Sunday, July 30, 2006

Acts 1:88 But ye shall receive POWER, after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you: and you will be witnesses..."

In 1866 the Swedish industialist, inventor and engineer, Alfred Nobel, invented what is now commonly known as dynamite. As a noted bridge and road builder in Stockholm, Noble sought a means to remove obtstacles that would prevent the spanning of areas which would otherwise be off limits.

His research led him to a discovery that would serve to revolutionize bridge and road building and provide a mechanism that would also be used to fight battles and change the literal face of this world. His development of dynamite and blasting caps put the power to move mountains in the hands of man and allowed roads to be cut through previously impassible geographical boundaries.

In Acts 1:8, we see Jesus giving His final salutations to the people who had followed Him during His abbreviated public ministry. They had heard His revolutionary teachings. They had seen Him perform astounding miracles. They had been witnesses to Him terrible death upon the cross; and now they find themselves as witnesses to His miraculous resurrection and subsequent forty days among them.

After all of these things, their first and only question to Him was, "Lord, is this where you restore the Kingdom back to Israel?" At first glance, this may seem like the appropriate question to be asking Jesus--seeing that He has gotten up from the dead! But looking more closely, one has to consider their motivation behind asking such a question.

This is a group of people who had faced enormous persecution for their stand with Christ (and would soon face even more.) They had been forced to go into hiding. They had been obstracized from their families, their synagogues, and their lifestyles. They were tired from all of the opposition and now were wantingto know if the battle was over and if they could now "take it easy."

Jesus response was basically, "That is really none of your business.."! Even the elequent King James vernacular has a hard time softening the statement in saying, "It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power." Then without even taking the time to explain He says," You shall receive POWER..."

This was a group of people less interested in power and probably just hoping for a little peace! They had already been in a fight for their lives! They were quietly expecting and looking for a small pause in the action, but instead, Jesus begins His final salutation with, "You will receive POWER...”

The word that Jesus chose to use in this text is the Greek word dunamis. This dunamis can be translated as "miracle working power." This is where we get our English word dynamite from! It could be said, "You shall receive dynamite when the Holy Spirit comes upon you...!"

The most interesting part about Alfred Nobel's dynamite is how it is manufactured to begin with. The active ingredient in dynamite that gives it its explosive characteristic is nitroglycerine. Nitroglycerine or "nitro" is a very volatile and highly explosive chemical that is also very unstable and unpredictable in and of itself.

In developing dynamite, Nobel sought a means to harness the effectiveness of the nitro while also providing a means of delivery that would be more deliberate than dangerous. He would find out through his extensive experimentation that regardless of the container, this chemical could not be effectively utilized as a stand alone explosive agent. He had to find a way to somehow combine the power of the nitro within a containment property suited for both stable hosting and predictable release when needed for a blasting project.

The one compound that was a perfectly suited agent for nitroglycerine was none other than earth! Noble discover that by combining the nitro with diatomaceous earth than it would not lose any of its explosive capabilities but would gain stability, and a means to direct its effectiveness towards the desired target.

The effect was like combining the nitroglycerine with the clay-like substance and them forming the compound into the typical cylinder-like explosive tube that is most often associate with dynamite. This is the exact same principle that God employed 2,000 years earlier when He chose to pour His "spiritual dynamite" into us on the Day of Pentecost!

2 Corinthians 4:77 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power (dunamis) is from God and not from us."

We, the clay in His hands, have been given the opportunity to be interlaced with this all-surpassing DYNAMITE power through faith in the Blood of Jesus and in the subsequent promise of power that was made available as well!

Look closely at this "promise of empowerment" from Luke 24:49 "Behold, I send the Promise of My Father upon you; but wait in the city of Jerusalem until you are endued with power from on high." To be endued with power is literally to be clothed or dressed in His power. They were told that they were going to receive a spiritual garment or their uniform for battle that would specifically identify them as a part of this newly enlisted army!

