MINISTRY NOTES

Hi Everyone,

Recently a woman called wanting to get married. She said they had been together a long time and had several children, who are now in their twenties. After the wedding, she was slow leaving and everyone was out side but her and I. She said softly, "I want to thank you again, I have waited a long time for this." We must remember not to judge others. It is better to enable them to live in a way, so they can grow closer to God. Our wedding ministry accomplishes this. Whether 2 guest or 150, whether in the Church or the small Chapel, whether in tuxes and an expensive dress or in jeans, each wedding is very important!

Praise God, this afternoon, Monday 7-20, Anabelle is coming home. She is now 4lbs 13oz. There is an opportunity present. Prior to Anabelle's birth on June 10, her mother, Belinda, was in the hospital for 12 days. Since that time Belinda has been going to the Hospital daily and feeding her, usually traveling by bus. (I have frequently offered to give them a ride but they haven't called) They really haven't got a lot of stuff for Anabelle and Belinda will not be going back to work for now. If God is leading you to offer to help them, Vincente said it is okay to give out his phone number (918 829-1192) and it is turned on when he gets off work everyday by 4pm.

Message Notes:

Hearing the Authority

Recently there was an article where a woman was complaining that she took hormone therapy for years because of medical advice and then after new medical research was advised to stop. She concluded with a cry for help wanting to know, if there was an authority we can trust.

Jesus says He is the truth and has been given all authority1! So we can read the red letters in our Bible and know the truth. But what about a question like do you use hormone therapy or not? That issue is not in the Bible. Jesus says those who follow Him can hear His voice2.

I would like to share two stories about hearing. In 1965, we had a company on base in Viet Nam that flew spy planes. One night I was walking down a street in town and the whole area got as bright as mid day sun. I looked up and there was a spot light from one of these spy planes and quickly it was almost a block away before I could hear the roar of the planes' motors. At that time, the fact you couldn't hear the plane until it was past you, may have been classified. A few months later, I was on guard duty around 3 am driving a noisy jeep down a far runway. I was over a half mile from the hangers back to my left and there was nothing else around except weeds every other direction. Suddenly, I heard a very loud, commanding voice say, "STOP". I immediately pulled over to the left side of the runway and stopped. As I jerked my head around to see who said that, one of those spy planes landed right where my jeep would have been. I was not surprised that I couldn't hear the plane coming but I knew that whoever yelled stop, saved my life. There was no one around, unless they were hiding in the weeds. The weeds weren't that tall and the bugs and snakes this close to the Pacific Ocean would have made that virtually impossibly. I don't remember telling anyone but I never forgot it. 6 years later I came to know Jesus personally and 2 years after that I heard the same commanding, head jerking voice, again and I knew this time it was God and I realized that it was God who had saved my life in 65. Those are the only two times I have heard God's voice audibly in my life, but I hear Him speak to me in my mind almost daily. I realize that in our society, many would say, if someone says God speaks to them, they are crazy.

In 1987, I had a Greek final/Proficiency Test that was required for my degree. One week before the test, the Professor told us it would be from the works of John. That night, I prayed and asked God if it would be okay if I asked which Chapter. God replied, "Yes, Chapter 20". Again on Friday and Sunday I asked again and heard "Chapter 20". With all my other finals finished, on Tuesday, after working on Chapter 20 all day and only being a little over half way, I asked the same question and again God answered "Chapter 20". The test was at 1pm on Wednesday and I got up Wednesday morning and started studying a years worth of vocabulary and grammar. I was not praying and God asked me if I could afford not to study Chapter 20. Immediately gave up studying and went to the library. I started working on the next 5 verses of Chapter 20, translating, listing the parts of speech and checking my work. I finished in time for the 1 pm test and there was no Chapter number listed on the sheet with the Greek words. I didn't need a number because it was the same 5 verses3 I spent all morning working on. God had led me to the exact 5 verses out of a possible 1,010 verses. I know God speaks to us.

How should a person develop hearing God? Perhaps Jesus set a good example, He prayed all night before He selected the 12 disciples4. He prayed late one evening and missed His ride on the boat5. Visiting with God is more important than your ride or anything you have scheduled. We read frequently that Jesus, the Son of God, spent time in prayer. Remember that Jesus was a person like you and me, He was not a pretend man deceiving us by pretending to pray to God or by praying to Himself, like some doctrines might lead you to believe. Jesus knew with God's guidance that Lazarus had died and that He was going to raise him from the dead6. From Jesus relationship with God, He was able to say God told Him what to say and what to do7.

Do you want to hear God better? If yes, remember to pray daily8, ask in Jesus' name9 and persist10.

Also, please be encouraged to pray this prayer frequently that God gave me to share with you.

"Dear heavenly Father, I hope You are having a good day and that what You want is being done everywhere. Help me to do what You want, by hearing You better. Help me to hear You when I read the Bible, when I need to know something or when I have a question. If I have doubts about what I heard, help me to remember to take authority in "the name of Jesus" and then ask again. Help me to have the strength and faith to do what I hear You say. Thank you for helping me to hear You better. Thank You, in Jesus name, Amen."

1. John 14:6; Matthew 28:18

2. John 10:27

3. John 20:19-23

4. Luke 6:12-13

5. Matthew 14:23-25

6. John 11:11

7. John 12:49; 14:31

8. Matthew 6:9-11

9. John 16:26

10. Luke 8:15; 18:1-8; 11:5-8