Greetings All,
Where to start.. there's been so much the Lord has been doing since our last update. I've been continuing to meet with Noah. He's the brother I met who was walking down the street with his bible. He's come out with us a couple times to preach and teach. We took him to the open market and he preached outside for the first time. He's also came with us to the drug rehab and village outreaches. The Lord is enabling us to help disciple this brother and encourage him in the Lord. We're still helping him see the false spirit that many Pentecostals and charismatics operate in. Helping him to test everything with God's word to keep from being deceived and falling into error. At first it was a little difficult but now we can see that he is seeing the light and truth on many issues. It seems common down here for believers to think that if someone is a "fiery" preacher who preaches loud and with a lot of Charisma that they are a Spirit filled servant of God. They get deceived into thinking all the emotions and working up of the flesh is a move of the Spirit. So we've been taking him to the scriptures and showing him how the Spirit of God moved in different men's life and what it looked like. Showing him how being "fiery" and loud does not equate to being Spirit filled just like how being quiet and reserved does not equate to being humble. He's also been a joy to be around because new converts just believe God's word. They are so full of faith. Like little children they just believe. Seems like many believers lose that childlike faith in God's word as they get older which I know grieves God. We need to stay in that position of simple childlike faith and like Jesus told the church in Ephesus in Rev 2... we need to "do the first works". Having that simple childlike faith that BELIEVES!!
Our outreach at the Drug Rehab is starting to bear fruit. There a man out there name Fransisco who we've spent some time with. After a bible study he kept asking genuine questions about the faith and how he could be changed. He's been in bondage to drugs, homosexuality and all kinds of perversions since his youth. He told us how his mind is continually filled with evil thoughts and has this driving desire every day to go and use drugs. Even without him telling us all this you could tell this many was filled with demons. We talked to him about his bondage and about Christ power to set him free. We gathered around him and began to pray for him. We began rebuking the demons in Jesus name and commanding them to come out. They began manifesting and coming out one by one. You could tell they were coming out and he began coughing up this white foam as he was being delivered. We prayed with him for about an hour. After we were finished you could see his whole countenance was changed. He seemed much more in his right mind. He knew that the power of God had helped him. We encouraged him to STAY in God's word and to seek the Lord for complete salvation. The next time we came back to the rehab the director met us out front telling us how Fransisco seemed totally different. He told us how Fransisco has never wanted to change but now he wants to change and be free from drugs. He asked if he could be relieved from his kitchen duties so he could sit in more while we preach on Wednesdays. Praise the Lord! We're believing God for a complete salvation in this man. Please keep him in prayer!
There's another man named Fransisco who God has been doing a real work of Grace in his life. From the day we started preaching there he's been wide eyed, open to the Gospel and just soaking it all in. He came to us on his own asking to be baptized and saying he wants to follow Jesus. In fact, he said all his life he's never wanted to know God, serve God, or follow God. But from the time we started preaching he said it was like God just birthed the desire and hunger for God in him. He constantly wants to talk about the Lord and just learn more and more. He's, on his own, has been spending the last week just confessing all his sins to God one by one. Josef and Lina spent this last Sunday talking with him making sure he understands what God has done for us in Jesus and what it means to follow Jesus. You can truly see a work of God's grace in his heart as he longs to follow the Lord. So, praise the Lord, we'll be baptizing him this next Wednesday and continuing to teach him to obey all that Christ commanded! (Matt 28:18)
.  I've been continuing to talk with brother Vali who's in India. He had mentioned his need for bibles to help him reach the Muslims and Hindus he's been preaching too. (It's so encouraging to hear believers ask for help with getting bibles or tracts because they want to spread God's word and see people saved!) He goes into unreached villages and holds Gospel street meetings and visits people's home to tell them about Jesus. We helped him purchase some bibles so he could give God's word to those who the Lord is drawing. Here's a picture he sent us with joy over receiving God's word! Bibles in India are very cheap by American standards.. only $2. But for those in India who live in poverty this can seem like a fortune. If you would like to help Vali to get more bibles send me an email (preachingjesuschrist@gmail.com). I know it would be a real blessing to him and help him reach Muslims and Hindu's with the Gospel!
Here's an article Lisa wrote concerning the sin of lust and
and the FREEDOM from in found in Christ!!
