Mrs. Lurene “Penny” Wilkins Went to Be With the Lord
At 12:35 AM on Monday February 20, 2012 Mrs. Lurene “Penny” Wilkins went to be with the Lord.
Mrs. Wilkins had long been battling Alzheimer Disease.
The Burial will be held at The Church at Meadow Creek, in Bedford, Texas Saturday February 25, 2012 @ 11:00 a.m.
2503 Bedford Road
Bedford, Texas 76021
817.835.0027 - Pastor Raymond Johns
The Funeral will be held at Valley Bible Baptist Church, on Thursday February 23 @ 11:00 a.m. with a meal following.
Location: 56 Arroyo Seco Circle, Espanola, NM 87532
Dr. James Wilkins has asked that instead of sending flower arrangements, a donation be given to the Valley Bible Baptist Church Building Fund. All donations that are received will be used to complete the new church auditorium. Valley Bible Baptist Church will dedicate a section of their new building in honor of Mrs. Wilkins with a plaque celebrating her life and all the wonderful things she did. Dr. and Mrs. Wilkins would sacrificially give to the building fund and (Mrs. Wilkins) desired that through its completion many souls would be saved.
To give a donation please contact contact Valley Bible Baptist Church at:
Valley Bible Baptist Church – Pastor Brian McMath
56 Arroyo Seco Circle
Espanola, NM 87532
505-747-6694
or
The “Donate Button” located on the right of this page.
(Please specify “building fund”)
John and Wanda Casias
John and Wanda Casias
I have been asked to write a short essay about two of the greatest people I have ever known. John and Wanda Casias who seemed more like family than friends. In fact, the Casias’ often referred to me as their father. Some of their children at one time or another called me, grandpa.
I met John by virtue of the old fashioned watt line (telephone). I was in Indiana preaching when the phone rang in my motel room.
The Voice said, is this Dr. Wilkins, Dr. James Wilkins. Boy, you are sure a hard man to run down. This is John Casias in Amarillo, TX.
Thereafter, my phone would ring 3 or 4 times a week and it would be John. His questions were always about the Big Brother (New Convert Care) books, discipleship or soul-winning.
I learn that John at the age of 21 went into sales . By 25 he was the district manager over several states making in excess of $300,000 per year.
His last job was as a salesman for a new care agency in Amarillo. Although he had owned several businesses he found that the could make as much money as a car salesman without all the problems that went with owing his own business. He had customers from three states, New Mexico, Oklahoma as well as Texas. His file box had cards of dozens of people from those states who were repeat customers.
He had a Catholic background when a friend led him to the Lord in personal work. He was politically a strong conservative and was active in local politics. Soon after his conversion he was baptized and become a member of the Central Baptist Church.
It was at the funeral of a friend that his life was changed. The Pastor mentioned that this very good Christian friend was a member of the Big Brothers. John was shocked! How could a godly man like his friend be a part of the ungodly secular Big Brothers Organization. There had been a recent story in the newspaper about one of the secular Big Brothers molesting a young boy.
John went straight to the widow with his question. She said, “Oh no, Bro John, its not that Big Brother. It’s a book to train New Converts.” With that she gave him a copy.
That was when the Phone calls began. John often stated that he was discipled over the telephone. He showed the book to his Pastor, Bro Bingham. He soon had permission to start a discipleship class in the church and order some books. I was invited to come to Central Baptist to preach and help start the Big Brother Program (New Convert Care Program). I was invited to stay in the Casias’ home. It was here that I met Wanda. As I knocked on their door a very, attractive woman with a big smile opened the door. “So you are Dr. Wilkins! I have been dying to meet you. I’m reading one of your books right now.”
Wanda was a good mother , wife and gracious woman. Her modest home was well kept and she worked part time in real estate.
I didn’t know when she opened the door that day some almost 35 years ago what an important part she would play in my personal life. She was an exhorter and encourager. (More about her later)
John stated with about 6 to 8 in his Big Brother discipleship class. The church was only running about 45 to 50 in attendance. Only John, the pastor and another member or two went out visiting on their visitation program on Thursday nights.
Under John’s leadership twelve months later there were 45-50 in his class with the church attendance up around 150. There was 20 or 30 out visiting every Thursday night. But John had a problem, God had called him into fulltime ministry. I was surprised to get a phone call, not from John but Wanda one night. She said, “Dr. Wilkins, the next time your preach in this surrounding area will you call John and take him with you. He is driving me nuts! He’s called to preach and knows it, and he is so hard to get along with.” I told her that I had an invitation to preach at Temple Baptist Church in Tucumcari, New Mexico in the near future and would be a guest in their home soon.
