Allen Domelle – Page 185 – Old Paths Journal

How to Keep the Fires of Revival Burning?

Question:

How do you keep your fire and stay revived for God?

Answer:

Dear Sacha,

Sorry for the delay in answering your question. This is a good question that I for which I wish more people had a desire. Keeping your fire for God is not an easy task. There are several things I do to keep my fire and stay revived.

First, I must get rid of sin quickly. The quickest way to lose your fire is to let sin stay in your life. I know this sounds too simple, but sin is to revival what water is to fire, it will quench it. You must stay away from sin, and if you do sin, quickly get right with God.

Second, you must daily read your Bible and pray. You will never keep a fire in your heart if you don’t spend time with God daily. I have found in life that you will stay excited about whomever you spend time with. If you spend time with God in the Scriptures and in prayer, you will find it easier to keep the fire going.

Third, be a soul winner. Leading people to Christ is the best way that I have found to keep the fire of revival burning in my heart. There is nothing like leading someone to Christ. Soul winning has a reviving effect.

Last, invest your life in others. Living for others will help you to keep the fire of revival burning. When you help people and see them changing for the better, you will find your soul being stirred. The greatest satisfaction you will find in life is in helping others.

By doing these things I believe you will find it easier to keep the fires of revival burning in your heart.

Bro. Domelle

Does James 2 Promote Works Salvation?

Question:

I have heard James chapter 2 preached, that if a person is really saved they would do works. I am confused about it because the Bible also says, “For by grace are yes saved through faith; and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God; not of works, lest any man should boast.” I know for sure that I am saved, but I also know, no good thing dwelleth in me, and I am capable of not living for God, and not doing any works for Him. But I know that I am still saved, eternally. What am I not getting here? I don’t understand James 2.

Answer:

Gene,

This is a good question as many misunderstand this portion of Scripture. James is talking about an outward justification and not the inward justification that saves us. Let me explain. When you got saved others could not see the change that happened on the inside. Even though others did not see the change on the inside, the change did occur. The only way others can see that you have changed is how you live. James was dealing with people who were saved, but were not living like they were saved. He was simply trying to show that though you may be justified by God through the shed blood of Christ, but you will only be justified with mankind through your works. Works will not save you from sin, but they will prove to man that you are saved.

I hope this answers your question.

Bro. Domelle

Is it Acceptable to get a Cross Tattoo?

Question:

Hello, I am a born again Christian. I have a question regarding tattoos. Is it acceptable for a Christian to get a tattoo? I am considering getting a cross tattoo on my upper arm. Is there scripture in the Bible referencing tattoos? I would appreciate your guidance on this matter. God Bless You! Bill

Answer:

Dear Bill,

God gives us a very clear answer concerning tattoos and body piercing. Leviticus 19:28 says, “Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.” When God says, “…nor print any marks upon you…” that is very clear that putting any type of tattoo for any reason would be wrong. Remember, according to 1 Corinthians 6:19, that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost. We have no right to mar our bodies or print anything upon them because they belong to God. Just because we are trying to put a Christian symbol upon them does not make it right. Putting a cross on a can of beer doesn’t make it right, likewise, tattooing a cross on your body is not right either. I hope this answers your question.

Sincerely,

Bro. Domelle

Will We Pay for Our Sins in Heaven?

Question:

If God is a forgiving God and the Bible says that when we ask for forgiveness He forgets the wrong we have done, then what will happen at Judgement Day. I have heard different things like we will only get judged on our good works, and then heard preaching yesterday which said we will be judged on the bad too. We will stand before God for the wrongs we do, but I also remember when the Bible says God does not remember our sins when we repent and ask for forgiveness. It’s confusing to me, what will happen Judgement Day? Kristen

Answer:

Dear Kristen,

I am assuming that the passage of Scripture that you are talking about is 1 Corinthians 3:12-15 where it says, “Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. If any man’s work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward. If any man’s work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.” When you look at this verse in context, you will notice from the preceding verses that we are building upon another man’s foundation. The “work” that God was talking about was not our sin, but what we do for Him.

