hmmm.
Well I kinda have a lot on my mind at the moment, and honestly was not in the mood to blog until I just wrote this last sentence. I was going to write that I am not in the mood to blog, but in this instant God changed my mind. I get to tell of the awesome works of our glorious father to family, friends, financial supporters, and faithfull prayer warriors.
Well I kinda have a lot on my mind at the moment, and honestly was not in the mood to blog until I just wrote this last sentence. I was going to write that I am not in the mood to blog, but in this instant God changed my mind. I get to tell of the awesome works of our glorious father to family, friends, financial supporters, and faithfull prayer warriors. This week was so good. It was filled with goodness. I it was sunday when there was a guy asking Joe and I for money. We didn’t have money, but we offered him prayer. He didnt want the prayer, because he said the devil had too much power over him and his family. Joe and I gave him as much truth as week could in our feeble Spanish, telling him that Satan is a lier and wants to destroy him and Jesus crushes Satans head. But not through our choice words but by the POWER of the Holy Spirit, through much time convinced him that he needed to pray. It was funny though how honest he was. Through his tears he told us that he wanted Jesus, but couldn’t because the power of the Devil. It was obvious that the Devil was at his best in this man’s life. Satan is very consistant in convincing people that he has power where he does not, and with this lie people give him the power they assume he already had.
The Holy Spirit was miraculously at work during our talk with him. JD and Sarah ended up coming over and JD was talking to him with his mucho mejor (better) Espanol. As JD and Joe talked and Sarah prayed, JD asked me to look up a verse. I knew of the verse, but I had no clue where it was located in the bible. I prayed, and randomly opened up my bible, incredibly I looked straight down at the verse. A few min later JD asked me to look up another verse. The guy had many trials in his life so JD wanted me to look up the verse where Paul lists his trials. I was looking for like a list or column all throgh romans and acts and was unsuccesful. Then I stopped and told Joe and Sarah to pray for me. I purposly turned the bible to a random page, and after not seeing a column I almost turned away, but after looking more intently realised that it was in fact the list of Pauls sufferings. Paul goes on to say that he learned to be content in all circumstances, and that God’s grace was sufficient for him.
Still crying this young man accepted Christ that night. Consistant with who God is he insisted that we go back to his house and pray over is house and his family. He wanted the people he loves to feel the joy he was feeling. We did and it was very powerful. We prayed against the powers of darkness. One of the most powerful things to me was after we prayed I looked up and saw the man crying again, tears of joy and freedom. Equally as powerful and to my surprise I saw my brother in Christ JD crying. Wow when God moves, he is intentional about the lives he touches.
Truth: There is a spiritual battle going on. Satan and powers of darkness are real and daily decieve people into putting themselves in chains and giving him the key. People are not satisfied with there lives of sin and letting the Devil destroy them.
Truth: Jesus Christ has all power and authority. God has entrusted Christians with that power. We hold the key, in the name of Jeus Christ to free people of the chains of the Devil. Jesus fills people with freedom, truth, peace, healing, and a purpose for living. In knowing Christ people are more satisfied than they thought was possible.
When we met that man he was broken and oppressed like many other people without Jesus. When we left he was full of joy, peace, and a purpose for living.
You are probably getting used to me putting challenges in my blogs. This probably because I have so much in my heart, but can rarely speak it in my own language.
Anyways I would challenge all christians reading this to declare war on darkness. For so long I was decieved thinking that maybe someone didn’t want to hear the gospel or they were content with their life. When Jesus talks with the women at the well he basically tells her that if she knew who he was she would beg him for it.(quote from John Lalgee)
Thats still true. If people knew what we have the would beg us for it.
With out Jesus Christ there is no other outcome than destruction! We declare war on darkness by sharing the good news of WHO JESUS CHRIST IS and what he has done.
I also found out later that night that not only did he have a need to hear the gospel, but I had a hunger to share the gospel. After Jesus ministers to the women at the well he tells the disciples that he has food that they know nothing about (This is also a concept I heard from John Lalgee) Sharing the Gospel sustained him.
That night I found that out to be true. I felt so full and filled. I climbed up onto the roof and just stared up at God, in the form of a stary sky. As I watched his shooting stars my heart felt so close to him. Joe, JD, and I ended up sleeping outside that night. There is nothing better than being with God.
Please pray for: My Spanish to rapidly and supernaturaly improve. That my team members and I would continue to experience God more intamately. Andy the man who accepted Christ( throw a party if you want :)) and for my friend Krista.
If you made it through this whole blog please give yourself a pat on the back because I know it was a long one 🙂 God Bless!
Praise God!! The truth is, that everyone needs Jesus and is broken , not just those that we think are. Your Dad has told me (simply),that God gives us what we need, not what we deserve. It’s so true in every way, and His grace reaches us in the power of the Almighty Creator and sustainer of the universe!!Thanks for blogging even when you didn’t feel like it. I truly look forward to hearing what God is doing in your life and the lives around you. Keep looking up,
Bonnie San Filippo
Praising our Father God with you my brother! May you continue to ernestly seek his face and boldly go where ever He leads you, speaking His truth into the darkness of this world…and may we here at home actively be doing the same.
=)
Yeah God! Isn’t He just the Best! Thanks for testifying to His goodness, Caleb.
Praise God!
Caleb, I totally just went through this same process with God! Not in the same way of course, but I was completely living under the belief that satan is more powerful than me…he is NOT!
Its good to hear from you! I’m glad to hear that you are having a good time and that you are walking closely with the Lord. What wonderous love He gives.
Praying for your spanish…right NOW.
Elise
Gracias! wow it worked haha seriously tho thank you!!!
Dear Caleb,
Are you still sick? We all look foward to hearing from you each week. You have amazing insights and enthusiasm. God really hand-picked you guys on this trip-maybe your next reading assignment should be “Wild at Heart” (we’re still shaking our heads at the lizard thing and the shaved head)-we anxiously await your next adventure.
We have prayed at our church today for your teams’ health and that God would remove all obstacles that Satan would like to throw in the way to decrease your effectiveness in ministry. We will keep praying for this!
It is important that you are at full capacity to keep Joe in line! Just “say no” to all his crazy ideas-we’ve been saying no for years.
Prayerfully,
Joe’s mom and dad
Oh thank you so much. I am actually feeling a little better thanks to lots of care form your son! We definitlely bonded through it all. He is so cool. Oh yeah I have read a little of that book and heard good things about it. Haha yeah it’s all Joe’s fault he starts it! No I actually was pushing for the shaved head thing, but the lizard was his idea.
Thank you so much for praying. God is teaching me how powerful prayer really is. We would not last on this mission field without your prayers. Thanks again!