This is of extreme importance that we get this part of what He was saying because the audience in which He was speaking were already believers in Him--in other words these were "saved" or "born again" people whom He was addressing. He wasn't giving them instructions on How they would recieve something to keep them from going to hell! His "promise" was for something beyond where they were- it was a commissioning for the rest of Acts 1:8:

"You shall receive power after the Holy Spirit is come upon you and you will be witnesses...!"

The purpose of this "dynamite" was now being revealed. They were to utilized this "gift of power" as His witnesses. This was the directive to take the Gospel message to "Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and throughout the whole world." Oh, you have got to catch this:

"Just as Albert Nobel had developed dynamite with the primary purpose being to enable men to build bridges and construct roads that otherwise would have been deemed impossible, we have we been given the spiritual dynamite to be 'repairers of the breach' and 'road builders' for people to find their way back to God."

Isaiah 58:1212 "Those from among you shall build the old waste places; you shall raise up the foundations of many generations; and you shall be called the Repairer of the Breach, the Restorer of Streets to Dwell In."

Power was promised so that we could be more effective to do one thing, and that one thing is to be a witness to the saving grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. This dunamis or dynamite may perform other duties along the way, but even these duties are designed to provide opportunities to bring people to Jesus (span valleys of dispair and remove mountains of sin and shame).

Let's look further at additional details of this Acts 1:8 account as provided in Marks account of this very same period of time just prior to Jesus' ascension into heaven:

Mark 16:15-20 "He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, he was taken up into heaven and he sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them and confirmed his word by the signs that accompanied it."

This further confirms that the "empowerment of the Holy Spirit" or the dynamite was for them to "Go" and to "preach the Gospel" with the accompanying "power" to be more effective and more efficient in getting the job done! This may require "delivering people from demons", "speaking in tongues", "being thrust into dangerous situations", or "healing the sick" and all of these things were the effect and not the purpose of this power!

Consider as well these (5) scriptures that relate directly to this point; all of which utilize the exact same Greek word dunamis (our dynamite) in describing why we have been entrusted with "power from on high."

Mark 5:30 "And Jesus, immediately knowing in himself that virtue had gone out of him, turned him about in the press, and said, Who touched my clothes?"

This "virtue" as translated here in Mark 5:30 is actually the same word "dunamis." The context of this scripture is the story of the woman with the issue of blood. She had been sick for many years and had tried all type of means of remedy--all without success. On this day she came to Christ and the dunamis brought healing to her body instantly.

We have seen this same type of thing happen on the streets of this nation as we have gone forth preaching the Gospel. We have seen dozens of cases of people who were sick instantly healed by the power of the Holy Spirit as a testimony of His power and mercy! All for a witness to bring them to salvation.

Luke 4:36 "And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out."

Once again we see the "dynamite" at work blasting away at the strongholds of satan and building a bridge of salvation to a man possessed by demons! Many times we have found people in various places across this nation who were under the spiritual control of the adversary. I have seen people demonically "possessed" to the degree that they resembled the man called "Legion" in the Gospels. The question is: What is one to do when confronted by this type of situation? The answer is: "I have given you authority (dynamite)...to overcome every power of the enemy." Luke 10:19

We can't just leave a person in that condition---God has called and empowered us to be liberators to those held captive by the power of the enemy! This dunamis provides us with the power to see deliverance come into a person's life so that they can then make the decision to come to Jesus---out from under the spiritual and mental control of Satan.

2 Corinthians 10:3-4 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds."

The above reference in Luke 10:19 also reveals the third point I'd like to make concerning God's empowerment for the believer in the area of being a "witness" and that is in divine protection against the enemy.

"Behold I give you power (dynamite)...and nothing shall by any means hurt you."

This truth is further reinforced in Isaiah 54:17 "No weapon formed against you shall prosper, and every tongue which rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD...".

This past May I was witnessing in New York City in the Staten Island Ferry Station. As my team dispersed to share the Gospel with the 3-4 thousand people waiting the 20 minutes for the next ferry to come, I spotted a rough looking guys seated by himself and decided that he was the one I was going to go after!

