This excellent poem was read at her husband Billy Graham‘s funeral. God answered her prayer.
Dear God, I prayed, all unafraid
(as we're inclined to do),
I do not need a handsome man
but let him be like You;
I do not need one big and strong
nor yet so very tall,
nor need he be some genius,
or wealthy, Lord, at all;
but let his head be high, dear God,
and let his eyes be clear,
his shoulders straight, whate'er his state,
whate'er his earthly sphere;
and let his face have character,
a ruggedness of soul,
and let his whole life show, dear God,
a singleness of goal;
then when he comes
(as he will come)
with quiet eyes aglow,
I'll understand that he's the man
I prayed for long ago.
— Ruth Bell Graham
The Dickinson Journey
Friday, March 2, 2018
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Waiting on God, Espere en Dios
If we only knew the blessings of waiting on God, we would be much more purposeful about it. It glorifies God to wait on Him in obedience, patience, and prayer.
Waiting On God. from GHM on Vimeo.
Si supieramos las bendiciones de esperar en Dios, lo dariamos mucho mas proposito en nuestra vida. Esperar en Dios en obediencia, paciencia y oracion dar gloria a Dios.Espera En Jehová from GHM on Vimeo.
I pray that you know Christ in His fullness, Phillip Oro que conozca a Cristo en Su plenitud, FelipeTuesday, September 26, 2017
What's the Most Important Thing You Can Do With Your Short Life?
Photo: FRANK DUVENECK
oil ...Portrait of a Bearded Man...
|
What is the most important thing you can do with your short life? It is to please God by doing what He wants.
And God wants us to influence others to do the same. Who would these “others” be? First, my family. As an adult, my spouse and children and later grandchildren are my first responsibilities -- in that order. I must serve my parents and carry a prayer burden for my extended family too. I am also responsible to be a faithful epistle to others. My spiritual flock must be cared for. How can I best accomplish that?
First by fulfilling the two greatest commandments. (Matthew 22:37-40) I must ask God to fill me with perfect love for Him. I prove that love by obedience to His precepts. His Word, the Bible, teaches us what He wants us to do. I seek God in His Word, in prayer, and by walking before Him with a humble and contrite heart.
And the second greatest commandment is loving my neighbor. I love them by praying for them. By giving them no occasion to fall or stumble in faith by my example. And by seeking their greatest good, first to my own household, to those found in the household of faith, and thirdly to others
Often what I do or talk about becomes an amplified priority in the lives of those following me. Is this what I want -- in my children, my grandchildren, or in my little flock of influence? I must not let even good become enemy to the best.
Micah 6:8 He hath shown thee, oh man, what is good and what does the LORD require of thee, but to do justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with thy God.
- Phillip
Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Why Do The Heathen Rage? Acts 4 & Psalm 2
We as a church must continue praying earnestly for a revival, an awakening, and a revival of
holiness in our own homes, our own church, our churches, our holiness movement, the worldwide church,
our nation, and our world. God sure is now moving the chess
pieces into place very quickly to do some quick work in this world for
His Kingdom. Praise the Lord! Historically when there was great renewal in the church it often came when there was great upheaval among
the nations. This is key in Psalm 2.
Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Grace and peace,
Phillip, from our Prayer and Praise letter, September 1, 2015
Only God's trees will stand in the harvest storm. |
Psa 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Psa 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Psa 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Psa 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Psa 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Psa 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
Psa 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Psa 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psa 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
In Acts 4 when under threat, the Christians referred back to this
passage in prayer. Then they prayed for boldness to proclaim this babe
Jesus which was born and caused the heathen to rage wanting to cast
aside the bands and cords of moral restraint caused by the Gospel of
Jesus and preached by His anointed ones. The early church prayed for
not only boldness to speak the truth, but also for signs and wonders and
miracles to be wrought.
In a way we are entering
into the book of Acts again. Great persecution is sweeping across the
world. May God give us such a revival that we as His church BOLDLY proclaim
truth. And may God do signs and wonders so as to shut the mouth of those
rulers and people who are raging against God's Christ, His anointed, and
the wondrous change that preaching Christ creates. We are still in
Psalm 2. Except we are no longer in the holy child Jesus part of Psalm
2:7 at which the Pharisees raged against. We have been seeing little by
little over the last 2,000 years the foundation for Psalm 2:8 laid out
by the spread of the Gospel. And now I believe that we are much
closer to seeing the 2:9 part. Jesus was a holy child, but now He is
that holy KING who will rule with a ROD of IRON and will break all kings
and nations who come up against Him. May God give us the SAME
boldness as the church in Acts for we are living in days of Biblical importance. He has that
same triumph for the church today! Praise the Lord! Many have said that they would have loved to have lived to see Jesus or prophets like Elijah. Well,
we are living in days like the days of Elijah, and the more
opportunity presents itself, the more the world will see the grace and boldness
of God upon the church, the body of Jesus, His holy anointed! Praise
the Lord!!! Act 4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
Act 4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
Act 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
Act 4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
Act 4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
Act 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
Act 4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
Act 4:32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common.
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Grace and peace,
Phillip, from our Prayer and Praise letter, September 1, 2015
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Is Fervent Prayer Necessary?
The other day a young person asked me something to the effect of,
“Is it really necessary to pray really hard like holiness people
do?” This is not the first time a young person has asked me that.
I'm glad that they asked me.
My answer in essence follows and applies to not just prayer, but to all aspects of spiritual sacrifice.
The the greater the sacrifice or the more that is given up as an offering to God and others, the greater yield that God will cause its seed to eventually bring forth. Although others may look at such as foolish or as a waste.
Jesus for our full salvation laid aside His glory, left His rightful place to humble himself and take upon himself a body like ours, and then he offered up prayers and supplications to God in the garden with “strong crying and tears.” And He later gave up his life for us, for those who didn't even want Him.
God says, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Should we pray like this only when we feel the urge. No, we take ourselves by the nape of the neck and willfully do that which we know we ought to do. If we wait til we “feel so moved” our ease-loving, sluggish human nature may never do what's best.
Souls are even now dropping into hell. There is spiritual warfare to wage. Christ came to set the captive free, and I in prayer and in life must fight to release souls from destruction. So should I spend my days in wonderful “quiet times” of staring out the window at the peaceful scenery over a steaming mug of coffee telling God how wonderful He is? I'm not saying that this isn't good, but is this the best that God wants from us? What soul saving, sin killing, fire baptizing revival has ever broken out with this kind of prayer?
The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force. If a building is ablaze and people around me are sleeping, this calls for more than cool contemplations. God uses us to set up His kingdom, and His hard soldiers give all their strength to serving Him and others. And when they reach the end of their strength, He pours out His grace and His strength is made perfect in their weakness.
Again, the greater the sacrifice offered up in the will of God for Him and for others in His name, the greater yield its seed will eventually bring forth, even though it seems to others a waste of effort.
Abraham left his father's house and country. He wandered aimlessly as a foreigner in obedience to God. Though he and Sarah were old, he expected a son for years because God had promised him such. He later offered that son back to God in the deepest act of worship when it made no sense at all.
Robert Murray McCheyne, I understand, excelled in sports and academics and loved studying Biblical languages and theology. But even as a young man he left sports and laid aside the other intellectual and spiritual pursuits to pray for revival and weep for souls. Like his Saviour, he poured out his life as a sacrifice for others. He died at the young age of 29 during an epidemic, but God sent revival to his church in answer to his prayers and today many years later, and his life still continues bearing ever more fruit, much more fruit than if he would have lived is life pursuing his own good interests. (A note of interest, I've found out that a good number in Chinese churches and other churches across the world follow the Bible study schedule which he laid out.)
David Brainerd gave his short life to much and fervent prayer while serving some wicked Indians. He carried such a burden it carried him to pray much in spite of those bitter cold colonial New Jersey winters. He was known to have prayed so much and so fervently that the snow around him melted. Often deprived of needful food he had little to eat due to lack of missionary support. Yet he carried on pouring out his life in offering to God and others. Near the end of his life God mightily answered his prayers and changed the drunken, God despising Indians to the point that they feared God, left sin, began worshiping God, and weeping at even the mention of God. I've heard others criticize Brainerd burning out his life for God at only 29 years of age, but many of the greatest of modern missionaries took with them a Bible and Brainerd's journal to inspire them while counting all things but loss to gain Christ. I believe that millions of souls will have found Christ in part due to Brainerd. Like his Saviour, he also ministered in a small location. Like his Saviour, he offered up prayer to God with strong crying and tears. Like his Saviour, he poured out his life in death. What an offering to God, an offering which others may say was a waste! What a harvest God will bring forth!
“Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone...” Jesus is that first seed. And we also may be crucified with Christ? Have we offered up ourselves once and for all a holy, living sacrifice through faith? And now do we like Paul offer up ourselves and die daily? “... and if that seed die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
Our heritage of great prayer, fervency, revival, and sacrifice is much more than that of the holiness movement. It is born of the heart throb of passion and hunger and more so from Christ himself. And such has been shared throughout the history of Christ's church by those who have shared the same fervent burden of prayer which was also in Christ Jesus.
If you lay aside something of value to spend that time with God in costly, fervent prayer. You will reap much more than you can yet know. If you lay aside popularity or favor to obey God or to lift up Christ to others, you will reap from that seed planted. Some may not understand your heart cry born of a fervent hunger for God. But God understands. For He created that burning in your heart for His glory. He fuels it. And He intends to answer such prayer. Give much; you will reap many fold.
-Phillip
My answer in essence follows and applies to not just prayer, but to all aspects of spiritual sacrifice.
The the greater the sacrifice or the more that is given up as an offering to God and others, the greater yield that God will cause its seed to eventually bring forth. Although others may look at such as foolish or as a waste.
Jesus for our full salvation laid aside His glory, left His rightful place to humble himself and take upon himself a body like ours, and then he offered up prayers and supplications to God in the garden with “strong crying and tears.” And He later gave up his life for us, for those who didn't even want Him.
God says, “the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”
Should we pray like this only when we feel the urge. No, we take ourselves by the nape of the neck and willfully do that which we know we ought to do. If we wait til we “feel so moved” our ease-loving, sluggish human nature may never do what's best.
Souls are even now dropping into hell. There is spiritual warfare to wage. Christ came to set the captive free, and I in prayer and in life must fight to release souls from destruction. So should I spend my days in wonderful “quiet times” of staring out the window at the peaceful scenery over a steaming mug of coffee telling God how wonderful He is? I'm not saying that this isn't good, but is this the best that God wants from us? What soul saving, sin killing, fire baptizing revival has ever broken out with this kind of prayer?
The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force. If a building is ablaze and people around me are sleeping, this calls for more than cool contemplations. God uses us to set up His kingdom, and His hard soldiers give all their strength to serving Him and others. And when they reach the end of their strength, He pours out His grace and His strength is made perfect in their weakness.
Again, the greater the sacrifice offered up in the will of God for Him and for others in His name, the greater yield its seed will eventually bring forth, even though it seems to others a waste of effort.
Abraham left his father's house and country. He wandered aimlessly as a foreigner in obedience to God. Though he and Sarah were old, he expected a son for years because God had promised him such. He later offered that son back to God in the deepest act of worship when it made no sense at all.