A topic you do not hear much preaching on is sexual lust.
I'm surprise that you do not find many preachers exhorting and warning
the church of this deadly sin. The world is evermore consumed by
sexual lust. One of the most wicked perversion is so plainly seen
everywhere that the world and the church has lost its ability to blush to it.
Sexual images and great perversions have been more expose (openly seen)
than in Jesus and Paul's days and even then Paul warned and exhorted
the church to flee from lustful desire (2Tim.2:22) and do not
fellowship with the sexual immoral who calls themselves
brethren(1Cor.5:11). How much more would Paul warn the church today!
Whats very sad is seeing so many people bound by lust in the church
and hardly anyone is giving them hope, helping them see that this sin
can be overcome through Christ Jesus. Most professing christians just
accept this sin as normal, thinking its a part of life, and that there is
no way you can have a clean mind free from sexual thoughts. That
thought is very contrary to the bible! For the bible says.....
Matthew 1:21
And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name
JESUS, for He will save His people FROM their sins.
Matthew 19:26
But Jesus looked at them and said to them, "With men this is
impossible, but with God ALL things are possible.
Hebrews 7:25
Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to
God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
For the bible also says that those who PRACTICE sin shall not enter the kingdom.
Galatians 5:19-21
19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery (lust),
fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred,
contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions,
dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and
the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in
time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the
kingdom of God.
Ephesians 5:3-5
3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even
be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness,
nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but
rather giving of thanks. 5 For this you know, that no fornicator,
unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, has any
inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
2 Timothy 2:19
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal:
"The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the
name of Christ depart from iniquity."
By thinking that sexual lust cannot be overcome many professing
Christians are saying that this sin is bigger than God. That the
power of lust is stronger than the power of God and God cannot deliver
us.
Will you believe men who are known to be liars, knowing they are not
perfect, or God's word which you say is perfect and holy? Will you be
those who Jesus says draw close with their mouth but their hearts
are far from Him? Will you be like the Israelites who died in the wilderness?
Though they claim God's name they died in their unbelief, never
believing in God and His promises in their hearts.
If we would stop looking unto men for answers,wanting to be led by
them, and our emotions, and looked to Jesus only... then we would believe.
Or will you be like the Israelites again and cry out for a "man" king
because you do not want God to lead, but man! This is the stumbling
block to many professing Christians and explains why they are still
bound in sin!
They want man to guide and lead them to God instead of them seeking
God for themselves. Many have fallen prey to wolves in the pulpit
and deep delusion because they desire to hear from man about God
instead of diligently seeking God themselves. For man can only show
you the way but it is you who must draw near to God and God Will draw
near to you. It is you who must knock and the door will be open. It is
you who must direct your cry to Him and He will be faithful to answer.
That is His promise! Will you continue to follow after man who cannot
set you free or will you look to Christ who is able to fully deliver
you from ALL bondage?!
So many profess Christians wonder why their minds are so defiled and
why they cannot overcome lust. But then they are the very ones who
will not spend time with God. Instead, they busy themselves with all sorts
of things, and find themselves weak and being lead by the flesh. They spend
their time watching all sorts of ungodly shows and movies, flipping though dirty
magazines, and allowing their eyes to gaze upon harlotry fashion that is
in ungodly magazines. This leads many to adopt those styles and brings
upon them a desire to
lust and to want others to lust after them.
How bad is this sin? It has born many pedophiles, molesters, perverts
and murderers. Many of these people have confessed that they are bound by
pornography and sexual lust. Sexual lust has been a major part of
destroying lives, families, bringing upon much violence and anger, and
causing all sorts of deep perversion.
How bad is this sin? Jesus says if your right eye causes you to
stumble cut it out. Not that you literally cut your eye out because
lust has to do with the heart. The verse is showing us how serious the
sin is and that we must do all we know to do in order not to be bound
by this sin. Jesus tells us to pray and watch. We cannot overcome
without a relationship with Jesus and obeying what He says. When we
are in prayer (deep communion with God) it will help us to be watchful
(obey), not allowing things in our lives that will weaken us and lead us to
put away all the things we know that weakens the flesh. It is
better to throw away your computer or t.v. that may weaken you now
then to take it with you to hell.
