really repenting for my frustration and attitude as I saw God's greater plan. Since that time I’ve been able to spend many hours with Ben. Seems like almost every time we get together we’re able to spend a couple hours talking about God and the Gospel. The refreshing thing is almost all of his questions were sincere and asked out of a lack of knowledge. Many times when you talk to people about Christ you have to deal with one objection after another. That hasn’t been the case with him and his family. It’s really been a joy. In fact, when I explained to him the reason for Christ death on the cross he was really amazed. He said he had never heard why Christ had to die. It’s been a real joy sharing with him and seeing him gradually come to understand the truth that can save his soul and bring him to God. Lisa has also had many opportunities to share with his children. Their children are about the same age as ours. One day Lisa was asking his kids if they knew about Jesus. They looked at her and said “Who’s Jesus?”. Pretty amazing. These kids knew nothing. Another time Lisa was in the trailer making a grocery list. She was kinda talking to herself as she wrote each item down that we needed to buy. One of his kids looked at Lisa and said “I hear voices in my head too!”. This young girl then proceeded to tell Lisa how she would hear voices talking to her. This was clearly demonic. Lisa was also telling this girl about the Lord and the girl kept telling Lisa that God was dead! Lisa spent time with her telling her about Jesus and His resurrection from the dead…telling her that Christ was alive. All of the sudden the girl opens our trailer door and yells to her brothers and sisters outside “you guys are wrong - God is not dead He’s alive!”. It was a joy to see. I'm sure demonic spirits and principalities were reeling at that proclamation! Since then their children have been very open to the things of God. We try to have them over as much as we can so we can sow the Gospel in their lives as well. Ben, Tasha and their Children   NEAR MISS A few days ago I took my car into Albuquerque to have it worked on. It was going to take all day so I figured I’d just walk the streets and find people to talk to about Jesus. As I was walking down the sidewalk next to the street I hear a car engine rev up and the horn blowing. I turned around and saw a car coming right towards me. I literally jumped out of the way and then heard the car crash into another car and then turned around and saw it spin and hit the median. It’s was a really close call for me. No one was hurt but I stayed around till the police showed up. During that time an older man walked up and started talking with me. It wasn’t too long before I was able to start talking with him about Christ. It was really sad actually. He was from an Assembly of God Church. He proceeded to tell me all about being a founding member, about how they don’t believe any doctrine or teaching unless there are at least three scripture reference..ect..ect..ect. He could tell me all these things about his denomination that mean absolutely NOTHING and couldn’t tell me anything about knowing a personal living Christ and walking daily with Him. I was able to point this out to him in a gentle way and exhort him with his need for true saving faith. But I couldn’t help just thinking how many millions of people are just like this man. Able to tell you everything about their denomination, doctrines they believe that make them special, all about how their church functions and yet they know nothing of Christ and His salvation. Nothing of having Christ dwell in their hearts by faith, nothing of the witness of God’s Spirit, nothing of expecting the blessed hope of Christ return. Just dead empty tombs, void of the life of God, with a façade of Christianity that has no power. I really felt the whole ordeal was from God so I could speak to this man about the true condition of his soul. I’ve come to see in my own life that many situations that appear to be bad are often used by the Lord is such good ways. Either giving us opportunities to share the gospel or opportunities to be more conformed into the image of Christ. If you can see (and it really is true) that every situation no matter how bad can and is an opportunity for you to exhibit the fruits of the Spirit and bring you into more conformity to Christ..you can rejoice! When you truly understand this you can really give thanks to God, from the heart, no matter what situation you find yourself in. BROTHER ISMAIL For those who pray and periodically send support for brother Ismail - he and his family are doing well. They recently had to move from their house to a new location in the city. The place where they are now living is in even a more dense Muslim area giving them new opportunities to preach to their new neighbors. Brother Ismail still has his home fellowship and continues to minister and build up the relatively new converts that attend. He is also working on translating the “AnseringIslam.com” website into the Telegu language making the resources accessible to more believers. On a personal note, brother Ismail’s motor scooter recently broke down. It was their families only personal means of transportation. In fact when I was in India Ismail took me to several villages on his motor scooter. It was in such bad shape I really wondered if we would make it back and forth to the villages. Thankfully we did. But it did finally quit working. I want to say thanks to those of you who have recently sent support for Ismail. With the support, that came at the right time, he was able to purchase a new