The Secrets of Our Hearts Will Be Revealed (Not Just Unbelievers) - Personal Honesty - Diagnose Your Own Heart

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Corinthians 14:23-30

1 Corinthians 14:23-30

Tongues a Sign to Unbelievers

²³ Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? ²⁴ But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. ²⁵ And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed; and so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you.

Order in Church Meetings

²⁶ How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. ²⁷ If anyone speaks in a tongue, let there be two or at the most three, each in turn, and let one interpret. ²⁸ But if there is no interpreter, let him keep silent in church, and let him speak to himself and to God.²⁹ Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge. ³⁰ But if anything is revealed to another who sits by, let the first keep silent. ³¹ For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged.

Who Can Stand Marked With Iniquities? O Lord There Is Forgiveness With You

Today's Focus Scripture: Psalm 130

Psalm 130

Waiting for the Redemption of the Lord

A Song of Ascents.

1 Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord;
2 Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.
3 If You, Lord, should mark iniquities,
O Lord, who could stand?
4 But there is forgiveness with You,
That You may be feared.
5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
And in His word I do hope.
6 My soul waits for the Lord
More than those who watch for the morning—
Yes, more than those who watch for the morning.
7 O Israel, hope in the Lord;
For with the Lord there is mercy,
And with Him is abundant redemption.
8 And He shall redeem Israel
From all his iniquities.

We Need Not Concern Ourselves With Great Matters, Nor With Things Too Profound for Us

Today's Focus Scripture: Psalm 131

Psalm 131

Simple Trust in the Lord

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

1 Lord, my heart is not haughty,

Nor my eyes lofty.

Neither do I concern myself with great matters,

Nor with things too profound for me.

2 Surely I have calmed and quieted my soul,

Like a weaned child with his mother;

Like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord

From this time forth and forever.

"For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 12:24 – 34

Luke 12:24 – 34

24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!

25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life’s span?

26 If you then are not able to do the least, why are you anxious for the rest?

27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you?  You men of little faith!

29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, nor have an anxious mind. 

30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

31 But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.

32 Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure [and plan] to give you the kingdom.

33 “Sell your possessions and give [alms] to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys.

34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

LANGIAPPE

"Do not fear, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom."

~ Luke 12:32

Luke 12:32 – “good pleasure”

Strong's G2106 – eudokeō  

εὐδοκέω

1) it seems good to one, is one's good pleasure 
    a) think it good, choose, determine, decide

    b) to do willingly

    c) to be ready to, to prefer, choose rather

2) to be well pleased with, take pleasure in, to be favorably inclined towards one

Luke 12:32 – “to give”

Strong's G1325 – didōmi

δίδωμι

1) to give something to someone

    a) of one's own accord to give one something, to their advantage 

    b)to supply, furnish, necessary things


Proverbs 22:6
(NKJV)
6 Train up a child in the way he should go,
And when he is old he will not depart from it.

Convince, Rebuke, Exhort, With All Longsuffering and Teaching - In and Out of Season

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Timothy 4:1-8

2 Timothy 4:1-8

Preach the Word

 ¹ I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: ² Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. ³ For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; ⁴ and they will turntheir ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. ⁵ But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.

Paul’s Valedictory

⁶ For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. ⁸ Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.

Comfort One Another [As Well As Others] With These Words

Today's Focus Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

1 Thessalonians 4:9-18

A Brotherly and Orderly Life

9 But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; 10 and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more; 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

The Comfort of Christ’s Coming

13 But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.

LANGIAPPE

Verse 13: "Ignorant"

Strong's G50 – agnoeō - ἀγνοέω

1) to be ignorant, not to know

2) not to understand, unknown

3) to err or sin through mistake, to be wrong

not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - (be) ignorant (-ly), not know, not understand, unknown.



Ignore  
Verb
1. Refuse to take notice of or acknowledge; disregard intentionally:
2. Fail to consider (something significant):

Ignorant  
Adjective
1. Lacking knowledge or awareness in general; uneducated or unsophisticated.
2. Lacking knowledge, information, or awareness about something in particular:

Ignorance  
Noun
Lack of knowledge or information:

Love the Lord Your God With All Your Heart, With All Your Soul, With All Your Mind, and With All Your Strength

Today's Focus Scripture: Mark 12:18-33

Mark 12:18-33

The Sadducees: What About the Resurrection?

