Like Actions Testimony
My new life testimony began in Victoria, Texas, at the Christopher Inn motel. I came to understand that Jesus Christ was the only one who could meet my needs. God’s grace was shown to me through a group of men. These men met me at the level of my understanding and need. They shared with me six months before I asked Jesus Christ into my life. My life in Christ over the past twenty years, before Life Action, has been rich, exciting, and disappointing. Paul the apostle told my story in Romans 7:18 .“… For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.”
My story should begin back in June of 1988. I was part of a Lay Weekend and was asked to write Jesus Christ a letter. The question was asked: “Who is in control of your life.”? That weekend, I asked Jesus if He would meet with me each day and take control of my life. My victory seemed short-lived. A busy schedule was all the enemy needed to derail my desires.
Four months later, Spring Baptist asked Bob Elkland to lead us in a prayer conference. We were to ask God, in the privacy of our homes, to search our hearts for things that were offensive to Him. The same night, I asked Him to answer. God showed me that the fears in my life was very offensive to Him. At first, I argued with God, but gently He showed me it was my problem. It was made clear to me that fear was the opposite of faith and trust. Let me share with you that Jesus began that night to set me free from a life of fear.
One month later, Bill Stafford came to our Church. He preached one night on “The healing of a boy with an evil spirit.” From Mark 9:14-27. The message was that the boy was not the problem; it was the father’s unbelief. Again, the Lord spoke to me about the unbelief in my life. It was at this point in my life that I first heard of Life Action Singers.
There were many questions in my mind about “The Life Action Singers.” You could say it was somewhat of a mystery. Who are these people? Why do they need two weeks of my life, etc.? My wife was asked to help feed about forty-five team members for lunch and dinner. The enemy was quick to point out how inconvenient this was going to be on my schedule. We were told these people were similar to nomads, traveling in mobile trailers, all over the country. One was going to have a baby and needed special help from doctors and hospital. I was getting very upset about these people. What did they expect?
Four or five men of the church meet on Saturday morning for prayer. I shared how I was feeling and found others were having the same thoughts. We all agreed that our pastor, staff, and the church needed revival, and so did we. The next week, our pastor led us in prayer for the Life Action meeting. I asked the Lord why I was so negative. He showed me how self-centered and selfish I was and how He wanted me to be open to His will in my life.
Del Fehsenfeld Jr., who was the director of Life Action ( before his promotion to Heaven), shared that revival would only come after God’s people chose brokenness. Monday night, we received a four-page, front and back sheet called a Complete Spiritual. I found myself sitting in shock after most of the people had gone. Yes, I failed the Complete Spiritual in so many areas of my life. That form showed me how my pride had blinded me. My values were not the same as God’s, and my priorities and motives were wrong. That I was not obedient, and honest, and did not want to sacrifice my will for God’s. Where had Jesus found me out of spiritual control?
Tuesday night, Del shared a living giving principle from 2 Corinthians 8:1-5. God’s priority in giving: first myself by coming to the altar of honesty. Second, choose brokenness as taught in Psalms 34:18, Isaiah 66:2, and Proverbs 26 by agreeing with God and acknowledging our needs. Del gave this definition of Obedience: “Doing what I’m told to do, when I’m told to do it, with the right heart attitude.” He defined Brokenness: “My response of humility and obedience to the conviction of God’s Spirit by the revelation of God’s Word.” I had never thought much about choosing brokenness. Brokenness in my mind was equated with pain.
Wednesday night, by an act of my will, I chose to be broken. Later in the week, he shared on bitterness. He defines Bitterness: “As a corruption in my spirit resulting from a failure to thank God for every person or situation He had brought into my life.”
Del also taught what he called Living Giving truths from 2 Corinthians 8:12. The first was: “To know the will of God, I must have no will of my own.” The second was: “The will of God is never contrary to the word of God.” And last: “To know the will of God, I MUST FIRST BE WILLING TO DO IT.”
That Wednesday night, God got my agreement to call sin what He calls it; that was a new beginning. I received the grace to make right the wrong that God’s Spirit brought to my mind. God’s Holy Spirit was gentle but firm as He directed my thoughts. I was given the grace to make things right through confession. The person I had wronged first was my boss, who just happened to be in town. I ask his forgiveness for unfavorably talking about him. I ask him to let me make restitution for the money I had wrongly taken ( being a thief) on my expense account. It was also necessary to call my Mother and ask her forgiveness. To ask our Youth Minister, my wife, and others to forgive my wrong choices. I was given the grace at each step to make right the many wrong choices, but the enemy always told me how bad it looked to others.
The Life Actions Singers were not there for two weeks; it went into the third week, and we saw an outpouring of God’s Spirit. It was not only the congregation but many on the staff who came forward to make a public confession of sin in their lives. No one I knew wanted this to end; we had experienced a revival.
It is now June 9, 2024, and it is time to look at my report card of faith in a big God. How is Bob doing? Am I making the right choices? Did Life Action last, or was it just one of many emotional highs? I must tell you my life has not been the same. Am I a mess? I prefer the word Rascal but yes, I am. Life Action got me serious about being a man of the Word of God, and God has not finished teaching me how to be transparent and bold about the only Truth, and His name is JESUS.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
No comments:
Post a Comment