Robert Murray McCheyne, I understand, excelled in sports and academics and loved studying Biblical languages and theology. But even as a young man he left sports and laid aside the other intellectual and spiritual pursuits to pray for revival and weep for souls. Like his Saviour, he poured out his life as a sacrifice for others. He died at the young age of 29 during an epidemic, but God sent revival to his church in answer to his prayers and today many years later, and his life still continues bearing ever more fruit, much more fruit than if he would have lived is life pursuing his own good interests. (A note of interest, I've found out that a good number in Chinese churches and other churches across the world follow the Bible study schedule which he laid out.)
David Brainerd gave his short life to much and fervent prayer while serving some wicked Indians. He carried such a burden it carried him to pray much in spite of those bitter cold colonial New Jersey winters. He was known to have prayed so much and so fervently that the snow around him melted. Often deprived of needful food he had little to eat due to lack of missionary support. Yet he carried on pouring out his life in offering to God and others. Near the end of his life God mightily answered his prayers and changed the drunken, God despising Indians to the point that they feared God, left sin, began worshiping God, and weeping at even the mention of God. I've heard others criticize Brainerd burning out his life for God at only 29 years of age, but many of the greatest of modern missionaries took with them a Bible and Brainerd's journal to inspire them while counting all things but loss to gain Christ. I believe that millions of souls will have found Christ in part due to Brainerd. Like his Saviour, he also ministered in a small location. Like his Saviour, he offered up prayer to God with strong crying and tears. Like his Saviour, he poured out his life in death. What an offering to God, an offering which others may say was a waste! What a harvest God will bring forth!
“Except a grain of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone...” Jesus is that first seed. And we also may be crucified with Christ? Have we offered up ourselves once and for all a holy, living sacrifice through faith? And now do we like Paul offer up ourselves and die daily? “... and if that seed die, it bringeth forth much fruit.”
Our heritage of great prayer, fervency, revival, and sacrifice is much more than that of the holiness movement. It is born of the heart throb of passion and hunger and more so from Christ himself. And such has been shared throughout the history of Christ's church by those who have shared the same fervent burden of prayer which was also in Christ Jesus.
If you lay aside something of value to spend that time with God in costly, fervent prayer. You will reap much more than you can yet know. If you lay aside popularity or favor to obey God or to lift up Christ to others, you will reap from that seed planted. Some may not understand your heart cry born of a fervent hunger for God. But God understands. For He created that burning in your heart for His glory. He fuels it. And He intends to answer such prayer. Give much; you will reap many fold.
-Phillip
Tuesday, September 29, 2015
Video update of Missions 9/28/2015
Intro, Testimony, & Prayer Requests from missionary Phillip Dickinson 9/28/2015 from Phillip Dickinson on Vimeo.
Thanks for watching and for praying for us!
Phillip
Saturday, August 1, 2015
A Dream That's a Challenge To Buckle Down In Prayer
This morning (7-1-2015) I dreamed.
I was at an inter-church gathering. After the service Heather and I were at the back of the sanctuary talking with a dear holiness pastor and his wife. They faithfully labor without pay in a church plant and are faithful servants of God. We were talking about a problem with one of the pieces of church furniture on the platform.
Out the corner of my eye I saw someone behind me so I turned with a big smile to greet the person. Durenda Bley stood there with tears running out of her eyes which were red from weeping. Her husband Lloyd Bley stood near her crying too. Bro. and Sis. Bley are a precious Godly couple in Nebraska who are holiness heroes of mine.
I felt silly being light when they had been crying. I didn't know why they were crying, so without a word I raised my hand to take his hand and I just held it. As I held onto his hand my heart began to be touched by God and I cried with him and I cried more and more with him as I held his hand.
Then I let go of his hand.
I suddenly and spiritually heard a horrendous, agonizing voice which cried out from somewhere outside. It reverberated so loudly and so realistically that it startled me and I began to wake up.
I thought, "What in the world? That didn't make sense."
Then I was told, "That was the cry of the wicked who just died." That was followed by, "And they (Brother and Sister Bley) are praying for the wicked while you are talking." Then I completely woke up.
"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked..." -- Ezekiel 33:11a
"But the wicked shall perish..." -- Psalm 37:20b
"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." -- Ezekiel 22:30
"Oh, God, help me to be faithful in prayer for lost souls, so as to help bring as many into the safety of Christ as possible." Conviction upon the wicked comes through the prayers of God's saints. May I not be negligent and let them go to hell, but may I do my part to rescue them.
-Phillip
I was at an inter-church gathering. After the service Heather and I were at the back of the sanctuary talking with a dear holiness pastor and his wife. They faithfully labor without pay in a church plant and are faithful servants of God. We were talking about a problem with one of the pieces of church furniture on the platform.
Out the corner of my eye I saw someone behind me so I turned with a big smile to greet the person. Durenda Bley stood there with tears running out of her eyes which were red from weeping. Her husband Lloyd Bley stood near her crying too. Bro. and Sis. Bley are a precious Godly couple in Nebraska who are holiness heroes of mine.
I felt silly being light when they had been crying. I didn't know why they were crying, so without a word I raised my hand to take his hand and I just held it. As I held onto his hand my heart began to be touched by God and I cried with him and I cried more and more with him as I held his hand.
Then I let go of his hand.
I suddenly and spiritually heard a horrendous, agonizing voice which cried out from somewhere outside. It reverberated so loudly and so realistically that it startled me and I began to wake up.
I thought, "What in the world? That didn't make sense."
Then I was told, "That was the cry of the wicked who just died." That was followed by, "And they (Brother and Sister Bley) are praying for the wicked while you are talking." Then I completely woke up.
"As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked..." -- Ezekiel 33:11a
"But the wicked shall perish..." -- Psalm 37:20b
"And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none." -- Ezekiel 22:30
"Oh, God, help me to be faithful in prayer for lost souls, so as to help bring as many into the safety of Christ as possible." Conviction upon the wicked comes through the prayers of God's saints. May I not be negligent and let them go to hell, but may I do my part to rescue them.
-Phillip
Sunday, July 26, 2015
President Barack Hussein Obama's Prophetic Words Regarding The Supreme Court's Judgment In Favor Of Abomination
With Words from that Most Sure Word of Prophecy the Bible, Regarding Justice for National Sins.
The very, black Friday night of 6-26-2015, I discovered that the US Supreme Court had announced their decision to force all US States to recognize same-sex marriages. Our country's president celebrated the decision of pronouncing a blessing on the sin of Sodom by lighting up the White House with the colors of the rainbow, that lovely and sacred symbol of God's promise that in spite of man's sin – pride, sexual freedom, lawlessness, and violence – He would never again destroy all the earth with a flood. President Obama while celebrating the judgment passed by the Supreme Court proclaimed, “sometimes justice arrives like a thunderbolt.” I immediately thought, “Our president has just spoken prophetic words.”
In spite of fasting and praying before the court's decision, I have cried and have had an even heavier heart since then and I spoke to Heather about this the same night. I shared our President's quote and told her of this verse that came into my mind upon reading Obama's prophetic words. “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”
The next morning my mind was still troubled by the decision to promote this abominable sin. As I prepared to read my Bible for the morning I prayed and hungered for a word from the Lord about this situation. I then opened up my Bible and perhaps the first thing my eyes fell upon was the same verse that God had brought to my mind the night before upon reading that Mr. Obama said in so many words that judgment sometimes falls like lightning. With out even looking for it, immediately God gave me the same verse as the night before. Isaiah 30:13, “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” “Oh, God, in wrath remember mercy,” has been my cry since then! “Save and sanctify as many souls as possible before destruction.”
Speaking of destruction. It makes me nervous when someone says that they are proud of anything. But it scared me when so many of our country's leaders said that they were proud of the Supreme Court's decision and then the millions celebrated not only in our land but around the world. For we know that “pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“Woe unto those who call evil good.” The man who lives in what is now a soiled White House said that the ruling "will strengthen all of our communities" by offering dignity... to all same-sex couples. The president calls the ruling "a victory for America." All this is opposite to the truth found in God's Word the Bible. It will weaken and endanger our communities while offering shame. And it was a downfall for America and a smashing blow upon the world.
After reading Isaiah 30:13, I immediately read the chapter and these words also stood out to me.
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (30:10,11)
Notice
more Scripture on this Suddenness
of
justice arriving like a thunderbolt, according to Mr. Obama, or “a
breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose
breaking cometh suddenly at an instant,”
according to God in Isaiah.
Psa
62:3 How long will ye imagine mischief against a man? ye shall be
slain
all of you: as
a bowing wall
shall
ye be, and as
a tottering fence.
Psa 62:4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
Jer
6:26 O daughter of my people, gird thee
with sackcloth, and wallow thyself in ashes: make thee mourning, as
for
an only son, most bitter lamentation: for the
spoiler shall suddenly come
upon us.
Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
“Fearful surprise” means to suddenly be caught with no time to prepare. Dwelling with fire, dwelling on high, defense, and surety comes only from HOLY, PERFECT living before God. No amount of prepping can save you if God says “enough” to putting up with your sin.
(Notice that for the Christian, judgment fire will reveal the worth of his work:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Isaiah
30:19 For the people shall dwell in Zion at Jerusalem: thou shalt
weep no more: he will be very gracious unto thee at the voice of thy
cry; when he shall hear it, he will answer thee. [Comfort
and answered prayer.]
Isa. 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: [Just enough bread and water in hard times, and true spiritual leadership present.]
Isa. 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. [God's extraordinary guidance in every step we take.]
Isa. 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. [Judgment will cause God's people to abhor and to cast aside that which takes God's place or grieves God.]
Isa. 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. [God will send rain upon our seed <preaching of the gospel, our children, our converts, and that which we plant> when we are able to sow the ground. Our flocks will be abundant, healthy, blessed of God, and feed in large pastures.]
Isa. 30:24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. [pure and plenteous; the best feed and an abundance of feed for the even the lowliest of beasts after the calamities of war. In the dark days ahead, remember this hope. It will end and God will heal even the food source as also mentioned in Malachi 4:2-3 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. ]
Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [Fountains for the thirsty even on the normally dry and barren mountains when God's many enemies are slaughtered and the great, the mighty, the cities, the glory of man falls to the ground. What abundance of water, like that in the days of Elijah after the drought and standoff on Mt. Carmel.]
Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [In the darkest of nights God's presence and grace will give joy as we tarry in His presence in worship, in prayer, and in the Word. Like Job, God's people will say, “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”]
For
if [the judgment] be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be
found even to fight against God.
(Acts 5:29) Lest he who lives by the sword die by the sword. And
perhaps God might mark those who sigh and cry for the sins of the
people and spare them. [Eze
9:4
And the LORD said unto him, Go through the midst of the city... and
set a mark upon the foreheads of the men that sigh and that cry for
all the abominations that be done in the midst thereof.
9:6
Slay utterly old and
young, both maids, and little children, and women: but come not near
any man upon whom is
the mark; and begin at my sanctuary. Then they began at the ancient
men which were
before the house.]
We must teach others to take refuge in a close obedient walk with God
and to tarry before God in prayer and in obedience to the Word of God.
The next World War would likely be nuclear and the dead would likely
be counted in billions not millions like last time. In this
occasion, not even a bunker would be safe for the self-made-man who
is out from under God's protection.