I have been very grieved for a long time seeing many people in
church bound by the sin of lust and hardly anyone in the church is
exposing this sin,
giving them hope TO SEE and KNOW God's word that this sin can be
easily overcome through Christ Jesus.
This sin has consumed many churches. Even the lost can walk in many
churches and see it is consume with sexual lust. My husband was
sharing the gospel with a Muslim and he told Sean "why should I go to
Christian churches?" Christian churches have many women dress like
harlots." What the Muslim said was very true. Many pastors allow the
sin of lust to invade the church, not exhorting and warning the church
of this grievous sin that destroys lives, families, friendships, and
above all defiles God's name! They fail to encourage men and women to dress
modest and fear God like Paul did. Many pastors and leaders have
fallen prey to this sin themselves and thats why they are not able to
give their people hope and exhort them to stay away from all forms of
evil (1 Thes.5:22, Col.3:5) .
Do not be deceived by your pastors and think this is a light sin or
this is normal. What does the bible say? Jesus says if you look at a
woman with lust you have committed adultery in your heart (Mat.5:28).
Those who practice adultery (which is lust in the heart) will not
enter the kingdom. (Gal.5:19-21)
I am telling you men and women who are married and bound in this sin
that you have committed adultery. Husbands, because of your lust you
cannot love your own spouse as Christ commands. Your mind is defiled
by these lustful images and it causes you to greatly stumble in your
marriage with your spouse and Jesus where you are not able to love
your wife as Christ loves the church. And wives are not able to
respect and love your husbands. Not only are you lusting, but also in
covetousness, desiring someone else besides your mate!
I am telling you single people that are bound in lust that you too
have committed adultery in your heart though you are not married
physically. You do say that Jesus is your God which makes Him your
husband. So you too have committed adultery. We must understand that
God is a jealous God. He is jealous for His people.
James 4:4-5
4 Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with
the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend
of the world makes himself an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think that the
Scripture says in vain, "The Spirit who dwells in us yearns
jealously"?
Yes, lust is the same as being friends to the world because all forms
of lust are from the world.
Corinthians 11:2
For I am jealous for you with GODLY jealousy. For I have betrothed you
to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.
I use to be one who was bound in this sin. Yes, a pharisee who was
clean on the outside but filled with wickedness inwardly, just as
Jesus told the pharisees.
Luke 11:39
Then the Lord said to him, "Now you Pharisees make the outside of the
cup and dish clean, but your INWARD PART is full of greed and
wickedness.
I too thought this sin was too big to overcome, a normal part of life,
seeing that everybody around me was bound by the same sin. I saw no
hope UNTIL I truly read my bible and stop listening to men and their
traditions that are according to the basic principles of this world
(Col.2:8) and started looking only to God who has made us complete and all
equipped IN HIM (Col.2:9-10)! Now I can say with confidence, and am
not lying, I am free! I do not boast in myself, but only in the Lord,
who is the One that set me free! I am no longer bound by lust and my
mind is clean.
The truth does set you free (John8:32)!!!
Through looking to Jesus, by seeking Him with all my heart, in
meditating on His word, and obeying it God granted me faith to Believe!
The word says that faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of
God(Rom.10:17). If we would draw near to Him with all our heart He
will give us faith to believe all His promises to live a holy life,
giving us grace to overcome all thats in the world through faith! (1
John5:4, 2Peter1:9)
What quenches the fiery darts that comes at us? FAITH! Believing in
Him and His finished work on the cross! Understanding that through
His Ressurection we have been given life and divine power to overcome
ALL forms of lust
that are in the world and live a life of godliness (2Peter1:1-8)
Ephesians 6:16
16 ABOVE ALL, taking the shield of faith with WHICH YOU WILL BE ABLE
to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one.
We cannot produce faith ourselves. It is a gift from God. Only God
can grant us faith to believe but His word does promise us that if we
would draw near to Him He will draw near to us. Faith comes by
hearing the word. So what must we do? Feed on His word! As the Lord
told Joshua to meditate on His word day and night. Come to Him, to
know Him, with all your heart and He will not deny you but will grant
you faith to believe which produces grace to overcome and strengthens
the INNER MAN (Eph.3:16-19).