motor bike for him and his family almost paying it in full. He was able to purchase it from another brother who’s letting him pay the rest off in a month or so. Either way, Ismail and his family were extremely thankful and praising the Lord that they were able to get another means of transportation so soon. WHAT’S NEXT? - INDIA TRIP While I continue to do ministry around where we live I’m also praying and planning a trip to India by myself. Provided the funds are there, and the Lord brings it all together, I am praying and planning on making a trip to India soon. Lord-willing, I plan on staying for about 4 or 5 weeks and visiting some brethren as well as preaching in a heavily Muslim populated area in Northern India. Right now I’m tentatively planning on visiting a brother in Southern India as well. He and his wife are missionaries from the US and have been in India for about six months. From there I would be going to see brother Ismail who is preaching among Muslims about two hours from the village our family used to live in. I plan on holding some meetings together with him to preach the Gospel to the Muslims he’s working amongst. From there I would go to Northern India - West Bengal- and minister along side a brother and his wife who are working in a Muslim area where they are constantly persecuted for their faith (hopefully brother Ismail will be able to go with me as well). In fact, one of the believer's daughters was recently raped by one of the fanatical Muslims because they left Islam. They also face continual intimidation, have their bibles stolen, and sometimes are beaten for their faith. These believers meet and congregate in home fellowships. I will be able to hold meetings to exhort the brethren and hold meetings to preach the gospel to Muslims in that area. I believe the real thrust and purpose of this trip will be to work along side these believers in this dense Muslim area in Northern India. Lord-willing, as all this comes together I’ll send out another update. If you would like to help with the trip or find out more details you can email me directly. Again, this is something I’m praying about and seems to be a door that the Lord is opening for me at this time. Please keep me in prayer regarding this trip. Thank you to each of you who have kept us in prayer and encouraged us as we’ve sought to continue preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ. IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott www.preachingjesuschrist.com Quick update... 02/28/2010
Just wanted to send out a quick update. We're still currently in New Mexico. Like a lot of the country we've had one snow storm after another. In some area's out here we've consistently had three to four feet of snow (here's some pic's after the county came and cleared the roads http://preachingjesus.wordpress.com/2010/02/01/snow/ ). Coming from living in Texas it's been quite an experience and very challenging at times. Especially trying to keep the road clear so we can get on and off the property. In fact, there were some times that we've barely been able to make if off the land. Thankfully though, it's really warming up and the snow is melting quite fast. As of now, it still looks like we'll be here quite a bit longer than expected. There are still a few things we need to finish and we need everything to be completely dry to do it. If you would, please pray for us and our ministry time here. The next two days we'll be driving into Gallup and Albuquerque and looking for areas where we can start doing street preaching and ministry starting this month . As of now we're planning on preaching in both unless we hear the Lord direct us to focus in just one area. I'm also writing a couple new tracts that I hope to have finished very soon. Lord-willing we'll be able to print a lot of these and use them in outreaches. Nothing fancy, just a basic gospel tract with a sound gospel message. I'm looking forward to getting back out on the streets and preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Please keep us in prayer and pray that God's grace will be with us as we start preaching in these surrounding cities. Thank you all for your continued prayer. IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott www.preachingjesuschrist.com Current Blog Post: Repentance, Repentance, Repentance....where's the faith? www.preachingjesus.wordpress.com Just wanted to send out an article I just wrote on The Roman Catholic Church and the Emergent Social Justice Gospel. We live in a day of ever growing apostasy where the Word of God is constantly attacked and the lines of truth are continually blurred. There is a great ecumenical move underway that will deceive multitudes of people into believing another Gospel and a different Jesus. This article is an attempt to just scratch the surface of this movement and hopefully shed some Gospel light on the subject. Here are the subject headings for the article: DREAM ABOUT APOSTASY ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCH MOTHER THERESA THE EMERGENT SOCIAL JUSTICE GOSPEL THE GREAT COMMISSION - THE EMERGENT SOCIAL JUSTICE VERSION REMOVING THE OFFENSE OF THE GOSPEL ENVIRONMENTALISM AND THE GOSPEL? WHAT IS THE FRUIT OF THIS GOSPEL? WHERE DOES IT ALL LEAD? You can read it online at my blog: www.preachingjesus.wordpress.com God Bless.... IN Christ, Sean Scott Land update 12/04/2009