Our sins were paid for at Calvary. When Christians sin, their sins are eternally paid for, but they will still have to suffer the consequences for their sins on this Earth. Galatians 6:7 says, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” A Christian will reap the consequences of the sins committed on this Earth. If we have to pay for your sins in Heaven, then that would mean that we need to do penance on this Earth to cover our sins.

I believe what the Scriptures are teaching us is that on Judgment Day there will be rewards given out for how we serve Christ. God was motivating us to get busy and serve Him so that we will have rewards when we get to Heaven. I do not believe that the Scriptures teach anywhere that we will judged in Heaven for our sins. Our sins were judged at Calvary. Therefore, when we accept Christ, our sins are covered forever. However, this is not an excuse to sin, for we will still suffer the consequences of sin on this Earth, and those consequences will bring heartache.

I hope this answers your question.

Bro. Domelle

Is a Person a Christian Just Because They’re Saved?

Question:

First let me commend you on your sermons that I had the privilege to hear at our winter revival at Heritage Baptist Church in Jeannette, Pa. My question is this: If someone is saved, but they don’t attend church, they don’t read their Bible and they don’t pray, are they considered a Christian? I do know that once a person is saved they are always saved, and a Christian is a follower of Jesus. Thank You, Joe Holmes.

Answer:

Dear Joe,

Often people do get terminology mixed up. This is the Devil’s way to get people confused on doctrine. Howbeit, when it comes to the term “Christian,” it would depend upon how the word is used. The word “Christian” or “Christians” only appears three times in the Scriptures. Let’s look at these three times to get a Scriptural definition of this word.

The first time the word “Christian” appears in the Scriptures is in Acts 11:26 when it says, “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.” You will notice that in this verse the heathens were calling the disciples Christians. When these people were taught the Scriptures, they looked at the disciples of Christ and called them Christians. They were no doubt saying that the disciples were Christlike. So in this sense, a Christian is one who is like Christ.

The second time it appears in Scripture is in Acts 26:28 when it says, “Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian.” Now here is it clearly seen that Agrippa was talking about getting saved. So, using this verse would simply imply that getting saved would make you a Christian.

The third time “Christian” is used in the Scriptures is in 1 Peter 4:16 when it says, “Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.” Again, in this verse Peter was addressing the church as Christians. They were being persecuted because they practiced Scriptural doctrine. So you can see that in this sense, one who suffers for the cause of Christ is a Christian.

When you take all three verses into account, you can see that it truly depends upon how the word is used. When the lost world looks at Christianity, they consider it a religion. So they would consider us Christians because we have accepted Christ as Saviour. However, on the more common Scriptural use, you can see that being a Christian is being like Christ. I believe the Scriptures shows that this word can be used either way. My preference is using the word “Christian” as being like Christ.

I hope this answers your question.

Bro. Domelle

Seven Principles for Reaching One’s Potential

SEVEN PRINCIPLES FOR REACHING ONE’S POTENTIAL
by: Dr. Bob Gray Sr.

Philippians 3:13-16, “Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as man as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.”

Every 58 minutes someone in America becomes a millionaire. 80% of them will have a blue-collar background. 80% of them will have average intelligence. 75% of them will have average grades in school. There is an intelligence trap and a spiritual trap that stops people from reaching their potential. People stop learning. People stop being teachable. People fail to develop a second effort mentality. There is a second effort barrier that stops people from reaching their potential. The issue is not how high one’s potential is, but rather are you reaching your potential?

A SENSE OF PURPOSE

Leaders need to decide now what God wants them to do. The people who reach their potential are intensely goal oriented in the short term, not the long term. There is a difference between a man who dreams and a man who has a vision. Those who reach their potential have a sense of mission. There is a vast difference between a position and a purpose. Those who live for a purpose will keep on going while those who live for a position may lose their position, but they can never lose a purpose.