So little do we hear from pastors and Christian leaders the hope that
is in Christ Jesus. Reminding us like Paul did of the precious promises that
Jesus came to set us free from all bondage to sin and give us life.
Reminding us also who we are in Christ. That we are not children
bound by certain sins as many preach today but we are new creations.
The old man is
dead and buried and we are made new, being Ressurrected in Christ. That
Jesus has truly set us free from all sin and not just one or two sins. For
sin has no dominion over you because you have died with Christ and
have been Ressurected into a new creation (Rom.6:6-11)! His word says that
those who are truly born of God will overcome (1 John 5:4). Do you
believe that? If not then you need to stop listening to men and draw
close to God and read the bible.
Oh that the church would be like Job a mere man like us who had a
desire for purity and was able through his relationship with God to
overcome lust.
Job 31:1
"I have made a covenant with my eyes; Why then should I look upon a young woman?
Dear ones who are struggling with sexual lust. I want you to know that
this is a serious sin so that you may be spurred to draw close to God
before its too late. I am sick of pastors deceiving God's flock by
making the sin of lust seem light and too big for God to deliver you.
They are liars who teach that lust is normal, for such practices will
damn you to hell(Gal.5:19-21). God is able to deliver you or else His
death was in vain. You say you believe in God then believe all His
promises too!
Or is your belief like the demons(James2:19)? Like the Israelites in
the wilderness? Who believe that there is a God, but do not believe IN
Him to deliver? Oh, I pray that God will grant
you faith like Joshua and Caleb who are examples of true believers
that believe God's word. They did not fear the giants
(representing sin), and did not see them as too big, but knew and
believed that God would give them the victory!
The Isrealites are used for our examples in warning us to not become
like them in lusting after evil things (1Cor.10:5-11). They died in
unbelief. Not believing in God's promises for them they did not enter
God's promise land which is our rest in Him today. When we believe in
His promises it brings about rest and victory in our life. God did
not give the Isrealites the victory because of their unbelief. Do not
be like the Isrealites. God has given us the same promises
spiritually. Many promises that I have already listed. God's hands
are not short that He cannot deliver you fully. For we know the power
of darkness has been broken upon our lives because the death and
ressurection of Jesus Christ. If you are still in bondage to sin, it
is not because God is not able, but because of your unbelief in His
word (Psalm78:40-42)
Psalm 78:40-42
40 How often they provoked Him in the wilderness,
And grieved Him in the desert!
41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,
And limited the Holy One of Israel.
42 They did not remember His power:
The day when He redeemed them from the enemy,
I am encouraging those who are weak today that sexual lust is not hard
for God to
deliver you from. Yes, with men it is impossible, but with God ALL
things are possible!
Matthew 13:9
He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"
Greetings to all,
I know some of you are wondering how I am doing with the recent death of my older brother Peter. He passed away in Federal Prison on Wednesday the 12th. He had just turned 36 in February. The Federal Prison told my dad that it could be sickness or murder. The body has been sent to my dad this weekend which tells me the autopsy is done but they told my dad there is further investigation and they cannot tell him how he died yet. I have a feeling that he was murdered. This would not surprise me knowing my brother, it could be gang related.
It was hard for me at first… thinking about his eternal state. I had a strong feeling when I first arrived in Mexico that my brother would die soon. It was like the Holy Spirit was warning me and preparing me. I asked myself, before his death took place, if it happens while I'm in Mexico what should I do? I pondered the question with the Lord and believed that I would need to learn to go on.
Praise God, He has given me the strength to go on. I know without Him I would fall hard and be lead by too many strong emotions. But the Lord helped me to run to Him immediately for comfort. I knew I had to run to Him or else my flesh would want to understand things that will not give me rest or could easily put the blame on someone, that would have blinded me to the reality of my brother's own wicked heart.
I tell you the truth, God is faithful to comfort when we direct our cry to Him. God has truly brought healing to me quick. We can let trials separate us from God or draw us closer to Him. I chose to draw close to Him, knowing He is perfect, holy, and righteous in ALL His ways.
It seems that I have gone through many trials in Mexico, but like Paul, I see that I needed them so that I would not trust in myself, but God alone (2Cor.1:9)! By no means am I saying my trials are like Paul's, but that God uses all trials to crush us and make us depend on Him. The crushing did not feel good at the time but what crushing does? But when I saw my own heart in light of God, I said "God let the crushing go on", knowing in me is nothing good. But Christ must be all in all!
