This is a true story. Many of the activities of the men and women portrayed in it are abrasive and coarse, at cross-purposes to the will of God and, in fact, are outright evil! But God has taken, and will yet take, that which is unacceptable in His sight, and restore each one into vessels for His glory. John 8:32 And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
As we sat facing one another, I started
to shake. This was very unusual, not
like me at all. There was a large jug of water with ice cubes floating in it. I asked if I might have a glass. I could hardly lift it to my lips without spilling it. The ice cubes played an Old Icelandic melody as they clinked against the side of the glass. But, seriously, there was something strange about that room and its company.
“How do you like America?” asked Pastor Stephens as he continued to fiddle with his recording device.
“Well,” I said, “I didn’t come over to see America; actually, I came over to greet the saints. And that was the sole emphasis. A bit like Adam in the garden, you read the first accounts of Genesis where God saw that it was good, you then read the next day of creation God saw that it was good…”
They must have really wondered where this was going. “Then we get, strangely, a change in the dialogue and He says, ‘it is not good that Adam should be alone’, and because God has touched me with His righteousness, I looked around me and I thought, is there
anybody else that has been touched this way? And, of course, I knew there was. And because there was no one directly around me or even right across Australia at that stage and because of the fellowship over the internet, I knew where the saints were, so I came over to be with the saints. And it has been fantastic. I have been to a holiness camp. And I have testified twice already to what God has done in my life. Once this is out of the way I want to keep interviewing people on holiness and videoing. I am going over to Pennsylvania to meet a pastor over there. And I think the time is going to fly.”
I should have realized at the time that there was no recognition of righteousness of what I had said, and there was no response to it either. Instead, after a period of six minutes trying to get various recording devices to work, Mervyn Stephens placed a cassette recorder on a side table, pressed the record button and said, “Let’s pray.” One line in the prayer I particularly remembered was, may the truth prevail, to which I gave a firm “amen.”
Excerpt
The Spirit leads
As righteousness releases the heart
To experience, beyond the natural
What never has been felt before
“Seek ye first…”
And in this single obedience
What was tightly tethered
Is set free
The beauty of the physical
Subordinates itself
To something far greater
And no passion
Can make earthbound
What has already
Been grasped in the heavenlies
Righteousness is the higher link
Wherein unity becomes complete
Finally! Understand and learn from the New Testament Books of Hebrews, James, 1 Peter, 2 Peter, 1 John, 2 John, 3 John, and Jude.
Try James first for free
Now there is a Bible translation that is easy to read, understand, and stud
We have been told from the pulpit that only men have been called to the leadership positions of the church. Uncovered truths and new translations have changed this perspective.