I
fear lest we Christians get too caught up in the entertainment
mindset and forsake our duty as priests to weep between the porch and
the altar. The attitude of, “let us live it up today because
tomorrow things are going to crash,” is a sin unto death. “And
in that day did the Lord GOD of hosts call to weeping, and to
mourning, and to baldness, and to girding with sackcloth:
And behold joy and gladness, slaying oxen, and killing sheep, eating
flesh, and drinking wine: let us eat and drink; for tomorrow we shall
die. And it was revealed in mine ears by the LORD of hosts, Surely
this iniquity shall not be purged from you till ye die, saith the
Lord GOD of hosts.”
(Isaiah 22:12-14)
We
should cultivate joyful Christian homes and try to give our children
an innocent, happy childhood, but we must also be vigilant, sober,
Biblical, prayerful, and walk in the fear of God. In fact, God wants
us obedient Christians to not even fear what we see coming. “Say
ye not, A conspiracy, to all them
to
whom this people shall say, A conspiracy; neither fear ye their fear,
nor be afraid. Sanctify the LORD of hosts himself; and let
him be
your fear, and let
him be
your dread.” Isaiah 8:12-13
Let
us read Isaiah 30 and the rest of God's prophecies, take heed to
God's warnings, and flee from the wrath to come by taking refuge in Jesus
our Ark of salvation. These great, precious promises of God are
sandwiched between predictions of horrendous judgments, death,
slaughter, and crumbling of all the glory of man. Truly God will
bless, purge, and prosper His holy children even through worst of
times.
“Come,
and let us return unto the LORD: for he hath torn, and he will heal
us; he hath smitten, and he will bind us up.” (Hosea 6:1)
*
I recognize that the context of Isaiah 30 is to the Jews. But the
principle of judgment for sin there remains the same and applies to
all cultures. And it certainly applies to the USA, for as Peter
Marshall and David Manuel prove in their history of the USA, The
Light And The Glory,
many early Christian Puritans settling our nation purposefully felt
they were creating a covenant with God as a new nation and asked for
God to bless them as a people as they remained Christian and chastise
the people as they wavered. Their history proved such to be true as
drought, crop failure, pestilence, economic failure, slaughter by
“Indians” and war, and death overtook them as they forsook God,
and blessing and abundance came upon them as soon as they turned to
God in repentance, obedience, prayer, and fasting. We can do the
same. I am not saying that America is the new Israel. We are not.
But John W. Whitehead's research reveals that when the constitution
was adopted the population of America was a bit over 3 million and
the Christian population numbered at least 2 million. And we saw
mighty revivals of Christianity before and after that. Our spiritual leaders
and government mandated days of prayer and thanksgiving. We prayed
to the God of the Bible and taught the Bible in our schools. Our
nation's Congress even mandated that thousands of Bibles be imported
for use as textbooks in learning.
**
Slavery history here as well as some other words used are from The
American Covenant: The Untold Story.
By Marshall Foster and Mary-Elaine Swanson. 1993, The Mayflower
Institute. ISBN 0-941370-00-3
In
our country's early years, when deciding how to determine the
population of each American State, the delegates of the
Constitutional Convention came up against the issue of slavery. At
this Convention, many great voices were raised in favor of abolishing
slavery everywhere in the Union, but other voices were raised in
opposition. To present a united front to the world of the eve of
Independence, the Continental Congress in 1776 postponed the handling
of this explosive issue. (Under the Confederation, however, it did
abolish slavery in all areas north of the Ohio River, and later
formed states were “free states” where slavery was not
permitted.)
Not
much later, during Congress, the slavery issue arose again when
debating the question of controlling interstate and international
commerce. Charles Pickney and John Rutledge of South Carolina spoke
up in favor of continuing the importation of slaves. At this point
George Mason of Virginia could contain himself no longer. He rose
and sternly warned his fellow delegates:
“Every
master of slaves is born a petty tyrant. They bring the judgment of
heaven upon a country. As nations cannot be rewarded or punished in
the next world, they must be in this. By an inevitable chain of
causes and effects, Providence punishes national sins by national
calamities.”
It
is tragic that Mason's timely warning went unheeded by a sufficient
number of delegates. Again, this explosive issue was shelved.
Congress gained the right to regulate the interstate and foreign
commerce which had been causing so much friction between the states,
but pro slavery forces achieved a deplorable victory: They succeeded
in preventing Congress from even considering abolishing the
importation of slaves until 1808! The handling of the slavery issue
was unquestionably a serious blot on the work of the Constitutional
Convention which opened itself up to divine direction in so many
other ways and accomplished so much of enduring worth. It should
serve to remind us what Madison understood so well: the sin nature of
man often prevents him from accomplishing all that God would have him
do. But God is not mocked. Although it took a disastrous Civil War,
His providence achieved the abolition of slavery through blood when
it could so easily have been achieved by the pen. It is a lesson
that God blesses us to the extent that we rely on Him – in regard
to slavery we did not. It's also a lesson that God will eliminate
evil through judgment if we will not willingly rid ourselves of
wickedness.
George
Mason's words about national sins today ring more clearly: “They
bring the judgment of heaven upon a country. As nations cannot be
rewarded or punished in the next world, they must be in this. By an
inevitable chain of causes and effects, Providence punishes national
sins by national calamities.”
Today
the guilt of other sins bloody our nation's hands. Just one of these
sins is abortion. In 1860 there were over 3,950,000 slaves, which
was more than 12.5 % of the US population then. Today just since
1973 when the US Supreme Court legalized abortion we have aborted
nearly 60,000,000 babies. That is nearly 20% of our current
citizenship of 320 million, and that is babies just in our
country alone. (Nearly 2 billion babies have been aborted worldwide;
this blood cries out for global judgment. Will it be a WW3?) We
also send tens of millions of dollars annually to fund abortions
internationally. We also outlawed Prayer (in 1962) and the Bible
(1963) in our schools, we produce, consume, imitate, and export and
corrupt the world with wicked movies, abominable pornography and
satanic gaming. Our country's trade treaties with the world also
push “diversity education” (read: aberrant sexuality teachings)
in the schools in order to trade favorably with us. I learned this
when living in Colombia and our country was pushing Latin American
countries to join the free trade agreement with us. Space does not
permit to discuss more about the blood of multitudes on our hands.
But in it all, the US church in general has often courted and
eventually consumed rather then confronted the world's wantonness.
Our multitudes of false prophet libertines along with her sheep-goats
have embraced sin while naming it spiritual liberty and praising
God's grace.
The very, black Friday night of 6-26-2015, I discovered that the US Supreme Court had announced their decision to force all US States to recognize same-sex marriages. Our country's president celebrated the decision of pronouncing a blessing on the sin of Sodom by lighting up the White House with the colors of the rainbow, that lovely and sacred symbol of God's promise that in spite of man's sin – pride, sexual freedom, lawlessness, and violence – He would never again destroy all the earth with a flood. President Obama while celebrating the judgment passed by the Supreme Court proclaimed, “sometimes justice arrives like a thunderbolt.” I immediately thought, “Our president has just spoken prophetic words.”
In spite of fasting and praying before the court's decision, I have cried and have had an even heavier heart since then and I spoke to Heather about this the same night. I shared our President's quote and told her of this verse that came into my mind upon reading Obama's prophetic words. “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.”
The next morning my mind was still troubled by the decision to promote this abominable sin. As I prepared to read my Bible for the morning I prayed and hungered for a word from the Lord about this situation. I then opened up my Bible and perhaps the first thing my eyes fell upon was the same verse that God had brought to my mind the night before upon reading that Mr. Obama said in so many words that judgment sometimes falls like lightning. With out even looking for it, immediately God gave me the same verse as the night before. Isaiah 30:13, “Therefore this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.” “Oh, God, in wrath remember mercy,” has been my cry since then! “Save and sanctify as many souls as possible before destruction.”
Speaking of destruction. It makes me nervous when someone says that they are proud of anything. But it scared me when so many of our country's leaders said that they were proud of the Supreme Court's decision and then the millions celebrated not only in our land but around the world. For we know that “pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall.”
“Woe unto those who call evil good.” The man who lives in what is now a soiled White House said that the ruling "will strengthen all of our communities" by offering dignity... to all same-sex couples. The president calls the ruling "a victory for America." All this is opposite to the truth found in God's Word the Bible. It will weaken and endanger our communities while offering shame. And it was a downfall for America and a smashing blow upon the world.
After reading Isaiah 30:13, I immediately read the chapter and these words also stood out to me.
Woe
to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but
not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that
they may add sin to sin: (Isaiah 30:1)
[Rebellious
– we used to follow God but have rebelled. Our chief men have
deliberated and passed counsel and judgment to reject God and sin
even more.]
That
walk to go down into Egypt... (30:2)
[Egypt
– represents sin, bondage, slavery, and is always down.]
...this
is a rebellious people, lying children, children that will not hear
the law of the LORD: (30:9)
[We've
known the truth, but are willfully rebelling, speaking lies, and are
trying to shut up God's Law.]
Which
say to the seers, See not; and to the prophets, Prophesy not unto us
right things, speak unto us smooth things, prophesy deceits:
Get you out of the way, turn aside out of the path, cause the Holy One of Israel to cease from before us. (30:10,11)
[We
try to ignore, shut up, intimidate, and even threaten God's prophets
the preachers proclaiming truth. And we promote, quote, and reward
those ministers who speak only a non-confrontational Gospel and that
which makes us feel good.]
Wherefore
thus saith the Holy One of Israel, Because ye despise this word, and
trust in oppression and perverseness, and stay thereon: (30:12)
[Sin
and especially the sin of Sodom involves: "Oppression" – violence,
injury, fraud, distress, cruelty, extortion, and enslavement.
"Perverseness" -- iniquity, a literal and figurative departing,
frowardness, a distortion and twisted change.]
Therefore
this iniquity shall be to you as a breach ready to fall, swelling out
in a high wall, whose breaking cometh suddenly at an instant.
(30:13)
[A
high, stone wall with a crack which has a swelling bow in it will at
any moment and when least expected suddenly fall. Such will be the
judgment for this sin. Sudden and unexpected judgment.]
And
he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is
broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be
found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or
to take water withal out of the pit. (30:14)
[Complete
ruin and destruction. A smashing which leaves the vessel completely
useless for even the most menial tasks. These are the vessels
prepared for destruction. We must make sure that we are through the
power of the blood of Jesus Christ vessels of gold and silver which
will survive and only be purified by the judgment to come.]
For
thus saith the Lord GOD, the Holy One of Israel; In returning and
rest shall ye be saved; in quietness and in confidence shall be your
strength: and ye would not. (30:15)
[For
years God has been offering salvation from sin's bondage and
destruction by returning to God, but these sinners are rejecting
God's rest.]
But
ye said, No; for we will flee upon horses; therefore shall ye flee:
and, We will ride upon the swift; therefore shall they that pursue
you be swift. (30:16)
[Such
says, “No, God. We have a plan. We'll do things our way and we'll
be able to work out our own escape from judgment.”]
One
thousand shall flee at the rebuke of one; at the rebuke of five shall
ye flee: till ye be left as a beacon upon the top of a mountain, and
as an ensign on an hill. (30:17)
[Judgment
will be so terrible, brutal, and fearful that in sheer terror a
thousand will flee with just one threatening them. So many will be
killed that only a few of God's children will escape.]
And
therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you, and
therefore will he be exalted, that he may have mercy upon you: for
the LORD is a God of judgment: blessed are all they that wait for
him. (30:18)
[In
all this judgment as well as afterward, God still waits with His arms
open with grace and mercy. Those truly waiting on God will be
blessed in this.]
