the Maranatha SDA Church in Orlando, Florida. We were privileged to conduct a week of prayer where
we challenged the youth as well as the adults to take a
stand for the Lord in a very marked manner.
On our way to the meeting, we encountered a major obstacle. Our Honda Odyssey, which had less than 90,000 miles on it suddenly died on us while driving on the road. My wife and I saw smoke coming from the vehicle and were confused as to why something like this would have happened to the vehicle without any warning.
We were stuck on the High Springs Lake exit & it was drizzling off and on and we were stuck on the side of the road without shelter for over two hours. Even worse, our towing company said it was illegal for them to transport all of us, therefore, some of us would have to remain on the side of the road.
We clearly saw that it was time to pray. We committed our situation in the Lords hand and He mightily delivered. We suddenly received a call from the towing company, and they said they will send a flatbed truck that will transport the vehicle and get us to our destination. Praise the Lord!!!
As I sat with the man towing our vehicle we talked about the Lord and His soon coming. When we arrived to our destination, we were able to give God thanks for His mercy towards us and put a copy of “The Great Controversy” in his hand. He received it with a very open mind and assured me that he would read it.
We are told in Colporteur Ministry pg.84:
Golden opportunities occur almost daily where the silent messengers of truth might be introduced into families and to individuals; but no advantage is taken of these opportunities by the indolent, thoughtless ones. Living preachers are few. There is only one where there should be a hundred. Many are making a great mistake in not putting their talents to use in seeking to save the souls of their fellow men. {CM 84.1}
As we went through the week of prayer we clearly saw why the enemy of souls sought to stop us from making it there. Every night was filled with stirring messages of the times in which we are living and the need to become God's Consecrated people to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
We showed how God often worked through young people to prepare the church and the world for the coming crisis. The youth of the church were listening very intently.
We were also grateful that the youth were carefully following text by text as we went through the scriptures to see where we are in time and the need to surrender ourselves to Christ Jesus FULLY!!!!
It was refreshing to see children as young as 6 & 8 years old following along with a childlike yet heavenly interest in the Word of God. Praise the Lord indeed!!!!
We are told in Great Controversy that: In many places where the preachers of the Lord’s soon coming were thus silenced, God was pleased to send the message, in a miraculous manner, through little children. As they were under age, the law of the state could not restrain them, and they were permitted to speak unmolested. {GC 366.2}
The child-preachers themselves were mostly poor cottagers. Some of them were not more than six or eight years of age; and while their lives testified that they loved the Saviour, and were trying to live in obedience to God’s holy requirements, they ordinarily manifested only the intelligence and ability usually seen in children of that age. When standing before the people, [BEGIN P.367] however, it was evident that they were moved by an influence beyond their own natural gifts. Tone and manner changed, and with solemn power they gave the warning of the judgment, employing the very words of Scripture: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." {{GC 366.3}
Praise God we are about to see history repeated!!!!!!!!!!
We were grateful that our son Jahred could be the special music many nights along with other youth of the church and the Lord truly blessed as all of His young people played consecrated music that prepared our minds for Heaven's entrance.
Night after night we made many appeals and God's people gave their hearts to the Lord afresh as well as some responded who never gave the hearts to the Lord as well. In fact there were at least 8 precious souls who made a decision for baptism at the conclusion of the week of prayer. The Lord mightily worked!!!!
One night we went deep into the "Snares of Satan" as it relates to our young people. We discussed the day to day habits of our youth and how it affects them as it relates to Biblical Reform. We showed that Revival is not true, sincere, and lasting if it does not work out reform in our daily lives.
We are told: "The future of society will be determined by the youth of today. Satan is making earnest, persevering efforts to corrupt the mind and debase the character of every young person; and shall we who have more experience stand as mere spectators, and see him accomplish his purpose without hindrance? Let us stand at our post as minute men, to work for these youth, and through the help of God hold them back from the pit of destruction. In the parable, while men slept, the enemy sowed tares; and while you, my brethren and sisters, are unconscious of his work, he is gathering an army of youth under his banner; and he exults, for through them he carries on his warfare against God. {FE 90.1}
While it is true that Satan is trying to develop an army of youth to join under his banner, we are told how to counter this work:
"With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come--the end of suffering and sorrow and sin! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where "the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;" where "the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick," and "the voice of weeping shall be no more heard." Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19. {Ed 271.2}
We trust that such training took root in the hearts of God's young army at the Maranatha Church during this week of prayer.
