Here I am again, standing here knocking on Josh’s door. I know he’s home, but he just goes about his business acting as though I’m not even here. It’s hard to accept what’s happened with our relationship. We used to be so close, and I loved spending time with him. I know he loved me, too. We used to hang out together every day. He would share his most private thoughts and dreams with me — things he wouldn’t tell anyone else. Josh knew he could trust me. He told me that I knew him better than anyone else, and would often say that I knew him better than he knew himself. I suppose I did.

So, what happened? Josh, please open the door! He’s such a likeable guy — happy, easy-going, and he’d do anything for you. He truly has a servant’s heart, full of love and compassion. It all changed when Josh started making new friends. They didn’t have the same standards that I did, and they were ever so persuasive in convincing him that he could have more fun without me around. One friend of his, Mandy,  would completely ignore me, treating me like I didn’t even exist, and it didn’t even seem to bother him.

His apparent rejection hurt me terribly, but I won’t let it stop me. There have been too many people, especially his parents who have talked to me about him and asked me not to give up on him. They believe that our relationship can be restored; I believe so, too. That’s why I’ve come here again, knocking, hoping he’ll let me in this time so we can talk.

I think when I leave here, I’ll go down to his brother’s house. Eric’s a strange one. He always acknowledges me, but he wants to keep his distance. It’s like he’s too embarrassed or ashamed for anyone to see him with me. Yet, he’s very agreeable. If certain people ask, he’ll say he knows me, and if anyone suggests that he spend some time with me, he’ll always tell them he will. However, when it comes right down to it, He just won’t. I’ve knocked on his door many times, but he won’t give me the time of day.

It’s sad, because Eric could use a true friend right now. He’s got so many problems, and I know I could help him and make things easier for him — give him some hope and encouragement.  Somehow, though, he doesn’t think he needs me. Maybe, if I just try one more time, even if it’s out of desperation, he’ll let me in.

Josh, I’m still standing out here knocking. Please let me in.

I guess I should stop over at Dave’s today, too, and see how he’s really doing, even though he’s the kind of guy that only wants me around when he needs something from me. I’ll never forget how friendly and appreciative he was when he spent that time in prison, and I was there every day for him. He thought I was the greatest, back then.

It’s a shame, but since his release, Dave got so wrapped up in getting an education, getting a great job, and having a family, that I’m just not important to him anymore. He won’t even give me the time of day, let alone help me out with certain things I need help with — things that were meant for him to do.

Why isn’t Josh answering? I have so many gifts I want to give him that I know will help him fulfill his life’s destiny.

Maybe, I’ll just sit down with Holly this afternoon. She’s such a loyal friend. We go back a long ways. I feel good at her house; she makes me feel at home. She’s not at all like Samantha, who acts like we’re best friends and tells everyone so. Yet, her house is trashed — she has trash coming in, trash going out, and trash that just won’t leave. She’s really deceived if she thinks I want to hang out at her house in all of that filth. On the other hand, Holly may make mistakes sometimes, but she strives hard to make sure I’m comfortable. She keeps a clean house and tries hard to make sure I’m not offended in any way.

It’s sad, though, because I long to be even closer to Holly, but, in her past, she’s been hurt so badly by so many people that she’s built up walls around her heart — gigantic, thick walls. It’s been hard to convince her that these walls aren’t protecting her from further pain; rather, they’re keeping her from receiving and giving love, even my love.

I want her to know I’m not like that other dude who comes knocking at people’s doors. If you even open the door a crack and peek out while he’s standing there, he’ll shove that door open and force his way in. No, I’m a gentleman, and I want to make sure Holly knows it. Perhaps today, she’ll let me tiptoe into that most private, vulnerable place in her house.

Josh, where are you, man? Don’t you know how much I love you and want to be your friend? Please, let me in!

Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.  (Revelation 3:20)

“You will not die; your baby will be fine!  You will carry the baby full term; you will deliver the baby, and the baby will live!  Be of good cheer, for I, the Lord am with you; and so shall I be with your child!  Thus saith The Lord God almighty!”

