Author: rmerik

Pick up a newspaper or turn on a news station on your radio or TV and chances are you will discover that someone died a natural death, died very unexpectedly, died in an accident or was murdered. It is sad and shocking to hear of  people who die at a young age, an unpleasant surprise for sure!

There have been movies made about people who somehow find out their death is near and then find ways to avoid death. The truth is that even before this world was created, God appointed a time for our death to come and it is impossible to change what God has decreed.

A friend of mine recently got on the subject of death. He said “I’d never want to die by being splattered by a bus!” All I could do was laugh. I explained to him two things: #1 If his death is to come in that manner, it cannot be changed. #2 He’d not feel or remember being splattered! The next day he told me that what I said made sense.

Death itself is not a problem; the problem is that most people are not truly prepared for the life after this life. Many people do not believe in life after this life.

I look at it this way: It is far better to believe in and prepare for the afterlife than not to. If you do not prepare for the next life and there is a next life, you have way too much to lose. In the Bible God warns us of an eternal torment that unbelievers will be sent to. An unbeliever is anyone who does not believe and place 100% faith in, that Jesus Christ gave up His life on the Cross to pay the price for our wickedness. Some people think they live a pretty good life, but God says that none of us does good (read the book of Romans, chapter 3, verses 11 and12). Our only hope is in God’s grace, that Jesus Christ paid a debt that none of us could ever pay, (read Romans, chapter 8,verse 1).

Reading the Bible will help you understand, but you still must believe in the way God ordained for us to be saved. If you’re not ready for death get ready, trust in Jesus Christ now!

CON-TRACTS 

Editor: Paul Bero, Michigan Prisoner #192686
Artist: Dennis Preston 

The Bible in John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Pick up a Bible today!

This tract is © 2013. However, we invite anyone to reprint it for free distribution.

I hope this testimony has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read how others have experienced the life transforming power of God please write to me at the address below. We now have over 100 testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing Grace Andover 100 con-tracts, please send us your testimony as well. 

Bro. Otto Ball 
c/o Crossroads Ministry
P.O. Box 363 
Hyde, PA 16843

 

Testimony of an inmate, written January 18, 1993

I greet you in the Name of the Lord Jesus. I thank God always for the wonderful family that I have been born into, for the brothers and sisters of Christ who care for us who are in prison.

I wanted to write to let you know a few things about me, and to let you know my walk with the Lord Jesus is in all sincerity. I love the Lord with all my “whole” heart, soul and body. He has done many miracles in my life in the last five years, and I would like to share a few of them with you. To begin with my birthday is October 19, 1963. I am 29 years old. At the present time I’m serving an 80 year sentence. It started in 1987. On October 7 I was found guilty in a jury trial. The jury recommended 30 years for possession of cocaine, 40 years for  possession of a weapon while committing a felony, and 10 years for possession of a firearm after former conviction of a felony. It’s a long story but I had a $500-$700 a day cocaine habit with a wife and two sons. I was really in bad shape with no way out. I can remember saying a prayer one night in June of that year. I was high on cocaine and wanting more and didn’t have it. About 3:00 AM in the morning, laying beside my wife in bed, realizing my life had been destroyed, I prayed and asked God to restore my life and my family, to restore all I had destroyed.

Little did I know God had heard my prayer and little did I know what was in store for my future. But God knew! After my trial I was laying in the Oklahoma City County Jail waiting for sentencing, thinking of suicide, withdrawing from drugs and alcohol. I had lost my freedom, my family, my dreams and all hope of ever regaining any of it! Death was my next step. Then at seven o’clock on a Tuesday night the door  pops open in the cell I was in. This never happens past 5:00 P.M. I lay there thinking about why the door popped open. About 3 minutes had passed. I didn’t know that what was about to happen would change the rest of my life! About that time a little old man came storming through the door. He said, “I came here to tell you God Loves You!” Well I sat up in my bed that night and listened to him and started thinking about my life. How could a God love me after all I had done. But it was true, God did love me. During this time I gave my life to the Lord. Every Tuesday night that old Baptist preacher would come storming through the door with those same words, “I came here to tell you, God Loves You!”