I sit down on the bench next to him and began sharing the Word of God. A minute or so into my presentation of the Gospel, he looked at me and said, "If you don't shut your %#&^ mouth, I am going to kill you!” To which I responded, "No I don't think so" and continued to share the life-transforming message of the Cross to which he again said, "You don't understand me! Shut your #$%& mouth or I am going to shut it with my fist!"

At no point did I ever feel physically threatened--but much to the contrary---I felt invincible in Jesus and I said, "The Bible says that no weapon formed against me will prosper and that means you too!" Needless to say--He never laid a hand on me and he ended up running out of the station like a man who had been caught on fire!

Another time I was called upon to find a young man at a crack house and was surrounded by 5-6 drug dealers outside of the house and they too ended up running for their lives because of the dunamis! Still another time I stood down a group of about 75 gang members who had invaded my church property one night while I was pastoring an inner-city church--and about a dozen of them ended up showing up for service the next morning!

When the "Holy Spirit empowers you as a witness--you are packing dynamite in Jesus!" There is absolutely no need to fear anything that the devil would try to bring against you. He is the one should be intimidated not the Spirit-Filled child of God!

Another benefit that the dunamis brings in regards to "witnessing" is in the area of personal holiness or the ability to overcome sin. Consider this passage of scripture in relationship to that statement:

1 Corinthians 10:13 "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

That phrase "may be able" is actually just one Greek word and that word is dunamai which comes from the same root word as dunamis! We have been handed a "stick of dynamite" to blow up every temptation that would get in the way of our being a witness for Jesus!

The work that God has called us to often takes us to places that are known as strongholds for sin and sinful behavior. We regularly witness in front of strip clubs and bars. We share our faith with prostitutes and people of very questionable character. We are often in situation where it would be easy to retaliate verbally at some of the verbal onslaughts levied our way---but the dunamis--- seems to always blast a hole through any temptation the enemy would try to bring!
Your witness is only as good as your testimony!

If you are telling someone that Jesus can "set free", then you had better be free! If you are telling someone that "lust" will damn you to hell, then you had better be walking in holiness in that area of your life. This Holy Spirit "dynamite" is your tool in keeping your testimony intact!

Finally, this dunamis is the power to see souls saved and brought into God's Kingdom. I see people all the time "witness" without results. I have had people question and doubt me when I share testimonies of the thousands of people that we have seen come to Jesus over the years. They just can't believe it!

Many times, the testimony of people witnessing for Jesus is about the rejection of the Gospel rather than the acceptance of it! But consider these two scriptures:

Romans 1:15-16 "So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."

1 Corinthians 1:17-18 "For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God."

This "power" is also the very same dunamis that was promised in Acts 1:8! This time it is related to being the dynamite that BLASTS a person out of the hand of the enemy and into the Kingdom of God! Where there were NO ROADS and where there was NO BRIDGE it "moves mountains" that stand in the way of sinners and creates a venue wherein they can be reconciled back to the Father!

Healing, deliverance, divine protection, overcoming temptation, and soul-saving power are all tightly packed into this dunamis or dynamite that has been offered to every beleiver who would believe, ask and receive!

The reason that the Church of today seems so powerless and ineffective is that it has attempted to take the dunamis power which had an intended us for "witnessing or soul-winning" and instead attempted to utilize it for other less nobel purposes.

Alfred Nobel's famed invention soon was discovered to have applications that far differed from his intended purpose of "building bridges and roads." Men of less than impeccable character found that this dynamite was not only good for "construction" but also for "destruction" and it became a tool to use in battle and warfare against people!

Some in the Body of Christ have also thought the dunamis was something that could be used to divide rather than unite and this "infilling" or "baptism" of power has become an issue of great division among otherwise God-fearing and God-loving people.

Others found that Nobel's dynamite could be used to "entertain" with its loud sound and blasting effects much like the smaller and less powerful black powder based fireworks. This has also proven to be a problem in today's Church. Many have tried to use this dunamis to create an entertaining environment where people throng to see the "spiritual show" or "miraculous manifestation" of power---with few people ever feeling compelled to "Go tell people about Jesus."

