Journal Entry 2,
For those of you who are reading. I have the opportunity to serve as a leader in Rock Solid Ministries southern division. We get a chance to visit our local juvenile detention center each week. I have always wanted to "keep track" of my thoughts and experiences as I serve in this capacity. Thanks to the internet its easy to put this out there for myself mainly to look back on all the Lord has done. These are my personal thoughts and events that happen while we minister.
This week, like always, is amazing that God would want to visit with us and meet many people even though they never asked Him too. I didn't feel a direct direction this week. Last week I was led to tell my friend who goes in with me to preach on a parable that the Lord showed them. What I originally heard from the Lord was that He wanted us to spend time preaching about the Kingdom of God. Like Jesus did as He was here. This week as we met before we went into the building, my friend agreed that we continue preaching the kingdom. He shared a parable about the boy who had a demon that would throw him into a fire and cause a seizure. and the fact that Jesus asked the father if he believed. The father said I believe but help my unbelief. This is an amazing principle that shows up many times in the Word. Abraham despite unbelief believed God and it was credited as righteousness (Rom 4:18). We get to minister twice each night so I felt like that may be for one of those. We started at the girls. I felt led to start. to sum it up I preached on the fact that we look to be numbed from reality or what we are going through. This is not a bad desire but when we do this without the Lord we always end up empty and the result is not what we desired. But with the Lord we get peace that passes understanding ( no understanding why to have peace but we do), and joy unspeakable and full of Glory. We also have a Father who loves us and gives us Grace that surpasses everything we go through. Ultimately His plan for us is the best possible life available.
Then at our church, my pastor has set a goal for us to get at least 365 people saved. Although this ministry is not part of that church I still have felt led to tell him those who receive the Lord each week. and for that number to be counted. Now this was most difficult for me. I never count how many who make a decision for Christ. Its just not me. King David once counted how many troops he had to show how powerful he was. God frowned upon that and he paid a price. So its not bad to count. Many times God had His people count. But only count when the Lord leads. But we are a body and no matter what ministry we are its all 1 Kingdom. So I was glad to report that 5 out of the 6 who we preached to received the Lord. I usually bring the people I preach to, to the place in the night where they can make a decision this can be done many ways. As the Holy Spirit leads. some times we do it silently in prayer as I pray I tell those who want to receive the free gift of Salvation to get it... so they know they did it. this time I provided that but I felt led to have them repeat a prayer of salvation. I seen in the Lord, that many needed to hear themselves say it. So despite me being uncomfortable. I did that for them. Because in ministry its not about me. and many times the Lord will have us do things that are uncomfortable for us. but its not about us its all about the people and what they need. Then I asked them if they wanted individual prayer. They all wanted it. I prophesied to all of them. then we were done. the guards a the jail said that they didn't have enough guards for us to go into the boys to minister so we went home. this was difficult because I didn't have my friend minister. This also goes against much of what I believe. My heart is to provide opportunities for those who come in with me to minister to so they can grow by exercising their faith. but many times as a leader in ministry, you minister to "show how it can be done" or to provide a night where those who come in with me understand how the ministry operates. or how to handle situations as they arise. so its important for those who come in to see different ways to minister. so the next time they minister they believe they can do that too. or add that type of ministry to the way they do it. because its effective and they got to see it in real time with real people. Opposed to being in a conference hearing about how to do it.
So a unique night. But good praise to the person who came in with me. It didn't bother him that he didn't get to minister. Its all about God all the time and the people. Thank God I have people coming in with me that are not concerned about themselves and what they can do. We can all flow and we all play a huge part. I know that he was praying as we were ministering and that helped the peoples heart to receive all that the Lord had for them tonight.
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