Real Needs

Doug already posted today but  I wanted to post today too. The Spirit went through today’s village like a whirlwind. I want to praise God for the work He is doing there. I wish I could remember the name of the village, but I want you to know that your prayers came to life today, God answered in mighty ways.

I believe we were able to cover every house in today’s village that would have us. I was able to pray with some Christians there. There was a woman who clearly loves the Lord and loves her church. She attends with her father who does not truly understand the Gospel. He is contentious and abusive toward her, but she perseveres. Her brothers said that if their father changes then they will follow Christ. Please pray that he would be broken over his sin and repent.

One of the Christian women there took me to a house to talk with a man who had left the church. He was clearly a lukewarm believer because he just stopped attending church for no reason other than laziness. I explained to him that Jesus doesn’t call us to a life of mediocrity, he calls us pick up our cross and follow him. He told me he would return to church and live differently.

For me, the best story of the day was the last house I visited. Before we entered, Sanjay was telling me how he became a Christian when an evangelist came to his village when he was about 12. There were 2 older ladies and 2 young boys about 10 or 12. The boys were goofing around on the porch and the women didn’t seem to interested so I was not expecting them to listen but sometimes God turns the world upside down. After sharing I had finished the cube one of the women explained how she used to go to church but her husband hated Christians. She kept going to church until there was no peace at home because her husband forbid it. I struggled with what to say to her because the situation was obviously serious. I told her that she should abide in the Lord and treat her husband with love and grace that he might be persuaded to follow Christ by her gentle spirit (1 Peter 3). She could not go to church and she could not read but she clearly had a desire to follow Christ and know more so I turned to the boys and asked if they could read to her. One of the boys, Sagar, spoke up and agreed to read to her. Before I knew what was happening, all the focus turned to Sagar. I started to explain that he would have an important responsibility if he was going to read the Word of God to her (I believe she was his mother but that was not clear). He was focused and everything in the room felt different; sober. It was as if God was speaking to me about that boy. God made it clear He had plans for Sagar. I told Sagar that his life was going to be difficult but God would be with him. Sanjay shared his testimony. He became a Christian at their age and was cut off by his family for it, now he has become a mighty man of God. When Sanjay I finished I asked Sagar what he felt. He told me it was hard to breath and his heart was beating heavily. Then his mother said she had not felt this way since she heard the Gospel for the first time. Both Sanjay and I felt the same thing. It was like being baptized. The direction of the Spirit was clear, God wanted this boy. I told him what he felt was the Spirit of God stirring in him… He already knew that. I told him that feeling would leave, but God would never leave him no matter where he went or what was happening to him. I can’t explain the feeling, but God’s direction was clear, suffering will be real for Sagar, but the love of Christ will be more real. I felt afraid for him but joyful at the same time. I believe God will use him to save many but he will know pain that I won’t pretend to understand. I told Sagar that his life would be hard and he would suffer for the name of Jesus. I asked him if he understood, he said yes. Without the Spirit of God, anyone would be running away at this point but everyone around us was in agreement. I’m not sure I have ever prayed more fervently for anyone in all my life. Sanjay marked Ephesians 6:10-20 (the Armor of God) in Sagar’s new Bible and I told him he must be a student of the Bible and read it cover to cover because he will need it. Before we left I introduced Sagar to Reuben, one of the SAS pastors that lived in that village. I asked Reuben to disciple Sagar and told him to watch over Sagar like a brother.

I have never said anything like that to anyone before but I know  that it was the Holy Spirit speaking, not me. Please pray for Sagar and his village. God moved in his life today claimed his soul along with many others in that village. Pray that his family, especially his father, would experience the love of Jesus and be saved. Pray that God would protect Sagar and his mother. I’ve never been used by God in that way. Looking back over the afternoon, it is incredible to see how God was working and directing every person involved.

God gave us a great victory today in India.