Just wanted to give an update on our stay at the land. We’ve been here now about three weeks and it’s been a real blessing. Actually, things are coming together very quickly. The land we have is at about 8,000 feet so it’s been getting cold. During the day it’s in the high 40’s and 50’s and at night it’s been between 4 and 27 degrees (in fact the pipes on our trailer freeze every night!). When we got here we contacted some contractors and talked to them about getting some work done on the land. We wanted to get septic put in, get a water tank, some gravel put in, a shed built, and a barn type dwelling. At first the contractors said it was getting too cold and they wanted to wait until the spring. However, a couple days later they decided to go ahead and do the work and they were working on the land a couple days after that. So right now we have everything done except the barn which should be here in a couple weeks. So, Lord-willing, we plan on staying here through December which should give us enough time to get everything finished. The land itself is really nice. It basically full of huge pine trees and surrounded by mountains. We’re on about 10 acres but we’re literally surrounded by thousands of acres of state and federal land. So the backyard seems almost endless! We’ve always lived in the city. Aside from us there are just a few other people nearby. However, we do see a lot of wildlife..especially deer and elk. In fact, I went on a hike a couple nights ago and as I was almost back to our trailer I walked right up on two elk. They’re big animals. I was about 100 feet from them and think I startled them as much as they startled me. In addition to getting things done here we’ve been using our time to stay in the Word of God and in prayer. I was telling a brother how easy, and fulfilling, it is when God is filling you with His Spirit and using you in ministry. It’s been much more difficult for me to be removed from all of that, to slow down some, have a little work to do and spend the rest of the time seeking the Lord. Not that seeking the Lord is difficult but more so being isolated, away from brethren and preaching. But I know the Lord is using this time to refresh our souls before He sends us back out. So I’m thankful the Lord is giving us this time to rest in Him. Extended times to be away from others to seek the Lord don’t come often so really we’re thankful for it. Below are some pic's of the land we're on I've also written about a few things I’ve been thinking about lately on my blog. I figured I would set up a blog to write about topics that don’t necessarily have to do with either our ministry or family update. You can read my post by clicking on this link: http://preachingjesus.wordpress.com/ IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott www.preachingjesuschrist.com The Drive Up    On the Property   November Update: Change of Plans 11/11/2009
A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps. (Prov 16:9) We’ve had a little change of plans since our last update. Being finished traveling around the country we had planned to go back to India to continue preaching with brethren and ministering to the lost. It was something we were really looking forward to and something we still long too do. However, just as the Lord stopped the Apostle Paul from preaching in Asia the Lord has stopped us from returning there at this time as well. We were actually in the process of making our plans to return when the Lord began to bring to pass a prophetic dream He had given Lisa about two and half years ago. For those who don’t know my wife, she frequently receives prophetic dreams from the Lord. Some come to pass very soon and some come to pass years later. With Lisa there are “usually” two main reasons why God gives her prophetic dreams. He gives them to sometimes confirm His specific will or direction in our life and sometimes He gives them to warn or correct a condition in a particular fellowship or a specific believer’s life. While there can be a great danger in and for those who run after dreams and visions this certainly hasn’t been our pursuit. The Lord, at least in our lives, seems to use them to confirm our steps and does so by bring to pass what He has shown. The dream the Lord gave Lisa a couple years ago had to do with us receiving land. The short version is that in her dream I came to her and told her that someone had bought land for us. I was carrying the title to the land in my hands. She asked me to see the title and on the back was written the name of the person who would buy the land. In another dream the Lord showed Lisa that the land would not only be provision for us but also for other saints. She received the dream about the land before we went to Mexico. I don’t believe I told anyone about it except for the brother and sister we preached with in Mexico. We didn’t know when it would come to pass but believed it was from the Lord. Since the time God gave Lisa the dream we’ve been to Mexico, India and have recently been traveling through the U.S. Our last stop before coming back to Texas was New Mexico. We had a short visit with a brother there and then were praying about what was next for us. In our hearts we’ve had a sincere desire to return to India and it even seemed as if doors where opening for us to return. However, as we were praying and planning on returning to India I received a call from the person (a believer) the Lord showed us who would buy the land. They stated we should consider getting land anywhere in the US, that they would buy it, and we could live on it and use it as a place we to stay when not traveling. They too also said they thought the Lord would use it at a later time for other believers. It was amazing. It was just as the Lord has shown Lisa in the dream. Even realizing this was from the Lord we had mixed feelings. We really desired