Psa 62:4 They only consult to cast him down from his excellency: they delight in lies: they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah.
Isa 47:11 Therefore shall evil come upon thee; thou shalt not know from whence it riseth: and mischief shall fall upon thee; thou shalt not be able to put it off: and desolation shall come upon thee suddenly, which thou shalt not know.
This
same sudden judgment will come upon the sinning “Christians” in
the churches too:
Isa
33:14 The sinners in Zion are afraid;
fearfulness
hath surprised
the hypocrites. Who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire? who
among us shall dwell with everlasting burnings?
Isa 33:15 He that walketh righteously, and speaketh uprightly; he that despiseth the gain of oppressions, that shaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that stoppeth his ears from hearing of blood, and shutteth his eyes from seeing evil;
Isa 33:16 He shall dwell on high: his place of defense shall be the munitions of rocks: bread shall be given him; his waters shall be sure.
“Fearful surprise” means to suddenly be caught with no time to prepare. Dwelling with fire, dwelling on high, defense, and surety comes only from HOLY, PERFECT living before God. No amount of prepping can save you if God says “enough” to putting up with your sin.
(Notice that for the Christian, judgment fire will reveal the worth of his work:
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
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. - 1 Corinthians 3:11-15)
(Some
Christians will be taken away too, but in mercy.)
The
righteous perisheth, and no man layeth it
to heart: and merciful men are
taken away, none considering that the righteous is taken away from
the evil to come.
(Isaiah 57:1)
Children
of God, take comfort. For God promises to protect and provide for His
who are holy in the midst of this sudden, terrible judgment. In the
previously mentioned sudden judgment chapter 30 of Isaiah, it is also
full of comforting promises to those who in times of judgment are seeking
and obeying God with all their heart.
Isa. 30:20 And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity, and the water of affliction, yet shall not thy teachers be removed into a corner any more, but thine eyes shall see thy teachers: [Just enough bread and water in hard times, and true spiritual leadership present.]
Isa. 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left. [God's extraordinary guidance in every step we take.]
Isa. 30:22 Ye shall defile also the covering of thy graven images of silver, and the ornament of thy molten images of gold: thou shalt cast them away as a menstruous cloth; thou shalt say unto it, Get thee hence. [Judgment will cause God's people to abhor and to cast aside that which takes God's place or grieves God.]
Isa. 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. [God will send rain upon our seed <preaching of the gospel, our children, our converts, and that which we plant> when we are able to sow the ground. Our flocks will be abundant, healthy, blessed of God, and feed in large pastures.]
Isa. 30:24 The oxen likewise and the young asses that ear the ground shall eat clean provender, which hath been winnowed with the shovel and with the fan. [pure and plenteous; the best feed and an abundance of feed for the even the lowliest of beasts after the calamities of war. In the dark days ahead, remember this hope. It will end and God will heal even the food source as also mentioned in Malachi 4:2-3 But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall. And ye shall tread down the wicked; for they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet in the day that I shall do this, saith the LORD of hosts. 4:1 For, behold, the day cometh, that shall burn as an oven; and all the proud, yea, and all that do wickedly, shall be stubble: and the day that cometh shall burn them up, saith the LORD of hosts, that it shall leave them neither root nor branch. ]
Isa 30:25 And there shall be upon every high mountain, and upon every high hill, rivers and streams of waters in the day of the great slaughter, when the towers fall. [Fountains for the thirsty even on the normally dry and barren mountains when God's many enemies are slaughtered and the great, the mighty, the cities, the glory of man falls to the ground. What abundance of water, like that in the days of Elijah after the drought and standoff on Mt. Carmel.]
Isa 30:29 Ye shall have a song, as in the night when a holy solemnity is kept; and gladness of heart, as when one goeth with a pipe to come into the mountain of the LORD, to the mighty One of Israel. [In the darkest of nights God's presence and grace will give joy as we tarry in His presence in worship, in prayer, and in the Word. Like Job, God's people will say, “the Lord giveth and the Lord taketh away, blessed be the name of the Lord.”]
As
the universal law of justice for sin comes to pass, this involves not
only ever increasing natural disasters, catastrophes, and plagues as
we see now. But God's Word teaches that Justice demands certain
sudden and fearful retribution against sin.
I
sincerely think that aside from a miraculous intervention of God, for
the USA this involves the sword both internally and from without. For
we have sinned against our own and against others. And remember the
wolves who are watching from the outside hope for a civil internal
bloodshed to weaken the beast enough to pounce and consume. Why do I
mention killing and war? Because Divine Law speaks of this.
“So
ye shall not pollute the land wherein ye are:
for blood it defileth the land: and the land cannot be cleansed of
the blood that is shed therein, but by the blood of him that shed
it.” (Numbers 35:33)
Divine
laws will come to pass. If life for life is required and it is,
justice demands nearly 60 million for murdered babies alone, and many
more millions for the many little ones offended by our anti-Christ
laws and for offending the least of these little ones. Let us continue to fast and pray that, like
Nineveh, our whole nation might turn to God in repentance. And like Noah,
let us warn the world as we forsake all and labor to bring ourselves,
our families, and others into the only ark of safety, Jesus Christ.
Regarding
war, I recommend that parents try to win their family, teach their
children Bible, lead their children in the charge to fast and pray
for an awakening, and to learn to cry out for God's mercy and learn to depend on God's
mercy. This is the only sure refuge for our land.
We
dare not say, “It's not my problem; for I didn't create those
unGodly laws.” We must remember that God often gives tyrannical,
sin loving rulers to nation of people who forsake Him in order to
cause them to cry out to God and repent of their evil ways. Am I all
that God wants me to be? Am I earnest pressing forward to obey God's
laws with all of my heart? Do I delight greatly in God's
commandments? (Psalm 112)
............................
And
every nation can be a nation under God if it chooses to follow Christ
(Psalm 2:10-12; 33:12) Out of the group of Christians who met
together off the coast of New England, covenanting with their God to
form a nation that would glorify Him and spread His Gospel, many
others came and restated and strengthened their initial compact.
From this covenant with God and their willingness to apply His Word
to all areas of life came a Christian republic that has promoted the
greatest expansion of the Gospel since the early church, if not in
the history of man. We cannot rest now. Let us also forsake all to
obey Jesus Christ and His Word fearlessly before those who hate
Christ and hate us His followers. And when the dust settles, we will
find that we have inherited Christ's promises mentioned here and
throughout the Bible.
-pd,
The end of June through July 25, 2015
Tuesday, July 21, 2015
Self Promotion: The Trap
"And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted." - Jesus in Matthew 23:12
Guard against falling into the trap of self promotion. This causes self delusion, for one blinds himself to God's ways when he seeks the glory of men.
Guard against falling into the trap of self promotion. This causes self delusion, for one blinds himself to God's ways when he seeks the glory of men.
The trap that many fall into is that of trying to make themselves look good, bragging on self, self exaltation, creating an image, pizazz and show, trying to impress others, and seeking to be noticed.
Not only individuals but organizations and even churches can easily fall prey to this trap. May God ever keep our church in teaching against recruitment practices. Let us pray and labor to see the lost saved and the Christians brought into perfect love, but let God alone chose who is a part of whose church. This guards against a lot of posturing and PR type tactics which leads us dangerously close to pride and depending on the flesh rather than God.
Self promotion also evades God's plan and God's timing. This is never good.
And it promotes pride and pride inevitably causes a fall. For God cannot extend grace to pride, for "But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." God goes on to say through James (4:6-7) "Submit yourselves therefore to God." Let God choose your standing be it high or low in the eyes of men. Seek to be low before God and He will pour out His grace. How precious is God's grace, and how dangerous is high honor.
Any supposed good that comes of self promotion, even supposedly sought after "for the glory of God,” is in the end is lost.
At the very best self-promotion is vain and is depending on one's own arm of strength. “For promotion cometh neither from the east, nor from the west, nor from the south. But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (Psalm 75:6-7)
It's not doing things God's way, so it is unwise. Letting God chose your lot in life is wise. "The wise shall inherit glory: but shame shall be the promotion of fools." (Proverbs 3:35) And I long for God's glory!
What's worse, is that self promotion sets a wicked precedent. It seeks to play the role of God and it Satanically seeks to usurp God's glory.
-Phillip
Saturday, May 23, 2015
21 Signs of a Healthy Christian and Church
I weld influence by prayer and fasting, speaking the truth in
love, and personal strict obedience to God's law, rather than by control though
intimidation, clique techniques, and manipulation.
I prefer to spend my time and resources on seeing souls saved and perfected, rather than recruiting Christians to my church.
I love truth and holiness over friends, ease, and happiness.
I have a spontaneous, living, high priority and delight in practicing prayer.
I prefer to be spend my time in serving others rather than with entertainment.
I consciously choice to not do some lawful things because it might give an excuse for others to also follow me and do it and possibly loose their souls.
I have a disinterest in and fear of any carnal beauty, financial gain, and personal popularity.
I'm consumed with having the approval of God rather than concerned with earning the respect of those respected by society.
When learning of others' faults or sins I have a burden to pray for them and help them rather than talk about them.
I constantly desire to turn the conversation to talk of God, His goodness, His works, His ways and what concerns God and I am unconcerned with sports, fashion, ease, the secular, and the stars and idols of the day.
I am others minded flee self absorption or self promotion.
I am heavenly minded rather than earthly minded.
I am humble in action, unconcerned for favors, and grieved by the praise of others, rather than thinking that I make God look good when I get glory.
I live with a deep feeling of unworthiness and feel that others are more worthy of God's grace than me.
I consider it a privilege to work to serve those who don't deserve it because this following my Saviour's example.
I instantly feel repulsion and deep sorrow at even the idea of sin, rather than a tendency of a carnal curiosity regarding sin.
I fear and turning away from any alliances except those holy and pure alliances which are commanded by God.
I feel a gratefulness to God in hard times because feel I deserve worse and because in time God can this to make me more Christlike.
I love to talk to God just to be with Him, not just to get things from God as good as these things might be.
I delight in obeying God as revealed in the laws of the Bible, because I have a love for God and His Word.
I evidence God's love in my heart by seeking to bless my enemies and persecutors, forgiving those who sin against me, helping the poor, and defending God's poor and lowly lambs -- the least esteemed of others and those useless to society.
God's grace offers this and much more through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. We cannot esteem too highly the cleansing power of Christ's blood through faith. God has high privileges for all in Christ. God has us look to how Jesus was and by faith have Him enthroned in our hearts.
I know there are more signs to list. Please post what you would consider other signs of a healthy Christian and Church in the comments below. Thanks, Phillip
I prefer to spend my time and resources on seeing souls saved and perfected, rather than recruiting Christians to my church.
I love truth and holiness over friends, ease, and happiness.
I have a spontaneous, living, high priority and delight in practicing prayer.
I prefer to be spend my time in serving others rather than with entertainment.
I consciously choice to not do some lawful things because it might give an excuse for others to also follow me and do it and possibly loose their souls.
I have a disinterest in and fear of any carnal beauty, financial gain, and personal popularity.
"...he shall be as a tree planted by the waters..." Jeremiah 17:8 |
When learning of others' faults or sins I have a burden to pray for them and help them rather than talk about them.
I constantly desire to turn the conversation to talk of God, His goodness, His works, His ways and what concerns God and I am unconcerned with sports, fashion, ease, the secular, and the stars and idols of the day.
