December 8, 2009 Ministry update
---- Amazed and Rejoicing ----
When we consider the ways of God, when we stop to meditate upon what the sovereign Lord of the universe can and does do in darkened human hearts, we stand amazed, and we bow and worship the one true God.
God has again amazed us, drawing a lost sinner to himself, opening his eyes, and granting forgiveness and faith!
Last evening, Giuseppe from near Milan called me to talk. Remember, he is the man who for approximately 20 years was basically an agnostic. His wife has been an active JW. A little over a year ago, he was drawn to want to understand God, and so he started to study the Bible on his own. He read through the entire Bible, and began to see major discrepancies with what the man-made religion his wife was a part of teaches and what the Bible teaches.
About six months ago, he found our website and started reading my sermons. After reading many, he got in touch with me and we began corresponding. He said that he recognized that what he was seeing in the Bible matched what he read in my sermons.
In October we drove to visit them for an evening, and a few weeks ago he, his wife and his daughters came for a weekend visit, in which we had hours and hours of Bible study together.
Up until that weekend, he had been strongly convinced of the truthfulness of the Bible, and was diligently seeking to understand the truth of the Bible, however, he had not yet seen his own need for a Savior. Actually, it would be more correct to say God had not yet opened his eyes to see his own need for a Savior! So, as we studied the Bible with them, we focused on the need for salvation, in light of God's coming judgment.
As he and I talked on the phone last night, he told me he wanted to share something with me that it happened to him last Sunday, while he'd been out jogging on an isolated trail. He said that at a certain point he stopped and cried out to God asking for forgiveness for his many sins. As I questioned him, he very clearly and repeatedly stated his belief that Jesus Christ, God incarnate, had died and risen to pay the debt for his sin. He said he did not know what the future held for him, but the only thing that mattered was a relationship with God in Jesus Christ.
After questioning him extensively, and hearing the extremely clear and forthright answers that he gave, it was clear that God has saved him. We read several passages together over the phone which made clear that God grants new birth, and He forgives and justifies the sinner who comes to him trusting the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.
He was overjoyed and overwhelmed to realize that God has forgiven him of his sins and that he is now a child of God, all because of Jesus Christ! He told me that he had told his wife what had happened, and she, still steeped in the false doctrines of the JW group, expressed her doubts that God saves in instant, ie. that one moment a person is not saved and the next moment he is.
Several prayer requests: Giuseppe very much requests prayer for the salvation of his wife and his daughters. They are searching, and are reading the Bible, but it seems clear that up until now, they have not been convicted of their own sinfulness and need of a Savior. Pray also that Giuseppe would be grounded in his faith. There is no good option regarding the church near them, please pray for wisdom regarding that.
So, rejoice with us that God has done a mighty work, which will last for all of eternity. This will not make any major headlines in the world's media, but it is vastly more important than any of today's news, and will have eternal results!
Giuseppe, Sabrina, wife Rosella, daughter Francesca
Mustafa:
I would briefly ask you to continue praying for Mustafa. He was in church again on Sunday, and afterwards went to Daniele and Petra's house for lunch, with Ashley and another guest of theirs also being present. Mustafa shared that he is reading his Bible, but he is struggling to entrust himself to God. He said the pull the world is great. He once again mentioned that he sees a drastic difference between believers and unbelievers, explaining that he sees the believers in a very positive light. It appears that God is still at work in Mustafa, so we do ask you to pray with us that the Holy Spirit would convict him, and show him Jesus Christ as the one Lord and Savior! He has seen this intellectually, pray that he'll see it personally by faith.
Thank you, dear friends, for standing with us in prayer. There is much more to share, but for now we greet you warmly in the name of Jesus Christ and pray that you and we would see more of Him throughout the day, and that He would be visible in us to others.
Rejoicing in the privilege to see some of God's sovereign work,
Marco (and Sherrie/Serena)
Italy
------ closing
thank you for taking the time to read this, and thank you for praying. We pray that what we have shared will encourage you in your own walks, and will cause you to give thanks to God for what he is doing here in the midst of us. It is always an encouragement to us to hear what he is doing elsewhere, and so for free to write to us if you would like to share. We live by grace, and find our strength in God. Our prayer is that he will be glorified in us and through us, as we await the appearing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
Rejoicing as we work and wait,
Marco and Sherrie (Serena) deFelice