to return to India and preach with the brothers that God gave us fellowship with. Yet at the same time, since God was bringing this to pass, it seemed as if the Lord would have us stay here at least for now. So we headed back to Texas and began to look for land. We were able to find some land outside of Texas and took a couple days to visit it. It seemed like an ideal place that would fit the purpose the Lord had shown us it would be for. We came back to Texas and began negotiating with the seller. At first he seemed to not want to come down any on the price. After some unfruitful negotiating it seemed as if might not get the land until the following year. I decided that if this was the case, that we were not going to get the land until later next year, that our family would return to India until then and continue preaching. I didn’t doubt that the Lord would provide it but thought maybe the timing was off. So I got online and booked five tickets to India. About an hour later I got this feeling that I had just made a mistake. It was a terrible feeling. I felt that I had moved ahead of God and that He still wanted to provide the land for us now. I then looked in my email at our ticket confirmations. When I looked at them I noticed that the online booking company had billed us for $800 more than the tickets cost! I got on the phone with them and they said since there was an error and that if I was unhappy they would refund our tickets! I really felt like this was of the Lord. I then felt led that we should call the seller of the land back and just give him the bottom price once again and see what he says. The person buying the land called him back and the seller accepted the offer! Just like that we now had land and our plane tickets were refunded! Again it was another moment of joy and sorrow. Joyful to see the Lord work and be in His will but sorrowful at the thought of not being able be with and preach with the brethren in India. It might be hard for some to understand but having these two options has been difficult for us. It can be easy to let go of the things that we know that without question are sin. But it can be even more difficult to let go of things that, at times, can be good and even seem right…like going to a foreign land, preaching to the lost..ect. But even these desires, which may seem good, are things we must die to if the Lord would not have them for us at a particular time. Not that the desires are bad but fulfilling them outside of the the Lord’s timing and His will are what is wrong. We are called to live by the Spirit, to be led by the Spirit of God, and not by what seems best to us. This was a struggle for me through all of this but I’m glad the Lord took me through it. It’s the trials and testing’s that prove the genuiness of our faith and/or expose the condition of our hearts. At the moment we are currently on our way to go stay on the land for a couple months. It’s undeveloped so we’re going to stay there in our travel trailer while it’s made more livable (having power, sewer, water, ect put in). After that we are planning to continue preaching to the lost ministering to brethren (wherever the Lord would have that be). It’s been kinda difficult even thinking about being there for a couple months and not actively engaged in ministry. But I’ve come to see the land and our time there as a family as a blessing from the Lord (and it is because He provided it!). Our family has been on travel mode for about the last two years. And since Feb our family has traveled quite a bit all over the U.S. in our travel trailer. So we are looking forward to spending some personal time as a family and being able to spend some extended time in prayer and reading and studying the word of God. And we rejoice to see the Lord’s provision not only for us but also for other believers in His timing. I mentioned in my last update my (Sean) desire to see Muslims come to Christ. That hasn’t changed by any means. I still long to see that happen and for the Lord to use me and many others for that end. While I believe the Lord will do that I know that at this time God has directed our steps in a different direction and is fulfilling what He had revealed to us He would do. While we’re there we should have internet access, so Lord-willing, I plan on writing and blogging some. We’ll also be able to send and respond to email. If you think too, please keep our family in prayer. We are always in need of God’s continued grace in our lives. We are thankful for each of you who do pray for us. We pray the Lord keep you during this hour and give you discernment to guard your soul. And may you truly long for the Lord’s glorious appearing and be found being a faithful servant ready to meet your Master when He returns! IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott www.preachingjesuschrist.com September Update 09/16/2009