The Word becomes so alive when we allow the cross to crucify us. I truly understand how trials do make His children more genuine in the faith (1Peter4:12-13). We need trials beloved! That's what crushes us from ourselves and makes us alive in God! If we do not allow the cross to have it's way with us then the self will not die.
I have been truly humbled since being here in Mexico. I have learned much about myself that I was blind to in Dallas. The Lord has been using the time here to break my heart, to expose me to much of my own heart that I was clueless of. I felt so weak, but it was good because it caused me to cry out and confess to God that I am so very weak and in need of Him.
It is so easy to get so prideful and self dependent and not realize it. Like Paul the Apostle, I see that trials are good and want them in my life to help me always see my need for God, reminding me of how weak I am, and seeing how faithful God is. If we would let the cross have it's way it would keep us humbled and always desperate for God!
Oh, if we do not see ourselves as nothing we will get easily prideful and self righteous! We must see that it is all God and without Him we can do nothing(John15:5). There is nothing to boast about in man, without God we would not even have such godly desires, nor pure love. Without the Lord we would still be in lust to the world, bound by sin. Oh saints, we have nothing to boast about in ourselves.. for if it wasn't for Jesus we would still be living in total wickedness bound by great evils.
Think about Paul's conversion. He was in the middle of persecuting the saints and right in the middle of his hate for the saints and then God graciously wakes him up! I don't believe Paul was thinking about wanting to know Jesus when he was on the road to Damascus! He was burning with hate for the saints then Jesus Sovereignly awakes him right in the middle of his insanity. All of us who are His have the same awakening. We did not choose Him but He chose us. Yes, we may deceive ourselves and think we chose Him first because we had spiritual hunger experiences leading to our conversion, but the Lord was the one who gave us all those hungers!
For the scriptures says:
Rom. 3:11-13
11 There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God.
12 They have all turned aside;
They have together become unprofitable;
There is none who does good, no, not one."
13 " Their throat is an open tomb;
With their tongues they have practiced deceit"
John 6:44
44 No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day.
Oh, if we would ponder our old ways and look into our motives we would see how desperately wicked we once were; and if God didn't bring such trials into our lives today we would be consumed with self. This should show our need for continual dependence upon God.
I truly see I have nothing to boast about and that in me is nothing good, but the Spirit who dwells in me, and praise the Lord, works through me! It is God alone who deserves all the glory and praises. I would not be awakened to such purity, sound mind, self control if it wasn't for Him. I would not desire to forsake this evil world and set my mind on heavenly things if it wasn't for Him. I would not be able to go on and overcome all the trials and temptations from the world if it wasn't for the grace of God! No man deserves glory and praises. It is God alone who deserves all praises and glory! Even if He left me in my own wicked state He would still be Holy and Just!
One thing we must be careful of is brining God down to our own reasoning. He is not like man, He is God and does as He pleases and all His ways are perfect. It is a dangerous thing to try to understand God with human reasoning when we do not want to accept certain truths because it does not line up with our reasoning or experiences. What does God say when we bring Him down to our reasoning?
Job 38:2
2 "Who is this who darkens counsel
By words without knowledge?
Job38:4:7
4 " Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth?
Tell Me, if you have understanding.
5 Who determined its measurements?
Surely you know!
Or who stretched the line upon it?
6 To what were its foundations fastened?
Or who laid its cornerstone,
7 When the morning stars sang together,
And all the sons of God shouted for joy?
Romans 9:18-21
Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? Will the thing formed say to him who formed it, "Why have you made me like this?" Does not the potter have power over the clay, from the same lump to make one vessel for honor and another for dishonor?
Remember this and meditate on this:
Job 12:13-25
13 "With Him are wisdom and strength,
He has counsel and understanding.
14 If He breaks a thing down, it cannot be rebuilt;
If He imprisons a man, there can be no release.
15 If He withholds the waters, they dry up;
If He sends them out, they overwhelm the earth.
16 With Him are strength and prudence.
The deceived and the deceiver are His.
17 He leads counselors away plundered,
And makes fools of the judges.
