It’s worth it all. We’ve been here 13 hours and I can definitely say that all I and some others have been through to make this happen has been worth it. In fact its worth it multiple times over. We had a one-day conference today. About a hundred pastors and 15 wives came. While teaching the first session God allowed me to see it all from a more distant, objective perspective and I was deeply touched by the way these truths of God impact these men. They equip, motivate, encourage and educate these fine men and women. I became aware of how a conference like this can change a man and his family, and as a result spread out to his church and even impact his children’s children. All this was affirmed by the testimonies shared at the close of today’s meeting as well. God made it clear that it takes someone from outside India to gain the attention of the people. A prophet is truly without honor in his own country!
When I looked at what we are doing from a more distant perspective I was impressed with how God brought all these sessions together over the years, even the exact wordings I have been using the last few years. Only He could do such a thing! It still l impacts me each time I teach it,
While thanking Him for all of this He brought my favorite Bible passage to mind: Philippians 3:7-14, especially verse 10. “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.” It has always been my main goal to know God more intimately. The “power” part has come about often when I am involved in spiritual warfare and see God’s might set people free. The “fellowship of His suffering” is something I never thought I’d personally understand or be involved in, but it all of a sudden hit me that that is what has been happening to me and those involved in this ministry as well. Please understand that I only see my part as a tiny scratch on the very surface of the suffering Jesus went through. But when we go through even the slighted suffering for Him He more than rewards us for it. “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us” (Romans 8:18).
Words cannot express the joy I felt at what God was doing in the lives of these men and women, and the fact that He used me to be one small channel for that brought tears to my eyes. Then at the end, when I have the awesome privilege of giving each person 4 free books which I was allowed to write, I was touched and humbled beyond measure. I didn’t expect God to show me any of this, much less at the very start, but He has. I pass it on to you because it is your prayers that are behind and underneath all of this. And to think it is day one and we haven’t even been to bed yet (I know this because I keep falling asleep while typing this in the car driving to our hotel). But it is worth it all!
Philippians 3:10 “I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death.”
Romans 8:18 “I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us”
Is your faithfulness to Jesus the cause of any suffering you are currently facing? Commit it to Him. Remember that one day you will say that it was worth it all!