What Must I do?
Dr Barbara Jennison
Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I was once was lost but now I’m found, was blind but now I see.
John Newton wrote this beautiful song Amazing Grace. He made his living on the sea. He owned a ship and in his ship he transported slaves from Africa. At one time in his life while on the open seas the ship was caught in a vicious storm. He was sure that all on board would be lost, the ship, his cargo of slaves. Newton was caught in a very hard place and he knew if God didn’t help all would be lost. John had known God at a very tender age. Immediately without any more hesitation he fell to knees crying out to God to have mercy and save them all. God looked down and spared them because of His Amazing Grace.
It took a storm at sea to bring John Newton to his senses. It took crying out to God sobbing, “Save us, save us!”
It’s the cry of Moses coming down from the mountain after being with God and seeing his people sinning begging God to forgive him for his people’s sins. “Oh, this people have sinned yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin….if not blot me out of the book which thou has written.”
It’s the sob of Mother Theresa, “Give me India or I die.”
It’s the cry of John Knox, “Give me Scotland or I did.”
It’s the sob of a parent in the night weeping over a prodigal child asking God to deliver their child from the dreaded disease and plagues.
It’s the cry of Jesus as He sobs and weeps over your nation, over your city and over you!
Paul
Paul was a sinful man until the Lord saved him. With his friend Silas they travelled in Asia proclaiming who Jesus was and all the great miracles of Jesus. While in the city of Troas Paul had a vision of a man in Macedonia pleading with him to come and help us. This vision was very clear to Paul. They boarded a ship and sailed to Philippi and on the Sabbath they departed from the ship and went to the seaside where they met a Godly woman. All she did was pray, pray and pray. They began opening their mouths and telling all the people who had gathered around about Jesus. They told how Jesus died on the cross and how He rose on the 3rd day and that He didn’t have to die at the cross for He
was the Son of God. He chose to do the will of His Father and He had all heaven’s power to stop His death but that He chose to die for your sins and mine.
Deliverance
As they were talking about Jesus the Word of God tells us in Acts 16, 16-18 a slave girl possessed with a demon (spirit of divination) met them. She brought her masters much profit by fortune telling. This girl followed Paul crying out, “These men are the servants of the Most High who are telling you the way to be saved.” She knew there was something better than what these devils were doing to her insides and out. They were always tormenting her but she was drawn to the man of God for many days following them.
Finally she got her deliverance and was set free by the Power of God which fell on her and instantly the demons of witchcraft and divination left. This happened because Paul finally got so annoyed he turned and commanded the demon spirit that was in her saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out” and that very hour it did.
This made the men who had been making lots of money from the demonic women very angry. They had Paul and Silas thrown into the jail and immediately they locked their feet in stocks. This jailer did what he was told to do. This man knew nothing of God nor did he care or want anything to do with Jesus. Now I don’t believe Paul or Silas were pitching a fit or upset about what had just happened to them. Here’s what happened with them. At midnight they started praying and singing hymns to God while everyone in was listening. Suddenly there was a great earthquake so the foundations of the prison was shaken and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed. Interesting when we get our minds off ourselves and start thanking and praising Him things change.
Miracle
A miracle happened here….everyone was free!!! This poor jailer knew he would be blamed and was sure that all the man had run away. Then he drew his sword to kill himself. Paul calls out with a very loud voice, “Don’t harm yourself, we are all here!” The jailer called for a light and ran in and fell down trembling before them and cried out, “What must I do to be saved?” Paul and Silas told him, “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, you and your household.”
Communication from the Philippines
This I share with you which came to our ministry from Mindanao Philippines. It reads as follows:
Please do forgive us for taking so long to reply for I was with a ministry team and have just recently returned home. We were on a 25 day evangelistic meetings in the small northern island of Camiguin. During our bold uncompromising preaching pious religious leaders and cult groups got mad at us. They mocked and stoned us several times. But thanks be to God all the forces of evil did not hinder nor stop us from preaching the precious gospel resulting in 247 religious fanatics and bystanders repenting of their sins and finally giving their hearts to the Jesus.
Ray and Naty’s letter from Mindanao continues. This past year we have also seen thousands of unknown neglected souls gone out to eternity without every hearing of Jesus Christ for no one ever cared to tell them. Our goal and with our sharing so wondrous a salvation to the very last uncared and helpless soul. As long as we have breath in us to speak, as long as we have life still we will continue in the battles to care enough to share the Gospel of Jesus. Our people need to know of that precious Bleeding sacrifice regardless of their condition….their poverty, geography, or religion ought not to leave them out---by virtue of their humanity. That humanity is precious because it reflects the image and likeness of our creator, a creator who loves us irrationally not according to our merits or utility but because He has chosen to love us!
Barbara I think of the woman in our area 3 days ago who came home to find her hut almost overcome by the rushing flood waters. Knowing her 2 children was inside she rushed to save them. A neighbour who tried to restrain her found her dead body yesterday still clutching and embracing the bloated bodies of her little children. Irrational love! She died loving without every hearing of that ultimate irrational love at the cross of Calvary.
Rey continues in his communication. The old farmer struck by a Muslin rebel’s stray bullet who laid for weeks in a coma. We pleaded to God and persisted at his bedside day and night. One day, the famer was awakened by God for a brief time recognized his grieving family and us. We were able to tell him of Jesus and His love and right there he was saved. He then spoke to his wife and children and consoled their tormented hearts and then he passed away with an enviable peace and joy on his face oblivious to the on-going battles between sincere and blinded Muslims with soldiers which had left many orphaned, widowed, even dead without Jesus.
Beloved these little acts of love are motivated and performed by God through frail humans like us to demonstrate in miniature His unsearchable love to us. All around us this year there are signs of this kind of love but unfortunately there are also many signs that tell us we Christians have lost our way….a way of service, sacrifice, and live in behalf of those who desperately need us and the saving Gospel of Jesus Christ in these closing end times.
Oh that Amazing Grace
Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost but not I’m found, was blind but now I see.
Jesus Christ died on the cross for you so that you could be saved. He took your sins, every sin that you have done. Jesus took on Himself everything so you won’t have to spend eternity in hell with satan and the devils. Jesus gave His life on the Cross so that you will be saved.
Jesus is the great Physician. He is Jesus your doctor for salvation, miracles, and healings. When you come to Jesus let Jesus straighten out your life. Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor but the sick and I am not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance.”
All of us are sinners and we must repent of our sins. You must turn from your sin….and tell God you are sorry. “God forgive me, I have sinned….help me to change. Jesus forgive me of my sins. God I have sinned and I’m willing now to change my life and
I accept you Jesus into my heart now and You are living inside my heart. I am going to heaven and live with God because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. I believe you Jesus as my Lord and Saviour.
Romans 8, “Whoever calls upon the name
If you made that commitment today please drop this ministry a line and let us know. We will pray for you!
Barbara
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