FINISHED TRAVELING THE U.S. We are back in Texas. I do believe that we are done traveling through the US. Since our last update we’ve spent some time with brethren in East Texas, in New Mexico, and then back to Texas. Over the last six months we’ve probably traveled close to 7000 miles visiting different brethren while living out of our travel trailer. I certainly can’t say it’s been easy. In fact, in some ways it’s been more difficult than living in India or Mexico. While our trailer has been a blessing it’s certainly been challenging at times for our family of six to live in such a small space. (Lisa home schools three of our children and Jeremiah is about 14 months). However I’m often reminded of the fact that there are so many people, especially like those in some parts of India, who would love to have the comfort and conviences that we have even in our travel trailer. Only in America (or western country) can you pull a house behind your car that’s nicer than what so many people in the world live in every day. And, for about the last six or seven months it’s served as our home. So I really can’t complain! God has provided for our every need so abundantly and upheld us through every trial (which there have been many). While we’ve had the blessed opportunity to meet, fellowship with, and minister to some godly brethren, the Lord has also, through all this has continued to show His unfailing faithfulness to our family. INDIA - REACHING MUSLIMS So what’s next? Having finished what we believe the Lord has had us do we are now planning on returning to India to continue working with the brethren there, and Lord-willing, to specifically seek to work among the Muslims and see their conversion to Jesus Christ. God has truly given me a desire to see them come to Christ. It’s a burden God gave me shortly after my own conversion to Christ. Not only do I desire to see them receive eternal life in Christ I desire to see God glorified through the preaching of the Gospel among their communities (wherever they may be). God is glorified not only through their conversions but also through a Spirit filled bold proclamation of the Gospel in spite of their sometimes murderous threats and hostility to the message we preach. Sometimes you may be like Paul in Corinth and see many people come to Christ or you could be like Stephen and deliver a God glorifying message and then go be with the Lord. In either case, each man was resolved to do the will of God and God had different means for using them for His glory. We should know that whatever the Lord chooses for us will be used for His glory and possibly open a door for the Gospel to go forth. If you’ve ever watched a video like “The Third Jihad” (which you can watch it online for free if you google it) you will see the shear boldness and determination of Muslims all over the world to preach Islam without shame and without fear of the consequences they may face. (By the way, if you do watch it the video is not done by a Christian nor is it appropriate for minors. Also, if you’re unable to watch Muslim “extremist” without getting angry or feeling vengeful at them then please do not watch it. ) When I see videos like this, or personally encounter Muslims like this, I get a burning Jealousy for the true God to receive the glory He is due. It grieves my heart to see so many people deceived into believing such a demonic lie and to see them so utterly bold and committed to what they believe. And then when you look at modern Christendom you can hardly find men that are truly willing to lay down their lives for the name of Jesus Christ! What a tragedy considering the truth that we have. Is not our God worthy of greater commitment and bold proclamation of the Gospel by those who call themselves by His name? By looking at the zeal and commitment to Christ in modern Christendom you would hardly think many Christians have really met the Lord (which is the case many times) or have something of eternal importance to offer those they believe are truly perishing. Now obviously believers do not wage war the same way a Muslim would. We don’t seek the death of those who oppose us, or push for conversion by force or intimidation, nor do we seek to over throw governments and make them conform to Christian teachings. We seek to see non-believers “come to know the only true God and Jesus Christ whom He has sent. (John 17:3)” We seek for them to experience the same salvation we have received. For the Holy Spirit to shed abroad the love of God in their heart by faith. And for God to receive praise from those for whom He died. It is a message of life, redemption, and reconciliation by a loving God. Not that we must all become open air preachers and take to the streets but our commitment should compel us to be like the Lord, that together with the Lord, we “seek to save that which is lost”. If we as believers are going to see greater numbers of Muslims come to Christ then we are going to have to truly lay our lives down for that to happen. What I mean is that we must be willing to die, in some cases literally, so that others might know Christ. Jesus said “Joh 12:23 And Jesus answered them, saying, The hour is come, that the Son of man should be glorified. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal“. In that passage Christ is talking about His soon coming death and subsequent resurrection from the dead. We who believe are part of the “much fruit” brought forth by Jesus Christ. Yet this same truth is how God brings forth fruit in our lives. Not necessarily through physical death, though it might be in some cases, but through our forsaking our lives and completely living for the will of God. To be a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1), to be totally given over the revealed will of God in His word and the specific will of God for our individual lives. Which, to some degree will ALWAYS include being part of brining in souls into the kingdom of God. I am convinced of the fact that if we are to see a greater number of people come to Christ, especially from the fastest growing religion in the world, then we are going to have to see more believers lay their lives on the line for this to happen. And think about it, if God rejoices in heaven when one sinner repents then may we all be part, to whatever degree we can, of something we know brings God such joy. We