I made Jesus the Savior of my soul. But most of all I made Him the Lord of my life. That was in October of ’87. On December 2nd the judge sentenced me to 80 years. But during this time I was waiting to be sentenced, I was spending about 8 to 10 hours a day studying God’s Word. It became my only reason for living, my only hope was in Jesus Christ. Tears would flow down my cheeks as I would learn of God’s love for me. My heart would become crushed and broken from the wrongs I had done in my life. But my repentance would bring forth peace and joy from God’s Word! 

It was beautiful to see and feel the changes God was making in my heart. But I still needed some miracles in my life! On the day I was sentenced, I had thought I had died! In the courtroom was my mother and wife. It sounded like a funeral. As I left the courtroom I went back up to my cell in a state of shock! They came and got me for a visit with my sister-in-law. I couldn’t see my wife that day! After the visit I was returning to my cell and ran into Bud Hamm. That was the preacher’s name who would come on Tuesday nights. I told him what had happened. He looked at me in the eyes and said, “We are going to pray about this. “About 30 minutes later he came and got me out of my cell. We went upstairs to a room…me, him and another brother. We joined hands in prayer. First they prayed, then I prayed. In that prayer I prayed for three things. One for a contact visit with my wife before I left the county jail. (Normally visiting was done through plastic.) Second, for my wife and I to be reconciled in our marriage. And third, for me to be set free from prison. Well Glory to God, He answered the first one 4 days later with a contact visit with my wife which was a miracle! Then I left the next day for prison. 

Being 24 years old with an 80 year sentence, I was concerned with what was ahead of me. But God kept His hand upon me the whole time and I had peace in my heart that everything was going to be all right. God watches over His Word to perform it and it will not return void, but it will accomplish that which He has set it out to do! God sent me to the prison he wanted, to train me, to mold and shape me, to be what he wanted me to be. For 15 months every day I would seek God in His fullness. He was all I had. My wife had left me and I was 200 miles from home. But in this, Galatians 2:20 became real in my life, where Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

I knew someday God was going to return my wife to me. But it wouldn’t be until God had all of me!…spirit, soul and body! Then on January 1st 1989, my wife came to see me, and saw a wonderful change in my life. Each week she kept coming back and each week we would draw closer. There were times it was rough, but God would bring us through. I remember a promise God said to me right after He brought me to this prison 200 miles from home. He said not to worry, “For in the fullness of time, I will bring your wife to you!” Glory to God, He did, too. Every week! He gave her a job and a car so she could come and see me! Glory to God! The third part of my prayer is soon to be answered…Him setting me free. I’ve served two and a half years on the 30 year sentence and was paroled to my 40 year sentence, with my 10 year sentence afterwards. I don’t know how God is going to work this miracle in my life, but I know He is! He has truly restored my life and given me my wife and two beautiful sons back to me. He has set me free from drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, cursing!, and has put a love in my heart for people.

He has done miracle after miracle in my life and I truly love Him and give Him the praise, the glory, and the honor for all He has done. I would be writing for weeks to tell all He has done in my life, and in the lives of the people around me, the souls that have been saved and set free by the power of God! He is so real and so true to His Word. And His love is past finding out. It is so deep and so full! Praise God! I pray that you are blessed by the testimony of the things God is doing in the lives of His people. I do my best to use all the literature I receive for the furtherance of the Gospel. Philippians 1:12 – But I would you should understand, brother, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the Gospel. This is my life now, ministering to others. I am grateful for any books or tracts that might help a baby Christian get started and grow in the Word. The packet you sent me was a blessing. Thanks. I’m sharing them with the other guys! I try to be obedient to the Holy Spirit. I love you brother with the love of Christ! May God richly bless you!

Love Always, Your Brother and Fellow Laborer in Christ. Dixie

PS: Update!! 7/25/93 I am blessed, I mean blessed, pressed down, shaken together, running over! Remember I said God was going to set me free. I said I didn’t know how, but I knew He was going to do it. Well Glory to God! I received last Monday that the court dismissed and vacated my 40 year sentence, Praise God! I’m going home! In John 8:32 Jesus promised to set me free if I would continue in His Word! Well Glory to God, He has done it. But not only has He set me free from prison, but He set me free from all of the bondage I was in before … cocaine, marijuana, cigarettes, alcohol, cursing, pride, lust. He has totally set me free, Praise God! 

