| We are on a mission for God� 1 Peter 4:11 Are you called to be a speaker? Then speak as though God himself were speaking through you. Are you called to help others? Do it with all the strength and energy that God supplies. Then God will be given glory in everything through Jesus Christ. All glory and power belong to him forever and ever. Amen. (New Living Translation) God put a fire in my belly to minister to others. From the time I gave my soul to Jesus Christ and accepted the plan of Salvation that fire has not slowed down but has increased daily. I bust at the seams with messages as they explode out of the Word of God. Every time I read His word something new jumps off the page and burrows deep into my very soul. I feast on His word and it sustains me like the richest and sweetest foods. The church I attend currently (First Wesleyan Church of Orlando) has dedicated the Sunday night service to prayer. It has been officially named �Festival of Prayer�. We are led at the church by a pastor that I consider a very strong man of God. Dan Barton and his wife Kathy are leading the church into a time of new birth. I have felt a stir in the church ever since my arrival back in Orlando but tonight I felt something entirely different. As we began to pray there was a very familiar feeling that came over me. I felt the Holy Spirit come into our presence. I have never been able to describe this feeling with words because it is to great to explain and I do not want to cheapen it by trying. My soul lept as I felt His presence in the church. I have to honestly say I have not felt that familiar warmth in a group gathered in His name since I have been here. Something was different tonight as we gathered as fellow believers, fellow Christians, and took turns praising and praying to God out loud. I don�t know about the total time involved but we prayed for some time as the Spirit moved us. There was a resounding cry from each of us calling down the �Fire of the Holy Spirit� on the church and its leaders. I don�t know if anyone else felt what I did but I know without a doubt that the request was answered as His presence was welcomed into our open hearts and souls. We want to grow. We want to always move forward and never look back. God has called us as a group to minister in our own ways to outside the 4 walls of the building we call a church. I know that God wants to see great things from us and he is responding to our collective prayers. Every morning I ask God to let me spread His message of love and Salvation to someone somewhere. I tell him �God if you will put me in a situation where I can minister for you and spread your message then I will do it. God let me lead someone else to your throne where we can all kneel together in love.� Every day I have asked God to provide this opportunity it has happened. I have never been denied the opportunity to share His message. I am a growing Christian who is never satisfied with the way things are right now. I never want to be satisfied with my relationship with Jesus because I want it to constantly grow. I have the gift of Salvation and I want and need to share it. It is selfish to keep such a wonderful FREE gift to myself when it was laid out for everyone to enjoy. We have decided to begin outreach ministries in the community to tell people about our little church and more importantly God�s plan of Salvation through Jesus Christ. I want to be there when the church board meets to discuss the expansion of the sanctuary because its standing room only. I was recently told that the church I came from in South Carolina was starting a �Beer Joint" Ministry in their area. I had to ask Pastor Jim Manley what exactly they were up to and this was his reply: Good morning Brother Rick! Intentional Evangelism! Telling everyone about Jesus and His power to save. Befriending the good ole boys who are looking for "living water" in all the wrong places. We want our church filled with alcoholics who have been set free, drug addicts who are getting their fix on Jesus and His love, people who are hurting because of bad relationships to find comfort in a life long relationship with the Lord. Going where ever, when ever we can to reach the lost and any cost! We are on a recovery and rescue mission. Pray! Pray! Pray! Pray! for souls who are lost and hell bound. Let's not give up, shut up, let up, until we have stored up, prayed up, paid up and preached up for the cause of Christ. We must go until He comes, give until we drop, preach till all know and work until HE stops us! To many of our folks up here in the Golden Corner have beer joint mentalities Rick. You know what I am saying. They need to hear the Good News and we have been commissioned by Jesus and empowered by the Holy Spirit to tell them about God and His undying love for them. Keep fired up brother! Don't let the fire die out! Call it down! Call it down! Call it down! Praise His NAME! jm I don�t think there is much I can add to that. What a powerful message from a true Christian. I can feel the fire from his soul all the way down here. God Bless you Jim and your wonderful group of believers who are taking Jesus Christ out of the box so many try to keep Him in. Orlando�..you need to get ready because there is a fire starting here. Its not one that will damage property but it will definitely burn down the barriers that Satan has built to keep us locked in our 4 walled building. Satan I have news for you�we are coming at you loud, proud and at full speed. Jesus Christ is our strength and his Holy Spirit is leading the charge. No longer will the message of Salvation be kept locked up for those who come looking for it just on Sunday morning. NO SIR�.its coming out for everyone to hear. And in the name of Jesus Christ I COMMAND you Satan to step aside. We are on a mission from GOD!!!! |