John drove me to Tucumcari, and sure enough came forward and surrendered his life full to God at the close of the service.
Wanda’s mother also lived in Amarillo and was ill. Wanda had told John she would follow him when he went preaching any place in the world as long as it was near her mother in Amarillo.
When we drove the 100 miles back to Amarillo after the service Wanda was waiting to inform John she had surrendered her life to the Lord and would go anywhere God should lead John.
Monday MORNING john gave his COMPANY a 30 day notice and went full time for the lord. They sold their house in Amarillo and moved to the metro-plex.
For the next year or so John put in full time assisting me in training people in the Big Brother Program.
Before leaving Amarillo John had a jail ministry. One day he visited Cullen Davis a famous millionaire who was charged with murdering his wife. John led him to the Lord. Cullen lived in Fort Worth and was later influenced to join a larger charismatic church.
The Church John was a member of was taking a mission trip to Mexico. Since John had no appointments that week he decided to go.
What he saw, the poverty, the religious ignorance and the bondage to the Catholic church, it broke his heart. He recognized and surrendered to the call to go as a missionary before he had gotten back home.
He could not read or speak Spanish, but he was a very disciplined man who read four chapter in the Bible and prayed every morning before breakfast. He was up some morning at four A.M. That was a vow that he made to God. When he got to Mexico he read from the Spanish Bible, with the aid of a dictionary and concordance. It took him up to six hours to keep his promise to read four chapters and feed his inner man before having breakfast and feeding his outer man.
After returning from the mission trip John instantly made plans to move to El Cercado, Mexico where he started the first and soon to be the mother church for 13 other churches over the next 35 years.
His wife and family along with John lived in a poorly insulated mobile home which was just a little larger than a camper the first year of so. It is so hot there in the summer time that Wanda lost weight so much so that it almost took her life.
Sean, their youngest son lived several months in our home in Arlington, Texas as he finished high school.
John found the property in which their beautiful church facility is built. It was a little more than a city dump when he approached Cullen Davis for funds to buy it. I am not sure how much Mr. Davis helped but I know he helped some. John and family began to clear the lots and soon was having services out under a tree. Soon I was summoned to come and hold a meeting for two or three nights for John.
I was privileged and marveled as I saw John and Wanda labor to first clear the lots then built a tiny little building which was soon added to until they have one of the most beautiful facilities of any Independent Baptist church anywhere in the world.
With John and Wanda it was up in the morning , reading four chapters, then out to work on the building by 6:00 AM. Regardless of what the morning or day would bring they were in a home witnessing or disciplining several nights each week. Most of the time John took someone with him while Wanda did the same.
In my opinion Wanda was as good or better at discipling that John. She was the best woman’s disciplier that I have ever known. There are many mature women in the Lord in Mexico, that can testify to this.
Penny, my wife, lost her husband after 40 years of married. Since she and the Casias were good friends she re-surrendered at the age of 60 and went as a missionary helper to Mexico to assist the Casias. Penny and Wanda started an annual prayer retreat for women. Several hundred women from churches both in Mexico and in the United States have attended. They are to have their 21st annual prayer retreat there in September 2012.
My first wife died after 41 ½ years of marriage. I was a very happy man travelling and preaching.
Penny has a severe car accident which caused her to move back to Amarillo Texas and become the church secretary at Central Baptist, Wanda’s old home church. The two had previously started a ladies prayer group there.
On Mother’s Day the church had a mother-daughter banquet with Wanda as the special speaker.
At the close of the dinner Wanda and another lady, called Penny up before the group and gave her a gift. When she opened the box it was a pair of men’s trousers. One of the ladies had read that a single lady had found a husband when she placed a pair of men’s pants on her bed post and asked the Lord to fill them with a husband.
Penny and Wanda had taught their prayer groups to pray retail (for an exact request) and not wholesale (things in general).
Penny thanked the ladies and reminded them not to pray wholesale (for any husband) but retail, that God would fill the pants with Dr. James Wilkins. Little did I know that two groups of women, one in Amarillo and the other in Mexico had written in their prayer journals and daily ask God to fill those pants with me, Dr. James Wilkins. Wanda was the originator and instigator of it all. Thank God she did! And thank God for the dozens of times she would call with a little problem and to remind me of her gratitude and love for Penny (her best friend) and me for being John’s father in the ministry. Very few people will miss her more than Penny and I.
John and Wanda have been a blessing to many people and churches. Here in Espanola there are people whom John and Wanda have won to Christ when they were here a day or two. That could be said about many churches where they have visited and preached.