“Brother Bill, pray for me!”  I heard a voice call out somewhere in the crowd.  As I looked to see, a young woman, with tears streaming down her face came running toward me.  In her expression, I saw the look of desperation as she arrived to stand in front of me.

The Miracle Service had just begun about an hour before.  We had enjoyed praise and worship for about thirty minutes; I had brought forth the Word of life, and the actual prayer time was just starting.  Earlier that day, I had prayed for God’s special touch to minister to His people!  I was down on my knees in the living room, crying out to the one God who could make a difference in so many desperate lives!

God had demonstrated His tremendous love for His children so many times in these meetings.  We had seen several brain tumors healed; two little girls who were delivered of oncoming blindness; and others with heart problems completely healed with doctor’s verifications.  The list would actually go on and on of the things the Lord had done as we prayed.

This particular day I will never forget.  Many had been prayed for and the Spirit of the Lord was moving!

This was when I began to hear the young female voice crying out, “Brother Bill, pray for me.”  As she approached the altar where we were praying, I knew God was about to do something phenomenal. 

She began to explain how she had seen a doctor after discovering her pregnancy.  Thinking it was just a routine visit with the physician; her whole world seemed to fall apart as he gave the unwanted news.  “You cannot carry this child – your heart cannot take the stress of childbearing — either you will die or you will lose the child. My advise to you is to get an ABORTION.”  Sobbing even harder than before, she cried out, “Pray for me.”

After she had finished telling of the horrible situation she was in, we gathered around her to pray.  About ten men and women placed their hands on her.  I began speaking in tongues in order to enter into the spiritual realm.  You see, I have learned that nothing can be done in the natural.  Speaking in tongues as the Spirit of God gives utterance is our way of entering into the spiritual.  In the Spiritual mode, all things are possible. 

Being familiar with the gift of prophecy, I could feel the Word of God coming forth from deep within. 

“You will not die; your baby will be fine!  You will carry the baby full term; you will deliver the baby, and the baby will live!  Be of good cheer, for I, the Lord am with you; and so shall I be with your child!”

Through sobbing tears, the pregnant woman walked back to her seat with new hope deep in her heart.

She returned several times to the Miracle Services for prayer.  The Spirit of the Lord spoke the same Word over and over until her delivery drew near.  I tell you of a truth, she had that baby, and the child was healthy.  Little Carrie is nine years old now, and has a three-year-old brother who is also healthy.  God certainly has plans for those two children.  The devil tried to steal those kids, but the Lord brought deliverance to a crying mother who believed Him for a miracle!

Faith Must Have A Work

Just like the woman with the issue of blood that we find in the Bible, this woman believed if she could touch God with her faith, all would be well.  Miracles do not just happen on there own.  This particular woman had to believe the Word of God concerning her situation.  It’s not enough to say that I believe God, but she put feet to her believing and came to a meeting where God was moving by His Spirit.  If you want what God has, you have to come where He is moving and where these kinds of things are happening.  Its not enough just to have faith.  The book of James speaks to us about these things.

Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say, thou hast faith, and I have works: show me thy faith without thy works, and I will show thee my faith by my works.

All who are born-again have faith.  The Bible says,

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he aught; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith (Romans 12:3).

We must do something with our faith.  The woman in our story came to the Miracle Service.  The fact that she came was an act of faith.  A lot of folks will tell you that they can get what they need from God right there in their living room.  That may be true as long as you are exercising your faith in some manner.  This woman knew she needed to get where God was moving by His Spirit.

The Importance of Humility

Another thing about this miracle was that the woman humbled herself in the sight of God.  The Lord really can’t do anything with someone who is unteachable or high-minded, thinking that they know it all.  There’s only one who knows all things and that is God Himself.  The Bible says,

Wherefore He saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh unto God, and He will draw nigh unto you (James 4:6-8).

Humility is a must to receive what God want to do in your life.  Whether you need healing, salvation for your family, or a financial miracle, we must humble ourselves before God.  When we humble ourselves, we are saying to our Heavenly Father that we are unable and we know that He is able.