The power or dunamis was given as a gift/or promise to empower the believer with a "tool" to be used in witnessing or sharing the Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. If the Church is going to be that "Glorious Bride" adorned for the Bride Groom (Jesus) hen we have got to get back to His intended plan and purpose for every single beleiver: to be empowered with the spiritual dynamite necessary to BLAST HELL WIDE OPEN and pave the way to heaven for the multitudes yet to hear the GOOD NEWS of Salvation!

Explosive Christianity. That is my hearts desire. You can keep the other stuff.

Friday, July 21, 2006

You Know You Are In A Dying Church When...

This is an actual picture taken by Pastor Troy as he drove by a local churc hone evening. They say "a picture is worth a thousands words" and this pciture sure says a lot in regards to the modern church!
As Melanie, Kayla and I were flying to Chicago today I was thinking about a particular subject matter that brought the following observations to mind. I am sure that many of you could add your own to the list!
You know that you are in a dying Church when...
...the room marked "nursery" is filled with bags of potting soil and tulip bulbs.
...the worship leaders announces that he will be teaching the congregation a new song and begins with, "Amazing Grace..."
...the head Deacon opens the service and asks for all visitors to raise their hands, and the Pastor raises his!
...you take up the offering in a Dixie cup.
...they think the Holy Ghost is the latest Stephen King novel.
...they think the "gift of tounges" is an uncanny ability to bad mouth the pastor.
...they take communion iwth Starbucks coffee and Krispy Kreme donuts!
..."fasting" is when church is dismissed inside of 45 minutes.
...the only mention of "revival" in your church is preceded by "Credence Clearwater.."
...they think the "Apostle's Creed" is either a movie starring Robert Duvall or the name of Rocky Balboa's opponent in Rocky I & II.
...the "youth group" is considered those who have not yet recieved their AARP cards.
...thier evangelism program consists of the new sign errected on the edge of the church property.
...the children's church curricullum is "Barney Videos, Kool-Aid and cookies"
..."Outreach" is a stretching move in the women's ministries "Yoga" class.
...the pastor's wife plays the piano...his first wife sings in the choir and his second wife is the church secretary.
...the next person to get saved will be the first!
...they think "Rick Warren" was one of the Twelve Apostles and The Purpose Driven Life is a book in the New Testament.
...Mid-week services are cancelled each Spring as not to conflict with American Idol.
...when someone asked the Pastor, "What are the ten Commandments?" He took the 5th Amendment on the grounds that he might incriminate himself.
...your Pastor preaches a series of messages on the latest movie titles...because that is where he spends all of his time.
...the pizza party always draws a bigger crowd than the prayer meeting.
...the greatest recorded miracle in the church is the fact that anyone would bother to show up in the first place.
...the pastor actually expects the congregation to laugh at the same joke he has told the past five years.
...the words sin, hell, and repent are off limits in the pulpit, but obviously sexual immorality isn't.
..."Tithing" has been replaced by "Tipping"...but never at 15%.
...your church's feeding program consists of the free donuts served each week before the senior adult Sunday school class.
...your church's last mission trip was to Branson, Missouri to see the country music shows.
...the closes thing that your church has to an "Evangelist" is the guy with the fish symbol glued to his back bumber.

Thursday, July 20, 2006

URGENT PRAYER NEED & UPDATES

Just a quick note and personal request for prayer. I recieved a telephone call earlier today from Doree Derrick in New Orleans. Doree and her husband, Thomas, are part of our Raven New Orleans Team and have worked with the ministry for nearly 15 years.

Their youngest daughter, Alyssa (who is also Melanie and I's adopted granddaughter) was just diagnosed with Skarlet Fever and is very ill. Please stand with us in prayer for her complete and miraculous prayer. We know that we serve a Mighty God who is able to do exceeding abundantly more than we could ever ask or even think.

Also pray for the ministry that will be taking place this weekend in Northern Indiana. Melanie, Kayla and I will be flying into Chicago in the morning to be met by Raven Midwest Director, Terry Shuff.
We have a street outreach set up for Friday Night in an area frequented by prostitues, drug dealers, etc and this past week a man was murdered there as well. In short--this is a place in need of a visitation from the Holy Spirit! Pray for a genuine, tangible outpouring of God's Amazing Grace and Mercy to be upon the mininstry time there.