Dixie is Home!! On January 24, 1994 Dixie rejoined his wife and children after 6 years, 3 months and 17 days in prison. His story continues to unfold each day as he shares Jesus with others. Keep in touch for the next chapter of his life story.

1. The Bible is the one textbook of the Sunday-school teacher.

2. The Bible becomes exceedingly important when we find its relation to the work of the Holy Spirit in the salvation of men. It enlightens, quickens, converts, sanctifies, edifies, etc. No wonder it is in itself compared to “seed,” “word,” “fire,” “manna,” “silver,’ “gold,” etc.

3. The Bible is to be used by the whole church-the ministry and the laity.

4. The teacher’s use of the Bible, to be effective, requires the aid of the Holy Spirit.

5. The teacher’s use of the Bible is twofold—personal and professional.

6. The teacher must use the Bible to find Christ, since Christ the Word is in his Word.

7. The teacher must also seek the indwelling of Christ, that he may say, “I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me.”

8. The teacher thus finding Christ in the Word, and having Christ in his own soul, will be earnest, will love his pupils, and will be patient with them and in his work..

THE DISCUSSION.

1. The Sunday-school is a school with one textbook—the Holy Scriptures; therefore, the Sunday-school teacher must use the Bible. Whatever other works he consults, his final authority is the Bible. Whatever helps he employs, they must be, in every case, helps to the better understanding and use of the Word of God. If God’s Word be so goodly and mighty a thing as these scriptures declare, no wonder that they who knew best its source and mission should account the truth it contains like “seed” (Luke 8:11),like a “sword” (Heb 4:12), like a “fire and a “hammer” (Jer 23:29), like “rain” and “dew” (Deut 32:2), like “honey” and the “honey-comb” (Psalm 19:10), like “silver” (Ps 12:6), like “gold” (Ps 19:10), like “thousands of gold and silver”(Ps 119:72), and, finally like “all riches” (Ps 119:14). No wonder that the Psalmist made it his song in the house of his pilgrimage (Ps 119:54), and that his delight was in the law of the Lord, in which he mediated day and night (Ps 1:2). No wonder that we are exhorted to take earnest heed what we hear (Mark 4:24), and how we hear (Luke 8:18). No wonder that earnest Jews searched the Scriptures (John 5:39), and that the Bereans were commended as being “more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scripture daily.” (Acts 17:11).

“Blessed Lord, who hast caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning, grant that we may in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and comfort of thy Holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life which thou hast given us in our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.”

An excerpt taken from an article by REV. JOHN H. VINCENT, LL.D., Bishop of the Methodist Episcopal Church. John Heyl Vincent (February 23, 1832 – May 9, 1920) 

 

While at a seminar I recently attended, the speaker talked about Goals in our Lives. During his presentation, he stated that: “Plants are stuck where they are rooted”. This simple sentence really stuck in my mind! Wow! Think about it, if you plant a plant properly, it will grow good roots and it will stay in that spot until it is dug up, pulled out or nature causes it to move. But, it is where it is! Later in the speakers presentation he stated that: “A Goal conditions our life, if we know it or not”. I was not really sure of this at first, but then we were given a life goal formula as follows:

1. When I just sit around where do my idle thoughts go? What am I always thinking about?
2. How do I spend my free time?
3. How do I spend my extra money?

The group of men at my table was suddenly engrossed in this very deep subject. We silently sat, thinking of our lives; how we would sit and use our free time. What we always had on our minds. What we would waste money on. We humans do not have to be rooted in the wrong things; we have the ability to change our goals from trash to treasures. Ants might get in our plants and uproot them, but the only thing that can change our goals is ourselves. Have you thought about death? You should, since we will all die, our eternal goal should be to get into Heaven. If we don’t get into Heaven, it will not be a pleasant eternity! I urge you to pick up a Bible and turn to the New Testament. Read the four Gospels, then the Book of Romans. You see, the Book of Romans reveals God’s grace to us if we simply place our sincere faith in the fact that Jesus Christ went to the cross and paid for our sins. God made getting into Heaven very simple, don’t let “Religion” complicate Gods Way! Set your goal on Heaven by 100% Faith in Christ Jesus!