Those who reach their potential have a clear picture of what they believe God wants for them. Billionaire H. L. Hunt said, “There are only two clear requirements. One is to decide what you want, and two is determine the price and pay the price in advance.”

Short-term goal oriented people have two thoughts in mind: quantified and qualified. The first is numerical and the second is staying within Biblical boundaries. 75% of these people who reach their potential have written short-term goals. They have their life on paper!

EXCELLENCE

Leaders must decide to be the best early in life and commit themselves to quality. Average commitment brings average market price. Work should be the play of a leader. There is no substitute for quality of work. Work ethics have been sliding in our society, and within a few generations we will have an undercutting of our moral values, and the slide of the work ethic always follow.

Leaders lead by example and exhortation; however, example gives the punch to the exhortation of the leader. Exhortation is necessary but not viable without the example of the leader. Excellence is the quality that will lead to quantity.

CONTRIBUTION

The leader must focus on what he or she can give and not what they can’t get. Consumer needs that go unmet is where failure lives. Spiritual needs that go unmet is where failure lives in God’s economy. The law of compensation of sowing and reaping brings with it good results if the proper seed is sown.

The Wal-Mart’s of the world exist because they meet the needs of the consumer. The McDonald’s of the world prosper because they meet the needs of the consumer. It is the common man they reach. May I suggest to you that real leadership is meeting the needs of the common man? Spiritually there has to be contributing centered on the need not the wants. When a ministry asks the unsaved sinner what he wants in a ministry, he will always end up with carnality. Only God knows the needs of the common man. We were made in the image of God, not the other way around. God is not made in the image of man.

RESPONSIBILITY

Until leaders are willing to accept 100% responsibility for their lives, they cannot grow. The followers then become the losers. It is imperative that we remember we are totally responsible from birth to death for our lives. When leaders convince themselves they are self-employed and quit being co-dependent, then they can tap the depths of wisdom. Some leaders recognize it and some do not recognize the principle of responsibility from birth to death.

Those who do reach their potential act as though they own the company. The timeserver is one who will never reach, let alone expand their potential. All high achievers see themselves as self-employed and indispensable.

SECOND EFFORT

There are second effort barriers that must be broken at will. Multi-millionaire, Dr. Russell Anderson, teaches that one makes a living from 8 to 5 and becomes a success from 5 to 8. One works for 8 hours a day to survive while everything over 8 hours is an investment in ones future.

Stress comes from working below our performance level. The second effort barriers being broken explains those in history who have given us the great inventions that we take for granted. The telephone, the computers, the satellites, the automobile, aircraft, etc., have become commonplace; yet, all began with second barriers being broken by the second milers of life.

TIME MANAGEMENT

In order to be efficient time managers, there is a necessity of developing a bias for action, speed, dependability, accuracy and heroes.

Set priorities.
Concentrate on one thing at a time.
Put your life on paper.
Keep your life in balance.

Time is an event not seconds, not minutes, not hours and not days. What we throw away may be more important than what we keep. The file 13 mentality will save more time than any other concept of time management you can think of.

STAY WITH IT

The ability to stick with it longer than the other man is foundational. When the president of IBM was asked his reason for his success he said, “I last one day longer than the other guy!” The doubling of a person’s failure rate was a common denominator to those who reach their potential.

Possessing a non-teachable spirit is deadly for a leader. Intellectual arrogance is a cancer to the spirit of a leader. A leader can be right so much of the time that he or she thinks they are right all of the time.

Courage in a willingness to take calculated risks exists in all who strive to reach their potential. Playing it too safe will always steal ones courage. Keeping ones heart in their throat will build ones courage. In order to develop courage, it is necessary to classify obstacles as opportunities and build resistance to quit.

Persistence builds character, and character helps one handle the success of reaching their potential. If the leader doesn’t jump ten feet then the follower will not jump five feet.