Saturday, we will be in the project area of Washington Heights feeding the hungry and ministering to the lost, dying and oppressed--once again--please keep us covered in prayer as we believe the Lord Jesus for a great time of Harvest.

Sunday morning I will be ministering at Word of Truth Church in Milford, Indiana with Pastor Mike Kelly. The service time will be 10:00 AM and we would love to see al of our friends is the area come out for the service. The Holy Ghost has got a word burning in my heart and I know that you would be blessed to come!

Sunday evening I will be at The Crossing with Rob Stahley & Mike Lechlitner. The service will be at 6:30 PM and looks to be an incredible time in Jesus as well.
ATTENTION ALL THOSE IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA:

We will be back in New Orleans August 4-6 and would love to get connected during that time! Pastor Alex Hill of Raven South (Austin, Tx) is also joining me for a tremendous weekend of ministry!

FRIDAY- We will be holding a Bourbon Street Blitz as we take to this infamous street that were we have see thousands of souls come into the Kingdom over the years!

SATURDAY- 7:00 PM Pastor Alex will be preaching "under the tent" at our New Orleans International "Street Church" location, which is under the direction of Evang. Todd Bohn.

AFTER THE SERVICE we will once again be taking the team out to Bourbon Street and the French Quarter to share the Gospel! JOIN US!

SUNDAY 10:30 AM - Pastor Troy will be preaching at Faith Chrisitian Fellowship Church with our great friends Pastor Stephen & Becky Smith. The church is located at 400 Weidman on the West Bank in Gretna.

LOOKING AHEAD-- Please don't forget about the tremendous opportunity that we have of taking the Gospel into Amsterdam next month. I will be spending a week in the "Red Light" district with our team. We will be ministering to the prostitutes, drug addicts, and those who have NEVER heard the Gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. THAT sounds like a rarity, but many in this secularized nation have NEVER heard a true presentation of the redemptive work of the Cross----we are looking to change that!

We desperately need sponsors for this evangelstic outreach into Amsterdam. The total cost of the trip is around $2,000. That is NOTHING for Jesus and NOTHING in comparison to the VALUE of the SOULS that will be brought into His Kingdom! Would you consider helping anyway that you can?


Blessings,
Pastor Troy D. Bohn

www.BigGrace.com or Pastor Troy's Biography at "PASTOR TROY"


You can give securely online by clicking on the "make a donation" button on this webpage or by sending your missions offering to:

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Tuesday, July 11, 2006


Revelation 3:8 “"I know your works. See, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”

How many of us have prayed at one time or another for “God to open a door for us?” Or, have you ever been met with some sort of set back or disappointment and attributed it to “God just closed the door?”

I find it interesting (and alarming) that many times we give God credit or make Him responsible when things don’t turn out in accordance to our predetermined expectations. A couple of weeks ago while I was meditating upon the Word of God, this subject matter was quickened to me.

When you have been called to frontline ministry, you often find yourself praying and seeking after “open doors” of opportunity or “open doors” of provision for the ministry.

This same thing is probably true for most people in their daily walk as well. Whether one is looking and believing for a door to open for a new job or a door to open for a new home or even in a relationship that they are seeking—it seems we (as Christians) are always looking for open doors.

About the time the Lord Jesus was speaking to my heart in regards to this subject matter, a brother and sister in Christ were in town on a visit and I opened up the subject of this topic matter with them.

“So has the Lord been opening up any doors for you lately?” I asked in order to broach this topic of discussion. Before the conversation could detour into cliché I said, “Think about what the Word says concerning this.”

Immediately this brother said, “HE has set before us an OPEN door!”

I responded, “YES, in Christ Jesus ALL the doors are now opened and He has given us His wisdom, His Word and His Holy Spirit to guide us through those doors!”

How many of us have thought and prayed concerning our situations like Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James when they went to the Tomb of Jesus on that third day after His death:

Mark 16:3 “And they said among themselves,
Who shall roll us away the stone from the door…?”