On one occasion I was preaching for a church in Denver Colorado. The pastor knowing I was a good friend of John and Wanda asked me about their work. He said God had laid them on his heart. I told him they desperately needed $3,300 to finish a project but Wanda was praying for $34,000 which would finish up the room and building.
The pastor asked, “Do you have their address?” I answered sure but they will stop briefly at my home next week. You could send the offering to them in care of my address and I’ll give it to them when they stop by. The following week Wanda came in first while John made a phone call. I gave her the envelope and she let out a little yell and fainted dead away. In a few seconds she came to and from the floor handed me the envelope. It was a check for $34,000.
John and Wanda reminded me of the man who found the pearl of great price. They sold all and forsook all earthy things to pursue eternal things. They had successfully pursued wealth and learned the secret of making a lot of money which didn’t not satisfy the inner longing which God had placed in them. When John was saved and totally surrendered himself to learn to win souls in his daily life – then he found the tremendous joy of discipling others. He sold all he had and followed the Lord’s call to win and disciple others to seek eternal riches.
They were two of the most joyful people I ever knew – please – please – please dear reader consider the greatest lesson their lives declared.
They, who had tasted what money could buy forsook it all in order to live in an out of the way dangerous place in Mexico and humbly and thankfully serve their Lord in seeking others eternal welfare.
I received a message on my cell phone which declared that Wanda had gone to eternal rewards. This message should have read, Blessed is Wanda who died in the Lord – who rest from her labors (resting in heaven or on vacation in heaven – and her works do follow her.) She and Brother John went to heaven on Sunday night there to rest until the soon coming of Jesus who will judge and reward them for their faithful years of service. It is then when they will receive their reward they will also be reassigned a position of rulership on the earth for 1000 years during the Millennial Reign of Christ.
The statements, their works do follow then, means the works of rearing their children to serve the Lord and the works their grandchildren do for the Lord partially go to John and Wanda’s account and add to John and Wanda’s reward at the Judgment Seat.
Their (John and Wanda) works in the thousands of souls lives which they influenced to be save and then serve the Lord – will follow them and will partially be added to their account which will give the accumulative rewards at the Judgment seat. These rewards will be in the form of a place of leadership for a full 1000 years. (Revelation 14:13).
Remember if you are one of John and Wanda’s family members or one of their converts. Whatever you do will further their reward. One of John and Wanda’s favorite scriptures was I Peter 5:10 which states:
“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”
The God of all grace called John and Wanda to share in his eternal glory.
His Grace enabled Wanda to leave her sick mother.
His Grace enabled them to give up living close to the children and grandchildren.
His Grace enabled them to enjoy the many long, tiring, and sometime trying years of service in Mexico.
And it was God’s wonderful grace which enabled them to endure the brutal murder which they endured on a Sunday night after church.
Across America and around the world many Christian’s went to some place for a bite to eat and for fellowship. After church on that Sunday night John and Wanda were invited to come up and fellowship with Jesus. And you know, they are still fellowshipping!
Across America the newspapers and television media reported “tragic death of two missionaries in a little town in Mexico.” But in heaven there was quite a different headline! It reported, John and Wanda Casias, two of God’s most faithful saints safely landed at the “inter-world airport” Sunday night where thousands of the family and converts were there to welcome them home. They will rest a little while before they go to the Judgment Seat of Christ where they will receive many honors. Among those honors will be a Martyr’s Crown of Life which will single them OUT FOR ALL TIME AND ETERNITY.
Give the Gift of Faith
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Give the Gift of Faith Pack
TEN BOOKS $20.00
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Many have become Christians after reading one of these books. The way the gift of faith works is for the GIVER to write a little note of endearment inside the books and your find or loved one will treasure and read it.
With your purchase in the Months of February and March, we will also offer at no charge, A Baby’s View Point of Life and Death
FREE SHIPPING For THE Months of February and March!!!
Special offer!!!
Purchase today and receive
A Baby’s View Point of Life and Death
Drama at the Cross - Sermon on the crucifixion. Thousands have been saved after reading or hearing this message. – $4.95 – Proclaimed as a classic
Survivor a true story of how the author survived an abortion. It gives a strong message of love and hope to all the women who have aborted their babies. – $8.95
Your Short Race Home – Heaven is so close, it just a short race away. Are you ready, have you fulfilled all that God has asked of you?
