Here is a great message from Pastor Leonard Navarre, it includes a wonderful testimony on the ministry of Ravi Zacharias………
I am always amazed how God works in so many different ways to reach, challenge and save folks. Never, never under estimate the power of God’s Word and the moving of the Holy Spirit in the salvation process. His Word is powerful like a two edged sword cutting to the very heart of our souls to move and persuade us. When His Word is proclaimed hearts are challenged, pricked and moved to decisions. Here are just a few examples – there are millions…
I was 9 went I walked a sawdust aisle at our church camp in Lake Athur, La. Acadian Christian Service Camp was the back drop for many a youngster hearing about Jesus’ love for them and moving them to accept that sacrifice for their sins. I went forward on a Thursday night and took my preacher, Hollins Duhon’s hand. He ask me, ‘why have you come’. I said I want to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior. He took my confession and asked if I wanted to wait til Sunday to be baptized at our home church. I said, ‘no sir, it’s here, in this lake that I want to be baptized’. So that night, along with 6 others, we walk down a concrete boat ramp into the chocolate colored waters of Lake Arthur and I was baptized for the remission of my sins. I have thousands of precious memories from my church camp days at Lake Arthur. Memories of many others doing the same thing. God’s Word at work!!!
Thousands are praying for Ravi Zacharias, noted theologian, apologist and scholar. M.D. Anderson, in Houston, has said there is no longer any treatment available for his cancer. So he has only a short time on this planet before his graduation to glory. No one will ever be able to estimate the influence or impact his ministry has had on folks. Nor will we ever know about the conversions because of his ministry and preaching. However, I do know of one. At Chic-fil-A I work with a great guy who is one of the directors. He is one of many thousands that has come to the Lord because of Brother Ravi’s ministry. I’ll let Mike Carper tell you. “Ravi Zacharias brought me to the Lord on a trip in the middle of the night in the middle of nowhere. The only station I could get was one that had one of his sermons. Changed me forever. I am beyond sad. He literally saved me.” God’s Word at work again!!
My Dad was not really a church goer when I was in my adolescent years. He worked shift work which usually kept him from attending with us. He wasn’t a Christian back then and not a church goer, but he never prevented us from going to church. We had a revival at our church with a preacher who used bed sheets to illustrate his sermons. We strung a wire across the auditorium and he would move each sheet much like a slide across the wire to illustrate his sermon. Much like a poor man’s PowerPoint, lol. We had what was called “Fill A Pew” nights. Families were given different nights to invite folks to help fill their pew. Our night was Thursday night. My Dad was working the day shift that week, 7-4. Each night when he came home I would remind him of Thursday night, our night to fill a pew and ask if he would join us that night Each night beginning with Sunday night he said, “I’ll think about!” That was his answer Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night. When he arrived on Thursday after work I asked him again, Dad going to church tonight? Instead of ‘I’ll think about it’ he said he would. WOW! Was I excited. Our whole family made it that night. I really don’t remember much of the sermon but I do remember the hymn we call invitation hymn. That’s where folks who have made a decision go forward and visit with the preacher about that decision. The hymn was “I can hear my Savior calling”. On the last verse I heard rustling on our pew and watched as my Dad moved to the aisle and went forward and accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior. WOW! What a rejoicing in our family. God’s Word at work again. Even on bed sheets!!!
There are literally thousands of stories I can tell you about how God’s Word moves, convicts and transforms. But these verses say it all: “so shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth; it shall not return void” (KJV) (Isaiah 5:5) and “All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, showing people what is wrong in their lives, for correcting faults, and for teaching how to live right.” (NCV) 2 Timothy 3:16
So join me in proclaiming the Word of the Lord and allow the Holy Spirit to move, transform and convert. Let us take advantage of every opportunity to witness in His name. God’s Word works!!!
I am praying for you and your family.
Leonard Navarre
Lubbock, Texas