Does Prayer Matter?
Posted by Buddy | Filed under General
Well Dear Friends,
We´ve now been in the city of Puerto Maldonado for about 3 months, and possibly to your great surprise, we don´t have a megachurch, our own radio station, a new seminary, or even a bright shiny building. What we do have is a lot of contacts, many of whom have heard the gospel for the first time. We also have a long list of people whom we have invited to services, and a few who have even come. We have several people who are interested in a Bible study, and there we come to crux of the matter, and the point of this article.
I´ve been working on developing a friendship with a young man named Michael for about two months now. I gave him a tract on one of our first encounters, and because of his openness, I was able to briefly share the gospel. Nearly a month ago I planted the idea for a Bible study in his mind, and a week or so ago he agreed to the study. Michael owns an auto-parts store, which is how I met him in the first place, and so I´ve been trying to stop in regularly, whether I need parts or not.
So finally, yesterday morning, I went by on the motorcycle to see if he was there, and if he would be available for me to bring the truck by later as well as the Bible study. The answer was affirmative!
In the evening, after two months of cultivating this relationship, after having prayed earnestly for some time, and after having set up the meeting, I arrived at his place of business with great expectations: only to find that Michael was seated at the table with an open Bible, and with another book next to it, as well as a man on either side of him. I entered to see who they were, and what they were studying, and to my great shock and consternation, they happened to be a couple of ´witnesses´ supposedly of Jehovah.
What a heart-wrenching experience to find them seated at the table with a young man whom God was obviously working on, a young man with whom I had an appointment, a young man whom God wanted me to talk to. How could this happen!?
Michael excused himself from the table for a moment, and began to see about replacing the tail light on my truck (the breaking of which is an entirely different story). I sat there under the street light next to him in a cuandry as to what to say or do. I certainly didn´t want to ´duke it out´with the witnesses there, but i really didn´t want them to continue their maligning of my Lord to him either. I began asking God what should be done, or what He would do, or what could be done, and it was if He told me, the best thing that could happen would be that they would just leave. I commenced praying earnestly and fervently that they would just walk out on their own, and that God would open the door for the truth, and within five minutes, He accomplished both of those tasks!
After a few comments on the history and doctrine of the ´witnesses´, I presented Michael with a Bible provided by BEAMS, and we began the introduction to the Jesus is the Answer Bible study. During the conversation he told me that this would be the first Bible that he had ever had in his home. He also said that his daughter loves Bible stories, and when she stopped by a few minutes later, he promised to read a little bit to her every evening. He then promised to do as much of the study as he could, and we made an appointment for Monday to continue the study and review what he has learned.
For me however, the lesson was clear and plain. We DO NOT WRESTLE AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD. God swiftly and thoroughly answered prayer, and I´m certain that not only was I praying, but some of your were praying for us as well. Please, please continue to pray for us. Pray for the lost here not to be deceived into a cult. Pray for Satan to be bound. Pray for the gates of hell not to prevail against the church in this dark place. and most of all, pray that God would be glorified where Christ is not yet named.
April 25th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
Buddy, The thought struck me after reading the above that we here on the home front often think of the missionaries we support as ministering to people who have very open minds to the Gospel. From you and from other sources lately I have been made more aware of the fact that the cults are everywhere and presenting the Gospel is more than just presenting Biblical truth. It is also being able to refute the error of those who mix truth with error in their teaching. Thanks for sharing as to the importance of our prayers here at home. You folks need all the encouragement you can get. I have been reading David’s Psalms lately and have been so blessed. David certainly knew what the phrase “It’s a tough life” is,We are praying. Blessings, Len and Judy Marcy.
April 25th, 2009 at 8:51 pm
Dear Brother, thank you so much for the encouragement, and for your prayers! We truly need them! You are right, there really are not a lot of people who are an ´easy catch´ if you know what I mean.
ps. we are working on getting the color changed. Thank you for your patience.
May 5th, 2009 at 6:54 am
Buddy, I am glad to know you are not only where God has called you, but you are also a faithful and willing witness for the King of kings and Lord of Lords.
Love to all,
Pastor Smith
Hillsdale Baptist Church
Tampa, FL
May 25th, 2009 at 7:28 pm
Buddy & Loren, our family is praying for you every week in our family devotions. It is exciting to hear about how God answered your prayers regarding this witnessing opportunity – He is indeed a wonderful God! Our church has been praying for your safety in Peru with the unrest that you are seeing. May God continue to bless your ministry among these people!