Two Or More Believe Together 

I have learned this lesson over and over as I have held hundreds of Miracle Services believing God for the supernatural to take place.

Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven.  For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there I am in the midst of them (Matthew 18:19-20

Christianity is not meant to be lived alone.  Those who have separated themselves from the rest of the body are trying to live this thing by themselves.  The Bible is very clear that we are to assemble together to share our needs and testify of the goodness of the Lord.  Your testimony may be what I need to get through another day.  But what if I don’t hear what I need to hear.

And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as we see the day approaching (Hebrews 10:24-25).

The Bible teaches on the power of agreement.  This is where two or more will come together such as we did with the woman in our story.  Two or more have come together to agree upon whatever they need.  The Word of God gives us perfect direction concerning this agreement.  If you agree, it will be done.  This woman came to be with others who were trusting God for the needs of others as well as their own.

Would you knowingly pick up a bottle of poison, drink it, and honestly believe that it’s not going to hurt you, but that it might very easily hurt someone else? No! None of us in our right minds would believe such an absurd notion.

Now, imagine watching your best friend walk into a room, pick up a glass of poison and start drinking it. You don’t have a problem with this. In your efforts to console her, you let her know that you understand that she doesn’t have any choice but to drink it. If you were in her shoes, you would do the same thing. Hogwash! What kind of a friend would let another friend destroy themselves this way?

Yet, I see this happening all the time. This poison that so many people, even Christians, are drinking is packaged and promoted by Satan himself as Unforgiveness. His advertising campaign is so full of deceptions that many times, even the best of us, fall prey to his scheme of self-destruction. We believe the lie that everyone else in our situation is doing it. What else is there to do but to join the crowd and gulp down a big bottle of this readily available poison called Unforgiveness.

Unforgiveness is deadly. It torments our minds. It brings on sickness and disease. It ushers in stress. It robs us of our happiness. Worse of all, the Bible says that if we don’t forgive others, God won’t forgive us. That means our own eternal salvation is at stake when we choose to allow Unforgiveness in our lives.

Satan tells us that we don’t need to forgive our offenders because they don’t deserve it. Well, maybe they don’t, but your Unforgiveness isn’t hurting them; it’s hurting you! Many times the person or persons we refuse to forgive don’t even know that that they need to be forgiven, and even if they do, most of them don’t care one way or another. Let me repeat myself, “They’re not hurting because of your Unforgiveness; you are!”

What a con! Satan even has Christians believing that we can’t forgive even though the Bible not only says that we can, but that we must. God wouldn’t command us to do what is impossible. The Devil has us believing that it’s normal to hold onto Unforgiveness. I’ve even heard people brag about how good they are at holding grudges — a form of Unforgiveness. They’ll boast about how they’ve held a grudge now for 20 years or more.

I even know one Christian lady who had been active in her church for years. She wanted prayer because she was tormented with recurring nightmares about snakes and she suffered terribly with Parkinson’s disease. It was amazing when we watched God’s healing hand transform her from taking painful baby steps, barely able to move to literally running around her house pain-free. Yet, when she adamantly refused to forgive the men she worked with years earlier for treating her badly, she lost her healing and spent her remaining days tormented in both her mind and her body.

Don’t think for one minute that I’ve not battled with this deadly poison myself. I couldn’t begin to tell you the number of times and the circumstances which kept this poison so close to me. There have been many long, hard battles to get it out, and keep it out of my system.

You have to stay on top of it! What I’ve found is about the time I’ve rid myself of it all, something will happen to remind me again of the injustices done to me. I find that if I start dwelling on that thing and reliving the horror in my mind, I’ve once again taken a big gulp of Unforgiveness. Then, I have to start all over again to get rid of this deadly poison.

However, if I choose not to replay that old re-run in my mind again; rather, if I begin praying and reminding myself that I’ve already forgiven, I’m not haunted anymore by that deadly, tormenting poison. Philippians 4 says that we must think on the good things, and then we’ll have the peace of God.