God’s Cure for Our Nation, a faith building book which gives the Biblical steps for another spiritual awakening and moral reformation in America. – $8.95
Struggle to Peace , By Richard and Cindy Benson, a story of a sixth generation Mormon and her struggles with religion which lead her to eternal life and freedom. A great tool to help your Mormon friends. 2.25 million in print – $5.00
Questions About Hell, identifies the Devil as the real villain and God as the father of mercy. One of the first copies sold led a man and his wife to Christ. It will help you be a better person. – $8.98
Preacher Boy’s Little Faith, a book which will strengthen young people and five them direction in courtship and marriage. “A thrilling story of faith, courage and miracles.” A fascinating read- $5.00
On the Other Side of The River, is a 350 page book on the 1000 year reign on this earth which follows this age. It asks the question, “What will be your mailing address on this earth for 1000 years?” Some will serve as mayors, governors, kings while others will live as paupers. One readers comment was, “It’s a life changer!” – $14.95
What’s Behind Your Light – Just after death…what then?
The Call of a Lost and Dying World and Your Response – A story of compassion in the lives of four men
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A Baby’s Viewpoint of Life and Death
We are so happy to announce the completion of the book
A Baby’s Viewpoint of Life and Death.
“God prepared a special little person and sent her into the world. Her life impacted every person she encountered. Now she is gone…but her influence lingers on…”
“…Early on the morning of July 20th, I started the labor process in order to give birth to my new baby, and I am still certain the new addition to our family will be a boy. We had previously decided he (the new baby) would be named, Isaac Judah, which means laughter-praise in the Hebrew translation. For each of the pregnancies of the previous six children I would ask the Lord to give me a scripture to meditate on for the duration of each labor, and that morning I asked the Lord for something I could use to comfort myself as I would undergo the labor and birth of my baby, either a song, Bible verse, or a prayer. When I opened my Bible, God led me to II Corinthians 12:9, as I pondered on this verse, I questioned the Lord asking Him, “I already know this verse, Lord,” (I had memorized this verse in 2001 quoting it to my mother-in-law, Carlota Lovato,before she underwent heart surgery) and the Lord said to me, “This is the one I want you to think about today.” II Corinthians 12:9 reads, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” Upon reading this scripture, I felt the Lord piercing my heart about the infirmities, yet I thought of the heavy labor I would soon endure, and assumed that was the infirmity God was showing me–I never related the infirmities to my baby. (Just recently I looked up the meaning of infirmity and it was the description of Gracie’s life, how Powerful God is!)…”
We invite you to share the journey of Jake and Anita Lovato and their little baby Grace (Gracie) as they experience A Baby’s Viewpoint of Life and Death.
$6.00
The Great Commission According To Jesus
We are very excited to announce that we have sent to publishing the new book
The Great Commission According to Jesus.
This book uses the 5 accounts of the Great commission as a magnifying glass to look deeper into the true meaning and understanding of the Great Commission.
JESUS USED FOUR MEN TO GIVE THE COMMISSION TO HIS CHURCH
In the Great Commission, According to Jesus we see the full impact of the Great Commission.
Matthew stresses it’s authority, order and scope.
Mark stresses the personal need to fulfill it
Luke’s stresses the true message which will bring, “Repentance and Remission of Sins”
John stresses the fearful responsibility of each believer and the consequences of not going.
Acts, Dr. Luke, stresses the Divine Power which will make their going successful.
Dr. Wilkins has served over 60 years as missionary, mssion teacher or church builder – This is his 4th book of Faith Promise and features the “Study-to-Learn-and-Do” Method.
$9.00
One reaching one is NOT the answer!
ONE REACHING ONE IS NOT THE ANSWER
The theory of one Christian reaching one sinner; then the two of them reaching two others until every Christian was reaching another will work only theoretically.(+) It is easy to illustrate and demonstrate, but when you factor in the weakness of the flesh, the allurement of the world, and the warring of the Devil, the theory just becomes wishful thinking.
GOD’S SYSTEM WILL REACH MULTIPLICATION
God’s system of reaching the biblical plan of multiplication is an unbreakable chain of four links.(+) It was implemented by Jesus in his choice of twelve apostles and illustrated by the apostle Paul.
ILLUSTRATED BY APOSTLE PAUL
Everyone who has ever given any serious thought to discipleship will instantly turn to II Timothy 2:2.(+) “And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.”
In this verse we have the four links in the chain of discipleship which will lead to the multiplication level.
FIRST, we have the leader as the first link. (+) That leader in this particular chain is the apostle Paul.
SECOND, we have a prominent disciple, Timothy, as the second link in the chain which leads to multiplying.(+) If the chain stopped at link two, we would have reached the level of addition. Two could become a series of disciples who could lead to large additions, but never to multiplication.