But they soon found out that the stone had already been rolled away and the DOOR WAS WIDE OPEN!

When the Lord Jesus conquered death, hell and the grave at His resurrection HE swung the door open wide and has held it open by His grace and mercy for the past 2,000 waiting for His Body to Enter the OPEN DOOR that He has set before us!

Now pay close attention to what I am about to say: While HE has “set before us an OPEN DOOR”, it is dead, tired religion coupled with doubt and unbelief that have sought to close the door!

Jesus said in John 10:7 “I am the DOOR of the sheep!”
PRAISE GOD He has set HIMSELF (the Door) before us and that Door is WIDE OPEN for us!

Because He has “set before us an open door,” that means that ALL THE DOORS ARE OPEN unto us. Now the question that remains is: What door will we choose to enter?

Acts 14:27 “Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.”

That is you and I that He is talking about here. He has opened to us “the door of faith.” This means that entry into the “open door” is in accordance to our faith! Think about the times that Jesus would go to some to heal or deliver them and would say, “Be it in accordance with your faith.”
Your level of faith will always determine the door that you will consider as open to you. Your lack of faith and trust in Jesus will make doors (that were opened by His death, burial and resurrection) appear to be closed to you.

Consider this passage:

Matthew 13:54-58
(54) Coming to His hometown, He began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked.

(55) "Isn't this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers James, Joseph, Simon and Judas?

(56) Aren't all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?"

(57) And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor."

(58) And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.

Notice how THEIR FAITH (or more accurately their lack of faith) kept Jesus (The Open Door) from moving in the miraculous way for them like He had for others.

The OPEN DOOR was right there for them, but they reasoned their way out of entering into it.
Sad to say, but this attitude is STILL the modus operandi of much of the Church today just as it was by people then.

They made every excuse imaginable to NOT believe, rather than just acknowledging that there is a greater reality than what we see and that is what HE has said.

“Behold, I have set before you an OPEN DOOR.”

The doors are now ALL OPEN, you now have got to decide which one YOU will enter—–according to your faith in Jesus. There are “easy” doors open before you that will not demand much from you—but they will also not offer much in return.

There are “difficult” doors open before you that will demand everything from you—but they will offer a reward beyond imagination.

Revelation 3:20-21 says, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. (easy door)
To him who overcomes (difficult door), I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne.”

Friends, ALL THE DOORS have been set as open before you. God has given you the Holy Spirit, His Word, and Wisdom to enter whichever door you desire to enter for His Kingdom.
Don’t allow the enemy to ensnare you with the “I am just waiting to see if God opens or closes the door” mentality.

Pray, seek His face, consume His Word, hear His voice, obey and then GET BUSY changing this world for the Kingdom of God. The time is SHORT and the DOORS are WIDE OPEN.

“Be it according to your faith.”
Blessings,
Pastor Troy

Monday, July 10, 2006

Message from Pastor Troy Bohn

this is an audio post - click to play

Wednesday, July 05, 2006

Daytona Beach Outreach Report

2 Chr 16:99 "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him..."
Last night we wrapped up nearly a week of ministry, outreach and "equipping" here in Daytona Beach. While my "physical man" is a little sore and tired, my "spiritual man" is so strengthened and wrested as a result of seeing Jesus do some amazing things in the past six day.