Dr. Bob Gray Sr.
Pastor Emeritus
Longview Baptist Temple
Longview, TX
www.solvechurchproblems.com

Good Success!

GOOD SUCCESS
by: Dr. Bob Gray, Sr.

Joshua 1:8, “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”

Joshua 1:8 is the only time in the Scriptures where the word “success” is mentioned. Please take note of this! The Bible does not say if you do these things you will be successful. Read verse 8 again. It does not say that you will have success. It says that you will have “good success.” There is a difference between “success” and “good success.”

Good success is man doing what God made him to do.

Madonna has sold her soul to the Devil and some call her a success. Britney Spears has sold her body and soul to the Devil. Some call her a success. Clint Eastwood is called a success, but that is not “good success.” Some call Donald Trump a success, but that is not “good success.” People called Michael Jackson a success, but that was not “good success.” On and on I could go with Kobe Bryant, Lebron James, Payton Manning, etc., but “good success” is the only success mentioned by God as acceptable to Him according to the Scriptures.

When you, as a child of God, run to Satan’s world to find success, you will fail at finding “good success” while finding “success.” God wants for his people not to be a success, rather God wants his people to have “good success.”

I do not want to be a success! I want to have “good success.” What is “good success?” Good success is one doing what God made him or her to do. Good success is not in having but being. If you are born, live, die, and do not the thing or things that God put you here on Earth to do, you are a miserable flop.

You may flop with millions of dollars in the bank, but you are still a flop. You may flop as a king of a nation, as a movie star, as an NFL hall of famer, or as an inductee into Cooperstown Hall of Fame for baseball players.

God had a reason for your birth, life, and even death. You, my friend, are no uh oh with God. God made you, my friend, on purpose. He has a reason for your existence. God had a job for you to do and God made you for that job.

Good success is doing it where God made man to do it.

Hold it! Please do not misunderstand me. The “what” takes precedence over the “where” of the will of God, but no one should negate the “where.” I would rather a person be doing the “what” in the wrong “where” than doing the wrong “what” in the right “where.” If I am to be a “good success,” I must do “what” God made me to do “where” God made me to do it.

Good success is doing it how God made me to do it.

If a pastor were to take a poll of what people would like in a church in the town where he pastors, and then made a church like what they wanted, he may be doing what God made him to do, doing it where God made him to do it, but not “how” God made him to do it. That would not be “good success.”

Those who are giving to the people what they want in a church in order to build a big church may find success, but they will not find “good success.” They may have success without being a success.

Marriages that are built on doing the wrong “how” will not find “good success.” Child rearing that is built on the wrong “how” will not find “good success.” Finances built on the wrong “how” will not find “good success.” Businesses, families, and education built on the wrong “how” will not find “good success.”

I may do “what” God wants me to do “where” he wants me to do it, but if it is not “how” God wanted me to do it then I cannot have “good success.” A well-known pastor who spoke many times at Sword of the Lord Conferences stood before his people one Sunday and said he was wrong about standards and dropped all standards at his church. His offerings went up. His drive-in attendance went up. Some called him a success, but my friend that may be success, but it is not “good success.”

There are two twin doctrines. Soul winning and standards are those twins. I meet Liberty University graduates all over America who know nothing of aggressive, personal soul winning who beg me for help. This is the same university founded by a soul winner in Dr. Jerry Falwell. He was an aggressive soul winner and produced personally on a regular basis. However, when the standards started to drop at the University so did the aggressive soul winning.

Standards are the vehicle that will carry aggressive personal soul winning to the next generation. If you cannot say “No” to Hollywood and have enough character and discipline to guard your eye gate, then you will not stay out on a bus route for 8 hours on a Saturday.

So, to have success without being a success is in essence failure. Dr. Bob Jones Sr. would call it destroying the orchard! We are to keep the orchard healthy and it will continue to produce fruit for years to come. If a big church can be built on no standards and no convictions, then it may be a success, but it will not be “good success.”