THIRD, we see the simplest form of multiplication, FAITHFUL MEN. Notice the qualification of men. It is faithful men. The term, faithful men denotes that the men in this third link have met the three qualifications Jesus set forth in Luke fourteen which people must meet to become one of his disciples. First, one must love Jesus more than anyone in this life, including himself (Luke 14:26). Second, the men have surrendered to becoming one of his disciples by taking up their cross (job of doing God’s will Luke 14:27.) Finally, they have counted the cost of being one of his disciple’s (Luke 14:33), and are following his divine plan, which will reach the level of rapid growth of dedicated Christians. But the three links in the discipleship chain will never have the potential of getting the gospel to “every creature in the world”.
FOURTH, we see the faithful men (plural) who Timothy disciples begin to generate the rapid growth of multiplication. Faithful men begin to disciple others. When this chain becomes strong, we have a chain that will not be broken.
Paul helps train Timothy so well that Timothy is developed to the level that he is able to teach “faithful men.”
Just as Paul supervised Timothy in training faithful men, Timothy is now responsible and capable to supervise faithful men to train others.
IMPLEMENTED BY JESUS IN HIS CHOICE OF TWELVE APOSTLES
Have you ever wondered why Jesus chose twelve men, whom he named apostles?
Why didn’t he choose ten or twenty men instead of twelve?
Someone will suggest twelve is a biblical number, so he chose twelve. It is a biblical number, which stands for government as demonstrated by there being twelve apostles and twelve tribes of Israel. The author will acknowledge that twelve is a biblical number for government, but why twelve? Could there be another reason for choosing twelve apostles in addition to the number twelve representing government?
ONE CHURCH BUT TWELVE PASTOR-TRAINERS
Your author has for many years called people’s attention to the fact that Jesus started one church, but placed in that one church twelve pastor’s or trainers. This was to illustrate the method that the early church used in training their members in soul winning. The early church (local) first showed a member as well as taught him how to win souls by giving him on-the-job-training from house to house until the trainee had learned sufficiently how to win souls and had become another trainer. I reasoned that Jesus chose twelve men whom he developed to become trainers to expedite the training of their members. Twelve apostles training one or two trainees at the same time would partially explain the rapid growth of the Jerusalem church.(+) No doubt this is, at least, part of the reason that he chose twelve apostles. But a closer study reveals the real reason for choosing twelve was to establish an unbreakable chain in discipling, which would lead to multiplication and getting the gospel to every creature in their generation.
Two Things Have Remained The Same
The history of God’s work from Adam down through the Old Testament unto this very day reveals two principles which have always remained the same.
ONE – THE PLAN OF SALVATION. Salvation has always been by grace through faith in the shed blood of God’s Lamb and our Saviour, Jesus Christ. There is only one door to heaven, Jesus. In the Old Testament they looked forward to His coming sacrifice. (+) Since Jesus died on the cross, believers look back to his perfect sacrifice for salvation.
TWO – EVERY SUCCESSFUL WORK HAS BEEN THROUGH THE HOLY SPIRIT POWER OF GOD. (+) In the Old Testament a study reveals that the Holy Spirit Power of God worked through Prophets, Priests, Kings, Judges and other chosen workers.
Joel, one of God’s spirit filled prophets spoke of a change in the energizing work of the Holy Spirit which would take place in the last days. (Joel 2:28-32). The energizing work of the Holy Spirit would be broadened to include every believer who would ask for and meet the conditions for the Holy Spirit energizing. (+)
Rule of the First Mention
Again the author will refer to the rule of first mention as an important rule of bible interpretation.(+) The Holy Spirit is the author of the library of 66 books, we call the Holy Bible. He used about 40 human writers as his instruments in bringing Gods eternal word into its perfect existence. Each time the Holy Spirit would introduce a new term or practice He would carefully define that term or practice. Each time the Holy Spirit used that term or practice afterwards he would mean exactly what He first defined the word to mean.
THE FIRST NEW TESTAMENT PREACHER WHO WAS JOHN, THE BAPTIST
A strange thing was recorded about this first preacher in order to illustrate his source of success and power. This important truth is that he was filled with the Holy Ghost from his Mother’s womb Luke 1:15 (+) His success is synonymous with the success of all great men of God; they all were filled (energized) by the Holy Spirit.
JESUS AS A MAN WAS A PERFECT ROLE MODEL (+)
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. John 1:1 JESUS HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE ETERNAL, PREEXISTENT SON OF GOD! He has always been God, He is God and He will never cease to be God, but when he came into the world as the Word it was to become flesh. John 1:14 He came into the world as a man in order to live as a perfect servant to his Father.
