Answered Prayer

As I mentioned in an earlier post, last night I was privileged to speak to our AWANA clubbers about Christian testimony, that is, sharing how trusting Jesus as your savior has changed your life. The night before I was scheduled to speak, I spent some time in prayer, asking that one person, just one person, would be somehow touched by this message in such a way that it would cause him/her to come forward and profess faith in Christ. I asked God to ensure that I was not doing this under my own power, but that He would speak through me to reach the hearts and minds of those present.

I began by defining testimony, and giving an example by sharing my own. I then explained the story of Saul of Tarsus found in Acts 9, how he was a persecutor of the early church, and how he met Jesus personally on the road to Damascus. I explained how that divine encounter turned Saul's entire belief system on its head, how the proverbial rug was snatched out from under his feet, how his entire foundation of faith was taken away. The only thing he had to grab on to at that moment was Jesus, and he took that leap of faith.

God took the most notorious killer of Christians at that time, and turned him into the most famous Christian missionary in history. Saul of Tarsus became Paul the Apostle. It is because of this miracle that we have a great portion of what is known today as the New Testament in our Bible. Paul's letters to churches that he and other believers started throughout the heathen (non-Jewish) parts of the world serve as examples for our church today, and we study them in great detail to ensure that we follow God's plan for the church.

God had gifted Paul with what I consider to be his most powerful tool to use in missionary work - his testimony of how Jesus Christ changed his life. Paul was given the most compelling testimony ever recorded, and he used it well. Each of us who have put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ to save us from eternal death has a testimony, and that is also one of the great tools God has gifted us with to go forth and spread the word to others.

We all, as believers, are missionaries. We may not be able to travel to other countries or speak other languages, but that doesn't matter. There is more than enough work for us right where we are. Think about it; there are people you encounter every single day who do not truly know Jesus. God has placed you in fellowship with those people, so that you can share the love of Jesus with them. Let us all be faithful and diligent to fulfill the Great Commission.

The longer I spoke last night, the more the words just seemed to flow out of me. It was clear that God was in total control of that entire situation...which is good, because it prevents me from being prideful and taking credit for what happened afterward. You see, the Lord answered my prayer last night. I know of at least one clubber who came forward to take that leap of faith and trust Jesus. Praise God for working through me this way, for using my simple life for His glory!

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." - Romans 10:17

"So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it." - Isaiah 55:11