18 He loosens the bonds of kings,
And binds their waist with a belt.
19 He leads princes away plundered,
And overthrows the mighty.
20 He deprives the trusted ones of speech,
And takes away the discernment of the elders.
21 He pours contempt on princes,
And disarms the mighty.
22 He uncovers deep things out of darkness,
And brings the shadow of death to light.
23 He makes nations great, and destroys them;
He enlarges nations, and guides them.
24 He takes away the understanding of the chiefs of the people of the earth,
And makes them wander in a pathless wilderness.
25 They grope in the dark without light,
And He makes them stagger like a drunken man
Job 39:16-17
(concerning the ostrich that makes it clear that God takes and gives as He please)
16 She treats her young harshly, as though they were not hers;
Her labor is in vain, without concern, 17 Because God deprived her of wisdom,
And did not endow her with understanding.
Yes, God does have control of all and it gives me great peace knowing He is in control, the One who is Holy, Perfect, and Just!
God is God! Let Him have the praise and honor that is due Him, Saints! Let us humble ourselves and see we are nothing without Him and praise God He has given His children life and that His ways are perfect even at times we do not understand all His ways in our lives, but we can know by His word that He leads His children in victory! Saints many of times in victories there is a death that has to come first! There is no victory, no power from on high without the fellowship of His suffering, being conform to His death (phil. 3:10). For there must be a carrying in our bodies the dying of our Lord Jesus that the life of Jesus will be manifested in our bodies (2 Cor. 4:10). The cross is the normal christian walk. But, do know Saints that when the sufferings of Christ abound in us so does His comfort(2 cor. 1:7).
God is so faithful and will not forsake His people. Oh, to think of His love melts my heart. To taste of His comfort through times of trials makes me fall deeply in love with Him. Knowing He is not for our harm, but to purify us and make us like His Son!
This last week and a half has been trying to say the least. Our whole family has been really sick except Hadassah. We all had a bad case of Strep throat. We’re feeling better now…praise God. The difficult news though came two days ago. Lisa found out from her father that her brother in prison had died. He was 36 years old. We won’t be able to go home to be with her family but will continue to teach and preach here in Mexico. Please keep us in prayer and thank you to those who have been praying for us.
The good news is it seemed God ordained my sickness and used it to allow me to meet a brother. Last Saturday Josef and Lina went to the outreach in the village without us. We were too sick to go. The family was home sick and I need to get something from the store. So I left and as I was driving I saw a man walking down road in front of me and he was carrying a bible. I just smiled at him and drove past him. Then I thought I should stop and go talk to him. So I put my car in reverse and back up to him. His name is Noah and he’s a Christian. We talked for a bit and I gave him a ride up to the convienience store. Come to find out he has a real desire to see people come to know Christ. He became a believer in the U.S. Federal prison and was deported when his sentence was up. He’s part of a local church here but says no one will come with him out to the streets and evangelize. So he goes out by himself and walks up and down the boulevard passing out tracts and talking to people. We had him over for dinner yesterday and myself, Lisa, Josef and Lina were able to help him understand the scriptures more. He’s been watching Christian television and had embraced much of the false teaching on there. He also attends a hyper charismatic Pentecostal church that is in to all kinds of error and unbiblical manifestations of the Spirit. We were able to spend many hours with him just opening up the scriptures and pointing Him to Christ and His Word ALONE. Lord-willing I’ll be able to spend some more time with him.
After being sick for a few days we started feeling a “little” better. Sometimes you can think you better but you’re really not. But anyway, we decided to do laundry in the evening. Actually, I believe the Lord had us do our laundry in the evening (I’m so thankful He directs our steps even when we are unaware of it!) We put our laundry in the washer and I walked outside and Aaron was sitting in his car right in the parking lot! Aaron is a Jehovah’s Witness that I’ve been witnessing to for a while. He lived in our apartment before we moved in. I’m not really sure why he was doing laundry at the place we were doing it at because it’s about 15 to 20 minutes from his house and there are many laundry places between the two. But I was able to spend a good 45 minutes with him again reason from the scripture about the truth of the Gospel and the falsehood of the Jehovah’s Witness. We were sitting in the laundry center at a table and he had his Watchtower magazines out trying to show me things. So I asked if I could use his New World Translation bible and show him the scriptures. He was speechless as I showed him what the bible actually says compared to the teachings of the JW’s. Now the New World Translation is NOT a bible but it has enough truth in there to show a Jehovah’s Witness the error of their beliefs and the true teaching of the Gospel. Again, he was unable to say anything against God’s word but was speechless each time. I could see that he is wrestling with the truth and I pray he humbles himself and receives the seed of the God’s Word into good soil bearing fruit unto everlasting life! He finally said he would go to his house and listen to the C.D. I had given him. It’s the testimony of a former JW who has come to a living faith in the Jesus of the bible.