CON-TRACTS

Editor & Artwork by: Paul Bero, Michigan Prisoner #192686 

Thoughts on “Goals” came from 2012 KERYX #58, Kinross Prison, Table of Jesus. Christ is counting on me, I am counting on Christ.

The Bible in John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Pick up a Bible today! This Con-Tract is © 2012. However, we invite anyone to copy its entirety for free distribution.

We live in a broken world. Relationships are broken. Families are broken. Our school systems are broken. Our society is broken. Our nation is broken. The world is broken. Even our churches are broken. Why are we all broken? We are all broken because we are all deeply fallen. We are deeply flawed. We are prone to wander from God. We are able and often willing to engage in the most vile things of this world. The abortion rate is staggering. Crime is on the increase. Poverty is rampant. Racism has not ended. Hate crimes are prevalent. Our love for one another has decreased. The innocent suffer.

But there is hope! There is a hope that doesn’t disappoint. (Romans 5:5)

There is a hope that can change everything. There is a hope that can only come from God. There is a hope that can restore our relationships and renew our strength. There is a hope that can heal. There is a hope that can repair and rebuild what has been broken. Hope is an interesting concept. Prisoners of war have died when they lost hope in being rescued. Without hope people become discouraged and give up. Without hope we become depressed. Hope is like the first rays of light of the sunrise after the darkness and blackness of night. Hope is a gift from God. God is a God of hope. (Romans 15:13)

Hope is defined as the desire of some good with the expectation of obtaining it. Hope is to expect with desire. Hope is the expectation of some good thing to come.  (Hebrews 11:1)

The Jews lived in the hope of the coming Messiah. Judaism was a religion of hope. Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was the fulfillment of that hope. (Matthew 5:17)

All of our deepest hopes are found in Him. Hope is one of the great marks of the Christian life. It is what makes Christianity stand out in the hopeless, godless world that we live in. The Psalmist talks often of hope. “For I hope in You, O Lord; You will answer, O Lord my God.” (Psalm 38:15)

“And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in You.” (Psalm 39:7)

“For You are my hope; O Lord God, You are my confidence from my youth.” (Psalm 71:5)

In the New Testament we read of the hope of the gospel. (Colossians 1:23)

 In Thessalonians Paul speaks of the hope of salvation. (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

Jesus Christ is our living hope. (1 Peter 1:3)

He is the hope that is in you. (1 Peter 3:15)

In Paul’s famous chapter on love he says, “But now faith, hope, love abide these three.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

We need to find our hope in Christ in the midst of our broken world. We need to come to know Christ as our personal Savior and Lord. We must trust in Christ as our salvation.

All hope begins and ends in Jesus Christ.

After knowing Christ, we must grow in Christ. We must seek after Him and His Word. We must diligently seek His face. We must determine to trust Him. We must acknowledge His sovereignty and grace in the midst of our brokenness. And we need each other. Believers were never meant to live in isolation. God has intended for us all to be in relationship. We begin with our relationship with God and continue in our relationships with others. There are no “Lone Ranger” Christians. Even the Lone Ranger had Tonto. We are meant to be in relationships. In these relationships our hope can be nourished, as we together deal with life and our broken world. Yes, we live in a broken world. And yet, we have the hope of the gospel found in the person of Jesus Christ!

I hope this Tract has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read how others have experienced the life transforming power of God please write to me at the address below. We now have over 60 testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing Grace. We also have over forty con-tracts.

Bro. Otto Ball
c/o Crossroads Ministry
P.O. Box 363
Hyde, PA 16843

This is not a joke! My name is Anne and I married Andy and not that long ago we were pretty Ragged. We are 36 years old; we live in the state of Maryland.

Andy and I were users of several illegal drugs for about 14 years. I guess we’ve done everything except crystal meth. We liked to get high and we were almost always high. I had been going to a school to become a chef when I was living with my parents in New York. Andy had finished college and vocational schooling and was a master electrician when we got married.