BEFORE THE ENERGIZING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
For thirty years Jesus was almost invisible. There were only short periods of his life revealed. Then suddenly he burst on the scene and for three and a half years everything focused on him.
What made the difference before his baptism and public ministry and after his baptism?
AS A MAN HE WAS ENERGIZED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT (+)
Jesus didn’t come into the world to serve and please God as a divine person but he came into the world as a human being (yet without sin). As a man he humbled himself in order to function as a man would function.
Since man must depend on the energizing of the Holy Spirit for their power, Jesus chose to limit himself and do the same. He did this for at least two reasons.
First, he had to live a perfect, sinless life in order to become man’s Saviour.
Second, he limited himself in order to become a perfect role model which would teach and demonstrate how to become a proper and successful servant of God.
He demonstrated how to successfully resist and overcome temptation and the devil. It was through the Holy Spirit power and the use of the scriptures.
He resisted and overcame the devil and his temptation through the energizing (power) of the Holy Spirit. “and Jesus, being full of the Holy Ghost (energized) returned from Jordan (where he was baptized) and was lead by the spirit (Holy Spirit) into the wilderness being 40 days tempted of the devil…” Luke 4:1-2 After 40 days of fasting the devil tempted Jesus who resisted him by using the scriptures Luke 4:1-13 After his victory over the devil verse fourteen states, “Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit unto Galilee.”
Later in the same chapter Luke 4:16-22 he revealed the difference in his new life for God AS A PREACHER. After attending the same Synagogue all of his life he revealed the change in his life by reading Isaiah 61:1-2. It begins, “the Spirit of God is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach…..(+) Later, in a sermon that the Apostle Peter preached we have these words. “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power who went about doing good.” He did this good which Peter was referring to AS A MAN, filled (energized) by the Holy Spirit. This tremendous change in Jesus as a sinless human being from the life he lived for 30 years and the life he lived for his final three and a half years can only be explained by the work of the Holy Spirit in his life.
The two prominent preachers John the Baptist and the early ministry of Jesus is a demonstration of the Holy Spirit energizing men in their ministries.
They were to serve as a role model and pattern to all other future preachers and servants of the Lord, In fact the Bible commands all believers, “Be not drunk with wine wherein is excess BUT BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.” Ephesians 5:18
A VIVID EXAMPLE OF THAT NEED
After all the great teaching message’s on the Beatitudes, The Sermon on the Mount, The Parables, and the coming future kingdom; JESUS WOULDN’T LET THEM GO INTO ALL THE WORLD.
After all the pressurized moments of standing before hostile crowds and religious leaders and demonstrating to young apostles how to face hostilities with calmness and faith; HE WOULD NOT LET THEM GO. He said, “TARRY.”
The apostles had the Bible college training behind them. They were graduates BUT JESUS WOULDN’T LET THEM GO! (+)
Thousands were dying each day with many of them going to hell; BUT HE WOULDN’T LET THEM GO. (+)
WHY?
WHY WOULDN’T JESUS LET THE APOSTLES GO? THE ANSWER: THE DISCIPLES WERE NOT FULLY EQUIPPED YET.
Jesus knew that with all their Bible knowledge, with all their training in the mechanics and materials of disciple-making, and with the goal of preaching the gospel to every creature that they were not equipped to go yet – they needed two more principles to be embedded into their minds and souls before they were equipped to go. (+)
TARRY IN JERUSALEM UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER
Luke first records this command for the disciples to tarry or wait for the empowering of the Holy Spirit in Luke 24:49 and again in Acts 1:4. (+) Jesus knew it would take the divine power of God to make the divine plan of God successful. THE WAITING ALSO EMPHASIZES THAT THEY COULD DO NOTHING WITHOUT THE ENERGIZING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT BUT IN CHRIST THEY COULD DO ALL THINGS.
ANOTHER COMFORTER
In John 16:7, Jesus said it was necessary for him to go away (back to heaven) but if I depart I will send Him to you.” Jesus in the body of man could only be in one place at a time.(+) He needed to be with every disciple all of the time.
- Jesus promised never to forsake or leave a person.
- Jesus promised to give wisdom to any who ask.
- Jesus promised to give grace for every occasion.
- Jesus promised to illuminate the minds of believers.
- Jesus promised to give supernatural power for service and soul winning (to every believer at the very same time in multiple places).
As a man he couldn’t do it, but through the Holy Spirit He was able to minister and help any believer, in any place, in any way the believer needed help.
