God Gives the Increase: Baltimore and York Outreach

ALL GLORY TO GOD

How often Christ wanted to gather his sheep...but, “..blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord.” Matt 23:39

PLANTING and WATERING: GOD GIVES THE INCREASE:

1Co 3:6 I have planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase.

I AM NOTHING: ALL GLORY TO GOD!
1Co 3:7 So then neither is he who plants anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase.

THEY ARE ONE!
1Co 3:8 So he planting, and he watering, are one, and each one shall receive his own reward according to his own labor.

We prayed for unity; we prayed for one mind, one body and one Spirit. With the mind of Christ, we walk in the Spirit with one purpose, a mission for God: souls.

John Harris of York went along to minister to Lionel on Tuesday. We took him information for Teen Challenge. Lionel wants free and can not see any reason hindering him, considering that so many have gone before him and been set free. John testified of a formerly homeless man whom Lionel knows, who had a 30 year addiction and is now free and blessed with a place to live and recovery. Please continue to pray for Lionel's freedom from alcoholism.

Just after the time spent with Lionel, his friend Chris, was near-by and received the Word of God and experience the power of the Holy Spirit. Having formerly known of a God, but not knowing or understanding Christ as Lord, we spent quite a bit of time with him. Yesterday, he experienced God's presence and influence on his heart as we prayed for him and revelation. He confessed and received Christ as Lord and Savior, and also healing for a wounded ankle. We're praying for God to keep Him in His clutches, that His faith has been made sure, as we know God can.

Afterward, we headed to downtown York Mall, the square at Market and George, to preach the Word. John felt led to read from the Word of God in Ezekial 34:

Woe to the shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the flocks?
Eze 34:3 You eat the fat and clothe yourselves with the wool; you kill the fat ones, but you do not feed the flock.
Eze 34:4 You have not made the weak strong, nor have you healed the sick, nor have you bound up the broken. You have not brought again those driven away, nor have you sought that which was lost; but you have ruled them with force and with cruelty.

...Behold, I Myself will search for My sheep and seek them out.
Ezekial 34:12 As a shepherd seeks out his flock in the day that he is among his scattered sheep, so I will seek out My sheep and will deliver them out of all places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day.
Eze 34:13 And I will bring them out from the peoples, and gather them from the lands, and will bring them to their own land and feed them on the mountain of Israel by the rivers, and in all the places of the land where people live.
Eze 34:14 I will feed them in a good pasture, and their fold shall be on the high mountains of Israel. There they shall lie in a good fold, and in a fat pasture they shall feed on the mountains of Israel.
Eze 34:15 I will feed My flock, and I will cause them to lie down, says the Lord Jehovah.

Here, we prayed for the city and the pastors, we prayed for souls and Divine appointments, then met Eli (his nickname,) who stayed for almost two hours, frequently ranting about how he can do whatever he wants...and still be saved because He accepted Christ...years ago.

Still, he admits to “sometimes struggle with lust...hey, they're beautiful women,” he said. And he knows that he does not always “listen to God,” but he reads the Bible.

We showed him Revelations 3, how he has to be an overcomer, “let him who has an ear hear,” and 1John3:9, how, those who have come to the Lord do not make a practice of sinning, how those who love God obey His commands (1 John 2:5). We know the Word will go forth to do what it is purposed to do; the Truth will set Him free. John talked to him about the type of ground God's Word is falling on and if it will produce good fruit. So, we're praying that the Word of God will not go void in Eli's heart, but take root. Amen.


John's wife, Michelle, added this Word of encouragement:
“My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations,
knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.
But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”


Later, I went to Baltimore to work with Janet. She has an incredible praise report of what God is doing. While we were praying for freedom from cigarette addiction for a lady at the homeless outreach on Sunday, not only was the lady at Gilford Avenue set free, but also another lady for whom we've been praying, finally ripped up, crushed and destroyed her cigarettes! Sick of them, she's been free for three days. Several weeks ago, we had prayed for a job and home for Kathy and she is now employed! After the homeless outreach, we went to church in Essex for a good Word. Lots of people were set free there, as well! It is awesome to see the Glory of God and His power setting the captive free and healing the broken-hearted. Praise be and all glory to God in Christ Jesus, our Savior and Healer. Amen.