Sabbath, January 23, 2016, God helped me preach with more power than I have ever been able to do before!! As usual, on Friday, the devil was pressing in to harass, disturb, and demean as much as possible. The entire week had been so packed full of travel, worship talks, and patient care that I really needed time on Friday alone with God. I did not get it, but the Lord woke me up at 3a.m. and filled my mind with thoughts. They came so quick I had to fumble around for pen and paper. The title: “Baptism into the the SDA church.”
This sermon took all the strength that I had to deliver. I was nervous because it meant so much. I had pleaded with the Lord for the people since 3 a.m. I felt as if the salvation of many people depended upon this one sermon. The trumpet must be sounded with a certain tone.
“Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and show My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins.” “For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?” Isaiah 58:1 and 1Corinthians 14:8. It is my job. If I don’t do it – nobody will. It is my God-given responsibility.
I had just read this quote from 4Testimonies 393: “Some may be listening to the last sermon they will ever hear, and some will never again be so situated that they can have the chain of truth brought before them and a practical application made of it to their hearts. That golden opportunity lost is lost forever.”
It seemed the Lord spoke through me with great force and plain, open, honest, truth on this Sabbath day. After all the facts about baptism were presented, here is a small clip:
“I will speak plainly and tell you the truth now. Please listen carefully and don’t miss it because I love you and pray earnestly for you. You are family to me. I have left my own family to be here with you these past 6 years, so you know I love you and I really care. Please understand – this is important. You cannot get baptized and be a true member of the SDA church if you continue to chew beetle nut, smoke, drink alcohol, use opium, or eat unclean meat. None of these things will be in heaven, and neither will you if you continue to use them. Your names may be on the church books here on earth, but they will be erase out of the books in heaven. God is all that matters. I am pleading with you. God is pleading with you even more. Ezekiel 33:11 “As I live, saith the Lord God, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?”
I wish I could tell you that all the people turned from these evil habits right away after they left the church that day and found God to be their strength. But the story does not end here. Let’s keep praying for them because God is working! Already, because of that sermon, 2 people have come to us saying they really want to join our church and be baptized! We will convert the Wednesday evening prayer meeting time into a baptisimal class for all who wish to attend! We pray many will hunger and thirst after righteousness in our mountains!!
The pastor could not come last week to baptize DuPe and family, but he says he will come this Sabbath, January 30. We had our usual Bible study with them Monday evening. Oh how happy they are! We asked them 13 of the fundamental beliefs of the Bible and they understand, believe, and do all of them. This is a direct miracle of God, after 5 1/2 years of working with them!!! BeeHtu, a 45 year old man has also attended many of these Bible studies. He told us that he too believes in all that we have taught. He has already stopped drinking, smoking, opium and beetle nut!! He wants to join our church! BeKee, DuPe’s wife, said that she loved the Sabbath sermon. It was the best. It was really good for the people! Praise the Lord.
Oh, blessed fruit for our labor, How blessed are these experiences amidst the hardships and darkness that surround us!!
So whoever you are dear reader, be patient with the people all around you. Keep up your missionary efforts right there where you are. Pray earnestly for the people. Never give up. Those that slip back into bad ways are not hopeless. Your sermon, witness or words to them could be the last they will ever hear. Don’t loose your golden opportunity forever. Give the trumpet a certain sound while there is yet time. Let’s have no regrets when we stand before the Lord of Lords and King of Kings in that great day.