I know many of you are thinking, “But you don’t know what was done to me.” No, I don’t, but God does, and for your own good, He still wants you to forgive. We’ve seen and heard about every horrible thing that can happen to a person from a family member being murdered to a war veteran sitting in a wheelchair, hating an entire nation for what was done to him. Is life fair? Is it right for Christians to hurt each other? Is it right for family to turn against us? Was it right what they did to Jesus? No, but follow His example and forgive anyway.

Do yourself a favor and stay healthy. Don’t drink the poison.

Vicki

For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  (Romans 12:3)

Susan, a young attractive blond came into the office one morning, chuckling to herself.  Now, this was several years ago, but I’ll never forget her explanation when we prodded her into letting us in on what was obviously so funny.

She began telling us that she had been driving down the interstate on her way into work that morning when this other car pulled up even with hers and held its speed driving in the lane to her left.  She didn’t think much about it until she suddenly felt someone staring at her.  I’m sure most of you have had that eerie, uncomfortable feeling knowing that someone was watching you, and at first, Susan was feeling exactly this same way.

She could imagine some guy in that car gawking at her, trying to flirt and get her attention.  The longer he rode alongside, the more her uneasiness began turning into anger.  Even so, she was determined that she would not give him any satisfaction by looking back at him.  Finally, his persistence in staying beside her caused her anger to really flare up to the point she decided to give him a piece of her mind within the safety of her locked car.  He may not hear everything she was saying, but he would surely get her message.

When Susan turned her head, sure enough, there he was, gaping at her.  She was speechless as she gazed into those big sad eyes with a drooling tongue hanging out staring back at her.  Yes, he did appear smitten with her – this huge Saint Bernard dog.  Even though she was all alone in that car, immediately her face reddened with embarrassment and humility as she realized she had been put in her place.

The Bible teaches us that we should not think more highly of ourselves than we should.  It says that if we will humble ourselves that God will lift us up. Unfortunately, it’s too often that I see Christian people with an attitude that they’re better or more special than others.

There’s many reasons Christians seem to get high-minded.  Some have an unteachable spirit.  They think they know as much as the preacher, and yes, there’s even preachers who won’t admit that they can learn from anyone else.  They seem to portray themselves as Super-Christians, and often act as though they’ve arrived. Unfortunately, not a single one of us will ever arrive while living here on this earth.

I remember this man who told me that he’d been trying to get his Dad to go to church with him.  One excuse he used for not going was, “I know as much as that preacher down there.  He can’t tell me anything I don’t already know.”  The day came, however, when he finally relented and went to church with his son.

They arrived within minutes of the service starting, and the only seats left were on the front row.  When the pastor finally got up to preach the sermon, he stretched out his arm and pointed his finger straight at this Dad.  The first words out of his mouth were, “God says that there’s some of you out there who think you know as much as I do.”

This son told me his dad did some squirming in his seat after that, but he never, ever spoke those words again.  I think he’s a prime example of the verse that says that it’s better for us to fall on the rock than to have the rock fall upon us.

Other Christians, upon being given a certain responsibility, position, or office in the church, somehow feel that they are more important or a better Christian than others.  They often want to make sure you know who they are and what they do.

For example, when we visited one church, a gentleman approached us, introduced himself, and went on to tell us that he was the Head Deacon of that church.  Maybe I shouldn’t have, but I felt more intimidated than impressed by his grandiose display of power.  There was something about the way he told us.  I dismissed this whole scene until I saw him another time and overheard him introducing himself to someone else in exactly the same manner.

No, it’s not necessarily wrong to let others know what you do, but it is when it’s done with an attitude of superiority.  It doesn’t matter whether you are a pastor, a Sunday School teacher, a member of the praise team, or the church janitor.  We are all important in the kingdom of God.  We all have different responsibilities in the church just as our own body parts have different functions.  Some are more visible and noticeable than others, but they are all needed.

Now is a good time for all of us to humble ourselves and ask the Holy Spirit to show us if there’s anything in us that’s displeasing to our Father.  If so, let’s repent and ask Him to help us become all that He wants us to be!

