Have you ever wanted something . . . have you ever set your sights on getting that something . . . have you fervently prayed for something . . . today . . . the something I have wanted, the something I have been praying for . . . was granted . . . by God!
Over a year ago I met a man . . . respected in the community . . . a man of strength and a man successful in his business . . . a man whose family is a reflection of his dignity.
This is a good man. I had been watching him for several months and I grew to respect him myself. When the opportunity was provided for us to meet . . . within minutes one could sense his commanding presence . . . I thought . . . this man could be a great man of God. So I asked . . . what he thought about God . . . he said, “I believe”. I asked him how he worshiped God . . . he said, “I do not go to church” . . . I asked why?
He said, why go to a place where most of these people drink with me on Saturday and then go on Sunday to church. Why, when many of these people lie, cheat, steal, and commit all manner of sin every day, yet faithfully go to a church on Sunday . . . Why?
I told him . . . it is most unfortunate the countless people . . . who worship in vain: Deceived by the lies of Satan and Ignorant of the truth of Jesus . . . yet, will set in a church every Sunday . . . and not know God . . . this is Satan’s greatest work . . . false religion and worship that is in vain . . . Satan does not want us to acknowledge . . . truth!
For one year . . . I have been asking Stanley to come to the bible studies. Yet, he had never come . . . he is a busy man . . . aren’t we all!. Finally, I realized . . . I must go to him . . . so for several months . . . I have been trying to see him at his village, but each time . . . he was in his fields, in town on business . . . working. Then he came to me and asked why I had been coming to his village . . . I said, “God is calling you Stanley . . . and I am the one God is sending for you to hear His message of truth . . . Jesus. I will come to teach you at your village . . . at your home." He agreed!
We started four weeks ago . . . we opened the bible . . . God’s Word . . . the same Word that created all things. We learned about God and His kingdom. We learned about how God created us . . . in His image. We learned about Satan, sin, and the separation between God and man . . . when we choose to sin. We learned of God’s greatest work to bring sinful man back to Himself . . . by His power . . . His grace . . . through His Son!
We learned about this Jesus . . . the Son of the Living God and how He came to save us from our sin. We learned about the “Greatest Event . . . of all eternity . . . the Gospel”.
Today . . . the greatest miracle of God . . .“baptism” . . . where our sins are washed by the blood of Jesus and by the power of God a child of God is born. This is God’s “Holy Place” . . . in the water . . . through faith . . . to those who believe!
Stanley Lombanya . . . is now my brother and fellow servant . . . in the Kingdom of God.
Let us all celebrate . . . what was lost . . . is now found . . . Amen!
Bart
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