When we lived in Connecticut we started to hang out at a few bars and got introduced to cocaine and we used it for quite a while, trying other cheaper drugs too. Andy and I were busted in a raid while in the state of Virginia; everyone at that house got arrested. We spent the weekend locked up in a jail that was filthy and scary. When we appeared before the judge we were let off the hook with a warning. We moved several times to several states when we first got married.

On July 8, 2011 on a Friday night at about 11 pm I almost died from a mixture of drugs I’d been taking for several hours. Andy was also high at the time and when they could not feel or hear my heart beating, Andy sobered up and was scared to death that I was dead and for a few moments I may have been dead. I was not taken to the hospital because I started to breathe again on my own. When I came to I sat up and screamed one word, I screamed “Jesus”! We were in no way religious; we have never gone to a church all our lives. Why did I scream “Jesus”? I can’t explain it. What I can explain is that on Sunday, July 10, 2011 Andy and I attended a small Baptist church in Bristol, Virginia. A man we met there greeted us and gave us the message of salvation and we accepted Jesus as our Savior, then we stayed for their services. We’ve given up all drugs, we’ve gotten good jobs now, we are the happiest we’ve ever been, thanks to Jesus Christ our Savior.

CON-TRACTS 

Editor & Artist: Paul Bero, Michigan Prisoner # 192686

The Bible in John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Pick up a Bible today!

This tract is © 2013. However, we invite anyone to reprint it for free distribution.

I hope this testimony has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read how others have experienced the life transforming power of God please write to me at the address below. We now have over 100 testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing Grace and over 100 con-tracts, please send us your testimony as well.

Bro. Otto Ball
c/o Crossroads Ministry
P.O. Box 363
Hyde, PA 16843

My name is Matthew; I live in Denver, Colorado since I got off of  parole. I did 8 years in Colorado State Prison. I am currently 30 years old. I had been charged with drug trafficking, drug possession, theft, breaking and entering, auto theft and leaving the scene of an accident. How I only ended up with 8 years is still a mystery to me, but I’m glad it wasn’t more! At age 15 I began getting drunk, I liked beer and whiskey. I started to use weed at about age 11. My parents have both passed away; they died during my 8 years in prison. I have no siblings or any other family. My parents pretty much let me do whatever I wanted to do; it was like they just did not care about anything. My parents led me down the path they were on. They taught me how to collect welfare, disability and whatever else they could scam; they taught me by their example. Even when I was a young boy I wished I had normal parents, parents who would have real jobs, parents who would tell me “NO” when I did wrong. My parents didn’t care. From about age 12 to 18 all I did was sit around, watch TV, play video games, and hang out with the wrong people. I never tried to get through high school, I didn’t care. Never did I have a real job. I’d just sit around doing nothing until doing nothing got me deeper into the world of drugs and into a lot of trouble. In prison I was given a job in the chow hall, I didn’t like it so I made sure the cop saw me steal food so I’d get fired. Within 3 weeks I was given the job of cleaning bathrooms. I tried my best to get fired but that cop was on me, he refused to fire me and he’d always have his eyes on me. After about a month of trying to get fired I gave up and just began to do my job. I ended up getting a stolen TV, so it felt good to just lie back all day watching TV. Well, after a few months I got very bored, I started to make and sell spud juice (prison wine) and I soon found some weed too. I thought “Man, this will be an easy 8 years”. Well things are not always what they seem. I got bored with the TV. I got bored with hustling the spud juice and the weed got hard to find. BORING!!!!!! All of a sudden all I could think was “This is going to be one heck of a long 8 years”! Into my 2nd year of prison I felt as if I just wanted to die and get it over with. This one guy hollered over to me “Hey Matt, what do you feel like doing tonight”? I hollered back “Kill myself”! This is where my life began to change. This one prisoner in his 50’s heard me and later that day he came up to me and introduced himself. He asked me if I just needed to talk to someone, I thought he was going to make a sexual advance on me! But then I saw he had a small Bible so I began to talk to him. He talked me into sitting with some other  prisoners and to just talk. Wow, there were 2 guys my age too. For the first time in all my life I sat in a group of guys to just talk. When we got ready to go they wanted to pray, one of them prayed for God to lead me in the right direction. It did not take me but a hot minute to ask “When can we talk again”. That began my new direction. The guys were Bible believing Protestant Christians. They got me a Bible and got me into a Bible study too. They even got me to get my G.E.D and then they got me a better job too. When they told me about how Jesus Christ paid for my sins and about God’s grace, I just lit up like a Christmas tree. My parents were alive yet I prayed for them, I wrote them about Jesus too, I hope they got saved. My whole life, my attitude, my actions, my mental state, everything about me changed for the good since I put Jesus Christ into my life. By the way, I’m in a clothing store, selling men’s clothes; doing quite well. All I can add to that is: THANK YOU JESUS!

