firstIMPRESSIONS
from Senior Pastor Timothy Satryan

In his book “Hearts of Iron, Feet of Clay,” Gary Inrig writes, “In May 1855, an eighteen-year-old boy went to the deacons of the church in Boston. He had been raised in a Unitarian church, in almost total ignorance of the gospel, but when he had moved to Boston to make his fortune, he began to attend a Bible-preaching church. Then, in April of 1855, his Sunday school teacher had come into the store where he was working and simply and persuasively shared the Gospel and urged the young man to trust in the Lord Jesus. He did, and now he was applying to join the church. One fact quickly became obvious. This young man was almost totally ignorant of biblical truth.

One of the deacons asked him, “Son, what has Christ done for us all – for you – which entitles him to our love?” His response was, “I don’t know. I think Christ has done a great deal for us, but I don’t think of anything in particular that I know of.” Hardly an impressive start.

Years later his Sunday school teacher said of him: “I can truly say that I have seen few persons whose minds were spiritually darker than was his when he came into my Sunday school class. I think the committee of the church seldom met an applicant for membership who seemed more unlikely ever to become a Christian of clear and decided views of gospel truth, still less to fill any space of public or extended usefulness.”

Nothing happened very quickly to change their minds. The deacons decided to put him on a year-long instruction program to teach him basic Christian truths. Perhaps they wanted to work on some of his other rough spots as well. Not only was he ignorant of spiritual truths, he was only barely literate, and his spoken grammar was atrocious. The year-long probation did not help very much. At his second interview, there was only a minimal improvement in the quality of his answers, but since it was obvious that he was a sincere and committed (if ignorant) Christian, they accepted him as a church member.

Over the next years, many people looked at that young man and were convinced that God would never use a person like that. And in doing so they wrote off Dwight L. Moody. But God did not. By God’s infinite grace and persevering love, Moody was transformed into one of the most effective servants of God in church history, a man whose impact is still with us today.

So, my friend, what about you today? What do others say of you? Perhaps even you think you could never amount to anything at all for God. It really doesn’t matter what someone else’s opinion is. The reality is that God is no respecter of persons, and He has great plans for you!

Here is your copy of firstIMPRESSIONS, Volume 6.02. Live for God, on purpose, because you are the child of the King, and you are special in God’s eyes! You can do great things for God as you are led by His Spirit!

The people of God were comfortable. They had seen success in their endeavors for the Lord, and then settled down, and settled into a life of relative leisure. The only trouble is that they were not being obedient to the Lord and his commands. While the work of God sat idle for some fifteen years, the people of God developed a personal lifestyle of seeking self-gratification.

This is the situation that Haggai sees, and under the inspiration of God, addresses in the first chapter of the Old Testament book that bears his name. As a result of Haggai’s message, the Spirit of God was stirred in the people, and they became obedient and resumed the work of the Lord.

About two months later, Haggai once again has a word from God for the people. They had been working, but there was so much to do, and the temple of God was in such disrepair, that the work most likely seemed to be overwhelming to them. Even Haggai himself tells them the house of the Lord, compared to its previous glorious state, “seems like nothing” to them. They needed to be encouraged. They needed to know that God was with them. They needed a fresh word from God!

In the second chapter of Haggai, the prophet speaks just such a word of hope and encouragement to his people. He assures them of God’s care and concern. But, most importantly, Haggai promises them God’s power and His presence.

Has it been a while since you have sensed real, true, deep victory in the Lord? Do you look at the situations in your life, and wonder why it is that things seem to be in such disarray? Then you need the same word that Haggai’s people needed! This Sunday morning, we will continue our four-part series, “Consider Your Ways” from the book of Haggai, as we look at Haggai 2:1-9 in a message we have titled “Power and Presence.” You will not want to miss part two of this timely and practical series!

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I was a young college student, who grew up in the church, but had fallen far away from God. In my junior year at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, PA, through a number of events and experiences, I returned to the Lord, and re-dedicated my life to Him.

It was shortly after that that I heard about this thing called “the baptism in the Holy Spirit” and understood that this was a gift from God, available to all Christians. The baptism in the Holy Spirit was first given to believers in Acts 2, and was directly responsible for these first Christians changing from a weak-minded faith, to one where they lived a life empowered by God!

Well, that’s just what I wanted, and it was surely what I needed! I received the baptism in the Holy Spirit just as they did on the day of Pentecost, and I spoke in tongues! I had never even heard of any such thing before, but I received it in the fall of 1975.

It wasn’t very long after that that I was told by some people that there was no such thing as the baptism in the Holy Spirit. They told me that it stopped a long time ago, most likely once the Bible had been written. They even tried to tell me that modern-day baptisms in the Holy Spirit could be from the devil!

To say that I was confused would be an understatement. I was upset. And I was hurt. How could the very thing that strengthened my walk in the Lord be from the enemy? How could something clearly shown in the Bible not be for today? I needed help. And, I needed it quickly.