I was blessed on Monday night late to stop and talk to a young twenty-seven year old young man from India. He was in Daytona Beach over the weekend visiting a couple of his friends. He has been traveling and working in the US for the past five years as a software consultant for major corporations. His travels take him to a new US city about every six months and then back home to India for a month or so as he awaits another assignment.
I found it very interesting to speak with him for about an hour there on the Boardwalk adjacent to the Atlantic Ocean as he waited for his friends who were inside a video arcade. He was a very articulate and intelligent young man, having earned his master's degree and now enjoying a good career and opportunities to travel to many places.
As he spoke, I thought to myself, "He is living the American Dream." Yet, this young man was anything but happy or fulfilled. While he boasted an education, a strong family relationship, financial prosperity, and security--there was just an enormous void still looming in this man's life.
He shared with me about his nation, and how he hoped to marry in the next year (it is customary for Indian men to marry in their 27th to 28th year) and that his marriage would be arranged by his parents (also customary in their culture.) When I quizzed him on this very foreign idiology, he said, "They will choose the very best for their son." WOW, what trust and confidence---we could leard much from just that.
I shared with him the fact that I am a minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and that I too travel and share His truth and hope of salvation. He was very attentive and respectful towards me and what I was saying to him. While our conversation did not result in his "on the spot conversion" to Christ, I know it went a long way in revealing Jesus to him in a way that he has probably never known.
One thing stands out that he said to me. He said, "I am amazed at the way Americans people speak evil of your country and of your president. I travel around the world and their is no nation on earth that even comes close to America in terms of greatness. What we would give to have a man like George Bush as our "premier" and have the liberties and freedoms that you have."
As his friends come out of the video arcade he introduced them to me before they made their way into the night. Yes, this nation is blessed to be a blessing to people like "Neal" and the greatest resource that we have is the Message of the Lord Jesus Christ!

(Above) The Boardwalk was a bevy of activity as the team continued to "pick off" people for the Kingdom of God. Here, several of the team pray for a man and his friend.


(Above) Pastor Frank "intercepted" this young man with a Word of Knowledge concerning some things that he had faced and a solemn warning that he needed to repent and turn to the grace and mercy of God while their was still time....he did! Praise the Lord!

(Above) This young man (Tyler) from Hinesville, Georgia was a "bulldog" for Jesus as he goes after this couple sitting out on the Boardwalk. He witnessed and prayed with them and shared about the power of the Holy Spirit.

(Above) The Raven "Jesus Bus" was busy all week running the teams to and from the various outreach sites and back to the host church where they "camped out" all week. Thank all of you who gave to enable us to have this vehicle for outreaches such as this one and our Mardi Gras Outreach as well.

(Above) The team takes a well deserved break as we closed out the outreach on the evening of July 4th. These young people were going from 8:00 AM to around 1:00 Am each day for the past week. Here they watch the fireworks going off in the background.

(Above) The FINAL RUN of BEACH REACH 2006! After several days of long hours, hot sun and tremendous opportunities to share the life transforming power of the Blood of Jesus, we loaded them up for the final run back to the base camp!

Tuesday, July 04, 2006

Shuttle Discovery Launch

July 4th, 2006 (Daytona Beach, Florida)
At just about 2:30 PM EST today, I heard a guy call out at our outreach site, "Loook to the South. The Space Shuttle is about to be launched."
I quickly retrieved my digital camera from the back seat of the pick up and got ready to get myself a little piece of history. (This is the very first shuttle launch that has taken place on Independence Day).
Within just a few seconds you could see the Space Shuttle Discover racing into the Southern skies over central Florida above the Atlantic Ocean. My memory immediately raced back to the two space shuttle disasters that claimed the lives if fourteen astronauts--and when the shuttle disappeared from site, leaving only a pillar of smoke behind--we all sighed and thank God for keeping them safe.
The below picture was snapped from my vantage point standing behind a vending truck parked beachside--that just-so-happened to be flying an American Flag! What a tremendous backdrop for not only THIS picture, but also for THIS picture on THIS day!

Sunday, July 02, 2006

1 Corinthians 9:24"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize."
DAYTONA BEACH OUTREACH AT THE PEPSI 400
(Above) An estimated 200,000 spectators gather each year in July for the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race held at the massive Daytona International Speedway located in Daytona Beach, Florida. They come to watch their favorite racer--in the hope that he'll be "crowned the champion."
We come to tell them that the "Only True Champion" has already been crowned and His name is not Stewert, Earnhardt, Johnson, Kenseth, or Gordon--it's JESUS!

(Above) Thousands rush across the bridge to join the tens of thousands who have already gathered in anticipation of the start of the race...only to find our team offering them a ticket to the BEST SEAT in the House! (Salvation in HIS House)


(Above) Again I had a great witnessing partner for the Pepsi 400, my daughter Kayla, standing here with a fist full of Gospel tracts to hand out.