CON-TRACTS 

Editor: Paul Bero, Michigan Prisoner # 192686
Artist: Jamie S. Michigan Prisoner

The Bible in John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Pick up a Bible today!

This tract is © 2013. However, we invite anyone to reprint it for free distribution.

Everyone has an appointment with death; 10 out of 10 people die. Every day, about 155,000 people will pass from this life to the next and then face judgment. On that day, what will be your fate? Here’s a quick test to see how you’re doing. 

Have you ever told a lie? Have you ever stolen anything, irrespective of its value? Jesus said, “I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart” (Matthew 5:28)

Have you ever looked at someone with lust? The Bible says that if someone hates another  person they are a murderer (1 John 3:15).

Have you ever hated anyone? 

If you have answered “Yes” to the previous questions, then you have admitted that you are a liar, a thief, an adulterer and a murderer and we’ve only looked at 4 of the 10 Commandments. If God were to judge you by this standard would you be innocent or guilty? You know you are guilty and deserving of an eternity in Hell. Do you still think you are a good person or do you now understand that you are a sinner (Romans 3:23, 1 John 3:4) and deserve the wrath of God? Jesus Christ came to earth and died a criminal’s death not because He had broken the Law, but because we had.

Romans 5:8 says, “…God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” What should you do? Repent, turn from your sins and put your complete faith in Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. Please don’t wait! Your last ride could be tonight…

Then where would you be?

I hope this testimony has been a blessing to you. If you would like to read how others have experienced the life transforming power of God please write to me at the address below. We now have over 100 testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing Grace and over 100 con-tracts, please send us your testimony as well.

Bro. Otto Ball
c/o Crossroads Ministry
P.O. Box 363
Hyde, PA 16843

17* And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, 18* The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (Luke 4: 17-18) 

In Luke chapter 4, Jesus declares His mission in the earth–He declares His ministry–His ministry for that day and age–and for today as well.

Heb 13:8 * Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever.

Jesus spoke those words 2,000 years ago, and He lived out those words in His ministry which is recorded in the Bible. He preached the Gospel–He healed the sick–He brought deliverance to those who had need–He fed the poor—and He did one more thing–He made apostles. “to set at liberty them that are bruised, “The words in this verse which are translated in English as “set at liberty” are the Greek words “apostello” and freedom. When this word refers to individuals it is the Greek “apostellos” which the translators chose to define as “apostles”. The meaning of this word is to send or to release–in this case, it refers to the release of a person to serve God. The releasing of apostles was quite obviously central to the ministry of Jesus. Jesus went to every part of Israel and released individuals and whole groups of people to serve God–to spread the Gospel–heal the sick and bring deliverance–to do His same ministry and carry it on in the earth after He was gone.

It is not often recognized or taught that Jesus released so many to serve God. We read about the “official” apostles but what we don’t realize is that this word “apostello” is used many many times in the New Testament–very often translated as the simple word “sent”. We recognize that there were 12 numbered apostles–but there were also 70 that were numbered at a different time in Jesus ministry. But also, for example, when we read of the feeding of the 5,000–Jesus spoke of “sending away” the crowds. He was not just telling the people to “go home–the show is over”–the Greek used here is “apoulo” a root of the word apostello–which also means to release. Releasing those who had been healed and delivered and fed and preached the Gospel was central to Jesus ministry. In the book of John, He baptized the blind man into the “pool of Siloam” (Siloam in Greek is “apostello”)–just exactly what He said He would do in Luke 4–“……and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised….”