     Vicki

Tommy Bates Ministry

Oh, how we need Him; we really need Him!  One thing I know, that is the importance of the Holy Spirit in the present day church.  When I speak of church, I’m referring to the body of Christ made up of individuals who are born again.  Oh, how you and I need Him in our everyday lives, in our everyday walk, and through problems and situations that sometimes defy the mind!  The church, or the born-again believer, needs the Holy Spirit, not only on a daily basis, but on a moment by moment basis.  Like never before in history, we need the Holy Spirit in our everyday lives.  In this article, I want to talk about the person of the Holy Spirit and how He wants to change everything about your life.

First of all, the Holy Spirit is a gentleman.  He will never force His way into your life.  We must be willing to allow Him to change us.  His goal is to make us just like Jesus.  As a matter of fact, everything the Spirit of God does in your life is to cause you to look to Jesus, to give Him praise, to honor Him, and to point you in the way of Christ.

Once you have received Christ as your Savior, He begins to nudge you to go deeper into Christ.  His goal is for you to go deeper and deeper into the love of the Savior.  John, the Baptist, speaks in the Word of God concerning Jesus, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and fire” (Matthew 3:11).  It is Jesus that will baptize you in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues.

Once you have received this great baptism in the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of God begins a fresh work in you.  Before the foundations of the earth, God had a plan for every individual life.  God starts with you where you are and takes you into your destiny or the ultimate plan God has for your life.  The Holy Spirit wants to take you from point “A”  to point “B”.

And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another comforter, that He may abide with you for ever; even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth Him not, neither  knoweth Him: but ye know Him; for He dwelleth with you, and shall be in you  (John 14:16-17).

As I began my experience with the Holy Spirit, I began talking to Him.  I have always believed there is no jealousy in the Godhead. Simply, the Holy Spirit will always lift up and lead you to worship Jesus.  The more I talked to Him, the more I fell in love with Jesus.  I said, “Holy Spirit, I thank you for loving me.  I’m so glad you have come to be with me.  Holy Spirit, you are the best friend I have ever had.”   I would talk to Him daily until I began to notice His presence becoming stronger and stronger.  There is a difference between the presence of God and His glory when it falls on you!  As I would talk to Him, His glory began to fall.  I could barely move under such ecstasy – I could have stayed there for ever. 

One particular evening as I was talking to Him, I felt His glory fall in such an unusual way.  As I was standing with my hands lifted up, all alone in my living room, I felt myself being lowered to the floor.  No one touched me; no one spoke over me; it was just me and the Spirit of God alone.  As I lay there under such glory that had fallen, He began to speak to me about things He was going to do in my life; about ministry He would bring to pass and promotion He would bring into my life.  Many of the things He told me that day are reality today!  He said things to me that healed my spirit; things that I have never been able to speak to others.  These experiences have continued for years, day by day as I would enjoy my time with the Holy Spirit.

It was in 1995 that I began to meet with the Holy Spirit on a daily basis.  Literally, I set everything else aside, making an appointment with Him at 3:30 in the afternoon.  Oh, the times we have had together; just the two of us as we enjoyed our relationship.  I could feel the power of the Holy Spirit wanting to move in my life!

There is nothing like having a relationship with God.  Whosoever will can have this same thing.  God is no respecter of persons; what He did for me, He will do for you!  Call on His name; begin to build a relationship with Him; and you, too, will enjoy His presence in your life.

Since the days when I began to talk to the Holy Spirit, my life has been changed dramatically.  Recently, He led us into full-time ministry, preaching in over 25 churches last year.  In 2003, the Holy Spirit helped me write my first book entitled, The Amazing Faith That Works.  In fact, the works of the Holy Spirit that I’ve witnessed in my personal life, in my ministry, and here at Community Pentecostal Church are far too numerous to be written here!  The dividends of the relationship are untold when we fall into God’s plan and follow the precious Spirit of God.

I want to send out a message to all.  The way up is down on your knees.  It’s all about relationship.  It’s all about talking to God through the person of the Holy Spirit.  Make your appointment today with the blessed Holy Spirit!  Your life will forever change!

Evangelist Bill Campbell