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September 2017

lake autumnWelcome! We’re so excited about the thousands of people coming to the site from the U.S.A., Russia, the U.K., Canada, Brazil, Australia, Ireland, Ukraine, Mexico, Spain and numerous other countries to hear about the Good News of Jesus Christ. We love you!

“So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.” 1

A Dear Brother’s Response…

Robert, who is recovering through renewing his mind with Scripture from what he calls “bipolar disorder”, writes,

“I hope this finds you in good health. I’m grateful I wrote down your address from the website. I am impressed and inspired by your testimony and ministry. I hope there will be more opportunity to expand it.

“I was familiar with your name from the Manson family events, but I found out about you accepting the Lord from a Manson interview. At least he was good for that. Your case is another reason why Christians should oppose the death penalty. It negates the possibility of redemption. It’s amazing to me how many Christians are in favor of the death penalty. I point out that if we’re going to be “pro-life”, we have to be consistent.

“I have bipolar disorder, but God continues to see me through it. It has brought me closer to him. I know he helped me when I was homeless and getting into dangerous situations on the streets. So, I pray a lot for the “sound mind” talked about in Scripture! I hope you stay well and blessed, and please write when you can! Peace and love in the Lord. Robert, Welaka, FL.”

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” 2

The Spirit of Fear…

Can you identify with Robert? He defines “bipolar” as a severe case of “double mindedness.” James the apostle wrote that “…a double minded man is unstable in all his ways.” Fear and faith are two opposing factors that cause emotional instability. The cure is to “…purify your hearts, you double minded,” 4 or as Robert puts it, “…the sound mind talked about in Scripture.”

God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, of love and of a sound mind. For years, fear controlled my life because of sin – False Evidence Appearing Real. I grew up so afraid of failure, it caused failure. As Job wrote,

“What I always feared has happened to me. What I dreaded has come true. I have no peace, no quietness. I have no rest; only trouble comes.” 5

For Robert, he ended up “…homeless and getting into dangerous situations on the streets,” similar to where fear led me. The difference being, instead of turning to a madman like I did, Robert turned to God’s power, love, and soundness to find peace, quietness and rest. “…not everyone welcomes the Good News, for Isaiah the prophet said, ‘Lord, who has believed our message?’ So faith comes from hearing, that is, hearing the Good News about Christ.” 6

The Spirit of Power & Love…

God gave the world the Spirit of power and love two thousand years ago through faith in the cross, but in the 60s, I was non-responsive, blind and deaf to the Good News of Jesus Christ. In my pride, I was dead in my trespasses and sin. Maybe you can identify?

“Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News.” 8

Then, I experienced His power and love for the first time at the altar in 1975. My life has never been the same since the Holy Spirit took up residence in my heart. From that moment, God’s living water began to flush out all the waste that had built up in my soul for years. During the past forty-two years, Jesus’ words have come to pass in my life. He said,

“If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” 9

Today, because of the anointing of the Holy Spirit, God’s word flows freely through my heart, life and ministry. The Lord is no respecter of persons, so if you come to Him believing, out of your heart will flow rivers of living water too!

The Spirit of a Sound Mind…

Simply put, God gave us power (ability) and unconditional love in order to produce a sound or disciplined mind through faith in Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul proclaimed, “Now unto him that is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh on us.” 10

God has set it up to where He has to flow through people through faith in God’s grace.

  • “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” 11
  • “For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.” 12
  • “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” 13
  • “…whatsoever things are true… honest… just… pure… lovely… good report… virtue… praise, think on these things.” 14

God isn’t going to do what He told us to do. My ear brother Robert has determined to have the “sound mind talked about in Scripture.” How about you? Here’s a Scripture I want to leave with you to meditate upon and even memorize this month. The apostle James wrote as the Holy Spirit flowed through him,

“Therefore, submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” 15

A Prayer for You…

“Father, I thank You for empowering me to have a sound mind through faith in the Good News of Jesus Christ. You didn’t give me the spirit of fear, but the Spirit of power, of love and of a sound mind. I’ve confessed with my mouth the Lord Jesus Christ, and I’ve believed in my heart that You raised Jesus from the dead, therefore I am empowered by the Holy Spirit Who lives in me. I can do exceedingly abundantly above all that I ask or think according to Your power that works in me in Jesus’ Name. Amen!"

Scripture References:

1) 1 Cor. 15:58
2) 2 Tim. 1:7
3) James 1:8
4) James 4:8
5) Job 3:25
6) Rom. 10:16,17; Isa. 53:1
7) Eph. 2:1
8) 2 Cor. 4:4
9) John 7:37,38
10) Eph. 3:20
11) Pro. 23:7
12) Rom. 8:6
13) Isa. 26:3
14) Phil. 4:8
15) James 4:7,8