Saturday, February 17, 2007
Pastor Randy Foret, his wife Tanya and I were excited about this evening's gathering that they're hosting at their beautiful home in Frisco, TX.
I have known the Foret family since 2000.
I first met Tanya at an Acquire The Fire youth conference in Dallas where I was one of the guest speakers. Thereafter, I was invited to speak at their Sunday church service. And that's when I met the other members of the Foret family...the rest is history. The Lord had started a relationship between the Forets and the Magdangals that grew over the years despite the distance that separated us.
Randy and I bonded like real life brothers. To our surprise we had so much in common as far as our spiritual journeys were concerned.
Since then my family and I have had nothing but great moments of prayer, fellowship and fun with each opportunity that saw us back in Texas with the Forets. Everyone in the Foret family love the Lord and they also love to see others fall in love with God.
It was only a few minutes past seven in the evening when a small crowd of friends have arrived at the residence of the Forets. Brother Randy opened our time of fellowship welcoming everyone...then young Blaise led us into an anointed time of praise and worship...and our singing brought us into the presence of the Lord! The Holy Spirit came down and evening's agenda was set as the Lord had planned.
After a brief introduction by Brother Randy, the Lord led me to read from the Gospel of Luke, 4:14-19. Between exhortations from Scriptures, the Holy Spirit also inspired me to share portions of my persecution experience to remind us of the great price that the Lord Jesus paid for us to be set free from the effects of sin and death. Father God has always had nothing in His mind but our utmost good and well being..."God so loved the world that He gave His one and only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." JOHN 3:16.
It was as clear as crystal that the Lord wanted to remind us of the Great Commission's three-fold mandate:
1) Preach the Good News: Mark 16:15-18, Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:20
2) Heal the sick: Matthew 10:1,8, Luke 10:19, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:12-14, Mark 11:22-24, Mark 16:20
3) Cast out demons: Matthew 10:1,8, Luke 10:19, Matthew 28:18-20, John 14:12-14, Mark 11:22-24, Mark 16:20
I strongly believe that the Lord meant for all of the above to be a day-to-day part of the normal Christian life for one good reason - for Christ's followers to showcase the power of God through the present day ministry of the Holy Spirit drawing people to God and for everyone know that JESUS loves them!
Sister Lita De Jesus joined us and she brought along a friend who came with her eight year old son - Joshua. That night while the Holy Spirit was ministering at the Foret's residence, young Joshua excitedly told us that he saw clouds of glory hovering among all the believers that were present. This 8 year old boy knows the Bible from Genesis to Revelation! He can tell you stories and names of Bible characters from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Young Joshua listens daily to an audio version of the Bible. His mother had trained and exposed him to the Word of God since Joshua was just a toddler. This little boy can quote entire chapters in the Bible from memory! And he's got the most contagious smile you'll ever see! Joshua was only over three years young when he heard me speak for the very first time at a fellowship/gathering at Sister Lita's house in Carrollton, Texas. And he still remembers lots of details of my persecution story! That's what the Holy Spirit does to someone that desires nothing but God, HIS Word and HIS presence.
That Saturday night, the Holy Spirit was in the house! And the Lord once again did amazing things among God's people! The Word of God was preached and God confirmed His Word by convicting and convincing those present with His power to save, heal and deliver from bondage! All that happened was God-orchestrated! And because it was His work - the Lord received all the praises, adoration and glory!!!
Sunday, February 18, 2007
The day started with a beautiful burst of sunlight that came through my bedroom's window blinds. The Holy Spirit had me up early to seek God's face and meditate on His written Word.
By 10:00 AM, Brother Randy, Tanya and I had found our way to Praise Christian Fellowship at Farmers Branch, Texas. Two of their four children joined us -18 year old Marshal and 14 year old Joshua. We were met by associate pastors Phil and Karen Johnson. Sister Lita de Jesus who arranged for me to speak at PCF was also present. The senior pastor, Jofre Perez and his wife Annie came shortly in time for the start of the 10:30 AM service.
The biggest surprise to me before the start of the service was seeing Greg and Jennie. Their coming to the morning service totally surprised me...I was not expecting them till the evening service at another Church in Frisco. This lovely young couple chose me to do their wedding in Bloomington, IL, in September 2006! They took up residence in Denton, Texas, right after their wedding. Jennie Moss is the daughter of Roxann - an outstanding CIC Representative that does our electronic persecution news and prayer postings from her base in central Illinois. Jenny is our CIC Director for Love The Children Ministry. This mother and daughter combination have done mission trips overseas and have made huge contributions to CIC and other organizations that God had used to impact many lives outside of the USA. Roxann had traveled and ministered with me to Romania and Hong Kong in the past.
The entire service was another Holy Spirit event! At the end people came forward for prayer, deliverance and healing. And the Lord once again confirmed the preaching of God's Word with signs, wonders and miracles! Everyone that came for prayer were ministered to in the power of the Holy Spirit...and people left blessed and encouraged after getting a touch from the Lord. God is in the business of meeting people where they are in their faith...people that look up to Him for answers...people that are in need of HIS touch to get saved, healed and delivered. And God is always pleased to demonstrate HIS power and show HIS love to those that sincerely seek HIM!
The same Holy Spirit anointing, presence and ministry was evident in the evening Sunday service at Community Christian Fellowship at Frisco, Texas. The Lord never fails to show up in every gathering that honors HIM and allows freedom for the Holy Spirit to move hearts and touch lives.
Pastor John Webb was very gracious and kind to allow me to speak and minister at CCF. The Foret Family attend and serve the Lord at CCF. Brother Randy
Foret is one of three pastors that pioneered this very young and energetic church. Several of their members were with us Saturday evening at the Foret's residence where the Holy Spirit also ministered healing and deliverance. It was another night to remember especially for those that came forward
for a touch of the Holy Spirit.
More and more of God's people are seeing an increasing manifestation of God's presence and the Holy Spirit's power all over the planet. This, I believe, is in fulfillment of the prophesy that is found in the book of Joel 2:28-29 "And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. V.29 - Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days.
I also believe that there's no reason for God's people to miss the very words of Christ Jesus spoken to the early Church before HE ascended up to Heaven. We find JESUS' command in the Book of Acts:1:4-5, 8 "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. V.5 - For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit."...V.8- But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
John's own words declares in the Gospel of Matthew 3:11 "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. HE will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire." (Also found inLuke 3:16)
In all of the last three Scriptures that I have quoted above we find that the Holy Spirit was mentioned. The Lord JESUS commanded the early Church to wait for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit before any effective witnessing was to be carried out. John the baptist, talked about the the Lord JESUS as the One who will baptize His followers with the Holy Spirit. Therefore, since God's Word talks about the importance of having the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, every Christian must desire and seek this baptism to be empowered as Christ's witnesses and followers.
Have you received the baptism of the Holy Spirit? If not, I challenge you to seek the Lord and ask JESUS to baptize you with the Holy Spirit.
Reaching Others For JESUS,