Strength From the Lord

Has it really been that long since I've last updated my blog? Too long! There has been many things happening since the last time and I will try to bring all of you up to date. A week ago, we had an all night prayer vigil at the house of prayer in the community. I can often feel a real sense of spiritual heaviness when I walk into the community and times of prayer really do feel like a battle although I really enjoy them at the same time. It is clear that there are demonic forces at work in the community and nothing less than the power of God will be required to see true and lasting results. The night we had our prayer vigil was from Saturday to Sunday (June 30th to July 1st). As soon as we arrived in the community, I could sense real heaviness and a coming battle. One of the girls who is doing the internship at our house (she is from the community), was facing really strong temptations to back to her old way of life. When we arrived at the community she said that she wanted to join her friends at a party which was a really bad decision for her. When we arrived at the house of prayer, there was water all over the floor as it had rained a lot that day and water came in through the windows as well as the roof. At the same time, one of the girls who was praying started to experience strong pain in her neck and back. I really sensed that the enemy did not want us to pray for the community and others sensed the same thing as well. We cleaned up the mess in the prayer house and started praying. If any of you have ever prayed through the night, you know that it can be difficult. However, we found that the time went by really quickly, and before we knew it, it was 6am in the morning. The girl who ran away to be with her friends came back the following day and she is continuing in the internship (continue to pray for her as there is still a real battle for her life. She desires to live for God and yet the old life still has a pull on her). We really feel that prayer is a key component in seeing God's power break into the community. There was a clear change the last time we had an all-day prayer event and shortly after this, we saw some real fruit. A girl from the community gave her life to the Lord (she's the one who was baptized),  a drug dealer gave his life to the Lord and an older lady did as well.
        God has also been working in the life of a man named Dede. Dede is a very kind man who seems to be friends with everyone. However, Dede is addicted to alcohol and it has had a very negative effect on his life. A number of weeks back, Dede expressed interest to be taken to a rehabilitation house and get free from his addiction. A few of us made an appointment for him and he agreed to a time that we arranged. When we arrived at the community, however, he said that he didn't want to go but wanted to stay in the community; it was a very discouraging morning for me. More recently however, it appears as though God is doing a real work in Dede's heart. Myself as well as a few others have talked and prayed with him a number of times and he has expressed a real desire to change. He says that he wants out of his old way of life. A few weeks ago Dede came to the house of prayer and a number of us laid hands and prayed for him. We prayed that God would get a hold of him and encounter him. The next morning a few of us went to the community and we talked to him and prayed with him again. He said that the previous night, a light descended into his house (he has no electricity or lights in his house) and he felt the presence of God. He said that he really wants to go to a rehabilitation house and change. We are hoping that we will be able to take Dede within the next few weeks. It's really necessary for Dede to get out of the community because there are so many temptations for him there and alcohol is easily accessible.
       I am also continuing to lead discipleship Bible studies on Monday and Wednesday afternoons and I feel that these are going well. We are going through the Bible and right now we are looking at the life of Christ, specifically on the Sermon on the Mount. I feel that everyone who comes is growing in understanding of who God is and what it means to be a follower of him. The other day, I had to do a lesson in Portuguese because there was no one to translate for me. I can confidently say that I still have a long way to go in learning the language! However, times like these are good because they remind me that I need to rely upon God's strength and not my own knowledge or ability.
      One thing that God has been doing and continues to do in my own heart is that he is giving me a greater desire to take the gospel to people who are unreached. I feel like one of the reasons why God has me here in the this season is to raise up Brazilians who will go to unreached places, both here in Brazil as well as in other nations. I had the opportunity to speak at a church a week ago and I spoke on Romans 10:14-15 "How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!'" God touched people's hearts and I pray that there will be lasting fruit from that service. We are also planning on have a 'missions camp' this coming week for young people who are interested in missions. Right now, there are not many people who are signed up and so we are praying that God would bring the people that he wants for the following week. We are continuing to pray that God would raise up laborers to send to the harvest! 

Again, it's been a while since I last updated my blog and it feels like much has happened since last time.  We have continued to have discipleship lunches on Thursday afternoons. A few weeks ago, my friend Novinho (the former drug dealer-turned-evangelist) wanted me to come with him to talk to a man who used to be a pastor but was now using drugs. I have to say that my eyes were opened to the reality of drug abuse in Oitão Preto that day. Novinho led me down a narrow road and into a small 'house' were four people were sitting. All of their drug paraphernalia and their drugs were out in the open and they were preparing to take the drugs. One lady was sweating profusely as she had most likely just taken the drugs. I have to say that I had never seen anything like that before and I realized how sheltered I have been to things like this. We talked to the man who used to be the pastor. Novinho shared a word with him about choosing Christ or the world and it seemed to have an impact on him. We prayed for him and moved on to a house a little further up the street. It seemed as though everyone on that street was impacted in some way by drug abuse. We prayed for an older lady who was also addicted to drugs as well as a young woman. The pastor came to the discipleship lunch later that afternoon and he was open to receive prayer, yet he was not willing to change even though he knew that he needed to. Pray that God would have mercy on him and that the Holy Spirit would do a miracle in his life.  During this time, a young boy of about nine years old was following us around. Most (if not all) children in the community are exposed to the harsh reality of drug abuse, prostitution and gang activity. Oitão Preto is in need of God's love and power in a special way.
     At the same time, I believe that we are seeing pockets of light shining through the darkness. One example of a good work that God is doing is in the life of a woman named Marcia (whom I mentioned in my previous post). She recently gave her life to Jesus and God has set her free from her former way of life. I have the privilege of teaching her along with two others in the discipleship Bible study that we have recently started. Marcia recently expressed the desire to get baptized and publicly profess her faith in Jesus Christ. Everyone who lives in our house, her family, as well as some other friends went to the beach near her house for a baptism service. I had thought that Herb (our leader) would be the one to baptize her, but before we left he asked me if I would be willing to do it. I had never baptized anyone, but I agreed to do it and I was so blessed and encouraged. It is something special to be a part of someone's life whom God has set free from darkness and to witness the joy that He brings to their life. My heart was full of joy as I listened to Marcia tell of what God has done in her life.

