A Nugget from New Life Network
Scripture for the Day (November 1, 2015)
Either what woman having ten pieces of silver, if she lose one piece, doth not light a candle, and sweep the house, and seek diligently till she find it? And when she hath found it, she calleth her friends and her neighbours together, saying, Rejoice with me; for I have found the piece which I had lost. Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth. (Luke 15:8-10)
This parable is sandwiched between the parable of the lost sheep and the parable of the prodigal son. It is obvious from the content of each of these three parables that Jesus places a very high importance on reaching the lost.
Over 33 years of ministry, we have come in contact with a lot of different ministries. Over time you begin to establish what I call “red flags” if something is not quite right in a ministry. The biggest “red flag” we have seen over the years is when nobody is getting saved and no miracles are happening. You can have a huge ministry but the real litmus test is this, “Is anybody being touched and changed by the power of God”.
I challenge you to read the New Testament and find a place where people were not drastically changed by the power of God when Jesus came on the scene. It hasn’t changed! If Jesus is there, things will be happening. People will be getting saved. People will be getting healed. People will be getting delivered. People will be getting baptized. People will be drawn in mass to the meetings.
Consider this, even while Jesus hung on the cross a thief got saved.
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them (Mark 2:1-2).
Christ is not the last name of Jesus! Christ means “the Anointed One”. When that anointing is present, people will be drawn to it and changed.
And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing. (Isaiah 10:27)
I have been asked by numerous people over the years (especially critics) why we have continued to minister with Brig Hart for over 26 years. Some have suggested we need to start our own church. Well, let me tell you why we minister with Brig. It has nothing to do with money (as some would think) and it has nothing to do with Brig being perfect, because none of us are. Here is the reason. The lost are coming to the Lord! People are getting set free, healed, and delivered! Marriages are healed! That is called the anointing, and that is always a sign to me that Jesus is on the scene. It’s definitely not the devil!
We have seen some of the most popular speakers and authors grace our stages over the years but some of them do not have a heart for the lost and do not have a clue how to throw the net or handle an altar call. This is not something you learn out of a book. This is a heart to heart issue and it comes from having a deep love for people, a deep love for God, and the anointing of the Holy Ghost. You can not copy it. It is either there or it’s not.
We can not take anything with us to Heaven except other people. None of our worldly goods or money are going to transfer. So, in my estimation, we need to spend the majority of our time looking for the lost sheep, the lost coins, and the prodigal sons. If what you are doing does not consist in some measure of that pursuit you should consider it a “red flag”.
And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:15-18)