I am others minded flee self absorption or self promotion.
I am heavenly minded rather than earthly minded.
I am humble in action, unconcerned for favors, and grieved by the praise of others, rather than thinking that I make God look good when I get glory.
I live with a deep feeling of unworthiness and feel that others are more worthy of God's grace than me.
I consider it a privilege to work to serve those who don't deserve it because this following my Saviour's example.
I instantly feel repulsion and deep sorrow at even the idea of sin, rather than a tendency of a carnal curiosity regarding sin.
I fear and turning away from any alliances except those holy and pure alliances which are commanded by God.
I feel a gratefulness to God in hard times because feel I deserve worse and because in time God can this to make me more Christlike.
I love to talk to God just to be with Him, not just to get things from God as good as these things might be.
I delight in obeying God as revealed in the laws of the Bible, because I have a love for God and His Word.
I evidence God's love in my heart by seeking to bless my enemies and persecutors, forgiving those who sin against me, helping the poor, and defending God's poor and lowly lambs -- the least esteemed of others and those useless to society.
God's grace offers this and much more through the power of the blood of Jesus Christ. We cannot esteem too highly the cleansing power of Christ's blood through faith. God has high privileges for all in Christ. God has us look to how Jesus was and by faith have Him enthroned in our hearts.
I know there are more signs to list. Please post what you would consider other signs of a healthy Christian and Church in the comments below. Thanks, Phillip
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Un Joven Llamado Alejandro
Foto: http://caminandolapampa.blogspot.com.ar/2014/08/san-emilio-buenos-aires-argentina.html |
Saladillo es el nombre de un pueblo grande―muy viejo―que queda ciento veinte millas al
sudeste de la ciudad de Buenos Aires, país de Argentina, S. A.
Los primeros misioneros para llevar el evangelio allí fueron enfrentados con fuerte opresión,
burla y piedras. Así comenzó nuestra campaña de carpa, en que varias personas se dedicaron a
Cristo y a la “nueva vida”. Fueron unos de los más perversos; hacían negocios en trata de
personas, emborrachamiento y pecados similares. Fueron los de más vil reputación en ese
pueblo. Sin Cristo se hubieran quedado así.
Una se llamaba doña Rosa. Ello llego a la reunión por primera vez vestida completamente de
negro. Llevaba pañuelo de cabeza negro, chal negro y vestido negro. Se podía ver en el lado
derecho de su falda densamente juntada la punta horrorosa de un cuchillo grande. Ella tenía una
mirada penetrante y su único ojo era más oscuro que la medianoche. Con razón: ella vino del
mundo oscuro de trata de personas. Y por algo más llevaba el cuchillo. Como compraba y vendía
muchachas inocentes y hasta niñas, siempre estaba en peligro de ser asesinada. Y los que la
oponían estaban en más peligro aun.
Otro se llamaba Juan Iturri. Como no le satisfacía llevarse la hija de quince años de una pobre
familia, quien luego murió después del nacimiento de su hijo, sedujo a la hermana de su mujer
fallecida a vivir con él. Pero él se negó a casarse con ella porque quería asegurarse de que ella le
iba a ser una buena ama de casa. Y no le preocupaba que ya tenían cuatro hijos. Su quinto hijo se
les había muerto una noche por ser ahogado entre sus padres en una cama demasiada estrecha.
Otro se llamaba Rufino Paez, quien vivía en unión libre con una mujer. Tenían cuatro hijos
chiquitos. Rufino pensó que su mujer tenía diecinueve años y que era menor de edad (veintidós
es la edad núbil en Argentina), pero cuando se dedicaron a Cristo y les aconsejamos cazarse, él
se asombro cuando se dio cuenta que ella tenía veintinueve años. Este descubrimiento casi
impidió el casamiento. Y ¡era una boda maravillosa! Mientras mi esposo iba con Rufino a
conseguir la partida de matrimonio y a investigar de la partida de nacimiento de su esposa, yo
hice un pastel y cuidé a sus cuatro hijos. Yo también había fabricado un nuevo vestido para la
novia. ¡Se casaron! Luego disfrutamos una cena de boda. Todo esto paso en el puesto de misión
donde vivían los misioneros.
Y otro se llamaba don Fructuoso Moreira. Era un descendiente orgulloso de Juan Moreira, uno
de los viejos guerreros argentinos de hace mucho tiempo, quien sentía la sangre del guerrero en
sus venas, pero no cuando le tocaba trabajar para proveer para su familia. Así que su esposa tuvo
que lavar y planchar ropa para ganarse la vida mientras él se relajaba en casa, soñando de batirse
en duelo con cualquiera que lo cruzaría; especialmente si miraran a su Felisa, a quién fingía
amar, aunque no la apoyaba económicamente.
Llevamos el evangelio a tales personas después de desembarcarnos en Argentina hace muchos
En la casa que arrendábamos había una sala de reuniones, una sala de recibir, una alcoba, un
comedor, un cuartito que no ocupábamos y una cocina. Los pisos eran hechos de tablones anchos
de madera áspera, excepto los pisos en el comedor y en la cocina. El piso del comedor era
irregular y era hecho de ladrillos quebrados. La cocina no tenía piso porque era un adobe sin
puerta con solamente una entrada y un piso de tierra. En la parte posterior había una parrilla para
carbón; con el cual cocinábamos. Las ventanas de los otros cuartos estaban enrejadas y las
puertas de doble hoja de los cuartos exteriores fueron serradas cada noche con poner una barra
grande de hierro a través de ellas. No teníamos baño. Una letrina (como las de hace muchos
años) estaba en la parte más trasera de la propiedad.
Los muebles (una mesa pequeña y tres sillas) habían sido comprados de segundas, los cuales
pusimos en la sala de recibir. Las cajas (para los pocos libros que poseíamos) fueron usadas para
una biblioteca en la misma sala. Los muebles de nuestra alcoba incluían un armazón de cama de
hierro con un colchón de lana, una cuna para nuestra hija de seis meses y cajas de madera con la
función de armario con una cortina de cretona que sirvió para una puerta.
Hay muchas ovejas en Argentina porque es un país herboso. Los colchones son fabricados de
lana. Uno compra la lana por libra y contrata un “colchonero” quien fabrica los colchones. De
vez en cuando, cuando los colchones se ponen tan duros como el piso, uno contracta al
“colchonero” de nuevo, quien, por cardar la lana, hace que los colchones sean como nuevos.
Entretanto la tela para el colchón se habrá sido lavada, la lana puesta adentro y después cosida
otra vez para usar por otro rato.
En el comedor teníamos una mesa y sillas, y usábamos cajas ahí también porque eran muy
útiles para construir un armario de porcelana, que contenía los pocos platos que habíamos
comprado en una ferretería cercana a la casa. La cocina en el adobe ni siquiera estaba amueblada.
Esta era nuestra primera casa.
Al frente de la casa estaba un agujero de barro que solamente se secaba en los largos y
calurosos meses de verano. Ahí vivían miles de mosquitos. Muchas veces un perro o un marrano
se caía allí y lo hacía su sepulcro. Los del pueblo no se molestaban con sacarlos
Después de no mucho tiempo nos acomodamos en nuestro nuevo hogar y empezamos a conocer
a la gente. El estudio del idioma ocupaba un papel importante de nuestras vidas, porque si uno va
a ser efectivo en obrar como misionero en cualquier país, es muy necesario adquirir un
conocimiento cabal del idioma hablado por la gente, para poder anunciarles el mensaje del
evangelio en su propio idioma y en la manera más eficaz y entendible posible.
Una tarde, cuando solamente habíamos estado en el país por unas semanas, se nos vino a la
puerta una anciana. La acompañaba un joven. Ella llevaba un pañuelo blanco y negro amarrado
en la cabeza. Su vestido había sido una vez negro, pero ahora tenía un color verdoso por muchas
lavadas y por ser colgado en el abrasador sol argentino. Hablaba español con dificultad. El joven
a su lado—pobremente vestido—no tenía nada que decir. La anciana tomo la iniciativa en la
“Mi nombre es doña Fausta de Fanderwud. El joven es mi nieto. Soy Protestánte. Era la única
Protestánte en este pueblo antes que vinieran. Vine aquí hace varios años de Holanda. Me vine
aquí porque me dijeron que aquí me iba a ser fácil ganarme la vida, pues este es un país de
mucho ganado, mucha pradera y pocos habitantes. Me di cuenta que no es cierto, porque ahora
estoy prácticamente desvalida; no tengo suficientes recursos con que vivir. Tuve una hija
hermosa. Se enamoro de un argentino. De este amorío”, miro al joven, “nació él. Ahora tiene
catorce años. Mi hija se murió cuando él tuvo nueve años. Se murió de un corazón roto y
tuberculosis; ambos causados por la desilusión que tuvo en su vida. Su padre nunca vino para
ver a su hijo ni lo reconoció ante la ley. Por eso el joven tiene mi apellido. No tiene otro. Su
nombre es Alejandro Fanderwud”.
El joven―parado a su lado―había mirado el suelo mientras hablaba la abuela. Era bastante
alto para su edad. Pero era de tez amarillenta y su pecho estaba hundido. Parecía que ya se le
había pegado la enfermedad que le había matado a su mamá: tuberculosis.
Los invitamos a entrar a la casa para continuar la conversación. Ella continuaba la historia
mientras entrábamos a la casa.
“Se nos resulto bien costoso vivir aquí. Y ahora estamos casi desvalidos: sin lugar adonde ir.
Por eso estoy aquí. ¿Podríamos vivir aquí con ustedes? Tengo un armazón de cama de hierro y
un colchón: para mi nieto tengo un catre. Estoy segura que no les seríamos una molestia. Yo les
podría ayudar con hacer la limpieza de la casa y con cuidar a su bebe, mientras estudien el
español y hagan visitas pastorales. Mi nieto trabaja unas horas cada día en una ferretería cerca de
aquí. Se gana unos pesos a la semana y eso es más o menos suficiente para nuestras necesidades
personales e inmediatas, pero no es suficiente para comida ni para un sitio para dormir”.
Nuestros corazones fueron profundamente conmovidos al encontrar a una cristiana lejos de su
hogar y muy necesitada. Entonces les invitamos (a la anciana, doña Fausta, y a su nieto,
Alejandro) vivir con nosotros.
Doña Fausta trajo el armazón de cama, el colchón y el catre a nuestra casa y se acomodaron en
el cuartito desocupado (que antes no había sido amueblado), entre la sala de reuniones y el
comedor. Puso una caja de madera al lado de su cama; sobre la cual colocó su Biblia e himnario.
Ella había puesto una cubierta de tela (que ella misma había fabricado) en su Biblia e himnario
para protegerlos, porque los usaba mucho, pues era una cristiana devota.
Un lunes después de cenar nos dimos cuenta de cómo sería vivir bajo el mismo techo que ellos.
El muchacho había comido apresuradamente y en silencio. Cuando había terminado, dijo: “¿Con
su permiso”? y se levantó de la mesa. La abuela parecía tener vergüenza y estar poco molestada
por el comportamiento y actitud de su nieto.