Jesus releases the demoniac of the Gadarenes,(Mark 5) telling him simply to go and tell what great thing God has done for him–and the Bible records that this formerly demon possessed mangoes to 10 cities and preaches about Jesus. The Gentile woman at the well is released also by Jesus. Again we see the simple order of His ministry–explain the Gospel–heal and deliver—and the final step is to release the person to freely serve God–now that they are saved–healed and delivered. And if we believe that Jesus only did these things during His life on the earth before His resurrection–consider the conversion of Saul (Paul)–Saul’s’ conversion follows exactly the same pattern–He (the enemy of the church) meets Jesus–is immediately saved (he calls Jesus “Lord” when he sees Him)–Saul is then healed of his blindness –by Ananias–a simple disciple at Damascus–he is immediately baptized and receives the Holy Spirit–and the Bible records–

19* And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. 20* And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. (Acts 9:19-20) Again–the very same pattern of Jesus’ ministry–salvation–healing–release to serve God freely. Heb 13:8* Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever. The fact is that Jesus is doing His same ministry today as well. When someone meets Jesus today–by faith–they receive the free gift of salvation–they are often healed and delivered (how many have been delivered from drugs and alcohol at the moment of conversion!)—and whether we realize it or not, they are released by Jesus to freely serve God. to tell others about what great things the Lord has done for them–to witness the Gospel of Jesus Christ to others—-

 

I grew up in Flint Michigan; we moved to Chicago when I was a teenager. I had been involved in some gang-related incidents for a while in Michigan, then continued it in Chicago.

My Mom brought me up in a Christian home but I pretty much did my own thing most of the time. I got arrested at the age of 13 but it was dropped. That made me think I could outsmart the cops and that was where I messed up a few times, I had been arrested 7 times before I turned 18. At age 20 I was convicted in a Federal Court of drugs, weapons and an assault on an agent. They dropped the driving off in a stolen car. So there I was, 20 years old facing 20 years in prison! I can say that my Mom and Grandma kept praying for me and that God sure enough is alive and at work. One day I woke up, looked at my Bunkie (it was not a nice sight) and headed to the Chaplains office to pick up a bible. My Bunkie saw me walk in with a bible and started to call me a SON OF A COTTONPICKING BIBLE THUMPER. I soon moved in with a white guy who was a Christian, we had many good discussions.

I’m not a small brother. I’m 6 foot 2 inches and weigh 250 pounds and none of it is fat, I use to work out even in the gang years.

This one day I went to the gym to shoot some basketball and some brothers I knew were there. We decided to lift each other since there were no weights available. I put Damon on my shoulders and did a few squats; he weighs a little over 260 pounds. I felt good; I was not straining at all, my body felt really good. After a few more squats with Damon on my shoulders I asked “Red “what he weighed, he said 270. I got him on my shoulders and stood up, no problems, squatted down, no problems, went to get up and I felt like my whole body on the inside exploded. It seemed like every muscle and tendon just ripped apart in a huge explosion. I fell to the floor and was in so much pain I could not move. The nurses were called, they asked if I could walk, which was really impossible for me to even move. There is a lot of stuff I don’t really believe in, like on TV, the so called “healers” that “heal” people of all kinds of disease and such, I do believe God can heal though.

Within a few minutes a brother I knew from church services, Ray, came into the gym, he saw me in pain on the floor and came over to me. Damon told Ray what happened and that we were waiting for a wheel chair to get me to the nurse. Ray asked me if he could pray for me…..all I could do was look at him, I hurt so much I could not speak. Ray was from a Baptist church so I knew he was not a “healer” either. Ray sat on the floor next to me, put his hand on my stomach area, and began to pray. He asked God, in Jesus Name, to heal my body so I would not have to go to the hospital. He told God that men in the prison witnessed and even heard something in me snap and it would be great if they would see God heal me then and there. I have no idea what happened, there was no lightning bolt, no trumpet sounds, not even a glimpse of an angel. All of a sudden I just sat up, stood up, and was not even sore. Damon saw the pain in my face, he heard the snapping sounds inside of me, the others in the gym also saw there was REAL PAIN, and I could hardly breathe. Like I said, I do not believe in the so-called “healers” on TV, but even more now than before, I know that God CAN heal when He wants to. This was of God. No TV cameras, no thousands of  people watching, no neon lights to advertise it, but God did certainly heal me in front of a few and those few now attend church too. May our Lord God be glorified in Christ Jesus name. 