MUST get to the place where we can say like Paul that we are willing to suffer all things for the elects sake that they too may obtain the salvation in Jesus Christ (2 Tim 2:10). (While I’m specifically talking about Muslims in this email it goes without saying we should have the same zeal and attitude to reach all those who don’t know Christ). So for us, by the grace of God, it seems the Lord has brought our family full circle and is now allowing us to go back to India and continue preaching there with the expectancy that the Lord will continue to use us to work with and edify the believers we’ve met and to preach the gospel in Muslims areas. Since leaving India I’ve often pondered in my heart why the Lord provided 5 year residency permits for us only to send us back to the US after 6 months. Our getting the residency permits was truly the work of a sovereign God. (you can read about it here: http://www.preachingjesuschrist.com/2/archives/12-2008/1.html ) Even though it all didn’t make sense at the time we knew it was the will of God for us to return to the US at that time. We just had to trust the Lord knew what He was doing even if we didn’t understand everything. Yet in all things God knew and accordingly provided the appropriate papers we would need the first time we where there. So at the moment we are eagerly, and prayerfully, looking forward to returning to India. We don’t have a date set but, Lord-willing, we are praying and planning to leave as soon as we have the finances to do so. We have about 2/3rd of the funds need for out tickets and are believing God to provide the rest of our needs to return soon. (If you’d prayerfully like to help, we have support info at the bottom of our page). BROTHER ISMAIL UPDATE I know that some of you who read our site have sent support for brother Ismail so I wanted to give a quick update on him. For those who are new to our site he is a brother in Christ who translated for me during part of my time in India. After being kicked out of his denominational church, for preaching more of the truth, he began a home church with a few Muslim converts. At the moment he still has his home fellowship with four converts from Islam. He also has a Muslim man who regularly come but is not yet converted. Brother Ismail always sounds joyful when I talk with him but I know at times he is threatened by some of the husbands of the some of the women believers who attend his fellowship. If you remember, please keep him and his family in prayer and pray God would continue to make him bold in preaching the Gospel. NOT BEING IDLE I know that many believers have a real sense of urgency regarding the lateness of the hour we live in and a true sense from the Lord that things in this country will be changing very soon. It seems the Lord has been giving many of His saints the same type of warnings and exhortations. God has given many people direction to prepare, even if simple, provision for their family and other saints. But what else would God have us do during the time? Because we are in a spiritual battle there is a real danger, even in doing with will of God, to get sidetracked from other things God has called us to do. I specifically want to give everyone a warning to not forget to be laboring in the vineyard of the Lord (Matt 20:1-16) and praying for or going into the harvest yourself. (Matt 9:37,38) While there are several interpretations (even applications) to the passage of the Lord sending laborers out in His vineyard in Matt 20, I would like to highlight just the simple fact that even in the eleventh hour, so very late in the day, the Lord still sent out laborers to work in His vineyard. “And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, that shall ye receive.” (Matt 20:6,7). And even in this late hour, we who believe, should be busy about our Father’s business. Whether it be ministering to brethren within the church or praying and going in the Lord’s harvest to see others come to know Jesus Christ and be reconciled to God. In reality we should be busy and committed to both. Even our prayers on behalf of others are a sweet and acceptable sacrifice before God (Rev 8:4) AND are the means by which the Lord accomplished much of His will on earth. Don’t allow yourselves to become idle but rather be found “fervent in spirit serving the Lord” (Romans 12:11). In fact, that verse says IN DILIGENCE be not slothful, but fervent in spirit serving the Lord. Even with realization of the lateness of the hour we live let it not cause us to be idle just waiting for things to happened but let us be found being even MORE diligent in serving the Lord! Like the apostle Paul, let us labor according to the grace of God within us. (1 Corth 15:10) God has given each believer a measure of grace and with that grace we can labor in the things of God, keeping our eyes on “things above”, laying up treasure in heaven. Again, don’t let the darkness of the time we live in or the lateness of the day cause you to be “idle and slothful” as it relates to your life in the kingdom of God. May the Lord bless you in Jesus Name. IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott ( http://www.injesus.com/index.php?module=message&task=view&MID=QB007GRB&GroupID=0T027P8D&label=&paging=all ) Traveling update 07/20/2009