¹⁸ Then some Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to Him; and they asked Him, saying: ¹⁹ “Teacher, Moses wrote to us that if a man’s brother dies, and leaveshis wife behind, and leaves no children, his brother should take his wife and raise up offspring for his brother. ²⁰ Now there were seven brothers. The first took a wife; and dying, he left no offspring. ²¹ And the second took her, and he died; nor did he leave any offspring. And the third likewise. ²² So the seven had her and left no offspring. Last of all the woman died also. ²³ Therefore, in the resurrection, when they rise, whose wife will she be? For all seven had her as wife.”

²⁴ Jesus answered and said to them, “Are you not therefore mistaken, because you do not know the Scriptures nor the power of God? ²⁵ For when they rise from the dead, they neither marry nor are given in marriage, but are like angels in heaven. ²⁶ But concerning the dead, that they rise, have you not read in the book of Moses, in the burning bush passage, how God spoke to him, saying, ‘I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? ²⁷ He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living. You are therefore greatly mistaken.”

The Scribes: Which Is the First Commandment of All?

²⁸ Then one of the scribes came, and having heard them reasoning together, perceiving that He had answered them well, asked Him, “Which is the first commandment of all?”

²⁹ Jesus answered him, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, theLord is one. ³⁰ And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment.³¹ And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

³² So the scribe said to Him, “Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth, for there is one God, and there is no other but He. ³³ And to love Him with all the heart, with all the understanding, with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love one’s neighbor as oneself, is more than all the whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

God Is Faithful To His Faithful

Today's Focus Scripture: Psalm 37:21-31

Psalm 37:21-31

21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.
23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.
25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.
26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.
27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.
30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.

Peace, More Peace, and Finally Perfect Peace - All Established and Kept By the Lord

Today's Focus Scripture: Isaiah 26:3-12

Isaiah 26:3-12

³ You will keep him in perfect peace,
Whose mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You.
⁴ Trust in the Lord forever,
For in YAH, the Lord, is everlasting strength.
⁵ For He brings down those who dwell on high,
The lofty city;
He lays it low,
He lays it low to the ground,
He brings it down to the dust.
⁶ The foot shall tread it down—
The feet of the poor
And the steps of the needy.”

⁷ The way of the just is uprightness;
O Most Upright,
You weigh the path of the just.
⁸ Yes, in the way of Your judgments,
O Lord, we have waited for You;
The desire of our soul is for Your name
And for the remembrance of You.
⁹ With my soul I have desired You in the night,
Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early;
For when Your judgments are in the earth,
The inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness.
¹⁰ Let grace be shown to the wicked,
Yet he will not learn righteousness;
In the land of uprightness he will deal unjustly,
And will not behold the majesty of the Lord.
¹¹ Lord, when Your hand is lifted up, they will not see.
But they will see and be ashamed
For their envy of people;
Yes, the fire of Your enemies shall devour them.

¹² Lord, You will establish peace for us,
For You have also done all our works in us.

Do We Therefore Fellowship With Toxic Believers?

Today's Focus Scripture: 2 Thessalonians 3:1-10

2 Thessalonians 3:1-10
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 
2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 
4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you.
5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 
7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 
8 nor did we eat anyone’s bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 
9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us.
10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat.

LAGNIAPPE:


1 Corinthians 5:9-12
9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people; 
10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.
11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one. 
12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?


1 John 4:7
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.

Comprehending God's Peace, Beyond Being Troubled With Cares

Today's Focus Scripture: Philippians 4:4-11


Philippians 4:4-11
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious [troubled with cares] for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble [honorable], whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good repute, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 
11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 

LAGNIAPPE:

Philippians 4:12-13
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Jerry Skinner led call #189 on July 3, 2012 and read the same passage of scripture Philippians 4:4-11.

Hard Times, Good Times, Uncertain Times - "Rejoice In the Lord" - Always

Today's Focus Scripture: Habakkuk 3:17-19  and "Cross the Bridge Daily Evotionals" with Pastor David McGee

Habakkuk 3:17-19
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.
To the Chief Musician. With my stringed instruments.

"Cross the Bridge Daily Evotionals"

Nothing but God - Thursday, July 11th 2013

Habakkuk 3:17-18

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation."
NKJV

After several complaints to God and three chapters later, the prophet Habakkuk comes to an amazing revelation. In his brokenness, he finally realized that God is enough. In His song of prayer to the Lord, he writes of what is to come for the land of Judah. No figs, no wine, no oil, no food, nothing was left all because of their sin. Yet, when faced with the reality of these things, he says something so profound... "Yet I will rejoice in the Lord."

