RAVEN in the Storm

Tuesday night's homeless outreach in Baltimore was and has been incredible. There was lightning flashing in the sky, dark clouds hovering, and then a wonderful refreshing rain.

Jer 51:15 The LORD made the earth by His power, and He preserves it by His wisdom. With His own understanding He stretched out the heavens.
Jer 51:16 When He speaks in the thunder, the heavens are filled with water. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from His storehouses.

Heb 6:7 For the earth which drinks in the rain that comes often upon it, and brings forth plants fit for those by whom it is dressed, receives blessing from God.

In Baltimore, Tuesday, not only did I see God's wonderful works in the sky, but also, the blessing from God in His servants and his children. I greatly enjoy, even love, watching Janet grow in the Lord. I am learning so much from her. She's a real blessing and a gift from God: She's diligent in her search for the Lord and diligent in her service to him and God has rewarded her tremendously. Tuesday night in Baltimore, Janet was in charge! Praise God!

It's so awesome to see what God has done with His beloved, those who serve him. I can not say it's easy enduring the difficulties that come with serving the Lord, but it is certainly rewarding. Memorial day weekend in Philadelphia started a "new thing" in working with Janet in the ministry and our soon to blossom friendship. Some of you may have seen the video from the streets of Phillie called "Yvonne" where Janet, Mike, and I were working with a few prostitutes hooked on heroine, trying to help bring them back to faith in Christ and into rehab.

Since that weekend, the Lord has really blessed our meetings, outreaches, and Biblical discussions and led us to a place of fellowship and unity. Some keys to the success were and are: a mutual respect for each other and a love of the Lord and His ways, and trusting God to continue the good work He began. We've been able to encourage each other in the Word. "Iron sharpens iron."

I've been able to share some Scriptures that I felt came from the Lord, during times of struggle. One great help is simply knowing that God is always by my side, fighting for me, like a mighty warrior (Jer 20:11).

Besides knowing that we're not alone in our struggle, we must know the hope, that there is ALWAYS a way of ESCAPE!

1Co 10:13 No temptation has taken you but what is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but with the temptation also will make a way to escape, so that you may be able to bear it.

When we fully rely on the Lord, he delivers us from every evil.

GOD PROMISES TO STRENGTHEN THOSE WHOSE HEARTS DESIRE TO BE FAITHFUL:
2Ch 16:9 The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

How can there be condemnation when we desire to serve the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strength? It can not be when the focus is on Christ and not the things of the world.

Rom 8:1 So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.
Rom 8:2 And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death.

THE LAW CAN NOT SAVE US:
Rom 8:3 The law of Moses was unable to save us because of the weakness of our sinful nature. So God did what the law could not do. He sent His own Son in a body like the bodies we sinners have. And in that body God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving His Son as a sacrifice for our sins.

FOLLOW THE HOLY SPIRIT:
Rom 8:4 He did this so that the just requirement of the law would be fully satisfied for us, who no longer follow our sinful nature but instead follow the Spirit.

In following the Holy Spirit we must FOCUS:
SET YOUR SIGHTS ON HEAVEN!
Col 3:1 Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God's right hand.
Col 3:2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth.

We must learn to deny ourselves, die to the flesh, and daily take up our cross (Matt 16:24).

Learning to daily crucify the flesh and walk in the Spirit is clearly imperative in a Christian's life. As we learn to abide in the Lord, we will not carry out the lust of the flesh. And, most importantly, we will bear much fruit.

Joh 15:4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it remains in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me.
Joh 15:5 I am the Vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, the same brings forth much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

Of course, a tree intended to produce good fruit must be pruned (John 15). And this has been our prayer, for God to lop off any limb not of Him. Amen.

God is the the great pruner and His Word does the pruning. The Word goes forth and does not go void. It always does what it is purposed to do:

Isa 55:11 "It is the same with My word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it."

This was the youth lesson in Baltimore on Tuesday and the Word went forth. At the homeless outreach, many returned to the Lord and His ways. Many heard God's Word and received it with joy, others turned away. But, Kenny, who truly loves the Lord and desires to serve Him has been terribly deceived by the enemy, thinking he could continue to drink and still make it to heaven. Tuesday, Kenny, who has heard the Truth in the past, but it had fallen on hard, weedy ground, again received the Truth that will set Him free, and he received it with joy. He sobered up instantly.

Just a few months ago Kenny had been in rehab. After many years of drinking and homelessness, Janet and Charmain (Compassion Ministry, Baltimore)got Kenny into rebab, only for him to leave after 2 months of sobriety. He ended up back in the streets, drinking. Tuesday, Kenny heard the Truth, the Word of God, which clearly states that drunkards do not inherit the kingdom of heaven:

Gal 5:19-21 Now the works of the flesh are clearly revealed, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lustfulness, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, fightings, jealousies, angers, rivalries, divisions, heresies, envyings, murders, drunkennesses, revelings, and things like these; of which I tell you before, as I also said before, that they who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

Jesus' first sermon, after the temptation is this:
Mat 4:17...Repent! For the kingdom of Heaven is at hand.

Repent! For the kingdom of heaven is at hand We know that the Truth will set us free, free from sin, free indeed(John 8:32)! Anyone who sins is a slave to sin! But, as Christians, with God's Spirit and grace (God's Divine influence on our hearts and His reflection in our lives), we no longer have to sin! We are slaves to righteousness:

Joh 8:34 Jesus answered them, Truly, truly, I say to you, Whoever practices sin is the slave of sin.
Rom 6:18 Then being made free from sin, you became the slaves of righteousness.

The Lord promises to continue the good work He began (Phil 1:6) He is faithful (1 Corin 10:13, 1 John 1:9). Kenny's heart has been touched by the Holy Spirit and he has recommitted to sobriety and rehab. He knows God is watching, always beside him, and for him, not against him, and that God is able to keep him until the appointed time to bring him into the sheepfold (John 10). (Rehab is in two weeks.) Please pray for Kenny's strength to abstain until then) and pray for his friend Dennis, who is still out there, really beat up, looking as if near death.

Thank you Lord, for continuing the good work You began. In Christ, Amen.