We greet you in the wonderful name of our Lord Jesus! This issue continues with the next part of Examine Yourselves, part 9, in which we begin to answer the question, “How do we know we have received God’s Spirit?” I hope you will pray with me that the Lord will continue to open up this subject in such a way as to assure every true child of God who may be bombarded with doubts from the devil and also to awaken some who may have a false hope--while there is time.
And there is a time element involved. The door of salvation will not always be open. There is a curtain of darkness that is rapidly falling over the hearts and minds of men. Before it is over I am convinced that the whole human race will be divided into two fixed camps: those who are saved and awaiting Christ’s return and those who are reprobate and without hope--and totally unaware of impending doom.
On an individual level as well men are exhorted to walk while they have the light before darkness overtakes them. John 12:35. When the gospel comes calling there is a window of opportunity for men to be saved. But there is also a point when God’s Spirit ceases to strive.
Jesus said his coming would be like the days of Noah. In Noah’s day judgment loomed over the human race. There was a final period of grace--120 years--during which men either responded to God’s message preached by Noah or else they perished suddenly and without warning when the flood came. When Christ comes it will mean salvation for some and judgment for the rest. There will be no second chance. Few are preaching this but it is God’s word. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, 2 Thessalonians 1:5-10.
We had a wonderful Thanksgiving meeting marked by an unusual presence and working of God in our midst for which we thank and praise Him. I hope you will read Ben Johnson’s article summarizing the meetings.
Our love and prayers continue to be with our many friends around the world. We daily hold you up to the throne of grace and believe that He will continue the work He has begun in you until the day of Jesus Christ. Phil. 1:6.
And now, until the next issue may God richly bless you...
November Meeting Report
by Ben Johnson
This year's November meeting was blessed and overshadowed by God in a wonderful way. There was one clear, overriding burden that was expressed during the course of the meeting and this theme was ministered on in each service in one form or another. This burden, one that I believe was the burden of God Himself, was for people who need salvation and don't have it, particularly for people who think for one reason or another that they have been saved and made acceptable before a holy God, yet have stopped short of true surrender and saving faith. Like the man in Matthew 7:26 they have built a house, no doubt one that looked beautiful and sturdy to most observers, but have built it on the sand, not on the rock. When the storm comes to a house like this, it will not stand the test. Thank God for his great love that would reach down to people in such a condition and open their eyes and show them their need of Him!
Wednesday Night
Jim Easterly began this service by pointing out that it is God's mercy and love that brings about things in our lives that cause us to feel our need of Him and that He responds to the genuine cry of a needy heart. Ron Peters then expressed some thoughts that were central to the entire meeting speaking on the gravity and urgency of the need to come to Christ and the necessity of God's convicting power to cause people to feel that need. He also expressed the concern that there may be people there, though they may have been there for years, that had never really come to complete surrender and salvation.
Chip King urged people to be honest before God as they considered these things and examined their own lives. Phil Enlow ended the service, expressing the need for God to convict hearts and pointing out that nothing else can adequately prepare people for salvation. We can't just "explain" people into the kingdom of Heaven. He posed the question "What does the cross mean to you?", pointing out that this is a good indicator of where we stand before God. If we can't see God's great love in what His Son did there for us, and we can't understand the concept of embracing death to self that we might have His life, then there is something critical missing in our lives. I believe God used these words to begin to work conviction and a greater hunger for Him in many hearts.
Thursday Night
After a brief ordination service, where Keith Green was ordained as an elder and Horace Johnson was ordained as a deacon, Jimmy Robbins gave a brief testimony of his experience of being drawn to God and said that we cannot save ourselves, that God alone must draw people and prepare their hearts for the gospel. Robert Dyer and Jim Easterly both expressed the thought that there is no virtue in simply being a church member, even a "faithful" church member, and that this is no substitute for true salvation.
Jim also talked about how when people begin to be convicted and feel their need of God there is a tendency to try to make some halfway response that stops short of us giving up our lives but helps to insulate us against that uncomfortable feeling of conviction. However, nothing short of complete surrender to God is sufficient. Several other brethren spoke and through them God reached out to show us that we were born in sin and can never approach God except through what Christ has done. He also continued to challenge people to examine their lives to see who truly is the God of their life – Him or themselves.
Friday Night
At the beginning of the service Jimmy Robbins introduced brother Roberto Abrina. Brother Abrina was visiting us from the Philippines where he runs a TV station. He has been broadcasting Christian programming, including the Midnight Cry broadcast, there for several years and is a man who has a genuine burden to share God's word with people.
Brother Abina spoke about the need to simply surrender what little we have and embrace the cross and that God will accept us and provide all that we need. He also made the comment that God can only use us to the degree that we are dead to ourselves.
Phil Enlow spoke next and God truly anointed him to express His divine burden. He expressed the thought that God was there to reach out to any who were lost whether they had been in church all their lives or had never been. He urged the people to pray for those that God was dealing with because no amount of eloquence or emotion could bring the needed conviction – only God could draw.
He ministered on the parable of the sower from Matthew 13:3-23 and talked about the different reactions that people have to the word of God. He especially cautioned people that in three of the four types of soil mentioned, there was a response of some kind to the word, but only one ever bore any fruit.
As he ministered, God began moving on hearts in a mighty way. While Phil was still speaking and without any invitation being given, people from all over the church that God was convicting and dealing with began to come to the front and cry out to God for salvation. God had so prepared their hearts that they couldn't wait another second but had to get to Jesus! I believe God brought many people to the point of complete surrender where they were ready to lay down their lives that they might have His eternal life.
Saturday Night
After the church prayed together for brother Roberto Abrina, asking that God would lead him in his work in the Philippines, Robert Dyer and Jim Johnson expressed an appreciation for what God was doing in His body and a desire to exalt Christ and lift up his standard before the people of the world. Brother Abrina expressed how wonderful it is to know Christ and what a faithful friend he is especially in the trials in our lives. His desire was that everyone would know the peace and joy that comes from surrendering to Christ. After this, God again began to draw some to the altar without any invitation being given.
Chip King quoted the scripture from Revelation 3:20 where the Lord said "Behold I stand at the door and knock". He implored people to open the door of their hearts and let Christ come in and take control. As we began to sing, God drew several more to Himself who were ready to give their lives to Him, not 95% or 99% but completely.
Praise God that even in this late hour, He is faithfully compelling His people to come in that His house might be full (Luke 14:23). Coming out of this meeting I feel truly challenged to give more of myself to God so that I might have more of Him and be more useful in His service. What else is there to live for that has any meaning beyond this brief life? All praise, glory and honor to God our Father and to His Son Jesus Christ!