Good success is doing “what” God put me here to do, “where” God put me to do it, and “how” God meant for me to do it. The question begs to be answered, how may then someone have “good success?”

THE BOOK OF THE LAW SHALL NOT DEPART OUT OF THY MOUTH.

The Word of God is to be on our lips all the time. The Word of God is to determine our daily lifestyles, not Hollywood, Paris or France. The spreading of the Gospel, teaching the Words of God, preaching the Words of God, and defending not only Its preservation but also Its inspiration for the next generation leads to “good success.”

THOU SHALT MEDITATE THEREIN DAY AND NIGHT.

It simply means imagine, mutter, picture the good, picture the bad, mourn, ponder, study, and talk of it. All of us have a lot of things on our minds, but the number one thing that must be on our minds, dominating our minds, and filling our minds is the very Words of God.

Try this everyday; relate everything to the Scriptures. Humanism is everything revolving around mankind. Christianity is everything revolving around God. You may have success with your life revolving around making money, seeking fame, and fortune, but “good success” will be found only in everything in life revolving around God’s Word.

God does not want you living a monastic life. You and I are “in” this world, but we are not to be “of” this world. Let your job and its demands end up being Bible related. Let your marriage, parenting, education, and finances end up being Bible related. God is not calling on his people to be isolated from the world, but rather insulated from the world.

I love sports. I love competition, but that is “phileo” not “agape” love. Phileo is a “like” type of love. Nothing wrong with money for it is the “love” or “agape” of money that will destroy. Nothing wrong with marital intimacy, cars, houses, and things, but if your life revolves around you and things while ignoring God, then you may be a “success” without having “good success.”

Your definition of “success” may be found in promotion, career, stock market, making money, making a name for yourself, accumulating real estate, or becoming popular, but just in case there is someone reading this chapter who would like to have what God calls “good success,” you will have to have the Words of God in your mouth and in your thoughts.

OBSERVE TO DO ACCORDING TO ALL THAT IS WRITTEN THEREIN.

From the word “according” we derive the word “accordion” or “squeeze box” as my grandmother called them. Your life can make beautiful music if the left hand and the right hand are playing the same tune.

The Prodigal son came to himself, the Scripture says, while he was in the hog pen. There were two prodigal sons in one son. James 1:8, “A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” James 4:1, “From whence come wars and fightings among you? Come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?”

Having a lot of money may be success, but having a lot of Scriptures on your lips, in your thoughts, and in your actions is according to God “good success.” Donald Trump can make millions and keep it, but he cannot make a wife happy and keep her. He has success, but not “good success.” Kobe Bryant can discipline himself to make baskets as a pro, but he cannot discipline himself enough to make his flesh behave. He has success, but he does not have “good success.” Professional athletes make a name for themselves on Earth, which is success, but do not make a name for themselves in Heaven, which is “good success.”

Psalm 1:1-3, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither: and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Have the Word of God on my lips
Have the Word of God in my thoughts
Have the Word of God in action in my life
Do not listen to ungodly counsel.
Do not walk with the ungodly.
Do not sit in the seat of the scornful.
Delight in the Words of God.

If any of God’s children will do these things God promises “good success” or “…whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.”

Dr. Bob Gray, Sr.
Pastor Emeritus
Longview Baptist Temple
Longview, TX
www.solvechurchproblems.com

Don’t Count God Out!

DON’T COUNT GOD OUT!
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

Jeremiah 33:3
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

A few years ago I wanted to have a big day in the Philippines. One of the reasons to have a big day is to let people see God work and do great and mighty things. It’s good to remind to people that God is an great Almighty God.

I began to pray and ask God what He would have us do. In the first year of our ministry, God did some mighty things. One of them was that He helped us have 1,109 people on our first anniversary. We had people everywhere standing all around and looking into the building. We also had many people in classes underneath trees. You have to understand, we started the church in an old pig-pen building. We were able to give away over 500 Bibles that day. I can remember 2 ladies who brought 160 first-time visitors for one Bible.