(Above) Some of the people who left that day, didn't leave the way that they came. Here a woman is carted off in a waiting ambulance after being overcome by the midday Florida heat.

(Above) Pastor Troy stands next to the fence separating the spectator area from the race track several hours before the race was scheduled to begin.

(Above) Maybe one day we will host a massive revival in this location that can hold an estimated 500,000 in he grandstands and within the infield combined!

Race Day Outreach: Pepsi 400
@ Daytona International Speedway

(Above) Even hours before the race is scheduled to begin, tens of thousands of people fill the Speedway grounds at Daytona. Many are intoxicated; many are there with their families; many have come from hundreds of mailes away. ALL respresent the reason that JESUS came, died and rose again.
Matthew 9:36-3836 "When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then He said to his disciples, "The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field."

(Above) The team comes together towards the end of the days ministry time to remember the reason that we are all there: To serve, honor and worship our Lord and Savior Jesus. This area is directly across the main street from the Daytona Interational Speedway.

John 12:3232 "And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me."

(Above) One of the adjacent parking lots is crammed packed with vehicles and there are other parking areas miles away from the track that are equally filled with automobiles.
Joel 3:13-14 "Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great. Multitudes, multitudes in the valley of decision: for the day of the LORD is near in the valley of decision."

(Above) Part of the team kneels to pray "at the foot of the cross" and cry out for the lost souls that they have and will share the message of salvation and deliverance with.

Romans 1:16 "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes..."

(Above) "Scalper gets scalped" The young man above was out on International Speedway Blvd. selling race tickets when I stopped him and offered him a Gospel Trace. He was visiting from his home in Ft. Lauderdale scalping tickets to the Pepsi 400 event.

I began to quiz him on his relationship with God and he said that he regularly attended church. I then asked him if he "was in love with Jesus." He suddenly looked crestfallen and said, "No. I am not in love with Jesus. That would require a relationship with Him and I don't have one."

PRAISE GOD for and honest person- lost or not! I was then able to minister the word of God to this young man and we knelt right there togther on the street and prayed! The scalper got scalped by the Lord! PTL

(Above) Bro Mark Johnson leads the team in a time of Praise & Worship just across from the main vendor area of the Pepsi 400.

"BEACH REACH" Daytona Beach, Florida

Those of you who have never participated in a Daytona Beach Outreach, need to make plans to attend one of the outreach events scheduled throughout the year. This year's "Beach Reach" event corresponds with the Pepsi 400 NASCAR race at the Daytona International Speedway and the huge 4th of July Holiday Weekend.
This years team includes about 50-60 young people from various places who have come to get equipped and released for the work of the ministry. There is no "special age" for the outreach--we need the youth and the seasoned to help reach a lost and dying world.
If you want details on future outreach opportunities contact my at raven@biggrace.com


(Above) The team puts "first things first" as they worship the Lord Jesus before preparing to go out and share his good news with the tens of thousands that we'll encounter on this long day.


(Above) This year's outreach band is led by Evang. Mark Johnson of Forerunner Ministries (Minnesota) and he is joined by his two son, Phillip and Steve on the guitar and drums and Will (guitar) as well as Joe from Joy Fellowship in Slidel, Louisiana.

(Above) The young people stand and give testimony of the opportunities to witness and lead people to Christ on the previous day and spend time in the presence of the Lord crying out for a harvest.

"Gettin' Ready for Battle" Beach Reach 2006

This years Beach Reach Outreach here in Daytona Beach has been marked by some tremendous times of teaching, mininstry, equipping and impartation to those in attendance. As the team has come together, the Spirit of God has continually "showed up and showed out" in our midst.

(Above) Pastor Frank Greshem of the Jesus Centre addresses the team on Saturday morning following the chapel time.
(Above) Pastor Frank makes the announcements and introduces the days special speaker.

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(Above) Evang. Scott Durrant spoke in the Saturday Morning service and brought a very challenging and uplifting word from the Lord Jesus and then prayed for each participant that desired special prayer (especially physical healings)