We were very grateful for the oppotunity to work with God's people at the Maranatha SDA Church. They are a very unique church in their stance as leaders and laity upon the principles of Present Truth, Continue to pray for the Brothers and Sisters at this church as they finish the work in their local vineyard.
As I sat with the man towing our vehicle we talked about the Lord and His soon coming. When we arrived to our destination, we were able to give God thanks for His mercy towards us and put a copy of “The Great Controversy” in his hand. He received it with a very open mind and assured me that he would read it.
We are told in Colporteur Ministry pg.84:
Golden opportunities occur almost daily where the silent messengers of truth might be introduced into families and to individuals; but no advantage is taken of these opportunities by the indolent, thoughtless ones. Living preachers are few. There is only one where there should be a hundred. Many are making a great mistake in not putting their talents to use in seeking to save the souls of their fellow men. {CM 84.1}
As we went through the week of prayer we clearly saw why the enemy of souls sought to stop us from making it there. Every night was filled with stirring messages of the times in which we are living and the need to become God's Consecrated people to prepare for the coming of the Lord.
It was refreshing to see children as young as 6 & 8 years old following along with a childlike yet heavenly interest in the Word of God. Praise the Lord indeed!!!!
The child-preachers themselves were mostly poor cottagers. Some of them were not more than six or eight years of age; and while their lives testified that they loved the Saviour, and were trying to live in obedience to God’s holy requirements, they ordinarily manifested only the intelligence and ability usually seen in children of that age. When standing before the people, [BEGIN P.367] however, it was evident that they were moved by an influence beyond their own natural gifts. Tone and manner changed, and with solemn power they gave the warning of the judgment, employing the very words of Scripture: "Fear God, and give glory to Him; for the hour of His judgment is come." {{GC 366.3}
Praise God we are about to see history repeated!!!!!!!!!!
We were grateful that our son Jahred could be the special music many nights along with other youth of the church and the Lord truly blessed as all of His young people played consecrated music that prepared our minds for Heaven's entrance.
One night we went deep into the "Snares of Satan" as it relates to our young people. We discussed the day to day habits of our youth and how it affects them as it relates to Biblical Reform. We showed that Revival is not true, sincere, and lasting if it does not work out reform in our daily lives.
We are told: "The future of society will be determined by the youth of today. Satan is making earnest, persevering efforts to corrupt the mind and debase the character of every young person; and shall we who have more experience stand as mere spectators, and see him accomplish his purpose without hindrance? Let us stand at our post as minute men, to work for these youth, and through the help of God hold them back from the pit of destruction. In the parable, while men slept, the enemy sowed tares; and while you, my brethren and sisters, are unconscious of his work, he is gathering an army of youth under his banner; and he exults, for through them he carries on his warfare against God. {FE 90.1}
While it is true that Satan is trying to develop an army of youth to join under his banner, we are told how to counter this work:
"With such an army of workers as our youth, rightly trained, might furnish, how soon the message of a crucified, risen, and soon-coming Saviour might be carried to the whole world! How soon might the end come--the end of suffering and sorrow and sin! How soon, in place of a possession here, with its blight of sin and pain, our children might receive their inheritance where "the righteous shall inherit the land, and dwell therein forever;" where "the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick," and "the voice of weeping shall be no more heard." Psalm 37:29; Isaiah 33:24; 65:19. {Ed 271.2}
We trust that such training took root in the hearts of God's young army at the Maranatha Church during this week of prayer.
We were very grateful for the oppotunity to work with God's people at the Maranatha SDA Church. They are a very unique church in their stance as leaders and laity upon the principles of Present Truth, Continue to pray for the Brothers and Sisters at this church as they finish the work in their local vineyard.
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