Let’s Testify

Wow! What a Service! My, how the Lord blessed the worship service this past Sunday!

There was an excitment as 15 people followed the Lord in Believer’s Baptism. The highlight for the church family was the testimony each participant gave to the congregation. They confessed their lostness of the past and their new-found faith in Christ. They shared how they came to repentance for their sins and how they were now washed clean by the blood of Jesus. As each one testified the Spirit spoke to the hearts of those watching… and many were moved to tears, to joy, and some to conviction of their own lostness.

An incredible site for me was watching those who had been baptized earlier remain on the steps leading to the baptistry praising God and having their own service right there. Wow!

God is to be praised for his salvation. God is to be praised for His blessings on the service. There are still more to be baptized following the crusade. They will be shortly… for now, Let’s Testify!!!

CRUSADE

The message of the Gospel has started to blow away the chaff. The Christ For Maumelle Crusade has been going just two days yet we are seeing the walls of self-righteousness crumble. Many are wrestling with past “decisions” as they lay their testimonies against the Scriptures. Some have already felt the desperation of their sinful life, God’s conviction and judgment to come, and now have entered by the narrow gate unto life.

The message of the Gospel has started to do something else as well… for the church, it is dividing the sheep from the goats… the wheat from the tares… light from darkness. I have seen this many times in the past during special ministry events like this crusade. When the crusade is over and the tent put away many, who have hidden from the blessedness of the TRUTH, will re-emerge to their religious inaction.

I pray the Holy Spirit will work here in Maumelle to discover all who are playing “Hide and Seek.”

My Friend: Bill Lynch

  I went to the funeral of my friend Bill Lynch on Tuesday. He was my friend… and my pastor when God called me to the ministry. The funeral was held at Lovings Baptist Church(Oklahoma) were Bill had been pastor until illness caused him to discontinue his preaching duties. Lovings Baptist Church and several other churches had been the recipient of Bill’s preaching/teaching ministry for many years. He was a man who walked with God… and God walked with Him. He had a great wife in Rosie who kept him straight and partnered with him in ministry.

  Bro. Bill was there for me especially in the early years of my ministry. He didn’t have any degrees from a college or seminary but was about the smartest man in the Bible I knew! I could ask him anything about the Bible, the Church or Pastoring people and he would always give me a good word of wisdom. This wisdom he shared came from hours and hours of studying God’s Word and Prayer. 

  It was good to hear the testimony’s of several people at the service as to Bill’s investment in their lives. I’m sure Bill would have been proud of his three sons leading the service. Bill’s life as a pastor touched 1000’s of lives directly… and now ten’s of thousands through his preacher boys.

  I remember when I surrendered to the ministry and he told me to get a sermon together as soon as I could. Several weeks later I was ready and he had me preach. After I finished preaching that message (The Rich Man and Lazarus) he sat there on the front pew crying. I thought by his actions that was probably my first and last time to preach… but those were tears of joy as he confided with me that he sensed God’s hand and Spirit on me to His Call. Bill helped me to get my first church as a pastor… encouraged me about once a month when I would see him and would get happy when we would drop in on him while we vacationed from our own church.

  I’ll miss Bill. However, I am and will be a better person and pastor because of his influence. I hope to finish the race as well as he did. He was my Elijah and I his Elisha! I can’t wait for the reunion…

Jeff Beshears