After praying for a few weeks, I was challenged to double that attendance which meant that our goal was 2,218. I met with the members of the church and we began to plan on how to reach that goal. Remember, the church I started was way back in the mountains and we had to work at finding people. We searched for as many out-of-the-way villages that we could find. To our surprise there were many villages tucked away underneath many trees that we hadn’t seen before.

We started to prepare to put a plan together. I asked many church people to rent a jeep and to bring as many people as they could. When we took the count, we needed to rent over 30 jeeps. You must understand that the only transportation back in the mountains are these public jeeps. That day would be very difficult for the people of the area to go anywhere if we were renting all the jeeps. It would also be a great day of advertisement for our church because everyone would wonder where the jeeps were at.

Our people worked very hard and sacrificed so much for this big day. We heard it was supposed to rain. Once it rains back in the mountains it makes it very difficult for people to go anywhere. Saturday, the day before the big day, it began to rain. Not only did it rain, but it rained very hard. We continued to prepare for a great day. I can tell you as the day wore on that I was very concerned about the big day. I knew that many of the rivers in the area would swell up and make it very difficult for people to cross. I also knew that many people would be traveling for many hours in big trucks with no covering for them. I began to think that it would be impossible for thousands of people to come in the morning. I spent most of the night listening to the rain hit the tin roof of our house. There were times I would ask God, why would you let it rain, don’t you know we have a big day in the morning?

I woke up early that Sunday morning and it was still pouring rain, but I decided that we would run the jeepneys and do everything according to plan. A couple hours before the services the rain stopped. We already had people on the way from over 2 hours away riding in a big open rice truck. It was amazing to me when they showed up and there were over a hundred fifty people on the truck. People started coming in from all over. All of the Sunday school rooms were full and overflowing, and the church building was packed to capacity. We had people standing all around the building looking into the windows. It was so exciting to preach to so many people. When I gave the invitation there were over 700 people who came forward to trust Jesus Christ as their personal Saviour. It was so exciting to see so many of our church people with their Bibles opened and showing others the plan of salvation. An hour after the services were over it began to rain very hard again. I thought it would be impossible to have 2,218 on that Sunday. When the final count came in we had over 4,000 people on that Sunday. To God be the glory for the great mighty things that He can do.

Let me show you some lessons I learned that day.

1. We have to want to see some great and mighty things that God has for us. There are so many mighty things that He has for us that we don’t even know about. The only way we’re going to find out those things is to call upon Him and ask. What great and mighty things does God have for you?

2. One of the great promises of God is that He will answer prayer. So many times on deputation I would call churches and pastors and get either a secretary or an answering machine. When you and I call upon God, He personally answers us.

3. Once you find out that God has some great and mighty things for you, you need to have a plan. Someone once said, “Plan your work and work your plan.”

4. Remember that when you plan to do something for God there will always be some obstacles. Don’t get sidetracked, but remember what God has asked you to do.

5. Always remember that God is not limited. I learned that God can do it in the rain or on a sunny day. God really likes to do what we think is impossible.

I challenge you to call upon God and let Him answer you and show you “great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.”

When You See the Grace of God… Are You Glad?

WHEN YOU SEE THE GRACE OF GOD…ARE YOU GLAD?
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

“And they sent for Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad.” Acts 11:22-23

Those who were traveling preached the Word and a great number believed and turned unto the Lord. When the church of Jerusalem heard, they sent Barnabas to see what was happening. When he got there he saw that the grace of God was at work and he was glad.

One thing we need in Fundamentalism is when the grace of God is working in another place other than ours we need to be glad. Many times we have become jealous or envious of someone else when the grace of God is at work in their ministry. I have the opportunity to travel to many places around the world and see the grace of God at work, and I am glad!