Imagine friend. You're going to barely be able to feed yourself and your family and in the midst of that fear you are filled with the joy of the Lord. This is not a fictional occurrence. This is God at work. His mercies are new every morning. Each breath we take is a blessing from God, but there's more. In His great love, He sent His Son to die for our sins. We can now be forgiven not because we deserve it, but because God desires to show mercy and declare forgiveness. This is the God that Habakkuk clung to in those hard times. This is why he was able to say, "I will joy in the God of my salvation."

Life Lesson: The mercies of God are evident all around us if we take the time to notice them.

Introduced To Grace By Faith Into The Manifested Love of God Through The Death of Christ

Today's Focus Scripture: Romans 5:1-11


Romans 5:1-11

1 Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 
2 through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God. 
3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 
4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 
5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 
7 For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. 
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. 
9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him. 
10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 
11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.

LAGNIAPPE:

Verse 8 of Romans chapter 5 answers the question, "What did Jesus do for us?" He died for us, and by this manifested His love for us.


(King James Version)
8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.



Demonstrate -
v. demonstrated, demonstrating, demonstrates
v.tr. 
1. To show clearly and deliberately; manifest
2. To show to be true by reasoning or adducing evidence; prove
3. To present by experiments, examples, or practical application; explain and illustrate:
4. to evince; reveal the existence of

Synonyms: authenticate, determine, establish, evidence, evince, exhibit, expose, indicate, make evident, manifest, prove, roll out, show and tell, testify to, validate

vs. 8 - demonstrates, commendeth

Strong's G4921 - synistēmi - συνστημι

From G4862 and G2476 (including its collateral forms)

1) to place together, to set in the same place,to bring or band together

a) to stand with (or near)

2) to set one with another

a) by way of presenting or introducing him

b) to comprehend

3) to put together by way of composition or combination, to teach by combining and comparing

a) to show, prove, establish, exhibit

4) to put together, unite parts into one whole

a) to be composed of, consist

Strong's G4862 - sü'n (syn, soon) - σύν

A primary preposition denoting union; with or together, that is, by association, companionship, process, resemblance, possession, instrumentality, addition, etc.: - beside, with. In compounds it has similar applications, including completeness.

Strong's G2476 - histēmi - στημι

1) to cause or make to stand, to place, put, set

a) to bid to stand by, [set up]

1) in the presence of others, in the midst, before judges, before members of the Sanhedrin;

2) to place

b) to make firm, fix establish

1) to cause a person or a thing to keep his or its place

2) to stand, be kept intact (of family, a kingdom), to escape in safety

3) to establish a thing, cause it to stand

a) to uphold or sustain the authority or force of anything

c) to set or place in a balance

1) to weigh: money to one (because in very early times before the introduction of coinage, the metals used to be weighed)

2) to stand

a) to stand by or near

1) to stop, stand still, to stand immovable, stand firm

a) of the foundation of a building

b) to stand

1) continue safe and sound, stand unharmed, to stand ready or prepared

2) to be of a steadfast mind

3) of quality, one who does not hesitate, does not waiver

Struggles – Do Not Be Distracted Off of the Path the Lord Has Placed Us On

Today’s Focus Scripture: Isaiah 41:6-13

Isaiah 41:6-13

(NKJV)

6 Everyone helped his neighbor,

And said to his brother,

“Be of good courage!”

7 So the craftsman encouraged the goldsmith;

He who smooths with the hammer inspired him who strikes the anvil,

Saying, “It is ready for the soldering”;

Then he fastened it with pegs,

That it might not totter.

8 “But you, Israel, are My servant,

Jacob whom I have chosen,

The descendants of Abraham My friend.

9 You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth,

And called from its farthest regions,

And said to you,

‘You are My servant,

I have chosen you and have not cast you away:

10 Fear not, for I am with you;

Be not dismayed, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you,

Yes, I will help you,

I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

11 “Behold, all those who were incensed against you

Shall be ashamed and disgraced;

They shall be as nothing,

And those who strive with you shall perish.

12 You shall seek them and not find them—

Those who contended with you.

