Last Sunday was one I won’t forget in a hurry, notfor the praises and dance, testimonies and prayers, water baptism of 14
disciples nor because of the emergence of a new generation of very young
disciples who by the leadership of a dear son, gave a refreshing recitation of
many memorized Scriptures.
of the unplanned small group meeting that followed after the service.
The message was on God’s longing to have and keep
us in, not just near. A hand full of people came forward to receive Jesus and I
called for a small meeting to encourage them after the service. But Abba had
other ideas.
David was not invited to this meeting but he joined
us. After a few admonitions, I asked if anyone had a question or prayer
request.
David asked, “Please can I share my
testimony?” “Sure.”
When he finished, the doors opened. All the new
converts had a dark past they desperately needed forgiveness from and felt they
should confess.
I was in the midst of hurting people. Three of them
confessed to attempted suicide. One testimony stood out, it lasted 30mins and
shocked us all.
Taban (not real name), in his late 30s is a mechanic but use to be
a soldier. While in the force during the Sudan civil war, he got into a fight
with another soldier, shot and killed the fellow. He was sent to jail for a
season but later the Judge sent him to the war front with the mandate to bring
back five rifles.
That meant he’s to kill five enemies, collect their
weapons, thereby complete his sentence and purchase his freedom. He succeeded
but became a more violent man.
One day, while driving some other soldiers to
another location, he decided to kill himself and all in the army
truck with him by driving it off the road into a gully.
When he turned off the road, he said he didn’t know
how the truck jumped over the ditches and everyone survived. He left the army
thereafter.
This man’s testimony was one of rage that often led
to murder. Here was a killer seeking Jesus and finding Him among other hurting people like himself.
Taban was entering a church for the first time in
six years last Sunday. His confession encouraged others to freely tell their
story of pain with graphic details and ask for forgiveness. From witchcraft,
abortions, bitterness against God for various reasons… we heard it all.
As we prayed and wept before the Lord, I recalled
the scripture, “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb, and
because of the word of their testimony. And they did not love their soul until
death.” (Rev 12:11)
It continues to please God, that by the foolishness
of preaching, those that believe are saved.
Com’on Jesus!!

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Most encouraging testimony. There are many more out there crying out for who will show them the way. O Lord send us to them that they will seek no more.
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One other aspect of Rev 12 is unfortunately not quoated nearly often enough, at least in the USA, and they loved not their lives, even unto death.
Tragically, the incredibly blessed Church in the United States is for the most part not willing to pay a big cost personally. I am a former local leader in Operation Rescue, and very few were willing to spend time and take personal risks to engage in social intercession, intervening between imminent victims of child sacrifice and their for-profit serial killers.
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I’ve prayed countless times for Him to use me and one thing in my many conversations with Him has been consistent. “Lord, please don’t let me leave this earth without having fulfilled your plan for my life”. I recently heard a message that brought tears to my eyes, when I heard the pastor speak on the power of the Holy Spirit. Not because it was a moving and powerful message (though it was), but because I realized that ALL of these times I’ve made that petition to God, I was somehow under the impression that I needed to be on foreign soil to validate the fact that ministry has been birthed in me.
We always look for the mighty moves of God to substantiate that we are doing something for the cause of Christ. But then it hit me…people are saved one at a time. Miracles happen one at a time or multiple times but the point is that geography has nothing to do with it and God’s mercy can happen and be felt anywhere-at any time.
This morning as I lay in bed talking/praying to the Holy Spirit about my family and the role I play, I heard these words…”ignorance is not a reflection of evil”. While we try to figure out how to “cast the devil out” of someone, all we really need do is pray. Pray that their eyes of understanding be enlightened as Ephesians 1 instructs. And a person’s value is not summed up in what they know, but whom they know…Jesus.
In John 14, Jesus told the disciples time and again that they did not have to fear because of whom they knew-no matter what was said or done and their constant strength was in knowing that HE even in the form of the Holy Spirit was always with them. So, if the character of God is not reflected in someone you see or know, be reminded that their (and your) freedom is in praying that they come into the knowledge of who’s they are. And therein is where your freedom is because you have extended His grace and mercy to someone else-just as it was done for you. Repentance of the offender is not a condition of forgiveness. (Matthew 18:33)But forgiveness is a condition of restoration for the offended.
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oooooooooooooh my God is goodo!
EeeeeeeeeH my God is goodo,(echo)
everything is double double oh
everything is double duoble (echo)
hey! some body scream for Jesus!
com’on join the backup!
Baby sis
Martha
Uganda
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