That is the reason that Jesus said He had to go away but He would not leave them comfortless (orphaned) but the comforter (Holy Spirit) would abide with them always. John 14:16-18. Again in John 14:26.
JESUS HAD TO TRANSFORM THE APOSTLES IN AT LEAST FOUR AREAS
FIRST, the apostles were fearful followers that must be transformed INTO FEARLESS LEADERS. (+) Often times these young preachers were afraid. They were scared to death as they fought hopelessly against the severe winds and high waves. Jesus combated their fears and calmed the sea by saying. “Peace be still.”
Toward the end of his ministry when word was sent that officials were planning to kill Jesus, as Jesus prepared to go to the graveside of Lazarus, the Apostles were scared but Thomas said, “Let us go and die with him.”
The apostles fled like timid men when the mob came to arrest Jesus and hovered like scared rabbits behind locked doors during his entombment. There were other occasions where it was obvious that the apostles were fearful followers. THEY MUST BE TRANSFORMED INTO FEARLESS LEADERS. Therefore, the command, “TARRY…UNTIL YOU ARE ENDUED WITH POWER.”
After fasting and praying for ten days and nights, the apostles emptied themselves of selfish ambitions and their self-centeredness and became empty vessels which the Holy Spirit could fill and control. (+) NOW THE FEARFUL FOLLOWERS BECAME FEARLESS LEADERS. They were threatened and whipped as they fearlessly risked their lives in preaching the Gospel and training their converts. They had been transformed so well that they could inject the same boldness and confidence into their followers.
SECOND, the apostles must be transformed from powerless followers into powerful men of strength and ability as leaders. Again the command, “Tarry, until you are endued with power.” These powerless preachers who could not cast a demon out of a young boy (Matthew 17:20) were now transformed into men of boldness (Acts 4:31) and of “great power gave the apostles witness.” (Acts 4:33). They were later referred to as men who had “turned the world upside down” as they lead the assault against the gates of hell to “set the captives free.” THEY BECAME FEARLESS LEADERS.
THIRD, they had to be transformed from men who were overwhelmed by the huge task (to every creature in all the world) to men who looked to the sky, expecting His coming. In the final service that Jesus conducted before His crucifixion, He comforted His disciples with words which they would rehearse over and over again. He said, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also” John 14:1-3. No doubt the words, “I WILL COME AGAIN…that where I am, there ye may be also” rung in their ears for the rest of their lives.
The day came when Jesus was taken from them and He ascended back into heaven. They stood motionless and stared aimlessly up into heaven. Suddenly, two angels spoke words which would cause the apostles to always keep their eyes focused toward heaven. They said, “Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”
In Acts 1:3 the wording of “being seen of them forty days” seemed to indicate that Jesus would suddenly appear in their midst with a start and after a period of time disappear just as quickly. He seemed to appear and then disappear on several occasions during the 40 days. No doubt he helped them focus their eyes toward heaven by saying, I’m going away but one of these days just like the past 40 days you men will be working for me and suddenly – I will materialize in a physical body just as I have during the past few days. They were transformed from men whose focus was on the events of this world to men whose focus was upward to the skies – WATCHING FOR THE IMMINENT SECOND COMING OF THEIR LORD.
FOURTH, They must be transformed from men who walked by sight to men who would walk by faith. They had heard all his great teachings and “faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God,” but they still walked by sight. They were used to seeing Jesus with them.
They had seen all of his miracles and deeds and had great confidence in his power and ability, but now he was gone and they still had a tendency to walk by sight.
They had been taught that although Jesus wouldn’t be with them in bodily form any longer but he would be there in the invisible form of the Holy Spirit. His bodily absence made them feel shaky and uncertain in their walk for Christ.
THEN JESUS GAVE THEM ON-THE-JOB-TRAINING IN LEARNING TO TRUST HIM BY FAITH. (+) They were taught and convinced that the promise, “I will never leave you nor forsake you,” was true.
How were they taught? How were they transformed from men who walked by sight (fear and trembling) into men of faith and power?
