The Deliverer

Many of us parents, grandparents, other relatives, and friends agonize, have sleepless nights, and worry and search for answers over the fact that some of our loved ones have been caught up in addictions, homelessness, depression, and other desolations. We struggle to assist them in whatever ways we can, and using all our human forces and strength, and our prayers, that they would get off the addictions that they are caught up into. It could be sexual, drugs, alcohol, anything that our loved ones are caught up in and cannot find deliverance, healing and freedom from all these shackles that torture their minds and bodies. We genuinely pray (as we should and it is good) as we bring all our efforts towards getting rid of these problems for them, and we do everything we possibly can for them, sacrifice, spending our human efforts, money, support, detox, yet we can find nothing seems to work. It is not that it is wrong what we do for them, it is that they have not yet met the true Deliverer face to face! Well, the answer is in this story about a very, very troubled man in Mark 5. Jesus appeared to him, and He revealed Himself. The man met Jesus face to face and the Deliverer was revealed to him!

 

Here we see what happened to one person who no human could help – but Jesus did…

 

Mark 5: They went across the lake to the region of the Gerasenes. 2 When Jesus got out of the boat, a man with an impure spirit came from the tombs to meet him. 3 This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. 4 For he had often been chained hand and foot, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones.
6 When he saw Jesus from a distance, he ran and fell on his knees in front of him. 7 He shouted at the top of his voice, “What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? In God’s name don’t torture me!” 8 For Jesus had said to him, “Come out of this man, you impure spirit!”
9 Then Jesus asked him, “What is your name?”
“My name is Legion,” he replied, “for we are many.” 10 And he begged Jesus again and again not to send them out of the area.
11 A large herd of pigs was feeding on the nearby hillside. 12 The demons begged Jesus, “Send us among the pigs; allow us to go into them.” 13 He gave them permission, and the impure spirits came out and went into the pigs. The herd, about two thousand in number, rushed down the steep bank into the lake and were drowned.
14 Those tending the pigs ran off and reported this in the town and countryside, and the people went out to see what had happened. 15 When they came to Jesus, they saw the man who had been possessed by the legion of demons, sitting there, dressed and in his right mind; and they were afraid. 16 Those who had seen it told the people what had happened to the demon-possessed man—and told about the pigs as well. 17 Then the people began to plead with Jesus to leave their region.
18 As Jesus was getting into the boat, the man who had been demon-possessed begged to go with him. 19 Jesus did not let him, but said, “Go home to your own people and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 So the man went away and began to tell in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him. And all the people were amazed.

 

I believe that the most important thing we have to do as loved ones is TRUST the Deliverer. While we trust, we can rest, and have hope. I read somewhere that while we sleep, God works, but while we work, He sleeps! That is to say that we can trust Him and be at peace with Him. After all, He is the Prince of Peace. And the scripture also says that He brings us the Peace that passes ALL understanding.

 

So today, as Jesus knocks at the door of our hearts, let Him in! Trust Him and enjoy Him. He will accomplish what He promises!

 

We love you and God loves you very, very much!

 

P.S. Please feel free to share!

We appreciate you folks sharing this today, because we never know who is sick, sad, dying, neglected, or abandoned, or just needs a word of encouragement. I recommend as you share this word around the globe, on Facebook or wherever, that it may be a miracle for a hurting, suffering person somewhere, to be touched by the love of God, miracles…. will happen.

Thanks for sharing it!

March 10, 1970

I was 39 years old. I had finished building a new house, living in there with my wife and three little kids. I had lots of work and was doing well, but was totally unhappy and dissatisfied with life. I had quit drinking six years earlier, cold turkey, no more drinking because it was my addiction. That had not solved anything though; I was still angry, fearful, dissatisfied, and wondering what life was all about. And on that very day, March 10, 1970, in the morning, I was at work in Burnaby. I remember I was sitting down on a coffee break, and while having a cigarette and coffee, God was starting to stir me up! It was a little voice that was gentle, just over on one side of my shoulder, and it said “Give everything up and follow me” like your fears and anxieties, but, over on the other shoulder a little voice said “Don’t do that… your whole family, friends, in-laws, parents, would say you are going crazy now.” And then again on the right hand side, the voice said, “No, just follow me and I will give you rest and peace about all this.” Then I sort of thought, ok, but How? Who? I had been around in different religions, listening, trying to be good, and I hated it!!! I felt angry about it all and dissatisfied. I thought that Jesus Christ was a good swear word and a good hippie, who had done a few “tricks” like walking on water, etc. 2000 years ago. But I could not believe that He was God!