Con el tiempo Alejandro pasó menos y menos tiempo en casa. No sabíamos adónde íba. Su
abuelita tampoco sabía. Y cuando le preguntábamos del lugar adónde iba, se enojaba con la
abuela, y luego se ponía deprimido y triste―casi inconsciente de que pasaba a su alrededor. Pero
Entresemana teníamos una reunión de oración en nuestro comedor. Quince a veinte creyentes,
quienes habían sido los “primeros frutos” del evangelio, se reunían fielmente cada miércoles para
oración y testimonios. En una de estas reuniones―unos meses después de nuestra llegada a
Argentina―doña Fausta―agobiada y llorando―pidió oración por su nieto.
“Oren por Alejandrito.”; (así lo llamaba con cariño), “Él no quiere venir a las reuniones de
oración. Ni siquiera quiere ir a la escuela dominical. Tiene solamente quince años, pero ya
frecuenta la cantina, que queda cerca de aquí. Me supongo que está allá ahora”.
Cuando tomó asiento, todos estábamos llorando. No creo que nadie se dio cuenta de los
ladrillos fríos e incómodos cuando nos arrodillamos para interceder por Alejandro.
Nos turnamos para orar. Cada corazón estaba apesadumbrado. Después de orar nos paramos
para irnos. Todos se asombraron al encontrar que Alejandro estaba parado en la puerta entre su
cuarto y el comedor (en el cual estábamos). Su cabeza estaba inclinada. Cuando levanto su
cabeza todavía tenía esa expresión triste que lo había caracterizado desde nuestro primer
encuentro con él. Los hermanos se fueron uno por uno, dándonos la mano y diciendo: “Buenas
noches, buenas noches.”. Echando una mirada de reojo a su nieto, doña Fausta también se fue a
su cuarto. Solamente quedábamos nosotros y Alejandro; mirándonos el uno al otro.
Alejandro rompió el silencio. “Me gustaría hablar con ustedes. Sin duda, todo lo que les dijo mi
abuela de mí es verdad. Estoy triste y deprimido. También soy irritable. Y ¿por qué no? Mi
madre se murió cuando tuve nueve añitos. Nunca conocí a mi padre. Él nunca ha venido a
visitarme. Ni siquiera me dio su apellido. Tengo el apellido de mi abuela. Así que no tengo
madre, padre, hogar, educación ni apellido, y tengo muy poca salud. En otras palabras, soy un
don nadie. Pero tengo un deseo: quiero conocer a Jesús como mi Salvador. Una vez en la escuela
dominical, después de la muerte de mi madre, acepté a Cristo, pero no lo he seguido. Quiero
Nos arrodillamos y oramos con Alejandro en un rincón del comedor. El Espíritu del Dios
viviente estaba ahí. Jesús lo recibió, porque en humildad de corazón y soledad de espíritu clamo
Cada día, después de regresar del trabajo, Alejandro se reunía con nosotros para leer la Palabra
de Dios y orar. El progreso de su vida cristiana no era muy rápido por su naturaleza, pues era
impetuoso, desanimado y melancólico.
Pero un día llegó a contarnos de una experiencia extraña que había tenido cuando regresaba del
trabajo. “Estuve caminando por la calle, cuando, de repente, sentí un golpecito en mi hombro y
oí una voz decirme calladamente: ‘Alejandro, ¡quiero que prediques el Evangelio!’ ¿Será que el
Señor me esté llamando a predicar”? (No teníamos instituto bíblico en aquella época; ni siquiera
había sido mencionado.) Mi esposo le dijo que el Samuel de la Biblia había sido hablado por
Dios en una manera similar y que debería orar del asunto y estar atento a la vez; lo aseguró que
él también oraría. Pero la misma cosa sucedió en otra ocasión. “Hoy también estuve caminando
a casa del trabajo,”, dijo Alejandro, “cuando sentí el mismo golpecito en mi hombro y escuche a
alguien decir en una voz baja: ‘Alejandro, quiero que prediques el Evangelio.’ Miré por todo
lado. No vi a nadie”. Nos pusimos de acuerdo que tendría que ser el Señor que le hablaba y le
Habían pasado veinte meses desde llegar a Argentina para empezar nuestro trabajo misionero.
El Dr. Walter Turnbull, Ministro de Asuntos Exteriores para la Alianza Cristiana & Misionera,
se vino de Nueva York para celebrar una conferencia con los misioneros y para organizar el
campo misionero en Argentina. Hicieron planes para abrir un instituto bíblico para entrenar los
obreros argentinos. Fuimos elegidos para organizar, empezar y dirigir el Instituto Bíblico. Otros
misioneros fueron escogidos para enseñar y para estar en la plantilla.
Siete jóvenes de los pueblos en que se había predicado el evangelio y en que se habían
establecido puestos de misión, habían testificado que Dios les había llamado al ministerio. En ese
tiempo no había iglesias organizadas ni pastores nacionales.
Cuando se propuso dejar a Alejandro ser un estudiante del Instituto, los nuevos creyentes y
otros pensaron que era demasiado joven. Tenía dieciséis años y medio en ese tiempo. “No
solamente es muy joven, pero también es demasiado impetuoso y melancólico para ser un
ministro del evangelio. Llevamos menos de dos años viviendo la vida cristiana, pero, de veras, es
una vida feliz, y Alejandro no se ve muy feliz ni está lleno de gozo”, razonaban.
La confianza que le tenía el misionero quien lo gano para Cristo―mi esposo―y la
confirmación de Alejandro de la llamada de Dios en su vida, causó el consentimiento de los otros
misioneros y creyentes para dejarlo ser parte de la primera clase de futuros obreros cristianos.
Luego el misionero, que lo conocía mejor, prometió ser responsable por él.
El nuevo instituto bíblico fue establecido en la ciudad de Azul, unas doscientas millas sur de la
ciudad de Buenos Aires, donde quedaba en ese tiempo la sede central de La Alianza Cristiana &
Misionera en Argentina. El currículo, las reglas y normas y los detalles de la administración de la
vida domestica de los estudiantes fueron decididos y puestos por escrito. Aunque era un instituto
bíblico, también era el hogar de los muchachos y muchachas que lo asistían.
A mí me tocaba establecer unas reglas para el hogar; tareas domesticas incluidas. Los
estudiantes las harían cada día. Nadie recibía sueldo por limpiar ni por hacer mantenimiento en el
edificio de los estudiantes y los misioneros, porque casi no había dinero para el instituto. Una
lista de deberes enumerados y los nombres de los estudiantes fue puesta en un tablero de
anuncios mensualmente, durante el año escolar. De este modo los estudiantes turnaron el trabajo
y no se le hacía pesado a nadie.
El instituto había marchado por varias semanas, cuando un día pasé la puerta de la cocina,
después del almuerzo. Los estudiantes estaban limpiando la cocina. De repente vi una escoba
volar por el aire. Luego―a mi asombro―vi un cepillo de fregar zumbar por el aire. Una toalla
también fue tirada antes de que me diera cuenta de lo que estaba pasando.
Entré a la cocina para averiguar la razón por este comportamiento. Alejandro estaba trabajando
en la cocina ese día. Les dije que ¡las personas, quienes son llamadas al ministerio, no se
capacitaban lanzando escobas y cepillos de fregar hacia otras personas! Los dos otros
muchachos, quienes estaban en la cocina, señalaron a Alejandro―parado en un rincón―con un
dedo acusador y dijeron, “Todo es por culpa de él. ¡Es imposible trabajar con él!”.
La oficina quedaba en frente de la cocina. Caminaba en esa dirección para quejarme y contarle
a mi esposo del problema en la cocina, cuando me acorde de la resolución que hicimos hace
años, aun antes de tener hijos y antes de vivir en un instituto bíblico: no hablaría con mi esposo
de problemas insignificantes. Los maridos normalmente tienen mucho que hacer y no tienen
tiempo para preocuparse de problemas pequeños.
Me fui directamente a mi cuarto para orar. Le dije al Señor que seguramente cometimos un
error cuando trajimos a Alejandro al instituto. Con cariño, el Señor me reprendió por mi oración.
Me dijo que quiso que yo tuviera paciencia con Alejandro. El Espíritu me susurró, “Alejandro es
La mañana siguiente sentí que había encontrado la solución inmediata. Había un trabajo que
Alejandro podía hacer solo. Entonces le di un cuchillo y un balde de papas para pelar. Comíamos
un balde entero de papas cada día. Yo no le dije porque le había cambiado el trabajo. Él sabía. El
próximo mes, cuando hice la lista de tareas domesticas, también le di un trabajo―cortar
leña―que se podía hacer solo. Cocinábamos con leña. Y quedaba otro trabajo aun que se podía
hacer solo. Ese se lo di el tercer mes. Le tocaba llenar el tanque grande encima del edificio, que
proveía agua para todos en el edificio. Con eso se terminó el primer año escolar.
Durante los meses de verano viajábamos haciendo trabajo evangélico. Alejandro se vino con
nosotros, pues no tenía hogar. Ni siquiera tenía apoyo financiero. Su anciana abuela se había
mudado a la casa de otra familia cristiana en el pueblo en donde la habíamos conocido.
Recuerdo achicando la ropa que había pertenecido a mi esposo. Achiqué unas camisas, unos
pantalones y un abrigo y se los regale a Alejandro con unas corbatas viejas.
Alejandro siempre estaba listo y dispuesto a trabajar. Nunca se quejaba de cuan duro era el
trabajo o de cuánto tiempo le tomaba para completarlo.
Ahorramos suficiente dinero para comprarle una abrazadera para sus hombros. El misionero le
invitaba a salir al patio del instituto y con mucha paciencia le enseñaba las reglas básicas de
respirar correctamente, las cuales no había sabido. “Alejandro, Dios te ha llamado a predicar. No
tienes que morir de tuberculosis como tu madre. Pero tendrás que hacer algo por ello. Ahora
¡ponga tus hombros para atrás y mete tu pecho hacia fuera y respira profundamente!”. Al
principio se quejaba de estar mareado. Pero poco a poco empezó a respirar más profundamente y
tranquilamente. Nos dimos cuenta que, por los ejercicios respiratorios, sus hombros se habían
Cuando las clases se reanudaron en otoño, le di a Alejandro los mismos tipos de trabajos de
nuevo. Me importaba mantener todo funcionando sin problemas más que poner a prueba la
paciencia de los estudiantes.
Una mañana, casi al fin del segundo año, Alejandro no bajó para comer el desayuno argentino
de café y pan. En cambio, mandó llamar al director. Toda la noche había dado vueltas en su
cama. “Estoy enfermo; no en mi cuerpo, sino en mi alma. Dios me llamó a predicar; de eso estoy
seguro. Pero estoy deprimido e inclinado a ser melancólico. Sé que no soy nadie, pues no tengo
madre, ni padre, ni hogar, ni educación. Ni siquiera tengo un apellido. Gracias a usted y a la
abrazadera estoy más fuerte físicamente. Pero, he escuchado sus enseñanzas por casi dos años y
nos has dicho que Dios puede transformar a una persona, si está dispuesta y viene a Él; puede
cambiar su personalidad, quitar las fallas y el vacio que tiene por dentro y puede de ellos crear
algo de valor. Si eso lo puede hacer Dios para mi ¡quiero que lo haga”! El misionero le
respondió, “Si, Alejandro, Dios puede hacer algo maravilloso de ti; te puede cambiar a un vaso
Alejandro se levantó con prisa y se arrodilló para orar. ¡Se entregó a Dios y clamó con toda
sinceridad para la plenitud del Espíritu Santo! Esa mañana algo maravilloso sucedió en esa
habitación en el Instituto Bíblico. Un Jacob se había encontrado con el ángel del Señor. Un Pablo
había viajado por el camino a Damasco y se había encontrado con el Cristo de Dios. Un Pedro
había sido cambiado por Pentecostés.
