“I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything though Him who gives me strength.”
(Philippines 3:12-13)
As Linda and I have been pondering over Christmas and our 45th wedding anniversary, the Father is sharing with us the beauty of our journey with Him. On the surface, we are not exceptional. We have made some bad and some good choices that have displeased or pleased Him. We are thankful for His grace, mercy and unconditional love. We have had our parents and even three of our children finish their journey of this life. We have suffered and we have rejoiced. Yet, the Holy Spirit is prompting me to share what the Lord chooses to rejoice over more than anything. It’s kinda like – life has a certain beat, a rhythm and we keep changing it to get the beat that brings joy – at least for the moment. Linda and I have had them all.
“Jesus said, ‘Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them.
Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country
and go after the lost sheep until he finds it:
And when he finds it,
he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home.
Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says,
‘Rejoice with me; I have found my sheep.’
I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven
over one sinner who repents
than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.”
(Luke 15:3-7)
Jesus in describing the father’s reaction to the return of his prodigal son:
“The son said to him,
‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you.
I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’
But the father said to his servants,
‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him.
Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet.
Bring the fattened calf and kill it.
Let’s have a feast and celebrate.
For his son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’
So they began to celebrate.”
(Luke 15:21-24)
“For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.”
(Luke 19:10)
The Holy Spirit spoke to Linda when she was 10 years old that she would go to Africa. When Jesus revealed Himself to me we became equally yoked and every priority in life changed simply to want what the Father wanted. That was for us to abandon ourselves to what brings Him joy and that is seeing His children come into His loving arms of the Father who does not hold their sin against them. The gospel of Jesus Christ. We are in almost daily contact with our co-laborers in central Africa and no matter what the circumstances in their personal lives or the state of their nation, their testimony is always about lost souls coming into the kingdom. Yesterday, we received the testimonies of their work to share the gospel in November and updated their testimony board on the wall of the Harvest Home. They share that with joy and thanks for the prayers and support of those that are in partnership with them in the gospel. No person can save anyone except Jesus Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit. But the Father and all the angels in heaven celebrate and in every step of our journey of life, the Lord shares that with us. We have a Lord who’s work is worthy of celebration.
So here is what the Lord has asked us to share with you.
We are only able to contribute a little, but the ongoing celebration is ours and we humbly and cheerfully join with Him as He brings the sheep home and the Father tells the servants to prepare for the celebration. We thank God that we can celebrate and have been continually at that banquet throughout every day. Mindful, that every day, in Africa alone, through the sharing of the testimonies from our brothers and sisters there, that over 60 people every day of every week for the last 15 years have come into their rightful inheritance and are with us as the Body of Christ. We know that the Body of Christ is interceding to seek and save the lost with the heart of the Father, the mind of Christ and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.
We know because of the evidence of the miracles of salvation that the Church is forcefully advancing and that the gates of hell cannot stop that gospel until it has completed it’s purpose to go to all the nations of the world – and then the end will come. And because of that promise, there is no need for concern. If you aren’t sure the Church is forcefully advancing or that the gates of hell are prevailing and you are spending time with Christ in His Word, then you are reading what you believe instead of believing what you read. Remembering always that our faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we cannot see. If you still the other voices, the worries of the world and the deceitfulness of wealth – you can hear the angels in heaven rejoicing and the Father telling us that we must celebrate for the one that was lost and has now come home.
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