Then I recalled going on a retreat weekend as a young boy. I remembered the guest speaker we had that weekend. I remembered that he did something that made a distinct impression on me – he preached from the Bible, and he PREACHED the Bible. The thought occurred to me that this person would surely know about this baptism in the Holy Spirit, and explain it all to me. So, I looked up his name and phone number, and gave him a call. We got together in his living room, and he taught me from the Bible.

That was the beginning of my relationship with the man I consider to be my father in the Lord – Rev. Leonard T. Jones. For the next number of years, until I left Pittsburgh to go to Bible college to enter into the ministry, he was my pastor, my teacher, and my mentor. I sat under his teaching. I ministered by his side. We traveled together, doing retreats, Bible studies, and church services. I led worship for him. I was a deacon in his church. The basis of my personal walk in the Lord, the foundation upon which my spirit-man has been built upon, is because of the ministry of this man.

And I am pleased to announce that he will be joining us on Sunday morning, January 22nd, to meet the church that I love and pastor, and to preach the Word of God.

Rev. Leonard T. Jones is an elder in the Church of God in Christ, and is the founding pastor of Missionary Temple Church of God in Christ, located in the East Liberty section of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Make your plans now to join us as we welcome this most precious brother to Wilmington, Delaware, and the pulpit of WFA. I know you will be blessed!

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by Alan Smith

During Napoleon’s invasion of Russia, his troops were battling in the middle of yet another small town in that endless wintry land, when he was accidentally separated from his men. A group of Russian Cossacks spotted him and began chasing him through the twisting streets. Napoleon ran for his life and ducked into a little furrier’s shop on a side alley. As Napoleon entered the shop, gasping for breath, he saw the furrier and cried piteously, “Save me, save me! Where can I hide?” The furrier said, “Quick, under this big pile of furs in the corner,” and he covered Napoleon up with many furs.

No sooner had he finished than the Russian Cossacks burst in the door shouting, “Where is he? We saw him come in.” Despite the furrier’s protests, they tore his shop apart trying to find Napoleon. They poked into the pile of furs with their swords but didn’t find him. Soon, they gave up and left.

After some time, Napoleon crept out from under the furs, unharmed, just as Napoleon’s personal guards came in the door. The furrier turned to Napoleon and said timidly, “Excuse me for asking this question of such a great man, but what was it like to be under those furs, knowing that the next moment would surely be your last?”

Napoleon drew himself up to his full height and said to the furrier indignantly, “How could you ask me, the Emperor Napoleon, such a question? Guards, take this impudent man out, blindfold him and execute him. I, myself, will personally give the command to fire!”

The guards grabbed the furrier, dragged him outside, stood him against a wall and blindfolded him. The furrier could see nothing, but he could hear the guards shuffle into line and prepare their rifles. Then he heard Napoleon clear his throat and call out, “Ready! Aim!” In that moment, a feeling he could not describe welled up within him; tears poured down his cheeks.

Suddenly the blindfold was stripped from his eyes. Although partially blinded by the sunlight he could see Napoleon’s eyes looking intently into his own — eyes that seemed to see every dusty corner of his soul.

Then Napoleon said, “Now you know.”

There are some things that simply cannot be described to you. If you haven’t experienced them for yourself, you can’t begin to know the feeling. If you’ve never sat by the bed of your father while cancer eats away at his body, you can’t begin to know what it feels like. If you’ve never had a spouse walk out the door knowing they will never return, you can’t begin to know what it feels like. If you’ve never had to bury a daughter before she was old enough to ride a bicycle, you can’t begin to know what it feels like.

The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what weighs on your soul. You have friends who try to comfort you by saying, “I understand,” but deep down you know they don’t. They can’t. Not without experiencing it for themselves, and you wouldn’t wish that on them.

What that means, though, is that you are in a position to minister in a special way to people who are suffering the same thing that you have suffered in the past. God is able to use your past painful experiences to help others in a way that no one else can. If you have had to deal with an alcoholic family member, you are in a position to minister to others in that situation. If you have suffered the death of a young child, you are in a position to minister to others in that situation. If you have raised a child as a single parent, you are able to minister to others in that situation.

The list could go on and on. Eventually, I would get to what you have suffered in the past. It was painful. It was tough to get through. But having done so, be aware of the opportunities you now have to be of service to others. You know exactly how they feel. Let them know that.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” (2 Corinthians 1:3-4)

This article by Alan Smith, pastor of the White House Church of Christ, White House, Tennessee. You can visit his site at http://www.TFTD-online.com

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by Chuck Swindoll

Have you noticed how many day-planners are available these days? And then there are the time-management self-help books: how to increase your efficiency, how to make every moment count, how to invest your time wisely and productively.

While all those voices and handy products scream for your attention, I’d like to play devil’s advocate and tell you how to waste your time. Five proven ideas come immediately to mind:

First, worry a lot. Start worrying early in the morning and intensify your anxiety as the day passes. Worry about your own failures and mistakes — about what you should or could have done but didn’t. To add variety, worry about things you should not have done but did. Hanging around negative people is another secret you won’t want to forget. Remember: Potential ulcers need fresh acid.

