A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (October 21, 2016)
Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6)
It seems like just yesterday when God told my wife and I that we would be travelling the highways preaching the Gospel. Well, it wasn’t exactly yesterday. It was in 1982, thirty-four years ago. We have travelled a lot of miles since then and seen a lot of people saved and set free. It is still amazing to me that God can speak to a young couple in Tennessee that knew nothing about ministry, call them to preach, and show them what they would be doing using a book in the Bible (Isaiah) that is over 2000 years old. How miraculous is that?
It is so important for you to know that God still speaks to His people! He will give you specific guidance if you will just listen and be willing to go where He directs. In 1982 God spoke to us through Isaiah 35. The following is a brief summary of what He showed us through Isaiah 35 and how that has come to fruition over the years:
The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away. (Isaiah 35:1-10)
The wilderness and solitary place – The first ten years of our ministry was spent ministering in prisons and small churches where a lot of ministers would not go. What a blessing!!! The last twenty four years have been spent ministering to people in the marketplace. We are talking about the world here but there again we have seen so many people saved.
Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees – Our ministry has always been to edify and exhort, not judge. The power that God has given us is for edification and not destruction.
And an highway shall be there – Boy has that been true. We have logged a lot of miles, set up a lot of book tables, and ministered to a lot of people. It is still exciting after so many years.
It shall be for those: the wayfaring men – A wayfaring man refers to a traveler or one who is on a journey such as evangelists.
And the ransomed of the Lord shall return – People will be saved. They will return to God. The price (the ransom) has been paid by Jesus.
Did we know all this was going to happen when we first read this Word? Absolutely not!!! But we did know that God was speaking to us and we knew we were to take the first step and go preach the Gospel in the wilderness and solitary places. That is all you have to do (take the first step). God has a plan for all of us and each plan is specific to your life. You do not have to do what we did. You just need to take the first step and do what God tells you to do. Believe me, you will not regret it. You can do it!!!
(Note: Pray for us! We are ministering in New Orleans, LA for the next four days. This city needs Jesus!!!)