I just had the opportunity to go to the Philippines and preach the 25th anniversary of Gospel Baptist Church in Calinog. When I saw that the grace of God was still at work after twenty-five years, I was glad. I can remember when the Lord allowed my wife and I to go there as missionaries and start Gospel Baptist Church what an exciting time that was. Now after 25 years, it was a joy to see many of those who were saved and baptized still there serving the Lord.

Brother Ronnie Howell and I arrived late at night in the Philippines. Early the next morning we caught a flight down to the islands. We then took a jeep back into the mountains. After watching the grace of God at work while we were there, we were glad to be able see all that God was doing.

When should we be glad when the grace of God is at work?

First, we should be glad when the Word of God is preached. When we had our Anniversary Sunday at Gospel Baptist Church, there were almost 1500 people in attendance. After the preaching of the Gospel there were 332 people saved. I have been saved over 40 years and I’ve never gotten over the excitement of seeing people saved. I was personally able to help with the baptism and I was able to baptize 26 people myself. The grace of God is at work through the preaching of the Gospel all around the world and we should be glad. We were able to give away 100 Bibles for those desiring to have their own copy of the Word of God.

Second, we need to be glad when we see a great number of people believe in the Lord. There always has been a great opportunity to go to the public schools and preach the Gospel and see many people are saved. We had the opportunity to go to open assemblies, and then were able to go room to room. Many times I will ask for permission to be able to speak to the superintendent and all the teachers in a room by myself. This is one of the highlights of my trip when I see teachers bow their heads and accept Christ as their Saviour! On this trip we were able to see 2,737 people saved through the public school ministry. We were able to go soul winning many days on this trip. With the help of many other soul winners, we were able to see 1,107 people saved. We then rented many extra jeeps on the Anniversary Sunday and many of these people were able to come to church for the first time.

Third, we need to be glad when we hear that people are being saved somewhere else in the world. Barnabas went as far as Antioch. We need to be willing to go as far as we can with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. God has allowed me to take the Gospel to many countries of the world. Watching many of those people in those countries respond to the Gospel will make you glad to be a part of sending it to them. I pray that more of us will be glad that the grace of God is at work in more than just our place of service.

Dr. Steven Heidenreich
3G Ministries

Holding the Rope

HOLDING THE ROPE
by: Dr. Steve Heidenreich

Acts 9:20-25

The conversion of Saul of Tarsus was a turning point in the church’s history, and God used several people to touch his life. We remember Paul and forget the people who helped him get started and kept him going forward.

Mr. Fuller remarked: “There is a gold-mine in India, but it seems as deep as the center of the Earth. Who will venture to explore it?” An answer and a man were in waiting. “I will venture to go down,” replied William Carey; “but remember that you, must hold the ropes. This,” said Mr. Fuller afterward, “we solemnly engaged to do, pledging ourselves never to desert him as long as we should live.”

William Carey spent 41 years in India, and translated the Scripture into 40 languages.

Who are the people on the end of the rope?

First of all, they are converts! (Verse 5) Praise the Lord for people who go soul winning and win people to Christ! We see here that Paul became a convert. The greatest need today is for more people to get involved in producing more converts. We all need to pray and ask God to give us more converts. What a tragedy that many Christians will stand before the Lord one day and not have one convert in their lifetime. I keep preaching that America is a Christian nation, but to be a Christian nation we must have Christians. If every Christian would have a convert who would have a convert, who had a convert we could reach the world for Christ. We need to remember that converts belong to the Lord. This would help us value them more. We see so many people come to Christ and forget them. The people on the end of the rope for missions are real converts who have given their life for the Gospel.

Secondly, we see that these people are chosen vessels. (Verses 15-16) We see Paul was chosen of the Lord to bear His name before the Gentiles. We need to show our converts that the Lord has something for them to do. The people on the end of the rope will be used to do great things for the Lord.