No había más problemas con los muchachos en la cocina. Alejandro no era un santo, que
digamos, ni tenía alas de ángeles, pero Alejandro definitivamente se había encontrado con Dios y
todos lo sabían. No había incerteza ni vaguedad de lo que había pasado en la vida de Alejandro.
Su testimonio era simple, seguro y autentico. Su comportamiento dio evidencia de una
Alejandro era muy joven para graduarse; solamente tenía dieciocho años. También necesitaba
más experiencia. Se consideraba mejor sacarle del instituto por dos años para darle más
experiencia. Puan―un pueblo en la Pampa―fue elegido para ser el primer lugar en donde
empezaría su ministerio. No había iglesia en ese pueblo. Dentro de poco se hizo amigo de chicos
de doce, trece y catorce años y los ganó para Cristo uno por uno. Muchas veces Alejandro
decía―refiriéndose a sus primeras experiencias―que pasaba más tiempo arrodillado ante Dios
que en cualquier otro ministerio.
Cuando miramos el Distrito Argentino hoy día, vemos muchos quienes fueron ganados para
Cristo siendo muchachitos. Uno de ellos es un hombre muy exitoso de negocios y, a la vez, es
tesorero del campo misionero entero de la Alianza en Argentina. Él hace esto sin cobrar nada.
Alejandro después regresó al instituto para completar su tercer y último año. Tenía veintiuno
cuando se graduó. El día después de graduarse, se caso con María Lateana, hija de una devota
familia cristiana en la cuidad de Azul y estudiante del instituto.
Aunque Alejandro empezó a pastorear y era exitoso, se sentía indudablemente la llamada a
viajar como evangelista. La llamada fue confirmada cuando multitudes de personas fueron salvas
bajo su ministerio evangelistero, y se notaba que Dios le había dado el don de evangelismo.
Alejandro quería una Biblia grande para poder llevarla consigo cuando se iría de nosotros. Se la
conseguimos. Y quería una cosa más: una carpa para reuniones. La quería especialmente para los
lugares en donde no se había predicado el evangelio antes. La carpa fue comprada con fondos
mandados del Grupo Misionero de Oración de Mujeres de la Alianza Cristiana y Misionera en
Mi esposo y yo muchas veces acompañábamos a Alejandro a algún pueblo para cultos en la
carpa para reuniones. Alquilábamos una alcoba chiquita y colgábamos una cortina en la mitad de
ella para crear dos alcobas. En un lado poníamos una cocina temporal. Siempre llevábamos unas
ollas y platos con nosotros. Alejandro siempre clavaba un clavo en la pared rustica detrás de su
catre y siempre colgaba ahí su “mejor chaqueta, mejor camisa y mejor corbata”―todas fueron
prendas usadas. Se levantaba antes del sol abrazador para sacar las malas hierbas del terreno en
donde iba a estar la carpa de reuniones y después la armaba.
Después de regresar para tomar un café y comer un pedazo de pan, él se vestía y se salía con su
Biblia y tratados en mano y la sonrisa grande que Dios le había dado para conocer a la gente del
pueblo. Siempre daba la misma cordial invitación en las esquinas de la calle, en los pequeños
negocios, en casas, en plazas de mercado y en edificios públicos: “Vengan al culto en la carpa de
reuniones esta noche. Allí oirán las mejores noticias jamás oídas. Si tan solo las reciban como
algo personal, ellas alegrarán sus corazones y les traerán paz, perdón, gozo y salvación eternal.
Cuando escuchen la música, estaremos empezando el culto.” Antes que se acabara el día, habría
recorrido todo el pueblo a pie.
Para anunciar los cultos habíamos comprado unos discos―los únicos disponibles en esa época
en Argentina. Uno de ellos―uno de los preferidos―tocaba la canción “Las barras y estrellas
para siempre.”. Era hermosa. La gente no sabía que fue una de nuestras canciones patrióticas
favoritas. Incluso ahora, cuando escucho esa canción, puedo ver a centenares de personas
caminar hacía la carpa para el culto.
Llegaban por centenares hasta que la carpa estaba completamente llena de gente parada. Había
gente de la parte delantera hasta la calle. Eran gente de toda condición. Pero todos tenían algo en
común: anhelaban a Dios. Y cuando Alejandro empezó a contarles de las maravillas de la gracia
salvadora de Jesucristo, Lo anhelaban más aun. “¿Que es el Evangelio de nuestro Señor y
Salvador, Jesucristo?” fue siempre su primera predicación a los quienes nunca habían oído el
evangelio. La revelación era impresionante y no se puede describir cuan emocionante era ver al
Espíritu Santo bajar sobre este siervo humilde de Dios. A veces, mientras escuchaba, pensé que
mi corazón se me iba a reventar de pleno gozo. Tan reveladoras eran las maravillas de su gracia.
Las lavanderas estaban sentadas en la parte delantera. Tenían las caras y las manos curtidas y
secas por el trabajo, el sol y el viento. Alejandro les dijo estas palabras suplicantes: “Ustedes
tienen que dedicar su tiempo, desde la salida del sol hasta el atardecer, a fregar ropa en una vieja
tabla de marera. Todo lo que saben de buscar a Dios es buscar a algún ídolo, que ni siquiera tiene
oídos para oír ni ojos para ver. Acepten a mi Cristo. Él perdonará los pecados en sus corazones
afligidos y traerá paz perdurable, gozo inexplicable y salvación real e indisputable a sus vidas.
Entonces ¡ustedes experimentarán la presencia del Cristo viviente mientras frieguen y, mientras
piensen en Èl, verán la gloria de Dios saliendo de la espuma de jabón!”. Inconscientes de las
lágrimas que escurrían por sus caras curtidas y con las manos levantadas, abrieron sus corazones
para dejar entrar allí al Cristo viviente. Y las caras de los hombres parados en el fondo de la
carpa y vestidos de la indumentaria gaucha―botas, bombachas y cinturones de cuero con sus
“falcones”―hacían notar que pensaban que la religión era solamente para las mujeres, y ¡no para
los hombres fuertes de las Pampas!
A ellos llegaban estas penetrantes palabras habladas con cariño: “Quizás ustedes creen que la
religión es para mujeres y niños porque siempre lo han visto ser así. Tal vez han sido
desilusionados por la única religión que jamás hayan conocido. Acepten a mi Cristo. Esas
tinieblas, que les atan con el temor de vivir y con el temor de morir, se irán cuando se vayan las
sombras y cuando la luz del evangelio entre a sus corazones. Porque Jesús no es una religión: es
una Persona y Él es la Luz que disperse toda oscuridad en el corazón humano.”. Así que muchos
de los fuertes y robustos hombres de la Pampa han llegado a conocer a Jesucristo como su
En nuestro país el mes de junio es relacionado con un clima bonito y cálido y flores bellas. Para
las personas que viven debajo del ecuador, es un mes frio y oscuro en el invierno. Si aparece el
sol, solamente aparece por unas breves horas, y se va. La leña y el carbón son escasos en
Argentina, entonces la gente se arropa mucho. Cuando hay cultos especiales en las iglesias y
capillas, solamente los que están sumamente interesados asistan.
“Sin embargo”, nuestro evangelista, hermano Fanderwud, nos escribe desde las frías y ventosas
llanuras lejanas: “capillas y salas están llenas noche tras noche con corazones hambrientos:
algunos buscando la salvación y otros buscando más de Dios. Se ha podido ministrar en más
hogares. Dios está salvando a niños, jóvenes y adultos. ¡El tiempo ha llegado!”. Eso escribió
hace unos días, mientras viajaba por la Pampa con el mensaje de Cristo. ¿Quién puede cerrar los
labios tocados por el fuego de Dios o callar una voz tan sintonizada a Su amor?
El Evangelio fue llevado a la plaza de la ciudad el domingo por la tarde. Hermano Fanderwud
elevó el Cristo viviente como nunca en una predicación estupenda. Personas llegaron de todas las
calles adyacentes para escucharle. Hay un hotel grande que tiene vistas a la plaza. Un sacerdote
estaba parado en el balcón del segundo piso con la ventana bien abierta. Había venido de un
pueblo cercano en donde había tenido conversaciones con uno de los pastores argentinos sobre
su deseo de conocer a Cristo como su Salvador personal.
Inmediatamente después de la reunión, Fanderwud anunció, “Ahora regresaremos a la Iglesia
Evangélica.”. La multitud marchó por la calle. Los cristianos cantaron “Firmes y adelantes,
huestes de la fe.” a, sin exagerar, centenares de personas, quienes nunca habían escuchado canto
cristiano. La sala, la entrada y la vereda estaban llenas de gente. Lo mejor de todo era que
personas encontraron a Cristo. Entre ellas habían dos muchachos de la Acción Católica, quienes
habían sido mandados ahí para ser “espías” (eso confesaron), pero en vez de eso ¡encontraron a
Cristo! Esto era un día normal en el ministerio de este hombre de Dios.
Este Pablo de los tiempos modernos predicó el evangelio en carpas, teatros, hogares, iglesias,
esquinas de las calles, en plazas públicas, debajo del sol abrazador de la Pampa y en las frías
lluvias del invierno. Predicó por treinta y dos años sin tomarse unas vacaciones. Cuando visitaba
a otro pastor―con la idea de relajarse unos días en otro pueblo―convertía el tiempo de descanso
a un tiempo de predicar antes de haber estado ahí por veinticuatro horas. “Vivo para predicar”
era lo que se le escuchaba decir, mientras que literalmente se quemaba la vida para Dios.
La gente al otro lado de los Andes en las republicas cercanas―Chile, Perú y
Ecuador―escucharon de Alejandro y su mensaje extraordinario. Mandaron decir que viniera. Él
Cuando fue invitado a ministrar en la costa occidental, se vino hasta la ciudad de Buenos Aires.
Él vivía en el interior. Una mañana llego al Instituto Bíblico. Su traje era muy gastado, pero bien
Con criar a tres niños robustos y con viajes continuos a reuniones con una mesada tan pequeña,
no era extraño que su traje pareciera inadecuado para la ocasión. También, porque él fue el
presidente de la obra―lo había sido por quince años― y evangelista del distrito, tenía que viajar
y ministrar más. Ningún otro nombre fue propuesto y ningún voto fue emitido contra él mientras
Teníamos un poco de dinero disponible, que no había sido designado para algo específico. Mi
esposo y yo fuimos con Alejandro al centro comercial para comprarle un saco y algunos
pantalones. Al principio no quiso venir con nosotros y dio la escusa: “El traje que tengo no
parece tan mal.”. Lo persuadimos venir con nosotros. Había una rebaja en una de las tiendas
principales que vendía ropa para hombros. Fuimos ahí.
En la entrada de la tienda había una muestra de un saco barato con los pantalones que costaba
diez dólares. Pero nos fijamos un traje de mejor calidad. El que miramos valía unos veinte
dólares. Alejandro se había quedado en la entrada para admirar el traje de menos cualidad.
Cuando le mencionamos que habíamos encontrado una buena compra, refiriéndonos al traje de
más calidad, él respondió, “Yo vi uno que valía mucho menos. Es suficientemente bueno.”. No
decidimos comprar ni el más caro ni el más barato. Encontramos un término medio por comprar
uno que valía dieciocho dólares por el traje completo. Luego lo acompañamos al aeropuerto.