     Last time I also mentioned a young man who gave his life to Christ. This young man is a drug dealer in the community but he has recently (a few weeks ago) decided to follow Christ. I was very excited this week because he came to our discipleship Bible study for the first time! God is doing a good work in his heart and he has a desire to live for God. Pray that he would rely on God's power and that God would transform every area of his life. I am encouraged that God is doing something good even in the midst of darkness!
     I have also had the opportunity to practice my renovation skills over the past few weeks. Our leaders , Herb and Lorelie are expecting a baby any day and there is a real need for another bathroom upstairs. We decided to convert a laundry room into a bathroom and though it has been a lot of work, it is almost finished! I had never done tile before, but I figured 'With access to Youtube to watch do-it-yourself videos, how hard can it be?' Well I have realized that I am no professional, but I think that I have done an all-right job for a rookie.

    Teaching and preaching keeps a man very busy and I have been very blessed to have many opportunities to teach as well as an opportunity to preach. We have a service here at our house every other Friday. We always hold our services in the courtyard where there is plenty of room. This last Friday I spoke on 'The Glory of God in the Face of Jesus Christ' from 2 Corinthians 4:6. I feel that this was one of my favorite sermons that I have given; there was an atmosphere of worship during the message and God, in His mercy, touched hearts and stirred a hunger to see His glory. God is so good and so worthy of all of our praise! I know that when I get discouraged I need to fix my eyes upon Him.

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Ok, so it's been a little while since I last updated my blog; it's time. In my last post I mentioned how a drug dealer from the community had given his heart to the Lord. A group of us went to the community (Oitao Preto) with the group of young people from Acampamento (the 3 day camp focusing on missions).  We went to the community to spend some time praying at the prayer house as well as to do some house visits and talk with people. We were upstairs in the prayer house and Novinho (a former drug dealer who has given his life to Christ), took me to the window and pointed to a man who was working down below. Novinho told me that this guy was a drug dealer and that it would be good if I spoke with him. Novinho went down to talk with him and he consented to come up to the prayer house with Novinho. We asked him if we could pray for him and he consented. We all laid hands on him and prayed for him. I really felt that God was doing something in his heart and so I told him that I felt today was a very important day for him. I briefly explained the gospel to him and told him that he had two paths in front of him that he could take. He could either take the easy, broad road or he could take the narrow, difficult one. He said that he was ready to follow Christ and so we prayed together with him and he committed to follow Jesus! We were excited! Pray that we would be able to follow up with him as it is understandably difficult to find him in the community. Pray that the Holy Spirit would continue to work in his heart and that he would grow in love for Jesus.
     One thing that I am also involved in is a discipleship/lunch at the prayer house on Thursday afternoons. We invite people to come and have lunch and then those who are interested stay for a short teaching. One of my responsibilities is teaching at this lunch and we will be going through the book of Luke together. This last Thursday was the first time that I taught and I have to say that it was a bit chaotic! People were talking with one another loudly while I was trying to speak and I was wondering if anyone was listening. After the teaching, I asked if anyone would like prayer for anything and there were a few people who wanted prayer. We prayed for an older lady named Maria and she had a lot of questions. It seemed as thought the conversation was going in circles. We were trying to explain the gospel to her but she didn't seem to be understanding. We decided that we needed to pray for her and so that's what we did; we prayed that the Holy Spirit would make things clear to her and He did! After we prayed for her, she was able to understand what we were telling her and she said that she wanted to follow Christ! Pray for Maria. Pray that she would grow in understanding of God and in her love for Him. Pray that she would continue to come to the discipleship meetings on Thursdays. I've posted a link to my friend's blog. http://kingdomcomebrasil.tumblr.com/post/49482620783/maria-the-one-in-the-red-hat-gave-her-life-to

Today a drug dealer from the community gave his life to the Lord! I will post some more details soon. 

We're starting a camp tonight! The camp is going to be for young Brazilians who have an interest in missions. Those participating in the camp will be staying at our house and camping out in tents in our courtyard (together with the small group leaders). There will be discipleship as well as outreach in the city. On Friday night we are going to be doing evangelism in downtown Fortaleza and on Saturday we are going to be ministering in the community. On Saturday we will be serving soup and doing house visits (going house to house and praying for/speaking with people about Jesus). 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit... "

Being poor in spirit does not simply mean one who finds himself in unfavorable circumstances, although God can use unfavorable circumstances to bring this heart posture to a Christian. Being poor in spirit is a decision one makes, a matter of the heart. Humility is intertwined with this beattitude. Recognizing our poverty without God, realizing that we no good thing apart from Him is what Christ is talking about. Riches mean nothing. Possessions mean nothing. A good name means nothing if I have not the approval of my God. Food is an empty substitute that can dull the sharp, raw craving for God. Over-abundance of food cause spiritual muscles to atrophy. Putting oneself in a position where he is forced to depend upon God is a great way to see weakness. Putting oneself in a position to rely on God is not weakness in and of itself; it simply reveals the need that was already there. A self-reliant man can be starving on the inside and never realize his need. Throwing ourselves upon the sovereignty of God merely reveals that 'apart from Him we have no good thing'.
     God, I open my hands to give back to You what is Yours already. May there be more of You and less of me. Make me poor in spirit. May I look more like You Son! Amen.