Thirdly, we see the people on the end of the rope have had their lives changed. (Verse 20) Paul here is preaching the very Christ Whom he had persecuted. When we get saved, our life begins to change. I can remember when I first got saved and went to work the next week. We would go to a bad bookstore during our lunch break. I was with some of my coworkers and had gone there many times before. But, this time when I went to open the door of the bookstore I couldn’t open it and go in. The Holy Spirit would not allow me to go in because it wasn’t right to be in there with that kind of material and atmosphere.

Fourthly, we see that the people on the end of the rope are our missionaries; those who are taking the Gospel of our Saviour Jesus Christ in all the world. The Gospel is to be preached to every creature.

Who are the people holding the rope?

This is a great example of people helping others do what they themselves cannot do! Paul was the greatest teacher, preacher and missionary the world has ever known outside of Jesus Christ! Yet, he would not have done it all if someone hadn’t held the rope! Let me share with you some of the people who can be rope holders!

We need people like Ananias who the Lord asked to help guide the young missionary. Ananias was asked to help guide Paul. Ananias was asked to do something that he thought was difficult. Our young missionaries need someone to help them when they first start out in their life as a missionary. Many pastors and churches are asked to help missionaries get started. Many churches are asked to do some things that seem difficult for them when the missionary first starts. Thank the Lord for those churches that are not afraid to do the difficult.

We need people like Barnabas who will take them in and encourage the missionaries. Paul was willing to do what the Lord chose him to do, but not everyone believed in him. Many young missionaries have been questioned about their call to be a missionary. They need people to believe in them and encourage them along the way.

We need people like the disciples who would hold the rope when needed. There are times when things can get dangerous for the missionaries; when their life is on the line, facing health issues, financial stress and persecution from others.

You don’t have to be well known to hold the rope. We don’t know the names of these disciples. God can use widows, teenagers, children, single parents and well-to-do people. As a missionary myself, I have had many different types of people hold the rope for my family. Holding the rope can be dangerous and time consuming, but we must be faithful to the end!

The results of people holding the rope.

This is where it gets exciting. They held the rope not knowing the future! We never know what God will do with our missionaries. Look at Paul! He was a great soul winner, preacher of the Gospel and church planter. He went on three great missionary journeys. He was credited as the author of 13 books of the New Testament! All of these things could not have been done without those who held the rope for Paul that night.

Others like Adoniram Judson, who translated the Bible into Burmese, planted 63 churches and had 7,000 converts. Some of our missionaries are doing the same thing by starting churches around the world! We need to pray for more Bible preaching, soul-winning missionaries! We don’t know all that the future holds for our missionaries! What will be accomplished because you are part of those that are holding the rope for your missionaries? Please let me use this story I heard on this topic.

“BOY OVERBOARD”

“Through the quiet streets of a fishing village a cry rang out, ‘Boy Overboard!’ Quickly a crowd gathered and anxious eyes looked out over the rushing water to see the figure of the drowning boy. Every anxious mother’s heart cried, ‘Is it my boy?’

A rope was brought, and the strongest swimmer in the village volunteered to rescue the drowning lad. Tying one end of the rope around his waist, he threw the other end into the crowd and plunged into the raging waters. Eagerly everyone watched the swimmer break the tide with strong, sure, strokes and a cheer went up when he reached the boy and grasped him safely in his powerful arms. ‘Pull in the rope!’ ‘Pull in the rope!’ He shouted over the furious waters.

The villagers looked from one to another, ‘Who is holding the rope?’ they asked? No one was holding the rope! In the excitement of watching the rescue, the end of the rope had slipped into the water and disappeared. Powerless to help, they watched not one, but two precious lives go down because no one had made it their business to hold the short end of the rope!”

If we are not careful, we will not only lose the lost, but also some of our missionaries! We need more people in the basket, and we need more rope holders. Has the rope slipped through our churches and left the lost without a Gospel preaching missionary? Better yet, has the roped slipped through your hands leaving people drowning in the gulf of sin that will send them to Hell? Be sure that you hold the rope!

Dr. Steve Heidenreich
3G Ministries