Oh, how the Lord Jesus loves children! One day they were coming to Jesus and the disciples told them to leave Him alone. Jesus rebuked them when He said: “Let the little children come to Me, and do not forbid them; for of such is the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 19:14 NKJV). WOW! Jesus is saying that to get to heaven you must have the simple trusting faith of a child! Children are more easily led to faith in the Lord Jesus before the secular world can do its dirty job on their heart!
How thankful that I am for precious servants of the Lord Jesus who believe in leading children to faith in the Lord Jesus! My Lord taught me in 1992 that when a person is old enough to realize that they are a sinner, then they are old enough to realize their need for the Savior! Thank you to all churches and parachurches who host Vacation Bible School each year! What a great ministry that VBS is!
This month I was privileged to serve alongside Pastor Don Bible of Bibles Chapel Baptist Church in Midway, TN in Greene County. This is the fourth year in a row that Pastor Don has blessed me to present the gospel to the children and young people that they are reaching through VBS. They, as do so many churches, do an excellent job! Pastor Don has been shepherding this church for 37 years! He is a faithful and Spirit-filled pastor who is totally sold-out for the cause of Christ!
I am always seeking my Lord in prayer for new ways to share the gospel. He answered me this year through Pastor John Rogers. He and his wife, Tina, were visiting the Creation Science Museum in Kentucky when they saw an excellent gospel presentation titled: The Seven C’s of History. The children and young people of Bibles Chapel Baptist Church hung on every word! Four of them gave their heart to Jesus! I know that two others were also born again. They just need a little more counseling. Two of the four were a brother and sister. Their mom was right beside them as they prayed to be saved! Now, that is a divine appointment for a mom to see both of her children saved at the same time! Each child and young person received the New Believer’s New Testament to assist them in their walk with their Lord.
When Pastor Don told the deacon body that he felt led by his Lord to have me back this year, they suggested that he allow me to preach in the Sunday morning service following the week of VBS in order to bring everything to an evangelistic close. They definitely heard from their Lord! I expounded on the plan of salvation that I used in the VBS so their parents could hear it, and they did hear it as I led them deeper into the Word of God. Joseph Gragg, the young man who operated the power point put the verses from the message on the screen, and I had the entire congregation read them out loud with me. The power is in the Word of God (Hebrews 4:12-13)!
When the public invitation began, the convicting power of the Holy Spirit moved on the hearts of the people! Two families came forward, and the moms were crying and pouring their hearts out to their Lord at the altar! Their husbands were right there beside them! Both families joined the church while one of the mothers rededicated her life to her Lord. One of the dads rededicated his life and said that he had never been baptized. Pastor Don baptized him last Sunday morning!
The mother who rededicated her life told me after the service that she had to come forward because she was under such strong conviction that she was shaking and had to come! Glory! Her daughter was saved last fall in their revival when I was there.
Pastor Don has been ministering to these families for quite some time. He is an outstanding evangelistic pastor who knows how to labor in the harvest fields! Before he closed the Sunday morning service he asked if anyone had anything to say. One dear man spoke up and said: “The 3 P’s. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” He was crying tears of rejoicing as he spoke for his Lord! Others spoke up and said: “Amen!” and “Glory!” You could hear and see people crying and wiping their tears of rejoicing! Whew! The church lined up to come and greet these two beautiful families! It was a beautiful scene that I shall never forget!
Oh, how our great God is answering your prayers! The powerful movement of the Holy Spirit can only happen when deep powerful prayer takes place (Matthew 17:20-21)! The deep conviction that can only come from the Holy Spirit was on the face and in each heart of the children and adults who made decisions (John 16:7-11)! With all of my heart, thank you! Please do not ever stop praying!
This Sunday I will proclaim the glorious gospel message at Cedar Valley Baptist Church in Sweetwater, TN where Joel Tilson is the pastor. Next Sunday I will be at Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Bulls Gap, TN where Danny Bell is the pastor. Also, I am working with several special servants of our Lord on an entirely new format for the television broadcast. I have also spoken with a Spirit-filled man who is advising me on how to use today’s technology to get the gospel into some of the most hostile places in the world! Please pray passionately with me about these new opportunities! I will be able to tell you more when they are solidified! As you very well know, we are living in the Last Days. Our great God wants every man, woman, boy, and girl to hear just how much He loves them and wants to be their Savior and Lord before He returns! I love you!
For Souls Forever In Heaven,
Jeffrey L. Harvel
Luke 19:10
Jeff Harvel 