Those who war against you

Shall be as nothing,

As a nonexistent thing.

13 For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,

Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.' 

Verse 10 (NASB) -

‘Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’

The Lord Neither Condemns Us Nor Forsakes Us - Salvation Comes To Our House Every Day

Today's Focus Scripture: Luke 19:1-10

Luke 19:1-10

1 He entered Jericho and was passing through.

2 And there was a man called by the name of Zaccheus; he was a chief tax collector and he was rich.

3 Zaccheus was trying to see who Jesus was, and was unable because of the crowd, for he was small in stature.

4 So he ran on ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree in order to see Him, for He was about to pass through that way.

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and said to him, “Zaccheus, hurry and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”

6 And he hurried and came down and received Him gladly.

7 When they saw it, they all began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to be the guest of a man who is a sinner.”

8 Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much.”

9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”

In Memory of Sterling Knight - A Story of Two Dreams

We love you Sterling and it was a truly and honor and pleasure to have been able to fellowship with you and talk about Jesus and all that He has done in your life over the years.  

We will miss you greatly, but we also rejoice with you while you are dancing with Jesus in Heaven.

*****************************************************************

Sterling Knight is a 96 year old former missionary and a WWII US Military veteran.

This is Sterling's notes on some dreams, one by a young boy named Oscar Hall and the other dream by a man named Ledson in Brazil, and finally Sterling makes a short story out of one of his own dreams.

Enjoy these recollections of Sterling’s encounter with Oscar and Ledson as he recalls the stories and caps off the story of these dreams with a short version of his own dream.

DREAMS – In Sterling’s own words.

LEDSON’S DREAM as recalled by Sterling Knight

I have been a pastor, also a missionary to Brazil for a number of years. When speaking at a church there was one evening I was introduced to a man named Ledson and was asked to take him with me the following two days to churches in the same area where I had appointments. He had been invited to sing and give his testimony in the same churches in the first part of the service. It was truly an unforgettable testimony.

Ledson said that he had been living with a woman without having been married to her. Then one night he had a dream in which someone came to him and said, "Ledson, if you continue in the life you are living you are going to hell." Also he was told of certain sins he was guilty of including the fact he was living with a woman without being married to her. This woman was a spiritist and a medium. Although she stopped practicing Spiritism, the spirit that had been entering her during séances had not permanently left her. On awakening from the dream, Ledson took the warning very seriously and decided to make a change. So he told Maria, the Spiritist's name, that he wanted to live differently and asked her to leave. However, she preferred staying with him and persuaded him to let her remain living with him.

A few days later, after Ledson and this dream, while it was still dark outside Maria awoke and pulled on Ledson's arm commanding him, "Boy, get me a drink of water." Ledson was quite surprised because he was blind and Maria always waited upon him and gave Ledson what he wanted. Upon hearing this command coming from Maria, Ledson reminded Maria that she helps him by serving him due to his blindness and told Maria to get the water herself. Maria replied, "I have never gotten you anything and my name is not Maria and I don't know who you."  Ledson was greatly puzzled and surprised because she had been living with him for so long. Ledson asked Maria, "If you are not Maria, then who are you?" She replied, "It is Lucifer speaking with you. I have just arrived after a long journey and I am going to destroy everything in this house beginning with your life if I find a knife shelf."

Maria got up to get a knife. Ledson attempted to hold her, but with superhuman strength she threw Ledson against the wall.  He stood up trembling and thinking that any minute a knife would be plunged into his body and it would be his last day on earth. Ledson simply started praying at this time. Sometime before this dream and Maria being possessed Ledson was passing by a church and the door was open. He then mockingly said, "There is power in the blood of Jesus." The pastor of this church heard Ledson and replied to him saying, "One day you will know there is power in the blood of Jesus.  But now since the dream Ledson was a different man from the one who mocked Jesus.  Ledson then says to Maria, "There is power in the blood of Jesus." This time Ledson was not mocking Jesus, but was very sincere in his heart by declaring this statement to Lucifer. The devil heard Ledson saying this and said, "You are attacking me. When one speaks of the blood of Jesus I do not stay. But when you stop speaking of the blood of Jesus, I am going to return. Ledson declares with tremendous faith, "You are not going to return." Maria then backed up, entered into the bedroom and lay down and went to sleep. Ledson followed her to the bedroom and started speaking the words in variation for the next 2 hours, "There is power in the blood of Jesus."

