An Edifying Day
Greetings to our steadfast sister soldiers!
We pray you all are strong in the Lord, rejoicing in the day.
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. (Psalm 90:2)
There's been a lot going on lately, much of it was of satan, but today was extremely edifying and I thought I'd share it with you in hopes that you will be encouraged by the sovereignty of God. I posted yesterday about how we were witnessing in the street and at a football game, you can read about that HERE. While we were at the game, I was wondering who would benefit from all this we went through to do it. I know I grew from it, we always do after each witnessing event but I figured there would be someone out there that needed it and that we may never know. So be it, it's of the Lord and His works, not my business. But...today we found out. Let me share this other story with you in order to finish this one.
A couple weeks ago a man from another country text brother Jim to ask a question and said he disagreed with the testing of the Hutterites that Jim posted, which you can read HERE. (We ran into them in Montana and posted a testing a couple years ago to warn others of their unbiblical ways.) Brother Jim went over their sins and this man defended some of them and it got heated for a while though he did say Jim gave him things to think about. He was quiet for a few days then texted some more questions of which they went over and the man went away to think about them. Off and on for a couple weeks this went until today we got a text from him that lifted our spirits. Let me say this here....we NEVER, I will repeat NEVER have had an anabaptist type person (Amish, Mennonite, Hutterite, German Baptist etc) want to go deeper in the things of God so we greatly rejoiced over this. This man sees the sins in his body (not all of them but he's willing to look into the other ones Jim pointed out) and is wanting to call his body out of them. He also said he used to have a lot of zeal (like brother Jim) and his wife settled him down on it:-( So the text we got today was this...
The football videos affected this man, how brother Jim stood for truth and righteousness in the world and this man sees he was not taking sins seriously in his life. They were on the phone for 3 hours this afternoon, going over the truth of God's word vs the man made religious system. It was a joyous thing.
At one point the man said that it felt like a hammer coming from brother Jim and Jim responded that the Hebrews 4 sword does just that and look at the result...they were both talking on the phone:-) We rejoiced in this as he wants to call and discuss more.
Then we had to get to another town for a quick job and hurried to do so before another call with a young brother in the Lord across the country from us.
It was very edifying as this young man is building his foundation in Christ and they talked about the prophesies of Christ, going back and forth from old to new testament. 3 hours later this man had to go to work and here we are now, working on line ministry, me sharing this with you. Praise God for the opportunity to do His work, each of us in the life and job He has for us. Speaking of that, brother Jim just informed the young man that Ephesians 4 tells us what the purpose of the body is...
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:12
It edifies and perfects us so that we can do the work of the ministry. People come together (in whatever means they can, phone, email, in person etc), learn and discuss the word then go back into their lives and do the work the Lord has called them to. We don't see it being a place where people just hang out and enjoy the flesh of others, it's all about growing in the Lord so we can do His work, amen? He has His people all over so that His light may shine all over the earth, glory be to God for all to hear it!
Brother Jim also talked about how satan is always behind us. We see his operations in others, trying to affect and stumble us but like Jim said....he's behind us, not in front. Behind. The only way he can have a foothold on us is if we stop or look back, so don't...keep going forward, setting your sights on Christ. Not people, but Christ.
Speaking of behind us, there's a lot of road traveled behind us.
I was blessed with this view one morning, the camera made the sun look like that. And we had a hitch hiker / hopper in our van:-)
He's cute...
Another of God's many, amazing creations.
I helped him out the window and he went on his way. Yep, that's dust on the dash. That's one of the big flesh killers I deal with on the road is dust / dirt. It's always coming in the windows and guess where it flies? Right back into my tiny van house behind us, on the bed, the shelves, clothes, floor etc. I had some major flesh killing to do in the beginning but I worked hard and fast at it so that I could get over it. Sometimes it gets to me but I kill it right off and remind myself that we came from dust and will be dust again one day, so what's the big deal if I have to live with it? :-) I'll sleep in the sand if it means a saint will be helped along the way!
I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, [2] With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; [3] Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. [4] There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; [5] One Lord, one faith, one baptism, [6] One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. [7] But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. [8] Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. [9] (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? [10] He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) Ephesians 4:1-10
I pray your day is joyous in the Lord, keep satan behind you where he belongs and keep your eyes on Christ. May the strength of the Lord be with you all.
Sister Deb
The biblical gospel...
https://www.dontperish.com/the-gospel.html