Empezó su tour en Chile. Predicó en todo el país: en las iglesias, en la radio, en las calles y en
las plazas. Fue a Perú, donde ministró de una manera extraordinaria. Después fue a Ecuador.
Hombres y mujeres encontraron a Cristo como su Salvador, como su Santificador y como su
Sanador para sus cuerpos enfermos.
Hace poco en una campaña aquí en Los Estados Unidos, un misionero a Ecuador se me acerco
y quiso apretar mi mano, justo cuando yo iba a subir a la plataforma. “Quiero apretar tu mano.
Tú vienes de la tierra de Alejandro”. Miró a su hijo de doce años y dijo, “Mi hijo estaba muy
enfermo. Una noche se estaba muriendo en las montañas de Ecuador, cuando llegó Alejandro.
Cuando entró el cuarto en donde se moría mi hijo, se arrodilló al lado de la cama y, poniendo las
manos sobre mi hijo, oró por él. Mi hijo fue sanado. Entonces déjame apretar tu mano de nuevo.
Tú vienes de la tierra de Alejandro. ¡Que hombre de Dios!”.
Subí a la plataforma con sus palabras resonando en mi cabeza. La vieja visión se me presento
de nuevo, ¡“La tierra de Alejandro”! ¡Todavía hay Alejandros viviendo en sombras de pecado y
en una noche eterna, porque los obreros son pocos! Estaba en el tabernáculo del campamento.
Miré hacía el lago y todo lo que pude ver, a través de mis lagrimas, fue “la tierra de Alejandro”.
Hay muchos campos blancos para la siega sin nadie para trabajarlos.
Alejandro regresó a casa de la costa oeste un domingo por la noche y llegó justo a tiempo para
hablar por el sistema PA a la gente del pueblo en donde nació. Predicó durante las últimas
actividades de la campaña para niños y niñas, que en ese tiempo se llevaba a cabo en la plaza
pública del pueblo. No había nada en su apariencia ni en su forma de ser que indicaba que esa iba
a ser su última predicación a la gente de su pueblo natal.
Una noche, poco después, llego el llamado “Venga a casa”. “Alejandro está con el Señor.”.
Fuimos a Saladillo, en donde había vivido Alejandro desde llegar a ser el Presidente del Distrito
y el Evangelista del Distrito y en donde había llegado a nosotros como huérfano, cuando tuvo
catorce años. Era muy temprano. El tren de Buenos Aires llegaba ahí del norte. El tren del sur
extremo también llegaba ahí. Se encontraban en Saladillo. Muchas personas se bajaron de ambos
trenes. Notamos que muchas personas iban por la misma calle―algunas en camiones, algunas en
carros, algunas a caballo, algunas a pie, algunas caminando y algunas corriendo. Nosotros
también íbamos por esa calle. Mientras llegábamos a la casa (casi parecía un granero) ―hogar de
Alejandro y su familia―, hombres y mujeres sacaban sus pañuelos para secarse las lagrimas que
escurrían por sus mejillas. Susurraban casi al unísono mientras entraban a la casa uno por uno:
“Quiero ver a Alejandro. Escuche el evangelio por primera vez cuando predicó en mi pueblo
natal. ¡Nunca lo olvidaré! ¡Cuán grande es el Cristo de Alejandro!”. Muchos de ellos tenían el
mismo testimonio: “Yo acepte a Cristo cuando escuche el mensaje por primera vez, cuando
predicó Alejandro. Quiero vez su rostro de nuevo.”. Estaban parados ahí: hombres, mujeres,
niños y niñas. Fue una multitud de personas. Los cuartos y pasillos, las ventanas y puertas, el
patio y la calle estaban llenos de gente. Sin embargo, fueron solamente algunos de los muchos en
el continente de Sur América quienes, por sus predicaciones y su vida, habían encontrado al
Si todos los que habían sido salvos por su ministerio hubieran podido estar presentes,
probablemente habrían sido tantos como la populación entera de ese pueblo. Había ministrado en
muchos lugares, incluyendo unas iglesias evangélicas y varios países del hemisferio sur.
La gente llevó el ataúd a mano desde la casa de los Fanderwud hasta la iglesia, porque preferían
llevarlo así, en vez de dejarlo ser transportado por carro. Los floristas eran incapaces de cumplir
el demande de flores, porque muchos querían coronas de flores. Un funeral se llevó a cabo en su
casa y uno, en la iglesia. Las personas, quienes estaban en los funerales, fueron profundamente
conmovidas mientras escuchaban a algunos de los seres queridos de Fanderwud hablar con el
corazón de la vida de él. Varios jóvenes consagraron sus vidas al servicio del Señor y dos otras
personas fueron salvas mientras escuchaban los testimonios de hombres y mujeres, quienes
habían sido ganados para Cristo por Fanderwud. “¡Quiero este mismo Cristo que este hombre,
Alejandro, tuvo!”, les escuchamos decir mientras confesaban públicamente a Cristo. Con la
mano puesta en el hombre de su mamá, su hijo mayor dijo: “Madre, ¡papi aún predica!”.
La impresión que recibí ese día, mientras nos parábamos en esa sala grande y vacía, en donde
estaba este hombre de Dios, siempre quedará conmigo. El ataúd fue una caja simple de pino. No
era elegante. Solamente había estopilla para el revestimiento de su ataúd. (Pompas fúnebres e
entierros en Argentina todavía se hacen en una manera muy primitiva.) No embalsaman ni
maquillan a los muertos. Las tumbas no son muy profundas. La familia tira el primer puñado de
tierra sobre el ataúd mientras que es bajado a la tumba. Hace poco, solamente los hombres iban
al cementerio cuando habían entierros. Las mujeres se quedaban en casa tras puertas cerradas.
Todavía es así en muchos lugares. Los cristianos fueron los primeros para dejar esta tradición.
En mi tristeza, mire hacia abajo. El piso árido me dio una bofetada. No había alfombra para
cubrir los tablones anchos de madera áspera; ni siquiera un tapete. No había alfombra de
bienvenida en la entrada. A mano izquierda estaba el comedor. Las puertas estaban abiertas para
hacer lugar para las personas. Vi una mesa barata en medio de media docena de sillas―tan
baratas como era la mesa. No había nevera ni muebles modernos. A mano derecha estaba la
alcoba en donde había estado Alejandro cuando se fue para estar con el Señor unas horas antes.
La cama era barata también. Ahí también estaba un armario. La esposa de él, María, entró al
cuarto y abrió el armario para sacar su vestido negro. Adentro colgaba el saco que le habíamos
comprado un año antes. A donde iban los codos, se sobresalía. Eso me mostro que, de verdad, el
Me olvidé de la gente. Parecía que estaba cara a cara con la vida y sus valores permanentes y
con la muerte―algo muy seguro. Nunca había conocido a alguien tan pobre y tan humilde―sin
madre, sin padre, sin hogar, sin salud y educación y sin ni siquiera un nombre. Siempre vivía en
una casa arrendada. Nunca poseo una cama cómoda para dormir en ella ni una silla decente para
descansar en ella. Ni siquiera tenía una nevera para poder tener agua fría. No vivía con
comodidades ni conveniencias. Hasta el último traje que llevó le fue regalado. El dueño de la
funeraria le dijo a la esposa de Alejandro: “¿Cómo puedo yo cobrar por un hombre así?”. ¡Fue
enterrado a precio de costo! Sin embargo, nunca había conocido a alguien tan rico. Por su vida y
mensaje, multitudes de personas han sido sacadas de las sombras a la luz de Dios.
Porque, de verdad, Dios había tomado a este chico―solo, triste, pobre, vacio, y huérfano―para
salvarle, llenarle de Su Espíritu, darle un nombre y un mensaje y usarle para bendecir a un
continente entero. Lo tomó para llevar centenares de personas a Cristo. ¡Cuán grande es el Cristo
de Alejandro! Cristo llenó su mente y su corazón; llenó hasta su vida y todo su ser. Me acordaba
de lo que decía Alejandro―“Vivo para predicar el evangelio.”―mientras pensaba en el milagro
que pasó cuando este huérfano se convirtió a un príncipe de Dios.
Las iglesias en Argentina y en todo Sur América sienten profundamente la ausencia de este
humilde y consagrado ministro de la cruz. Su ejemplo y su ministerio han hecho mucho para
asegurar que otros hombres llenos del Espíritu Santo llenen este hueco y, por sus servicios,
traigan gloria a Él, quién Alejandro amaba supremamente. El mismo día que lo enterramos llegó
una carta de Perú con esta invitación urgente: “Regresa a nosotros, Alejandro; Perú te necesita.
¡Perú necesita el evangelio que predicas!”. Doblé la carta y tragué mis lágrimas. Sin embargo,
estábamos seguros que “Dios hace todo bien” y que otros seguirían los pasos de esta vida dada
Si fueras a visitar el cementerio solitario en el pueblo de Saladillo, encontrarías―al sur extremo
del cementerio―una lápida hermosa de piedra rosada con esta inscripción: “La visión de un
poderoso y glorioso Cristo fue el mensaje vivaz de Alejandro Fanderwud y la predicación de ese
mensaje, la pasión de su vida.”. Y una Biblia abierta―hecha de bronce―adorna su lapida con su
pasaje favorito de Pascua: “Porque yo vivo, vosotros también viviréis.”; del cual, predicó su
última predicación de Pascua por radio en Chile.
Seis meses después, ésta misma predicación fue traída a Argentina para la convención anual,
que se celebra en Buenos Aires. La predicación fue dada a petición al fin de la convención―el
domingo por la tarde. Esa voz tan reconocida temblaba bajo la unción del Espíritu de Dios.
Llorando y sollozando, montones de las seiscientas o más personas presentes se dirigieron con
prisa al altar; entre ellos, el hijo menor de Fanderwud. Testificó entre sollozos: “El manto de mi
padre cayó sobre mí, mientras escuchaba su voz desde el cielo”. En total, más que cien personas
buscaron al Señor, después de esa predicación. El secreto de una vida tan bien gastada se
encuentra en las palabras del Apóstol Pablo: “Con Cristo estoy juntamente crucificado, y ya no
vivo yo, mas vive Cristo en mi; y lo que ahora vivo en la carne, lo vivo en la fe del Hijo de Dios,
el cual me amó y se entregó a sí mismo por mí.”. El amor de Cristo moró en su corazón y vida; el
Espíritu de Cristo adornó su caminar diario y el poder de Cristo lo usó para bendecir todo un
continente.
El Clamor Misionero
El ser un mensajero de la cruz
A costas extrañas y no conocidas,
Parecería a muchos una pérdida total
De talento, tiempo y ganancia.
Porque muchos son los años dados
Y olvidados por el mundo,
Al traer joyas preciosas a Él quien mandó
Que se desplegara Su bandera.
No dio años solamente, sino que también dio su vida,
Para salvar a ti, a mí y a todos
De muerte y de la eterna tumba de pecado:
¿Quién responderá a la llamada?
A ser uno de los que van
Para impartir el mensaje de Dios
A todas las tierras y costas;
Para que todos sepan del Buen Camino.
-V .F .B.
-traducido por Kimberly Dickinson de un libro antiguo de unos misioneros a Argentina de la Iglesia Alianza Cristiana
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