After this time of declaring "There is power in the blood of Jesus," Maria woke up and got Ledson a drink of water. The devil left her. The same day Ledson sent Maria away. She took a bus and left crying to go live in another city.  Without delay Ledson went to a church and made a profession of faith in Christ. Since that time Ledson began to give his testimony in churches in various cities and states in Brazil of how God marvelously saved and delivered him and had given him a new life. Truly there is wonder working in the power of the blood of Christ.

THE DREAM OF OSCAR HALL as recalled by Sterling Knight

Many years ago I was attending a seminary in Dallas, TX at the time I was teaching a Sunday School of class of twelve year old boys.  On one particular day in Sunday School class a boy named Oscar Hall stated he wished to speak to me in private. I made arrangements to go and visit at a later time with Oscar at his home. Oscar told me of a terrible dream he had that troubled him. He said he dreamed that he was at the end of the world and the devil came and picked him up and threw him into a bottomless pit from which there was no escape. Oscar thought in this dream, “Why didn’t I believe in God before it was too late?” Oscar then asked me what it meant to believe in God.

I explained to Oscar that to believe in God in order to be saved meant to simply believe in Christ Whom God sent to this earth to save us and to die for our sins; also of how Christ arose from the grave and went back to heaven where He is waiting and willing to save all who trust in Him. After explaining the good news a little more, I prayed for him and asked Oscar if he would also pray and told him a few things he might like to include in his prayer. Oscar replied that he didn’t remember all the words that I suggested. I explained that to be saved was not a matter of just saying a bunch of words, but even silently in his heart, if he trusted in Christ and received Him, that God would save him. Oscar was silent for a few moments, then with a tear in his eye he touched my arm and said, “It will be alright.” After another moment or two of silence Oscar stated, “I would like to go to heaven and look around up there.” I asked Oscar what he had hoped to see. He said to me, “I was just thinking of how grand it would be to see the One Who died for my sins.” Immediately I perceived that he had just trusted in Chris from his heart, and now having the love of Christ within him, that he was already looking forward to seeing Jesus face to face.

On another day in Sunday School class Oscar told me that he no longer had any more terrible dreams of the end of the world and the devil throwing him into a bottomless pit, but now he only has sweet dreams of heaven. As he took to heart the warning of the first dream and sought the Lord, God revealed to Oscar what would actually take place as a child of God.

STERLING’S DREAM -

I also had a dream that I was drafted into the military and was putting on a uniform to go into the Army. I was exempt from the draft, but believing the dream was of God, I volunteered to go into military service. I will not say much about it now, but it was wonderful how God brought me through the war without a scratch.

MEMORIAL INFORMATION FOR STERLING

Service Information

In Memory of

Sterling T. Knight

June 6, 1917 - July 4, 2013

Obituary

Sterling T. Knight, 96, beloved husband, father, grandfather and faithful servant of the Lord passed into glory Thursday, July 4, 2013. Funeral Service: 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2013 at Shannon Rufe Snow Funeral Chapel. There will be a visitation one hour before the service where the family will receive friends. Memorials: Memorials may be made to Grace Community Church, 251 Countryside Court, Southlake, TX 76092. Sterling was born on June 6, 1917 in Houston, Texas. He was a former pastor of churches in Illinois and missionary to Brazil where he served for 17 years. He was enlisted in the army in 1943 and served in the medical...

Sterling T. Knight, 96, beloved husband, father, grandfather and faithful servant of the Lord passed into glory Thursday, July 4, 2013.

Funeral Service: 3 p.m. Sunday, July 14, 2013 at Shannon Rufe Snow Funeral Chapel. There will be a visitation one hour before the service where the family will receive friends.

Memorials: Memorials may be made to Grace Community Church, 251 Countryside Court, Southlake, TX 76092.

Sterling was born on June 6, 1917 in Houston, Texas. He was a former pastor of churches in Illinois and missionary to Brazil where he served for 17 years. He was enlisted in the army in 1943 and served in the medical department with the 45th infantry division in Italy, France and Germany.
Sterling is preceded in death by his parents, N. B. and Mamie Knight and his siblings.

Survivors: beloved wife of 39 years, Jackie Knight; daughter, Renata and husband, Jaime; son, Paul and wife, Brooke and grandchildren, Hannah, Calek and Coen; and several nieces and nephews.

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