Dick Bennett / Pastor of Young at Heart and Caring Network
Have you been reading these “Engaging Stories” each week in the Happenings? What an inspiration they are. I recently read Judi Wheat’s story, and then sent it to my son, whose wife is battling cancer. Wow, God knows what’s going to happen to me today. He knows what news I might get today, and He will be there with me when it happens. That’s hard to fully grasp sometimes, but I believe it’s true, with every fiber of my being. I’ll try to remember that when I get a call with disturbing news. Thank you, Judi, for those words.
But I now want to shift gears. As a preacher it seems that my “Engaging Stories” become more like sermons. In this world of unbelief, where many nations are turning away from God and Christianity in particular, as rapidly as they can (the U.S. is one of them), we are seeing the Spirit of God moving in powerful and unusual ways, here at EHWC as well as around the world. The rise of radical Islam and terrorism, and widespread anti-Christian sentiment has caused the true church of Jesus Christ to get serious about their faith, and prepare themselves for the spiritual battle that we will be facing more and more in the coming days. I’m so glad we’re on the winning side, and it’s all because of JESUS. I shall never “stand down” or deny the name of the one who died to save my soul. I will stand with those who are standing for Him, whether in the market place, the classroom, the office, the TV studio, or even the halls of government, and yes, there are some in all of those places. His witness is still there, even to the ends of the earth.
The lost do not understand that heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of God will abide forever. No amount of persecution or hate can stop it! They may win some skirmishes, but they will lose the war. Jesus saw to that on the cross, so we can sing, “When the battle’s over we shall wear a crown in the New Jerusalem.” “My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness – on Christ the solid Rock I Stand” and yes, there’s “Victory in Jesus.” These are songs I learned when I was first saved many years ago, and we still sing them at our Sunday Evening Praise Service. Let me ask you, is that where your feet are planted?
But I now want to shift gears. As a preacher it seems that my “Engaging Stories” become more like sermons. In this world of unbelief, where many nations are turning away from God and Christianity in particular, as rapidly as they can (the U.S. is one of them), we are seeing the Spirit of God moving in powerful and unusual ways, here at EHWC as well as around the world. The rise of radical Islam and terrorism, and widespread anti-Christian sentiment has caused the true church of Jesus Christ to get serious about their faith, and prepare themselves for the spiritual battle that we will be facing more and more in the coming days. I’m so glad we’re on the winning side, and it’s all because of JESUS. I shall never “stand down” or deny the name of the one who died to save my soul. I will stand with those who are standing for Him, whether in the market place, the classroom, the office, the TV studio, or even the halls of government, and yes, there are some in all of those places. His witness is still there, even to the ends of the earth.
The lost do not understand that heaven and earth shall pass away, but the Word of God will abide forever. No amount of persecution or hate can stop it! They may win some skirmishes, but they will lose the war. Jesus saw to that on the cross, so we can sing, “When the battle’s over we shall wear a crown in the New Jerusalem.” “My hope is built on nothing less that Jesus blood and righteousness – on Christ the solid Rock I Stand” and yes, there’s “Victory in Jesus.” These are songs I learned when I was first saved many years ago, and we still sing them at our Sunday Evening Praise Service. Let me ask you, is that where your feet are planted?