This past Saturday when Lisa and I were unable to go to the outreach Josef and Lina meet a man who ran a drug rehab in the village we preach in. It’s a secular rehab and a very poor one at that. In fact, Josef and Lina took a tour of the place and said their kitchen had very little food and what they had seemed to be rotting. But the director invited us to come on Wednesday and preach and teach them God’s Word! So this past Wednesday we went out there in the evening. It was a very blessed time. There were about 40 guys there waiting for us and ready to hear the word of God! Most of them were very attentive to the preaching. In fact, after it was done we had people coming up and wanting to talk about the Lord. It was good too because a few of them spoke English and I was able to talk to them without a translator. We’re going back out this Sunday to talk with some of the guys who wanted to learn more about Jesus.
On a different note, the Lord has given me the opportunity to still be able to play a part in reaching Muslims for Christ while I’m in Mexico. I met a brother online who lives in Southern India. He is a former Muslim who is laboring in two Muslim towns preaching the Gospel. We’ve been writing back and forth just getting to know each other some. One of his main needs is for Gospel literature…such as tracts. I’m putting together a few tracts for him and having them printed here and shipped to him. I found a place that will print them for very very cheap. He was really thankful to be receiving literature that would help him in furthering the Gospel. So I’m praising God because He has provided an opportunity for me to help a brother AND be part of reaching Muslims with the Gospel of Jesus Christ!
Here's two new comps called "Tears" & "Vine". These are both REALLY good.
TEARS
www.puregospeltruth.com/tears.mp3
VINE
www.puregospeltruth.com/vine.mp3
These comps were made by a friend of mine and a brother in Christ name Michael Cooper. He's an intern at Gospel For Asia (gfa.org)
Are you thinking of going to bible school? Read this article first:
http://preachingjesus.weebly.com/bible-school.html
The more I meditate on the absolute Sovereignty of God the more I see God at work in all things. God can cause or use (I believe both) situations that seem bad to us for His purpose and plans. That why we should ALWAYS give thanks as the Apostle Paul says "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 These 5:18). The other night at about 11:00pm the bathroom sink began to leak under the counter and I was unable to fix it. I called the landlord but he said he wouldn't be able to come over until the following day after work. I tried to shut the water off outside but it didn't work either; welcome to Mexico. So I put a pan under the sink and would check on it every now and then and empty when it was full. Of course this would be an inconvenience to anyone. The next day the owner actually came over a little earlier and brought one of his workers with him. As they were fixing the sink they looked at me and said "your a Christian right"? I told them I was and then they began to ask me questions about what it means to follow Christ and what a true Christian looks like. Before they arrived they had been talking about the owners brother who professed to be a Christian but still lived in a lifestyle of sin. In other words he was a hypocrite. Lisa and I were able to use this opportunity to preach the Gospel to them. We helped them to stop looking at the brother and see their own sins before God. It was a great time of being able to share what actually happens when one is truly converted and born again by the Spirit of God. They eventually fixed the leak and were going to leave. Before they left we gave them a couple gospel tracts to take with them. I looked out the window a few minutes later and they hadn't left yet. The owner was doing something else but his friend was sitting in the truck just reading away. God had brought and ordained these men to be in our home to ask us questions about Christ that we might be able to preach the Gospel to them. Praise God! But not every inconvenience or bad situation turns out like this. No matter what the situation is God can use it to conform us to the image of His Son. Take persecution for example. God uses persecution to refine, perfect, and purify the saints of God. In Daniel, concerning persecution during the end times, God says "And those of the people who understand shall instruct many; yet for many days they shall fall by sword and flame, by captivity and plundering. Now when they fall, they shall be aided with a little help; but many shall join with them by intrigue. And some of those of understanding shall fall, to refine them, purify them, and make them white, until the time of the end; because it is still for the appointed time." (Daniel 11:33-35) Many can't see how one could give thanks to God in the midst of persecution unto death. Yet God sometimes uses this very thing to bring about a greater good in His Saints. You can see in Daniel that God uses these persecutions to refine, purify, and make white His Saints.... in other words they are being conformed into the image of Christ. If we do all things "in the name of Jesus Christ" (Col 3:17) then God can and will use all things to conform us into His image. And for this we can truly give God thanks in EVERYTHING.