Second, make hard-and-fast predictions. Of course, you’ll need to ignore that little throwaway line in the fourth chapter of James: “you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow.” But forget that comment and set your expectations in motion. Be as specific as you can. For example, one month before his July 1975 disappearance, Jimmy Hoffa announced: “I don’t need bodyguards.”

Third, fix your attention on getting rich. You’ll get a lot of innovative ideas from the secular bookshelves. (I counted fourteen books on the subject last time I was in a bookstore.) Plus, you’ll fit right in with most of the hype that’s pouring out of entrepreneurial seminars and high-pressure sales meetings.

Fourth, compare yourself with others. Not only will you ricochet between the extremes of arrogance and discouragement, you will also spend the time not knowing who you are.

Fifth, lengthen your list of enemies. If there’s one thing above all others that will keep your wheels spinning, it’s perfecting your skill at the Blame Game. With a full arsenal of suspicion, paranoia, and resentment, you can waste endless evenings stewing over those folks who have made your life miserable.

Put these five surefire suggestions in motion, and you can forget about all the hassles connected with being happy, efficient, productive, and contented. Within a couple of months, those things won’t even be on your agenda.

All this sounds like foolish exaggeration, doesn’t it? But just stop and think: How much time are you already wasting on some of these things?”

as seen in the January 3, 2006 edition of the Dallas Seminary “Daily Devotional,” by Chuck Swindoll.

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In a study in Cleveland, Ohio, coroners examined the hearts of 15 assault victims who died after being attacked even though their wounds were not life-threatening. Charles Hirsch, one of the researchers, concluded that 11 of the 15 victims had torn fibers and lesions in their hearts, most likely caused by mortal fear. They died because of what they feared might happen, but didn’t.

That study proved that “scared to death” is more than a casual expression. If fear can put a stop to life, think what else it can put a stop to. It can cancel out opportunities that God sets before us. God opens a door in front of us and we freeze – we’re afraid to walk through. We are afraid of being alone, afraid we’ll have no resources, afraid we’ll look foolish when we fail. But even if we do fail, God has promised to cause even our failures to be for our good. When God promises to be with us wherever we go, there should be no fear that keeps us from walking through His open doors.

Is there an open door that you’re afraid to walk through? Don’t be. Trust God – you have nothing to fear with Him by your side.

from Dr. David Jeremiah’s “Turning Point Daily Devotional” of December 9, 2005. www.TurningPointRadio.com

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Can god use you? The reality is that God not only uses the seemingly unusable, it is His plan and delight to do so. Let me illustrate that point.

Noah was a drunk.
Abraham was too old.
Isaac was a daydreamer.
Jacob was a liar.
Leah was ugly.
Joseph was abused.
Moses had a stuttering problem.
Gideon was afraid.
Samson had long hair and was a womanizer.
Rahab was a prostitute.
Jeremiah and Timothy were too young.
David had an affair and was a murderer.
Elijah was suicidal.
Isaiah preached naked.
Jonah ran from God.
Naomi was a widow.
Job went bankrupt.
John the Baptist ate bugs.
Peter denied Christ.
The Disciples fell asleep while praying.
Martha worried about everything.
The Samaritan woman was divorced, more than once.
Zaccheus was too small.
Paul was too religious.
Timothy had an ulcer.

And last but not least, Lazarus was dead!

If God can use these broken men and women, He can certainly use you and me. All it takes is our willingness to be available and a commitment to obey.

It takes a “whatever” heart! In other words, we are willing to do whatever He asks us to do... even when it doesn’t make sense... even when we can’t see the next step... even when the storm is raging!

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• It’s important to have roots.

• In today’s complex world, it pays to branch out.

• Don’t pine away over old flames.

• If you really believe in something, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb.

• Be flexible so you don’t break when a harsh wind blows.

• Sometimes you have to shed your old bark in order to grow.

• If you want to maintain accurate records, keep a log.

• Grow where you’re planted.

• It’s perfectly okay to be a late bloomer.

• Avoid people who would like to cut you down.

• Get all spruced up when you have a hot date.

• If the party gets boring or dangerous, just leaf.

• You can’t hide your true colors as you approach the autumn of your life.

• It’s more important to be honest than poplar.

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A little seven-year-old boy prayed one night before bed for God to give him a baby sister.

When he awakened the next morning, the youngster found that there was no baby. Undaunted, he prayed a second time for the same thing. Still no baby.

Some months later, the boy and his father made a trip to the local hospital. When the two of them arrived, they stepped into a room in the maternity section and found the boy’s mother holding a precious baby sister in her right arm, and yet another baby sister in her left! The proud father looked down into the eyes of his son and said, “Now, aren’t you glad you prayed?” To which the little boy responded, “Yes, and aren’t you glad I stopped when I did?”

We are indeed praying for a great weekend here at WFA – and we don’t plan to stop! God continues to bless and pour out His Spirit each time we gather together. I am confident that the Lord’s presence will be with us this Sunday as we seek Him, worship Him, and honor His Word!

Yours for HIM,
Timothy Satryan
Senior Pastor
WILMINGTON first assembly of God

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