Dwayne J

CON-TRACTS 

Editor: Paul Bero, Michigan Prisoner #192686
Artwork: “Red” Federal Prisoner

The Bible in John 3:16 says that God loved us so much that He sent Jesus Christ to pay for our sins. Pick up a Bible today!

This tract is © 2013. However, we invite anyone to reprint it for free distribution.

I hope this Con-tract has been a blessing to you. We now have over 80 testimonies of those whose lives have been transformed by God’s amazing Grace and over 70 con-tracts.

Bro. Otto Ball
c/o Crossroads Ministry
P.O. Box 363
Hyde, PA 16843

Many years ago in the great northwestern part of our country, some Indians wrapped in blankets, were seated on the ground listening to a pale-faced missionary tell them about God. The missionary began with creation…Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” “God made everything,” he said. “He made the birds, the flowers and the grain. All things were made by Him.” (Proverbs 16:4)

“This great God loves and cares for you,” continued the pale-faced servant of The Most High. When the old Indian chief heard this, he was so grateful that he wanted to do something for this Great God. He rose up from the back, quietly walking forward and laid his tomahawk at the feet of the missionary. As he did this, he said, “Indian Chief give his tomahawk to God who made all things.”

The missionary talked on of the wonderful grace of The Lord Jesus Christ. Though He was rich in Heaven, he became poor for us, when he was willing to be born in a manger and die on a cross for our sins, so that we might be rich. (Romans 6:23)

The Indian chief listened very thoughtfully. Then again he walked forward, this time taking his blanket. He laid the blanket at the missionary’s feet and said, “Indian Chief give his blanket to Jesus who died in man’s place.” Again he went back to listen. Still, the missionary talked on, telling the story of Jesus’ burial, resurrection and that He lives forever in Heaven, waiting for us to believe in Him. (Acts 16:30,31)  While he was yet speaking, the Indian chief unfastened his pony and brought him forward. Again, he said, “Indian Chief give his prize pony to Jesus Christ, who lives in Heaven.” With that, he stepped back to listen, once more. You see, the Indian chief was like so many of us. He thought that God wanted just the things that he had. But The Lord wasn’t finished working in the Indian chief’s heart.

“Now,” thought the Indian chief to himself, “I have given everything I have to this Great God in Heaven who gave His Son for me.” But as he listened on, a new light began to break forth over the old chief’s face. (read Proverbs 23:26) He was seeing something that he had never seen before; something that was all new to him. It was the Holy Spirit that was showing it to him and speaking to his heart. The Indian chief  began to see that in giving all the things he had, he failed to give The Lord what He wanted most of all. This time he went forward with nothing in his hands. What do you suppose he was giving? It looks as though the Indian chief is giving nothing, but listen…With tears running down his cheeks and lips trembling, we hear him give the greatest of all gifts for this time he said, “Indian Chief give himself to Jesus Christ, Who gave Himself for me.”

Yes, this is what God wants most from each of us. Proverbs 23:26 says…”My son, give Me thine heart…” The Indian chief finally found peace in his heart when he accepted Jesus’ payment for his sin; His precious blood. (I John 1:7) The missionary listened as the Indian chief prayed a simple but sincere prayer of repentance. All the while another Indian had been listening from the very back of the gathering. This man had asked Jesus to save him many years ago but had not been living in a way that pleased God. He headed toward the front with a white flag in his hand, finally surrendering to God’s plan for his life! After asking The Lord to forgive his disobedience, he now had something most wonderful…peace! With surrender comes peace!

Have you any room for Jesus in your heart? Won’t you invite Him in to be your Lord and Savior? If you already have Him as your Savior, have you surrendered to His plan for your life? Won’t you do it today and experience the same peace that the wayward Indian experienced! Write and let us know about your decision for Christ.

Bro. Otto Ball