Traveling  While in Detroit we took a few days to visit a sister Lisa had been in contact with in Canada. It was very edifying time and seemed ordained of God for us to be their at that time to edify our sister in Christ. After being in Detroit for about three weeks we headed over to Rhode Island to visit another brother and sister in Christ. It was a challenging trip as it rained almost the whole time we were there and our car had some major trouble and was in the shop a few days. Even with all that we had a blessed time in fellowship exhorting them with the word of God. We stayed in Rhode Island for a week and headed back to Detroit. When we got back to Detroit Ernest was able to give us a place to park our trailer at his place. We were able to spend more time with him and his mother in the word. So right now we’re staying at his place and ministering to him and his family. The good thing is when we’re not here brother Jim will be able to continue to teach him the word and hopefully see him born again into the body of Christ! We’ll be leaving Detroit this weekend to visit a family in Pittsburgh for a couple days and then we’ll be headed back down to Texas. Lord-willing we’ll be in Texas for a few weeks to rest together as a family , visit Josef and Lina as they come up from Mexico, and fellowship with some brethren living in Texas. It’s been a lot of travel but it’s been a joy to fellowship with and to encourage the saints of God! Scattered Sheep As we’ve traveled we’ve seen many of God’s people who lack fellowship and often times find themselves isolated due to the condition of the church today. Sometimes people come out of the institutional church seeing the falsehood in it. Yet many times they then lack fellowship due to their inability to fellowship with those who hold to different view’s on biblical topics. Many times when believers come out of these churches they go through a period of being alone. They also get used to this and find it difficult to fellowship with other saints. Again…especially those who hold different view’s on biblical topics. Yet the scripture is clear when it says: “And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching” (Heb 10:25) It is absolutely important, no matter where we find ourselves, to be in fellowship with other saints of God. To worship the Lord together, and as the scripture says, to exhort one another as we see the “day” approaching. Even if a believer cannot agree with another believer on every point of doctrine (provided it’s not heretical) then believers should be able to fellowship with each other. I fellowship with many believers who believe differently than I do on many subjects yet the common factor that makes our fellowship possible is the desire to carry our cross in Christ. The desire to live our lives completely for Christ. This is not to say that doctrine doesn’t matter. Your doctrinal views on some subjects may cause you to have to “part ways” when it comes to teaching or ministry in some area’s BUT it should never cause you part ways in being able to love, pray with, and exhort your brethren in Christ. I know there are many who say they cannot find true fellowship. And this could be the situation in some cases. Some might be in a place where they actually cannot find true brethren to fellowship with or at least for a season of time. Yet I’m not convinced it’s as common as I hear. I know that if someone is truly the Lord’s they will desire to fellowship with other saints and will seek it out. They know that the body of Christ and interacting with the body of Christ is of utmost importance. They will want to be around others who also have the Spirit of Christ in them. If they truly do not have fellowship they will be praying that God will bring them into contact with other believers and actively pursing it. It will be more important than the city they live in, the house they have, or the job they hold. (I know that me and my wife be willing to forsake any of those things to be around brethren.) For some that absolutely cannot find fellowship where they are at, if possible, it may be necessary to forsake those things and move to where some brethren are. Even if it‘s a place you don‘t like! Some will say they fellowship with other saints through the internet, which in part might be true, but it will certainly never replaces the type of interaction we are to personally have as the body of Christ. If that’s your only source of fellowship, while you are seeking true fellowship in a body or with another believer, then praise God. But don’t give in and settle for it when Christ has died for us to be part of something so much greater! If you do find yourself in a position where you have no fellowship then actively pray to the Lord about it. Begin to pray for the saint’s of God and ask the Lord to bring you in contact with another saint or a group of saints that you can fellowship with. You’ll certainly be praying in the will of God! Thank you for praying for us, and if you remember, please keep us in prayer as we travel through PA and head back to Texas. IN Christ, Sean & Lisa Scott www.preachingjesuschrist.com Update 05/30/2009
to view this update with pictures click here: Preaching Jesus Christ: Camper - Trailer? 04/20/2009
Just wanted to throw this out there and see if anyone had one of these. We are looking for either a camper, travel trailer,pop-up camper or some type of covered trailer that we can pull with our van. Something we could take with us as we travel and preach. We're currently in New Mexico but would be willing to pick it up. If anyone has one that they don't use and either want to donate or sell for not too much it would be very useful to use. I'll probably look here locally but I know sometimes people buy these type of things and don't use them very much. So if that's you and you'd like to help send me an email! Quick Update 04/09/2009
NEW MEXICO |
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