Yesterday Josef, Lina and I went to the open market by our house to preach the Gospel. They have the market every week and it rotates around the city on different days. Sunday, though, is always the largest market with the most people and vendors. We arrived at about 11:00 or so and found a place to preach. We each took turns preaching to the crowds. The Lord enabled us to exalt the name of Christ and proclaim the way of salvation to many people. During the preaching some of the people who were listening would come up to get one of the gospel of Johns that we had brought. We pray God would draw them to His word and give them understanding. When Josef was preaching he began to preach against the Catholic church and for Jesus. He would explain what the Catholic church does and teaches and then quote scripture and show what the bible teaches. You could hear people in the crowd who were just utterly shocked - in anger. A couple of women came up and began to rebuke Josef. These are people who claim to be following the Jesus of the bible yet react with anger and rage at the preaching of the truth. How many people wouldn't be deceived if they would just pick up their bible, pray to God for understanding, and begin to read if for themselves! Yet most people won't do this. They are content with following blind leaders who make them feel good while they both fall into a ditch. If you've ever doubted the depravity of man (definition at bottom of page) just go and preach to a crowd of people. You will quickly see how people are totally consumed with themselves, completely selfish, despise God and His right to rule over their lives, and the fact that He is going to hold them accountable for ALL their sins. Like the scripture says "And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil." Yet from this sea of lost and wicked men there are some who will be saved! (Acts 13:48) God will give them grace to understand and believe the Gospel and they will cry out in repentance and faith being saved by the blood of Christ. So we can confidently preach the Gospel knowing some will be saved by the grace of God! We preached at the market for a couple hours and Lord-willing will be going back more frequently.
God has continued to bless our outreaches in the village outside of Tijuana as well. Each week there continue to be more adults and kids coming. Some adults are starting to come solely because we've been ministering to their Children. We always feed first with no conditions that they must attend the bible study. Yet they all remain and specifically come for the bible study! It's a beautiful thing to see the Lord drawing people and seeing a hunger in them for God and His word. Please keep these outreaches in prayer!
Hannah, Hadassah, and Ethan have been making friends as well. The girls are still learning Spanish, and like me, have a long way to go. But the other day they had some of the children from the village come and spend the night at our house. They were three sister named Cynthia, Fernanda, and Paola. They didn't speak much English and our girls don't speak much Spanish. But they seemed to understand each other just fine. They had a great time just playing together and being kids. Now I'm not normally a fan or promoter of Jack Chick but he's produced a good video called "The Light of the World". We showed the kids the video which was very sobering for them. In fact, Hannah came to us the next day saying she wanted to be saved because she knew that God would judge her for her sins. It's interesting that she mentioned the judgment and not hell. I do believe the judgment is what is going to be most fearful for people. Having to stand before a perfectly holy, all powerful, eternal God, who has complete authority over your life and being made to give an account of your life. The bible says that when Paul reasoned with Felix about rightousness, temperance, and judgment to come that Felix began to tremble. (Acts 24:25) We explained to Hannah about Gods Grace and salvation through Christ. That she must be the one who calls upon the Lord Jesus to be saved. We're praying for her and can see that God is doing a great work in her heart!
Lastly, I thought I'd post some pic's of our new laundry boy. He's not that quick at doing the laundry but he sure has fun doing it! .
DEPRAVITY OF MAN:
Although fallen persons are capable of externally good acts (acts that are good for society), they cannot do anything really good, i.e., pleasing to God. God, however, looks on the heart. And from his ultimate standpoint, fallen man has no goodness, in thought, word, or deed. He is therefore incapable of contributing anything to his salvation.
- John Frame
Romans 8:8
Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
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