I know that it has been a while since I have written, but I praise the Lord that we continue to get great ministry opportunities to be a part of and press into all that God has for us on this trip. A few days ago, we got to fellowship with one of the friends I made in Harpenden last year at Circuit Riders, the leader of the Youth With a Mission (YWAM) Discipleship Training Schools (DTS) and his wife. As we talked and later prayed together, I got the opportunity to share a recent testimony that encouraged and spoke to him, and I pray that it encourages you as well!!!

Two weeks ago, I got the privilege to speak at the church of one of my friends here in Newcastle. I had met him last summer during the Circuit Rider outreach here. This was right before he became the pastor at Gateway Church and was at St. Luke’s where we were based out of. On one of our many days to go out and do evangelism, Sam joined me and we went around looking for where God was moving and trying to talk to people. We tried many times to start some sort of conversation with people but were seemingly blocked at every turn. Finally, we did get to talk to two gentlemen for a while even though they were obviously just wanting someone to talk to and did not really care about what we were saying. Apparently, Sam went out later with Jedidah and Heidi who have a gift of evangelism and talked to many people.

Sam shared with me, while we were eating lunch with him and his wife this year after I had preached, that he was rather encouraged when he went out with me. I found this very odd since it seemed hard and laborious and is definitely not my gifting. However, it seems that God was able to speak to him through this weakness and encourage him. He saw how even though this was not my gift, I was still being obedient. This led him to be obedient and lead many street evangelism teams with his church even though this is not his gifting either.

For me, this was an amazing testimony because all last year during Circuit Riders, I never got the privilege of leading anyone to The Lord. However just like Jesus said to Paul “my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Cor 12:9) He spoke this to me as well. Even though this was an area where I was obviously weak, I had a desire to be obedient and grow. Even though it seemed like I was failing and every outward indication was that there was no fruit from my efforts, God used it. God used my weakness to encourage a man who was about to become a pastor to lead his church on continuous evangelistic outreaches. In a way, God used my weakness and obedience in a manner that allows me to take part in every salvation that comes out of Sam’s church. God is awesome, and if Sam had not told me this, I would never have had any idea that God had used my weak obedience in such a mighty way.

My encouragement to you is to be obedient in every area. Even in the places that you feel weak, unqualified, like you have failed, or are just no good, be obedient!!! He is able to do “exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask for, hope for, or even imagine” even with our weaknesses!!! He is able to turn every one of your weaknesses into strengths and every one of your supposed defeats into great victories if you are completely obedient and submitted to Him!!! Ask Holy Spirit right now where you can be completely obedient and submitted to Him and move into that place no matter if you feel weak or strong in that area. He will make His name great so do everything to please Him completely!!!

Jeremiah, Man on Fire!!!