 

So later that day after watching the news at supper time, who comes on TV but Billy Graham! Back then, #1, we had heard at a young age that we weren’t allowed to watch him! Anyway, he made a claim that did not make sense. He said that Jesus Christ is fully God, fully man, who came to earth to redeem us and show us the way! Then Billy went on and invited us to kneel down in front of the television, saying, “If He is knocking at the door of your heart, open the door and let Him in!” At that stage I thought, I have done a lot of foolish things in my life; I might as well try this!

 

You know what? Answering His knock at the door of my heart and letting Him in was the key to everything! There was no big bang or anything, but a Great Peace started to invade me! This might be hard to believe, but I began to see things differently! I think I was looking through a different lens, towards my wife, my kids, my work, eternity, and it was Forward-Looking!! Now I gotta say this, there has been a lot of living since then. And it has been good. I have a friend in Jesus, which the Bible says in Hebrews 1:3 – “The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word.” He is the perfect God as our Father. Well, He changed my life completely, to this day.

 

The Bible says when you do that, you become a new creation in Him! My personal relationship with Jesus from that day on, is what sustains me, keeps me and has blessed me not just talking about material things, but with my life, family, friends, it is never ending. It is eternal! I am 86 now. Many times we fail, and I did not become a monk! No need for that! Because when Jesus died on the cross and shed His blood for us, it washes away our sins, past, present and future! And Jesus has never left me, and faithful during every step of my life. I see where He was faithful to me even BEFORE that experience that day… and that is because God is love, we are created in His image, and He loves us REGARDLESS! We are chosen before creation!! But then, I guess like it says in John 10:10, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” – the Abundance part is for here now on this planet! And today is my 47th Anniversary! I cannot forget it!

 

It sounds like He is always knocking at the door of our hearts. Let Him in, talk with Him, enjoy Him! He will tell you how things are done… He has got lots of good promises and a lot of insights and wisdom. He loves you very, very much!!!

 

P.S. Please feel free to share!

We appreciate you folks sharing this today, because we never know who is sick, sad, dying, neglected, or abandoned, or just needs a word of encouragement. I recommend as you share this word around the globe, on Facebook or wherever, that it may be a miracle for a hurting, suffering person somewhere, to be touched by the love of God, miracles…. will happen.
Thanks for sharing it!

The Gospel of Hope!

In the early 1970s I had a contract in South Surrey to work on a project finishing inside houses; it was a 30 house plan. When I was working on that project, there were two brothers I worked for who were the owners of the company. One was keeping the books in the office, and the older brother was the project manager. The project manager was in his early 50s. He was always on the project, no matter what time of day you were there; he would direct you to park your truck over here, or unload your material over there. He was very attentive and smart. He and his wife had a nice family of four teenaged kids. I came to work one morning on the job and it was very, very quiet there, because he was usually in the middle of the road directing you! There were police cars around his house. Anyway, I found out through the office that in the middle of the night, he had died of a heart attack. He was a nice guy and I got along good with him. I went to his funeral in a funeral home somewhere, and the preacher or speaker, got up and gave a talk for 45 minutes. The widow and the four kids were sitting in the front row, and other family members and friends were there. It was painful and depressing. The speaker never offered any hope or encouragement. So I left, shaking my head. Even the bricklayer I was walking with back to our cars, said to me, “What was that all about?” To this day, I wonder about those teenagers and the widow; I never heard anymore. I felt for them; there was no message of hope. I know one thing, that teenagers are open to hearing something new or fresh! But that did not happen there that day.

 

The answer to hopelessness is in the simple Gospel of Jesus Christ. Now the Gospel is very simple: Jesus came, He died, and He rose from the dead. He shed His blood, which erases our sins, past, present and future. Romans 10:9 says: “If you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved;”

 

Believe on Jesus Christ, and you shall be saved. That is the Doorway to Heaven.

 

And John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave His one and only son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”

 

And there are many more good comforting words…

 

The answer to hopelessness has always been and will always be that a Saviour came for us, easily available, simply believe. No hard works involved. He has done it all.

 

So that is why we feel free today to share the Good News – there is always someone who may enjoy it and receive it!

 

We will never know the whole situation of that incident that day, but one thing we know for sure that the Gospel when it is shared and accepted, is a Gospel of Hope and promises, direction, and encouragement and comfort for our lives and eternally.

 

So today, when Jesus knocks at the door of your heart, let Him in and enjoy Him!

 

God loves you, very, very, very much!

 

P.S. Please feel free to share!

 

We appreciate you folks sharing this today, because we never know who is sick, sad, dying, neglected, or abandoned, or just needs a word of encouragement. I recommend as you share this word around the globe, on Facebook or wherever, that it may be a miracle for a hurting, suffering person somewhere, to be touched by the love of God, miracles…. will happen.
Thanks for sharing it!