Again, the wording in Acts 1:3 “BEING SEEN OF HIM FORTY DAYS” indicates that Jesus would suddenly burst into the sight of the apostles and teach them things about the coming kingdom and then just as suddenly disappear. He would appear at various times, reinforce the principle about the millennial reign and then vanish. He was there bodily, then he wasn’t there bodily but he reassured them that he was with them all the time whether in the body or in the Spirit he was there – this happened until they comprehended – JESUS IS ALWAYS WITH US, whether we are together or separated by miles of distance He is with us.(+) Just as we depended on Him to lead us for 3 ½ years we can depend upon Him now. The only difference, we could see him bodily then; but now we cannot see Him bodily but He is with us now just as much as He was with us then. (+)
A STORY THAT ILLUSTRATES THEIR FAITH
It is one thing to believe something theologically but it is quite another to believe it in trusting faith with one’s life hanging in the balance. (+)
A man would demonstrate his skill and balance by pushing a wheelbarrow several hundred feet across a dangerous gorge while the unpredictable winds were blowing. The man would often do tricks while he was pushing the wheelbarrow across the gorge.
Huge crowds would cheer as he did so. He would ask the crowds if they thought he could push the wheelbarrow across the wide chasm again?
The crowd would cheer and chant “yes, yesss!”
Then he would silence them by asking if anyone believed he could do it enough to become his passenger in the wheelbarrow(+). HE HAD NO TAKERS.
It was one thing to believe the man could push the wheelbarrow across but it was an entirely different matter to trust him with their lives.
WHAT WAS THE SECRET TO THE GREAT BOLDNESS AND POWER OF THE APOSTLES faith in the invisible Christ? Their faith grew to where they would get into the wheelbarrow and let Jesus push them across even though he was no longer visible to the human eye. (+)
They learned this great principle and were transformed from men who walked and lived by sight into fearless men. WHO CONQUERED BY FAITH. THEY WERE EMBOLDENED AND MOTIVATED BY THE ENERGIZING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. (+)
These apostles learned this lesson so well that they taught and wrote in the Bible how that Jesus was still on the earth, NOT IN A LIMITED FORM OF A HUMAN BODY BUT IN THE UNLIMITED PRESENCE OF THE BLESSED HOLY SPIRIT. Now, to live within and to give grace and strength to every believer in all places of the earth AT THE SAME TIME.
What a difference the presence of Jesus, through the Holy Spirit, makes! Dear friend, accept this important fact and live your life in the light that he is literally with you and will never leave or forsake you. He will empower you just as much as your faith will trust him to empower you.
Please memorize the last phase of the great commission found in Matthew 28:19-20. Jesus states; (a literal translation) “I will be with you perpetually, on every occasion until the very close and consummation of the age.” (+)
That is Jesus’ lingering promise to every believer!
BELIEVE IT!
ACT UPON IT AND LET HIM DO GREAT AND MIGHTY THINGS THROUGH YOU!!
Biblical Principles – Some Things I Have Learned That Have Directed My Life.
Biblical Principles
Some Things I Have Learned That Have Directed My Life.
First, I had to figure out who am I and what am I to do in this lifetime.
- Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
Second, God not only created me, but he did so in His image and likeness.
- John 1:1-3 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
- Genesis 1:26 And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth.
Third, God is from everlasting to everlasting or eternal.
- Psalm 90:1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations.
- God breathed into Adam, and Adam became a living soul.
- Genesis 2:7 And the LORD God formed man [of] the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living soul.
- Have a holy reverence for God, because He can kill both the soul and body.
- Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Fourth, God made me for a purpose.
- II Timothy 1:9 Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
- I was saved by grace unto good works.
- Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
Fifth, when I became a Christian I ceased to belong to myself.
- I Corinthians 6:19-20 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost [which is] in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
- I was to find and work out my salvation (purpose on this earth) with fear and trembling.
- Philippians 2:12-13 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of [his] good pleasure.
Sixth, I was not to be conformed to (live like) this world or follow the practices of this world.
- Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
Seven, If I lived like this world I would become the enemy of God.
- James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.
- Paul Identified children of God who became the enemies of God as those who mind earthly things.
- Philippians 3:18-19 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Eight, I was to lay up treasures in heaven and not lay up treasures on this earth.
- Matthew 6:19-20 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:
Nine, the primary purpose for a Christian was to keep people from going to hell.
- First my brothers and the poor fruit workers.
- Then through the past 61 years, going visiting on an average of two times per week.
- Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.
- John 20:21 Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.
- Proverbs 11:30 The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life; and he that winneth souls is wise.
Ten, I learned that bearing fruit or winning souls was the way one glorifies the Lord in his life.
- John 15:8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.
- I Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
- Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.
The First Verses I Memorized Were:
- Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
- Romans 12:1-2I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, [which is] your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.
- Ephesians 3:21 Unto him [be] glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?
How many people struggle from their self-imposed imprisonment which offers no hope of escape? How much do they spend for a counselor in order to “Just make it”?
Many…and too much…
But they still go back to their usual inferior self, morose and defeated.
How will they be able to find the way to become whole again?
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